‘The Challenges Are Greater Than I Anticipated’ Iger Gets Brutally Honest About Disney’s Films

Now that Disney CEO Bob Iger has decided to stay with the company through 2026, he realizes that some work must be done. In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Iger admitted that Disney’s recent output of films has been “disappointing,” and there is still work to be done to bring the Walt Disney Studios back to profitability.

Disappointing Returns

Iger took a brutally honest approach to Disney’s latest batch of films, saying there were some “creative misses” and admitting that the company has a “way to go.” But he also wanted to highlight some of the triumphs of the Disney Studios, including having the highest box office return of any studio so far this year.

Iger also admitted that several changes would have to take place to bring Disney out of what he called a “valley.” He blamed the overuse of the company’s production team, citing Marvel as an example. Iger said that the team at Marvel was tasked with creating films and television series for Disney Plus, which they had never had to do before. As a result, content suffered.

Related: ‘Preposterous and Inaccurate’ Iger Addresses DeSantis’ Claims About Disney Sexualizing Children

Iger said:

We taxed our people well beyond where they had been. It diluted focus and attention. That was the cause more than anything. There were some creative misses. There have been some disappointments. We would’ve liked our recent releases to do better. 

In response to this overuse of writers and creative staff, Iger said that Disney would “pull back” on content to focus on spending less and making less.

SAG/AFTRA Strike

Iger also addressed the current state of Hollywood and movies after the Screen Actor’s Guild decided to strike yesterday. Iger called the demands of the actors “not realistic” and worried that this disruption to moviemaking would only compound the issues that films are facing after Covid.

Iger said:

It’s very disturbing to me. This is the worst time to add to this disruption. There is a level of expectation that this is not realistic. They’re adding to the disruption in this business. You have to be realistic about the business environment. The strike will damage the industry. It’s a shame. 

The actors join the writers on the picket line. The writers have been on strike since May. The Hollywood studios agreed with the Directors Guild of America to avoid a strike.

The Future

Iger looked to the past to see the future. In the 100 years that Walt Disney Studios have been making movies, Iger noted that there have been peaks and valleys. He specifically pointed to the time of his predecessor Michael Eisner. Disney was down in the 1980s but bounced back with hits like The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Aladdin (1992). 

But Iger refused to admit that Disney was currently in a valley but conceded that “we’re not in a peak.” Iger continued:

I was unrealistic about that. That’s part of the reason I’m staying. I’m realistic about the challenges we’re facing. 

Bob Iger did not address the next Star Wars film or the future of Marvel Studios in the interview but did mention that creative losses have taken a toll at Pixar.

Movie streaming will also transform as Disney Plus grows and evolves, but Iger did not give any specifics or a timeline. The Disney CEO said that with Disney Plus only four years old, there is still a learning curve, and he does not regret starting the streaming service.

The interconnection between a Disney film and its theme Park makes the company unique and will continue under Bob Iger.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.