EXCLUSIVE: 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, which you can read in full below. The realignment, which bears some resemblance to Netflix’s scripted series executive structure, impacts both development and current.
Each of the four genre areas will be led by an executive who will be a Friedlander direct report.
Fetter, who starts February 2, will be Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series. That is right up his alley as Fetter most recently oversaw Spectacle Series at Netflix.
Tom Lieber, Head, Co-Production Genre Development and Current Series under Lancaster, who has overseen The Boys universe, Fallout, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Matt King, who was on Pepper’s team, will continue to work on worldbuilding genre programming, now reporting to Fetter.
A Head of Drama & Comedy Series will be named soon. Kara Smith, most recently Head, Co-Production Drama, Comedy Development and Current Series under Lancaster; Michael McDonald, Head of the Comedy and Drama Development – US SVOD TV Development and Series – Wholly Owned under Pepper; and Jen Chambers, Head of Creative Synergy & Development on Pepper’s team, will be working across drama, comedy, and young adult programming under the new Head of Drama & Comedy. They will report to Friedlander in the meantime. Smith has been involved in the development of some of Prime Video’s biggest hits from outside studios, including The Summer I Turned Pretty and Reacher.
Melissa Wolfe will continue as Head of Animation. Previously under Pepper, she will now be reporting directly to Friedlander. Also reporting to Friedlander is Jenn Levy, the Netflix alumna he recently brought in as the streamer’s new Head of Unscripted and Documentary Television.
Additionally, Lauren O’Connor, Head of Global IP, who previously reported to Pepper, will now report directly to Friedlander. Lindsay Sloane, Head of MGM Television, Scripted Series, will also continue to report to Friedlander.
The restructuring comes four months after former Netflix Head of UCAN (U.S. and Canada) Scripted Series Friedlander joined Amazon. He took time to familiarize himself with the TV studio’s executive team and its development slate while plotting his strategy.
While doing that, Friedlander has been keeping things largely close to the vest. Speculation about the pending reorg picked up momentum earlier this month as he is expected to present the new structure at a town hall that has been scheduled for later this week.
Peter Friedlander
Courtesy
Amazon MGM Studios’ TV operations went through quite a few rounds of restructuring over the past several years with lines between programming areas drawn and redrawn to a point where many producers and agents felt confused whom to pitch a particular project. When Friedlander took over, there was expectation that he would streamline the way the TV division operates while building his own team. In doing so, he met with a number of executives – both internally and externally.
“By organizing around these specialized genres with dedicated leadership, we will move faster, make sharper creative decisions, and continue to build groundbreaking series that define the future of television,” Friedlander said in the memo. “I’m energized by the opportunities ahead and confident in this team’s ability to deliver for our customers and the creative community in which we work.”
Pepper and Lancaster joined Amazon in 2021 and were named to their most recent roles in 2022 as part of a restructuring of the scripted team.
Since then, Pepper has spearheaded the exploration of the MGM library of IP for television following Amazon’s $8.5B acquisition of the 100-year-old studio, which has resulted in several greenlights to date, including Legally Blonde prequel Elle, Tomb Raider and Carrie. Additionally, he has worked on building a slate of owned YA series, including Overcompensation, and the upcoming Off Campus and Carrie, and has overseen animation with slate that includes Secret Level and Hazbin Hotel.
Lancaster was originally brought in to oversee the ongoing series for Prime Video. She and her team have shepherded several series that have gone to multiple seasons, with some growing season-to-season, most notably The Summer I Turned Pretty. Other shows under her purview included Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Terminal List and We Were Liars.
“Nick and Laura have been invaluable builders of our scripted series slate, and we are deeply grateful for their significant contributions to our success,” Friedlander said.
Before joining Amazon, Lancaster was Alcon Television Group President and head of drama at NBC; Pepper was President of Legendary Television and Head of Television for the Mark Gordon Company.
Fetter left Netflix after more than 13 years in October, two months after Friedlander’s exit. Fetter has been rumored to follow Friedlander to Amazon MGM Studios ever since, though, according to sources, he met with other companies too.
During his Netflix tenure, Fetter worked on such series as Ozark, The Queen’s Gambit, Stranger Things, BoJack Horseman, 3 Body Problem, Godless, Big Mouth, Haunting of Hill House and Death by Lightning.
“His ability to discover and develop expansive worlds paired with his commitment to high-quality storytelling makes him an ideal addition to my leadership team,” Friedlander said of Fetter.
Before joining Netflix, Fetter worked on HBO’s Big Love, on which Friedlander was a producer and executive for Playtone. Fetter started as an assistant before being promoted to associate producer on the show. He made the move to Netflix six months after Friedlander had gotten there.
Amazon MGM Studios’ international originals, led by Nicole Clemens, falls under VP Kelly Day who reports to Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM, as does Friedlander.
Here is Friedlander’s email:
I’m writing to announce a new organizational structure for the Scripted Series team at Amazon MGM Studios, designed to accelerate our mission of delivering exceptional original television that captivates audiences worldwide. 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). Both Development and Current will reside in this new framework, which will provide greater clarity, specialized expertise, and clear ownership across our entire portfolio.
As part of this evolution, Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper will be transitioning out of the organization. Deal conversations are underway. Nick and Laura have been invaluable builders of our scripted series slate, and we are deeply grateful for their 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 Better Sister, We Were Liars, amongst many others, as well as upcoming series such as 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. In addition, Nick has built a bold 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 such as Stranger Things, Ozark, The Queen’s Gambit, Death by Lightning, BoJack Horseman, The Haunting of Hill House and 3 Body Problem. His ability to discover and develop expansive worlds paired with his commitment to high-quality storytelling makes him an ideal addition to my leadership team. Tom Lieber and Matt King will report to Blair, continuing to focus on our Worldbuilding genre programming.
As previously announced, Jenn Levy has joined as Head of Unscripted and Documentary Television. Melissa Wolfe will continue as Head of Animation, now reporting directly to me. For our Drama, Comedy, and Young Adult programming, Kara Smith, Michael McDonald, and Jen Chambers will report to me on an interim basis until we finalize the structure and put in place a new Head of Drama & Comedy Series. With these changes, Lauren O’Connor, Head of Global IP, will now report directly to me. Lindsay Sloane, who leads MGM Television, Scripted Series, will also continue to report to me.
By organizing around these specialized genres with dedicated leadership, we will move faster, make sharper creative decisions, and continue to build groundbreaking series that define the future of television. I’m energized by the opportunities ahead and confident in this team’s ability to deliver for our customers and the creative community in which we work.
Peter
