Disney’s 20th Television reshuffles drama development with promotion & Lionsgate exec hire

Jenna Riley

Disney’s 20th Television has reshuffled its drama team by hiring a Lionsgate exec and promoting Jenna Riley to become SVP of development.

Riley’s new remit includes overseeing the drama development team and working with creatives. She has been at 20th TV and its forerunner 20th Century Fox Television for more than a decade, working on shows such as upcoming Disney+ series The Crossover. She reports into Carolyn Cassidy, EVP of development.

Jade-Addon Hall

Riley replaces Michelle Mendelovitz, who left in January after joining from Apple TV+ in 2020, a year after Disney acquired the studio from Fox as part of a $71bn deal.

Since then, 20th Television has been completely restructured: the Mouse House rebranded the division from 20th Century Fox Television in August 2020 before a major consolidation later that year saw the Touchstone TV label closed and merged with Mendelovitz’s former division.

In related news, Jade-Addon Hall has left his VOP of current programming at Lionsgate to become VP of drama development at 20th Television.

He will focus on shepherding projects to pilot stage, reporting into Riley. His credits include The Power Universe and Welcome To Flatch on Fox.

Cassidy said Riley had a “deep passion for television” and would “nurture the next generation of breakout dramas for our Disney platforms.”

She described Hall as “an incredible addition to the drama team,” with “great creative instinct and a true passion for storytelling.”