Eric Schrier Leaves Disney Exec Role For Producing Deal — SkimNews
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- Eric Schrier is departing his post as President of Direct-to-Consumer International Originals, Strategic Programming, and Emerging Media at Disney to start a production company under a producing deal with Disney Entertainment Television, per an internal memo from chairman Debra OConnell.
- Schrier spent 25 of his 26 Disney years at FX, joining as an assistant to then-President Kevin Reilly in late 2000 and rising to Entertainment President; he co-launched FX Productions with chairman John Landgraf and was closely involved in The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, The Americans, Atlanta, and The Bear.
- In his most recent role, Schrier expanded Disney+'s international originals slate to 65 shows across 16 markets, appointed new EMEA and LATAM heads, and oversaw titles including Rivals, Alice and Steve, Perfect Crown, and the upcoming The Remarried Princess.
- Schrier also spearheaded a blockbuster four-season pickup by Fox of four 20th Animation series — The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, and American Dad! in its return after 11 years on TBS.
- The decision to leave was personal: the role required Schrier to travel 1-2 weeks every month away from his young family, and the administrative load pulled him away from the creative work he had thrived on at FX.
- Schrier's exit comes just weeks after fellow FX architect Chuck Saftler announced his own departure, and is timed against Disney's latest restructuring under OConnell that would have moved Schrier back under incoming DET president Joe Earley.
- At age 50, Schrier is ending an executive-only career spent entirely at FX/Disney to return to producing, with Disney saying details of the arrangement are still being finalized but expected to span FX, FX Productions, Hulu/Disney+, and 20th Television.
Why it matters: The departure of a 26-year Disney veteran who built FX's creative infrastructure hands Disney+ a gap in international originals leadership just as Adam Smith takes over DTC and Joe Earley consolidates DET's franchise and content strategy — and signals that even senior architects are willing to trade C-suite titles to get back to the creative work that built their reputations.
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