Ronny Sianturi
Amazon MGM Studios is undergoing a significant restructuring of its Worldbuilding Series team, a division dedicated to large-scale genre television productions, akin to epic franchises like The Lord of the Rings. This strategic realignment, helmed by Blair Fetter, the newly appointed leader of the Worldbuilding unit, marks a continuation of efforts to streamline operations and enhance agility within the studio’s expansive television development and production pipeline. As part of this reorganization, key executives Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain are departing the company.
This latest shake-up is a further evolution of changes initiated in January of this year. At that time, Peter Friedlander, head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, implemented a significant departmental overhaul, establishing genre-based teams to manage both in-development and current programming. These teams were categorized as: Drama and Comedy, Worldbuilding (encompassing fantasy, science fiction, and related genres), Animation, and Unscripted. The January reorganization saw the departures of Laura Lancaster and Nick Pepper, who subsequently transitioned to production deals with the studio. Jenn Levy was brought in to lead the Unscripted division, and Melissa Wolfe was appointed to head Animation. It was during this period that Blair Fetter joined Amazon MGM Studios to spearhead the Worldbuilding team, a role from which he is now orchestrating this further departmental refinement.
Fetter’s directive for the Worldbuilding team is to "operate with a flatter, more streamlined structure," as outlined in a memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. This approach aims to empower leaders with greater versatility, enabling them to navigate seamlessly between the crucial phases of development and current production. The objective is to foster a more autonomous and responsive team, better positioned to cultivate the ambitious, globally appealing series that Amazon MGM Studios is renowned for.
Within this new framework, Tom Lieber has been appointed as Fetter’s head of creative affairs for the Worldbuilding team. Liz Mackintosh, a Worldbuilder previously integral to the division, is transitioning to the Drama department, signaling a cross-pollination of talent and expertise within the studio’s television divisions. Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly still in the process of identifying a permanent executive to lead the consolidated Drama/Comedy team. In the interim, Kara Smith, Michael McDonald, and Jen Chambers will collectively oversee comedy, drama, and young adult (YA) programming, ensuring continuity and momentum in these vital genres.
The internal communication from Blair Fetter to his team provides further insight into the rationale and scope of these changes. The memo reads:
"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:
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"
The departures of King and O’Riain underscore the dynamic nature of executive roles within major studios, particularly during periods of strategic recalibration. King’s tenure was noted for his contribution to wholly owned development, with highlights including the successful launch of 56 Days and the upcoming series Carrie and Criminal. O’Riain’s contributions were also significant, with a notable role in the delivery of 56 Days and her advocacy for the anticipated series Elle. Their departures, while acknowledged with gratitude for their past contributions, signify a shift in the studio’s developmental focus or structural alignment for its genre programming.
The context of these changes is rooted in Amazon MGM Studios’ broader strategy to solidify its position in the competitive streaming landscape. Peter Friedlander, who joined Amazon MGM Studios in early October 2025 after a distinguished 14-year tenure at Netflix, replaced Vernon Sanders. Friedlander’s arrival signaled a renewed emphasis on structural efficiency and strategic growth within the studio’s television division. Sanders’ previous approach involved segmenting the studio’s TV projects based on their origin – wholly owned intellectual property versus co-productions – a model that Friedlander appears to be building upon and refining.
The Evolution of Studio Structures: A Trend Towards Agility
The reorganization of the Worldbuilding Series team is indicative of a broader trend across the television industry. As the streaming market matures and competition intensifies, studios are increasingly prioritizing organizational structures that foster agility, innovation, and a rapid response to market demands. The move towards genre-specific teams, as first implemented in January, reflects a desire to cultivate deeper expertise and more focused creative oversight within distinct programming categories. The subsequent refinement of the Worldbuilding unit under Fetter suggests a further push towards operational efficiency and a more integrated approach to development and production.
The emphasis on a "flatter, more streamlined structure" is a common refrain in corporate restructurings. In the context of creative industries, this often translates to empowering creative teams with more autonomy, reducing layers of management, and fostering direct lines of communication between development executives and production teams. For a division like Worldbuilding, which is tasked with creating expansive, intricate universes, such a structure could facilitate quicker decision-making, more efficient problem-solving, and a more cohesive creative vision from inception to execution.
Supporting Data and Industry Context
Amazon MGM Studios has made substantial investments in its genre programming. The success of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a flagship series for the Worldbuilding division, underscores the studio’s commitment to high-budget, ambitious fantasy and science fiction. The series, which premiered in September 2022, reportedly cost in excess of $465 million for its first season, making it one of the most expensive television productions ever made. Its performance on Prime Video, attracting a reported 25 million viewers globally within its first 24 hours, highlights the significant audience appetite for such epic narratives and the studio’s strategic focus on capturing this market segment.
The studio’s pipeline also includes other major genre projects, such as the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 series, a continuation of the iconic science fiction franchise, and various adaptations of popular literary works. The Worldbuilding team is crucial for nurturing these large-scale projects, which often involve intricate lore, extensive visual effects, and a long-term commitment to franchise development. The effectiveness of the team’s structure directly impacts the studio’s ability to deliver on these ambitious undertakings and to maintain a consistent output of high-quality genre content.
Broader Implications for Amazon MGM Studios
The ongoing reorganization at Amazon MGM Studios suggests a strategic imperative to optimize its television operations for continued growth and competitive advantage. The focus on genre-based teams, particularly the Worldbuilding unit, indicates a recognition of the significant potential and audience demand for large-scale fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure series. By fostering a more agile and streamlined structure, the studio aims to enhance its creative output, attract top-tier talent, and deliver compelling content that resonates with a global audience.
The transition of executives and the restructuring of teams are not uncommon in the fast-paced media industry. However, the consistent evolution of Amazon MGM Studios’ television divisions under Peter Friedlander points to a deliberate effort to build a robust and adaptable organizational framework. The success of these reorganizations will ultimately be measured by the studio’s ability to greenlight, produce, and successfully launch ambitious new series that capture the imagination of viewers and contribute to Prime Video’s overall subscriber engagement and retention. The appointments of Lieber, the interim leadership for Drama/Comedy, and the ongoing search for permanent executives signal a period of significant internal development, with the ultimate goal of strengthening Amazon MGM Studios’ position as a major player in the global television market.
