2023-12-01 00:15:16
Bob Iger, the boss of Disney, in New York, November 29, 2023. MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / AFP
By playing politics and wearing old franchises to the limit, Disney ends up alienating the viewer for the long term. This was conceded by its CEO, Bob Iger, on Wednesday, November 29, in New York, as part of the DealBook Summit event, a forum organized by the New York Times. “The creators lost sight of what their number one goal should be. We must entertain first. It’s not regarding[envoyer] messages “declared the 72-year-old boss, who was nevertheless one of the great architects of Disney’s progressive shift from the 2000s.
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Certainly, Mr. Iger believes that he has long succeeded in entertaining while promoting his values. “We have made a positive impact on the world in many different ways. Black Panther [sorti en 2018] is an excellent example of this”, explained Bob Iger. But the primary goal is to entertain. Since he took over the head of the company a year ago, losing momentum following a false retirement in 2021, Mr. Iger says he wants “return to our roots”.
Disney has become entangled in a culture war with Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, candidate for the Republican nomination for 2024. Criticized for its “wokism”, the company has been the subject of attacks on social networks for having included a homosexual kiss in Lightyear (Buzz Lightning2022) and an openly gay character in Strange World (Avalonia, the strange journey, 2022). The most reactionary public deplored that the Little Mermaidin its latest version, was played by black actress Halle Bailey.
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The remake of Snow Whitewhich will be released in 2025, is already causing controversy, because the dwarves will be replaced by “magical creatures”, while the heroine should emancipate herself, according to actress Rachel Zegler, who will play Snow White in the screen : “It’s no longer 1937 [publication du premier Blanche-Neige de Disney]. She will not be saved by the prince. And she won’t dream of true love. She dreams of becoming the leader she knows she can be. » In wanting to reconcile tradition and modernity, incapable of truly innovating, Disney annoys everyone and above all ends up boring.
Bides au box-office
The most annoying thing is that Disney is multiplying its failures at the box office. Wish (Asha and the lucky star) only placed third place at the American box office for the Thanksgiving long weekend and is part of a series of failures, such as The Marvels or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, fifth avatar since 1981 with octogenarian actor Harrison Ford. There Little Mermaid garnered 570 million dollars (523 million euros) in revenue but remains very far from the billion exceeded by The Lion King or The beauty and the Beast.
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