Iger Backtracks, Prepare For MORE Disney Sequels
It is no secret that Disney has been having some real struggles when it comes to the box office. Last year, The Little Mermaid live-action remake was a hit, but that was the highlight. Disney has had a number of noticeable failures, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Haunted Mansion (2023), Lightyear (2022), and Strange World (2022).
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When he took back the reins in November 2022, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the company had “lost focus” when it came to the movies it made (when Bob Chapek was in charge). He also said that the company was making too many sequels, and they were going to once again focus on telling unique stories.
Well, less than two years later, Iger seems to be changing his tune.
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Disney recently held its earnings call for the first quarter of the fiscal year. During that call, Iger made a statement that may have caught some off guard. He admitted that Disney should continue to make a lot of sequels, and its writers would be “leaning into” creating more sequels and expanding franchises.
“I’d say we’re leaning a little bit more into sequels and franchises. I think given the environment and given what it takes to get people out of their homes to see a film … leaning on franchises that are familiar is actually a smart thing.”
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However, Iger did say that the company wouldn’t be going all out on making sequels to every film it could. They were still going to take a critical approach to the sequels being made, focusing on hit films like Moana (2016) and Zootopia (2016). Both of those films currently have sequels in the works. However, the Moana sequel was a bit of a surprise, with Iger admitting that the sequel film was originally meant to be a Disney+ show.
Whether you like sequels or not, you really can’t argue with the math. Last summer, The Little Mermaid raked in more than $500 million at the box office. Meanwhile, original Disney movies like Elemental and Haunted Mansion made only $150 million and $182 million at the domestic box office, respectively.
Then, there’s the fact that Frozen II (2019), Incredibles 2 (2018), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Toy Story 4 (2019) are some of the highest-grossing Disney films of all time.
In addition to Moana 2 and Zootopia 2, Disney is planning on releasing Inside Out 2 this summer. Disney Animation and Pixar are also currently working on Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5. And, of course, Marvel is working on a number of sequel films to add to its Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What sequel film do you think Disney should make? Let us know in the comments!
