Amazon MGM Studios is reorganizing its Worldbuilding Series team, whatever that is. (OK, it’s genre TV on a large scale, like Lord of the Rings.) As part of the restructuring, Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain are departing.
It’s a reorg of a reorg, basically. In January, head of global TV Peter Friedlander shook things up via the formation of genre-based teams for both his in-development and current programming. Those would be: 1) Drama and Comedy, 2) Worldbuilding (i.e., fantasy, sci-fi, etc.), 3) Animation and 4) Unscripted. At the time, Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper left (and transitioned to production deals) and were replaced by Jenn Levy (Unscripted) and Melissa Wolfe (Animation); Blair Fetter joined Amazon MGM Studios to lead the Worldbuilding team. This is Fetter’s rebuild, an attempt to “operate with a flatter, more streamlined structure,” he wrote in a memo to staff (obtained by The Hollywood Reporter).
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Fetter has appointed Tom Lieber his head of creative affairs; Worldbuilder Liz Mackintosh is headed to Drama. Amazon MGM Studios is still searching for an executive to lead the Drama/Comedy team. Kara Smith, Michael McDonald, and Jen Chambers will oversee comedy, drama and YA programming on an interim basis.
Read Fetter’s internal email here:
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
Friedlander joined Amazon MGM Studios in early October 2025 after 14 years at Netflix, replacing Vernon Sanders. Sanders had the studio’s TV projects separated by wholly owned or co-production.
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