Dan Lin is out as Netflix‘s film chief, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.
The news comes as the streamer cuts from its uppermost ranks and implements layoffs that will affect roughly 1,000 people, the company’s biggest cut since 2022. Prior to Lin, chief content officer Bela Bajaria was exited, along with VP of film Doug Belgrad and a series of high-ranking television executives.
It is unclear who will assume Lin’s role, but the understanding is that Peter Rice, who took over the chief content officer post, will be in charge of finding new leadership. Netflix did not immediately reply for comment.
Lin joined Netflix in 2024, taking over from then film chief Scott Stuber. Under Stuber, Netflix became known as the place where name filmmakers could land big budgets and paydays as the traditional studios implemented more cost-conscious spending practices. During this time, the streamer consistently ended up with best picture nominations, but top awards have notoriously evaded Netflix films.
Lin, who was hired by Bajaria, was brought in to curb spending while (ideally) increasing the quality of the entire film slate, not just the titles from big-name directors.
Under Lin, the streamer‘s movies division was reorganized by genre, with deputies like Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Jason Young handling films that fell under categories like sci-fi, rom-com and family film. Netflix began offering more mid-size films that have been ignored by theatrical players, including big book adaptations like Remarkably Bright Creatures and People We Meet on Vacation, as well as mid-budget action films like Apex and The RIP.
(This is not to say that Netflix’s Lin tenure was without big swings — see: Greta Gerwig‘s Narnia movie due out next year or David Fincher’s The Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth— but the offerings no doubt slowed.)
Lin came from his production company Rideback, which minted the $1 billion grossing Aladdin and was involved in the hit It movies as well as The Lego Movies. He departed the company when he joined Netflix, leaving partners at the helm who found another $1 billion hit with last summer’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. Presumably, he could return to Rideback now that his Netflix tenure is up.
As of late, the streamer hasn’t been able to capture audience interest, at least at the rate co-CEO Ted Sarandos would like, with viewership and subscriber growth stagnant. Under Rice‘s leadership, Netflix will focus on “creating big, buzzy hits,“ as Sarandos wrote in his memo to staff.
After the initial news broke, Netflix confirmed the news, and shared statements from, Lin and Sarandos. Lin said, “It’s been a great privilege to lead this incredible team and work with amazing filmmakers and talent to bring their movies to the world. Thank you to Ted, Greg [Peters] and Bela for the opportunity.”
Sarandos added: “I started working with Dan well before he joined us in 2024 and his strength as a producer was always clear. Once he joined Netflix, I saw up close how his dedication to quality filmmaking, rigor around dealmaking and strategy, and collaborative spirit elevated our film business. I’m grateful to Dan for everything he’s done for Netflix films.”
Oct. 19, 10:16 a.m. Updated with statements from Lin and Sarandos.
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter