Amazon is bringing Jem and the Holograms back to screens, with a live-action series now in development more than 40 years after the original animated show first aired. As reported by Deadline, the project is being developed at Amazon MGM Studios with Kilter Films and Hasbro Entertainment on board, marking another push to revive a franchise that still has a loyal fanbase.
The series is being positioned as an “elevated” adaptation of the 1980s original, which launched in 1985 and leaned heavily into the MTV-era boom in music videos.
Created by Christy Marx, the show followed Jerrica Benton, a record company owner who secretly becomes Jem, frontwoman of the band Jem and the Holograms. Each episode mixed storytelling with full music performances, helping it stand out in a crowded era of animated hits.
At its peak, Jem and the Holograms wasn’t just another kids’ cartoon. It became one of the most-watched syndicated animated series of its time, even outpacing titles like Transformers and He-Man. Its signature song, “Truly Outrageous”, and its music-video format helped lock in its identity.
Even after it ended in 1988, the franchise didn’t really disappear. It stayed active through comics, music releases and a steady fan community, including long-running fan conventions. A 2015 live-action film reboot attempted to modernise the story, but it failed to gain traction and didn’t restart the franchise.
This new Amazon series has a strong production team behind it. Kilter Films, led by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, produces the project alongside Hasbro Entertainment. Joy, Nolan and Athena Wickham executive produce for Kilter, while Gabriel Marano serves in the same role for Hasbro. Amazon emerged as the frontrunner early in the process, and the deal was finalised after several months of negotiations.
The series also fits neatly into Amazon’s wider programming strategy. Prime Video has been expanding its slate of female-led and young adult-focused shows, including The Summer I Turned Pretty, We Were Liars and the Culpables franchise. Kilter Films is already a key creative partner for the platform, best known for Fallout, which continues to expand with future seasons in development.
