Twentieth Century Fox Film Chief to Step Down Earlier Than Planned

The longtime chairman and chief executive of Twentieth Century Fox Film, Jim Gianopulos, will be stepping down nine months earlier than expected.

Mr. Gianopulos, who was originally slated to leave the film studio when his contract expired in June 2017, will now make way for his successor, Stacey Snider, on Sept. 1, Fox said in a news release Tuesday. Ms. Snider became co-chairman at Fox in 2014 following several leadership positions across Hollywood.

Mr. Gianopulos, who has run the 21st Century Fox Inc.-owned film studio since 2000, didn't give a reason for the accelerated timeline of his departure. Calls seeking further comment weren't immediately returned.

21st Century Fox and News Corp, parent company of The Wall Street Journal, share common ownership.

Mr. Gianopulos's tenure included the 2009 release of "Avatar," the top-grossing film of all time at the global box office. He became Fox's sole chairman in 2012 after co-chairman Tom Rothman was ousted.

Ms. Snider will inherit oversight of the multiple "Avatar" sequels that director James Cameron has planned. Fox is in second place this year among major studios at the box office, buoyed by "The Revenant" and "Deadpool." She is poised to be the only woman to run a major studio.

Write to Ezequiel Minaya at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 23, 2016 20:35 ET (00:35 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.