Latest in ABC Studios

The London-based ABC Studios International team led by Managing Director Keli Lee has been let go as Disney Television Studios reevaluates its UK presence and overall international strategy. In all, four staffers were impacted, including Lee, sources said. For the time being, ongoing development and production matters…

Director Maggie Carey is getting into business with ABC Studios, a part of Disney Television Studios, signing a multi-year overall development and directing deal. Under the pact, Carey will write, produce and direct both drama and comedies for ABC Studios shows on various platforms, including ABC, Hulu and…

EXCLUSIVE: Fox has given a script commitment plus penalty to Familyship, a one-hour dramedy written by Jon Harmon Feldman. It hails from Feldman and Jennifer Gwartz’s Random Hill Productions and was sold before Gwartz’s recent appointment as EVP Development, Comedy and Drama at 20th Century Fox TV. This marks the…

As longtime Criminal Minds executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer is shepherding the drama’s upcoming 15th and final season, she has extended her exclusive overall pod deal with ABC Studios, the studio behind the long-running CBS series.  Under the pact, Messer is focusing on developing and executive producing…

EXCLUSIVE: Prolific director-producer Randall Einhorn is remaining at ABC Studios, signing a new overall deal with the studio for an additional two years. Einhorn will continue to develop scripted series via his newly relaunched Sad Unicorn production banner (fka Randall Einhorn Films), spearheaded by head of…

ABC Studios’ current executive Melanie Frankel has been named head of comedy. It marks the first major executive appointment for Jonnie Davis since he became ABC Studios President in July. Frankel, who emerged as the leading candidate for the job last month, succeeds Amy Hartwick who stepped down as ABC Studios head…

EXCLUSIVE: Another pilot has vanished into the Bermuda Triangle after ABC has opted not to proceed with sci-fi drama Triangle, starring The Brave's Mike Vogel. The pass by the Disney-owned broadcaster comes eight months after Triangle was ordered to pilot in January. A late international shoot in New Zealand and…

Fernando Hernandez, head of ABC Studios’ alternative division, is leaving the studio. The exit comes two months after Jonnie Davis came on board as new ABC Studios president. Davis’ predecessor, Patrick Moran, launched an alternative division almost two years ago, led by Hernandez, former head of Universal TV…

Daniel Levy, showrunner, creator and star of the Emmy-nominated comedy series Schitt's Creek, has signed a three-year overall deal with ABC Studios, a part of Disney Television Studios. Under the pact, Levy will develop and produce scripted projects for the studio. "Dan Levy has proven himself as one of the most…

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran producer Sabrina Wind has launched Windpower Entertainment, a new production company, which entered a deal with ABC Studios in May and has sold its first project, drama FML, with writer Katie Wech (BH90210) to ABC. Written by Wech, FML (Female Mid Life) centers around five women who share little…

EXCLUSIVE: Two of the slew of high-profile overall deals signed recently by 20th Century Fox Television, with writer-director Drew Goddard and actress-producer Octavia Spencer, are migrating to ABC Studios, I have learned. The move follows the recent appointment of 20th TV President of Creative Affairs Jonnie Davis as…

Prolific director Marc Webb has signed a major overall deal with ABC Studios, part of Disney Television Studios. Under the three year pact, said to be in the eight-figure range, Webb will direct pilots and develop and executive produce projects through his Black Lamb production company exclusively for ABCS across all…