Michael Edelstein


NBCU hires Fifty Fathoms production chief

NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS) has hired the head of production at UK prodco Fifty Fathoms, Charlotte Bloxham, to take on the same role. Bloxham will oversee NBCUIS’s scripted productions from UK-based producers Heyday Television, Working Title Television and the core NBCUIS business. At Endemol Shine UK-owned Fifty Fathoms, Bloxham has been head of production since […]

NBCU finds Edelstein replacement

Jeff Wachtel is relocating from LA to London to become the replacement for Michael Edelstein at NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS). Currently NBCU Cable Entertainment’s chief content officer, Wachtel (pictured) will begin his new role as president of NBCUIS in January before moving to London in the summer of 2018. He will be in charge of […]

Amazon orders Hanna spin-off from NBCUniversal

NBC Universal International Studios has secured a straight so series order from Amazon Studios to create a scripted series based on Focus Features’ hit movie Hanna (2011). The series will be written by David Farr, who co-wrote the feature film and adapted John Le Carre’s The Night Manager for BBC/AMC. Hanna is a high-concept thriller […]

NBCU Intn’l, RTL, TF1 order first procedural

The international production arm of NBCUniversal and European powerhouse broadcasters RTL Deutschland and TF1 have greenlit Gone, the first international procedural resulting from the trio’s drama deal. The series will be based on the Chelsea Cain’s novel One Kick and run to twelve one-hour episodes. Chris Noth, star of juggernaut US procedural Law & Order, […]

NBCU formats boss exits

David Mortimer, the NBCUniversal exec brought into to spearhead international formats growth, is leaving the company. Former indie prodco boss Mortimer has been in his London-based senior VP, factual and development, at NBCU for three years. When he joined, his remit was to run a new unit dedicated to unscripted programming. He had previously been […]

Ex-Channel 4 drama exec joins Working Title

UK-based Working Title Television UK has hired the former head of drama development at broadcaster Channel 4, Surian Fletcher-Jones. Also joining the NBCUniversal International Studios-backed prodco is Georgina Gordon-Smith, a former United Agents rep who becomes development executive. Fletcher-Jones is known for overseeing development on C4 series such as Cucumber, Banana and Indian Summers. She […]

NBCU launches prodco with Harry Potter’s Heyman

NBCUniversal International Studios has created a joint venture production with Harry Potter and Gravity producer David Heyman. Heydey Television launches with a pair of series commitments from NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. Heyman is best known for securing the rights to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books for cinema and then producing the subsequent eight movies. […]

Wanted: procedural series

Demand remains high for procedural drama, but the supply from the US is slowing. Stewart Clarke investigates how the procedural genre is being reinvented and how international producers and distributors are increasingly getting involved in a genre that was once the preserve of the studios While Breaking Bad, House of Cards and True Detective exemplify […]

West Wing producer to head Working Title US

Former West Wing producer Andrew Stearn has been named president of NBCUniversal International Studios-backed Working Title Television US. The former president of television at John Wells Productions comes after Working Title TV US’s executive VP, Gina Girolamo exited after less than a year to return to Gossip Girl producer Alloy Entertainment. Stearn is best known […]

NBCUniversal buys into Canuck prodco

NBCUniversal International Television Production has acquired a stake in Canadian producer Lark Productions. The move formalises a four-year strategic production partnership NBCUI has had with Lark, which creates the Real Housewives of Vancouver format for Shaw and crime series Motive for CTV. Under terms of the deal, NBCUI becomes a minority shareholder in Lark and […]