Darren Star Exits Paramount for Universal TV Deal

Darren Star is on the move.

The creator of hits including Netflix’s Emily in Paris and TV Land’s Younger has departed his longtime home at Paramount Global’s MTV Entertainment Studios for a rich overall deal with Universal Television.

Star has a carveout in his new eight-figure deal and will remain showrunner on Emily in Paris should Netflix continue the show beyond its upcoming fourth season. Beyond that, Star will create and develop new series for NBCUniversal’s broadcast network and streamers as well as for outside platforms.

“Darren is a singular voice who has created signature shows for multiple networks and platforms since the beginning of his career, from the hills of Beverly to the streets of NYC to the Champs-Elysees,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group. “As we think about the talent we want to bring to the studios, Donna [Langley] and I often talk about brand-defining storytellers, and Darren is one of the few brand names whose stories have entertained television audiences for over three decades. We look forward to championing his remarkable vision.”

Star has created a number of hits over his three-decade career, including HBO’s Sex and the City, Fox’s Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place, and continues to serve as exec producer of Max’s And Just Like That.

“Donna Langley inspires me with her vision and passion for storytelling, and I’m excited to work with Pearlena Igbokwe and the Universal Television team,” Star said in a release announcing the deal. “I am thrilled to embark on this new creative partnership with NBCUniversal, where I will have the unique ability to develop shows for the internal portfolio, including Peacock, as well as outside platforms and networks.” 

Star should be seen as a big signing for Universal Television, which recently recruited Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek, Scream) to the studio after the producer spent years at Warner Bros. TV. Both pacts represent a new wave of overall deals to come after last year’s writers strike.

In the post-Peak TV era of contraction, overall deals have become harder to come by and the price tag — even for prolific producers — has come down considerably. Star had signed back-to-back deals with Chris McCarthy’s MTV Entertainment Studios, with his last pact a companywide one with Paramount Global. Emily in Paris was originally developed for TV Land but was sold to Netflix after the basic cable network exited the scripted originals business. It remains the streaming giant’s top half-hour comedy. His other recent show, Netflix’s Uncoupled, was canceled after one season, only for Paramount’s Showtime — now overseen by Chris McCarthy — to rescue it before eventually dropping it.

Star is repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.