Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn Leave ‘Project Runway’, BUT Team up with Amazon

Apparently they couldn’t make it work designers, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are both walking away from Project Runway. That said, the pair are teaming up with Amazon to produce a brand new ‘reality fashion series’.  So is designer Zac Posen.

Perhaps you’ll recall all the hullabaloo during the fall of mogel Harvey Wienstien and the probable issues for the dozens of properties (film, tv, etc) to be greenlit by him that still carried TWC name. One of those just happened to be reality series favorite Project Runaway, which was looking at an uncertain future in the wake of the fall.

Deadline reports that this new project:

“will continue Klum and Gunn’s 14-year relationship and a commitment to making fashion accessible to a wide audience.” It also will employ major synergies with Amazon Studios’ parent company, which is the biggest online retainer in the world, as Amazon Fashion will create a “shoppable experience” for viewers who likely will be able to purchase designs created on the show. Such a union of entertainment and commerce in the digital age seems tailor made for a company like Amazon.

Klum said of the exit:

“After 16 incredible seasons, I am saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Project Runway, a show that I was honored to host and help create. I am incredibly proud of the show, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I am so appreciative of the dedicated fans, and most of all, I am grateful that we could shine a light on creativity and help launch so many talented designers’ careers. I’m most excited that my journey with my dear friend and colleague, Tim Gunn, is far from over. We will be partnering with Amazon for a new show, and we’re excited for everyone to see what we’re designing next!”

Gunn said of the exit:

“I am grateful to Project Runway for putting me on a path I never, in my wildest dreams, thought my career would take me! I am so proud to have been a part of the groundbreaking process that showcased talented young designers as never before. Most importantly, I am indebted to our incredible fans, they are the heart and soul of what we do, and continue to inspire us to raise the bar in this arena. I’m excited for them to see what’s next, as I partner with Amazon and Heidi Klum on our next great ‘fashion’ adventure.”

And Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said of the new partnership:

“Heidi Klum completely changed the television landscape by developing a competitive reality fashion series that was unproven and different from what was popular on-air. The show became wildly successful, and in turn Klum and Tim Gunn have become an iconic pop culture duo. Their drive to deliver fashionably entertaining, engaging and trendsetting content speaks for itself, and we believe their next iteration in this space will find an even larger audience on our global Prime Video runway.”

We’ll let you know when we find out when this new series is expected to hit Amazon.