EXCLUSIVE: Jane Wiseman is leaving Paramount+ where she was executive vice president and head of originals for 14 months, Deadline has learned. His departure follows the departure of his former boss, Cindy Holland, president of Paramount Direct-To-Consumer, on the eve of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery almost a month ago. Wiseman’s team will now report to HBO Max’s Sarah Aubrey, I hear.
After the merger officially closed on October 6, HBO/HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys became co-president and chief content officer of Skydance’s DTC company, taking charge of the programming teams at HBO Max and Paramount+, in addition to HBO itself.
He brought with him his core group of HBO/HBO Max executives, Francesca Orsi, head of HBO dramas, Amy Gravitt, head of HBO and HBO Max comedy, and Aubrey, head of HBO Max originals. Having a team of three seasoned senior executives with whom he had worked for a long time left no room for Wiseman – herself a respected development executive – at that level, from what I hear.
Nevertheless, Bloys took a few weeks to familiarize himself with the operation and content team of Paramount+, examining various scenarios. Wiseman continues to oversee all or part of his portfolio, including the Taylor Sheridan/101 Studios roster, the possibility of reporting to Aubrey was considered, I’ve heard, but that could have distorted the existing parity between Orsi, Aubrey and Gravitt, which had worked well.
During his tenure at Paramount+, Wiseman oversaw 28 new scripted, unscripted and children’s and family series revivals and 16 renewals, as well as the content side of BET+’s integration into Paramount+. The first two new scripted series ordered under Wiseman, Discretion, with Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, and The best of us, headlined by Jeremy Strong, are in production.
Also included is Wiseman’s Paramount+ slate Landman, MobLand, The Madison, Dexter, Dutton Ranch and the next Distraught, with Alicia Silverstone, Ascent with Viola Davis and Don’t be afraid with Anne Hathaway.
UPDATE: In Bloys’ internal memo unveiling his DTC Content management team, he thanked Wiseman.
“Jane, in her partnership with Cindy Holland, has done an incredible job at Paramount+,” he said. “The development roster is incredibly impressive and Jane has graciously offered to help us with the transition. She is an extraordinarily talented executive. I appreciate all of her support and wish her all the best.”
Prior to Paramount+, Wiseman served as head of U.S. television at Sister Under Holland, overseeing the company’s television division with a focus on premium scripted series. Before that, she was VP and Head of Comedy at Netflix, also working for the Netherlands, where she led Ozark, Narcos, Dead to Me, Russian Doll, Master of None, Never Have I Ever, Big Mouth, BoJack Horseman, The Kominsky Methodand Grace and Frankieamong others.
Prior to Netflix, Wiseman was executive vice president at Chernin Entertainment, where she worked on New girl. She previously spent six years at NBC as EVP of Comedy, where she developed beloved hits like Parks and Recreation And Community. Wiseman began his career at Fox, helping develop the Emmy Award-winning film. Arrested development And The simple life.
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