As part of Netflix’s biggest restructuring in four years, the head of the film division, Doug Belgrade, has been fired, according to sources. The Hollywood Reporter.
Belgrade had been film chairman Dan Lin’s right-hand man since he joined the streaming giant in 2024 after a long tenure at Sony, including as president of Columbia Pictures. His hiring was Lin’s first big move at the time after the executive took over from Scott Stuber in the role overseeing all of the streaming giant’s films.
Belgrade had just toasted the launch of the film directed by Ben Affleck Animals during its world premiere in Los Angeles in early October, and played a key role in managing Netflix’s massive slate of original films. (The company overall spends about $20 billion a year on content, including film and television.)
At Netflix, Belgrade led the film division heads for original live-action titles, but not for animated or acquisition titles. This includes more than 30 production managers. During Lin’s tenure, Netflix’s film division was structured into silos by genre. For example, Kira Goldberg oversees thrillers (think: Charlize Theron’s film Summit), Jason Young oversees the action titles (as Alan Ritchson stars War machine) while Hannah Minghella directs the animation, etc.
Belgrade has worked on major feature films with key talents like Guillermo Del Toro on FrankensteinPete Berg on the upcoming sports drama Mosquito bowl and Greta Gerwig on the great theatrical swing of Narnia: the magician’s nephewamong many other titles (including the company’s slate of holiday films this year).
On Wednesday, Netflix co-chief executives Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters informed staff that the company would cut 1,000 employees, or about 6% of its workforce, as part of a widely telegraphed initiative to reorganize and cut costs.
“We know changes like this are difficult, but let’s stay focused,” reads the co-CEOs’ memo. “This is one of the most dynamic periods in entertainment history – and it’s a time perfectly suited for a company like ours, built at the intersection of technology and entertainment. Now it’s up to us to step up and experience this moment together, as we always do.”
Sarandos and Peters also noted, “Our business is strong and growing, and we remain on track to achieve our full-year guidance. We will continue to invest aggressively in high-impact areas to improve our service and drive further growth and innovation.”
Belgrade remains president of 2.0 Entertainment, which he founded after leaving Sony in 2016. This company produces feature films (Unabomber And The Pope’s Exorcist suite) as well as co-financing with Sony and Paramount (Heart of the Beast, Primate and others).
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