Amazon Studios Restructures MGM TV Scripted Operations: Leadership Roles For Lindsay Sloane & Rola Bauer, Bradley Gardner Exits As Orion TV Folds

To say that “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is a massive bet for Amazon is a complete understatement. Sure, any big-budget series for a streaming service requires a bit of betting and good luck, but no other series in the history of TV has cost nearly as much as ‘Rings’ and required so much money upfront just to land the rights.

The Off Broadway musical revival of the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth classic Merrily We Roll Along, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff & Lindsay Mendez will move to Broadway in the fall, producers anounced today.

Amazon Studios has made it official, confirming that it has secured global rights to the Warhammer 40,000 game from Games Workshop for Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) to star in and executive produce the Warhammer 40,000 franchise across all Amazon Studios productions. The agreement encompasses rights to the universe across TV series, film, and likely games and animation.

Henry Cavill is evaluating his options following him stepping down as Superman as the DC character is being rebooted by the new regime. According to sources, he is exploring multiple opportunities as he is fielding overtures for film and TV projects. One of them, which is in a more advanced stages, is believed to be Warhammer 40,000 at Amazon Studios. Details are murky, but I hear that the deal, which is still being negotiated, would involve Cavill headlining a sci-fi TV series based on the game.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal and Working Title have set Melissa McCarthy to star in an untitled Christmas-in-New York movie that will be written by Love Actually scribe Richard Curtis and directed by Sam Boyd.

The aftershocks from the big executive restructuring at Amazon Studios continue.

December is here, and some holly jolly cheer along with some spooks and scares will come to Amazon Prime Video in the form of newly added shows and movies. Prime Video Original Christmas rom-coms on the way include “Something From Tiffany’s”  — out Dec.

Peacock has revealed the cast and premiere date for their new reality competition series The Traitors. The show hosted by Alan Cumming will drop all 10 episodes on January 12, 2023. Click on the photo gallery above to meet all of the contestants which include stars of The Real Housewives and Big Brother.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy and Golden Globe winner Edie Falco has reteamed with her Nurse Jackie director Brendan Walsh on I’ll Be Right There — an indie comedy written by Jim Beggarly (Free Samples), which has wrapped production in New York. 

Sky Studios Names UK Drama Commissioning Boss

CNN plans to move its Los Angeles bureau from an office tower in Hollywood to Warner Bros. Discovery office space in Burbank.

EXCLUSIVE: Esther Povitsky (Dollface), Bobby Lee (Reservation Dogs) and Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation) are among the notable comedic talents set for Drugstone June — a new feature that Utopia, All Things Comedy, and Shout! Studios have partnered to produce for world sales.

EXCLUSIVE: After landing the hot package Red Shirt earlier in the week, Amazon Studios has added another high-profile property to their slate as Sources tell Deadline the studio has landed the action comedy Moxie starring Keke Palmer. Deadline broke the news that the package was out to buyers before the Thanksgiving Holiday and Amazon moved fast to land the rights tot pic featuring one of the bigger stars of 2022. Hawkeye director Bert is on board to direct with Heather Quinn penning the script. Palmer, Peter Lawson and Kate Churchill are producing. Sharon Palmer is exec producing.

EXCLUSIVE: Prolific genre creators Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy (The Haunting Of Hill House, Midnight Mass) have signed an exclusive multiyear overall series deal with Amazon Studios. Under the pact, the duo will develop and produce projects via their Intrepid Pictures company, which will exclusively stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Hi team,Nearly nine months ago when we acquired MGM, we said we would take a thoughtful and measured approach to the integration process. It was important to take the time to ensure the right people were in the right jobs for maximum collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

MGM COO Chris Brearton, who was just named VP, PVS (Prime Video Studios) Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative, has unveil his team.

It’s official – Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, will also oversee MGM, the venerable film and TV studio, which was acquired by Amazon earlier this year for $8.5 billion. Additionally, MGM’s COO Chris Brearton will take on a new role, VP, PVS Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television. Mike Hopkins, SVP, Prime Video and Amazon Studios, just made the announcement internally in a memo (You can red it under the post.)

It’s been a busy week at Amazon as the restructure involving MGM takes hold.

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Gardenhour (13 Hours) is set to produce Ponzi: Pure and True alongside Flag On The Play Productions and producers Dominic Zamprogna and Travis Schneider. The upcoming film adapts the Charles Ponzi biography Ponzi: The Incredible True Story of the King of Financial Cons by Donald Dunn.