Figment fans, get ready for some uncertainty! The new Disney CEO has already caused a stir by giving vague answers about the future of our beloved purple dragon during the recent shareholder meeting. Although Figment has a devoted following that adores his imaginative spirit, fans are left frustrated and wondering whether he'll finally receive the attention he deserves. Many are hoping for a new attraction or updates to the existing Journey Into Imagination ride at EPCOT, and some dream of seeing him in a feature film one day.
What Josh D'Amaro Actually Said
During Disney's recent shareholder meeting, new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro answered a question about whether Figment might get his own movie or if we would see more Figment in the parks, with his answer being pretty vague and honestly disappointing. D'Amaro said, “I don't have anything new to announce at this time, but I can assure you that we're always exploring new ways for guests to engage with Figment and our other characters that fans love so much.”
So that's not necessarily a “yes,” but it's also not a “no,” which is honestly the most frustrating kind of answer because it doesn't commit to anything while also not shutting down possibilities completely. The vague response disappointed Figment fans who had hoped that D'Amaro's background as a parks person who understands guest attachment to park-specific characters would translate into more aggressive investment in characters like Figment.
There Was Almost a Figment Movie
Fun fact: at one point, a Figment movie was in the works with Seth Rogen at the helm of the project, which honestly would have been incredible, because Seth Rogen's comedy sensibility could have brought something really unique to the character. We never heard anything about that movie after the initial announcement, though, so it's possible Disney is not moving forward with it, with the project apparently dying in development for reasons we don't know.
The fact that a Figment movie was in development at one point demonstrates that Disney has at least considered expanding the character beyond the parks, though the apparent cancellation suggests that institutional support for Figment films may not be as strong as fan enthusiasm would suggest.
Figment Has Made Cameos
But Figment has already made his big-screen “debut” through cameo appearances, appearing in 2015's Inside Out and 2019's Toy Story 4 as Easter eggs that reward Disney Parks fans who recognize the character. These cameos demonstrate that Pixar and Disney animation teams are aware of Figment and willing to include him in films as references, though cameos are very different from the starring role in a feature film that fans actually want.
The Figment Ride Desperately Needs Updating
One thing a lot of fans would love to see is an update to his EPCOT ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment because the ride hasn't changed since 2002, which means the attraction has remained essentially unchanged for 24 years, using technology and storytelling techniques that feel increasingly dated. Maybe a new version would spark more interest in the character with old and new fans alike by creating an experience that showcases modern Imagineering capabilities.
But also we need to see the return of Dreamfinder who was the human character that served as Figment's creator and companion in the original Journey Into Imagination attraction that opened with EPCOT in 1982. Dreamfinder was removed from the attraction during a 1999 redesign that was so poorly received that Disney partially reversed course and brought Figment back in 2002 though without Dreamfinder, which honestly was a mistake because the relationship between Dreamfinder and Figment was central to the original attraction's charm.
Figment Still Gets Plenty of Merch
Now, Figment gets a popcorn bucket every year at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, and the first Figment popcorn bucket created sheer chaos when it was released, with guests lining up for hours and the buckets selling out almost immediately. New Figment merchandise is dropping all the time, as Disney clearly understands that the character has commercial appeal and a dedicated fanbase willing to spend money. Figment even has his own meet-and-greet at EPCOT, allowing guests to take photos with the character.
But fans want more than just merchandise and brief character interactions, as they want substantial new content that elevates Figment to the same level of recognition that Disney provides to characters from major film franchises, and honestly, three days into his tenure as CEO, Josh D'Amaro could have given them better answers than corporate vagueness.
