Fox Film Chiefs Sign 5-Year Contract

Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos, who together run Fox Filmed Entertainment, will share the additional title of chief executive as part of a new five-year contract the executives have signed, the studio said Thursday.

Rothman and Gianopulos have been co-chairmen of the News Corp.-owned studio since 2000, overseeing four consecutive years of operating profit.

Although they suffered such disappointments last year as “Kingdom of Heaven,” the studio also released such hits as “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Fantastic Four,” “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” and “Walk the Line.”

The executives oversee four divisions: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Fox 2000 and Fox Animation.

“We have excellent production heads in each of our four divisions, and they produce films at every budget range,” Gianopulos said. “In each case, we plan carefully what we’re making and for whom, budget accordingly and resolve as many creative and other issues as possible at the outset.”

Rothman added: “The key component is combining fiscal discipline with creative recklessness.”