Paramount Television Studios inked an exclusive overall deal with “The Wheel of Time” creator Rafe Judkins to create and develop original scripted series for the studio.

“Right now is a time to take risks and be ambitious in television with the kind of stories we tell and the way we tell them, no matter how big or small,” Judkins said. “That’s the kind of television I want to make, and I feel lucky to have found partners at Paramount who are also looking to expand, take risks and create something new.”

Judkins will report to president of Paramount Television Studios Matt Thunell, creating original series for the studio. His previous deal was with Sony Pictures Television.

“I have long been a fan of Rafe’s extraordinary writing and producing and am grateful he chose Paramount as his new creative home,” Thunell said. “We are amazed by his ability to build immersive worlds, craft action-packed stories and realize vibrant characters. We cannot wait to build with him.”  

Judkins previously served as the showrunner of “The Wheel of Time” for Amazon and Sony Television. The series was canceled after three seasons in May 2025.

The creator was also attached as showrunner for the “God of War” series, which is an adaptation of the popular video game from PlayStation Productions and Amazon MGM Studios. He was later replaced with “Outlander” and “For All Mankind” creator Ronald D. Moore.

Judkins began his career as a writer on the NBC drama series “My Own Worst Enemy,” starring Christian Slater. He then served as a writer and producer for three seasons of NBC’s action-comedy series “Chuck” and two seasons of Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” He also wrote “Uncharted,” the action-adventure film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg.

He served as showrunner of “The Red Tent” for Netflix, which came out in 2014, based on Anita Diamant’s best-selling novel.

The writer-creator is repped by CAA, Kaplan Perrone and Hansen Jacobsen Teller.

Paramount TV Studios has also recently struck longterm creative partnerships with “Yellowjackets” creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, as well as a joint deal with joint deal with Liz Tigelaar (“Little Fires Everywhere”) and CBS Studios. Issa Rae also inked a three-year first-look deal to produce both film and TV shows for Paramount earlier this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Grammy-winning musician and actor Jon Batiste is inviting audiences on a spectacular journey through natural wonders of a part of the country he knows very well, “the vast network of wetlands spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the Carolinas.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films announced Thursday that New Orleans-area native Batiste will narrate and serve as executive producer on American Amazon, a documentary set to premiere November 13 in select IMAX and giant screen theaters and museums. It will debut as a two-part miniseries on PBS’ Nature in early 2027.

Batiste not only narrates but appears on screen in American Amazon, which hails from Grizzly Creek Films and The WNET Group’s Nature. We have your exclusive look at the trailer below, which features stunning photography of the wetlands that deserve to be known, as the film suggests, as the American Amazon.

A release notes that terrain qualifies as “one of North America’s least explored and biologically rich regions… Batiste brings a powerful emotional resonance to this immersive journey, elevating the film’s celebration of nature, culture, and human connection to the ecosystem.”

Batiste, an 8-time Grammy winner, commented, “I love introducing people to the swamp. Growing up in Louisiana, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the landscapes, culture, and spirit of my home. I think the South is sacred soil. American Amazon reveals the wild side that many people have never seen. It’s a world of extraordinary beauty, mystery, and life – hiding right in our own backyard. We’re celebrating the power of nature, creativity, and human connection – and this is just the beginning!”

Eric Bendick of Grizzly Creek Films wrote, directed, and co-produced the documentary. “Jon Batiste brings the American Amazon to life,” the filmmaker observed. “His creativity, passion, and energy invite us to fall in love with this wild and mysterious place that is truly the world’s best kept secret. His voice is a perfect match for all the drama and soul-stirring beauty of this landscape, allowing audiences to connect with the untamed spirit of the wild South.”

Co-producer Thomas Winston of Grizzly Creek Films noted, “Jon’s ability to move between joy, wonder, and reflection makes him an ideal narrator for this story. He brings a unique perspective that amplifies the film’s message of appreciation and stewardship. American Amazon marks an exciting new chapter in our ongoing collaboration with Jon—and there’s more to come.”

The documentary, shot over the course of four years, reveals an ancient and mysterious landscape defined by towering two-thousand-year-old cypress trees, labyrinthine flooded forests, a network of wild rivers, and an astonishing array of wildlife, according to the release. “From the mass migration of swallow-tailed kites—the world’s only social raptor—to the elusive behaviors of American black bears in the swamp, the film uncovers a world teeming with life, discovery, and enduring surprises.”

“American Amazon shines a light on one of the most ecologically important and least understood regions in North America,” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer of Nature. “Jon brings a rare authenticity to this story. His voice captures not only the wonder of the natural world, but also the deep cultural connection between the people, places, and wildlife that make the American South so extraordinary.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films is recognized as the world’s leading independent producer and distributor of giant screen films. Its many productions include Superhuman Body (2024), Ireland (2022), Out Where the West Begins (2021), America’s Musical Journey (2018), National Parks Adventure (2016), and Journey to the South Pacific (2013).

“Having worked with Jon previously on our giant screen film America’s Musical Journey, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible artistry and range he brings to every project,” said Shaun MacGillivray, president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “He is an extraordinary talent, and his ability to connect with audiences through music and storytelling makes him the perfect voice for American Amazon.”

Watch the trailer for American Amazon here: