If you’ve loved Searchlight Pictures films over the years such as “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Black Swan,” “Birdman,” “Brooklyn,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Juno,” “28 Days Later,” “(500) Days of Summer” and “Sideways,” there are two people responsible for bringing them to the screen. Now, after 21 years, those voices are taking leave. In a somewhat surprising announcement, Steve Gilula & Nancy Utley are retiring from their roles as Searchlight Pictures chairman just days away from the studio potentially winning its fifth Best Picture Oscar under their stewardship.
In a news release, Disney announced that Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to President, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.
Gilula and Utley were at the studio for 21 of its 27-year existence.
“Our time at Searchlight has been the kind of career highlight one can only dream of in this business,” said Utley and Gilula in a statement. “Over the past 21 years, we’ve had the privilege to build and lead an incredible team, and work with brilliant artists, to take creative risks, champion stories we’re passionate about, and, along the way, make iconic films that will stand the test of time. We’re so proud of how this studio has grown and evolved over the years, and we’re ready to pass the torch to carry on the Searchlight legacy.”
Bergman and Horn added, “Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history, and we commend and thank them for their incredible leadership, especially throughout the integration of Searchlight at Disney. They are leaving the studio in the talented hands of Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who have been a critical part of Searchlight’s success over many years and we’re confident they will continue to set a course that keeps Searchlight on the industry’s leading edge.”
Greenbaum and Greenfield also remarked, “First and foremost, we want to thank Nancy and Steve for their years of leading the most dynamic specialty film company in the world. While their track record speaks for itself, Steve and Nancy’s passion, intelligence, and vision are second to none. The fiercely loyal team they’ve built reflects the honesty, transparency, and integrity with which they have led, and to which we aspire moving forward. With the foundation laid by them and the continued support of Alan Bergman, Alan Horn, and everyone at Disney, Searchlight is primed for its next exciting chapter.”
Beyond their ability to recognize award-winning, groundbreaking and classic projects such as “Tree of Life,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Thirteen,” “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” “Shame,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Stoker” and “Jackie,” among others, the duo also had a phenomenal record at the box office. “Slumdog Millionaire” earned $383 million worldwide, “Black Swan” took $331 million global, “Juno” $231 million, and “The Shape of Water” $195 million. All in all, under Gilula and Utley released 12 films that took in over $100 million each at the global box office. A record unmatched by any of their remaining peers in the independent film world.
The pandemic forced Searchlight to release “Nomadland” jointly in theaters and on Hulu earlier this year. It’s been nominated for six Oscars and is a frontrunner for Best Picture and Best Director. Other upcoming releases on Searchlight’s slate greenlit on Gilula and Utley’s watch include Wes Anderson’s Cannes selection “The French Dispatch,” Guillermo Del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” and Michael Showalter’s “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”