Alan Horn, longtime film executive, to retire from Disney

Alan Horn, the movie government who helped flip Walt Disney Studios into probably the most highly effective film studio in Hollywood and whose 50-year profession has touched movies from “When Harry Met Sally…” to “The Darkish Knight,” is retiring.

Disney introduced Monday that Horn, 78, chief inventive officer of Disney Studios Content material, will step down on the finish of the yr after a nine-year run that coincided with one of the crucial profitable stretches of any studio. Horn, who was beforehand co-chairman, oversaw blockbusters that amassed billions in field workplace from the studio’s divisions, together with Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Disney animation and, after Disney’s acquisition of Fox, twentieth Century Studios.

“Alan has had a profound impression on the leisure trade and audiences worldwide,” mentioned Bob Iger, Disney government chairman, in a press release. “We now have been very lucky to have Alan on the helm of our studio for almost a decade, presiding over an unprecedented interval of development and distinctive storytelling, whereas solidifying his repute as one of many trade’s true icons. Like so many, I might be endlessly grateful for his sturdy help, clever counsel and enduring friendship.”

Horn’s departure, whereas anticipated, provides to the management changeover that has adopted Bob Chapek’s alternative of Iger as chief government. Iger is to go away Dec. 31. The reorganization is happening whereas Disney’s movie operations, like these of all studios, have reshuffled throughout the pandemic. A number of of Disney’s greatest releases have been steered to its streaming platform, Disney+, however the studio lately mentioned it’s returning to theatrical releases for all of its remaining movies this yr.

Horn, a broadly revered government identified for his calm, cool-headed stewardship of big-budget properties, beforehand had a protracted tenure at Warner Bros. that included overseeing the “Harry Potter” movies. After taking up Disney’s movie division in 2012, the studio launched 20 movies that surpassed $1 billion in field workplace.

“It is by no means simple to say goodbye to a spot you like, which is why I’ve achieved it slowly, however with Alan Bergman main the best way, I am assured the unbelievable Studios crew will preserve placing magic on the market for years to come back,” Horn mentioned in a press release.

Bergman earlier this yr succeeded Horn as chairman after serving with him as co-chairmen.