Disney drops Fox name from 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight

By Nick Perry Published April 25, 2023

Disney’s massive merger with Fox last March brought 21st Century Fox’s vast entertainment library under the Disney umbrella, but now, in a symbolic move, Disney has begun the process of phasing out the Fox name. As reported by Variety, the Walt Disney Company is dropping the Fox brand from the names of the 20th Century Fox film studio and Fox Searchlight Pictures, renaming them as 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, respectively.

Recommended Videos

As of now, no decisions have been made on the TV side, with 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios currently retaining their names. Discussions about changing the names are apparently underway, but there is no consensus yet.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

According to the Variety report, some insiders believe the move is designed to distance Disney from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., which owns and operates Fox News, as well as many local news channels in the U.S. Fox News is the most-watched news network in America but it has developed a reputation for blatant conservative partisanship. In the digital age, anything political can be dicey, even for enormous corporations like Disney, and the Fox brand has long seemed interchangeable with Fox News.

Additionally, by the time of Disney’s acquisition, the network was embroiled in a number of sexual misconduct scandals that were the the subject of teh 2019 film, Bombshell. Put simply, the Fox brand has grown to be a controversial one that Disney’s meticulously family-friendly brand doesn’t want to risk being associated with.

To some, the change appeared to be inevitable. Fox News is an enormous entity with a prominent place in American culture that most Americans, naturally, presume to be related to 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight. Until recently, they weren’t wrong about making the association.

The name change has already been put into effect at both companies as email addresses have been changed for staffers at Searchlight and the opening credits for Searchlight’s next film, Downhill, have been edited to begin with “Searchlight Pictures Presents.” That film will be the first to debut with a new logo, although a confusingly significant logo change is not expected.

Topics

Nick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on…

Audio / Video

Beats Studio Pro hit a low price ever during Cyber Week

Beats Studio Pro, folded, in front of case.

The Beats Studio Pro are a great set of noise-canceling headphones. I liked them enough that even at their regular price of $350, I gave them a 3.5/5 in my full review. But with a wild Cyber Monday deal that seems to be sticking around for Cyber Week, that drops their price by 42% to just $200, I'm sorely tempted to give them a much higher score.

If you're already a Beats fan, you don't need me to tell you that the Studio Pro look great. The sleek, fully integrated headband gives these cans one of the lowest profiles in the headphone world. It's not just for show -- the Studio Pro offer an excellent balance of comfort and stability. I'm not a big fan of using full-size, over-ear headphones at the gym or while running, but if that's your bag, the Studio Pro are probably the right way to go.

Audio / Video

Get a portable HD projector for only $300 from Amazon’s Cyber Week sale

The Xgimi MoGo 2 portable projector placed outdoors.

If you're thinking about getting a projector instead of taking advantage of Cyber Week TV deals, but you don't want to handle a big and bulky device, the good news is that there are portable models like the Xgimi MoGo 2. It's on sale from Amazon with a 25% discount, which brings its price down to a more affordable $300 from its original price of $400. You'll have to act fast if you're interested in this offer though, as there's no telling how much time is remaining before you miss out on the savings of $100.

Why you should buy the Xgimi MoGo 2 portable projector
Xgimi has several entries in our list of the best projectors, including the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro as the best portable 1080p projector. The Xgimi MoGo 2 is its more affordable version, and while it's not as powerful as the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro with 1920 x 1080 resolution, it's still a pretty worthwhile purchase, especially with Amazon's discount. The Xgimi MoGo 2 is capable of up to 1280 x 720 resolution, but at the same maximum brightness of 400 ISO Lumens as its cousin, and it also offers Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance, which makes setting up the projector much easier.

Audio / Video

Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to only $199 for Cyber Week

Woman wearing Bose QuietComfort Headphones in green.

Best Buy is offering a huge discount on a fantastic pair of noise-canceling headphones: the Bose QuietComfort, originally sold for $349, are available for a more affordable $199. They're made by one of the most trusted brands in the audio industry, so you won't regret taking advantage of this bargain, but you're going to have to hurry with your purchase because there's no telling when this chance at $150 in savings ends. It's one of the most attractive headphone deals in the market right now, so we won't be surprised if it disappears soon.

Why you should buy the Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones
Bose pioneered the development of active noise cancellation technology, so it's not a surprise that its current flagship model, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, sit on top of our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. The Bose QuietComfort cut certain features, but if you just want wireless headphones that will reliably block the sounds from your surroundings so you can focus on the streaming shows that you're watching or the playlists that you're listening to, then they're going to be more than enough. They also have an Aware Mode that you can activate if you want to hear what's going on around you without taking them off, such as when you're crossing the street or giving your order at a café.