Amazon hired veteran movie executive Courtenay Valenti for a newly-created role, as the head of film, streaming, and theatrical for both Amazon Studios and MGM.
She'll report directly to Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke and will focus on developing "a well-rounded selection of tentpoles, prestige films, and genre fare."
- Salke and Valenti will also devise a "robust" schedule to bring Amazon films to theaters; in November, Bloomberg reported that Amazon plans to invest $1 billion in theatrical films in 2023.
- Amazon Studios' former head of film development, Julie Rapaport, will now serve as head of film creative and strategy, and will report to Valenti.
- Valenti served as president of production and development at Warner Bros. for 33 years, overseeing both live-action and animated films; recent projects include Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" film, the "Mad Max" spinoff "Furiosa," and Steven Spielberg's big-screen version of the "Color Purple" musical.
