Amazon Studios’ UK production chief Frank Murray exits to launch new prodco

Frank Murray

Amazon Studios production chief in the UK, Frank Murray, has become the latest exec to depart the streamer and is launching his own production firm.

Murray, who had been Amazon Studios’ UK & pan-English head of scripted production for two years, is setting up a new US/UK-focused film & TV production venture whose name has yet to be revealed. He said the company aimed to have “a few projects” in the works by Q2 2024.

The company is backed by an eight-figure equity investment out of New York City although further details have been kept under wraps.

Murray has worked on shows including The Devil’s Hour for Amazon Studios, as well as upcoming thriller Wilderness. His previous credits include The Wrestler and 22 Jump Street.

His exit comes a week after Amazon Studios UK & Northern Europe chief Dan Grabiner confirmed he would be stepping down to launch his own production company.

Orchard Studios will work across unscripted, formats, factual entertainment and documentary, and has been launched with Nicola Hill, former co-CEO at The Garden.

Other execs to have left over the past 12 months include Amazon Studios’ former Europe chief, Georgia Brown, and a rejig of Martin Backlund’s remit, who moved from being head of content in the UK for Prime Video to become MD of the company’s Nordic arm.

Murray said: “I can’t say enough good things about my amazing UK production team and about [head of local production] Laine Kline’s constant support throughout my tenure, so the decision to leave my post with Amazon Studios wasn’t made lightly.

“But with the shifting paradigm in global content production, my partners and I seized a rare opportunity to future-proof in a way that will not only allow me to continue creating value for the studio as an independent on select projects but also enable us to produce great content for all platforms.”