Dana Walden News

“The Mysterious Benedict Society,” based on the award-winning and bestselling book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, will be coming to Disney+ in 2021. This series was originally developed for Hulu. 

ABC has ordered drama series 'Rebel' straight to series to debut in 2021, it was announced today by Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment.

Thomas Kail, the director of Hamilton, and producer Jennifer Todd partnered to form a new television company. According to Deadline, the duo also signed a multi-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Kail and Todd will develop for all platforms under Kail's Old 320 Sycamore Pictures banner.

Producer and entertainment executive Tara Duncan joins FreeForm as the young adult cable network's new president, it was announced today by Dana Walden, chairman, Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment

Deadline reports that FX has renewed 'American Horror Story' for three more seasons.

Howard Kurtzman, president of Business Operations for 20th Century Fox Television and head of business and legal affairs for over two decades, will step down in June, it was announced today by Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment Chairman Dana Walden and Disney Television Studios President Craig Hunegs. Carolyn Cassidy, formerly president of Creative Affairs and partnered with Kurtzman, will be named president, 20th Century Fox Television.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) hosted its 28th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala presented by Lifetime today, honoring Reese Witherspoon with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award and Ronan Farrow with the Equity in Entertainment Award. This year's honorees were joined by best-selling author, entrepreneur and political activist Stacey Abrams, who delivered the keynote speech. The event – held at MILK Studios in Los Angeles – coincided with the publication of THR's annual Power 100 Women in Entertainment issue, guest edited by Olivia Wilde.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) today announced that Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow will receive the Equity in Entertainment Award at its annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala on Wednesday, December 11, 2019. The honor, which recognizes an individual who has worked against gender-based discrimination and toward greater inclusion of women and people of color in the entertainment industry, will be presented by former Fox News anchor, whistleblower and journalist Gretchen Carlson.

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) announced today that the recipients of NATPE's 17th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award are award-winning actress Christine Baranski, ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke, prolific television creator, producer and writer Courtney A. Kemp, President of NBCUniversal's Telemundo Global Studios, Marcos Santana, and Chairman, WarnerMedia News and Sports & President, CNN Worldwide Jeff Zucker. They will receive the prestigious award during the NATPE Miami 2020 convention during a dinner gala on January 22, 2020, at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. The dinner, with its A-list attendees, benefits the NATPE Educational Foundation, with a portion going to the Broadcasters Federation of America (BFOA). Bob Holmes is returning as Executive Producer of the show.

The Hulu Scripted Originals content team is joining forces with Walt Disney Television to integrate development of original scripted drama and comedy programming for the streaming service with Disney's expansive television resources. With this alignment, Craig Erwich, senior vice president of Scripted Originals for Hulu, will report to Dana Walden, chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. Erwich will continue to lead scripted originals planning, development and commissioning for Hulu's original comedies and dramas, and his team will remain housed within the Santa Monica Hulu headquarters.

The Hulu Scripted Originals content team is joining forces with Walt Disney Television to integrate development of original scripted drama and comedy programming for the streaming service with Disney's expansive television resources. With this alignment, Craig Erwich, senior vice president of Scripted Originals for Hulu, will report to Dana Walden, chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. Erwich will continue to lead scripted originals planning, development and commissioning for Hulu's original comedies and dramas, and his team will remain housed within the Santa Monica Hulu headquarters.

Celebrating its 24th year, the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's signature event, Taste for a Cure, will be held on Friday, April 26 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. During this special evening, the 2019 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award will be presented to Sandra Stern, President of Lionsgate's Television Group.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced that Craig Hunegs will assume the role of president, Disney Television Studios (DTV Studios), after the close of the 21st Century Fox, Inc. acquisition. He will report to Dana Walden, who, upon close of the 21st Century Fox, Inc. acquisition, will assume the role of chairman, Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced that Ravi Ahuja will join the senior leadership team of Walt Disney Television upon the close of the 21st Century Fox acquisition as president, Business Operations, and chief financial officer. In this role, Ahuja will oversee finance, strategic planning, business development, affiliate sales & distribution, technology, music affairs, consumer insights and labor relations for the division. 

Twenty-two-year Disney Communications veteran Kevin Brockman, executive vice president, Global Communications, Disney|ABC Television, will depart the Company following the close of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Inc.

Karey Burke, current head of Freeform original programming development, has been named president, ABC Entertainment, following the decision by Channing Dungey to step down from the role.

FX has renewed the groundbreaking dance musical series Pose, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions. The second season of Pose will debut in 2019 on FX.

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) announced the election of Dana Walden and Ping Fu to its Board of Directors. Each of Walden and Fu bring over 25 years of experience to their board roles. 

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group, today will unveil the FOX primetime slate for the 2018-2019 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.

According to USA Today, FOX is officially reviving the Tim Allen series LAST MAN STANDING. ABC had previously cancelled the series last year after six seasons. Allen is set to return. Read more about it from USA Today here!