NBC 5 Chicago adds film critic Richard Roeper to its lineup

What they're saying: "I'm thrilled to be joining an incredible team," Roeper said in a release. "They've put together one of the very best on-air and behind-the-scenes teams in local television today."

Zoom in: NBC 5 has been actively reshaping its staff, bringing in big names like former ABC 7 investigative reporter Chuck Goudie, former Fox 32 sports anchor Lou Canellis, and former Tribune food writer Kevin Pang.

• The hiring push coincides with studio renovations aimed at creating more space for multi-platform storytelling.

Context: Roeper, who took a buyout from the Sun-Times last year after nearly 40 years at the paper, is currently filing columns and reviews for RogerEbert.com.

• He also co-hosted the syndicated television show "At the Movies" with Ebert from 2000 to 2008, and later took over as the Sun-Times' primary film critic.

The bottom line: "Richard is a respected and notable voice in Chicago media," said NBC 5 news VP Sally Ramirez. "Richard's voice will elevate our coverage and enrich the experience for viewers across all of our platforms."