Morgan Wandell is leaving his job as the head of international development at Apple TV to start his own independent production company. He joined the streaming service back in 2017 before it officially launched and spent the last several years building its global lineup of original shows.
Now, he is stepping away from his desk to focus entirely on his new Los Angeles-based venture named Kismet.
Matt Cherniss takes over as Wandell builds global scripted series
Kismet will focus on making premium scripted series for the international market. The company wants to find projects that highlight culturally rooted storytelling and adapt them for viewers worldwide. Even though Wandell is moving on, he is currently talking with Apple to stay involved as a producer on a few of his existing projects.
During his time at Apple, Wandell managed several major international series. His list included hit shows like Tehran, Acapulco, Masters of the Air, Disclaimer, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Since he is leaving, Matt Cherniss, the current head of domestic programming, will take over those established shows.
Meanwhile, Jay Hunt, who serves as the creative director for Europe, is expanding her duties to cover other local-language and international original content for Apple TV. This change ensures it keeps its focus on global audiences while Wandell goes back to building a brand of his own.
Wandell brings years of experience from Amazon Studios and ABC Studios to his new business. As Kismet gets off the ground, the television world will be watching to see which culturally specific stories the company picks up first and where those new shows ultimately find a home.
