Waititi’s Adolf Hitler satire “Jojo Rabbit.” Utley, who described it as “a big test for me,” said: “They really appreciated it and the message it is having, and what we are trying to do. So I don’t see any material changes in the way we work.”
Despite Fox Searchlight’s unwavering commitment to theatrical, the execs value the enhanced opportunities in the streaming realm Disney provides, including distribution for its films on Hulu. “We are very grateful to be part of a company – now with Disney – that is very forward thinking in the streaming space, and is building for the future,” Utley said.
Gilula, who has headed the company with Utley for almost 20 years, said the film industry was undergoing the biggest “inflection” since the birth of television. Technological development had led to a change in audience behavior, and Fox Searchlight had had to adapt to that the best it could. Gilula said that Fox Searchlight’s business model was still viable, but “we have to change.” He said the bar for a film to get a theatrical release had been “raised a lot.”