Donna Langley

Donna Langley is Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. In this role, she oversees the Studio’s global production, marketing and distribution for Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures International, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation.

Under Langley’s leadership, Universal has expanded and reinvigorated some of its biggest franchises including Fast & Furious, Jurassic World, the Bourne series, Pitch Perfect, Illumination’s Despicable Me as well asFifty Shades, Ride AlongandThe Purge. As Chairman she engineered a strategic slate of tentpoles, breakthrough comedies, and pop-culture hit horror films that led the studio to break numerous box office and industry records. Through Langley’s stewardship, Universal has also become home to visionary filmmakers who champion diverse, original storytelling that entertains and resonates with mass global appeal.

In 2018, Universal continued to be a leader in the marketplace with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Night School, Halloweenand Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Universal’s highest-grossing title of the year was Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The film earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, and was the third-biggest film of 2018 globally. The latestinstallmentsof Mamma Mia and Fifty Shades series brought their respective series’ box office totals to more than $1 billion globally. The studio saw its most profitable year ever in 2017, crossing $5 billion at the worldwide box office with the successful slate of films includingSplit, Get Out, The Fate of the Furious, Girls Trip and Illumination’s Despicable Me 3.

Additional critical and commercial hit movies she has presided over during her 18-year tenure include DreamWorks Animation’sHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Blackkklansman, Mr. Rogers: Won’t You Be MyNeighbor, Blockers, Phantom Thread, Atomic Blonde,Bridesmaids, Neighbors, Lucy, Unbroken,Trainwreck,StraightOuttaCompton, LesMisérables,The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl, Wanted andRay,among many others.

Langley first joined Universal in 2001 as Senior Vice President of Production and subsequently served as President of Production, Co-Chairman and Chairman, Universal Pictures in 2013. She first began her career at New Line Cinema, where she worked on hit Austin Powers franchise, as well as The Cell and Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Over the years, Langley has been honoredwith Producers Guild of America’s Milestone Award, the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Pioneer of the Year Award and the Women in Film’s Crystal Award for Excellence in Film. Sheis an Ambassador for Vital Voices Global Ambassadors Program and serves on the Vital Voices Board of Directors. Langley is on the advisory board of Chrysalis and was a key founder of The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Film Mentorship program. A voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute.

A native of the United Kingdom, Langley lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two sons.