When Skydance announced that they would be hiring John Lasseter to oversee their animation department last month, it raised a number of red flags. The disgraced former Pixar head was ousted from the animation studio he helped create when reports of sexual abuse allegations surfaced. Although the studios have tried to address these past indiscretions, many have tried to distance themselves from Lasseter.

And now the fallout continues as one of Skydance Animation’s upcoming films has lost their lead voice actress. A new report says Emma Thompson has exited the upcoming Luck. More on the report below.

The Hollywood Reporter says Thompson has exited the project due to concerns with working with Lasseter. Although the cast has not been formally announced, Thompson had already been recording her lines for a key role in the film. According to the report, Luck “concerns a battle between two organizations, one representing good luck and the other, bad luck; Thompson was the head of the good luck organization.”

The departure is the latest setback that Skydance has suffered in the wake of Lasseter’s hiring. Skydance Animation’s head of production Holly Edwards was promoted to president to serve as “Lasseter’s right hand” and effectively address some concerns employees may have. But it is starting to look like there is going to be more issues and problems that need to be resolved immediately.

Shortly after it was announced that Lasseter would oversee Skydance animation, Paramount Animation’s Mireille Soria reassured her team that they will not be working with their sister studio. In fact, she had already been advising and providing creative notes to them on Luck. In the same report, Soria was “furious” when she learned of Lasseter’s hiring, but she told her team that Paramount Animation a safe workspace so her team is comfortable, and that her staff shouldn’t feel obligated to work with Lasseter should he request input from them.

Still, the film is scheduled to hit theaters in 2021, so there is plenty of time to find a replacement. But that could prove to be difficult given Lasseter’s presence. Additionally, the studio is also producing Vicky Jenson’s Split, a feature about a magical teenager. It is written by Linda Woolverton.

Thompson’s upcoming roles include Men In Black: International and the Sundance Film Festival comedy Late Night. Both films are expected to hit theaters this summer.

[Source: THR]