CEO Bob Iger Says Disney Needs to ‘Entertain’ Not ‘Advance Any Kind of Agenda’
By Movieguide® Staff
Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company’s mission isn’t to promote an agenda but rather to entertain.
“Infusing messaging is not what we’re up to,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “We need to be entertaining.”
His comments came shortly after Disney shareholder Nelson Peltz pinned the company’s failing stocks on agenda-driven content.
“Why do I have to have a Marvel that’s all women?” Peltz asked. “Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have Marvels that are both?”
The shareholder’s concerns come after a long series of box office flops for the once unbeatable entertainment giant.
Movieguide® previously reported:
After Walt Disney Animation Studios’ STRANGE WORLD and Disney Pixar’s LIGHTYEAR failed to draw expected numbers at the box office, many fans wondered how the one-time undisputed leader in animated family films could fall so far, so fast.
STRANGE WORLD earned just over $25M despite its estimated $180M budget, while the TOY STORY spinoff failed to impress with only a $50M opening weekend and a slew of negative reviews from mainstream outlets.
The one consistency between the two movies? Their focus on a progressive agenda over a creative story, uplifting and moral lessons, and compelling characters.
However, Iger says that focus on agenda is going to change.
“Our job is to entertain first and foremost, and by telling great stories, we continue to have a positive impact on the world and inspire future generations, just as we’ve done for over 100 years,” he continued.
“I’ve always believed that we have a responsibility to do good in the world, but we know our job is not to advance any kind of agenda,” he said during an April 3 shareholder meeting. “For as long as I’m in the job, I’m going to continue to be guided by a sense of decency and respect, and we’ll always trust our instincts.”
“Disney has always been and will continue to be a source of hope, joy and optimism for people of all ages. We’re committed to telling stories that reflect the world around us and using those stories to entertain people from all walks of life,” Iger said.
Hopefully, Iger will reject the immoral agendas that have cost Disney millions and steer the company back to the family-friendly values that made it so successful in the first place.
Movieguide® previously reported on Disney’s struggles:
Disney has had a terrible year, with few wins to offset its many misses, and CEO Bob Iger looks to address this and explain how things will be different in the future.
“I looked at our overall output, meaning the studio, it’s clear that the pandemic created a lot of challenges creatively for everybody, including us,” Iger said. “In addition, at the time the pandemic hit, we were leaning into a huge increase in how much we were making and I’ve always felt that quantity can be actually negative when it comes to quality. And I think that’s exactly what happened. We lost some focus.”
Since the launch of Disney+, quantity has been an issue that has plagued some of Disney’s most prized franchises. It has relied on Star Wars and Marvel content to bring in subscribers, creating an overflow that has overwhelmed all but the most die-hard fans.
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