Latest Amazon MGM Studios TV chief Peter Friedlander is reorganizing the department into genre-specific divisions, prompting the exits of execs Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper and the doorway of Netflix vet Blair Fetter.
As of Monday, Amazons MGM Studios’ TV arm will transition from its current model — split between wholly owned and co-productions — to at least one separated into drama & comedy, worldbuilding, animation, and unscripted genres. Under this recent organization, the event and current teams for every genre will work throughout the same divisions.
Previously, Pepper had run the wholly owned projects while Lancaster was answerable for the co-productions segment. Now, Fetter is joining Amazon MGM Studios as head of worldbuilding & genre series. Worldbuilding execs Tom Lieber and Matt King will report back to Fetter and Fetter will report back to Friedlander.
The remainder of the present TV leadership team includes Jenn Levy (previously announced head of unscripted and documentary television) and Melissa Wolfe (who will proceed as head of animation), who will report on to Friedlander. Kara Smith, Michael McDonald and Jen Chambers will act as interim chiefs across drama, comedy, and young adult programming while Friedlander finds a brand new head of drama & comedy series.
Head of world IP Lauren O’Connor and MGM Television scripted series boss Lindsay Sloane may also report back to Friedlander.
Lancaster and Pepper are in talks for producing deals at Amazon.
See Friedlander’s Monday memo to staff announcing the restructuring changes, obtained by Variety, below.
All,
I’m writing to announce a brand new organizational structure for the Scripted Series team at Amazon MGM Studios, designed to speed up our mission of delivering exceptional original television that captivates audiences worldwide. Effective immediately, we’re transitioning from our current structure—split between Wholly Owned and Co-Productions—to a streamlined, genre-based organization (drama & comedy, worldbuilding, animation, and unscripted). Each Development and Current will reside on this recent framework, which is able to provide greater clarity, specialized expertise, and clear ownership across our entire portfolio.
As a part of this evolution, Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper might be transitioning out of the organization. Producing deal conversations are underway. Nick and Laura have been invaluable builders of our scripted series slate, and we’re deeply grateful for his or her significant contributions to our success. Laura has made incredible contributions to Prime Video’s programming successes as she and her team have led the creative oversight of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Terminal List, The Higher Sister, We Were Liars, amongst many others, in addition to upcoming series resembling Spider-Noir, Blade Runner 2099, Scarpetta, and God of War. Nick was the driving force behind the critically acclaimed Prime Video series Overcompensating and the upcoming titles Tomb Raider, Elle, Young Sherlock, and Carrie. As well as, Nick has built a daring and distinctive animation slate, including Secret Level, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, and two of Critical Role’s premium campaigns, Vox Machina and Mighty Nein.
With this transition, I’m pleased to announce that Blair Fetter is joining Amazon MGM Studios as Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series, reporting to me starting February 2nd. Blair brings outstanding experience from Netflix, where he oversaw Spectacle Series and was essential to the success of shows resembling Stranger Things, Ozark, The Queen’s Gambit, Death by Lightning, BoJack Horseman, The Haunting of Hill House and three Body Problem. His ability to find and develop expansive worlds paired together with his commitment to high-quality storytelling makes him a super addition to my leadership team. Tom Lieber and Matt King will report back to Blair, continuing to give attention to our Worldbuilding genre programming.
As previously announced, Jenn Levy has joined as Head of Unscripted and Documentary Television. Melissa Wolfe will proceed as Head of Animation, now reporting on to me. For our Drama, Comedy, and Young Adult programming, Kara Smith, Michael McDonald, and Jen Chambers will report back to me on an interim basis until we finalize the structure and put in place a brand new Head of Drama & Comedy Series. With these changes, Lauren O’Connor, Head of Global IP, will now report on to me. Lindsay Sloane, who leads MGM Television, Scripted Series, may also proceed to report back to me.
By organizing around these specialized genres with dedicated leadership, we’ll move faster, make sharper creative decisions, and proceed to construct groundbreaking series that outline the longer term of television. I’m energized by the opportunities ahead and assured on this team’s ability to deliver for our customers and the creative community wherein we work.
Thanks all,
Peter