By playing politics and wearing out old franchises, Disney is alienating viewers for good. That's what Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged on Wednesday, November 29, at the DealBook Summit, a forum organized by New York Times. "Creators lost sight of what their number one objective needed to be... We have to entertain first. It's not about [sending] messages," said the 72-year-old boss, one of the main architects of Disney's progressive shift from the 2000s onwards.
Certainly, Iger believes he has succeeded for a long time in entertaining while promoting his values. "We have entertained with values and having a positive impact on the world in many different ways. I've used Black Panther [released in 2018] as a great example of that just in terms of fostering acceptance," Iger explained. But the primary goal is to entertain. Since taking over a year ago as head of the company, which was losing momentum after a brief retirement in 2021, Iger says he wants to "return to our roots."
Disney has become embroiled in a cultural war with Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor and candidate for the 2024 Democratic nomination. Criticized for its "wokism," the company came under attack on social media for including a homosexual kiss in Lightyear (2022) and an openly gay character in Strange World, (2022). More reactionary audiences deplored that Little Mermaid, in its latest version, was played by black actress Halle Bailey.
The remake of Snow White, due for release in 2025, is already causing controversy, as the dwarves will be replaced by "magical creatures," while the heroine is set to become emancipated, according to actress Rachel Zegler, who will play Snow White on screen: "It's no longer 1937, [publication of Disney's first Snow White ]. She's not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s going to be dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be." Disney's attempt to blend tradition with modernity without genuinely innovating is annoying and boring everyone.
What's more embarrassing is that Disney is multiplying its box-office flops. Wish was only third at the American box-office over the Thanksgiving long weekend, joining a series of failures such as The Marvels or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth installment since 1981 starring octogenarian actor Harrison Ford. The Little Mermaid grossed $570 million (€523 million), a far cry from the billion-dollar mark set by The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast.
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