Pascal will start a new production venture at the Sony Pictures in May after leaving her position as the head of the main studio.
- Feb 6, 2015
AceShowbiz - Amy Pascal, one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, is stepping down from her position as the head of Sony Pictures. Her exit comes months after the studio was rocked with a hacking scandal that exposed her racist jokes about President Barack Obama in an email exchange with producer Scott Rudin. Both have since apologized for their insensitive remarks.
FBI claimed North Korea was the culprit behind the cyber attack which occurred amid the country's protest against the release of Kim Jong-Un assassination comedy "The Interview". The country, however, denied the accusation.
"I have spent almost my entire professional life at Sony Pictures and I am energized to be starting this new chapter based at the company I call home," Pascal said of her departure. "I have always wanted to be a producer. Michael and I have been talking about this transition for quite some time and I am grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to pursue my long-held dream and for providing unparalleled support."
"As the slate for the next 2 years has come together, it felt like the right time to transition into this new role. I am so grateful to my team, some of whom I have worked with for the last 20 years and others who have joined more recently. I am leaving the studio in great hands. I am so proud of what we have all done together and I look forward to a whole lot more."
Pascal has been with Sony for nearly 20 years. Since overseeing the main studio, she has given green lights to projects that proved to be critical successes like "Zero Dark Thirty", "The Social Network", and "American Hustle". She will stay with the company under a four-year contract after leaving her post as the chief. The studio will finance her new production endeavor located at the lot in Culver City, Calif. Her transition begins in May.
"Amy's creativity, drive, and bold choices helped define SPE as a studio where talented individuals could take chances and push boundaries in order to deliver outstanding entertainment," said Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton. "The studio's legacy is due in large part to Amy's passion for storytelling and love of this industry. I am delighted that Amy will be continuing her association with SPE through this new venture, which capitalizes on her extraordinary talents."
