In a candid admission, Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged that Disney’s push to fill its streaming service Disney+ with content had a negative impact on the output of the studio, particularly from Marvel Studios and Pixar. Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, Iger recognized that the studio’s eagerness to increase content output had led to disappointing results both creatively and commercially.
“Marvel’s a great example of that,” Iger said (via The Wrap). “They had not been in the TV business at any significant level. Not only did they increase their movie output, but they ended up making a number of television series, and frankly, it diluted focus and attention. That is, I think, more of the cause than anything.”
Pixar, too, faced challenges as the expectation grew among audiences that its films would eventually be available for streaming on Disney+. This, Iger said, contributed to the weak box office opening of Elemental last month. Although Elemental received positive reviews and has earned over $250 million worldwide, it had one of the lowest box office openings in Pixar’s history. Additionally, Iger said, “I think you’d have to agree that there was some creative misses, as well.”
Looking ahead, Iger pledged a course correction for Disney. He emphasized the need for a pullback in content production as part of a cost containment initiative. The goal is to spend less on content creation and produce fewer projects overall. By doing so, Disney aims to regain focus and improve the quality of its offerings.
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