Steve Stark's Toluca Pictures Renews MGM Television Overall Deal, Expands Amazon MGM Studios First-Look Pact and Names Max Kisbay President

Exclusive: Steve Stark has further expanded his relationship with Amazon MGM Studios and its MGM TV division. His production company Toluca Pictures has signed a multi-year extension of its exclusive overall deal with MGM TV. The deal once again includes a first-look agreement with Amazon MGM Studios, which now extends beyond scripted projects.

EXCLUSIVE: Steve Stark has extended and expanded his relationship with Amazon Studios MGM and its MGM TV division. His production company Toluca Pictures has signed a multi-year extension to its overall exclusive deal with MGM Television. Once again, this includes an apparent deal with Amazon's MGM Studios, which now extends beyond scripted television to include feature films and documentaries.

Former MGM TV president Stark tapped longtime MGM TV executive Max Kisbay as head of TV and film at Toluca Pictures. Kisbye succeeds Stacey Levine, who recently left the company. RELATED STORIES Hail Mary Project News Dr. Greg Fraser Says Film Was 'Most Complex' Film He's Ever Filmed - 'Stargate' Rivals London News From 'WandaVision' Creator Jac Schaeffer Working At Amazon

Kisbye will oversee development and production operations for Toluca Pictures with Stark. In addition, the company has promoted longtime development directors Jessica Farrelly and Elan Fingles, along with creative director Mia Stelling. Watch on Deadline

"I am thrilled to have Max join Toluca Pictures," said Stark. He is an exceptional executive with great creative instincts, a leader with an incredible understanding of business and, most importantly, a friend with a genuine passion for great storytelling. I am equally excited to expand the roles of Jessica, Ellen and Mia, who have been instrumental in building Toluca.

Stark and Kissboy have been friends for over 20 years. Kissbay was a bright TV agent at CAA when Stark, then head of MGM Television, hired him in 2012 as vice president of television production. Kissbay most recently served as Senior Director of Creative Development at MGM's Television Script Group.

"I've always admired Steve's instincts and his fearlessness in following them — whether it leads to a historical epic, a dark comedy, a documentary or something that no one would expect," Kisbay said. "That spirit is what makes Toluca so exciting to me."

Stark launched Toluca Pictures in 2021 with a five-year overall deal at MGM Television after a nine-year stint as head of the television studio.

"Steve and I have been creative partners for many years, and what he's built at Toluca is a testament to his extraordinary taste and drive for great content," said MGM Television President Lindsey Sloan. “From Wednesday to Bloodaxe to The Testaments, the scope and ambition of what Toluca has to offer is remarkable. And working closely with Max, I saw his talent and passion first hand."

Stark had a production deal with Universal Television in 2011, having been hired by Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Roma Khanna to relaunch MGM TV after the studio's 2010 bankruptcy. Some of the series he launched during his tenure include The Handmaid's Tale for Hulu, Fargo for FX and Vikings for History.

Since he launched Toluca in 2021, the company has also produced The Consultant starring Christoph Waltz for Amazon Prime Video, Vikings: Valhalla for Netflix, and The Bombing of Pan Am 103, which recently premiered on Netflix and the BBC, as well as the documentary The Devil's Taspeich: The Devil's Tapes.

"I am so grateful to Lindsey Sloan and my friends and colleagues at MGM Television, who have been wonderful partners throughout this journey," Stark said. I am also grateful for the continued support of Mike Hopkins, Peter Friedlander, and Kara Smith at MGM Amazon Studios.

Stark is repped by CAA and attorney Greg Slewett at JSSK. Kisbye is repped by David Matlof of Hirsch, Wallerstien, Hayum, Matlof & Fishman.

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