Peter Rice, who was fired by Disney in 2022, is Netflix’s new chief content officer. He replaces Bela Bajaria on Oct. 26, the same week Netflix said it’s cutting about 1,000 jobs.
A former Disney executive is about to run everything you watch on Netflix.
Netflix has named Peter Rice its new chief content officer, according to Deadline. Rice once ran Disney’s TV business before then-CEO Bob Chapek fired him in 2022.
Rice starts on Monday, Oct. 26, and will oversee Netflix’s series, movies, and live events around the world, Reuters reported.
Who is Peter Rice?
A longtime Hollywood executive. Rice spent decades at Fox, where he ran Fox Searchlight, the studio behind movies like Slumdog Millionaire and Juno, according to What’s on Netflix.
He moved to Disney when it bought most of Fox in 2019. There, he served as chairman of Walt Disney Television and chairman of general entertainment, overseeing ABC, FX, Hulu, National Geographic, and 20th Television.
Why did Disney fire Peter Rice?
Disney never gave a full public reason. Chapek fired Rice in June 2022 and replaced him with Dana Walden, WDW News Today reported.
Reports at the time described Rice as an “ill fit with Disney’s corporate culture.”
Rice had also been mentioned as a possible future Disney CEO. Chapek himself was pushed out just five months later, in November 2022, when Bob Iger returned.
What has Peter Rice done since leaving Disney?
He’s stayed busy. Rice has worked on content for the LA28 Olympics and produced movies including 28 Years Later, Warfare, and Saturday Night, according to The Hollywood Reporter, as cited by What’s on Netflix.
The Netflix job is his first big corporate role since leaving Disney.
Who is Peter Rice replacing at Netflix?
Bela Bajaria. She’s leaving after nearly a decade at Netflix. Bajaria joined in 2016, took over global TV in 2020, and became chief content officer in January 2023, Reuters reported.
Her time there included hits like Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said “she led enormous changes at Netflix,” according to What’s on Netflix.
What did Netflix say about Peter Rice?
Sarandos praised his experience and his relationships with creators. He called Rice “one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry.”
Sarandos said Rice “understands what makes stories resonate.”
Why is Netflix cutting 1,000 jobs?
Netflix hasn’t given a public reason. Sarandos and co-CEO Greg Peters told staff in a memo on Oct. 14 that the company would cut about 1,000 jobs, or about 6 percent of its workforce, Reuters reported.
It’s Netflix’s biggest round of job cuts since 2022. The cuts reach several departments, including some film and TV roles, according to Variety, as cited by What’s on Netflix.
Netflix reports its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 20.
Does Netflix work with Disney?
More than you might think. Disney recently made a licensing deal with Netflix to bring movies and shows like Elio, Ice Age, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians to the streamer, WDW News Today reported.
Rice is also the second former Disney employee Netflix has hired recently. Earlier this month, a Disney communications executive joined Netflix as a vice president for TV series communications.
What could Peter Rice change at Netflix?
Possibly the kinds of shows and movies it makes. Rice is known for prestige projects and strong relationships with filmmakers, What’s on Netflix noted.
His Fox Searchlight and FX background could mean more award-season contenders on Netflix. Fans will start to see his influence once new projects get the green light under him.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Deadline (Oct. 15, 2026), the original report on Peter Rice’s hiring
WDW News Today, Arica Conrad (Oct. 15, 2026), Rice’s Disney firing, Dana Walden, the “ill fit” report, Ted Sarandos’ statement and the Disney licensing deal
Reuters, Jaspreet Singh (Oct. 15, 2026), the start date, role, Bela Bajaria’s tenure and the job cuts
What’s on Netflix, Kasey Moore (Oct. 15, 2026), Rice’s career, post-Disney projects, Bajaria’s hits and Sarandos’ quote on Bajaria
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