During Disney’s recent earnings call, CEO Bob Iger addressed the company’s approach to its upcoming movie slate, which is heavily weighted towards sequels, remakes, and franchise fare. Despite the dominance of titles like “Freakier Friday,” “Predator: Badlands,” “Tron: Ares,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Iger stressed that the studio does not prioritize one type of content over another. Instead, Disney’s focus remains on creating great movies that resonate with audiences, whether they are original intellectual properties (IP) or extensions of existing franchises.
A Balanced Approach to Content Creation
Iger’s comments reflect a nuanced strategy for Disney’s film division, which includes not only its flagship Disney brand but also Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios. “We continue to be focused on creating new IP,” Iger said, underscoring the long-term value of original content. However, he also acknowledged the enduring popularity of Disney’s older IP, pointing to opportunities for sequels and the conversion of animated properties to live-action, such as the upcoming “Moana” film in 2026. “I wouldn’t say that we’ve got a priority one way or the other,” Iger clarified. “Our priority is to put out great movies that ultimately resonate with consumers.”
This approach is evident in Disney’s diverse slate, which includes both franchise extensions and original projects. For instance, while “Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a reboot of a well-known Marvel property, Iger described it as “an original property in many respects” due to its introduction of the characters to a new audience. Similarly, the studio is developing original content under the 20th Century and Searchlight banners, alongside mining Marvel’s extensive library for fresh stories.
Recent Box Office Performance and Future Prospects
The earnings call also touched on the recent performance of “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which opened strongly with $125 million but experienced a steep 66% drop in its second weekend. Despite this decline, which Iger noted was better than “The Marvels” but still concerning compared to other recent Marvel releases like “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” he remained optimistic. “It successfully launched this important franchise into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Iger said, highlighting the film’s role in integrating the Fantastic Four into the broader MCU narrative.
Looking ahead, Iger expressed confidence in the box office potential of other franchise films. He touted “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” both scheduled for later this year, as strong candidates for success, following the $1 billion milestone achieved by the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” movie. Additionally, “Freakier Friday” is tracking for a solid opening in the $27 million to $30 million range, indicating continued interest in Disney’s sequel-driven content.
Streaming Integration and International Growth
Beyond the big screen, Iger also discussed Disney’s streaming strategy, announcing the upcoming unification of Hulu and Disney+ into a single app in 2026. This move aims to increase engagement by combining Disney’s family-friendly content with Hulu’s broader entertainment offerings, all while maintaining a presence for Searchlight and 20th Century titles. “By combining them, we hope to increase engagement more,” Iger said, downplaying concerns about a significant increase in content spend domestically. Instead, he emphasized international growth as a key area of investment, particularly in markets where engagement has lagged and where there is potential for subscriber and advertising revenue growth.
A Focus on Quality and Global Reach
Disney’s approach under Bob Iger’s leadership is clear: prioritize quality over quantity, whether through original IP or beloved franchises, and expand globally to maximize reach and revenue. As the studio navigates challenges like second-weekend box office drops and the evolving streaming landscape, its commitment to creating resonant content remains steadfast. With a slate that includes both familiar favorites and new stories, Disney aims to captivate audiences worldwide, ensuring that its movies and streaming platforms continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive entertainment market.
