Disney CEO Pushes Back Against Idea Of Superhero Fatigue, Says Movies Just Weren't Good Enough

Dead2009

Horror Movie Guru
Original Poster

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger has pushed back against the idea of "superhero fatigue" being to blame for some of the company's newest Marvel movies coming up short at the box office. Instead, Iger acknowledged that the company's movies simply weren't good enough to get people to spend money to go watch them in a theater.

"A lot of people think it's audience fatigue; it's not audience fatigue. They want great films. And if you build it great, they will come and there are countless examples of that," he said at a Morgan Stanley speaking event this week (via THR). "Some are ours and some are others. Oppenheimer is a perfect example of that. Just a fantastic film."

Iger went on to say that he believes Disney's ability to "focus" and make fewer, better movies and TV shows will make all the difference. "We reduced the output of Marvel, both number of films they make, and the number of TV shows, and that really becomes critical, but I feel good about the team," he said.

In 2024, Disney has just one Marvel movie coming--Deadpool & Wolverine. This is a marked change from previous years where Disney released multiple MCU films per year.

In an effort to improve quality, Iger said Disney is looking at "every part" of the filmmaking process, including the cast, director, and script. "I personally watch films three to five times with the team and just create a culture of excellence and respect which is really important with the creative community," he said.

With regard to quality, Iger said Disney has already quietly canceled some "projects" that "we just didn't feel were strong enough." He did not name these outright, however.

"You have to kill things you no longer believe in, and that's not easy in this business, because either you've gotten started, you have some sunk costs, or it's a relationship with either your employees or with the creative community," Iger said. "It's not an easy thing, but you got to make those tough calls."

Some of Marvel's movies in 2023 that did not exactly light up the box office included Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($476 million) and The Marvels ($206 million). Those movies made hundreds of millions of dollars, but didn't reach the heights of many other MCU films. The biggest Marvel movie in 2023 was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which made $845 million.

Disney is also slowing the pace on Star Wars theatrical releases, as the next film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, isn't coming until 2026.
 

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
Not encouraged that he’s putting all his chips on a resurrected Marvel.

The problem with Bob is he can say audiences want great films like Oppie, Barbie, or Dune but each of those titles is the result of an accomplished, meticulous director who was given the liberty to the make the movie as they saw fit. That doesn’t typically happen at Disney because of corporate culture, so count me skeptical that Iger can get this right even if he’s saying the right things.

Maybe Mufasa will be the exception to the rule? Or maybe it’s just another overqualified director taking a paycheck job at Disney and saving his best work for another company.
 

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
Not encouraged that he’s putting all his chips on a resurrected Marvel.

That was just the nature of this specific question. He was goes on to specifically highlight a lot of general entertainment they have and Studio leadership overhaul.

He also goes on to mention Planet of the Apes and not Mufasa. I don't know if that was coded, but that is quite interesting to me.

On a related note, Iger also touted Disney’s 2024 film slate, calling the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes “one of the better films in the franchise,” the upcoming Inside Out and Moana sequels, and also the big Marvel release of the year, Deadpool & Wolverine, which Iger predicted “will be one of the more successful Marvel movies we’ve had in a long time.”


Edit: Scratch that, another article does say he mentioned Mufasa. I don't have the transcript yet.
 
Last edited:

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
Well, describing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes as “one of the better films in the franchise” won’t exactly heat up those presales. That thing has flop written all over it.
 

Miss Rori

Well-Known Member
The problem with Bob is he can say audiences want great films like Oppie, Barbie, or Dune but each of those titles is the result of an accomplished, meticulous director who was given the liberty to the make the movie as they saw fit. That doesn’t typically happen at Disney because of corporate culture, so count me skeptical that Iger can get this right even if he’s saying the right things.
I would have thought, in hindsight, that Disney would have tried to woo Paul King into their live-action ranks given the success of the Paddington movies, since he clearly has an affinity for bright Disney-style fantasy, but instead he did Wonka for WB and had a massive international hit. Who would want to work for Disney when it keeps throwing creatives under the bus right now?
 

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
I would have thought, in hindsight, that Disney would have tried to woo Paul King into their live-action ranks given the success of the Paddington movies, since he clearly has an affinity for bright Disney-style fantasy, but instead he did Wonka for WB and had a massive international hit. Who would want to work for Disney when it keeps throwing creatives under the bus right now?
Great point. And Lord and Miller. (Maybe someone will take this opportunity to post how horrible the working conditions were on Spider-verse.) Or Edgar Wright before them.

And those were franchise movies. Can you imagine a director wanting to do an original story (or starting a new franchise a la Barbie) with Disney? Searchlight gets the artsy Letterboxd stuff but for well-made creative-visioned mainstream popcorn fare? Look elsewhere.
 

jpinkc

Well-Known Member
I think there is superhero fatigue of what the audience feels is mediocre storytelling.

If they get back to better storytelling I think the audience will be there, even within the superhero genre.
If they just told some of the greatest stories and followed the source material etc. One thing about Marvel Heroes vs lots of others of the day, they were all flawed characters in one way or another. A lot of people saw something of themselves in them and it helped them and helped sell comics.
 

Disney Irish

Premium Member
If they just told some of the greatest stories and followed the source material etc. One thing about Marvel Heroes vs lots of others of the day, they were all flawed characters in one way or another. A lot of people saw something of themselves in them and it helped them and helped sell comics.
I think you can have great story telling without having to follow the source material beat for beat. As the saying goes variety is the spice of life. You can change up the stories and still be faithful to the source material.
 

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
The problem with Bob is he can say audiences want great films like Oppie, Barbie, or Dune but each of those titles is the result of an accomplished, meticulous director who was given the liberty to the make the movie as they saw fit. That doesn’t typically happen at Disney because of corporate culture, so count me skeptical that Iger can get this right even if he’s saying the right things.

Oppie is also the kind of move Disney would never make because it goes against his entire business philosophy.

It's the kind of movie Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures was for.

But it's not an IP/franchise topic with synergistic potential for cross brand promotion.
 

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
Oppie is also the kind of move Disney would never make because it goes against his entire business philosophy.

It's the kind of movie Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures was for.

But it's not an IP/franchise topic with synergistic potential for cross brand promotion.
The other thing is it’s not as simple as applying the “great film” filter in a business meeting. Iger makes it sound like they’ll get back to making “great films” (brilliant idea). These things take time and a great deal of luck to get right. Experience helps but it’s impossible to predict exactly. It’s another data point that suggests he’s out of ideas.
 

MrPromey

Well-Known Member
How do you slow from 'nothing'?

"Solo and Rise of Skywalker will be going into the vault starting June 3rd. We are releasing new Bluray editions today - you better hurry and buy them while you still can!"

...

"Also scheduled for the vault are Strange World and Wish so pick those up too while you're at it!"

Problem solved.

;)
 

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
The problem with Bob is he can say audiences want great films like Oppie, Barbie, or Dune but each of those titles is the result of an accomplished, meticulous director who was given the liberty to the make the movie as they saw fit. That doesn’t typically happen at Disney because of corporate culture, so count me skeptical that Iger can get this right even if he’s saying the right things.
Agreed. And didn't Bob say something like they didn't have enough corporate oversight with the movies. Because, yea, having the clown show of creatively bankrupt nitwits constantly micromanaging is sure to help. The company does not have the talent or culture right now to turn anything around. Could it happen? Sure, but like you said, count me skeptical.
 

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
Oppie is also the kind of move Disney would never make because it goes against his entire business philosophy.

It's the kind of movie Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures was for.

But it's not an IP/franchise topic with synergistic potential for cross brand promotion.
Walden wouldn’t greenlight Oppenheimer.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom