Peter Rice (executive)

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Peter Rice
Peter Rice.jpg
Born1966 (age 59–60)
United Kingdom
Alma mater University of Nottingham
OccupationEntertainment executive

Peter Rice (born 1966) is a British American media producer and media executive. He joined 20th Century Fox in 1989 and was later named president of its former parent company, 21st Century Fox, [1] just before its acquisition by the Walt Disney Company. He then served as chairman of Walt Disney Television (later Disney General Entertainment Content and now Disney Entertainment Television) until he was ousted by former CEO Bob Chapek.

Contents

Early life

Rice was born and raised in the United Kingdom in 1966 United Kingdom. [2] He earned a degree from the University of Nottingham in 1989. [2]

Career

Fox

Rice began his career at Twentieth Century Fox in 1989, working for Tom Sherak, then head of U.S. distribution and marketing for Fox Filmed Entertainment. [3] In 2000, Rice became President of Fox Searchlight Pictures, beginning in 2000. [4] From 2007 to 2008, he also oversaw Fox Atomic, which created comedy and genre films, including Turistas and 28 Weeks Later . Fox Atomic was closed in 2009, after Rice moved to Fox's television business. [5] [6]

Rice became chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group in 2012, supervising Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, FX Networks, Fox Sports (encompassing Fox’s national sports channels, FS1 and FS2 and its 22 regional sports networks) and National Geographic Partners (which includes the National Geographic channels and brands). [7] [8]

Rice was appointed president of 21st Century Fox in 2017. [9] [10] Rice continued to serve as chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, which included all of Fox’s TV assets, with the exception of Fox News, which was run separately. [11] He was also the chairman of the board of National Geographic Partners and Fox's lead executive on the board of directors for Hulu. [12] [13] [14]

Disney

Rice joined The Walt Disney Company in 2019 following its purchase of many of the assets of 21st Century Fox. [15] [16] Upon joining, Rice became the chairman of Walt Disney Television (all of Disney's non-sports television businesses). [17] [15] [16] In this role, Rice oversaw ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic, and Onyx Collective. [18] [19]

As chairman of Walt Disney Television, Rice oversaw the production of over 300 shows and 4,000 hours of television per year across Disney’s family of networks and streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu. [20] Disney earned 147 Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2022 and 146 in 2021. [21] [22] While with Disney, Rice served as chairman of the board of A&E Networks and continued to serve as chairman of the board of National Geographic Partners. [23]

On 9 June 2022, Rice was fired from The Walt Disney Company by Bob Chapek. [24] [25]

Producer

On 1 June 2023, Rice made a nonexclusive deal with the independent entertainment company A24. [26]

In 2024, Rice produced Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night for Columbia Pictures. [27] In 2025, he produced Warfare written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland for A24, and 28 Years Later written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle for Columbia. [28] [29] Rice is also listed as a producer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple written by Alex Garland and directed by Nia DaCosta. [30]

Rice’s projects in development include Misty Green, written and to be directed by Chris Rock and Elden Ring, written and to be directed by Alex Garland. [31] In TV, Rice is developing Fairy Tale with Paul Greengrass. [32]

Rice was hired to produce the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies for Los Angeles 2028. LA28 CEO Casey Wassermann did not provide a budget. [33] [34]

Personal life

Rice lives in Los Angeles with his family. He has two children. He serves on the board of governors of the Motion Picture & Television Fund. [35]

Filmography

YearFilmCredit
2024 Saturday Night Producer
2025 Warfare
28 Years Later
2026 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple [36]
The Social Reckoning [37]

References

  1. ↑ Wyatt, Edward (7 April 2009). "Fox's Low-Key New Boss Is Looking Beyond 'Idol'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Inside Hollywood with Peter Rice". Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Fox's Peter Rice Recalls How He Learned the Biz From Tom Sherak". Yahoo Movies. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Ricj, Joshua (12 March 2009). "Fox Broadcasting executive shakeup: Peter Ligouri out, Peter Rice in". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Fox shutting down youth-focused film unit". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (12 March 2009). "Trio replaces Chernin at News Corp". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  7. ↑ Szalai, George (26 March 2014). "Fox Networks Group CEO Peter Rice Gets Contract Extension". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Crupi, Anthony (23 July 2012). "Peter Rice Named Head of Fox Networks Group". Adweek. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  9. ↑ Ng, David (6 September 2017). "21st Century Fox promotes Peter Rice to president". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Flint, Joe (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to President at 21st Century Fox". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Peter Rice Elevated to Head of Fox Networks Group". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  12. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to President Of 21st Century Fox". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Maglio, Tony (6 September 2017). "Peter Rice Promoted to 21st Century Fox President". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  14. ↑ Frommer, Dan (12 February 2018). "Fox didn't overpay for its new NFL rights, says Fox exec Peter Rice". Vox. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Members Hub". 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Disney Completes Its $71.3 Billion Purchase of Fox, Massively Transforming the Industry". Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  17. ↑ "The Walt Disney Company Announces New Organizational Structure for its Media Networks Business, Conditional Upon Closing of 21st Century Fox Acquisition". The Walt Disney Company. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Faughnder, Ryan (18 October 2018). "After 30 years in Murdoch's empire, Peter Rice faces new challenges in Disney's kingdom". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  19. ↑ Koblin, John (8 October 2018). "Disney's TV Division Makes Room for Fox Executives". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Koblin, John (8 October 2018). "Disney's TV Division Makes Room for Fox Executives". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "The Walt Disney Company Gets 147 Primetime Emmy® Award Nominations in 2022!". ABC.com. ABC.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (13 July 2021). "Emmys: Disney Leads All Combined Nominations as HBO (Thanks to HBO Max) Tops Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Peter Rice Chairman, Walt Disney Television, and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks The Walt Disney Company" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  24. ↑ Barnes, Brooks; Koblin, John (9 June 2022). "Disney fires Peter Rice, its top TV content executive". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  25. ↑ Belloni, Matthew (10 June 2022). "Bob Chapek's Empire of Insecurity". Puck. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  26. ↑ Masters, Kim; Goldberg, Lesley; Galuppo, Mia (1 June 2023). "Peter Rice's Next Act: Film, TV Producing Deal With A24 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  27. ↑ Debruge, Peter (1 September 2024). "'Saturday Night' Review: Jason Reitman Finds the Right Ensemble to Capture the Lunacy From Which 'SNL' Was Born". Variety. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  28. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (21 January 2025). "A24 Sets Nationwide Release For Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza's Iraq War Pic 'Warfare'". Deadline. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  29. ↑ "28 YEARS LATER | Sony Pictures Entertainment". www.sonypictures.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  30. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (19 December 2024). "'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' Lands January 2026 Release Date in Theaters". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  31. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (22 May 2025). "Alex Garland Confirmed to Direct Live-Action 'Elden Ring' Movie From A24 and Bandai Namco". Variety. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  32. ↑ Jr, Mike Fleming (16 October 2024). "A24 Revives Stephen King Fantasy Epic 'Fairy Tale;' Paul Greengrass Cracking 10-Episode Series With 'Fringe' Showrunner J.H. Wyman". Deadline. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  33. ↑ Kiefer, Peter (23 July 2025). "A Chat With Peter Rice As He Steps In to a New Role: Head of Ceremonies at L.A.'s Olympic Games". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  34. ↑ "Peter Rice to oversee opening and closing ceremonies for 2028 LA Olympics and Paralympics". AP News. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  35. ↑ "MPTF Foundation Board of Governors". Motion Picture & Television Fund. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  36. ↑ Kroll, Justin (10 April 2024). "'Candyman' Director Nia DaCosta In Talks To Helm Part Two Of New '28 Years Later' Trilogy From Sony Pictures". Deadline. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  37. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (26 September 2025). "'The Social Network' Follow-Up Sets 2026 Release Date and Official Title: 'The Social Reckoning'". Variety . Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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