Universal Pictures Shuffles Execs

Universal Pictures on Tuesday announced that production co-chiefs Mary Parent and Scott Stuber would step down for an exclusive five-year deal to make movies for the studio.

Donna Langley, executive vice president of production, was promoted to fill the vacancy.

Some studio observers were surprised by the timing of the management shuffle, but the change was widely anticipated.

When Stuber and Parent renewed their contract with Universal in 2003, they signed a seven-year deal that allowed them to serve as vice chairmen of production for two years, serving out the rest as producers on the Universal lot.

The duo oversaw a string of box-office hits for Universal since taking over the production operation in 2001, including “Seabiscuit,” “The Bourne Supremacy” and “Meet the Fockers.” The pair said they were leaving on amicable terms and wanted to pursue their longtime passion for moviemaking.

“We talked about this two years ago,” Stuber said. “We’ve always dreamed of producing movies.”

The two executives said that they would remain in their jobs for several months to ensure a smooth transition. Their contracts expire at year-end.

Stuber and Parent joined Universal in 1997 as senior vice presidents of production. Since 2001, the executives have supervised more than 90 films, 21 of which grossed at least $100 million domestically.

Universal Pictures Chairman Stacey Snider praised their contributions to the studio. “During the time they’ve presided over production we’ve seen a lot of success, and they deserve a lot of credit,” Snider said.

Langley, who was groomed for the job by Parent and Stuber, is a relative newcomer to Universal. She joined the studio in 2001 from New Line Cinema, where she oversaw such films as “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” At Universal, she has been involved in development of such projects as “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” and “In Good Company.”