In January 2019 Lasseter landed his plum new job as the head of Skydance Animation. When the news was announced to employees, the studio informed female staff members that they were able to recuse themselves from working with Lasseter if they so chose. Skydance’s chief David Ellison also detailed that Lasseter’s contract stipulated that he must behave “professionally” at work.

Luck, which explores the hidden good and bad luck forces that impact our lives, Inside Out-style, is one of Skydance Animation’s first projects. Thompson was supposed to voice the head of the good luck team. She signed on before Lasseter was hired in January, and had even begun recording dialogue for the film.

But when news of Lasseter’s hiring reached Thompson she quit Luck, officially resigning on 20 January. Three days later, she sent a letter detailing her concerns to Skydance executives, which has been published in full by The Los Angeles Times.

“It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate,” the letter began.

Emma Thompson won’t work with Hollywood men accused of misconduct