Disney CEO Bob Iger says the studio has quietly “killed a few projects” that they didn’t “feel were strong enough.”
Per Deadline, Iger spoke at an investor conference on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, where he addressed the current state of Disney’s output and box office returns.
“We’re doing a lot,” Iger said. “When we talk about improving our film, slate, there are really three approaches. One is you have to kill things you no longer believe [in]. And that’s not easy in this business. Because either you’ve gotten started, you have some … costs. It’s a relationship with either your employees or with a creative community. And it’s not an easy thing. But you got to make those tough calls.”
He added, “We’ve actually made those tough calls. We’ve not been that public about it.”
Bob Iger addresses Disney’s recent box office returns
Regarding some of the studio’s recent box office misfires, Iger said, via The Hollywood Reporter, “A lot of people think it’s audience fatigue, it’s not audience fatigue. They want great films. And if you build it great, they will come, and there are countless examples of that. Some are ours, and some are others. Oppenheimer is a perfect example of that. Just a fantastic film. Focus is really important. We reduced the output of Marvel, both the number of films they make, and the number of TV shows, and that really becomes critical, but I feel good about the team. I feel good about the IP we’re making. I talked about a lot of the projects. We look years ahead, really. And it’s iterative.
“Not only do you look at the films you’re making, you look at every part of that process, who the directors are, who’s being cast, reading scripts, I personally watch films three to five times with the team and just create a culture of excellence and respect which is really important with the creative community. And again, the track record speaks for itself.”
Going forward, Iger says the studio plans to spend “a lot of time with the creators, watching these films, giving detailed notes … engaging in a respectful process that results in improvement.”
