Matthew Weiner has left “The Chairman,” the drama being developed at Peacock with Eddie Murphy attached to star, Variety reported, citing sources. His departure comes less than a month after news first emerged that the project was in the works at the streaming service.
Sources told Variety that Weiner and the show’s producers parted ways over creative differences. A replacement showrunning team is reportedly already in place, with an announcement expected in the coming days. The writers’ room has paused for two weeks while the new creative leadership comes aboard.
The change comes while “The Chairman” remains in development, with a series pickup still pending. Details of the story have not been disclosed. Murphy is also serving as a producer on the project, adding a role behind the scenes to his planned starring appearance.
If Peacock orders the drama to series, it would give Murphy his first starring role in a live-action television series since his time in the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” That potential return to a live-action series remains contingent on the project receiving a green light.
Universal Television and 101 Studios are set to produce “The Chairman.” David Glasser, an executive producer of “Yellowstone,” runs 101 Studios. The company has a first-look agreement covering film and television with NBCUniversal, a deal that began in January.
The drama is also set to become the first project to emerge from former Paramount boss Chris McCarthy’s agreement with NBCUniversal. First reported in November 2025, that arrangement gave McCarthy a consulting role concerning the studio’s relationship with Glasser and 101 Studios. “The Chairman” therefore brings together the production companies and Murphy’s involvement as both star and producer.
Weiner’s best-known television work is “Mad Men,” the AMC drama he created. The series ran for seven seasons and collected 16 Emmy Awards. His involvement in “The Chairman” had positioned him for a return to television writing, provided the developing show received a series order.
Had it moved forward with Weiner, “The Chairman” would have been his first television writing credit since 2018. That year, he created “The Romanoffs” for Amazon Prime Video. The Peacock project is now undergoing its creative transition, with the incoming showrunners yet to be publicly announced.
