Hulu ups Jordan Helman to head of original scripted content

The Handmaid’s Tale

Disney-owned US streamer Hulu has promoted Jordan Helman to head of original scripted content, following Beatrice Springborn’s move to Universal Cable Productions (UCP).

Helman has served as head of original drama since 2015, during which time he has worked on shows including The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock and Catch-22, as well as upcoming titles like Nine Perfect Strangers and The Girl From Plainville.

In his new role, Helman will take oversight of development across drama, comedy, limited series, animation and international co-productions, with titles currently in the works including Love, Victor, Pam & Tommy and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

He will report to Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, while Hulu will now search for a new head of drama to replace him.

Springborn exited Hulu in November 2020 to become president at NBCUniversal-owned UCP, where she oversees the entire slate, including Netflix series The Umbrella Academy and forthcoming drama Joe Exotic.

“The last six years at Hulu have been a true labour of love, as I’ve had the privilege of working with artists and executives who inspire me on a daily basis,” said Helman.

“Hulu is more than just my home; it’s a place where creators can produce their very best work with the support of our unmatched content team and the far reach of The Walt Disney Company. I’m thrilled to be given this incredible opportunity.”

Disney General Entertainment (DGE) recently unveiled Onyx Collective, a new content brand on Hulu for creators of colour and underrepresented voices, including programming from Oprah Winfrey and Ryan Coogler.

The streamer has also made a number of recent unscripted commissions, including a docuseries exploring the history of US basketball team the Los Angeles Lakers, a six-part series about former Beatle musician Paul McCartney and baking competition format Baker’s Dozen.