As reported in several breaking news reports by Deadline last week, the pace of restructuring at major Hollywood studios is picking up in response to the changing media landscape of the COVID-19 crisis. Last week, Lionsgate Chairman Joe Drake announced a 15% workforce reduction in its Motion Picture Group.
Disney also announced a handful of layoffs in its studios, including six positions from its specialty Searchlight Pictures group and the elimination of several hundred open positions. Said Deadline, “The whole town is dealing with the balance of delayed theatrical releases until 2021 and eventing once-planned tentpoles on streaming and PVOD platforms.”