<p>Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company, better known as Disney, announced it is restructuring itself and that includes laying off 7,000 employees or 3 per cent of its workforce. The company also announced reorganisation into three sections: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. All this follows Bob Iger getting reinstated as the CEO in November last year, replacing Bob Chapek, a Disney veteran who was removed from the position after dismal earnings reports and controversies that plagued his tenure. Iger, CEO from 2005 to 2020, led the company as it expanded aggressively by acquiring valuable (in terms of popular appeal and expected returns) IPs like Pixar, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Marvel Entertainment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oh, he also spearheaded the negotiations to acquire 20th Century Fox. Under his leadership, the company became a behemoth. In 2019, the heydays, the studio released an incredible seven movies that surpassed the $1 billion dollar mark. This was domination on an unprecedented scale.</p>
<img alt="bob iger" data-caption="Bob Iger led Disney through one of studios' most successful eras.&amp;nbsp;(AFP)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="620446a3-74c7-4a6f-9190-fa5df3864777" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/bob%20iger.png" />
<h2>Signs of concern at Disney</h2>

<p>But since Iger left in 2020, there have been signs of trouble at the company. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shut down movie and TV productions, and the theatrical film experience all but died. This allowed Netflix, the market leader in streaming, to release already-produced shows and movies and gain millions more subscribers.</p>

<p>Also Read:<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-next-in-line-for-layoffs-to-cut-7000-jobs-in-cost-saving-efforts-560164">&nbsp;Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Amusing digression:</strong> It is interesting that Iger left Disney in February 2020, a month before the pandemic really came into effect. Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but did he know something we don't?</p>

<p>Anyway, Chapek, who had been at Disney for more than a quarter of a century before being handed the reins, became the man in charge. Call his bad luck or just fate, Disney, like every film studio, suffered when the cinema halls were shuttered by governments around the world in the pandemic-induced lockdown. Many intended-for-theatre movies like Mulan were sent instead to Disney+ in order to strengthen the fledgling streaming service. Then China banned Hollywood movies from releasing in the country, though it did not say it outright (the country has become friendly to American cinema again this year, though).&nbsp;</p>
<img alt="bob chapek" data-caption="Bob Chapek was removed as Disney CEO following less-than-inspiring earning reports. (AFP)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="722bfdc2-a318-4154-9b64-761bbd7065be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/bob%20chapek.png" />
<h2>Bob Chapek's dismissal and the uncertain future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe</h2>

<p>While many Disney movies continued to do decently, considering the enduring concerns over COVID-19 infection among people, Disney did suffer losses. By the time Chapek's removal neared, the Disney stock had descended to a multi-year low. The quarterly earnings report was even worse than expected. The costs associated with streaming, and dismal returns on the investment only added to the company's financial woes. Disney+, which many said was on course to overtake Netflix eventually in terms of&nbsp;subscriber base, reported a loss of 2.4 million subscriptions. In comparison, it had taken more than a decade for Netflix to lose subscribers (in April last year), and not gain. The company had also lost a large chunk of revenue from parks and experiences.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-thanos-idiotic-plan-and-other-things-that-make-absolutely-no-sense-in-marvel-movies-498039">Six things that make absolutely NO sense in Marvel movies</a></strong></p>

<p>And the cash cow that was Marvel Cinematic Universe could no longer be relied upon to deliver. If you are generous, MCU's journey post Avengers: Endgame until now can be called mediocre. Analysts say that was due to too much expansion done too quickly. In 2021, Disney+ released five TV shows set in the MCU. The following year, three. Oh, and four MCU movies also saw the light of day in 2021, and three in 2022. This bombardment of content was clearly not appreciated by the fans, many of whom, this scribe included, thought the world of entertainment was saturated too much by Marvel and less by... everything else.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the interconnectedness of MCU movies used to be a fun thing. Now, it had become annoying whenever a character in a project referenced another movie or show in MCU. It was now artificial and tacky. And there's been little innovation, and almost none of the projects were worthwhile. Due to the abundance of content now, Kevin Feige, the overlord of MCU, could not have quality control over everything. And thus, MCU was suffering.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/10-marvel-dc-characters-who-need-their-own-movies-511168/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The latest entry, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, is also crafted in the traditional Marvel mould — designed as per the good old formula that Feige et al perfected over the last one and a half-decade. In other words, it feels like your typical MCU movie. One can understand why the formula has survived. For it has indeed worked. But now even Feige admits it's too much and plans to slow down a bit, at least with the shows. He told Entertainment Weekly, "I do think one of the powerful aspects of being at Marvel Studios is having these films and shows hit the zeitgeist. It is harder to hit the zeitgeist when there’s so much product out there — and so much “content,” as they say, which is a word that I hate. [Laughs] But we want Marvel Studios and the MCU projects to really stand out and stand above. So, people will see that as we get further into Phases 5 and 6. The pace at which we’re putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine."</p>

<h2>What's next for Disney and Iger?</h2>

<p>Ever since he joined, Iger has been proactive in cutting down costs and overhauling strategies. He plans to achieve profitability in streaming by 2024. In terms of IPs, the MCU juggernaut will not stop until it is profitable for the company. And judging purely by the box office numbers, the movies in the cinematic universe remain moneymaking and this may be just a brief lull after the mega extravaganzas that were the last two Avengers movies. On the Star Wars front, several movies and TV shows are in&nbsp;development. With the Fox&nbsp;acquisition, Disney now owns James Cameron's Avatar franchise. The second film, which was released in December last year, has become the third-highest-grossing movie of all time, so we can expect Cameron will get to make as many sequels as he wants. For now, the future of the company's film business looks solid. Though one fallout of the recent losses is that the company will rely on already-popular franchises. The company recently announced Toy Story 5, Frozen 3, and Zootopia 2. With big studios already apprehensive about financing films based on original ideas, it looks like another blow to those who watch more than just tentpole films.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company, better known as Disney, announced it is restructuring itself and that includes laying off 7,000 employees or 3 per cent of its workforce.

Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company, better known as Disney, announced it is restructuring itself and that includes laying off 7,000 employees or 3 per cent of its workforce. The company also announced reorganisation into three sections: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. All this follows Bob Iger getting reinstated as the CEO in November last year, replacing Bob Chapek, a Disney veteran who was removed from the position after dismal earnings reports and controversies that plagued his tenure. Iger, CEO from 2005 to 2020, led the company as it expanded aggressively by acquiring valuable (in terms of popular appeal and expected returns) IPs like Pixar, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Marvel Entertainment. Oh, he also spearheaded the negotiations to acquire 20th Century Fox. Under his leadership, the company became a behemoth. In 2019, the heydays, the studio released an incredible seven movies that surpassed the $1 billion dollar mark. This was domination on an unprecedented scale. Signs of concern at Disney But since Iger left in 2020, there have been signs of trouble at the company. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shut down movie and TV productions, and the theatrical film experience all but died. This allowed Netflix, the market leader in streaming, to release already-produced shows and movies and gain millions more subscribers. Also Read: Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts Amusing digression: It is interesting that Iger left Disney in February 2020, a month before the pandemic really came into effect. Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but did he know something we don't? Anyway, Chapek, who had been at Disney for more than a quarter of a century before being handed the reins, became the man in charge. Call his bad luck or just fate, Disney, like every film studio, suffered when the cinema halls were shuttered by governments around the world in the pandemic-induced lockdown. Many intended-for-theatre movies like Mulan were sent instead to Disney+ in order to strengthen the fledgling streaming service. Then China banned Hollywood movies from releasing in the country, though it did not say it outright (the country has become friendly to American cinema again this year, though). Bob Chapek's dismissal and the uncertain future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe While many Disney movies continued to do decently, considering the enduring concerns over COVID-19 infection among people, Disney did suffer losses. By the time Chapek's removal neared, the Disney stock had descended to a multi-year low. The quarterly earnings report was even worse than expected. The costs associated with streaming, and dismal returns on the investment only added to the company's financial woes. Disney+, which many said was on course to overtake Netflix eventually in terms of subscriber base, reported a loss of 2.4 million subscriptions. In comparison, it had taken more than a decade for Netflix to lose subscribers (in April last year), and not gain. The company had also lost a large chunk of revenue from parks and experiences. Also Read: Six things that make absolutely NO sense in Marvel movies And the cash cow that was Marvel Cinematic Universe could no longer be relied upon to deliver. If you are generous, MCU's journey post Avengers: Endgame until now can be called mediocre. Analysts say that was due to too much expansion done too quickly. In 2021, Disney+ released five TV shows set in the MCU. The following year, three. Oh, and four MCU movies also saw the light of day in 2021, and three in 2022. This bombardment of content was clearly not appreciated by the fans, many of whom, this scribe included, thought the world of entertainment was saturated too much by Marvel and less by... everything else. Earlier, the interconnectedness of MCU movies used to be a fun thing. Now, it had become annoying whenever a character in a project referenced another movie or show in MCU. It was now artificial and tacky. And there's been little innovation, and almost none of the projects were worthwhile. Due to the abundance of content now, Kevin Feige, the overlord of MCU, could not have quality control over everything. And thus, MCU was suffering. The latest entry, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, is also crafted in the traditional Marvel mould — designed as per the good old formula that Feige et al perfected over the last one and a half-decade. In other words, it feels like your typical MCU movie. One can understand why the formula has survived. For it has indeed worked. But now even Feige admits it's too much and plans to slow down a bit, at least with the shows. He told Entertainment Weekly, "I do think one of the powerful aspects of being at Marvel Studios is having these films and shows hit the zeitgeist. It is harder to hit the zeitgeist when there’s so much product out there — and so much “content,” as they say, which is a word that I hate. [Laughs] But we want Marvel Studios and the MCU projects to really stand out and stand above. So, people will see that as we get further into Phases 5 and 6. The pace at which we’re putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine." What's next for Disney and Iger? Ever since he joined, Iger has been proactive in cutting down costs and overhauling strategies. He plans to achieve profitability in streaming by 2024. In terms of IPs, the MCU juggernaut will not stop until it is profitable for the company. And judging purely by the box office numbers, the movies in the cinematic universe remain moneymaking and this may be just a brief lull after the mega extravaganzas that were the last two Avengers movies. On the Star Wars front, several movies and TV shows are in development. With the Fox acquisition, Disney now owns James Cameron's Avatar franchise. The second film, which was released in December last year, has become the third-highest-grossing movie of all time, so we can expect Cameron will get to make as many sequels as he wants. For now, the future of the company's film business looks solid. Though one fallout of the recent losses is that the company will rely on already-popular franchises. The company recently announced Toy Story 5, Frozen 3, and Zootopia 2. With big studios already apprehensive about financing films based on original ideas, it looks like another blow to those who watch more than just tentpole films. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: How Disney is trying hard not to fail as Marvel magic wanes

<p>Former Disney executive Dave Hollis is dead. Hollis quit his post at Disney to help his wife run a successful lifestyle empire in 2018, after working for Disney for 17 years. The cause of his death is not known yet. He was 47. Hollis, whose ex-wife Rachel Hollis wrote the bestseller<em> Girl, Wash Your Face,</em> was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon at his home in Dripping Springs, a city on the outskirts of Austin, according to Hays County Justice of the Peace Andrew Cable.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death since Hollis, who was last seen on Saturday evening, was "youthful and didn’t have a long medical history."<br />
<br />
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Rachel Hollis asked for prayers as the family tries to “navigate through the unthinkable.”</p>

<p>“We are devastated,” she wrote. “I have no words and my heart is too broken.”<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>Who was Dave Hollis?</strong></h2>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<p><br />
Hollis worked with Disney for 17 years and was one of the top executives of the company when he decided to quit and join his wife's venture in 2018. The couple shares four children together. The family moved from Los Angeles to the Austin area and collaborated on live streams, and podcasts and held life-affirming conferences. Their podcast <em>Rise Together</em>&nbsp;mostly focused on marriage.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The couple announced their separation in 2020. At that time Rachel had announced on Instagram that the two had worked 'endlessly' over the last three years to make their marriage work but ultimately came to the conclusion that "it is healthier and more respectful for us to choose this as the end of our journey as a married couple."<br />
<br />
During his tenure at Disney, Hollis oversaw the release of blockbusters including <em>Black Panther</em>&nbsp;and films in the <em>Star Wars</em> franchise. Hollis served as the head of distribution at Disney for seven years.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Hollis had also written motivational books. His book <em>Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment</em> was published in 2020 and he released <em>Built Through Courage: Face Your Fears to Live the Life You Were Meant For</em> in 2021.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Former Disney executive Dave Hollis is dead. Hollis quit his post at Disney to help his wife run a successful lifestyle empire in 2018, after working for Disney for 17 years.

Former Disney executive Dave Hollis is dead. Hollis quit his post at Disney to help his wife run a successful lifestyle empire in 2018, after working for Disney for 17 years. The cause of his death is not known yet. He was 47. Hollis, whose ex-wife Rachel Hollis wrote the bestseller Girl, Wash Your Face, was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon at his home in Dripping Springs, a city on the outskirts of Austin, according to Hays County Justice of the Peace Andrew Cable. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death since Hollis, who was last seen on Saturday evening, was "youthful and didn’t have a long medical history." In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Rachel Hollis asked for prayers as the family tries to “navigate through the unthinkable.” “We are devastated,” she wrote. “I have no words and my heart is too broken.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rachel Hollis (@msrachelhollis) × Who was Dave Hollis? Hollis worked with Disney for 17 years and was one of the top executives of the company when he decided to quit and join his wife's venture in 2018. The couple shares four children together. The family moved from Los Angeles to the Austin area and collaborated on live streams, and podcasts and held life-affirming conferences. Their podcast Rise Together mostly focused on marriage. The couple announced their separation in 2020. At that time Rachel had announced on Instagram that the two had worked 'endlessly' over the last three years to make their marriage work but ultimately came to the conclusion that "it is healthier and more respectful for us to choose this as the end of our journey as a married couple." During his tenure at Disney, Hollis oversaw the release of blockbusters including Black Panther and films in the Star Wars franchise. Hollis served as the head of distribution at Disney for seven years. Hollis had also written motivational books. His book Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment was published in 2020 and he released Built Through Courage: Face Your Fears to Live the Life You Were Meant For in 2021.

Dave Hollis, former Disney executive and author, dead at 47; cause of death not known yet

<p>It was a full house as far as the Hollywood trailers are concerned. We are talking about much-awaited film trailers that saw their premiere at the Super Bowl. After Flash and Creed, Disney dropped a second trailer for the long-awaited Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The film will release in the theatres on June 30.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest instalment of Indiana Jones film will come on the screen after a gap of 15 years. The last we saw Indiana Jones was in 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.</p>

<p>The film will be helmed by James Mangold. He will take over the reigns of the film from ace filmmaker Steven Spielberg who remains an EP on the franchise with George Lucas.</p>

<p>Watch the trailer here:</p>

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<p>Meanwhile, the original cast will return as Harrison Ford returns in the role of the legendary hero archaeologist with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel.</p>


It was a full house as far as the Hollywood trailers are concerned. We are talking about much-awaited film trailers that saw their premiere at the Super Bowl. After Flash and Creed, Disney dropped a second trailer for the long-awaited Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

It was a full house as far as the Hollywood trailers are concerned. We are talking about much-awaited film trailers that saw their premiere at the Super Bowl. After Flash and Creed, Disney dropped a second trailer for the long-awaited Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The film will release in the theatres on June 30. The latest instalment of Indiana Jones film will come on the screen after a gap of 15 years. The last we saw Indiana Jones was in 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film will be helmed by James Mangold. He will take over the reigns of the film from ace filmmaker Steven Spielberg who remains an EP on the franchise with George Lucas. Watch the trailer here: Meanwhile, the original cast will return as Harrison Ford returns in the role of the legendary hero archaeologist with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen. The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel.

Indiana Jones returns! Disney drops trailer of fifth instalment at the Super Bowl

Walt Disney Co. announced a major restructuring , cutting 7,000 jobs as part of an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs and make its streaming business profitable. The 7,000 job cuts will account for around 3.6 per cent of the entire workforce at Disney.

Disney to lay off 7,000 employees to make business more profitable

<p>If you think the layoff season is over, you are in for yet another bad news. This time it is coming from Mouse House, the entertainment giant Disney. In reaction to sluggish subscriber growth and rising competition for streaming consumers, Disney on Wednesday made a major announcement. It said that it was making efforts to achieve $5.5bn in cost savings by taking sweeping corporate restructuring. The Result? A slashing of 7,000 jobs, which is estimated to be 3.6% of Disney’s global workforce.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, many giants including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Ford, Meta and others announced huge job cuts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Disney shares rose 4.7% to $117.22 in after-hours trading, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-bird-caged-in-turkey-after-anger-swamped-social-media-over-erdogans-quake-response-560125">Twitter bird 'caged' in Turkey after anger swamped social media over Erdogan's quake response</a></p>

<p>Investors earlier expressed their concerns that the media company was over spending on global streaming business. In the latest announcement, it said that the company will reorganize itself into three main segments: an entertainment division that includes film, television, and streaming; an ESPN division that focuses on sports; as well as Disney theme parks, experiences, and goods.</p>

<p>According to Disney, the restructure will streamline processes, increase business&nbsp;efficiency, and reduce costs. Disney is the most recent media corporation to announce job losses. Prior to this, Disney revealed that its Disney+ streaming media division lost more than $1 billion and had its first quarterly decline in subscriptions.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-god-gender-neutral-church-of-england-to-explore-terms-for-god-in-prayers-560147">Is God gender-neutral? Church of England to explore terms for God in prayers</a></p>

<p>Disney last made cuts when it announced in November 2020 that it would fire 32,000 employees, mostly from its amusement parks. It was&nbsp;during the pandemic peak. The&nbsp;layoffs&nbsp;were made in the first part of the fiscal year 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/turkiye-earthquake-survivors-recall-horror-560099">Turkiye earthquake survivors recall horror</a></p>

<p>The job cuts announcement comes under recently reinstated CEO Bob Iger. "This reorganization will result in a more cost-effective, coordinated approach to our operations," Iger reportely told analysts on a conference call. "We are committed to running efficiently, especially in a challenging environment," he added.</p>

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If you think the layoff season is over, you are in for yet another bad news. This time it is coming from Mouse House, the entertainment giant Disney. In reaction to sluggish subscriber growth and rising competition for streaming consumers, Disney on Wednesday made a major announcement.

If you think the layoff season is over, you are in for yet another bad news. This time it is coming from Mouse House, the entertainment giant Disney. In reaction to sluggish subscriber growth and rising competition for streaming consumers, Disney on Wednesday made a major announcement. It said that it was making efforts to achieve $5.5bn in cost savings by taking sweeping corporate restructuring. The Result? A slashing of 7,000 jobs, which is estimated to be 3.6% of Disney’s global workforce. Earlier, many giants including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Ford, Meta and others announced huge job cuts. Disney shares rose 4.7% to $117.22 in after-hours trading, reported Reuters. Also Read | Twitter bird 'caged' in Turkey after anger swamped social media over Erdogan's quake response Investors earlier expressed their concerns that the media company was over spending on global streaming business. In the latest announcement, it said that the company will reorganize itself into three main segments: an entertainment division that includes film, television, and streaming; an ESPN division that focuses on sports; as well as Disney theme parks, experiences, and goods. According to Disney, the restructure will streamline processes, increase business efficiency, and reduce costs. Disney is the most recent media corporation to announce job losses. Prior to this, Disney revealed that its Disney+ streaming media division lost more than $1 billion and had its first quarterly decline in subscriptions. Also Read | Is God gender-neutral? Church of England to explore terms for God in prayers Disney last made cuts when it announced in November 2020 that it would fire 32,000 employees, mostly from its amusement parks. It was during the pandemic peak. The layoffs were made in the first part of the fiscal year 2021. Watch | Turkiye earthquake survivors recall horror The job cuts announcement comes under recently reinstated CEO Bob Iger. "This reorganization will result in a more cost-effective, coordinated approach to our operations," Iger reportely told analysts on a conference call. "We are committed to running efficiently, especially in a challenging environment," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts

<p>Good news for Disneyland goers as James Cameron’s Avatar will soon be making inroads in the popular entertainment parks. Announcing a new attraction based on the Avatar franchise, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that there will soon be an “Avatar experience” for Disneyland visitors. He, however, did not divulge any details of the same.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bob Iger also mentioned that Avatar is now a core franchise for the company and they plan to use it for “leveraging success” across business lines and across territories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>James Cameron’s latest instalment of Avatar titled The Way of Water became a massive success worldwide as it grossed over $2.17 billion globally. It is currently at number 4 among the top-grossing movies ever. The hit filmmaker also announced that Avatar 3, 4 and 5 are on the way. They are scheduled for releases on December 20, 2024, December 18, 2026 and December 22, 2028.</p>

<p>As for entertainment parks, Disneyland continues to drive Disney’s top and bottom line growth. Revenue at the division of close to $8.8 billion for the fiscal first quarter was up 21%, the company reported today, about a third of the total.&nbsp;</p>


Good news for Disneyland goers as James Cameron’s Avatar will soon be making inroads in the popular entertainment parks. Announcing a new attraction based on the Avatar franchise, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that there will soon be an “Avatar experience” for Disneyland visitors.

Good news for Disneyland goers as James Cameron’s Avatar will soon be making inroads in the popular entertainment parks. Announcing a new attraction based on the Avatar franchise, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that there will soon be an “Avatar experience” for Disneyland visitors. He, however, did not divulge any details of the same. Bob Iger also mentioned that Avatar is now a core franchise for the company and they plan to use it for “leveraging success” across business lines and across territories. James Cameron’s latest instalment of Avatar titled The Way of Water became a massive success worldwide as it grossed over $2.17 billion globally. It is currently at number 4 among the top-grossing movies ever. The hit filmmaker also announced that Avatar 3, 4 and 5 are on the way. They are scheduled for releases on December 20, 2024, December 18, 2026 and December 22, 2028. As for entertainment parks, Disneyland continues to drive Disney’s top and bottom line growth. Revenue at the division of close to $8.8 billion for the fiscal first quarter was up 21%, the company reported today, about a third of the total.

Avatar coming to Disneyland soon; read inside for details

<p>Lawmakers in Florida are proposing to give&nbsp;governor Ron DeSantis full control over the board overseeing Walt Disney Co.'s special district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the latest reports, a new bill filed on Monday would give the governor power to appoint the five-member board of supervisors that runs&nbsp;the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which is a special government entity that has&nbsp;granted several benefits to Disney for over half a century. Those five appointees will then have to be confirmed by state senators.</p>

<p>The new rules also prevent people with ties to a&nbsp;theme park in the last three years from serving on the board.</p>

<p>"Florida is dissolving the corporate kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency," Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, said in an emailed statement. The former rules "gifted extraordinary special privileges to a single corporation."</p>

<p>Reedy Creek&nbsp;Improvement District is currently governed by a five-member board of supervisors, which are usually elected by local property owners, according to its charter. Given that most of the land within the district is owned by Disney and its affiliates, the company has out-sized decision-making power.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-watch-jennifer-lopez-ben-afflecks-heated-discussion-at-grammys-caught-on-camera-video-goes-viral-559532">Watch: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck's heated discussion at Grammys caught on camera, video goes viral&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>In a statement, Jeff Vahle, president of the Walt Disney World resort, stated that the company is monitoring the progress of the legislation. "Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year,"&nbsp;he said.</p>

<p>DeSantis signed a law last year that would have dissolved Reedy Creek, which provides municipal functions such as infrastructure, water and emergency services to Walt Disney World Resort. The move was a response to what the Florida governor saw as Disney's criticism of a law he signed that limits elementary school teachings about gender identity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bill will be discussed in a Florida House state affairs committee hearing on Wednesday and is expected to be debated by the full legislature later this week. Eventually, a version will be brought to DeSantis for his signature.</p>

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Lawmakers in Florida are proposing to give governor Ron DeSantis full control over the board overseeing Walt Disney Co.'s special district. According to the latest reports, a new bill filed on Monday would give the governor power to appoint the five-member board of supervisors that runs the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which is a special government entity that has granted several benefits to Disney for over half a century.

Lawmakers in Florida are proposing to give governor Ron DeSantis full control over the board overseeing Walt Disney Co.'s special district. According to the latest reports, a new bill filed on Monday would give the governor power to appoint the five-member board of supervisors that runs the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which is a special government entity that has granted several benefits to Disney for over half a century. Those five appointees will then have to be confirmed by state senators. The new rules also prevent people with ties to a theme park in the last three years from serving on the board. "Florida is dissolving the corporate kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency," Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, said in an emailed statement. The former rules "gifted extraordinary special privileges to a single corporation." Reedy Creek Improvement District is currently governed by a five-member board of supervisors, which are usually elected by local property owners, according to its charter. Given that most of the land within the district is owned by Disney and its affiliates, the company has out-sized decision-making power. Also read: Watch: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck's heated discussion at Grammys caught on camera, video goes viral In a statement, Jeff Vahle, president of the Walt Disney World resort, stated that the company is monitoring the progress of the legislation. "Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year," he said. DeSantis signed a law last year that would have dissolved Reedy Creek, which provides municipal functions such as infrastructure, water and emergency services to Walt Disney World Resort. The move was a response to what the Florida governor saw as Disney's criticism of a law he signed that limits elementary school teachings about gender identity. The bill will be discussed in a Florida House state affairs committee hearing on Wednesday and is expected to be debated by the full legislature later this week. Eventually, a version will be brought to DeSantis for his signature. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Florida governor set to gain control of Disney's district board in new bill

<p>Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days&nbsp;a week starting January 31.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Partners, it’s time for us to come back to the office to do this Mission-critical work face-to-face, and in person," said Schultz in the memo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Accordingly, employees within the commute distance of the Seattle headquarters will have to mandatorily report in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Meanwhile, the third day can be decided by the respective teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-starbucks-co-founder-relishes-dosa-in-bengaluru-gives-3-star-rating-531184"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Starbucks co-founder relishes Dosa in Bengaluru, gives 3-star rating</strong></a></p>

<p>The move was necessitated after employees were found not reporting to the office despite being asked to come once or twice a week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"From our badging data, it's clear that a good number of SSC [Starbucks Support Centre] partners are not meeting their minimum promise of one day a week," added&nbsp;Schultz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Schultz, who is in his third stint at the coffee giant said the new policy is meant to 'rebuild' the connection amongst employees and synchronise team efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-starbucks-workers-at-more-than-100-stores-go-on-strike-in-us-535199"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;World Business Watch: Starbucks workers at more than 100 stores go on strike in US</strong></a></p>

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<p>While Starbucks is calling employees three days to the office, other employers are not being as easygoing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, earlier this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger&nbsp;told the company's remote workers to report to the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-ceo-bob-iger-orders-employees-to-return-to-office-four-days-a-week-550868"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week</strong></a></p>

<p>Apple, Tesla, Snap and Twitter&nbsp;are amongst the big companies that are also reverting to a work-from-office policy as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option. Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days a week starting January 31.

Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option. Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days a week starting January 31. "Partners, it’s time for us to come back to the office to do this Mission-critical work face-to-face, and in person," said Schultz in the memo. Accordingly, employees within the commute distance of the Seattle headquarters will have to mandatorily report in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Meanwhile, the third day can be decided by the respective teams. WATCH | Starbucks co-founder relishes Dosa in Bengaluru, gives 3-star rating The move was necessitated after employees were found not reporting to the office despite being asked to come once or twice a week. "From our badging data, it's clear that a good number of SSC [Starbucks Support Centre] partners are not meeting their minimum promise of one day a week," added Schultz. Schultz, who is in his third stint at the coffee giant said the new policy is meant to 'rebuild' the connection amongst employees and synchronise team efforts. WATCH | World Business Watch: Starbucks workers at more than 100 stores go on strike in US × While Starbucks is calling employees three days to the office, other employers are not being as easygoing. Notably, earlier this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger told the company's remote workers to report to the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1. “I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger. Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week Apple, Tesla, Snap and Twitter are amongst the big companies that are also reverting to a work-from-office policy as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Starbucks orders employees to return to office three days a week

Walt Disney and investor activist Nelson Peltz will face a boardroom battle after the home of Mickey Mouse denied the billionaire a seat on the board. Peltz, who co-founded Trian Fund Management, petitioned to join the board after criticizing Disney's management.

Disney denies boardroom seat to Billionaire Peltz

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<p>Disney CEO Bob Iger is on a mission to undo the damage done by his predecessor Bob Chapek. The company is reportedly reworking its pricing policy at the theme parks after loyal fans dubbed it&nbsp;a 'money grab' scheme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to documents seen&nbsp;by Insider, the parkgoers will now have access to the $104 one-day pass for more than 60 days throughout the year. The one-day pass was usually limited to some school days in winter and Spring but Iger is looking to woo back the customers with lower pricing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We want to make sure our fans are feeling the love. We're listening to them, and we're trying to adjust," wrote Josh D'Amaro, Disney's head of parks in the memo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Many of you know that I'm in the parks fairly often, and I listen to you and to our guests about the things that are working, as well as the things that might need some change."</p>

<p>The regular ticket, however, will still cost $179. Parkgoers will also have more time to roam in the complex as the park gates will open at 11 AM as opposed to 1 PM. The overnight parking charges have also been down away with, according to the memo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the parkgoers in Orlando and Anaheim will no longer be charged for downloading photos of themselves on the rides and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. Chapek, during his reign, had introduced pricing tiers for all services.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-disney-asks-employees-to-come-back-to-the-office-551197"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | Disney asks employees to come back to the office</strong></a></p>

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<p>Notably, Iger returned to Dinsey in November last year after the board decided to ditch&nbsp;Chapek for underperforming and hurting Disney's bread-and-butter unit, the theme park services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since then, Iger has been on a course-correcting spree. Earlier this week, the 71-year-old executive informed the&nbsp;remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1.</p>

<p>“I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-ceo-bob-iger-orders-employees-to-return-to-office-four-days-a-week-550868" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week</strong></a></p>

<p>Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy that has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Disney CEO Bob Iger is on a mission to undo the damage done by his predecessor Bob Chapek. The company is reportedly reworking its pricing policy at the theme parks after loyal fans dubbed it a 'money grab' scheme.

Disney CEO Bob Iger is on a mission to undo the damage done by his predecessor Bob Chapek. The company is reportedly reworking its pricing policy at the theme parks after loyal fans dubbed it a 'money grab' scheme. According to documents seen by Insider, the parkgoers will now have access to the $104 one-day pass for more than 60 days throughout the year. The one-day pass was usually limited to some school days in winter and Spring but Iger is looking to woo back the customers with lower pricing. "We want to make sure our fans are feeling the love. We're listening to them, and we're trying to adjust," wrote Josh D'Amaro, Disney's head of parks in the memo. "Many of you know that I'm in the parks fairly often, and I listen to you and to our guests about the things that are working, as well as the things that might need some change." The regular ticket, however, will still cost $179. Parkgoers will also have more time to roam in the complex as the park gates will open at 11 AM as opposed to 1 PM. The overnight parking charges have also been down away with, according to the memo. Additionally, the parkgoers in Orlando and Anaheim will no longer be charged for downloading photos of themselves on the rides and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. Chapek, during his reign, had introduced pricing tiers for all services. WATCH | WION Fineprint | Disney asks employees to come back to the office × Notably, Iger returned to Dinsey in November last year after the board decided to ditch Chapek for underperforming and hurting Disney's bread-and-butter unit, the theme park services. Since then, Iger has been on a course-correcting spree. Earlier this week, the 71-year-old executive informed the remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1. “I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy that has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Disney to roll back theme park prices as Iger attempts to woo visitors back

Disney is the latest company to call employees back to the office. In a recent memo, the entertainment giant has asked its staff to be in the office at least 4 days a week.

WION Fineprint | Disney asks employees to come back to the office

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<p>A little more than a month after rejoining the Disney ship, CEO Bob Iger has started to crack down on the hybrid mode of working in the company. Iger in a memo has told the remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As I’ve been meeting with teams throughout the company over the past few months, I’ve been reminded of the tremendous value in being together with the people you work with,” said Iger in the memo accessed by CNBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As you’ve heard me say many times, creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney. And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.”</p>

<p>The 71-year-old executive had hinted at culling the remote work culture when he said 'not-working-from-office' had a negative effect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I worry long term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely.”</p>

<p><strong>Iger's strict policy</strong></p>

<p>While most big companies such as Apple, Tesla, Snap are reverting to work-from-office policy, they have kept the rules lenient - allowing workers to come to the office twice or thrice a week.</p>

<p>However, Iger's decision is relatively strict and aimed at increasing the efficiency of the company which has seen its shares plunge almost 40 per cent in the last 12 months.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/losses-for-disney-doubled-to-15-billion-bob-iger-returns-to-walt-disney-co-536261"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Losses for Disney+ doubled to $1.5 billion; Bob Iger returns to Walt Disney Co.</strong></a></p>

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<p>Notably, Iger returned to Dinsey in November last year after the board decided to ditch his successor Bob Chapek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We thank Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Susan Arnold, the board chairman whilst announcing the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period."</p>

<p>Immediately after taking over the company, Iger made it clear that storytelling will remain at the forefront of Disney's growth story.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organise our businesses. This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/panicked-disney-shows-the-door-to-bob-chapek-and-brings-former-ceo-bob-iger-535986" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Panicked Disney shows the door to Bob Chapek and brings former CEO Bob Iger</strong></a></p>

<p>Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy which has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A little more than a month after rejoining the Disney ship, CEO Bob Iger has started to crack down on the hybrid mode of working in the company. Iger in a memo has told the remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1.

A little more than a month after rejoining the Disney ship, CEO Bob Iger has started to crack down on the hybrid mode of working in the company. Iger in a memo has told the remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1. “As I’ve been meeting with teams throughout the company over the past few months, I’ve been reminded of the tremendous value in being together with the people you work with,” said Iger in the memo accessed by CNBC. “As you’ve heard me say many times, creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney. And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.” The 71-year-old executive had hinted at culling the remote work culture when he said 'not-working-from-office' had a negative effect. “I worry long term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely.” Iger's strict policy While most big companies such as Apple, Tesla, Snap are reverting to work-from-office policy, they have kept the rules lenient - allowing workers to come to the office twice or thrice a week. However, Iger's decision is relatively strict and aimed at increasing the efficiency of the company which has seen its shares plunge almost 40 per cent in the last 12 months. WATCH | Losses for Disney+ doubled to $1.5 billion; Bob Iger returns to Walt Disney Co. × Notably, Iger returned to Dinsey in November last year after the board decided to ditch his successor Bob Chapek. “We thank Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Susan Arnold, the board chairman whilst announcing the decision. “The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period." Immediately after taking over the company, Iger made it clear that storytelling will remain at the forefront of Disney's growth story. "I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organise our businesses. This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century." Read more: Panicked Disney shows the door to Bob Chapek and brings former CEO Bob Iger Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy which has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week

<p>The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is going to <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-disney-to-lose-rights-to-mickey-mouse-as-the-character-enters-public-domain-but-theres-a-caveat-547569">lose its marquee character Mickey Mouse</a></strong> at the end of this year. As per the US copyright law, the rights to characters expire 95 years after publication (for works published or registered before 1978). However, don't expect writers or directors and rival studios to cash in on the opportunity to make their own Mickey Mouse movies and shows as only the 'Steamboat Willie' version of the character will go out of copyright. 'Steamboat Willie', in case you don't know, was a 1928 animated short that marked the first appearance of Mickey. It was quite different from the wholesome and lovable anthropomorphic rodent we know him as today.</p>

<p>The more modern Mickey Mouse, the cuddly mouse with red shorts and rounded features, is still under the grubby paws of Disney. While it still must be a fairly big loss, I doubt anybody at the House of Mouse is shedding a lot of tears. The media and entertainment conglomerate possesses some of the biggest and most profitable franchises in the world. The list includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar movies, 'Avatar', countless animated classics like 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and 'The Lion King', Indiana Jones, and many more.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The truth is, the execs at Disney could not care less at the loss of Mickey Mouse, particularly the less pleasant version of the character. But the reason it has taken 95 years for 'Steamboat Willie' Mickey Mouse to go out of Disney's stables makes for an interesting and a little unsettling story.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How Disney affected US copyright laws</h2>

<p>The first federal copyright law in the US came into existence in 1790. It guaranteed "fourteen years from the time of recording the title thereof", with a provision for renewal for 14 more years if the author survived. The law was about books, maps, and charts, and excluded music and paintings. They were included in the future. By the time Disney, founded by Walt and Roy O. Disney, came into existence in 1923 as Disney Brothers Studio (it later underwent two name changes and was called Walt Disney Studio and Walt Disney Productions at different points in time), the amendments in the copyright law (the latest was in 1909) allowed 56 years of protection of published works. This included the initial 28 years and an option to renew for 28 more years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-why-disney-could-lose-the-rights-to-mickey-mouse-494564">Why Disney could lose the rights to Mickey Mouse</a></strong></p>

<p>As per this, 'Steamboat Willie' should have gone out of copyright in 1984, sending the character to the dreaded (by Disney, anyway) public domain. But Disney began to make serious efforts with Congress (also called lobbying) to further amend the law and extend the expiration duration. It did make a sort of sense, as there had been no changes in the law since 1909. The world, on the other hand, had changed radically, including the wider prevalence of new forms of media like film, TV, and radio.</p>

<p>The Walt Disney Company's efforts paid off when Congress enacted the Copyright Act of 1976. It allowed published works to be under copyright for the whole life of the author plus half a century more, or 75 years if the said work was owned by corporations. Mickey Mouse was now protected until 2003.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BBgghnQF6E4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2>So why did 'Steamboat Willie' not enter the public domain in 2003?</h2>

<p>For the simple reason that Disney was still loathe to let go of its first animated film. Emotional value and so on. Who am I kidding, this was more likely a case of a corporation wanting to squeeze the last ounce of profit from an 80-year-old film. So as 2003 came closer Disney, again, lobbied for Congress to further extend the copyright expiration date. The efforts again bore fruit. And thus, in 1998, Congress enacted the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998. Derisively called 'The Mickey Mouse Protection Act', it retained the copyright to the author's lifetime and added 70 years. For works of corporate authorship, like with Disney, the act allowed 95 years from the work's original publication or 120 years from the creation, whichever expires first.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Will Disney again lobby to impede the expiration of 'Steamboat Willie''s copyright?</h2>

<p>Unlikely. As said above, Disney is in charge of by far the biggest collection of pop culture franchises in the world. It only became bigger with its acquisition of 20th Century Fox. The future in which Disney pretty much owns everything you watch on the telly or in theatres is not as unlikely as it looks any longer. Disney is like a mythical monster like the Greek Hydra or the African Kammapa, which gobbles every IP it can get, and grows ever larger. The company may have an image of a provider of cute, cuddly content but the reality is much darker.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Disney does not need 'Steamboat Willie' or even Winnie the Pooh (AA Milne's 1926 stories set in the Hundred Acre Wood went out of copyright in 2021). It has absolute command over the box office with the MCU movies, almost every one of which grosses close to $1 billion even in the pandemic-affected times. It owns the 'Avatar' franchise, each film of which will likely gross $2 billion, and the fifth and final film may cross that incredible $3 billion mark.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is going to lose its marquee character Mickey Mouse at the end of this year. As per the US copyright law, the rights to characters expire 95 years after publication (for works published or registered before 1978).

The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is going to lose its marquee character Mickey Mouse at the end of this year. As per the US copyright law, the rights to characters expire 95 years after publication (for works published or registered before 1978). However, don't expect writers or directors and rival studios to cash in on the opportunity to make their own Mickey Mouse movies and shows as only the 'Steamboat Willie' version of the character will go out of copyright. 'Steamboat Willie', in case you don't know, was a 1928 animated short that marked the first appearance of Mickey. It was quite different from the wholesome and lovable anthropomorphic rodent we know him as today. The more modern Mickey Mouse, the cuddly mouse with red shorts and rounded features, is still under the grubby paws of Disney. While it still must be a fairly big loss, I doubt anybody at the House of Mouse is shedding a lot of tears. The media and entertainment conglomerate possesses some of the biggest and most profitable franchises in the world. The list includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar movies, 'Avatar', countless animated classics like 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and 'The Lion King', Indiana Jones, and many more. The truth is, the execs at Disney could not care less at the loss of Mickey Mouse, particularly the less pleasant version of the character. But the reason it has taken 95 years for 'Steamboat Willie' Mickey Mouse to go out of Disney's stables makes for an interesting and a little unsettling story. How Disney affected US copyright laws The first federal copyright law in the US came into existence in 1790. It guaranteed "fourteen years from the time of recording the title thereof", with a provision for renewal for 14 more years if the author survived. The law was about books, maps, and charts, and excluded music and paintings. They were included in the future. By the time Disney, founded by Walt and Roy O. Disney, came into existence in 1923 as Disney Brothers Studio (it later underwent two name changes and was called Walt Disney Studio and Walt Disney Productions at different points in time), the amendments in the copyright law (the latest was in 1909) allowed 56 years of protection of published works. This included the initial 28 years and an option to renew for 28 more years. Also Read: Why Disney could lose the rights to Mickey Mouse As per this, 'Steamboat Willie' should have gone out of copyright in 1984, sending the character to the dreaded (by Disney, anyway) public domain. But Disney began to make serious efforts with Congress (also called lobbying) to further amend the law and extend the expiration duration. It did make a sort of sense, as there had been no changes in the law since 1909. The world, on the other hand, had changed radically, including the wider prevalence of new forms of media like film, TV, and radio. The Walt Disney Company's efforts paid off when Congress enacted the Copyright Act of 1976. It allowed published works to be under copyright for the whole life of the author plus half a century more, or 75 years if the said work was owned by corporations. Mickey Mouse was now protected until 2003. So why did 'Steamboat Willie' not enter the public domain in 2003? For the simple reason that Disney was still loathe to let go of its first animated film. Emotional value and so on. Who am I kidding, this was more likely a case of a corporation wanting to squeeze the last ounce of profit from an 80-year-old film. So as 2003 came closer Disney, again, lobbied for Congress to further extend the copyright expiration date. The efforts again bore fruit. And thus, in 1998, Congress enacted the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998. Derisively called 'The Mickey Mouse Protection Act', it retained the copyright to the author's lifetime and added 70 years. For works of corporate authorship, like with Disney, the act allowed 95 years from the work's original publication or 120 years from the creation, whichever expires first. Will Disney again lobby to impede the expiration of 'Steamboat Willie''s copyright? Unlikely. As said above, Disney is in charge of by far the biggest collection of pop culture franchises in the world. It only became bigger with its acquisition of 20th Century Fox. The future in which Disney pretty much owns everything you watch on the telly or in theatres is not as unlikely as it looks any longer. Disney is like a mythical monster like the Greek Hydra or the African Kammapa, which gobbles every IP it can get, and grows ever larger. The company may have an image of a provider of cute, cuddly content but the reality is much darker. Disney does not need 'Steamboat Willie' or even Winnie the Pooh (AA Milne's 1926 stories set in the Hundred Acre Wood went out of copyright in 2021). It has absolute command over the box office with the MCU movies, almost every one of which grosses close to $1 billion even in the pandemic-affected times. It owns the 'Avatar' franchise, each film of which will likely gross $2 billion, and the fifth and final film may cross that incredible $3 billion mark.

How Disney routinely exerted influence on the US copyright law to keep its greatest asset — Mickey Mouse

<p>The mascot of Disney and one of the most recognisable characters in pop culture, Mickey Mouse, will be out of its owner's grasp next year. As per the New York Times, 'Steamboat Willie', the short animated film that introduced the character in 1928 is out of copyright. As per the US copyright law, the rights to characters expire 95 years after publication (for works published or registered before 1978). Thus, Disney, which is also called the House of Mouse due to the character, may lose the rights to the character. But that reportedly includes just the 'Steamboat Willie' version of the character.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BBgghnQF6E4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>The 'Steamboat Willie' Mickey is quite different from the wholesome, anthropomorphic rodent we know him as today. He was more ratlike in his features, and could even be cruel. The more rounded Mickey with a sweet disposition is still sadly under copyright, and Disney is likely going to be extremely unforgiving to those who rip off its mascot in their stories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The character was co-created by Walt Disney himself and artist Ub Iwerks. The character was meant to be a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, an earlier Disney character. It is best known for its trademark appearance featuring red shorts with two white dots, yellow gloves, and big yellow shoes.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-disney-set-to-lose-iconic-mickey-mouse-character-in-2024-494511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Mickey Mouse holds the honour of being the first cartoon character to have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In most of the stories, Mickey appears with supporting characters like his girlfriend Minnie Mouse, his pet Pluto, Donald Duck, Goofy, among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 1941 animated short featuring Mickey, titled 'Lend a Paw' won an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Do not expect something like the horror thriller treatment that has been meted out to Winnie the Pooh in the upcoming slasher 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey'. The Pooh Bear went out of copyright last year. And Writer-director Rhys Frake-Wakefield took the opportunity to make&nbsp;him and his friends&nbsp;deranged killers. The film is a twisted retelling of the short stories by AA Milne, in which Christopher Robin, Pooh, and others did have all those adventures in Hundred Acre Wood, but then the boy grew up and went to college. Pooh, Piglet, and others, meanwhile, went more and more hungry and became feral. Now, they have become so crazy that in the film's story they terrorise a group of girls residing in a rural cabin.&nbsp;<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The mascot of Disney and one of the most recognisable characters in pop culture, Mickey Mouse, will be out of its owner's grasp next year. As per the New York Times, 'Steamboat Willie', the short animated film that introduced the character in 1928 is out of copyright.

The mascot of Disney and one of the most recognisable characters in pop culture, Mickey Mouse, will be out of its owner's grasp next year. As per the New York Times, 'Steamboat Willie', the short animated film that introduced the character in 1928 is out of copyright. As per the US copyright law, the rights to characters expire 95 years after publication (for works published or registered before 1978). Thus, Disney, which is also called the House of Mouse due to the character, may lose the rights to the character. But that reportedly includes just the 'Steamboat Willie' version of the character. The 'Steamboat Willie' Mickey is quite different from the wholesome, anthropomorphic rodent we know him as today. He was more ratlike in his features, and could even be cruel. The more rounded Mickey with a sweet disposition is still sadly under copyright, and Disney is likely going to be extremely unforgiving to those who rip off its mascot in their stories. The character was co-created by Walt Disney himself and artist Ub Iwerks. The character was meant to be a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, an earlier Disney character. It is best known for its trademark appearance featuring red shorts with two white dots, yellow gloves, and big yellow shoes. Mickey Mouse holds the honour of being the first cartoon character to have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In most of the stories, Mickey appears with supporting characters like his girlfriend Minnie Mouse, his pet Pluto, Donald Duck, Goofy, among others. The 1941 animated short featuring Mickey, titled 'Lend a Paw' won an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category. Do not expect something like the horror thriller treatment that has been meted out to Winnie the Pooh in the upcoming slasher 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey'. The Pooh Bear went out of copyright last year. And Writer-director Rhys Frake-Wakefield took the opportunity to make him and his friends deranged killers. The film is a twisted retelling of the short stories by AA Milne, in which Christopher Robin, Pooh, and others did have all those adventures in Hundred Acre Wood, but then the boy grew up and went to college. Pooh, Piglet, and others, meanwhile, went more and more hungry and became feral. Now, they have become so crazy that in the film's story they terrorise a group of girls residing in a rural cabin.

Disney to lose rights to Mickey Mouse as the character enters public domain. But there's a caveat

Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain in the year 2024, almost 95 years after his creation on 1 October 1928, the length of time after which the copyright on an anonymous or pseudo-anonymous body of artistic work expires.

Disney will soon lose copyright to Mickey Mouse

<p>For those who have been fans of Jack Sparrow, there is news. Multiple reports claim that Johnny Depp will soon be returning to play the famous character on screen. Depp last played the popular character five years ago in the fifth and final instalment of &nbsp;'The Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Depp will now again reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, a character that catapulted him to superstardom. But there is a twist. The project is reportedly a spin-off and titled&nbsp; 'A&nbsp;Day At The Sea'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A source close to the project stated, "Johnny is set to return as Captain Jack Sparrow and is scheduled to start filming at the beginning of February at a top-secret location in the UK."</p>

<p>The project is apparently in its initial phase and no director has been finalised. However, Disney, which has bank rolled the project is planning a test shoot and will begin production soon.<br />
<br />
“A call sheet has been distributed among those in the know. Bruce Hendricks, who worked on the first three films, is named as the Executive Producer on the new project,"the source added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A final statement revealed, “All the other details are being kept under lock and key. The whole project is shrouded in secrecy and Disney want to keep everything under wraps as best they can.”</p>

<p>One of the most successful franchises that Hollywood has made, 'Pirates of the Caribbean' made Depp one of the highest-paid actors at one point of time.</p>

<p>However, his role in the series hung in the balance after recent legal issues with ex-wife Amber Heard.</p>


For those who have been fans of Jack Sparrow, there is news. Multiple reports claim that Johnny Depp will soon be returning to play the famous character on screen.

For those who have been fans of Jack Sparrow, there is news. Multiple reports claim that Johnny Depp will soon be returning to play the famous character on screen. Depp last played the popular character five years ago in the fifth and final instalment of 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. Depp will now again reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, a character that catapulted him to superstardom. But there is a twist. The project is reportedly a spin-off and titled 'A Day At The Sea'. A source close to the project stated, "Johnny is set to return as Captain Jack Sparrow and is scheduled to start filming at the beginning of February at a top-secret location in the UK." The project is apparently in its initial phase and no director has been finalised. However, Disney, which has bank rolled the project is planning a test shoot and will begin production soon. “A call sheet has been distributed among those in the know. Bruce Hendricks, who worked on the first three films, is named as the Executive Producer on the new project,"the source added. A final statement revealed, “All the other details are being kept under lock and key. The whole project is shrouded in secrecy and Disney want to keep everything under wraps as best they can.” One of the most successful franchises that Hollywood has made, 'Pirates of the Caribbean' made Depp one of the highest-paid actors at one point of time. However, his role in the series hung in the balance after recent legal issues with ex-wife Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp is returning to 'Pirates of The Caribbean' franchise but there's a twist

<p>After making a shocking return as Disney's chief executive, Bob Iger is all set to make some major changes in the firm to boost growth and make it profitable. In less than 24 hours of his return to the helm of Disney, Iger told its employees that the company will be undergoing a major restructuring in the coming weeks and that they should be ready for the same. He also sent out a letter by email to talk about his return and shared what's in store for the next two years.</p>

<p>In a memo addressed to Disney employees, Iger also announced the departure of Kareem Daniel, the company’s head of media and entertainment and right hand to former CEO Bob Chapek, in a move to put forth a "new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs".</p>

<p>"This will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media &amp; Entertainment Distribution. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company," Iger revealed in a memo obtained by CNBC.</p>

<p>"Our goal is to have the new structure in place in the coming months. Without question, elements of DMED will remain, but I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organize our businesses," Iger added. "This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century."</p>

<p>During his three-year tenure as CEO, Chapek had reorganized the company to establish the DMED division and consolidate budgetary power for Disney’s content and distribution divisions under Daniel and Iger's latest decision marked the swift undoing of the same.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/comedian-jay-leno-released-from-hospital-after-suffering-second-degree-burns-in-car-fire-accident-536280">Comedian Jay Leno released from hospital after suffering second-degree burns in car fire accident</a></p>

<p>Here's the full text of Iger's memo!</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Dear DMED Employees,</p>

<p>As we embark on the transformative work that I mentioned to you in my email last night, I want to begin by offering my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you.</p>

<p>Over the coming weeks, we will begin implementing organizational and operating changes within the company. It is my intention to restructure things in a way that honors and respects creativity as the heart and soul of who we are. As you know, this is a time of enormous change and challenges in our industry, and our work will also focus on creating a more efficient and cost-effective structure.</p>

<p>I’ve asked Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, and Christine McCarthy to work together on the design of a new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs, and this will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media &amp; Entertainment Distribution. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company, and I hope you will all join me in thanking him for his many years of service to Disney.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our goal is to have the new structure in place in the coming months. Without question, elements of DMED will remain, but I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organize our businesses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century, and I am so proud to be leading this team again. I can’t say it enough: I’m incredibly grateful for the tremendous work you do each day, and for your commitment to maintaining the level of excellence Disney has always been known for.</p>

<p>I know change can be unsettling, but it is also necessary and even energizing, and so I ask for your patience as we develop a roadmap for this restructuring. More information will be shared over the coming weeks. Until a new structure is put in place, we will continue to operate under our existing structure. In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and thank you again for all you do.</p>

<p>Bob</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Iger has been rehired by&nbsp;Disney's board of directors for a period of two years. Before handing the reins to Chapek, he ruled over the company for 15 years until 2020.</p>

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After making a shocking return as Disney's chief executive, Bob Iger is all set to make some major changes in the firm to boost growth and make it profitable. In less than 24 hours of his return to the helm of Disney, Iger told its employees that the company will be undergoing a major restructuring in the coming weeks and that they should be ready for the same.

After making a shocking return as Disney's chief executive, Bob Iger is all set to make some major changes in the firm to boost growth and make it profitable. In less than 24 hours of his return to the helm of Disney, Iger told its employees that the company will be undergoing a major restructuring in the coming weeks and that they should be ready for the same. He also sent out a letter by email to talk about his return and shared what's in store for the next two years. In a memo addressed to Disney employees, Iger also announced the departure of Kareem Daniel, the company’s head of media and entertainment and right hand to former CEO Bob Chapek, in a move to put forth a "new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs". "This will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company," Iger revealed in a memo obtained by CNBC. "Our goal is to have the new structure in place in the coming months. Without question, elements of DMED will remain, but I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organize our businesses," Iger added. "This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century." During his three-year tenure as CEO, Chapek had reorganized the company to establish the DMED division and consolidate budgetary power for Disney’s content and distribution divisions under Daniel and Iger's latest decision marked the swift undoing of the same. Also read: Comedian Jay Leno released from hospital after suffering second-degree burns in car fire accident Here's the full text of Iger's memo! Dear DMED Employees, As we embark on the transformative work that I mentioned to you in my email last night, I want to begin by offering my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you. Over the coming weeks, we will begin implementing organizational and operating changes within the company. It is my intention to restructure things in a way that honors and respects creativity as the heart and soul of who we are. As you know, this is a time of enormous change and challenges in our industry, and our work will also focus on creating a more efficient and cost-effective structure. I’ve asked Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, and Christine McCarthy to work together on the design of a new structure that puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs, and this will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company, and I hope you will all join me in thanking him for his many years of service to Disney. Our goal is to have the new structure in place in the coming months. Without question, elements of DMED will remain, but I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organize our businesses. This is a moment of great change and opportunity for our company as we begin our second century, and I am so proud to be leading this team again. I can’t say it enough: I’m incredibly grateful for the tremendous work you do each day, and for your commitment to maintaining the level of excellence Disney has always been known for. I know change can be unsettling, but it is also necessary and even energizing, and so I ask for your patience as we develop a roadmap for this restructuring. More information will be shared over the coming weeks. Until a new structure is put in place, we will continue to operate under our existing structure. In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and thank you again for all you do. Bob Iger has been rehired by Disney's board of directors for a period of two years. Before handing the reins to Chapek, he ruled over the company for 15 years until 2020. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Disney CEO Bob Iger begins major shake-up in less than 24 hours of his return

<p>In a dramatic twist worthy of a "Star Wars" spin-off, Disney ditched CEO Bob Chapek and brought back Bob Iger, Hollywood's most respected executive, who faces a huge challenge to revive the Magic Kingdom.</p>

<p>Iger's return comes as Disney is trying to negotiate an uncertain era, where investors have lost faith in some of the most storied names in US media as companies bleed cash in the hunt for customers to streaming platforms.</p>

<p>Disney's board of directors rehired Iger for a two-year contract that will add to the 15 years he ruled over the company until 2020 when he handed the reins to Chapek.</p>

<p>But Disney's share price has slumped 40 per cent this year and Chapek was unceremoniously fired after less than three years in the top job, much of it struggling to fill the big shoes left by Iger.</p>

<p>Iger's leadership was extraordinary even by Hollywood's standards.</p>

<p>The 71-year-old led Disney to new frontiers when he bought the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and launched the Disney+ streaming service to rival Netflix head-on.</p>

<p>He also bought 21 Century Fox from media baron Rupert Murdoch and held on to sports network ESPN despite calls to sell it, maintaining an empire that stretched from theme parks to local TV stations and cruise ships.</p>

<p>The return of Iger was cheered on by Wall Street, with Disney's share price surging by six per cent on Monday, and analysts recommending the stock for the first time since he exited the company.</p>

<p><strong>- 'Not guaranteed' -</strong></p>

<p>But some analysts were not so sure, warning that the world that Iger left in early 2020 -- before Covid-19, before the streaming wars -- had changed.</p>

<p>"The bold move might feel like the right one, however, the business is at a different phase of growth," said Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight.</p>

<p>"It will take time and immediate success is not guaranteed."</p>

<p>The core problem for Iger will be to turn a profit at Disney+ when, according to the latest figures in November, it burned through four billion dollars in just 12 months.</p>

<p>Launched in early 2020, Disney+ streams all that the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and Disney have to offer, releasing new content at a furious rate, but that weighs heavily on finances.</p>

<p>On the positive side, the Disney+ platform continues to gain subscribers and had 164 million customers at the end of September.</p>

<p>But the financial hole has put pressure on Disney's other sectors: Theme parks and merchandising have succeeded for now to keep the Disney group in the green.</p>

<p><strong>- 'Expensive' -</strong></p>

<p>The pressure has grown worse as the economic outlook sours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Households are winnowing down entertainment subscriptions to just one or two, a cold reality that has seen the Netflix share price plummet by 50 per cent in a year.</p>

<p>For Jonathan Kees of Daiwa Capital Markets America, Disney's current troubles are also a result of choices made by Iger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Iger pushed for the creation of Disney+, which has become an expensive business venture," the analyst said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for the 2019 purchase of 21st Century Fox, "that purchase alone loaded up the Disney balance sheet with an incredible amount of debt, which is not what investors are valuing in this current stock market."</p>

<p>And even under the hugely respected Iger, Disney will face pressure from activist investors looking for quick results.</p>

<p>The Third Point fund, which increased its stake in Disney this summer, is among the most vocal on the matter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dan Loeb, its founder and CEO, has previously demanded that Disney hive off the ESPN sports media business from the rest of the group before reversing his position.</p>

<p>And according to the Wall Street Journal, the return of Iger is decried by activist fund Trian, which acquired more than $800 million worth of Disney shares after the stock market tumbled after poor results.</p>

<p>"At the end of the day, it's his legacy that's at stake," Pescatore said.</p>


In a dramatic twist worthy of a "Star Wars" spin-off, Disney ditched CEO Bob Chapek and brought back Bob Iger, Hollywood's most respected executive, who faces a huge challenge to revive the Magic Kingdom.

In a dramatic twist worthy of a "Star Wars" spin-off, Disney ditched CEO Bob Chapek and brought back Bob Iger, Hollywood's most respected executive, who faces a huge challenge to revive the Magic Kingdom. Iger's return comes as Disney is trying to negotiate an uncertain era, where investors have lost faith in some of the most storied names in US media as companies bleed cash in the hunt for customers to streaming platforms. Disney's board of directors rehired Iger for a two-year contract that will add to the 15 years he ruled over the company until 2020 when he handed the reins to Chapek. But Disney's share price has slumped 40 per cent this year and Chapek was unceremoniously fired after less than three years in the top job, much of it struggling to fill the big shoes left by Iger. Iger's leadership was extraordinary even by Hollywood's standards. The 71-year-old led Disney to new frontiers when he bought the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and launched the Disney+ streaming service to rival Netflix head-on. He also bought 21 Century Fox from media baron Rupert Murdoch and held on to sports network ESPN despite calls to sell it, maintaining an empire that stretched from theme parks to local TV stations and cruise ships. The return of Iger was cheered on by Wall Street, with Disney's share price surging by six per cent on Monday, and analysts recommending the stock for the first time since he exited the company. - 'Not guaranteed' - But some analysts were not so sure, warning that the world that Iger left in early 2020 -- before Covid-19, before the streaming wars -- had changed. "The bold move might feel like the right one, however, the business is at a different phase of growth," said Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight. "It will take time and immediate success is not guaranteed." The core problem for Iger will be to turn a profit at Disney+ when, according to the latest figures in November, it burned through four billion dollars in just 12 months. Launched in early 2020, Disney+ streams all that the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and Disney have to offer, releasing new content at a furious rate, but that weighs heavily on finances. On the positive side, the Disney+ platform continues to gain subscribers and had 164 million customers at the end of September. But the financial hole has put pressure on Disney's other sectors: Theme parks and merchandising have succeeded for now to keep the Disney group in the green. - 'Expensive' - The pressure has grown worse as the economic outlook sours. Households are winnowing down entertainment subscriptions to just one or two, a cold reality that has seen the Netflix share price plummet by 50 per cent in a year. For Jonathan Kees of Daiwa Capital Markets America, Disney's current troubles are also a result of choices made by Iger. "Iger pushed for the creation of Disney+, which has become an expensive business venture," the analyst said. As for the 2019 purchase of 21st Century Fox, "that purchase alone loaded up the Disney balance sheet with an incredible amount of debt, which is not what investors are valuing in this current stock market." And even under the hugely respected Iger, Disney will face pressure from activist investors looking for quick results. The Third Point fund, which increased its stake in Disney this summer, is among the most vocal on the matter. Dan Loeb, its founder and CEO, has previously demanded that Disney hive off the ESPN sports media business from the rest of the group before reversing his position. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the return of Iger is decried by activist fund Trian, which acquired more than $800 million worth of Disney shares after the stock market tumbled after poor results. "At the end of the day, it's his legacy that's at stake," Pescatore said.

Disney seeks old magic in return of ex-CEO Bob Iger

Walt Disney Company has announced a change in the upper hierarchy of the company. Former CEO, Bob Iger will be returning to the company after two years. He'll be replacing his successor Bob Chapek.

Losses for Disney+ doubled to $1.5 billion; Bob Iger returns to Walt Disney Co.

<p>Amid a global slowdown and a fall in revenues, the Walt Disney Company has announced a change in the upper hierarchy of the company. Former CEO, Robert A Iger (Bob Iger) will be returning to the company, replacing his successor&nbsp;Bob Chapek.</p>

<p>The decision was taken after Disney reported an 18 per cent decrease in revenues while operating income stood at $0.1 billion, dipping 18 per cent as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Susan Arnold, the board chairman announced the decision and thanked Chapek for his service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We thank Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said&nbsp;Arnold.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-covid-chaos-shanghai-government-bars-people-from-entering-and-exiting-disney-park-529933"><strong>Watch | China Covid Chaos: Shanghai government bars people from entering and exiting Disney park</strong></a></p>

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<p>“The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period,” she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chapek's reign as the Disney CEO was as tumultuous as they come. During this year alone, Disney's stock has fallen&nbsp;almost 41 per cent.</p>

<p>Chapek, with his more data-driven and confrontational approach, coupled with a pandemic and a global slowdown could never really fit into the job profile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His clash with Scarlett Johansson over 'Black Widow' contract and feud with Disney employees over the 'Don't say Gay' bill brought a lot of flak to him. The closure of Dinsey theme parks across the globe added insult to injury.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-disney-resort-to-remain-closed-as-china-logs-record-covid-cases-534013"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Shanghai Disney resort to remain closed as China logs record Covid cases</strong></a></p>

<p>Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy which has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Iger who managed to bring Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st-century Fox under Dinsey's banner, granting the company a significant&nbsp;advantage over its rivals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Disney's premier product, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been on a shaky ride ever since Chapek stepped into the role.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bob-chapek-is-new-ceo-of-disney-as-bob-iger-steps-down-283008"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Bob Chapek is new CEO of Disney as Bob Iger steps down</strong></a></p>

<p>Most of the movies and TV shows in MCU's phase-4 have been hit-and-miss with the audience as many&nbsp;attribute&nbsp;it to post-phase-3 fatigue. Meanwhile, others state that Dinsey under Chapek&nbsp;has pushed story-telling on the backburner and is more focused on quantity over quality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With Iger back in the role, Dinsey executives are hoping to have a reversal in fortunes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Amid a global slowdown and a fall in revenues, the Walt Disney Company has announced a change in the upper hierarchy of the company. Former CEO, Robert A Iger (Bob Iger) will be returning to the company, replacing his successor Bob Chapek.

Amid a global slowdown and a fall in revenues, the Walt Disney Company has announced a change in the upper hierarchy of the company. Former CEO, Robert A Iger (Bob Iger) will be returning to the company, replacing his successor Bob Chapek. The decision was taken after Disney reported an 18 per cent decrease in revenues while operating income stood at $0.1 billion, dipping 18 per cent as well. Susan Arnold, the board chairman announced the decision and thanked Chapek for his service. “We thank Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Arnold. Watch | China Covid Chaos: Shanghai government bars people from entering and exiting Disney park × “The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period,” she added. Chapek's reign as the Disney CEO was as tumultuous as they come. During this year alone, Disney's stock has fallen almost 41 per cent. Chapek, with his more data-driven and confrontational approach, coupled with a pandemic and a global slowdown could never really fit into the job profile. His clash with Scarlett Johansson over 'Black Widow' contract and feud with Disney employees over the 'Don't say Gay' bill brought a lot of flak to him. The closure of Dinsey theme parks across the globe added insult to injury. Read more: Shanghai Disney resort to remain closed as China logs record Covid cases Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy which has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two. It was Iger who managed to bring Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st-century Fox under Dinsey's banner, granting the company a significant advantage over its rivals. Disney's premier product, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been on a shaky ride ever since Chapek stepped into the role. Read more: Bob Chapek is new CEO of Disney as Bob Iger steps down Most of the movies and TV shows in MCU's phase-4 have been hit-and-miss with the audience as many attribute it to post-phase-3 fatigue. Meanwhile, others state that Dinsey under Chapek has pushed story-telling on the backburner and is more focused on quantity over quality. With Iger back in the role, Dinsey executives are hoping to have a reversal in fortunes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Panicked Disney shows the door to Bob Chapek and brings former CEO Bob Iger

Walt Disney Company has announced a change in the upper hierarchy of the company. Former CEO, Bob Igerwill be returning to the company after two years. He'll be replacing his successor Bob Chapek.

Panicked Disney fires Bob Chapek, brings former CEO Bob Iger back onboard

<p>It's happening! The Princess of Genovia will be back! According to multiple reports, the third installment of 'Princess Diaries' is in the works.&nbsp;The script is being penned by Aadrita Mukerji ( who wrote 'Supergirl') and the story will be a continuation of the first two parts which were released in 2001 and 2004. The film featured Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the lead.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
As of now the cast of the film has not been announced and it isn't clear if Anne Hathaway would be back playing the titular role in the third part as well. The actress had catapulted to fame after the success of the first film back in 2001.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Hathaway, though in several interviews over the years has expressed her desire to be a part of the sequel if it was to be made.&nbsp;“I would more than entertain it, I’m pulling for it,” Hathaway told Entertainment Tonight in October 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If there’s any way to get Julie Andrews involved, I think we would make it work. We would go to where she was and put a green screen behind her and just make it happen.”<br />
<br />
The 2001 film has Hathaway playing a high schooler Mia Thermopolis who learns that she is next in line for the throne of a fictional country called Genovia. Julie Andrews played her grandmother who is tasked to get Mia ready for her new role.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The film was based on Meg Cabot's novel series and also featured Mandy Moore, Sandra Oh, and Heather Matarazzo.</p>

<p>In the second film, which released in 2004, Hathaway's character married Chris Pine's character.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Rumours suggest the third part will have Hathaway teaching her own daughter some etiquettes of a princess.</p>


It's happening! The Princess of Genovia will be back! According to multiple reports, the third installment of 'Princess Diaries' is in the works. The script is being penned by Aadrita Mukerji ( who wrote 'Supergirl') and the story will be a continuation of the first two parts which were released in 2001 and 2004.

It's happening! The Princess of Genovia will be back! According to multiple reports, the third installment of 'Princess Diaries' is in the works. The script is being penned by Aadrita Mukerji ( who wrote 'Supergirl') and the story will be a continuation of the first two parts which were released in 2001 and 2004. The film featured Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the lead. As of now the cast of the film has not been announced and it isn't clear if Anne Hathaway would be back playing the titular role in the third part as well. The actress had catapulted to fame after the success of the first film back in 2001. Hathaway, though in several interviews over the years has expressed her desire to be a part of the sequel if it was to be made. “I would more than entertain it, I’m pulling for it,” Hathaway told Entertainment Tonight in October 2022. “If there’s any way to get Julie Andrews involved, I think we would make it work. We would go to where she was and put a green screen behind her and just make it happen.” The 2001 film has Hathaway playing a high schooler Mia Thermopolis who learns that she is next in line for the throne of a fictional country called Genovia. Julie Andrews played her grandmother who is tasked to get Mia ready for her new role. The film was based on Meg Cabot's novel series and also featured Mandy Moore, Sandra Oh, and Heather Matarazzo. In the second film, which released in 2004, Hathaway's character married Chris Pine's character. Rumours suggest the third part will have Hathaway teaching her own daughter some etiquettes of a princess.

'The Princess Diaries' set to get a third part. Will Anne Hathaway be a part of it?

<p>Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Chapek made an announcement on Friday via a memo addressed to all executives at the senior vice president level or above. The company is planning to freeze hiring, and layoffs are likely as part of its cost-cutting measures, stated the internal memo viewed by several publications.</p>

<p>The move is being made to get the Disney+ streaming service to profitability against the backdrop of economic uncertainty. The strict measures come days after Disney reported a $1.5 billion quarterly loss in its streaming business.&nbsp;Shares of the company fell more than 13% on Wednesday following its results.</p>

<p>In the memo, Chapek said a task force has been instituted to review marketing, content and administrative spending across the entire company and recommend cuts. The team is led by finance chief Christine McCarthy and general counsel Horacio Gutierrez.</p>

<p>“I’m fully aware this will be a difficult process for many of you and your teams,” Chapek said in the memo. “We are going to have to make tough and uncomfortable decisions.”</p>

<p>“While certain macroeconomic factors are out of our control, meeting these goals requires all of us to continue doing our part to manage the things we can control – most notably, our costs,” Chapek added.</p>

<p>The streaming service is known for original series including the 'Star Wars'&nbsp;entries 'The Mandalorian',&nbsp;'Andor'&nbsp;and 'Obi-Wan Kenobi',&nbsp;the Marvel entries 'WandaVision',&nbsp;'Hawkeye'&nbsp;and 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law',&nbsp;and content hubs for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and 'Star Wars'&nbsp;films.</p>

<p>Wall Street analysts voiced concern about Disney’s escalating streaming costs. MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson observed in a note this week that “the company has to prove that their pivot to DTC will be worth the investment price that is currently being paid.”</p>

<p>Corporate America is making deep cuts to its employee base to brace for an economic downturn. Meta Platforms said this week it would cut more than 11,000 jobs, or 13% of its workforce to rein in costs.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ranveer-singh-gets-honoured-with-etoile-dor-award-at-marrakech-international-film-festival-533466" hreflang="en">Ranveer Singh gets honoured with Etoile d’Or award at Marrakech International Film Festival</a></p>

<p>One of Disney’s studio peers, Warner Bros Discovery, has undergone dramatic cost-cutting efforts, including layoffs, as the recently merged company restructures its content operations.</p>

<p>Chapek said Disney has established a task force, including Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy and General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez, to help him make “critical big-picture decisions.”</p>

<p>The company already has begun looking at content and marketing spending, but Chapek said the cuts would not sacrifice quality. Hiring will be limited to a small subset of critical positions, and some staff reductions are anticipated, as the company looks to make itself more cost-efficient, he&nbsp;wrote.</p>

<p>Chapek said business travel would be limited and trips would require advance approval, or be conducted virtually as much as possible.</p>

<p>“Our transformation is designed to ensure we thrive not just today, but well into the future,” he&nbsp;wrote. The memo was first reported by CNBC.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Chapek made an announcement on Friday via a memo addressed to all executives at the senior vice president level or above. The company is planning to freeze hiring, and layoffs are likely as part of its cost-cutting measures, stated the internal memo viewed by several publications.

Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Chapek made an announcement on Friday via a memo addressed to all executives at the senior vice president level or above. The company is planning to freeze hiring, and layoffs are likely as part of its cost-cutting measures, stated the internal memo viewed by several publications. The move is being made to get the Disney+ streaming service to profitability against the backdrop of economic uncertainty. The strict measures come days after Disney reported a $1.5 billion quarterly loss in its streaming business. Shares of the company fell more than 13% on Wednesday following its results. In the memo, Chapek said a task force has been instituted to review marketing, content and administrative spending across the entire company and recommend cuts. The team is led by finance chief Christine McCarthy and general counsel Horacio Gutierrez. “I’m fully aware this will be a difficult process for many of you and your teams,” Chapek said in the memo. “We are going to have to make tough and uncomfortable decisions.” “While certain macroeconomic factors are out of our control, meeting these goals requires all of us to continue doing our part to manage the things we can control – most notably, our costs,” Chapek added. The streaming service is known for original series including the 'Star Wars' entries 'The Mandalorian', 'Andor' and 'Obi-Wan Kenobi', the Marvel entries 'WandaVision', 'Hawkeye' and 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law', and content hubs for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and 'Star Wars' films. Wall Street analysts voiced concern about Disney’s escalating streaming costs. MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson observed in a note this week that “the company has to prove that their pivot to DTC will be worth the investment price that is currently being paid.” Corporate America is making deep cuts to its employee base to brace for an economic downturn. Meta Platforms said this week it would cut more than 11,000 jobs, or 13% of its workforce to rein in costs. Also read: Ranveer Singh gets honoured with Etoile d’Or award at Marrakech International Film Festival One of Disney’s studio peers, Warner Bros Discovery, has undergone dramatic cost-cutting efforts, including layoffs, as the recently merged company restructures its content operations. Chapek said Disney has established a task force, including Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy and General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez, to help him make “critical big-picture decisions.” The company already has begun looking at content and marketing spending, but Chapek said the cuts would not sacrifice quality. Hiring will be limited to a small subset of critical positions, and some staff reductions are anticipated, as the company looks to make itself more cost-efficient, he wrote. Chapek said business travel would be limited and trips would require advance approval, or be conducted virtually as much as possible. “Our transformation is designed to ensure we thrive not just today, but well into the future,” he wrote. The memo was first reported by CNBC. (With inputs from agencies)

Disney freezes hiring, announces layoffs after $1.5bn quarterly loss in streaming business

<p>Netizens are excited to see Disney finally getting its&nbsp;first young plus-size heroine for its short film 'Reflect'.&nbsp;The story is about a young ballet dancer named Bianca who struggles with her body image.&nbsp;The film was first released on the platform in September as a part of the Short Circuit Experimental Films series. However, fans took notice of the short film recently and they started talking about it online.</p>

<p>Months after its release, netizens are celebrating Disney's move to have a better representation of young girls in its projects. And, netizens are all praise for the studio.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn’t want to be the fat girl in class anymore," one user said on Twitter. Another wrote, "I’m glad little ones will have this. 10/10 for Reflect!"</p>

<p>In recent years, Disney has taken several steps to improve the diversity of its characters in its animated films. Previously, they added a transgender character to their show 'Baymax', which was&nbsp;a spin-off from 'Big Hero 6'. In 2020, Disney’s Pixar released its first animated feature with a Black character 'Soul'.</p>

<p>'Reflect' director Hillary Bradfield strongly believes in body positivity and she often speaks about it in interviews.&nbsp;In a conversation featured at the start of the short film, she said, “It’s a part of the craft to be looking at your posture and checking things in the mirror, so it just seemed like a really good way to put her in that environment where she has to look at herself and she doesn’t want to.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-james-camerons-%E2%80%98avatar-the-way-of-water%E2%80%99-runtime-revealed-and-it-is-massive-529307" hreflang="en">James Cameron's ‘Avatar The Way of Water’ runtime revealed, and it is massive</a></p>

<p>“When people watch the short, I hope that they can feel more positively about themselves and how they look, and feel okay about the tough parts of their journey,” Bradfield added. “Sometimes you go to the dark place to get to the good place. And that just makes the good place that much more beautiful.”</p>


Netizens are excited to see Disney finally getting its first young plus-size heroine for its short film 'Reflect'. The story is about a young ballet dancer named Bianca who struggles with her body image.

Netizens are excited to see Disney finally getting its first young plus-size heroine for its short film 'Reflect'. The story is about a young ballet dancer named Bianca who struggles with her body image. The film was first released on the platform in September as a part of the Short Circuit Experimental Films series. However, fans took notice of the short film recently and they started talking about it online. Months after its release, netizens are celebrating Disney's move to have a better representation of young girls in its projects. And, netizens are all praise for the studio. "16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn’t want to be the fat girl in class anymore," one user said on Twitter. Another wrote, "I’m glad little ones will have this. 10/10 for Reflect!" In recent years, Disney has taken several steps to improve the diversity of its characters in its animated films. Previously, they added a transgender character to their show 'Baymax', which was a spin-off from 'Big Hero 6'. In 2020, Disney’s Pixar released its first animated feature with a Black character 'Soul'. 'Reflect' director Hillary Bradfield strongly believes in body positivity and she often speaks about it in interviews. In a conversation featured at the start of the short film, she said, “It’s a part of the craft to be looking at your posture and checking things in the mirror, so it just seemed like a really good way to put her in that environment where she has to look at herself and she doesn’t want to.” Also read: James Cameron's ‘Avatar The Way of Water’ runtime revealed, and it is massive “When people watch the short, I hope that they can feel more positively about themselves and how they look, and feel okay about the tough parts of their journey,” Bradfield added. “Sometimes you go to the dark place to get to the good place. And that just makes the good place that much more beautiful.”

Disney gets its first young plus-size heroine in short film 'Reflect'

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