Sean Bailey, the longtime Walt Disney Co. government who oversaw the studio’s live-action films, is stepping down, the Burbank-based leisure big introduced Monday.
David Greenbaum has been appointed to the newly created function of president of Disney dwell motion and twentieth Century Studios, and can oversee movie initiatives for each models spanning theatrical and streaming platforms. Bailey is exiting his place after 14 years on the helm.
The high-level change on the prime of Disney’s live-action movie unit has been rumored, significantly after the rocky efficiency of some latest movies.
Throughout his tenure, Bailey oversaw a string of blockbuster live-action remakes, together with “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Lion King,” and “Magnificence and the Beast.” Most of these movies topped $1 billion worldwide in field workplace receipts, whereas final yr’s “The Little Mermaid,” raked in $560 million (it struggled in abroad markets).
However regardless of high-profile successes, Bailey’s division was behind final yr’s field workplace flop, “Haunted Mansion,” impressed by the vaunted Disneyland theme park experience.
Bailey’s contract was as a consequence of expire subsequent January, and it was reported that he had discussions with Netflix executives taking the highest movie job there. Whereas Bailey will not be anticipated to make the swap to Netflix’s Sundown Boulevard-based campus, revelations of the talks prompted appreciable reflection by Bailey and Disney’s prime brass concerning the studio’s live-action movie technique and pipeline, based on a educated one who was not licensed to remark publicly.
Bailey, who wasn’t fascinated about extending his contract, will return to his roots as a producer of “Tron: Ares,” for Disney, the corporate mentioned in its assertion.
The brand new chief, Greenbaum, most just lately served as president of Searchlight Footage, the place he collectively managed the studio’s movie and TV initiatives with Matthew Greenfield, who will proceed in his function as Searchlight Footage president. Disney acquired the specialty label as a part of its $71.3-billion buy of twenty first Century Fox properties from Rupert Murdoch practically 5 years in the past.
Searchlight has had loads of awards success, and Greenbaum helped information dozens of characteristic movies, together with Academy Awards winners “The Form of Water” and “Nomadland,” to the massive display. He was additionally concerned in shepherding Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Issues,” which at the moment is nominated for a finest image Oscar. Greenbaum was additionally concerned within the making of previous standouts reminiscent of “The Menu,” “The Favorite,” “The Grand Budapest Lodge” and “Black Swan.”
Earlier than becoming a member of Searchlight greater than a decade in the past, Greenbaum was a improvement government at Miramax Movies.
“David has an unbelievable artistic sensibility and eye for movie, and he has constructed a fame as an distinctive chief and inventive government, as confirmed by his monitor report at Searchlight Footage and deep relationships all through the business,” mentioned Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Leisure, in an announcement.
“I’m thrilled that he’ll be taking over this new and vital function. We’ve had the nice fortune to have a robust artistic chief in Steve Asbell at twentieth Century, and I’m excited for him to work carefully with David as we take a extra strategic look throughout each manufacturers from a artistic and operational standpoint. I additionally wish to thank Sean Bailey for his many contributions and management over his tenure at Disney.”
Bailey, in an announcement, mentioned it was a very good time to maneuver on and wished Disney Chief Government Bob Iger, Bergman and others “the perfect for a brilliant future.”
“These 15 years at Disney have been an unbelievable journey, however the time is true for a brand new chapter,” Bailey mentioned. “I’m deeply grateful to my distinctive staff and pleased with the slate and historical past we’ve constructed collectively. I joined Disney whereas producing Tron: Legacy, so it appears becoming that I’ll have the chance to work on the newest Tron as I depart.”
Netflix has not named a alternative for its movie chief, Scott Stuber, who final month introduced his departure from the streamer. A Netflix spokesperson wasn’t instantly obtainable for remark.
