Following a very strong 2017 (which saw Fox Searchlight produce films like The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), it seems that Disney has no intention of messing with a formula that appears to work.
Fox Searchlight has become well-known as one of Hollywood’s premier brands in recent years.
The Shape of Water’s Best Picture win should pretty much speak for itself.
The studio currently serves as the prestige side of the entertainment giant’s film division, offering up strong Oscar-bait in a vein similar to other awards-worthy studios like A24 or The Weinstein Company in its prime.