Josh D'Amaro is next Disney CEO

Josh D'Amaro has been appointed as Bob Iger's successor as Disney CEO.

Iger returned as CEO after Bob Chapek was fired in 2022. As former CEO, Iger oversaw the successful acquisition of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and more. This culminated in the launch of Disney+ in 2019.

ABC News, owned by Disney, sat down with D'Amaro and Iger.



Read the official synopsis:

"The Walt Disney Company has named Josh D’Amaro as its new CEO, succeeding Bob Iger after nearly two decades of leadership. David Muir sits down with D’Amaro and Iger to discuss Disney’s future – including streaming, embracing AI, and the company’s legacy."

In a unanimous vote on Monday, the board elected Disney Experiences Chairman D’Amaro to serve as Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, succeeding Iger.

“Josh D’Amaro possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation, a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities, and a deep passion for the Disney brand and its people – all of which make him the right person to take the helm as Disney’s next CEO,” said James Gorman, Chairman of The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors. “Throughout this search process, Josh has demonstrated a strong vision for the company’s future and a deep understanding of the creative spirit that makes Disney unique in an ever-changing marketplace. He has an outstanding record of business achievement, collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment to bring their stories to life in our parks, showcasing the power of combining Disney storytelling with cutting-edge technology. The Board believes he is exceptionally well prepared to guide this global company forward to serve our consumers around the world and create long-term value for shareholders.”

Disney also named Dana Walden, currently co-chair of its entertainment business, to a new role as chief creative officer, reporting to D'Amaro.

“Dana Walden is an excellent leader who commands tremendous respect from the creative community,” Iger said. “Given that creativity is at the heart of everything Disney does, she is a wonderful choice to serve in this new leadership role. In the years since Dana joined Disney, she has accumulated great knowledge about the many facets of our businesses and brands, and is very well prepared to be President and Chief Creative Officer.”

Last year, Disney shocked the world when it announced a partnership with OpenAI to allow user-generated artificial intelligence (AI) content on Disney+. This pivot will only hasten despite critics being wary of so-called 'AI slop' and its implications for the media industry.

What do you think about Josh D'Amaro's appointment as Disney CEO? Let me know in the comments below.

Disney+ to add user-generated AI content

Disney+ will be adding user-generated artificial intelligence (AI) content as part of a major overhaul to the streaming service! Isn't there already an app for that?

“The other thing that we’re really excited about, that AI is going to give us the ability to do, is to provide users of Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create user-generated content and to consume user-generated content — mostly short-form — from others,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said at the company's recent investment call.

AI is a disruptor with untold consequences for all industries.

Disney’s latest gambit is an astonishing development, considering the company’s extensive efforts to protect its own intellectual property (IP) from misuse by AI. The House of Mouse has already utilised AI for Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion on Disney+. Prophetic, as the company was forced to concede its use of AI after being called out by eagle-eyed viewers.

This has been met with mostly derision, leading to a backlash from Disney+ subscribers (I won't be renewing an annual subscription due to the cost of living crisis) and creatives, too.

The creator of The Owl House, Dana Terrace, urged fans to unsubscribe. "If you pay us we’ll let you make your own content slop! That we will own!" Terrace wrote as she shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).

Iger implied a deepening relationship with Epic Games by adding game-like features to Disney+.

“The opportunity here, we think, is enormous in terms of increasing our engagement with Disney fans across the world,” Iger added.

What are your thoughts on user-generated AI content shared on Disney+? Is it good or bad? What safeguards should be in place? Let me know in the comments below.

Bob Iger on The Rest Is History

Deadline exclusively announced Bob Iger, Disney CEO, is a guest on The Rest Is History podcast.

The two-part special, presented by historian and translator Tom Holland and historian and author Dominic Sandbrook, focuses on Walt Disney's legacy.

Iger, who returned after Bob Chapek was fired as CEO during the pandemic, will also offer up reflections on his own time at Disney ahead of his planned exit in 2026. He oversaw the successful acquisition of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, as well as the launch of Disney+.

The outgoing Disney CEO is currently in dispute with YouTube TV and is facing fallout from the cancellation of the Doctor Who deal on Disney+.

Watch or listen to The Rest Is History wherever you get your podcasts.

Bob Iger back at Disney

Bob Iger has dramatically returned to Disney, in echoes of Steve Jobs at Apple, as Bob Chapek is publically ousted after taking the helm in early 2020 as a global pandemic engulfed the world.

Chapek's ill-fated era was defined by the pandemic and seemingly unforced errors.

“We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board. “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.”

As former CEO, Iger oversaw the successful acquisition of Pixar, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm and more. This culminated in the launch of Disney+.

“I am extremely optimistic for the future of this great company and thrilled to be asked by the Board to return as its CEO,” Bob Iger said. “Disney and its incomparable brands and franchises hold a special place in the hearts of so many people around the globe—most especially in the hearts of our employees, whose dedication to this company and its mission is an inspiration. I am deeply honored to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivaled, bold storytelling.”

A change in leadership shouldn't affect Doctor Who on Disney+. However, I will update you.

Are you glad to see Bob Iger back at Disney? Let me know in the comments below.

Bob Iger steps down following Disney+ success

Without any fanfare, Bob Iger abruptly stood down as Disney CEO on Tuesday, handing the reins to Bob Chapek, effective immediately.

Iger will remain at The Walt Disney Company through the end of 2021, but as chairman, and he told CNBC that in his new role he will focus on the creative side of the company.

“As we looked at the businesses, we felt we have a great set of assets, we have a great strategy,” Iger said. “What’s next? And what was next in terms of my own priorities is making sure that the creative pipeline of the company was really rich, that all of our creative engines were working extremely well, and I wanted to spend more and more of my time on that. The only way I was able to do that was to give up the day-to-day running of the company, to pass the torch on to Bob [Chapek].”

Iger has overseen a successful acquisition strategy since 2005. Beginning with the purchase of Pixar from the late Steve Jobs to Lucasfilm in 2012 from George Lucas and most recently 20th Century Fox from Rupert Murdoch. The latter has given Disney a majority stake in Hulu.

This has bolstered Disney's content portfolio and culminated in the launch of Disney+ last November. The nascent streaming service continues to expand into new markets and threatens established streamers such as Netflix (with whom Disney had previously partnered).

During Iger's 15-year tenure as Disney CEO, Marvel Studios has emerged as a dominant box office force and Star Wars has enjoyed a renaissance despite the fandom menace and perhaps questionable creative choices such as overexposing the brand, which Iger has conceded to.

Like Jobs at Apple, Iger will be a tough act to follow and Disney's stock dipped.

The Mandalorian returns in October on Disney+

The second season of the first Star Wars live-action spin-off, The Mandalorian, begins this October on Disney+. Disney CEO Bob Iger made the announcement during The Walt Disney Company’s quarterly earnings call.

Iger went on to confirm the second season of The Mandalorian has been in production for a while, and the House of Mouse is considering further Star Wars spin-offs to bolster its Lucasfilm offerings alongside a slate of Marvel Studios productions including Loki, WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Baby Yoda has captured the zeitgeist and Iger promises further merchandise announcements from official licensees later this year. Mattel's The Child is the most popular Star Wars-related pre-order on Amazon (affiliate link).

Disney+ picked up 29 million subscribers in the three months since it launched in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia. This is predicted to increase to over 60 million by 2024 as the service expands into more markets including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland. I'd argue that's a conservative estimate and it'll surpass that figure with ease.

Disney CEO says less is more with Star Wars

Disney CEO Bob Iger, in an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Four, admitted: “I have said publicly that I think we made and released too many Star Wars films over a short period of time.

“I have not said that they were disappointing in any way.

“I’ve not said that I'm disappointed in their performance.”

Looking to the future of the franchise, Iger added: “I just think that there’s something so special about a Star Wars film, and less is more.”

The Skywalker saga ends this December with JJ Abrams' (The Force Awakens) The Rise of Skywalker. The next trilogy is slated for 2022, 2024 and 2026. Game of Thrones' showrunners have left the project. However, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is producing the next Star Wars movie with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

So, will a director or directors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) take the helm of the new trilogy? The Russo brothers (Avengers: Endgame) are firm favourites with Rian Johnson (The Last Jedi) purportedly still working on his own trilogy.

Whilst Star Wars is taking a break from the big screen, Jon Favreau's (The Lion King) live-action series, The Mandalorian, is an exclusive launch title on Disney+ from 12th November. And Marvel is rebooting the long-running comic book series in 2020.

Apple and Disney may have merged under Steve Jobs

Disney CEO Bob Iger believes Apple and Disney may have merged had Steve Jobs lived.

Since becoming CEO, Iger has been on an acquisition trail. From Marvel to Lucasfilm. Disney bought Pixar, originally the Graphics Group at Lucasfilm, from Jobs in 2006 and there has always been speculation surrounding the House of Mouse and the Cupertino-based company.

"With every success the company has had since Steve's death, there's always a moment in the midst of my excitement when I think, I wish Steve could be here for this. It's impossible not to have the conversation with him in my head that I wish I could be having in real life," Iger writes in his upcoming memoir. "More than that, I believe that if Steve were still alive, we would have combined our companies, or at least discussed the possibility very seriously."

Iger recently stepped down from Apple's board of directors prior to the launch of competing streaming services: Disney+ and Apple TV+. Disney+ is currently available as a free 2-month trial in the Netherlands.

The Ride of A Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company is available for pre-order (affiliate link) from Amazon.

George Lucas attends Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening

Star Wars creator George Lucas joined Disney CEO Bob Iger and original trilogy cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo) and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) for the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

“Isn’t this fantastic?” Iger said, emerging from a full-scale replica of the Millennium Falcon, Deadline reported. “I have been in this job for 14 years. There are some good days, but this is right up there with the best of them.”

Commenting on the new Star Wars attraction, Lucas said, “Now the technology is here, this thing is amazing. It’s something you couldn’t even dream about 20 years ago. It was a great experience. for me, and it will change your life.”

Hamill added, “Look at where we are today. We get our own land! You know, Star Wars to me has always been the gift that keeps on giving, and that reason is you. Parents tell you not to speak to strangers, but people treat me like family, tell me personal stories.”

Ford started up the Millennium Falcon and poignantly dedicated the moment to Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) who passed away earlier this month, "Peter, this one's for you."

With the loss of Carrie Fisher (General Leia) and Peter Mayhem, it was a misty-eyed moment to celebrate the positive impact Star Wars has had on generations of fans.



Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens to the public at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, today.

Game of Thrones’ showrunners to helm new Star Wars

Speaking at the MoffettNathanson Media & Communications Summit in New York, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced Game of Thrones’ showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff will helm the first instalment in the next Star Wars trilogy following JJ Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker this December.

Fan reaction is mixed given the controversial creative choices made for Game of Thrones’ final season on HBO. I liken it to an essay on hubris much like Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi that deconstructed and subverted established Star Wars tropes.

What do you think about a new trilogy helmed by the Game of Thrones showrunners? Should Disney replace them in the wake of an internet backlash or let the dust settle? Let me know in the comments below.

The first instalment in the new Star Wars trilogy will be in cinemas December 2022.

Disney merges with Fox ahead of Disney+

The Walt Disney Company has completed the acquisition of Twentieth Century Fox's film and television assets ahead of the launch of Disney+ later this year.

From Buffy to The Simpsons. The House of Mouse has further bolstered its existing portfolio (including Marvel and Lucasfilm) and brought Deadpool, Fantastic Four and the X-Men along for the ride.

“This is an extraordinary and historic moment for us—one that will create significant long-term value for our company and our shareholders,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger.

“Combining Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s wealth of creative content and proven talent creates the preeminent global entertainment company, well positioned to lead in an incredibly dynamic and transformative era.”

What will this mean for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? Let me know in the comments below.

Captain Marvel skips Netflix for Disney+

Captain Marvel is in cinemas next month and will stream exclusively on Disney+, skipping Netflix entirely, later this year in the US.

It's worth remembering Disney has pre-existing first-run distribution deals outside the US. So, for example, Captain Marvel will be on Sky Cinema Disney in the UK.

However, this points to a future where Disney could premiere all its franchises, including those from Pixar and Lucasfilm, on Disney+, as the Mouse House seeks to catch-up with Netflix, Hulu and more.

“We have a number of creative engines across our company, many of which are dedicating their time and talents to develop content for the Disney+ platform,” Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors on Tuesday. “Many are the same innovators driving the prolific success of Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel. We look forward to leveraging National Geographic for even more content on Disney+.”

Disney+ will not affect theatrical distribution for now.

“We’re not looking to adjust the theatrical window here,” Iger said.

Disney+ launches later this year with the first Star Wars live-action series The Mandalorian.

Star Wars movies won't premiere on Disney+

Whilst Disney+ will exclusively stream Star Wars live-action series, the upcoming streaming service, from the Mouse House, will not premiere new Star Wars movies.

Disney CEO Bob Iger explained to Barron's.

“We wouldn’t make a Star Wars movie for this platform. When everybody goes out on the weekend and you have a movie that opens up to $200 million, there’s a buzz that creates that enhances value. We like that,” said Iger. “And eventually, the movies we’re making are going to [end up on] the service.”

Given the astronomical budget of a Star Wars movie, it is uneconomical to premiere on the small screen.

“Almost every movie the studio makes is a $100 million-plus movie, and we’re not looking to make movies at that level for the service,” Iger said. “We’re looking to invest significantly in television series on a per-episode business, and we’re looking to make movies that are higher-budget, but nothing like that.”

Disney+ launches later this year with Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian.

Cassian Andor live-action Star Wars series for Disney+

Disney+, the Mouse House’s streaming service launching in 2019, adds another live-action Star Wars series. Announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger, the series will focus on Rogue One spy Cassian Andor with Diego Luna reprising the role so beloved by fans.

“Going back to the Star Wars universe is very special for me,” said Luna. “I have so many memories of the great work we did together and the relationships I made throughout the journey. We have a fantastic adventure ahead of us, and this new exciting format will give us the chance to explore this character more deeply.”

Like director Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian, the Cassian Andor series will be set between events in the Star Wars movies and could see familiar faces return including Saw Gerrera and Ahsoka Tano.



Disney+ will be a direct-to-consumer treasure trove of new and archival delights, the Walt Disney company has a rich storied history spanning decades, when it launches backed by exclusive Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars content.

Excited for the Cassian Andor series? Let me know in the comments below.

Disney's a step closer to buying Fox

Fellow Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans, we're a step closer to seeing the Fox fanfare at the beginning of JJ Abrams' Episode IX and the X-Men (including Deadpool) fighting alongside the Avengers.

The Justice Department has approved Disney's purchase of Fox assets so long as it doesn't encompass sports. The Mouse House is happy to oblige and Fox is seemingly in favour of the increased deal estimated to be worth $71.3 billion dollars.

Comcast had previously put in a counter offer and may do so again. However, it's difficult to envisage a scenario where Disney CEO Bob Iger will fail to secure shareholder approval. Disney needs content ahead of launching DisneyLife, globally, spearheaded by an exclusive Star Wars live-action series produced by Jon Favreau next year.

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures TV series

Star Wars Rebels will be joined by LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures this summer on Disney XD. Unlike Star Wars Rebels. The new animated series is set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

"Told in the whimsically-charged style that audiences have come to expect from LEGO Star Wars entertainment, the series stars the Freemakers, a family of scavengers who build and sell starships from the scoured debris of space battles strewn throughout the galaxy."

“We are very excited to launch for the first time a TV series with Disney XD,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing & entertainment at the LEGO Group. “The creative team behind The Freemaker Adventures is extremely talented, and the series is a great testament to our longstanding and successful partnership with Lucasfilm and Disney. The show masterfully combines the rich heritage of storytelling, great characters, action, and adventure in a galaxy far, far away with the creativity, imagination, and humor that only LEGO Star Wars can deliver. We are sure fans young and old are going to love the show.”

“With The Freemaker Adventures we are thrilled to bring all-new stories to life that could only be realized in the LEGO Star Wars universe,” said Carrie Beck, vice president, animation development at Lucasfilm. “We are embarking on an unprecedented collaboration that will allow us to extend the narrative experience of the Star Wars saga with the same playful spirit that’s always made LEGO Star Wars so much fun to watch. We are so thankful to have such great partners in the LEGO Group, Disney XD, and series developers Bill Motz and Bob Roth.”

Whilst another animated series is a fun addition, I'd like to see a live-action spin-off too. Perhaps in the vein of Marvel's Daredevil and Jessica Jones on Netflix.

Aside from The Freemaker Adventures announcement. Filming of Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is all but complete according to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Star Wars: Episode VIII began principal photography in London this week. Rian Johnson's sequel to The Force Awakens will be released in December 2017.

Star Wars and Marvel movies to infinity... and beyond!

Disney CEO Bob Iger told the BBC the Star Wars saga is set to run and run. Most likely outliving fans who watched the original trilogy first time round.

“There are five Star Wars films – four more with Episode VII: The Force Awakens – that are in varying stages of development and production,” Iger told Newsbeat. “There will be more after that. I don’t know how many; I don’t know how often.”

This also applies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which shows no signs of stopping soon.

“Marvel, you’re dealing with thousands and thousands of characters [from the comic books] – that will go on forever,” Iger said, clearly suggesting there's no fatigue from fans.

“No, I don’t think they’re getting weary,” Iger added. “But I think we keep raising the bar in terms of telling stories that bring them back, that excite them, that make it feel new, and that is what we do for a living.”

The next installment in the Star Wars saga is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and for true believers there's Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange in 2016. X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool are not part of the MCU.

Which of these Star Wars and Marvel movies are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below.

Disney CEO on The Force Awakens and more Star Wars

Bob Iger, Disney CEO, issued this statement about the future of the Star Wars franchise in an annual shareholder report.

"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."

Disney's recent track record of meshing creativity and commerce has been impressive. One only has to look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and adventures in a galaxy far, far away look as exciting as ever...