Apple Hires Former Amazon Studios Exec to Lead International TV Development

Friday October 20, 2017 1:19 PM PDT by Juli Clover
Former Amazon Studios executive Morgan Wandell is Apple's latest hire for its video team, reports Variety. Wandell will take on the role of head of international creative development for worldwide video at Apple, reporting directly to Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, former Sony execs who now lead Apple's original programming efforts.

Wandell will start work at Apple's new Culver City office at The Culver Studios at the end of the month.

Prior to joining Apple, a move that's been in the works for weeks, Wandell served as Head of International Series at Amazon Studios, and before that, he was an executive producer at ABC Studios.

Wandell previously worked with Erlicht and Van Amburg on "Sneaky Pete," and has also worked on shows that include "The Man in the High Castle," "Goliath," "Jack Ryan," and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

Apple has been building up its video content team in recent months, and Wandell joins hires like Matt Cherniss, former president and general manager of WGN America and Tribune Studios, and Kim Rozenfeld, who came from Sony Pictures and now handles documentary series development.

Apple's video content team is led by Erlicht and Van Amburg, both of whom report to iTunes chief Eddy Cue. Apple's first project initiated by Erlicht and Van Amburg will see the company teaming up with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and Comcast's NBC Universal to create new episodes of sci-fi series "Amazing Stories."

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Tag: Apple's Hollywood ambitions
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21 comments


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TrickyTree1984
11 months ago
These cheesy photos are soon bad. The casual look is now seriously uncool
Rating: 3 Votes
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MH01
11 months ago

I don't see much diversity in these high level hirings.


Agree - there is no one left that knows anything about computers .....
Rating: 3 Votes
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Urban Joe
11 months ago
If the content is good I might check it out. So far Amazon programming hasn't really done it for me. They have been trying awefully hard. I expect Apple will over dose their stuff with highly nuanced politically correct ideas.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Plutonius
11 months ago
I don't see much diversity in these high level hirings.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Braderunner
11 months ago
Sooooo...more content for children? o_O:eek::confused:
Rating: 2 Votes
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Dagless
11 months ago
I hope he isn’t one of these sexual predator types :o
Rating: 2 Votes
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Gasu E.
11 months ago

for what it’s worth, the network referenced at the end of the article is WGN America not WGB America. Here in Chicago, its our favorite local morning news. go cubbies, better luck next year :)


WGN America was the network that launched the outstanding, but lamentably unwatched, series "Manhattan".
Rating: 1 Votes
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apolloa
11 months ago

What?


Apple said they will spend a billion dollars on original content, Amazon spent about 2.4 billion this year and is increasing its budget for 2018, Netflix next year is spending about 8 billion dollars... if Apple was anywhere near serious abuse it taking on Netflix and Amazon, it needs to spend way way way more then its pocket change gesture.
Considering all the hard talk from Apple on how it’ll compete in this market, it needs to put its money where it’s mouth is like everyone else does.
Rating: 1 Votes
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ipedro
11 months ago

Apple still needs to invest much much mire then it’s pocket change billion dollars though!


What?
Rating: 1 Votes
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Lesser Evets
11 months ago
Did he go to the Ray Price Amazon school of sexual wit and charm?

Perhaps he can start a show called, "You WILL love my DICK!"
The theme song is a chant; it's a hypnotic love ballad.
Rating: 1 Votes
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