Sean Bailey Leaving Disney

Sean Bailey, the producer-turned-executive who has overseen Walt Disney Studios’ live-action division for almost 15 years, is exiting the studio.

In his place, David Greenbaum, who ran of Searchlight Pictures with Matthew Greenfield, will take over in a newly created role of president, Disney live action and 20th Century Studios. Greenbaum will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. 

Steve Asbell continues to oversee 20th Century Studios as president while Greenfield takes sole oversight of Searchlight as president.

Per the studio’s announcement Monday, in this new role Greenbaum will lead “a combined studio group that will be home to both iconic film brands, producing a robust collection of original and legacy projects unique to each for theatrical and streaming, while increasing collaboration across the production slate.”

The move is a jump for Greenbaum, who has demonstrated a strong record in the prestige filmmaking space, along with his partner Greenfield. The pair were under the wings of previous Searchlight heads Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula and in 2021 took over the top position. The company is in the awards race this year with Poor Things, which has 11 nominations. Greenbaum has built a reputation for being talent friendly and for diving into award races. This new job will be a different creative experience as he shapes the slate of the purveyor of the biggest movie titles in Hollywood.

“David has an incredible creative sensibility and eye for film, and he has built a reputation as an exceptional leader and creative executive, as proven by his track record at Searchlight Pictures and deep relationships throughout the industry,” said Bergman in a statement. “I’m thrilled that he’ll be taking on this new and important role. We’ve had the great fortune to have a strong creative leader in Steve Asbell at 20th Century, and I’m excited for him to work closely with David as we take a more strategic look across both brands from a creative and operational standpoint. I also want to thank Sean Bailey for his many contributions and leadership over his tenure at Disney. Searchlight remains in excellent hands under the guidance of Matthew Greenfield.”

Bailey’s departure has been rumored for several weeks now as his name has floated to the top of the list as the executive who is most likely to replace Scott Stuber, Netflix’s film chief who announced his departure in January. But this appears not to be the case, although it’s not clear what changed.

Disney tapped Bailey as president of production in 2010. He spearheaded strategy of moving away from original movies to focus on remaking the company’s animated classics in live action. It was a strategy that was hard to argue against, with some films becoming $1 billion blockbusters including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Bailey built his name as a partner with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the trio’s LivePlanet banner, and was a producer on Affleck’s feature directorial debut, the well-regarded 2007 thriller Gone Baby Gone.

His first post-exec role will be producing Disney’s Tron: Ares. Other producing projects are sure to follow. “These 15 years at Disney have been an incredible journey, but the time is right for a new chapter. I’m deeply grateful to my exceptional team and proud of the slate and history we’ve built together,” said Bailey in a statement. “I joined Disney while producing Tron: Legacy, so it seems fitting that I will have the opportunity to work on the latest Tron as I depart. I wish Bob Iger, Alan Bergman, and all my amazing colleagues the very best for a bright future.”

Enthused Bergman in a statement, “(Sean) and his team have brought to the screen iconic stories and moments that have delighted fans around the world and will stand the test of time. I know he’ll continue to do great things, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s staying on as a producer of Tron: Ares.”

During Greenbaum’s long tenure at Searchlight, the exec was involved in Oscar winners The Shape of Water and Nomadland and projects such as The Menu, The Favourite, Wild, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Black Swan. As a development executive at Miramax Films, he worked on films like No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. Prestige fare is in his DNA and only makes his transition more interesting to watch.

“I want to thank Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for the extraordinary opportunity to continue the legacy of fabled and groundbreaking storytelling at both Disney and 20th Century – it’s an honor and responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I’m eager to get to work with Steve Asbell and the teams,” stated Greenbaum. “At the same time, the last 14 years working alongside and in partnership with my dear friend and colleague Matthew Greenfield have been unforgettable – Searchlight and the incredible team there remain the gold standard for quality in our business, and I look forward to watching their continued success in the years to come.”