Netflix has reportedly parted ways with its head of film, Dan Lin, bringing an abrupt end to his nearly three-year stint with the company.
Sources told Variety that Lin’s dismissal came right after the company cut over 1,000 jobs, including the firing of chief content officer Bela Bajaria the week before. Those familiar with the matter indicated that Lin was let go during the weekend and planned to address his team on Monday for a final farewell.
Lin attended the Academy Gala on Saturday and was seen at a screening of “La Bola Negra” on the Netflix campus the following evening.
Netflix has not made any public comments regarding Lin’s termination, and it’s still uncertain who will replace him, according to Variety. There’s speculation that former Warner Bros. executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy might discuss a potential position for Lin in their organization.
In recent weeks, Netflix has been under scrutiny due to a loss of subscribers, which follows their unsuccessful bid for Warner Bros.
Before his dismissal, Lin saw several key colleagues, including Doug Belgrad and Sheroum Kim, let go, further illustrating the changes within the company.
Lin was the founder of the production company Rideback and played a significant role in the animation of the “Lego” movie series as well as adaptations of Stephen King’s “It” and the “Sherlock Holmes” films.
During his time at Netflix, he greenlit or acquired over 88 films, such as “Apex,” “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” and “Here Comes the Flood.”
Following the news of Lin’s exit, Jeff Sneider from “The Insneider” suggested on social media that his departure might have been linked to the challenges facing Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.”
Gerwig reportedly dealt with pressure after internal screenings of the $280 million fantasy film were less than favorable, leading to rumored creative clashes between her and Lin prior to his dismissal.
