Bob Iger Returns/Disney CEO Thread (2022)

[Nico]

Stunning. I mean, they didn’t want the shareholders to lose confidence so they reupped. Stocks are still down. Maybe they wondered what’s the point?

My YouTube for the last week has been filled with traditionally Disney fans speaking out against what was going. Jack from DSNY just released one today.

The tides have been changing as far as the company’s public perception, and this may have been the safest move to alleviate shareholder and consumer concerns about the direction of the company.

Also, Iger has been pretty outspoken in the past few months. It has felt like he was gunning for this.

Edit: I also wouldn’t be shocked about a scandal.

 

[belloq87]

We can only hope that the Board’s mandate that Iger use these two years to groom a replacement will actually take place. But we’ve been down that road before, too.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

We can only hope that the Board’s mandate that Iger use these two years to groom a replacement will actually take place. But we’ve been down that road before, too.

Honestly thinking he's going to stay until LA2028.

A lot of issues to fix. A lot of it his, but an incredible amount is Chapek, D'Amarro, and a lot of the executives involved right now. Thinking LA2028 being his new "Shanghai"; fixing and prepping the company to be back in full force from the 20CP Purchase feels logical.

 

[UNIrd]

As I told my friends when they told me the news... at least as far as Parks & Resorts are concerned, this will go to show that nothing will really change and Chapek was never really the problem. Just the easiest scapegoat.

 

[chris.g]

Holy crap baby Marvel land at DCA might actually develop into something good omg

 

[Nick]

We can only hope that the Board’s mandate that Iger use these two years to groom a replacement will actually take place. But we’ve been down that road before, too.

I don't dislike Iger (never have) nearly as much as some of you guys lol. I welcome this move. Big papa Iger is back and I have extreme faith that stability will once again be brought to the company.

 

[TheGentTrent]

Iger to Chapek:

 

[rageofthegods]

We can only hope that the Board’s mandate that Iger use these two years to groom a replacement will actually take place. But we’ve been down that road before, too.

This ends with Dana Walden as CEO doesn't it.

 

[TheGentTrent]

Now if only we can oust Zaslav from WBD, then the healing process can begin.

 

[belloq87]

As I told my friends when they told me the news... at least as far as Parks & Resorts are concerned, this will go to show that nothing will really change and Chapek was never really the problem. Just the easiest scapegoat.

I mean, Chapek has been a problem, let's not let him off the hook. His penny-pinching (some of it justified by the pandemic, but much of it just seeing what the company could get away with) and outright terrible public relation skills totally disqualify him.

I don't dislike Iger (never have) nearly as much as some of you guys lol. I welcome this move. Big papa Iger is back and I have extreme faith that stability will once again be brought to the company.

Conversely, I've never understood what we're supposed to love about Iger beyond the fact that he made the company a lot of money!

He acquired a lot of creative assets (Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox) that have been run into the ground (and were heading that way while he was still in charge), and he oversaw the most stagnant period in WDW's history.

I don't particularly care about "stability."

I want:

1. WDW to receive continuous significant investment in significant new attractions, and make the quality of WDW feel like a genuine value.
2. The live action, animation, and TV arenas to get their acts together and be more concerned with quality instead of mass quantity designed to feed the streaming machine.
3. A real successor in place by the end of 2024.

If those things start to happen in the next couple years, Iger will earn some of my goodwill.

 

[Fear2010]

I’ve noticed most fans aren’t very happy about it, and want Micheal Eisner back as CEO, but I’d rather wanna see a new face with three things than Iger again.

1. A mentality similar to both Walt and Michael.
2. Staying apolitical at all times with no to little degrees.
3. Having the best knowledge of business strategies and decisions.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

 

[Nick]

He acquired a lot of creative assets (Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox) that have been run into the ground (and were heading that way while he was still in charge)

Wait a damn minute here. Marvel was run into the ground when Iger left in 2020? The MCU was coming off of Endgame still and WandaVision had just started airing so Phase Four being a bit lesser in quality hadn't been felt yet (and not all of that is on Iger either as people like Feige used to report to Iger with issues. Chapek added an extra layer of bureaucracy to get in the way.

Star Wars was in a weird state. It had just come off of TRoS, but they had also just launched The Mandalorian which was and is a bonafide hit. Star Wars has a bit up and down which consistent quality and getting a theatrical announcement that actually happens should be a priority.

Pixar's fine too and they're one of the only segments allowed to do original IP in the company. Pixar has struggled with consistent quality since they let Lasseter go so that's the bigger thing.

Fox is fine as long as they keep their spending down aside from blockbusters such as Avatar, Planet of the Apes, Alien, and Kingsman. Everything else should be a $30-$50M budget max since Fox films are hit or miss at the box office. Searchlight consistently puts out quality so they're good and so is FX so honestly a lot of the Fox side is in good shape.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Holy crap baby Marvel land at DCA might actually develop into something good omg

Wasn’t that Igers Baby?

 

[belloq87]

Wait a damn minute here. Marvel was run into the ground when Iger left in 2020? The MCU was coming off of Endgame still and WandaVision had just started airing so Phase Four being a bit lesser in quality hadn't been felt yet (and not all of that is on Iger either as people like Feige used to report to Iger with issues. Chapek added an extra layer of bureaucracy to get in the way.

Just taking the MCU as an example, much of Phase Four was already deep in development (and some even shot!) under Iger's tenure.

My broader point is that Iger is the one responsible for Disney+, and the needs of Disney+ (constant content to combat "churn") have not been particularly great for the company's media divisions (in my view). And when you're trying to service so many brands (that you paid billions for), you get stretched thin.

 

[TheUniC6]

First off good riddance to Chapek getting the boot. No tears are being shed. Now invest in Disneyland Resort once Disneyland forward gets the green light with a new Hollywood land revamp and the Avengers E ticket and I will be a happy camper.

 

[quinnmac000]

I have to wonder if that annual pass lawsuit revealed certain information during discovery that Disney is trying to get in front of.

 

[Nick]

Just taking the MCU as an example, much of Phase Four was already deep in development (and some even shot!) under Iger's tenure.

My broader point is that Iger is the one responsible for Disney+, and the needs of Disney+ (constant content to combat "churn") have not been particularly great for the company's media divisions (in my view). And when you're trying to service so many brands (that you paid billions for), you get stretched thin.

Oh I agree the core brands are being stretched too much. That’s why I’m staunchly of the opinion that Hulu needs to combine with Disney+. It would allow the main brands to not have to produce quite as many shows since there would still be a constant flow of content (with an aim at adults for some, too).

Also, something like the Percy Jackson series is big because it’s a AAA YA series without having to use Marvel or Star Wars.

 

[quinnmac000]

the real reason....hostile takeover approaching

 

[Happytycho]

the real reason....hostile takeover approaching

Exactly my thought.

Chapek was a terrible CEO and I'm quite happy to see him go, but the timing and suddenness of the move made pretty clear that they were trying to get ahead of some other news.

There are lots of theoretically plausible reasons (business or scandal related) why the board could suddenly want Chapek gone, but an imminent takeover threat feels like the only thing that would really convince Iger he needs to come back and it can't even wait until Monday. A hostile takeover at this point would totally destroy his legacy.