Dan Lin was fired as Netflix’s head of film on Friday, October 16, 2026, just one day after the company let go of chief content officer Bela Bajaria and cut about 1,000 jobs, or 6% of its global workforce. Reports quickly linked his exit to a tense Zoom meeting with Greta Gerwig over her upcoming Narnia movie. The truth is more complicated. Multiple sources say the clash was real, but it was not the reason he lost his job.
The Clash With Greta Gerwig Over Narnia
Four sources confirmed to Variety that Lin and Gerwig had a falling out during a Zoom call earlier in 2026. The meeting included several Netflix executives. Gerwig was walking the group through progress on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. Lin, according to those sources, came across as “dismissive”.
Word of the meeting spread quickly inside Netflix. Bajaria, then the chief content officer, called Gerwig’s producer, Amy Pascal, to smooth things over. Gerwig’s agent at CAA, Bryan Lourd, went further and raised the matter directly with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
“Lin is known in town to be incredibly fair, but at times obtuse in his frankness. Word travelled fast around Netflix that the meeting had gone south.” — Variety, citing sources
Lin was pulled off oversight of Narnia after the incident. His deputy, Doug Belgrad, took over the project. Belgrad was laid off about a week later.
The Narnia Budget and the Pressure Around It
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is one of the most expensive films Netflix has ever made. Variety puts the budget at $250 million. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey has described it as a $280 million production on a podcast, and the Associated Press has cited that figure.
The film is also a major test for Netflix’s move into theatrical releases. It is scheduled to open in IMAX and theaters in February 2027, before streaming on Netflix in April 2027. Lin had publicly said Netflix would not work with filmmakers who insist on theatrical releases, which made the Narnia rollout a sensitive exception.
“There is a group of filmmakers who still want theatrical. Those are filmmakers that we’ve accepted we just won’t work with.” — Dan Lin, in an earlier interview
Why Netflix Really Fired Dan Lin
Lin was hired in February 2024 with a clear mandate: spend less and make fewer, better movies. He was known for being blunt about budgets. That bluntness made him unpopular with some talent and agents.
“Dan was very frank in feedback. Blunt, even. Some talent was used to being handled with velvet gloves.” — A Netflix insider, The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter reported that Netflix wanted a “blunt communicator who could rightsize budgets.” Lin was that person. The problem, according to the same report, was that the company eventually decided it no longer wanted a Dan Lin–style figure running its film division.
Lin himself wrote an exit email to staff that referenced the advice Bajaria gave him when he took the job.
“When I took this job, Bela gave me a simple piece of advice: Be yourself.” — Dan Lin, exit email obtained by Variety
Sources also told Variety that Lin’s departure was part of a broader shake-up. Netflix was dealing with slow growth, a falling stock price, and weak user engagement. The company’s stock was trading around $69.76 at the time, far below its 52-week high of $124.86.
Ted Sarandos and Dan Lin’s Official Statements
Ted Sarandos released a statement praising Lin’s work.
“I started working with Dan well before he joined us in 2024 and his strength as a producer was always clear. Once he joined Netflix, I saw up close how his dedication to quality filmmaking, rigor around dealmaking and strategy, and collaborative spirit elevated our film business. I’m grateful to Dan for everything he’s done for Netflix films.” — Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO
Lin responded with his own statement.
“It’s been a great privilege to lead this incredible team and work with amazing filmmakers and talent to bring their movies to the world. Thank you to Ted, Greg and Bela for the opportunity.” — Dan Lin
The Timeline: Layoffs, Bajaria, and Then Lin
- Thursday, October 15, 2026: Netflix announced Bela Bajaria was leaving as chief content officer. Peter Rice, a former Disney executive, was named as her replacement. The company also confirmed 1,000 layoffs, about 6% of its workforce.
- Friday, October 16, 2026: Ted Sarandos called Dan Lin to tell him he was fired. Lin was informed over the weekend.
- Monday, October 19, 2026: Netflix announced Lin’s departure publicly. Lin met with his film staff that morning.
- October 26, 2026: Peter Rice was set to officially start as chief content officer.
Lin was expected to stay until Rice arrived. That plan changed within a day of Bajaria’s exit.
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What Happens to Narnia Now
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is still moving forward. Netflix released the first trailer in October 2026, and the film is set for a theatrical release in February 2027 before arriving on Netflix in April 2027.
The project is now overseen by Peter Rice, who takes over content strategy. Gerwig remains attached as director. The clash with Lin did not derail the film. It did, however, become the most visible example of the friction inside Netflix’s film division during Lin’s tenure.
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