Jeff Robinov Set to Negotiate Warner Bros. Exit

Warner Bros. film chief Jeff Robinov will soon begin negotiating his exit from the studio, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter.

Robinov, who has run Warners’ film group since 2007, has increasingly been marginalized at the studio. Contrary to published reports, his contract is not up until 2014, but the studio is not expected to renew his deal. He has been taking meetings around Hollywood in search of a new job.

While formal exit negotiations have not yet begun, sources say the situation is heating up and a departure is a mere formality. As THR has reported, Robinov is said to be deeply unhappy in the wake of Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes choosing Kevin Tsujihara to run Warner Bros. Entertainment. He has complained that Tsujihara has increasingly impinged on his movie turf and that he has been iced out of key decisions at the studio.

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However, sources with ties to the studio say Robinov has failed to embrace the studio’s new leader after he was passed over in an infamous “bake-off” pitting three top executives against each other. TV chief Bruce Rosenblum left the studio earlier this year after being passed over. 

According to a source close to Robinov, he is expected to seek a cash settlement as well as the freedom to pursue his next opportunity. 

The move comes as Robinov is enjoying success at the box office. Man of Steel, a pricey reboot of the Superman franchise, opened to a $200 million global weekend.

He joined Warner Bros. in 1997 as executive vp of production. He was named president of production in 2000, then president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group in 2007.

Robinov, who has been out of the office all week ostensibly for sinus surgery, declined to comment. His personal publicist Kelly Bush did not respond to a request for comment. Warner Bros. reps, who repeatedly have denied that Robinov is leaving the studio, did not immediately respond. 

Email: Kim.Masters@thr.com

Twitter: @KimMasters