Netflix has dismissed film chief Dan Lin after nearly three years, as the streaming giant undergoes a major restructuring. His departure follows a reported reduction of around 1,000 employees across the company. The shake-up also includes the exit of chief content officer Bela Bajaria, raising questions about Netflix’s future leadership and creative direction.
Lin was reportedly dismissed at the start of the weekend and planned to address his teams on Monday. He attended the Academy Gala on Saturday and appeared at a screening of La Bola Negra on the Netflix campus the following evening. However, the company had not publicly commented on his departure or confirmed who would take over his role.
Read more : Netflix faces fresh shake-up as film chief Dan Lin steps down
Meanwhile, former Warner Bros. film executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have emerged as possible candidates for positions at Netflix. Their potential involvement remains unconfirmed, with an announcement about Lin’s replacement expected in the coming days. The leadership changes come as Netflix reviews its creative operations amid concerns over audience engagement and sluggish stock performance.
The restructuring has also affected Lin’s close colleagues, including Doug Belgrad and independent film executive Sheroum Kim. Their departures came shortly before Lin’s exit, signalling wider changes within the company’s film division. Netflix has also faced pressure following its unsuccessful bid for Warner Bros., prompting renewed attention to its long-term strategy.
Read more : Netflix to cut 6% of workforce amid rising competition –
Lin joined Netflix in 2024 after leaving Rideback, the production company he founded. Rideback helped develop major projects, including the Lego film franchise, the It adaptations and the Sherlock Holmes movies. During his tenure at Netflix, Lin said he had approved or acquired 88 films, including Apex, Emilia Pérez, Here Comes the Flood and The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.