EXCLUSIVE: Two months after Blair Fetter joined Amazon MGM Studios as Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series, the former Netflix executive has restructured the department, resulting in expanded responsibilities for Tom Lieber, reporting changes for some members on the team and several departures, most notably Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain who will be leaving the company.
Fetter unveiled the changes in a company memo.
“As we look ahead, we’re evolving the Worldbuilding Series organization to operate with a flatter, more streamlined structure — one designed to enable leaders who are nimble and versatile enough to move fluidly between development and current production,” he wrote in the email, which you can read below. “This is about positioning the team to move with greater autonomy as we continue developing the ambitious, global series our audiences love.”
The Worldbuilding & Genre Series department was formed as part of the big Amazon MGM Studios scripted team realignment by new Head of Global Television Peter Friedlander, announced in late January. Previously split by series’ ownership into Co-Productions and Wholly Owned, the studio’s executive team was restructured by genre into Drama & Comedy, Worldbuilding & Genre, Animation and Unscripted.
Fetter became Head of Worldbuilding & Genre. Melissa Wolfe is Head of Animation; Jenn Levy is Head of Unscripted. Search for Head of Drama & Comedy continues.
In the genre-based reorg, two senior executives in the worldbuilding/genre arena joined Fetter’s team, reporting to him: Lieber, who was Head, Co-Production Genre Development and Current Series, and King, who was on the Wholly Owned side.
King is now leaving, with Lieber, who has overseen The Boys universe, Fallout and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, now getting a new title as the Head of Creative Affairs, Worldbuilding.
“Tom will continue to work closely on the titles he is on, but we are empowering the rest of the team to take the lead on the individual projects,” Fetter said. “In doing so, Tom will focus on how new technologies can meaningfully support current and future worldbuilding series.”
While not spelled out, this is likely a reference to using AI as woldbuilding/genre series are inherently very labor-intensive and expensive to make, which is the case with Prime Video’s Rings of Power and Fallout. Amazon in August assigned a senior executive, VP Prime Video U.S. Albert Cheng, to spearhead “creating new tools for our creative partners that harness the power of AI,” as Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, said at the time.
Like King, O’Riain also came from Amazon MGM Studios’ Wholly Owned programming operation.
“Matt and Adrienne have each been incredible partners and have given so much to this team,” Fetter said. “Matt brought a distinct vision to the wholly owned development team, most recently with the successful launch of 56 Days and the upcoming series Carrie and Criminal. Similarly, Adrienne also delivered on 56 Days and championed the highly anticipated series Elle. I’m deeply grateful for their contributions and the care they brought to Prime Video every single day.”
Also leaving Fetter’s team is Liz Mackintosh but she is staying at Amazon. She will be moving to Kara Smith’s team, where she’ll work closely with Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins. Mackintosh and Smith previously worked together in Co-Productions. Smith is now one of three senior executives in the new Drama & Comedy department who are currently reporting to Friedlander until a Head of the unit is named.
In other org changes, Scott Farris and Max Taylor, who previously reported to King and Lieber, respectively, will now report to Fetter.
“This team has built something special, and these changes are rooted in a genuine belief that a leaner, more focused structure will allow us to do our best work — for our customers, for our creative partners, and for each other,” Fetter said.
Here is his full memo:
Hi Team, I want to take a moment to share some updates to our team structure, and to recognize the people who have been central to building what we have today. As we look ahead, we’re evolving the Worldbuilding Series organization to operate with a flatter, more streamlined structure — one designed to enable leaders who are nimble and versatile enough to move fluidly between development and current production. This is about positioning the team to move with greater autonomy as we continue developing the ambitious, global series our audiences love. With that, I have to share that Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain will be departing the organization. I want to take a moment to thank them both for their hard work in this organization. Matt and Adrienne have each been incredible partners and have given so much to this team. Matt brought a distinct vision to the wholly owned development team, most recently with the successful launch of 56 Days and the upcoming series Carrie and Criminal. Similarly, Adrienne also delivered on 56 Days and championed the highly anticipated series Elle. I’m deeply grateful for their contributions and the care they brought to Prime Video every single day. Please join me in wishing them both nothing but the best in what comes next — I have no doubt they’ll continue to do great things. Alongside these changes, I’m glad to share a couple additional updates: Tom Lieber will be expanding his scope, as the Head of Creative Affairs, Worldbuilding. Tom will continue to work closely on the titles he is on, and we are empowering the rest of the team to take the lead on the individual projects. In doing so, Tom will focus on how new technologies can meaningfully support current and future worldbuilding series. Liz Mackintosh will be transitioning to Kara Smith’s organization, where she’ll work closely with Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins to support the Drama organization. Scott Farris and Max Taylor will report directly to me. Mark Ambrose and Andie Green will continue to report to Tom. This team has built something special, and these changes are rooted in a genuine belief that a leaner, more focused structure will allow us to do our best work — for our customers, for our creative partners, and for each other. I’m proud of what you all have accomplished together and excited about where we’re headed. Thank you for everything you bring to this team. Blair
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