Apple, Amazon challenge Netflix with Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige projects

Netflix was once the king of streaming and original content. But now Amazon and Apple have been making plays to take over that title — and they've got some big names attached to new projects.

Oprah Winfrey's effort is a film for Apple TV, while Mary J. Blige is telling her life story in an Amazon Prime documentary.

Oscar-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering will direct and produce Winfrey's untitled project, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Winfrey will also produce the flick, which follows an ex-music executive who battles over sharing her story that a high profile music industry person assaulted and abused her. The doc, which does not have a release date, will air on Apple TV+. Winfrey has an exclusive partnership with the streaming service, where she'll release documentaries and interview guests on "Oprah's Book Club."

However, Blige isn't doing the interviewing for her Amazon teaming. Instead, she'll be telling her own story decades after the release of one of her most personal albums, "My Life." The singer will discuss the record and her journey in a documentary for Amazon Prime Video. Blige will also discuss her battle with abuse, drugs and heartbreak in the untitled effort, Deadline reported. The doc, which Blige will produce with Sean "Diddy" Combs, will follow her concert tour to perform "My Life" for the first time since 1994.

Cox Media Group