While much of the speculation about the future of Jeff Zucker has been about his teaming with former “Today” show colleague Katie Couric for her (presumable) post-CBS Evening News plans, Deadline reports Zucker will be a producer on a series of films being produced by his old company – Universal Pictures. The studio acquired the screen rights to the Gabriel Allon series of bestselling books by former TV news producer Daniel Silva.
Zucker, who left his post [as NBCU CEO] in January and has so far been mum on his future plans, became involved as the film’s producer because he and Silva are close friends and the author wanted it that way.
Silva is married to “Today” show National Correspondent Jamie Gangel. Zucker ran the show in the early years of their marriage. Silva himself worked in TV news as an EP at CNN where he ran the DC-based shows “Crossfire,” “Capital Gang” and “Reliable Sources.”