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Source: Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures president of film Chelsea Barnard has reportedly left the company after it pulled out of two major projects.

Barnard was thought to be closely involved with the projects, a feature about Fox News and its former chief Roger Ailes, to be directed by Jay Roach, and a Jennifer Lopez feature known as Hustlers about former strip club employees and their Wall St clients.

STX Entertainment is reportedly close to acquiring the Lopez project. The fate of the Ailes project is not known, though it was reported earlier this week that Malcolm McDowell was to join a cast including Nicole Kidman and John Lithgow in the role of Rupert Murdoch.

Annapurna did not respond to a request for comment on Barnard and the two projects.

Barnard had been with Annapurna since Megan Ellison formed the company in 2011. She was appointed president of film in January 2017. 

In June, Annapurna president Marc Weinstock left the company after two years in his post.

Production and distribution operation Annapurna has made projects including Detroit and Phantom Thread and released films including Sorry To Bother You and The Sister Brothers. The company’s upcoming releases include Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk and Nicole Kidman police drama Destroyer.