‘Great Wall’ producer Peter Loehr to step down as CEO of Legendary East

Movie producer Peter Loehr will step down as the chief executive of Legendary Entertainment’s Chinese subsidiary, the company said Thursday.

Loehr, who has run Beijing-based Legendary East for about five years, will leave the production company June 1. No reason was given for the exit, and no replacement has yet been named.

His departure marks the latest executive shake-up for Chinese-owned Legendary Entertainment, and comes just four months after founder Thomas Tull resigned as chairman and chief executive.

Legendary East, owned by Chinese property and entertainment conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, recently produced “The Great Wall,” the most expensive Chinese-American co-production to date. The $150-million Matt Damon epic grossed $170 million in China but failed to do much business elsewhere.

Wanda, run by Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, bought Burbank-based Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion early last year. Tull was replaced by Wanda entertainment executive Jack Gao as interim CEO.

Besides co-productions, Legendary East is responsible for distributing and marketing movies in the world’s second-biggest box-office market. It recently handled the releases of Hollywood movies including “Warcraft,” which bombed in the U.S. but scored huge ticket sales in China, and the successful “Kong: Skull Island.”

Loehr has been based in China for 22 years, and prior to Legendary served as managing director for Creative Artists Agency’s office there from 2005 to 2012. Loehr did not say what he plans to do next.

“Having the opportunity to grow Legendary’s business in China has been an incredible experience and journey for me,” Loehr said in a statement.

Gao, who is CEO of international investments and operations for Wanda Cultural Industry Group, said he plans to announce a new Legendary East leader soon.

Executives could not be reached for comment.

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

@rfaughnder