Beatrice Springborn: Last News

“I think we need to find a way to avoid the U.S. brainwash,” said Newen Connect CEO Rodolphe Buet at this morning’s Berlinale Series Adapting to the Market session.

Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices and Universal International Studios are developing Jessica George’s debut novel Maame into a TV series.

Tesha Crawford, a Netflix international exec who has worked on the likes of The Witcher, Snabba Cash and Young Wallander, has joined Universal International Studios (UIS) to aid with its global scripted push.

Universal International Studios (UIS) has signed an exclusive deal with Home Team, the UK film and TV production outfit run by The End of the F***ing World exec Dominic Buchanan and Mogul Mowgli’s Bennett McGhee.

EXCLUSIVE: Erin Lee Carr has inked a first-look deal with Universal Content Productions to develop and produce projects across platforms.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Marc Velez has joined UCP as senior vice president and head of development, Variety has learned. In addition, Naketha Mattocks has joined Universal Television (UTV) as senior vice president of drama development. In his new role, Velez will report to Jennifer Gwartz, executive vice president of UCP. He joins the studio from Lee Daniels Entertainment, of which he was the president. He takes over development at UCP from Garrett Kemble, who left earlier this year for a role at Anonymous Content’s AC Studios. “Marc is a rare executive who is entrepreneurial, creative, and a partner to our talent and buyers,” said Beatrice Springborn, president of UCP and Universal International Studios. “We are fortunate to have him lead our creative team, who represent the best of the best as we continue to evolve and grow our slate.”

UCP and Universal Television, divisions of Universal Studio Group, have each brought in an SVP-level development executive. Lee Daniels Entertainment President Marc Velez has been named SVP, Head of Development for UCP, reporting to Jennifer Gwartz, EVP, UCP. Former Netflix executive Naketha Mattocks joins Universal Television as SVP, Drama Development reporting to Vivian Cannon, EVP, Drama Development, UTV.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGet Lifted Film Co. has entered a multi-year overall deal for scripted content at UCP.

Get Lifted Film Co., the production company run by John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, is getting into business with NBCUniversal.

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-producer Francisca X. Hu is getting into business with UCP. Hu has signed an overall deal with UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, under which she will develop and produce projects for a variety of television platforms.

Jordan Moblo has moved from Netflix to Universal Studio Group to oversee its IP charge.

Carson Burton Jordan Moblo has been hired at Universal Studio Group (USG) as head of creative acquisitions and IP management, the company announced today. The executive was previously Netflix’s director of IP scouting.Moblo takes over for Scott Nemes, who recently exited Universal Studios Group for AGBO, though Moblo’s role is an expanded version of Nemes’ executive vice president of creative acquisitions and international development position.As executive vice president of USG’s IP focused division, Moblo and his team will be responsible for sourcing and acquiring content for USG’s four studios: Universal Television (UTV), UCP, Universal International Studios (UIS) and Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS).

Peacock is exploring more stories ripped from the headlines.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the comedic thriller “Based on a True Story.”The series hails from writer, executive producer, and showrunner Craig Rosenberg. Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan of Aggregate Films will also executive produce, with Roxie Rodriguez of Aggregate co-executive producing.

Manori Ravindran International EditorUniversal International Studios has struck a first-look deal with “Call My Agent!” and “Parallèles” writer Quoc Dang Tran as it continues a charm offensive directed at international creators.UIS has inked a first-look deal with the French-Vietnamese writer and showrunner who will develop and produce English and French-language television projects with the studio for the global market. French-language series will be co-produced with the “Marianne” writer’s recently formed label, Daïmôn Films.“He really leads from themes that speak to his heart versus responding to the industry, so we’re excited to do business with a creator who listens to their gut instead of just what the network is mandating,” Beatrice Springborn, president of Universal International Studios, tells Variety ahead of a keynote at French TV festival Series Mania.

EXCLUSIVE: Call My Agent! and Marianne writer Quoc Dang Tran has struck a first-look deal with Universal International Studios, becoming the first French writer to sign such a deal with a major studio.

Manori Ravindran International EditorBeatrice Springborn, president of UCP, is adding president of Universal International Studios to her portfolio, while David O’Donoghue has been named head of Universal International Studios.The U.K.-based Donoghue will report into Springborn, and continue to have operational responsibility for the international business. Meanwhile, Springborn reports into Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group, and now has oversight of all aspects of Universal International Studios’ slate, with a keen focus on growing the studio’s global footprint.Springborn’s creative strategy will continue to bolster the business’s in-house scripted programming division, which is responsible for developing and producing shows including “Hanna” (Amazon) and “Dodger” (BBC).

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterSelwyn Seyfu Hinds has signed an overall deal with UCP, which will see him adapt the Civil War graphic novel series “The Sixth Gun” into a TV series for the Universal Studio Group-owned studio.Under the pact, Hinds will produce projects across various platforms through his production company Mad Massive Entertainment. First up is “The Sixth Gun,” based on the graphic novels from Oni Press by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt.Per UCP’s description for the potential show, “During the darkest days of the Civil War, vile men unearthed six pistols of otherworldly power.

EXCLUSIVE: The story of the Bayview High Four will continue. Peacock has ordered a second season of One Of Us Is Lying, its breakout YA drama series based on Karen M. McManus’ bestselling novel.

What does mommy take calls in her closest? Why is daddy always on Zoom with celebrities? A year into the pandemic, The Hollywood Reporter got a handful of industry execs to ask their kids what they think they do for a living. Here's what they had to say: Glaser Weil partner Jill Basinger's 16-year-old son, Nicholas: "Argue with people on the phone." CAA co-head of TV talent Jaime Feld's 5-year-old daughter, Zoe: "You say you work, but really all you do is talk, talk, talk." UCP president Beatrice Springborn's 8-year-old daughter, Poppy: "My mom laughs on the phone all day.