Ex-TriStar Chief to Head Production at Universal

Former TriStar Pictures President Marc Platt has landed a job as the head of production at MCA Inc.’s Universal Pictures unit.

Platt had been considered the preferred candidate to replace Hal Lieberman, who last month left his post as the studio’s production chief to set up shop as an independent producer at MCA.

Platt, whose title will be president of production, reports to Universal Chairman Casey Silver, who said he hired Platt because he “brings a lot of experience to the job, excellent talent relations and a reputation for honesty and hard work.”

At TriStar, Platt played a key role in the production of such hit films as “Philadelphia,” “Jumanji” and “Legends of the Fall.”

Still unclear is whether Platt’s former colleague at TriStar, Stacey Snider, will join him at Universal.

MCA has been interested in recruiting Snider, who is on maternity leave. But she remains under contract to TriStar parent Sony Pictures Entertainment, which has so far balked at letting her out of the contract.

Platt was named president of TriStar in February 1992. The former entertainment lawyer previously held senior executive posts at Orion Pictures and RKO Pictures and worked for the International Creative Management talent agency.

Platt was forced out of TriStar in July. He held talks with the new DreamWorks SKG studio about a job, but those discussions unraveled.