New Line Cinema Reducing Staff by 75%

Nearly 75% of New Line Cinema's employees may be axed, leaving some uncertainty for the Company's slate of upcoming films, including Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo on April 28, Sex and the City: The Movie on May 30, the Aug. 1 launch of He's Just Not That Into You, and the Aug. 8 opening of Journey 3D.

According to Variety, parent Time Warner hasn't disclosed details of job cuts since last Thursday's announcement that New Line would be folded into Warner Bros. and that co-toppers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne would depart. But the emerging consensus is that at least 75% of the slots will be axed in the coming months while a skeletal staff stays on -- a plan reminiscent of what happened to Disney's Miramax arm after the Weinstein brothers departed in 2005.

Time Warner, which has been under pressure to cut costs and hike its stagnant stock price, will name a "transition team" shortly to handle the specifics of folding New Line into Warner Bros.

Though he's remaining on the job for the time being, New Line production president Toby Emmerich is widely expected to ankle. It's also anticipated that New Line will vacate its New York office and its West Hollywood HQ and move operations onto the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.