Donna Langley runs NBCUniversal Entertainment, and she just explained how she lands the big names. Her talk at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference covered Taylor Sheridan, Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg — three of the biggest operators in Hollywood today.
Nolan’s Pitch
The pitch to Nolan was the clearest example of her approach. Langley brought him to Universal for his 2023 film Oppenheimer, which grossed $975 million worldwide and won the Oscar for best picture. The Odyssey, Nolan’s next film, passed $1.684 billion this September.
“It’s open every time. He chooses not to have a home; we’re just fine with that.”
That is Langley’s answer to whether Universal holds Nolan’s next project. Each of his films goes to market on its own, and she made clear the studio respects that arrangement rather than pushing for a permanent home.
Sheridan’s Move From Paramount
Sheridan is the creator of Yellowstone, and he is leaving Paramount for NBCUniversal. Langley framed the move as a moment of disruption.
“With disruption and instability, moments when companies are going through something, it’s a moment to look around the marketplace and see if there’s a competitive advantage,” she said.
Her opening gambit was film, not TV. Sheridan has a history in features — Sicario, Wind River and Those Who Wish Me Dead — even though he is best known for shows like Landman, Tulsa King and Lioness.
His film deal kicks in next year with Universal, while his TV agreement follows in 2028.
A Record-Breaking Year at the Box Office
Universal is having a strong year at the box office. Langley pointed to two kinds of hits: the expected heavyweights and the unexpected underdogs.
- The Odyssey, the expected heavyweight.
- Obsession, the unexpected underdog.
The Misses of 2026
Not everything landed. Langley discussed two films that fell short: the latest Minions outing and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day.
Minions & Monsters, set in 1920s Hollywood, grossed $523 million. That is a large sum, but nearly half of what Minions 2 earned in 2022 with $940 million.
“The easy answer is that we’re quite mature in the franchise. Minions have been around now for 17 years. We didn’t have a long gap in between the films,” Langley said. “Perhaps another year would have helped us create some anticipation. And I also think that perhaps for kids, that inside baseball, old Hollywood story was a little over their heads.”
Disclosure Day earned $241 million. Langley was blunt about Spielberg’s legend.
“Obviously, there’s only so many things that you could say to somebody who is a legend, right?” she said. But she framed the relationship differently: “We’re not in business with Steven Spielberg because we expect him to deliver us a bunch of hits as a director. We’re in business with Steven because he is an incredible producer. He is an incredible thought partner across all different types of our business.”
Spielberg produces films including the ongoing Jurassic World franchise, and he offers guidance on theme parks and news businesses.
The Filmmaker Still on the List
Langley’s current roster includes Jordan Peele and the Daniels, directors of Everything Everywhere All at Once, whose next feature stars Matt Damon.
Asked about the filmmaker she still hopes to work with, Langley named Ryan Coogler.
“There are so many, but I think Ryan Coogler,” she said.
What This Says About Langley
Langley looks for openings created by disruption, speaks directly about what each filmmaker brings, and respects creative independence rather than demanding loyalty.
The Nolan pitch is the clearest example. She lets each project go to market on its own, not tied to a permanent home.
That is a rare position for a studio executive to take.
Source material: “Donna Langley on Landing Hollywood’s Heaviest Hitters, from Taylor Sheridan to Christopher Nolan,” The Hollywood Reporter.
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