Spoiler Alert: The Withered Patriarch succession, Logan Roy never resigned as CEO of the media conglomerate and had no succession plan in place before his death. But the real-life Logan Roy did it. Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old business magnate and media mogul, announced Thursday that he will end seven decades as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp. After a career, he retired in mid-November.
Although HBO series creator Jesse Armstrong reminded that the characters are fictional and “no one family can unlock” them, the Roys bear a striking resemblance to the Murdochs – a powerful , aging media executives, watching their children vie for control of their empire. Sound familiar?The similarities were so obvious that Rupert Murdoch banned his ex-wife Jerry Hall from giving him story ideas succession Writers in divorce settlement.
Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, is widely believed to be the father-in-law of Murdoch and another media tycoon, the late Sumner Redstone combination, the latter’s real-life story is more dramatic than any HBO show, as recounted in a recently published book impromptu (A new TV series may soon be based on this). But a litany of similarities between Murdoch and Waystar Royco’s CEO make them the closest – from their foreign origins, to numerous health scares, speeches from printed paper podiums, multiple Marriage and divorce, of course, and having their children fight against each other while encouraging them to compete to be designated as successors.
The rivalry between Roman Reigns and Kendall Roy bears striking similarities to the rivalry between Lachlan and James Murdoch. Here’s a look at Fox News’ successors and who comes out on top.
Lachlan and James
While the news has been clear for some time, it’s now official: Murdoch said on Thursday he would hand over power to his 52-year-old son Lachlan, who will become News Corp’s sole chairman and continue Serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Corporation.
Lachlan, his sister Elizabeth and brother James have long been contenders for the top job. But Lachlan seems to have been Rupert’s “number one boy” and the first choice to succeed him, vanity fair Reported in May. Murdoch also made the same suggestion:
According to media reports, Murdoch said in an interview in 1997 that “at the moment they are unanimous that Lachlan will take over” protector. “He will be number one in his class, but they all have to prove themselves.”
At first glance, there are obvious comparisons between Lachlan and Kendall. Both were eldest sons and were groomed to one day take over the family business. But character-wise, Lachlan is more like Kieran Culkin’s snarky, impulsive younger brother Roman.
In 2005, Lachlan had a falling out with then-Fox News boss Roger Ailes, who was later sued for sexual harassment by Fox host Gretchen Carlson. The film heavy bomb (starring Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman) builds on that. Lachlan resigned as News Corp’s deputy chief operating officer and moved to Australia. Nearly ten years later, he returned to the United States at his father’s request and agreed to become his heir.
But during Lachlan’s ten years overseas, his brother James, now 50, became the heir apparent. James rose through the ranks over the years, ensuring the longevity and respectability of his father’s media empire by striking deals with the likes of Hulu and National Geographic Channel and pledging News Corp. to become carbon neutral. One source said his father bringing Lachlan back was like a ‘huge slap in the face’ to his younger brother vanity fair.
James is similar to Kendall in that he is known as a “smart guy” and has been lured into the top job by his father for decades. James has held senior roles at News Corp and even spent time working in Hong Kong, which is reminiscent of Kendall’s time in Shanghai.Actor Jeremy Strong, who plays Kendall, tells us new yorker He used details about James to prepare for the role.
disney and domination
In August 2017, Murdoch discussed selling 21st Century Fox assets to Disney with Disney CEO Bob Iger. Lachlan and James clashed over the deal – Lachlan reportedly believed his father and brother were eager to sell his future empire, while James saw it as a good business opportunity. vanity fair. Not to mention, James is in talks with Iger to take a senior role following the Disney acquisition, the outlet reported.
The transaction was successful. Disney acquired 21st Century Fox film and television studio in March 2019 for more than $52 billion. Lachlan stayed on to manage what was left — Fox News and remaining assets — and James left with his money to start a media fund called Lupa Systems. (this word Earth Meaning “she-wolf” in Italian, as in Romulus and Remus, the founding brothers who raised Rome before Romulus murdered Remus, vanity fair famous. )
Then Fox News got involved with Trump. In 2020, Murdoch’s right-wing news network became a purveyor of theories that the presidential election was stolen, claiming that voting machines owned by Dominion Voting Systems diverted Americans’ votes to Biden after they voted for Trump. In response, Dominion filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in March 2021, claiming that Murdoch protected Fox’s ratings by allowing hosts and guests to perpetuate the conspiracy. Two years later, Fox agreed to pay Dominion a $787 million settlement, and Fox host Tucker Carlson was fired.
elizabeth and prudence
this succession The inspiration doesn’t just come from Lachlan and James. Elizabeth is the equivalent of Siobhan (better known as Shiv), a sharp, poised daughter who initially pursues a career outside her father’s empire, if she weren’t an ultra-conservative, masculine Women, too, can run this company. –leading industry. Meanwhile, Prudence Murdoch, who resembles Connor Roy in that she is the patriarch’s only child from his first marriage, is often considered forgotten brothers and sisters.
Lachlan and James stopped talking. James has distanced himself from Fox News over its climate denialism, white nationalism and election conspiracies. Sources say that now that Lachlan holds the keys to the kingdom, James, with the help of his sisters Elizabeth and Prudence, is looking to oust his brother once their father dies. vanity fair.
People close to the Murdoch family are unsure what James would do with Fox if he could win it back, but they believe he would overhaul the organization or sell it to the highest bidder.
“James has made it his mission in life to destroy Fox News,” a senior Fox staffer told reporters vanity fair.
