Ford v. Ferrari scribe and The Agency and MobLand series EP, Jez Butterworth, has closed an overall five-year deal with Universal Entertainment across TV, streaming and film.
The new pact commences on January 2027 after Butterworth’s current deal with Paramount wraps up at the end of the year.
On the feature side, Butterworth will be working with the Universal Pictures team led by President Peter Cramer. On the television side, Jez will be involved with Universal Studio Group, which operates under Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted. USG continues to support NBCUniversal’s internal platforms, while also serving third-party buyers.
The news of Butterworth’s deal at Universal follows that of 101 Studios’ production pact which was also previously at Paramount. Both 101 Studios and Butterworth produce the Paramount+ hit series MobLand and The Agency. 101 Studios’ deal was announced in November. Former Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy also has a producer deal with Universal to help wrangle the studio’s new film and TV pact with Taylor Sheridan, the TV portion of which transitions to NBCUniversal in 2029. Both 101 Studios and McCarthy’s deal commence in 2026. MobLand stars Pierce Brosnan, Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren. At the time of its debut in March 2025, MobLand became the streamer’s biggest global series launch ever, with 2.2 million viewers for its first episode.
“Jez Butterworth is a versatile creator whose storytelling has a way of getting under your skin. Whether it’s on stage or screen, his distinct voice is surprising and intense but always deeply human,” said NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairman Donna Langley.
“Having the opportunity to work across the entire Universal Entertainment ecosystem will provide multiple entry points for Jez to make a lasting impact at the Studio.”
Added Butterworth, “I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to join Donna and the team at Universal. I feel fortunate to continue my incredible partnership with 101 Studios and Chris [McCarthy] while I embark on this new adventure.”
Other feature writing credits for Butterworth include such tentpoles as Edge of Tomorrow, Spectre, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Black Mass and Universal’s own Get On Up. His debut play, Mojo, won seven major awards, including the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Butterworth’s theatrical productions include The Night Heron, The Winterling, Parlour Song, Jerusalem, The River and The Ferryman, which was nominated for nine Tony Awards and winning four, including Best Play. His latest work, The Hills of California, was critically acclaimed on Broadway and in the West End. He also received the E.M. Forster Award in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2019.
Butterworth is represented by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.
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