Emma Thompson leaves Skydance movie after John Lasseter's hiring

Skydance's hiring of John Lasseter has already resulted in one high-profile departure.

Emma Thompson has dropped out of Luck, a Skydance Animation movie she was set to star in, because of Lasseter's hiring, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. The actress had already started recording her voice performance for the movie, the Reporter adds. The film is currently scheduled for a 2021 release. Thompson worked with Lasseter on Pixar's Brave, BuzzFeed News points out.

Skydance last month announced it would be hiring Lasseter, the former chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and co-founder of Pixar, to lead its new animation division. This prompted backlash, as Lasseter had left Disney in light of sexual harassment allegations against him. After announcing his hire, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison said that Lasseter had been "analyzing and improving his workplace behavior" and that he has "given his assurance that he will comport himself in a wholly professional manner."

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Since then, Deadline reports that Lasseter apologized to Skydance employees for his past behavior. Ellison also recently promoted Holly Edwards into the role of Skydance Animation president, with a source telling the Reporter this was "no doubt a reaction to the backlash on hiring Lasseter."