Vernon Sanders is out as Head of Global Television for Amazon MGM Studios, following the recent shakeup that saw Jennifer Salke fired from the top post.
Sanders had worked under Salke at NBC before she brought him into Amazon, and his exit effectively ends the leadership era she established.
The trades report that Sanders confirmed he’ll stay on a few weeks to help with the transition, though no successor has been named. Former Netflix exec Peter Friedlander has reportedly been floated as a possible replacement.
Vernon Sanders has exited as the head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios after 7 years at the company.
— Variety (@Variety) September 17, 2025
In a memo sent to staff he noted that his work as an executive made him “increasingly distant from what originally drew me to this industry: the day-to-day creative… pic.twitter.com/5tgZYwyA8C
Fallout From Rings of Power
Sanders oversaw high-profile, high-cost projects like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which has faced massive backlash from fans and lost a big chunk of its audience.
While still filming Season 2, the billion-dollar show is no longer seen as the streaming juggernaut Amazon hoped for.
Deadline even noted in its initial report about Salke getting fired that Rings of Power wasn’t “game-changing enough” to justify its cost under Salke (and Sanders).
Salke’s firing has also been blamed on the handling of James Bond at Amazon, which is now moving forward with new leadership.
Wheel of Time and Citadel Spinoffs Canceled
The Wheel of Time has also been canceled following the conclusion of its third season.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s expensive sci-fi spy series Citadel has had all planned spinoffs scrapped, which was meant to be a global IP from the Russo Brothers, who have now returned to Marvel.
Studio Restructuring Continues
Sanders’ departure is part of a larger restructuring at Amazon MGM Studios under Mike Hopkins. While Sanders was recently given more oversight, including MGM Alternative TV, behind-the-scenes chatter hinted that Hopkins was already reaching out to new execs. Now, it appears he’s opted for a full leadership reset.
In a farewell memo, Sanders said he was stepping away to return to “the day-to-day creative process” of making television.
