Why Netflix Fired Dan Lin, and Where Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Fits In

Netflix’s dramatic executive shake-up has dominated Hollywood headlines for days, and new details are now emerging about why the streamer parted ways with film chief Dan Lin. The dismissal came during a week that saw Netflix cut roughly 1,000 jobs and push out chief content officer Bela Bajaria, with former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice set to take over her role on October 26.

Lin’s ouster followed swiftly. On the heels of the Bajaria news, co-CEO Ted Sarandos reportedly called Lin on Friday to tell him he had been dismissed, with one Netflix insider summing up the mood by saying everyone is collateral damage.

According to Variety, sources say Netflix let Lin go because he could not find the right balance between its streaming titles and its theatrical release experiments. That tension sat at the heart of his tenure, which was framed around austerity both inside and outside the company.

The outlet also reported that Lin clashed with Greta Gerwig over her upcoming ‘Narnia’ movie, though sources stressed the incident was not directly what led to his firing. Still, the details paint a vivid picture of the friction inside Netflix’s film division.

Earlier this year, Lin was reportedly “dismissive” toward Gerwig during a virtual meeting with numerous Netflix executives about the progress of the film. ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ carries a $250 million budget and represents a major theatrical-first gamble for the streamer.

A Universe Begins. See how Narnia was created in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, a film by Greta Gerwig – only in theaters February 12. https://t.co/yv912r4yKn

— Narnia Movie (@NarniaMovie) October 13, 2026

Word reportedly spread quickly that the meeting had gone badly. Sources said Bajaria called Gerwig’s producer, Amy Pascal, to smooth things over, while Gerwig’s CAA agent Bryan Lourd went directly to Sarandos about the incident.

Soon afterward, Lin was removed from the project. Film VP Doug Belgrad stepped in as the primary Netflix executive overseeing ‘Narnia’, at least until Belgrad himself was laid off last week.

Gerwig wasn’t the only high-profile director reportedly at odds with Lin. In the weeks before his exit, reports also pointed to a clash with Ben Affleck over his just-released film ‘Animals’.

Other reports have gone further. Journalist Jeff Sneider claimed ‘Narnia’ was a factor in Lin’s firing, and some outlets have cited unverified accounts of disappointing internal screenings, though Netflix has not confirmed any of those claims.

First poster for Greta Gerwig’s ‘NARNIA’. Trailer releases tomorrow. https://t.co/CZ9kUEDIVm

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026

The ‘Narnia’ project dates back to Netflix’s 2018 deal to develop films and series based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved books, with Gerwig joining in 2020. After months of negotiations, Netflix agreed to an exclusive IMAX theatrical run for the film, a rare move for a streamer that typically prefers to debut its movies on the platform.

The stakes are enormous. The 7 Narnia books have sold more than 115 million copies worldwide, and Netflix hopes the films will become its next major franchise, with ‘Narnia’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ both expected in cinemas next year.

Lin addressed his teams on Monday as news of his departure spread. In a memo obtained by Variety, he wrote, “When I took this job, Bela gave me a simple piece of advice: Be yourself.”

During his time at Netflix, Lin reorganized the film division by genre expertise rather than budget range, reshaping how the streamer developed its movies. It remains unclear who will replace Lin, with new leadership expected once Rice settles in.

The turmoil also coincides with Netflix’s third-quarter earnings report, which could shed more light on the company’s strategy going forward. For now, the future of Netflix’s theatrical experiments, including Gerwig’s ambitious ‘Narnia’, will rest in new hands at a pivotal moment for the streamer.

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