John Landgraf’s Optimistic Forecast for Hollywood: “It’ll Still Be Here”

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At a Thursday gathering with John Landgraf from FX and Eric Schrier of Disney, it wouldn’t be surprising if some attendees were hoping for even a glimmer of optimism amidst the widespread melancholy in the entertainment world. And they did find it, to an extent.

At a Disney panel moderated by Paris Barclay for the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, the conversation initially revolved around “nurturing creative excellence.” However, the discussion eventually veered towards a topic that was on everyone’s mind: the contraction of the industry. In a light-hearted manner, Barclay playfully urged the FX chairman to reassure us, saying, “You need to tell us that Hollywood is going to be alright.

“It’ll still be here,” Landgraf replied.

“And there’ll be a place for all of us?” Barclay countered.

He responded by saying, ‘I can’t speak for everyone here, just myself. My approach is simple: constantly improve. In the early stages of my career, I was more like a bug than the windshield – I often regretted my actions from the day. However, every day I asked myself, ‘What can you work on to get better?’ My belief was that if I focused on improving each day, eventually I’d become very skilled at whatever I was working on.’

The speech wasn’t what some might have hoped for, but it was indeed a pep talk nevertheless. One of the town’s most intellectual trendsetters had struggled with feelings of inadequacy at one point. “I developed a bit later,” he admitted. “It took me quite a while to grasp all these concepts, even when I joined FX at 41. By the time I was around 50, I began to feel rather confident.

Indeed, Landgraf and Schrier, head of Disney Television Studios and Global Original Television Strategy, weren’t there for a counseling session but rather to discuss some of their bold moves. Among these daring decisions, few have been as monumental as the 2024 project titled “Shōgun”. This costly production took a decade to materialize and was one of the most successful shows of the year, both in terms of viewership and Emmy awards. In fact, its success led it to be reclassified from a limited series to a drama. Two more seasons are planned for the future.

Barclay asked them about betting “not the farm, but at least the chicken coop” on the project.

Landgraf remarked, “We put our farm up as collateral for a loan.” It’s clear that any shrewd businessperson appreciates the allure of epics. They’re engaging. They succeed. Shows like Game of Thrones have become iconic. I believe it set a standard for many, with every brand and studio thinking, “I want my own Game of Thrones.” Most of what followed featured swords or dragons. Our approach was different; we aimed to create an epic that was relatable to the present, one that went beyond the contentious political debates… a topic that’s quite controversial in today’s political discourse.

Throughout the conversation, the unstable situation beyond Hollywood was subtly touched upon. This global turmoil became particularly relevant when Barclay mentioned that “strange times in the world inspire exceptional art.

Landgraf seemed to agree.

He mentioned that we met with Donald Glover the day following a very disheartening election, as I remember it. Donald remarked, ‘This will be an excellent period for creating exceptional art.’ True to his words, he produced ‘Atlanta’ afterwards.

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2025-05-09 01:54