Chris Brearton: Celebs Rumors

Naman Ramachandran After the relaunch of Epix as MGM+ in the U.S. in January, Amazon has revealed that its MGM international streaming service will relaunch as MGM+ International in key European countries. MGM+ has also concluded a content deal with Lionsgate for a package of premium films and television series and under this arrangement, MGM+ International will stream premier series from Lionsgate and Starz in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, at no extra cost to their current subscription, which is €3.99 ($4.36) per month. Beginning this weekend, series available will include the Power franchise, “Black Sails,” “Black Mafia Family,” “Mad Men” and “Nashville” with more new, first-run and exclusive Lionsgate titles titles to follow. Lionsgate+ subscribers who joined via Prime Video Channels will now get access to the MGM+ International streaming service and will be able to watch Lionsgate content alongside films from MGM Studios.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Last week, Amazon Studios/Prime Video senior VP announced that Chris Brearton was leaving Amazon “to pursue a new opportunity outside the company.” Now we know what that opportunity is: Brearton, who had most recently served as vice president of Prime Video Studios Corporate Strategy at MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television, has joined indie media company AGBO as a partner. At AGBO, he will join company leaders Anthony and Joe Russo (the directors who co-founded the company in 2017) and partner Donald Mustard.

Days after he left Amazon, Chris Brearton has found a new gig.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Chris Brearton is exiting Amazon MGM Studios after a long career at MGM to pursue other opportunities, the company announced on Wednesday. In a memo to staff, Amazon Studios and Prime Video senior vice president Mike Hopkins revealed that Brearton “has decided to leave Amazon to pursue a new opportunity outside the company.” Brearton had most recently served as vice president of PVS Corporate Strategy at MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television.

EXCLUSIVE: Earlier this morning, Amazon revealed that it was letting go several hundred employees across Prime Video and Amazon Studios as part of a review of its business.

MGM+ is eschewing a “one size fits all approach” to global expansion, the streamer’s bosses have said, as they detail international strategy several months after rebranding.

Naman Ramachandran Cory Shields, VP global media and entertainment at Amazon, has stepped down, according to reports. Shields joined in 2020 and was in charge of publicity for Amazon’s original films and series, working closely with Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. Variety understands that Amazon has not yet revealed a replacement for Shields. Prior to the Amazon role, Shields spent some 20 years at NBCUniversal, where he held various prominent positions across two stints. Shields’s first stint at NBC began in 1997 and concluded in 2004 with the title senior VP corporate communications. He held the same position at Sony BMG Music Entertainment after that.

MGM+ has a new global general manager.

Selome Hailu Josh McIvor has been promoted to global general manager of MGM+, the Amazon-owned streamer that relaunched in January after previously being known as Epix. As global general manager, he will report to Chris Brearton, who serves as vice president of Prime Video Studios corporate strategy, and work alongside Michael Wright, head of MGM+, as well as Laura Sher, head of MGM+ business operations, and Peter Lops, head of MGM+ finance. Based in Seattle, he will oversee the U.S. and international MGM+ business and its continued expansion, guiding long-term strategic planning, P&L management, distribution strategy, operations and commercial deals.

Epix is to rebrand as MGM+ International outside the U.S. and has struck a content deal with Lionsgate for key European territories.

EXCLUSIVE: MGM Alternative is taking variety-meets-gameshow format Watch! into the U.S.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon restructured MGM’s television business at the end of November but it seems that there’s more movement in that department.

EXCLUSIVE: In its latest corporate realignment, Amazon has created a single unit for third-party living room device business development and partner marketing for Prime Video, MGM+ and Freevee. Leading those activities will be company veteran Andrew Bennett.

Hi team,Nearly nine months ago when we acquired MGM, we said we would take a thoughtful and measured approach to the integration process. It was important to take the time to ensure the right people were in the right jobs for maximum collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

MGM COO Chris Brearton, who was just named VP, PVS (Prime Video Studios) Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative, has unveil his team.

It’s official – Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, will also oversee MGM, the venerable film and TV studio, which was acquired by Amazon earlier this year for $8.5 billion. Additionally, MGM’s COO Chris Brearton will take on a new role, VP, PVS Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television. Mike Hopkins, SVP, Prime Video and Amazon Studios, just made the announcement internally in a memo (You can red it under the post.)

Snoop Dogg will star in MGM’s upcoming comedy The Underdoggs and produce under his Death Row Pictures banner alongside Kenya Barris.

Snoop Dogg and Kenya Barris are partnering up with MGM on the upcoming comedy feature “The Underdoggs.” Snoop Dogg will star in and co-produce the project. Described as “The Bad News Bears” meets youth football, the film revolves around former NFL superstar Jaycen “2Js” Jenning (Snoop Dogg), who agrees to coach a youth football team in hopes of jumpstarting his career after he has a run-in with the law.Charles Stone (“Drumline,” “Uncle Drew”) will direct.

After holding two separate town hall meetings for Amazon Studios/Primetime Video and MGM employees earlier today, Mike Hopkins, SVP Prime Video & Amazon Studios, sent a followup memo to MGM employees Friday afternoon. In it, he shared more details about the interim organizational reporting changes that will be implemented as Amazon prepares to start the integration process following the close of its $8.5 billion acquisition of the stories Hollywood studio.

“Amazon joins MGM,” Amazon said Thursday as the $8.5 billion deal announced last May closes.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAmazon has closed its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM first announced last May, the companies said Thursday.Per Amazon, “The storied, nearly century-old studio—with more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, 180 Academy Awards, and 100 Emmy Awards—will complement Prime Video and Amazon Studios’ work in delivering a diverse offering of entertainment choices to customers.”The completion of the transaction comes two days after the Amazon-MGM deal received clearance from the European Union’s antitrust regulator, which “unconditionally” approved Amazon’s proposed acquisition of MGM, in part because “MGM’s content cannot be considered as must-have.” The European Commission, in its antitrust review, found that the overlaps between the Amazon and MGM businesses are “limited.” At that time, the deal was still pending approval by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which had been given a mid-March deadline by Amazon to issue a decision on approval of the transaction, the Wall Street Journal reported.