Amazon MGM Studios Restructures Scripted Series Team Under New Leadership
Amazon MGM Studios has made significant changes to its scripted series team under the leadership of Peter Friedlander, the new Head of Global Television. The restructuring involves the departure of Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper, the top scripted executives under the previous TV head, Vernon Sanders. Friedlander announced a new genre-based organization structure, similar to Netflix's, which will be led by executives reporting directly to him. Blair Fetter, who previously worked with Friedlander at Netflix, will join as Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series. The reorganization aims to streamline operations and enhance creative decision-making for future series development.
The new structure at Amazon MGM Studios will focus on four genre areas: drama & comedy, worldbuilding, animation, and unscripted. Each genre will have a dedicated executive overseeing development and current series. Fetter will lead the Worldbuilding & Genre Series team, with Tom Lieber and Matt King continuing to work on worldbuilding genre programming under his leadership. A new Head of Drama & Comedy Series will be named soon, with Kara Smith, Michael McDonald, and Jen Chambers working across drama, comedy, and young adult programming in the interim. Melissa Wolfe will continue as Head of Animation, reporting directly to Friedlander, along with Jenn Levy as Head of Unscripted and Documentary Television, and Lauren O'Connor as Head of Global IP.
The restructuring comes after Friedlander's appointment at Amazon MGM Studios, following his tenure at Netflix. The changes aim to improve the efficiency of the TV division and build a strong team to deliver groundbreaking series. Friedlander expressed confidence in the team's ability to meet the expectations of customers and the creative community. The reorganization reflects a strategic shift towards specialized genres and dedicated leadership to drive innovation in television programming.
Nick Pepper and Laura Lancaster, who joined Amazon in 2021, played key roles in expanding the scripted series slate. Pepper focused on exploring the MGM library of IP for television, resulting in greenlights for projects like Legally Blonde prequel Elle and Tomb Raider. Lancaster oversaw ongoing series for Prime Video, including successful shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. Both executives made significant contributions to the success of Amazon MGM Studios before the restructuring.
Blair Fetter's appointment as Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series brings his expertise in developing expansive worlds and high-quality storytelling to the leadership team. Fetter's experience at Netflix, working on popular series like Ozark and The Queen's Gambit, makes him a valuable addition to Friedlander's team. The restructuring at Amazon MGM Studios aims to enhance collaboration, creativity, and efficiency in producing innovative television content for audiences worldwide.