It’s being reported that Skydance Animation has signed a multiyear pact with Netflix to develop and produce animated movies for the streamer. First up for release under the deal is Spellbound, a title that was previously set up at Apple, where Skydance Animation signed a pact in 2021. Now, the animation arm of the David Ellison-run studio has found a new streaming home at a time when Netflix is restructuring its animation efforts.

Apple and the John Lasseter-led Skydance Animation have parted ways, with the latter bringing its full existing animation slate to Netflix. In addition to Spellbound, which voice stars Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem and features music from Alan Menkin, Netflix will release the once Apple-bound Pookoo from Tangled director Nathan Greno. Spellbound is due out in 2024, with Pookoo hitting the service a year later.

The Skydance and Netflix slate also includes Ray Gunn, directed by Pixar alum Brad Bird, and an untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project from Zootopia director Rich Moore.

Skydance continues its live-action feature film pact with Apple, signed in 2022, having worked with the streamer on the Chris Evans-fronted Ghosted and Peter Farrelly’s The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Additionally, Skydance’s The Search for WondLa, an animated series based on the books by Tony DiTerlizzi, will still debut on Apple. Skydance and Apple had previously released the animated feature Luck. For more, read the full report by The Hollywood Reporter.

In November 2017, the controversial Lasseter took a six-month leave of absence after acknowledging allegations of workplace sexual misconduct that he described as "missteps" with employees in a memo to staff. The alleged sexual misconduct toward multiple employees over a number of years included "grabbing, kissing, [and] making comments about physical attributes". The alleged sexual misconduct became so well-known that, according to Variety, at various times, Pixar had "minders who were tasked with reining in his impulses". In June 2018, Disney announced that Lasseter was leaving the company. Source.

Emma Thompson exited the movie "Luck" in protest over John Lasseter heading the Skydance animation division according to a Hollywood Reporter story.  There are several major quotes given in that report after her departure from the film. A screenshot from that report is presented below with just one quote.

Archive: Apple TV News