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Back to Hollywood Breakdown

Hollywood Breakdown

Emma Watts resigns as chief of 20th Century Studios

As Disney continues to dismantle Fox, more changes emerge at the Mouse.

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KCRW placeholderBy Matthew Belloni • Jan 31, 2020 • 4m Listen

With long-time executive Emma Watts stepping down, some in Hollywood are queasy with the way Disney continues to obliterate what was left of Fox. Watts was behind franchises such as "Avatar" and "X-Men," as well as films including "Ford v Ferrari," "Deadpool," and "The Martian." She was also one of the only top female film executives at Disney after the merger. Her departure has insiders wondering about the fate of Searchlight (formerly Fox Searchlight), the specialty branch that was the home of many Oscar winners over the years. In a Disney-fied world where franchises and marketable characters reign supreme, is there still room for an outfit like Searchlight?

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    Matthew Belloni

    founding partner of Puck News

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    Kim Masters

    partner/writer at Puck News, host of KCRW's “The Business.”

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    Kaitlin Parker

    Producer, 'The Business' and 'Hollywood Breakdown'

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