ABC Studios head of alternative division, Fernando Hernandez, is leaving the studio. Hernandez has led the division for two years after it was first launched under Partick Moran, the former studio president.
Hernandez’ exit comes two months after Jonnie Davis came on board as new ABC Studios president. The alternative division was of great importance for Moran, who was pushed out in July after Disney inherited a number of executives as part of its $71.3 billion Fox acquisition, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The former head of Universal TV Alternative Studios and EVP of Development and Production at Ryan Seacrest Productions, had set up wide range of unscripted projects for the Disney-owned studios.
Hernandez worked on the much awaited project, Ink & Paint, a Disney-focused docu-series set for streaming on the upcoming platform, Disney+. The documentary series will focus on the women who worked on many Disney animated classics, without getting any recognition for their work. Other slated works of his include Prop Culture, a series that tells stories of the props used in famous Disney films, and Pick of the Litter, which follows a set of puppies on their journey to become guide dogs for the blind.
ABC Studios “remains committed to being in the unscripted programming space,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. While the studio may currently have many executives due to the Fox studio deal, no announcement has been made about replacement for Hernandez. The studio plans to stay in the unscripted business, despite his exit, according to Deadline.
Hernandez created and developed Emmy-winning Hollywood Game Night and other shows like Better Late Than Never, I Can Do That, Last Comic Standing and Food Fighters. Hernandez joins Moran and Howard Davine, former executive vice president of business operations, in departing from ABC Studios.