On January 22, Netflix announced that Scott Stuber, the head of films, will be departing the streaming service pioneer in March to establish his own media company.
Stuber, who joined Netflix in 2017 with the goal of expanding its original film offerings, was appointed as the Chairman of Netflix Film in January 2023. The streaming giant has not yet identified a replacement for his role.
During his tenure, Stuber, a former executive at Universal Studios, utilized his industry connections to build relationships with renowned filmmakers such as Alfonso Cuarón, Spike Lee, Greta Gerwig, Rian Johnson, Jane Campion, and Martin Scorsese.
Under Stuber’s leadership, Netflix became the studio with the most Academy Awards nominations for three consecutive years, from 2020 through 2022. The platform earned eight Best Picture nominations, including notable films like “The Irishman,” “Roma,” and “The Power of the Dog.”
Stuber strategically directed Netflix to make substantial investments in its talent, including a commitment of $450 million for two sequels to “Knives Out” from Rian Johnson and a reported $200 million for the action film “The Gray Man,” helmed by the Russo Bros.
It is noteworthy that Stuber’s new venture will continue to produce projects for Netflix, as reported by Bloomberg News. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria expressed optimism about finding new ways to collaborate in the future.
Netflix is set to release its fourth-quarter results after the bell on Tuesday. The departure of Scott Stuber marks a significant change in the leadership of Netflix’s film division, and industry watchers will be keenly observing the company’s future strategies and developments in the wake of this transition.
