CBS Studios Alum Julie McNamara Partners With ‘Matlock’ Creator Jennie Snyder Urman to Develop Series

Julie McNamara is coming back to CBS Studios.

McNamara is teaming with Jennie Snyder Urman and her Sutton St. Productions banner to create and develop series for broadcast and streaming. Snyder Urman and Sutton St. recently renewed their overall deal with CBS Studios, under which they most recently developed the hit CBS series “Matlock.”

“For over a decade, CBS Studios has been my creative home, and I couldn’t be prouder to continue to build stories with David Stapf, Bryan Seabury, Kate Adler and their exceptional teams,” said Snyder Urman. “And now reuniting and partnering with Julie McNamara, who was so instrumental in my early projects at the Studio, feels both full-circle and full of possibility.”

McNamara was formerly head of CBS Studios drama development and Paramount+ (née CBS All Access) programming. She exited that role in 2021 after a 15 year run with CBS. Not long after, it was announced that McNamara had been named vice president and head of global podcast studios at Spotify. In that role, she oversaw Spotify’s portfolio of in-house productions and licensed podcasts from talent including Alex Cooper, Dax Shepard, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peele, Trevor Noah and more. It was reported she would be stepping down from Spotify in May 2024.

During her time with CBS Studios, McNamara helped to launch shows like Snyder Urman’s “Jane the Virgin” and her “Charmed” reboot, both of which aired on The CW. Other series developed during her tenure included “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Wife,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” McNamara was also previously the vice president of drama development at ABC, where she worked on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Lost.”

“Jennie and Julie have been a beloved part of our CBS Studios family for years,” added David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “As a writer, Jennie’s voice is original, her storytelling is deeply human and her series continue to break through culture and resonate with audiences around the world. We’re equally excited to welcome Julie back into the family. Her spot-on instinct for powerful television was a driving force behind some of the most successful and culturally significant titles in the history of CBS Studios. Together, Jennie and Julie are a formidable team, and we can’t wait to see the stories they bring to life.”

“Matlock” has proven to be a breakout success with both critics and audiences for CBS. The show was quickly renewed for a second season following its debut in 2024, with the sophomore season set to launch on Oct. 12. In addition, series lead Kathy Bates was nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series at the 2025 Emmy Awards.