The Walt Disney Company shared its third-quarter earnings report earlier this week, with CEO Bob Iger offering candid reflections on the state of Disney’s film pipeline, and signaling where the studio’s focus is headed.
Since returning as CEO in November 2022 after the removal of Bob Chapek, Iger has made it his mission to reinvigorate Disney's creative output. The strategy has included bold cost-cutting (including scrubbing titles from Disney+ in 2023) and a recalibration of how Disney develops content, particularly across Marvel and original IPs.
But success has been far from universal. While Iger has overseen the release of several major titles, not all have connected with audiences. The tepid box office of Snow White (2025) and Pixar’s Elio (2025) under Iger's leadership has added pressure to the company’s theatrical slate.
Marvel, once Disney’s most bankable brand, has also faltered. Captain America: Brave New World (2025) struggled to gain traction despite the franchise’s legacy. Even Thunderbolts* (2025), bolstered by critical support and positive audience feedback, failed to translate that momentum into major returns.
Then there’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The highly anticipated Pedro Pascal-led film opened strongly but saw a rapid second-week drop. Still, Iger remains committed to its potential. Marvel’s First Family, he stated, is an “important” property for the future of the cinematic universe.
During the earnings call, Iger offered a perspective on Disney’s approach to balancing sequels with new intellectual property.
“We continue to be focused on creating new IP,” Iger said (via Variety). “Obviously, that’s of great value to us long term. But we also know that the popularity of our older IP remains significant, and the opportunities to either produce sequels or convert what was previously animation to live action, like we’re doing with Moana in 2026, it’s just a great opportunity for the company and supports our franchise.”
He continued, “So I wouldn’t say that we’ve got a priority one way or the other. Our priority is to put out great movies that ultimately resonate with consumers.”
Following the surprise billion-dollar success of the live-action Lilo & Stitch, Iger spotlighted two upcoming sequels as key titles for the final quarter of 2025: Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Last year, Disney struck gold with Inside Out 2. Directed by Kelsey Mann, the Pixar film revisited Riley’s inner world during her teenage years. Joy, Sadness, and Anger returned, joined by Anxiety, played by Maya Hawke. With a fresh soundtrack by Andrea Datzman and emotionally resonant storytelling, the sequel soared to over $1.5 billion globally—earning the crown of top-grossing animated film ever (for a time).
Moana 2, directed by Dave Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, also delivered. Featuring returning stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, the film took Moana’s story further, exploring themes of leadership and cultural identity. With new songs and an engaging narrative, it crossed the $1.1 billion mark worldwide.
Hoping to build on that energy, Disney is positioning Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash as its next major blockbusters.
“[Iger] also touted the Zootopia and Avatar sequels arriving later this year as strong candidates for box office success while celebrating the $1 billion success of the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie,” Variety reported.
Set for a Thanksgiving debut on November 28, Zootopia 2 brings back the colorful animal metropolis from the 2016 Oscar-winning original. Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, the original film followed Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) on a buddy-cop-style adventure. With a cast that included Idris Elba and J.K. Simmons, the film grossed over $1.02 billion globally.
James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash, landing December 19, promises another visual spectacle. The original Avatar changed the blockbuster landscape in 2009, combining motion capture and immersive 3D worldbuilding to the tune of $2.92 billion. Cameron followed up with Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, which expanded Pandora’s world and added new characters like Kate Winslet’s Ronal and Cliff Curtis’s Tonowari. That film earned $2.32 billion, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of all time.
Fire and Ash, written, directed, and produced by Cameron alongside the late Jon Landau under Lightstorm Entertainment, will once again be released by 20th Century Studios.
Will Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash live up to the legacy of their predecessors? Or will they face the same challenges as Disney’s recent misfires? Share your thoughts below, we’ll be watching closely as the release dates draw near.
