Deadline Hollywood executive editor Michael Cieply is stepping back from the publication after just three months, individuals with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
Multiple insiders said Cieply would take on a reduced role after clashing with Deadline editors in chief Mike Fleming and Nellie Andreeva. One said he would be a freelancer rather than top editor.
Cieply declined to confirm the reports. When reached for comment the former New York Times Hollywood correspondent said via email this weekend that the change represents “a slight shift in my arrangement” but declined to give any details.
He also denied reports from numerous industry insiders that he was leaving the executive editor role.
Reached by TheWrap, Fleming declined to comment. Andreeva did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on Sunday afternoon.
The person who initially told TheWrap of the change cited a poor relationship between Cieply, Fleming Jr. and Andreeva as the reason. Deadline proudly announced Cieply’s joining top editorial leadership of the site in a July news release.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Michael to our editorial team,” Fleming and Andreeva wrote at the time. “He has been a preeminent journalist in this space for years, with an impeccable reputation for being fearless, fair and ethical.”
Cieply boarded the online magazine on a three-year-contract, an individual with knowledge of his employment arrangement told TheWrap.
Prior to his tenure at the Times, Cieply worked at the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. He co-authored 1981 book “The Hearsts: Family and Empire.” Before his days as a journalist, Cieply was a producer, most prominently at Columbia Pictures from 1991-2000.
Deadline Hollywood is owned by Penske Media, which also owns Variety.
12 Chinese-Owned Media Companies, From Dick Clark Productions to AMC (Photos)
A firehose of Chinese investment has been flowing into Hollywood for the last few years, as Middle Kingdom firms have scooped up production companies and theater chains by the billion. And while D.C. has finally taken notice -- and is asking the government to take a closer look at foreign ownership of American content companies -- Chinese firms have already accumulated a substantial portfolio of media and entertainment-related companies often at healthy premiums. And Hollywood isn’t ready to look that gift horse in the mouth.
AMC/Carmike/Legendary/Getty Images
AMC THEATRES Owner: Dalian Wanda Group
Wanda, a real estate and entertainment conglomerate owned by China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, made its first Hollywood splash in 2012 when the company paid $2.6 billion for AMC Entertainment, the parent of AMC Theatres, the second-largest theater chain in the U.S.
AMC Theatres
Carmike Cinemas Owner: Dalian Wanda Group
Wanda-owned AMC paid $1.2 billion to acquire Carmike Cinemas in a deal that just closed in November. The combined chain will be America’s largest theatrical exhibitor, passing former No. 1 Regal Entertainment.
Mike Kalasnik
Legendary Entertainment Owner: Dalian Wanda Group
Wanda paid $3.5 billion for the “Jurassic World” production company in January, even though Legendary lost $500 million last year, according to a Chinese regulatory filing. However, plenty of Legendary’s high-octane action and fantasy flicks have been bigger hits in China than the U.S., such as “Warcraft.”
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Dick Clark Productions Owner: Dalian Wanda Group
Wanda spent $1 billion to acquire the producer of the Golden Globes, American Music Awards and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” The deal marks Wanda’s first foray into television after spending billions on the big screen.
Dick Clark Productions
Voltage Pictures Owner: Anhui Xinke New Materials
Anhui Xinke, a copper processing company, bought an 80 percent stake in Voltage parent Midnight Entertainment for $351 million. Voltage is the production company behind Oscar-winning films including “The Hurt Locker” and “Dallas Buyers Club.”
Voltage
STX Entertainment Owner: Hony Capital, Tencent
Independent distributor STX was founded with investments from private equity giant TPG and Chinese firm Hony Capital. The company also has a co-financing deal with China’s Huayi Bros. Media, and this year secured a strategic investment from Tencent to expand into digital content, music and virtual reality.
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World Triathlon Corporation Owner: Dalian Wanda Group
Wanda paid $650 million last year for the company that organizes the Ironman Triathlon races, folding it into its new Wanda Sports division.
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IM Global Owner: Tang Media Partners
Tang Media Partners, which has offices in Shanghai and L.A., acquired a controlling stake in Stuart Ford’s film finance firm from Indian conglomerate Reliance in June. IM Global has financed or produced more than 30 Hollywood films, including Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge.”
IM Global
Studio8 Owner: Fosun Group
Chinese conglomerate Fosun is the largest shareholder in former Warner Bros. chief Jeff Robinov’s production company, having invested $200 million in Studio8.
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Dichotomy Creative Group Owner: LeEco
Consumer tech company LeEco’s subsidiary Le Vision Pictures opened an L.A. office this year and hired former Paramount Pictures President Adam Goodman to run it and oversee a slate of English-language films. As part of the deal, LeEco acquired Goodman’s production company, Dichotomy.
Adam Goodman
Cirque du Soleil Owner: Fosun Group
It’s a Canadian circus, not a movie or TV studio, but Cirque du Soleil operates six Vegas shows, several tours and earned $845 million in revenue in 2014. Last year, TPG and Fosun acquired a majority stake in Cirque du Soleil for $1.5 billion.
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Riot Games Owner: Tencent
Tencent acquired a 93 percent stake in the video game publisher for $400 million in 2011 and acquired the remainder last December. Riot’s “League of Legends” is the most played PC game in the world.
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Firms from China have been scooping up production companies and theater chains by the billion in recent years
A firehose of Chinese investment has been flowing into Hollywood for the last few years, as Middle Kingdom firms have scooped up production companies and theater chains by the billion. And while D.C. has finally taken notice -- and is asking the government to take a closer look at foreign ownership of American content companies -- Chinese firms have already accumulated a substantial portfolio of media and entertainment-related companies often at healthy premiums. And Hollywood isn’t ready to look that gift horse in the mouth.
AMC/Carmike/Legendary/Getty Images
AMC Theatres
