NBCUniversal shakeup: Film boss Donna Langley will now also lead TV

NBCUniversal movie chief Donna Langley is being elevated to oversee all of film and television production — taking over one of the most important and visible parts of the Comcast Corp.-owned media company.

Langley’s promotion on Thursday to chairman of the NBCUniversal Studio Group and chief content officer is part of a broader shakeup that has been in the works since Comcast President Mike Cavanagh began leading the entertainment company following the ouster of former CEO Jeff Shell in April.

The expansion of Langley’s turf recognizes her standing in Hollywood, where she commands respect for her taste, savvy and straightforward style.

As part of the management overhaul, television chief Susan Rovner is stepping down. Rovner was hired by Shell in 2020 for the big TV programming role following a long stint at Warner Bros., but she lacked full oversight of programming budgets, which limited her influence. Another rising star, Pearlena Igbokwe, will continue to lead the company’s television studios.

Three other veteran NBCUniversal executives — Mark Lazarus, Cesar Conde and Mark Woodbury — will see their portfolios expand.

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“This new structure will facilitate a streamlined decision-making process and foster even more collaboration across our company,” Cavanagh wrote in a memo to employees to announce the moves.

Langley, who has been chairman of the film studio since 2013, will be responsible for NBCUniversal’s creative teams, including Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation) and Universal Studio Group (Universal Television, Universal Content Productions, Universal Television Alternative Studios, Universal International Studios).

“In this role, Donna will oversee a unified content strategy across the broad NBCUniversal portfolio, bringing together our film and television studios,” Cavanagh wrote.

Under Langley, Universal Pictures has pursued a strategy of releasing a diverse slate of movies in theaters, with prestige dramas and Jason Blum-produced horror movies mixed in with big-budget franchises, including Jason Bourne installments and animated “The Secret Life of Pets.”

Despite a few juggernaut releases, film studios industrywide have struggled to restore their business to pre-pandemic levels.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” from Universal’s animation studio Illumination Entertainment, grossed more than $1 billion in global ticket sales. But “Fast X” did so-so business compared with its predecessors, and DreamWorks Animation’s “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” flopped.

Universal is set to release Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” a three-hour historical drama, on July 21, a risky bet that pits the film against Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated “Barbie.”

During the pandemic, Universal shifted its release strategy to distribute films in theaters first but then quickly make them available for in-home rental for at least $20. Universal cut home video revenue-sharing deals with theater owners, who had long resisted attempts by studios to shorten the exclusive theatrical window. Studio executives have said the tactic has made more of their films profitable.

Langley, who is British, joined the studio 22 years ago from New Line Cinema and quickly became an integral part of Universal’s success.

She is a favorite among filmmakers, who appreciate her no-nonsense attitude and big swings, including “Straight Outta Compton,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “Unbroken,” “Bridesmaids,” “Mamma Mia” and “Despicable Me.”

In the memo, Cavanagh said he would be staying on to lead NBCUniversal in addition to his duties at the Philadelphia-based parent company. He has encouraged staff members to view the realignment as “a permanent structure,” according to company insiders.

The announcement shuts the door on speculation that Comcast would install a new CEO to replace Shell, perhaps sparking competition within NBCUniversal’s ranks.

The new arrangement was designed to “take some of the friction out of the system,” one of the knowledgeable executives said, by creating four distinct groups: content, distribution, news and theme parks. During Shell’s tenure, the lines of authority weren’t as clear.

Lazarus becomes chairman of the NBCUniversal Media Group, running the company’s television and streaming businesses, including its television networks, NBC Sports and Peacock. He also will be responsible for the company’s relations with its affiliated television stations. He takes over advertising sales following the May departure of former ad chief Linda Yaccarino, who became Twitter’s chief executive.

Conde becomes chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group, which includes NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC News Now. He will gain oversight of the company-owned local TV stations and its Spanish-language operation, Telemundo.

Woodbury continues as chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, which has been an increasingly popular and profitable part of the company. Woodbury’s group includes Universal Studios Hollywood, the Universal Orlando Resort, theme parks in Japan and China and a horror entertainment attraction in Las Vegas.

Frances Berwick was elevated to chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, reporting to Lazarus and Langley. She will continue to run the linear entertainment networks and have some responsibility for original programming headed to TV networks and Peacock.

General Counsel Kimberley Harris, Chief Financial Officer Anand Kini, Executive Vice President Adam Miller and Chief Diversity Officer Craig Robinson will help round out Cavanagh’s senior management team.