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What Disney’s Film Executive Shuffle Really Means for Live Action Reboots, Corporate Culture and Iger Succession


As Sean Bailey leaves the Disney lot and David Greenbaum steps up, Hollywood insiders weigh the state of Walt Disney Studios.

As Disney CEO Bob Iger continues to aggressively cut costs amid a nasty proxy battle with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz – and the company’s movies suffer from an uncharacteristic box office slump and creative torpor – many saw a move like Bailey’s as inevitable. These changing tastes from moviegoers raises questions about films from Bailey’s former division, like this December’s “The Lion King” follow-up “Mufasa” (Dec. 20), and upcoming live-action adaptations of “Snow White” starring Rachel Zegler, “Moana” and “Lilo & Stitch.” He’s been credited with helping the indie label work more closely with its corporate cousin, Hulu, earmarking films like “Suncoast,” “Flamin’ Hot” and “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” for streaming debuts – an acknowledgement of the difficult landscape for theatrical movies aimed at adults.

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