Mike Fleming

BREAKING: Seasoned production executive Jon Mone will join Universal Pictures as EVP Production. He moves from Scott Stuber’s Universal-based Bluegrass Films, and has been in the Universal fold since 2006. Universal’s co-presidents of production Peter Cramer and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum made the hire and Mone reports to them.

Mone recently served as executive producer on the Stuber-produced Ted, directed by and starring Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. Stuber, who was attached to produce Ted, and Media Rights Capital brought the film to Universal and the studio acquired it before principal photography began. It is Universal’s highest-grossing film of 2012: With $425 million worldwide and counting, Ted is the third highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time behind The Hangover and The Hangover Part II.

“Jon has been a member of the Universal family for some time now, and we’ve had productive collaborations with him on numerous projects, including on our big summer comedy, Ted,” said Cramer. “We’re thrilled to have him join the studio’s production group.” Added Kirschenbaum: “Jon’s on-set experience, great filmmaker and talent relationships, and strong creative point of view will augment our strong production team and we have no doubt that he will hit the ground running and be a major contributor to building our slate”.

Mone was also a production executive for Universal and Bluegrass Films’ 2008 comedy Role Models, starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. Prior to joining Bluegrass, Mone was an associate producer on Disney’s 2004 film Miracle, starring Kurt Russell, and 2006’s Invincible, starring Wahlberg.

“Jon has been a trusted and valued member of our team for several years and keeping him in our Universal family is the best of both worlds for everyone,” said Stuber. “We wish him all the best in his new role at the studio.”

Mone is currently overseeing production of 47 Ronin, set for release on December 25, 2013. He will also oversee development on Universal’s big screen action-adventure adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick and the thriller The Prisoner, inspired by the British TV series that aired from 1967-1969.