In an interview with Bloomberg News’ Trish Regan Disney chair and CEO Bob Iger discusses the importance of the Star Wars franchise to Disney. He also talks about seeing the film while its in progress, one of the very few people to have that honor.… Read More »Disney CEO can’t wait for everyone to see new Star Wars movie
We know from previous announcements from Disney CEO and chair Bob Iger that 2015 was the year Disney and Star Wars fans would find out how The Mouse would be expanding The Force inside the parks. On yesterday’s Wall Street analyst calls, Iger shared just… Read More »Disney CEO Bob Iger teases big Star Wars theme park presence
In Disney’s recent annual report, Chairman/CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Star Wars: Episode VIII will be released in 2017, and Star Wars: Episode IX will hit theaters in 2019.
Disney shareholders received the report last month, in which Iger states:
“As one of the few people allowed to visit the set during filming… and one of the fewer who’s seen most of the footage… I can assure the millions of Star Wars fans who have spent the last decade hoping for a new movie this one will be worth the wait. And it’s only the beginning of a new era of exceptional Star Wars storytelling; next year we’ll release our first standalone movie based on these characters, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII in 2017, and we’ll finish this trilogy with Episode IX in 2019.”
This tightens the normal release window between chapters in a Star Wars trilogy from three years down to two.
Disney will release the J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens on December 18 of this year. There are also two spin-off/standalone movies that have also been previously announced.Read More »Disney’s Bob Iger Confirms Timetable for Star Wars VIII and IX
Disney CEO Bob Iger had an impressive compensation package for 2014. His total take rose 35% over 2013 to $46.6 million. Now that pales in comparison to some of Michael Eisner’s massive compensation packages (back in 1997 Eisner received over $575 million when you include… Read More »Disney CEO’s Huge 2014 Pay Package
Yesterday Disney’s CEO Bob Iger was interviewed by Variety’s Claudia Eller at their Dealmakers Breakfast event in Hollywood. These breakfast gatherings are wonderful, less formal settings and sometimes the interview subjects really open up in terms of what they share with that audience. I’m sure Iger didn’t spill the beans on anything he didn’t want to, but what he did mention is pretty big news.
The conversation started of on some general topics related to running a studio the size of The Walt Disney Company. Iger focused on how in a world where there’s more content than ever, it’s even more crucial to create fantastic content. Sometimes the mouse house even makes content that it knows is great, even if it doesn’t expect it to find an audience. Iger called films like “Million Dollar Arm” and “McFarland” ‘Brand Deposits’ to give the brand some value with consumers. In theory, with enough ‘brand deposits’ the company can cash out with some off-brand material every now and then too.
Iger mentioned his thoughts on the ABC Network lacking a cohesive brand due to it’s wide variety of shows and programming. He also mentioned he recently rode a prototype of a creature based Avatar ride that will be coming to Animal Kingdom. This sounds like the ‘Soarin’ like ride that will feature a Banshee like flight across Pandora.
The conversation then turned toward Star Wars, which is one of a few big properties coming out for Disney next year. Actually, Iger let loose this gem first “We’d love to make another Indiana Jones movie, but we’re pacing ourselves right now,” indicating that Star Wars would be a priority.
Read More »Theme park Star Wars expansion to be based on new films, says Disney CEO
Last week, 140 VoluntEARS helped transform an empty lot in Santa Clarita, California, into a kid-designed playspace in less than eight hours. As part of Disney’s expanding presence in Santa Clarita California, VoluntEARS from the Golden Oak Ranch, Heroes Work Here veterans, and Disney CEO… Read More »Disney VoluntEARS Build New Playspace for Veterans’ Families
Tom Staggs between Imagineer Joe Rohde and Director James Cameron
Speculation about who will replace Bob Iger might just have to wait. The Disney CEO and Chair has extended his contract through June 30, 2018. It had been thought that either Jay Rasulo (current CFO and former Disney Parks Chair) or Tom Staggs (current Disney Parks Chairand former CFO) were going to step into the CEO role in 2016 while Iger moved soley to the board position. Now that’s up in the air.
The current thought pattern is that Disney will appoint a COO moving either Staggs or Rasulo (or a dark horse candidate like Anne Sweeney (currently co-chair of Disney-ABC TV Group)) into the newly created desk. The COO would then get first hand experience running a giant corporation like The Walt Disney Company has become. If they do this, it tells me they definitely want to keep the promotion in house.
“I’ve had the privilege of being the CEO of this great company for nine years and am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue through June 2018,” Iger said. “I’m very excited about what lies ahead, including the release of our Star Wars films and the launch of Shanghai Disneyland, and I’m honored to continue working with our talented management team and the 175,000 dedicated people who make this company what it is today.”Read More »Disney CEO and Chair Bob Iger Extends Contract through June 2018
It’s been no secret, with hints coming even from the upper echelons of Burbank, that Disney is looking to capitalize on their acquisition of the Star Wars franchise by expanding its presence in the theme parks. Right now that is essentially limited to a motion… Read More »Bob Iger confirms large Star Wars presence coming to Disney Parks.