MGM hires ex-Universal exec as production chief

Still struggling to reestablish itself as a viable movie studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios has hired former Universal Pictures executive Mary Parent as production chief.

As chairwoman of the Worldwide Motion Picture Group, Parent will oversee development, production, distribution, marketing and business affairs for MGM’s movies.

The hiring of Parent signals a shift for MGM to a company focused more on developing and producing its own movies and relying less on distributing films made by outside suppliers such as Weinstein Co.

Though MGM doesn’t risk its own production funds on those films but rather receives a distribution fee, it’s still in dire need of hits after a string of recent duds, among them “Lions for Lambs,” made by the studio’s United Artists label, headed by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, as well as “Awake” and “Charlie Bartlett.”

Harry Sloan, who became head of parent firm Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. in 2005 after it was acquired by an investor group that includes Sony Corp., said in a statement that Parent would be key in moving MGM “to its next phase of growth and development.”

Parent comes to MGM with production experience and strong filmmaker and talent relationships cultivated during her years as a senior studio executive and most recently a producer. During her 8 1/2 -year run at Universal Pictures, she helped shepherd such hits as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and the “Meet the Fockers” and “The Bourne Identity” film series. In 2005 she formed a production company at Universal with associate Scott Stuber, who will continue as a producer.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Parent said. “It combines all the elements of what drew me to this business. You’re a buyer but not far from the filmmaking process.” She expects to hire a small staff and make MGM “a place where people want to come back to.”

Parent and Sloan will together greenlight movies, which she said could range in budget from $20 million to $200 million. “Part of making this move was being assured the resources were here and intact to do the job,” she said.

Parent will look to make original movies as well as sequels and remakes derived from MGM’s library titles, which include “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Fame.” In partnership with Sony, MGM also has new James Bond and “Pink Panther” installments due out this year and will partner with New Line Cinema/ Warner Bros. on two movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel “The Hobbit.”

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claudia.eller@latimes.com