Under the new deal arrangement, Lin will depart Rideback, leaving his partner Jonathan Eirich and Rideback COO Michael LoFaso as the new co-CEOs of the production company.
Dan Lin has been appointed as Netflix‘s new head of film, taking over from Scott Stuber, who announced his departure from the streaming giant in March. Lin, renowned for producing hit films like the Lego franchise, It, and Disney’s Aladdin remake through his production company Rideback, will assume his new role on April 1. His appointment comes after speculation that included names like former Disney executive Sean Bailey and former Universal chief Stacey Snider.
Having previously collaborated with Netflix on projects like The Two Popes and the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, Lin brings a wealth of experience to the table. He will report directly to Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer.
Before founding Rideback, Lin served as senior VP of production at Warner Bros., where he oversaw the development and production of major films such as Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Despite Lin’s previous interest in overseeing DC Studios for Warner Bros., he remained committed to Rideback. However, the opportunity at Netflix proved too compelling to pass up.
Lin’s departure from Rideback will see Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso stepping in as the new co-CEOs.
In a statement, Lin said: “While I’ve been approached many times during my past 15 years at Rideback, I could truly never imagine leaving until Bela reached out with this incredible opportunity. It’s always been my aspiration at Rideback to make movies with worldwide appeal and universal themes, and there is no better place to do that than at a company with the widest global audience. It’s an incredible opportunity that I couldn’t say no to.”
Bajaria added: “Dan’s experience as both an executive and a producer is marked by a consistent ability to draw in exceptional filmmakers. But what really got my attention was his creation of Rideback, a dynamic community for filmmakers, fostering collaborative and creative environments. His visionary approach has led to the establishment of incubators and residencies, propelling the careers of extraordinary talent, as well as a steady slate of blockbuster films.”
