Hollywood sign

Hollywood sign

Oscar-nominated producer Michael De Luca has replaced Jonathan Glickman as chairman of MGM’s motion picture group.

Reports circled early on Friday (January 3) that Glickman was stepping aside after eight years in the role and the studio confirmed them later in the day. Glickman segues into a producer role at MGM starting on February 1.

De Luca (The Social Network, Captain Phillips, Moneyball) is expected to begin his new role shortly and will report directly to MGM’s board of directors.

He will steer all aspects of MGM’s global film operation including development, production, marketing and distribution of MGM’s film slate, including Orion Motion Pictures. De Luca will also oversee MGM’s on-stage production division. He joins the board of United Artists Releasing, the studio’s US theatrical distribution joint venture with Annapurna Pictures.

Glickman joined MGM in 2011 and will oversee completion of EON’s 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, which is set for release in April. His first project as a producer with MGM will commence with the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect starring Jennifer Hudson.

Besides a producing career that has included the Fifty Shades franchise, De Luca was at the age of 27 one of the Hollywood’s youngest production chiefs in an early role as president and COO of New Line Productions. He also served as DreamWorks head of production from 2001-04, before launching Michael De Luca Productions, which had a development and production agreement with Columbia Pictures He established a multi-year production deal at Universal Pictures in 2015, and served as president of production for Columbia Pictures.

Upcoming MGM releases include No Time To Die, Candyman from Jordan Peele, Respect, and Samaritan starring Sylvester Stallone.

In a personal message to the company, Glickman stated: “It’s been a great honour to have overseen MGM’s film division’s revival over the past eight years. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work on movies that I love, with some of the most talented filmmakers in the world, and with colleagues that consistently inspired me. I am extremely enthusiastic about our 2020 slate, I can think of no better way to conclude this studio run than a third Bond film with Michael, Barbara, Daniel, Cary and company on No Time To Die. I’m excited to return full-time to my first professional passion – producing entertaining and compelling films – while continuing to collaborate with the brilliant MGM team.”