- Amazon MGM Studios was affected as part of Amazon’s layoffs of 14,000 employees.
- Some big names impacted included a head of casting and TV execs.
- Amazon is in the early stages of harnessing AI for its entertainment arm.
Amazon MGM Studios, the company’s TV and movie arm, was hit during the broader company layoffs announced Tuesday. Amazon said it would cut 14,000 jobs overall to slim down as it leans into AI.
Among the big names affected at Amazon MGM Studios were Donna Rosenstein, who was head of series casting. Also cut were drama series exec Meggie Choi and creative exec Nathan Kitada.
Amazon didn’t share the scope of the cuts in entertainment.
Amazon MGM Studios, known for original series like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and “Reacher,” drives Prime Video, which is included with Prime subscriptions. It’s been undergoing significant leadership changes this year, with Netflix alum Peter Friedlander coming in to head up TV following the departures of top execs Vernon Sanders and Jen Salke.
As part of Amazon’s AI efforts, it has begun to leverage the tech across its entertainment arm, which is led by Mike Hopkins. Company leaders have talked publicly about the various ways they’re using the tech to soup up the viewing experience on Prime Video. Earlier this year, Prime Video head Albert Cheng moved into an AI role. At the time, the company said he’d help create new AI tools for filmmakers and showrunners.
In June, Amazon also invested in startup Fable Studio to build out an AI-powered streaming platform, Showrunner, which lets users make their own shows and play with existing IP. The investment was made through Amazon’s Alexa Fund, a VC fund focused on AI, voice, and other technologies.
Amazon has been scrutinizing spending on original entertainment after a period of lavish outlays on big series, such as “Citadel” and “Rings of Power.” Its last big layoff in its entertainment arm was in January 2024, when hundreds were cut in what was then its deepest staff reduction to date.
