Disney+ hires Amazon’s Sarah Christie to lead Australian and New Zealand originals — Disney+ has named the executive who will drive its next wave of Australian originals. Sarah Christie, the head of Australian and New Zealand originals at Amazon MGM Studios, will join the streamer in November.
Christie becomes Disney+’s Executive Director for Local Content in Australia and New Zealand, Variety Australia reported. She will oversee the commissioning and acquisition of local original content in both markets. In addition, she will lead the development and production of scripted and unscripted series.
For Australian viewers, the move answers the question TV Central raised last week. Disney+ said at the Busan International Film Festival that it would appoint a local content head and lift its spending on Australian originals. Now it has chosen one of the executives behind Prime Video’s biggest local hits.
Sarah Christie’s Disney+ role
Christie will report to Jon Wax, Disney Entertainment’s executive vice president of international content. She will also work closely with Carol Choi, executive vice president of integrated marketing and original strategy for Asia-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Kylie Watson-Wheeler is another key colleague. She is senior vice president and managing director for Australia and New Zealand, as well as head of ESPN in Asia-Pacific.
The shows she commissioned at Amazon
Christie spent five years at Amazon MGM Studios. She led its Australian and New Zealand originals for more than two years. Before that, she spent almost three years as senior development executive for Australia.
During that time, she commissioned Deadloch across both seasons and The Narrow Road to the Deep North. She was also behind The Office Australia and the sports documentary series Inside the AFL.
Just last month, she commissioned three more titles for Prime Video. They are Madness of Three, Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings and a fourth season of The Test.
What it means for Disney+ in Australia
The appointment follows Wax’s comments in Busan. There, he said Disney+ wanted a local content head and would increase its investment in Australian originals. Disney+ also aims to triple its local-language production worldwide, although that target covers its global output rather than Australia alone.
Disney+’s current Australian slate includes The Artful Dodger, which has started filming its third and final season in Sydney. A docuseries featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is also in production. It follows the pair as co-owners of the Bonds Flying Roos, Australia’s SailGP team.
Earlier Australian originals on the service include The Clearing, Last Days of the Space Age and Matildas: The World at Our Feet. As a result, Christie will inherit a mix of drama, documentary and sport when she starts. Disney+ has not yet said which new Australian projects she will commission first.
For more TV Central Disney+ news, head here, and read our earlier report on Disney+ appointing a new Australian commissioner. Stream Australian originals on Disney+.