Cutting flab: Disney begins Fox layoffs with cuts focusing on film studio

Walt Disney Co. began slashing jobs at 20th Century Fox less than two days after completing its $71 billion takeover of the storied film studio.

The layoffs, focused on senior management in the Fox film division, included Chris Aronson, president of domestic theatrical distribution; product strategy chief Mike Dunn; and three senior marketing executives, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Stacey Snider, the studio’s chairman, said months ago that she would be leaving.

The merger combines Fox’s movie labels — Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Family, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox 2000 and Blue Sky Studios — with Disney film banners such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm. The organization will be run by Studio Chairman Alan Horn, alongside Studio President Alan Bergman, Disney said in a statement Thursday.