Industry Veterans Launch Rommi: A New Vertical Content Studio Dedicated to the Romance Genre

Veteran film and television producer Jamie Gordon and former MTV scripted programming executive Maggie Malina have officially launched Rommi, a new New York City-based production studio focusing exclusively on the booming romance genre through vertical content formats.

According to the studio’s founding team, Rommi’s core strategy centers on commissioning original stories directly from established, best-selling authors, adapting them for the screen ahead of any traditional publication debut. The innovative studio is scheduled to release its very first original vertical romantic comedy, titled "Drive Me Mad," this coming October. The project is based on an original concept crafted by acclaimed romance author Ali Rosen, known for her work including "Unlikely Story."

Rommi’s development slate extends well beyond its inaugural release. The studio already has several additional original stories in the works from notable authors such as Emma Grey, author of "The Last Love Note," and Debbie Rigaud, author of "Simone Breaks All the Rules." In addition to these upcoming original commissions, Rommi is actively adapting widely celebrated best-selling romance novels, including "The Mixtape" by Brittainy Cherry and "This Spells Love" by Kate Robb.

To help build and manage this rapidly expanding slate, Gordon and Malina have forged a strategic partnership with Morgann Book and Thomas Johnston of Bookish Media, a prominent book-based media and production company. This collaboration is designed to help the studio co-produce and navigate its growing portfolio of romance adaptations and original properties.

Gordon, who has stepped into the role of chief executive officer to oversee the company’s overall business operations and long-term strategy, explained the inspiration behind the new venture. As a seasoned New York City-based film and television producer and co-founder of Fugitive Films, Gordon noted that the team observed a massive, fast-growing global appetite for romance-themed vertical content across digital platforms.

"As we witnessed the rapid global success of romance-themed verticals, we saw an opportunity to provide the romance reading community, who already blend reading, viewing, and posting on social media, with vertical movies that speak directly to them," Gordon said. "We’re treating audiences to streamer-worthy rom-coms built for an accessible format they already love. We are using our years of experience in film and TV to offer truly satisfying entertainment for this passionate community."

Malina, who will spearhead the studio as its head of content, highlighted how the studio aims to fill a distinct gap in the current media landscape. Drawing from her extensive background in television and film development, Malina pointed out that while audiences are currently experiencing a wonderful wave of romance adaptations, there remains an unceased demand for consistent, high-quality production.

"It’s been great to see romance audiences finally getting the content they deserve with the recent explosion of projects such as Heated Rivalry, Off-Campus, and People We Meet on Vacation," Malina said. "However, there’s still an appetite for a steady flow of well-produced content to complement what traditional media is providing. Rommi will fill the gap between streaming and theatrical releases and give viewers a romantic escape wherever they want to watch."

Gordon brings a wealth of traditional film and television experience to her new leadership role at Rommi. As the co-founder of Fugitive Films, her extensive production credits include the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary series "Half the Sky" and "A Path Appears," the comedy feature "Humor Me" starring Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould, the iconic box office thriller hit "Swimfan," and the Academy Award-nominated crime drama "In the Bedroom." Beyond her production work, Gordon is deeply involved in media education and advocacy, serving on the board of Reel Works and working as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Emphasizing the foundational values of the newly minted studio, Gordon underscored that author collaboration remains paramount to Rommi’s identity and ongoing mission.

"Centering the author’s voice and presence is integral to Rommi’s mission and brand," Gordon said. "We are especially excited about our partnership with Bookish Media because they understand and exist within the romance fandom and have an unerring sense of what readers will find exciting."

As head of content, Malina will oversee Rommi’s creative strategy and day-to-day content development, collaborating closely with novelists, emerging creators, and filmmakers to successfully transition beloved romance stories onto the screen. Malina brings an impressive creative track record to the table, having previously served as the longtime head of scripted programming at MTV and VH1. During her tenure there, she successfully oversaw female-focused hit series such as "Single Ladies" and "Hit the Floor" on VH1, alongside iconic original movies for MTV, including "2Get+her" and the musical feature "Hip-Hopera: Carmen," which notably starred Beyoncé Knowles in her feature film acting debut.

In her more recent career as an independent producer, Malina’s credits span major platforms, including Netflix’s romantic feature "Resort To Love" and the ABC and Hulu dramatic series "Promised Land." Reflecting on her professional evolution and the creation of Rommi, Malina sees the new studio as an exhilarating evolution in modern media storytelling.

"I started my career working on feature films with huge budgets and then moved to MTV where I needed to figure out how to grab viewers quickly by prioritizing creativity and speaking to their interests in an authentic way," Malina said. "Launching Rommi is a similarly exciting leap because it explores a new storytelling format with no set rules and is meeting audiences where they most often are today."