Matthew Weiner has departed Peacock’s upcoming comedy-drama series “The Chairman” following creative disagreements with the show’s producers. The project, which stars Eddie Murphy, has placed its writers’ room on a two-week hiatus while a new creative team prepares to take over leadership.
The creative partnership behind The Chairman has dissolved less than a month after the streaming service announced the project was in development. Matthew Weiner, best known as the creator of the AMC drama Mad Men, has stepped down from his roles as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Sources indicate that his departure stems from creative differences with the program’s producers.
Trade reporting from Deadline points out that executives at Peacock, Universal Television, and 101 Studios made the decision regarding Weiner based on the pilot script he delivered. Weiner had been brought in to develop and write an idea already pitched to Eddie Murphy, and the take he submitted represented a distinct departure from that initial concept.
While the writers’ room has gone on a two-week hiatus, the majority of the writing staff is expected to stay on during the transition. A replacement showrunning team is already in place and awaits a formal announcement in the coming days.
Eddie Murphy Remains Attached to Star and Produce
Despite the abrupt change in showrunners, Eddie Murphy remains firmly attached to the series as both its star and a producer. The project represents a significant career milestone for Murphy.
If the series receives a full greenlight, it will mark Murphy’s first scripted television role and his first regular series appearance since his departure from NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1984. Exact plot details for the series remain entirely under wraps.
Universal Television and 101 Studios Partnership
The high-profile series is a collaborative effort between Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and 101 Studios, the production company operated by Yellowstone executive producer David Glasser.
The production serves as the first project to emerge from a first-look film and television agreement struck between NBCUniversal and 101 Studios back in January. Additionally, it marks the first collaborative project involving former Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy, who joined NBCUniversal in a consulting role to help oversee the studio’s relationship with Glasser and 101 Studios.
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