Chris Rice Steps Down as Co-CEO of Fifth Season: A Look Back at His Legacy and Future Plans
After a 15-year partnership, Chris Rice is stepping down as co-CEO of Fifth Season. He has decided not to renew his contract, which expires at the end of the year. His co-CEO, Graham Taylor, will take over as the sole CEO of the film and TV production and distribution company. Despite leaving his current role, Rice will stay on as an advisor to Fifth Season and will work on some projects. He has also signed a first-look deal with the studio, returning to his producing roots. Taylor, who comes from a film background, will now lead the company on his own, with plans to bring in a senior TV executive to fill the gap left by Joe Hipps, the former President of TV who departed last year.
Chris Rice, originally from Britain, co-founded and served as the chief operating officer of Cinnamon Entertainment before joining WME in 2010. He led the agency's Global TV team and worked closely with Graham Taylor on film projects. Rice played a key role in developing new deal templates that provided creatives with greater financial opportunities through program ownership. He was involved in several financing and sales deals, including international co-productions like AMC and BBC's The Night Manager. In 2017, Rice and Taylor's film and scripted TV finance and sales operation at WME and IMG became Endeavor Content, a standalone company under Endeavor's umbrella. Following a majority stake sale to Korea's CJ ENM in January 2022, the company changed its name and brought in Toho Studios as a minority owner.
Reflecting on his time at Fifth Season, Rice expressed pride in the company's achievements, particularly the success of the Apple TV+ drama Severance, which received 27 Emmy nominations in 2025. Despite not winning the Outstanding Drama Series award, Severance was a standout at the Emmys, earning eight wins. Rice credited the support of Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, and Endeavor for the company's success and praised his partnership with Graham Taylor. He highlighted Taylor's passion, taste, and dedication to quality in film and television.
Fifth Season's current scripted series lineup includes Chief Of War on Apple TV+ starring Jason Momoa, The Savant with Jessica Chastain, East of Eden, His & Hers for Netflix, The Good Daughter for Peacock, and American Classic for MGM+. The company has had a successful run at the Emmys, earning a total of 36 nominations across six series and films. Rice expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Graham and the team at Fifth Season, emphasizing the importance of backing distinctive and unique storytelling. The company's recent achievements at the Emmys have been a source of pride for Rice and Taylor, marking a successful chapter in their partnership.