Matthew Weiner Exits The Chairman Over Pilot Script — SkimNews
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- Matthew Weiner exited Peacock's The Chairman after being tapped as writer, executive producer and showrunner; Deadline confirmed the departure after Variety first reported it.
- Peacock, Universal TV and 101 Studios decided to part ways with him on creative grounds, based on the pilot script he delivered.
- Eddie Murphy had been pitched an already-conceived series idea; Weiner was brought in to develop and write it, but his delivered take departed from that concept.
- The Chairman is closing in on a new showrunner and will move forward, although plot details have not been disclosed.
- The Chairman’s writers room went on a two-week hiatus to accommodate the showrunner transition, with the majority of writers expected to stay.
- 101 Studios’ The Chairman marks Eddie Murphy’s first scripted series and the studio’s first announced project under its NBCUniversal deal, which began in January.
Why it matters: For Peacock, the immediate operational effect is a two-week writers-room hiatus while a replacement showrunner is sought. The expectation that most writers will stay offers continuity for Murphy’s first scripted series, while plot details remain undisclosed and no replacement leader has been named.
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