Warners Swallows New Line

Studio falls in latest Hollywood cost-cutting move
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 29, 2008 3:06 AM CST
Warners Swallows New Line
Actor Viggo Mortensen as "Aragorn" in New Line Cinema's epic film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." New Line is to be folded into Warner Bros as a cost-cutting measure.    (KRT Photos)

New Line Cinema, the studio that created the Lord of the Rings blockbuster franchise, will be folded into the Warner Brothers unit of Time Warner, reports the Los Angeles Times. It's a cost-cutting move and part of a trend that has seen DreamWorks swallowed by Viacom, and Miramax downsized by Disney. Founder Bob Shaye will leave the company.

Hundreds of New Line's 600 employees may lose their jobs as Time Warner seeks to slash costs and drive up the stock price. "This is a no-brainer move," said one analyst. "There's no reason to have two separate infrastructures. "The question is, why did it take so long?" (More New Line Cinema stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X