Amazon orders The Man In The High Castle and four others, renews Mozart In The Jungle

Amazon Studios has announced pick-ups for five of its new original series, including the Philip K. Dick adaptation The Man In The High Castle, as well as a second season renewal for Mozart In The Jungle. Deadline reports that Amazon has ordered a full season of High Castle, adapted by The X-Files alum Frank Spotnitz from Dick’s 1962 novel about the aftermath of an alternate World War II in which the Axis powers emerged victorious. High Castle was considered a lock for more episodes, given that its pilot was Amazon’s most-watched since it ventured into original programming. Classical music comedy Mozart is the second Amazon series to get a sophomore season, following the renewal of Golden Globe winner Transparent.

Among the other four shows ordered to series is Mad Dogs, a dark comedy co-created by Shawn Ryan and bearing a similar title to Ryan’s dearly departed Terriers. Adapted from the UK series of the same name, Mad Dogs will follow a quartet of friends played by Steve Zahn, Romany Malco, Michael Imperioli, and Ben Chaplin who become ensnared in a murder mystery while on vacation in Belize. Amazon also wants more of its first documentary project, The New Yorker Presents, as well as the children’s shows Just Add Magic and The Stinky & Dirty Show.

According to Deadline, eight of Amazon’s pilots failed to make the cut, including an hour-long drama from Lost’s Carlton Cuse, another from Lie To Me creator Samuel Baum, and four kids’ shows. Renewals were not announced for the two half-hour sitcom pilots in contention, but according to reports, the only one still being considered is Salem Rogers starring Leslie Bibb and Rachel Dratch. It would be nice to have Dratch as a series regular in a comedy for once, but it’s best to manage expectations. Amazon has gotten picky these days, as Spotnitz’ former boss can attest.