SKYDANCE PRODUCTONS LAUNCHES TELEVISION DIVISION WITH MARCY ROSS AS PRESIDENT

Skydance Productions announces the launch of a new television division as of May 1st. Former Fox executive Marcy Ross will serve as president of Skydance TV.

"During her tenure at Fox, Marcy has developed and produced some of the best shows on television that have entertained audiences around the world. We are thrilled to welcome her into the Skydance family to help pioneer our entrance into this wonderful medium of storytelling," stated David Ellison, president and CEO of Skydance Productions.

"When I met David and the Skydance team, I knew I had found the creative partner I was looking for," said Ross. "I am so impressed with the success that David, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are achieving in the feature film side and I trust that once we open our doors wide to the television community, we will find the same success building a fun, nurturing place to create programming," Ross added.

Ross was previously the executive vice president of current programming at Fox Broadcasting Company. She oversaw their shows including "Glee", "House," "The Simpsons," "New Girl," "Family Guy," and many more. Ross came to Fox from Studios USA, where she was senior vice president, comedy programming, supervising the development of the company's comedy series, including "The Jim Gaffigan Show" for CBS. She joined Studios USA from The Jim Henson Company, where she was senior vice president, creative affairs. There she oversaw the development of all primetime series and telefilms, as well as children's programming, working on such diverse projects with The Henson Creature Shop as "Farscape" for the Syfy Channel and "The Muppet Show" for ABC. Prior to joining Henson, Ross served as vice president for Sandollar Television, where she developed "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Skydance Productions creates and produces elevated event-level commercial entertainment. In its strategic partnership with Paramount Pictures, the David Ellison-led company co-finances and produces several films per year with the studio in addition to developing their own projects. Paul Schwake serves as chief operating officer and Dana Goldberg is president of production. The Skydance recent production of G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION, starring Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson made over $132 million worldwide at the box office in its opening weekend. Upcoming Skydance projects include STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto set for release on May 17, 2013; and WORLD WAR Z, directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt, set for release on June 21, 2013. They are also in post-production on JACK RYAN, from director Kenneth Brannagh and starring Pine, set for release on December 25, 2013. Skydance's previous projects include the award-winning Coen Brothers film TRUE GRIT; MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL, starring Tom Cruise; and JACK REACHER, based on the bestselling novels by Lee Child and starring Cruise.