EXCLUSIVE: As he marks his 40th anniversary at Warner Bros. Television this year, Emmy-winning TV producer John Wells has signed a new overall deal extension with the studio. He has three on-air series, including The Pitt, the top current drama on WBTV’s roster — and arguably on all of television.

Under the pact, Wells will remain based at WBTV where the veteran writer-producer-director has been working for virtually his entire TV career to date, since landing a story editor job there in 1986. Wells will continue to develop original series for the studio through his John Wells Productions for all platforms, including Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO and HBO Max, external streaming services and the U.S. broadcast networks.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed but according to sources, the three-year extension starts next year and goes through mid-2030. Its size is believed to be comparable to the current three-year extension that followed the five-year, nine-figure overall pact Wells signed with WBTV in 2019.

Warner Bros. Television stepping up ahead of time to secure its longest-tenured producer — who is also among its most prolific and decorated — is significant as it comes during a period of uncertainly for the studio whose parent company Warner Bros. Discovery is in the process of being acquired by the David Ellison-led Paramount.

Faced with the dilemma of making a long-term commitment when things are in flux, Quinta Brunson, creator of one of WBTV’s biggest current comedy hits, Abbott Elementary, moved to Disney’s 20th Television when her overall deal was up earlier this summer.

Over his four decades, Wells has executive produced a slew of successful and acclaimed WBTV series, including ER, The West Wing, Southland, Shameless, Third Watch and Animal Kingdom, which have earned over 300 Emmy nominations, 70 Emmy wins and 7 Peabody Awards.

Wells recently helped reinvent the broadcast model for the streaming era with the HBO Max medical drama The Pitt, which blends network-style yearly release pattern, large order (15 episode) and a modest budget with streaming-style storytelling.

His deal renewal comes amid the success of The Pitt, which he executive produces alongside fellow ER alums R. Scott Gemmill and star Noah Wyle. It is a big hit for HBO Max that continues to grow — the most recent second season ranked as the most watched series of any kind on the streamer this year, with viewership every week outpacing the first season.

The Pitt also is the most heralded current drama on TV, a reigning Outstanding Drama Series Emmy winner, which leads all programs at the 2026 Emmy nominations with 25, including Drama Series.

Wells also executive produces two WBTV series for Netflix. Untamed starring Eric Bana, whose breakout success as a limited series led to its renewal for a second season, recently wrapped production. The upcoming Unaccustomed Earth, an adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story collection on which Wells serves as showrunner, it is set to debut later this year.

“John Wells is an iconic storyteller whose work continues to leave an indelible mark on our culture,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros.Television Group and WBD US Networks. “He is one of the most respected and accomplished creative talents in our industry and we are immensely proud that he has called Warner Bros. home for 40 years. We look forward to continuing to support his creative endeavors for years to come.”

Wells is repped by CAA and Hansen Jacobson Teller.

Purple Rain, the musical adapted from Prince‘s 1984 feature film and and Grammy-winning album of the same name, is coming to Broadway in 2027. Producer Orin Wolf said Monday that the production will premiere at New York’s Majestic Theatre beginning with previews on March 12, 2027. Opening night is April 12.

The musical features more than 20 Prince hits including “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Take Me with You,” and “The Beautiful Ones.” Prince, (real name: Prince Rogers Nelson), the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who sold more than 150 million records, died in 2016 at age 57 of an accidental fentanyl overdose.

Purple Rain the musical originally took flight in Minneapolis, Prince’s hometown, at the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s State Theatre as part of its 2024-2025 season, with a book by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn, with music and lyrics by Prince. Lileana Blain-Cruz directed.

The Broadway adaptation now sees a book by Dogfight‘s Peter Duchan, with Tony nominee Saheem Ali (Buena Vista Social Club) directing. Back from the original production is music supervisor Jason Michael Webb (MJ the Musical) and choreographer Ebony Williams (Sneakerella). Bobby Z and Morris Hayes, who worked with Prince as bandmates and collaborators, return as music advisers.

No cast has been announced for the transfer, but the Twin Cities production starred newcomer Kris Kollins as The Kid, Rachel Webb as Apollonia, Jared Howelton as Morris and Leon Addison Brown as The Kid’s father.

The plot for the stage adaptation: Minneapolis, 1984. A new era of music television is creating overnight stars. A magnetic young performer known as “The Kid” seems like the perfect frontman to lead his bandmates to stardom. But when his past threatens everything he’s built, he’ll have to sing his way out of the darkness and into the spotlight where he belongs.

The plot hews closely to the Warner Bros film, which starred Prince and was directed by Albert Magnoli. It grossed more than $70 million worldwide, winning the Original Score Oscar, and was added to the National Film Registry in 2019.

“Prince is, without doubt, one of the rarest, most brilliant musicians we’ve ever had,” Wolf said in a release announcing the dates. “What he accomplished with Purple Rain — the song, the album and the film — is a testament to the art of making music and showcases it at the highest level. Having worked with Saheem Ali on Buena Vista Social Club, I’ve seen how he prioritizes serving the music, and I can’t wait to watch him, Peter Duchan, Ebony Williams, and Jason Michael Webb use Prince’s legendary music as the engine for this new production. It will be every bit as exciting for audiences today as it was when we first heard these songs on our boom boxes.”

The Broadway production has set scenic design by David Zinn, video & projection design by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, costume design by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Gareth Owen, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan and makeup design by Kyle Krueger.