Legendary Entertainment has hired ex-Warner Bros. TV chief Bruce Rosenblum as its president of television and digital media.
Rosenblum, who left Warner Bros. in March after 26 years running the studio's highly profitable TV unit, will run Legendary's TV business as it expands globally. He will report to Legendary CEO Thomas Tull.
“Bruce has an outstanding track record in the business, and he will be instantly additive to the team in our efforts to continue to make world-class content for consumers, however and wherever they access that content. We are pleased to have him join Legendary and look forward to working together to continue to build value for the company,” said Tull in a statement.
The move ends Hollywood speculation about Rosenblum's future. The executive was open about his disappointment when he was passed over for the CEO job at Warner Bros. that went to Kevin Tsujihara after a three-executive "bake-off." Industry observers speculated that Rosenblum would land at another major network or TV studio.
His appointment at Legendary signals the production financier's commitment to television after becoming known mostly for films. Legendary, based at Warner Bros., has backed a series of Warners hits including the Dark Knight series, the Hangover franchise and this weekend's Man of Steel. Legendary's Tull is currently deciding whether to re-up at Warners or take his company to another studio, with several studios (including Universal) courting him. Bringing Rosenblum, fresh from his Warner Bros. exit, on board likely will add to the speculation that Legendary will end its Warners relationship. But a Legendary rep declined to comment on its future.
“This is an unparalleled opportunity to join Legendary’s team and launch an innovative multiplatform content production and distribution business uniquely focused on a highly sought-after target demographic,” said Rosenblum. “There has never been a better time to be producing and distributing television content. The Legendary consumer belongs to a connected, vibrant demographic, and the opportunity to develop content and strategies to reach this burgeoning audience is invigorating and exciting to me.”
More to come...
