Seth Macfarlane, the creator of Family Guy and The Orville is leaving his 20th Century Fox Television after being there for over twenty years for a 200 million dollar deal with NBCUniversal.
NBCUniversal Content Studios, the new company made up of Universal Television, Universal Content Productions, and NBCUniversal International Studios, is bringing in MacFarlane. NBCUniversal Content Studios has other large deals with Sam Esmail, Dick Wolf, Mike Schur, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
MacFarlane was brought into NBCUniversal through Universal Content Productions President Dawn Olmstead, who is expected to be working with MacFarlane. 20th TV tried to keep MacFarlane at their studio, but they were outbid by NBCUniversal.
After creating Family Guy, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, which has made billions of dollars for FOX, and creating American Dad, MacFarlane has focused on passion projects, creating and starring in the scifi comedy The Orville and reviving the classic series classic Cosmos.
“One of my oldest memories from Fox is of a young Seth MacFarlane hanging out in the halls of the studio, He entertained all of us with his incredible wit and hilarious observations. He is a brilliant artist and a great friend; and, there is no one we root for more than him. As a fan, I look forward to whatever he creates next, and as his studio partner on Family Guy, American Dad and The Orville, I feel lucky to be continuing an extraordinary partnership.” said Dana Walden, chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.
Under the deal with NBCUniversal Content Studios, MacFarlane and his Fuzzy Door production company will develop and produce TV projects for both NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock.
Seth MacFarlane also voices characters on Family Guy and American Dad, earning five Emmys, all for Family Guy. Seth MacFarlane has also been nominated for six Grammy Awards and has released five studio albums.