Disney Continues Layoffs With Key Production, VFX Executives Let Go

Disney continued layoffs this week, cutting another several dozen employees at the studio and 20th Century Fox, which Disney acquired in March for $71.3 billion, an individual familiar with the layoffs told TheWrap.

The layoffs, which happened on Wednesday affected several key executives in the production and visual effects departments. At Fox, head of visual effects John Kilkenny, EVP of feature production Dana Belcastro, vice president of feature production Fred Baron, and EVP of postproduction Fred Chandler were all among those let go.

This is the fourth round of layoffs since Disney completed its acquisition of the bulk of Fox’s film and TV assets. In June, a few dozen employees were affected, although details of which departments within the studio’s film arm were hit were unclear.

Also Read: Craig Erwich and Hulu Scripted Content Team Move Under Dana Walden, Disney TV

Along with this week’s layoffs, Disney told employees it will shut down the Fox Research Library on or before Jan 6, 2020, and plans to fold the library’s contents — which include a valuable collection of 19th-century books, newspapers, 1920s fashion magazines, as well as a World War II materials — into its own archives.

Disney leadership has said it plans to achieve roughly $2 billion in cost-saving as job cuts continue to eliminate overlapping business functions.

In May, Fox’s corporate communications team was among the departments hit in the second round of layoffs on the film side.

Also Read: Disney to Combine Media Sales and Distribution Operations

The Mouse House began layoffs in March by letting go of senior-level staff and executives at Fox in what is expected to amount to more than 4,000 jobs being eliminated as part of its Fox integration.

Disney has already set its leadership team in place, tapping Emma Watts as vice chairman for 20th Century Fox Film and president of production at Fox, reporting directly to co-studio heads Alan Horn and Alan Bergman. Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula were also brought over as co-chairs for Fox Searchlight reporting to Horn and Bergman.

Variety first reported the layoffs.

Correction: A previous version of this story had an incorrect title for Dana Belcastro.

16 Disney Live-Action Remakes of Animated Hits in the Works (Photos)

Disney will be pumping out live-action versions of their animated classics for a long time time to come. Here's a list of titles in the works, including the release date of the original.
"Jungle Cruise"

Okay, okay, "Jungle Cruise" might not count as live-action film based on a previously animated classic, but it is based on a ride at Disneyland, so we're going to include it. Plus, we'll take any chance to talk about Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the same sentence. It will hit theaters July 24, 2020.
Disney
"The Little Mermaid"
So now we're getting into films that are in some stage of development but haven't necessarily been slated for release. After all, Disney has so many untitled films slated, it's hard to count. But a live-action version of "The Little Mermaid" has been long discussed, as it is arguably one of the most popular and profitable movies in Disney's vault. Rob Marshall is on board direct, with Halle Bailey set to star as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
Disney
"Pinocchio"

"Pinocchio" is also in the works, with Tom Hanks playing Geppetto.
Getty Images/Disney
"Snow White"
Forget her sister -- the original baddest chick in the Disney animated kingdom is coming back for her own standalone film. It was announced at the end of October 2016.
Disney
"The Jungle Book 2"
This is a no-brainer follow-up to Favreau's hit from spring 2016, based on the animated classic released in 1967.
Disney
"Snow White"
Forget her sister -- the original baddest chick in the Disney animated kingdom is coming back for her own standalone film. It was announced at the end of October 2016.
Disney
"Aladdin"
"Hercules"
Disney
"Peter Pan"
Neverland will get a practical set if Disney has its way updating the 1953 animated film.
Disney
"James and the Giant Peach"
In one of the more interesting adaptations, this beloved Roald Dahl book became a quirky claymation hit for Disney in 1996 with director Henry Selick. Heavy dramatist director Sam Mendes was attached to take a stab at it, but he has since dropped out.
YouTube
"Hunchback"

In early 2019, a live-action film based on 1996's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was announced. Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang was tapped to pen the script, with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz handling the music.
Disney
"Tinker Bell"

This movie has also been in the works for quite some time, with Reese Witherspoon attached as the cute little fairy from "Peter Pan."
Disney
"Bambi"

In January 2020, Disney hired Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Captain Marvel") and Lindsey Beer (“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser”) to write the script for the live-action remake of the 1942 animated classic.
"Oliver Twist"
While Disney never formally made a direct animated take on Charles Dickens' beloved orphan, the studio did release the adorable 1988 "Oliver and Company," inspired by Dickens' tale but told with animals. The studio also made a small-screen live-action version in 1997 with Richard Dreyfuss.
Getty Images
"Lilo & Stitch"

This project was announced in October 2018 with Mike Van Waes attached to pen the script. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing. In November of last year, it was announced that Jon M. Chu was in early talks to direct.
Disney
"The Lion King" Sequel

In September, it was announced that Barry Jenkins would direct the follow-up to Jon Favreau's 2019 hit. The logline is being kept under wraps, but Deadline reported that the film will explore the mythology of the other characters in Pride Rock, including Mufasa’s origin story.

No release date for the next film has been set, and it’s unclear when production would begin. No cast has been set either.

1 of 17

The studio is raiding its vault to remake classics including ”The Little Mermaid“

Disney will be pumping out live-action versions of their animated classics for a long time time to come. Here's a list of titles in the works, including the release date of the original.

View In Gallery

16 Disney Live-Action Remakes of Animated Hits in the Works (Photos)

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL