Fathom Entertainment has appointed Jason Brenek as chief executive officer, succeeding Ray Nutt following his previously announced retirement. Brenek takes charge as the AMC, Cinemark and Regal-owned company broadens its ambitions from event cinema pioneer to full-service specialty theatrical distributor—a transition that will require more than simply adding a few extra showtimes to the calendar.

Brenek arrives with an unusually well-matched résumé spanning content, technology and theatrical distribution. He previously held senior roles at Disney and IMAX before founding MetaMedia, the cloud-based cinema content delivery platform acquired by Qube Cinema in 2025. He also has a history of working with Fathom, giving him a running start at a company whose exhibitor owners collectively operate more than 19,000 screens across the United States.

His first major test will be turning Fathom’s expanded distribution strategy into a repeatable business rather than an occasional experiment. The company will release LAIKA’s “Wildwood” nationwide on October 23, a significant step beyond its traditional mix of concerts, classic films, anime and limited engagements. With exhibitors searching for programming capable of filling quieter periods, Brenek’s challenge will be to grow Fathom without losing the niche audiences and operational flexibility that made it valuable in the first place.