Why Netflix Fired Dan Lin (and the Truth About His Tension With Greta Gerwig Over ‘Narnia’)

Netflix has fired film chief Dan Lin amid a wider overhaul of its creative leadership, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos telling him of the decision on Friday, according to people cited in the article. The move comes after workforce cuts and the departure of chief content officer Bela Bajaria, as Netflix faces weak stock performance and declining user engagement. Peter Rice is taking charge of content.

Accounts differ on why Lin was dismissed, but sources agree the arrangement was not working, despite his efforts to control spending and make films that appealed to subscribers. Lin backed exclusive cinema runs for family franchises, including Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, both due in cinemas next year. The article also reports tensions with prominent filmmakers, including Gerwig and Ben Affleck, while noting that Lin had completed only about half of a five-year deal.