| LAURA LANCASTER & NICK PEPPER LEAVING AS BLAIR FETTER JOINS SCRIPTED SERIES TEAM |
Amazon MGM Studios' new Head of Global Television Peter Friedlander is putting his stamp by restructuring the studio’s scripted series team and bringing in Blair Fetter, who previously worked with him at Netflix.
Leaving as part of the reorg are the two top scripted executives under previous Amazon MGM Studios TV head Vernon Sanders: Laura Lancaster as Head of US SVOD TV Development and Series – Co-Productions, and Nick Pepper as Head of US SVOD TV Development and Series – Wholly Owned. Both are in talks for producing deals with the streaming studio.
“Effective immediately, we are transitioning from our current structure — split between Wholly Owned and Co-Productions — to a streamlined, genre-based organization (drama & comedy, worldbuilding, animation, and unscripted),” Friedlander said in a memo announcing the changes. >>>Read The Memo |
Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
Fire & Cash - It was another slow weekend at the international box office but one with a milestone, specifically 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed the $1B mark at the foreign B.O., taking the global cume to the James Cameron-directed movie to $1.38B. >>> Still No.1 Globally
Chloe Kim's Final Run - Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim is the subject of a new documentary. While filming, U.S. athlete Kim sustained a torn labrum during a practice run but still plans to compete “in what will likely be her final Olympics run” in Italy. >>> Featured In Film
Imagine Finds 'Angel' - Author Daniel Kraus is reteaming with Imagine to develop a film based on his novel Angel Down. Named one of the 10 Best Books of 2025 by The New York Times, Angel Down follows Private Cyril Bagger, who has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of WWI through his wits and deception, swindling fellow soldiers at every opportunity. >>>" A Dream Experience "
Rhoades To Travel - Black Mirror and Ponies producer Jessica Rhoades tells Deadline about relocating to the UK, working with Charlie Brooker and championing writers in an in-depth interview at the Pacesetter Productions chief. >>> Transatlantic Plan
Social Event - BBC News is closing BBC Trending, an investigative journalism team tasked with shedding light on the darker side of social media. Deadline hears he British national broadcaster is closing four jobs as part of the cost-cutting decision, which comes amid rising disinformation online. >>> Bemoaned Internally
Tracking Foley's 'Arctic Fox' - Sherlock & Daughter creator Brendan Foley has landed his next project by returning to the Nordic region to pen a version of Finnish geopolitical thriller 'Operation: Arctic Fox,' a book by journalist and former army officer Helena Immonen. Given President Trump's pursuit of Greenland, it feels incredibly timely. >>> Set Against Geopolitical Tensions |
With an all-night bidding war for The Invite at Sundance, things are heating up for the Olivia Wilde-directed feature which premiered at the festival Saturday night.
Speaking at Deadline’s Sundance Studio, Wilde said of the premiere: “It was the best night of my life, it was so fun. To sit and laugh with that audience was just so wonderful, so full of joy, I was just levitating in my seat.” >>>Q&A |
exclusiveRenée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) has joined the cast of the new CBS legal drama Cupertino, from Robert and Michelle King. In a series regular role, Goldsberry will play Renee, a brilliant opposing attorney who has a professional and romantic history with Michael.
ExclusiveSally Hawkins, David Haig, Victor Garber, Max Casella and Isaac Bae are set to join Ryan Reynolds and newcomer Mae Schenk in a live-action feature adaptation of Eloise, with Netflix recently boarding the project to distribute.
exclusiveErich Bergen (Madam Secretary) and Michael Nathanson (Good Night, And Good Luck) have been cast in recurring roles in Ryan Murphy‘s FX limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.
ExclusiveWriter-director Peter Collins Campbell has wrapped on Grind, his darkly comedic indie thriller starring Jack Haven and Janeane Garofalo, adding seven to the cast: David Zayas (Dexter), Hari Nef (Barbie), Ivy Wolk (Anora), Killer Mike and EL-P of hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, Coral Peña (Task) and John Beckwith (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans).
exclusive Australian actor, comedian and musician Tim Minchin (The Artful Dodger) has joined Matt Lucas, Parker Little, Kylie Cantrall and David Wenham in the voice cast of animated feature Zac Power, with Studio 100 handling international sales at the upcoming European Film Market. |
QUOTABLE "Extraordinarily difficult" - Melissa Gilbert's first comments about how she's coping after her husband Timothy Busfield was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse |
MORE NEWS
🎬 Donald Trump still wants to impose tariffs on movies made outside the United States, while he’s talking about establishing low interest bonds for the industry.
📺 The Great British Bake Off has named TV cooking mainstay Nigella Lawson as its new judge, replacing Prue Leith.
⚖️ A year after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office decided not to go after Marilyn Manson on sexual abuse charges, the shock rocker got a big jolt of justice Monday when a previously dismissed case from a former assistant was revived for trial.
⛩️ Netflix has ordered One Year to Live, Buy a Man from Hiroki Kazama, anime Sparks of Tomorrow, live-action webtoon adaptation Viral Hit and auction format Doors Closed, Bids Open, as its love-in with Japanese content continues.
👀 Netflix’s limited series adaptation of Vladimir by Julia May Jonas will premiere on March 5. First-look images have been revealed today. |
| OBITUARIES
🕯️ Sly Dunbar, whose drumming with bassist Robbie Shakespeare made for an all-but-unrivaled reggae rhythm section utilized by such greats as Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, has died. He was 73. 🕯️ 2026 Deaths Photo Gallery |
| ON THE RADAR Tue - BAFTA & WGA Awards nominations announced
Wed - Meta earnings
Thu - Comcast, Apple earnings; Bridgerton Season 4 premieres
Mon - Disney earnings |
Among The 'Living' - Steve Buscemi, Will Price, Giancarlo Esposito, Noah Segan and John Turturro repping The Only Living Pickpocket in New York in the Deadline Portrait Studio at Sundance. |
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