Thanks to Al for the heads up.
Army Wives grad Jeff Melvoin, who boarded the Kiefer Sutherland starrer in December, is being replaced as showrunner, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. A search is underway for a new showrunner to take over for an expected second season of the political thriller. Melvoin, who replaced Jon Harmon Feldman, will stay on as an executive producer and help train the new showrunner.
All told, the expected new hire will become Designated Survivor's fourth showrunner. Amy B. Harris (The Carrie Diaries, Wicked City) was originally tapped to serve as showrunner on the drama created by David Guggenheim. After boarding the Mark Gordon Co. show ahead of the pilot, Harris was replaced as Designated Survivor scored its official series pickup in May as the show's creative changed direction. Harris was replaced by Feldman (Blood and Oil, No Ordinary Family), who helped launch the ABC Studios and Mark Gordon Co. co-production to decent reviews and impressive ratings (including DVR records) ahead of its full-season pickup. Feldman left in December for an overall deal with ABC Studios.
Designated Survivor remains a key property for ABC. Despite cooling off following its strong out-of-the-gate launch, Netflix inked a multiple-season deal with co-producers Entertainment One, Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios for international rights to the show. A second season pickup is all but a done deal.
All told, the expected new hire will become Designated Survivor's fourth showrunner. Amy B. Harris (The Carrie Diaries, Wicked City) was originally tapped to serve as showrunner on the drama created by David Guggenheim. After boarding the Mark Gordon Co. show ahead of the pilot, Harris was replaced as Designated Survivor scored its official series pickup in May as the show's creative changed direction. Harris was replaced by Feldman (Blood and Oil, No Ordinary Family), who helped launch the ABC Studios and Mark Gordon Co. co-production to decent reviews and impressive ratings (including DVR records) ahead of its full-season pickup. Feldman left in December for an overall deal with ABC Studios.
Designated Survivor remains a key property for ABC. Despite cooling off following its strong out-of-the-gate launch, Netflix inked a multiple-season deal with co-producers Entertainment One, Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios for international rights to the show. A second season pickup is all but a done deal.
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