Vivian Cannon: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Television has acquired the rights to adapt the Rebel Blue Ranch series of books from author Lyla Sage. 

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation, Universal Television has acquired the rights to Jana Monroe’s memoir Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, The Behavioral Science Unit, And My Life As a Woman In The FBI to develop into a series. Winner filmmaker Susanna Fogel and Julia Ruchman (The Walking Dead) will both write and executive produce, with Fogel serving as director. Monroe and Rain Productions will also executive produce.

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.