Earlier this week, The Walt Disney Company revealed its Q3 earnings, with CEO Bob Iger offering fresh insight into where the studio is heading, and what audiences can expect from its evolving film strategy.
Since reclaiming the CEO role in late 2022 after Bob Chapek’s departure, Iger has leaned into course correction. His mission has been consistent: deliver content that entertains. While that goal has led to some drastic decisions—like the extensive removal of Disney+ content in 2023—his leadership has undeniably altered Disney’s creative priorities, particularly with its Originals and the Marvel brand.
However, Iger’s second tenure hasn’t shielded Disney from setbacks. Several projects launched under his leadership failed to take off—among them Snow White (2025) and Elio (2025), both underperforming despite the company’s high expectations. Though development on these titles began before his return, they’ve become tied to his name.
Even high-profile franchises haven’t been immune. Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World (2025) underwhelmed at the box office, and while Thunderbolts* (2025) garnered favorable reviews and solid audience chatter, it too failed to drive crowds to theaters in a meaningful way.
Meanwhile, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, headlined by Pedro Pascal, made a splash in its opening weekend but struggled to maintain momentum. Yet Iger is standing firm on the franchise’s value. He recently called Marvel’s First Family an “important” piece of the MCU’s future.
During the same Q3 earnings call, Iger addressed the studio’s balance between new creations and legacy titles.
“We continue to be focused on creating new IP,” Iger said (via Variety). “Obviously, that’s of great value to us long term. But we also know that the popularity of our older IP remains significant, and the opportunities to either produce sequels or convert what was previously animation to live action, like we’re doing with Moana in 2026, it’s just a great opportunity for the company and supports our franchise.”
He added, “So I wouldn’t say that we’ve got a priority one way or the other. Our priority is to put out great movies that ultimately resonate with consumers.”
Looking to close out the year on a high note, Disney is turning to two major sequels for what it hopes will be a strong finish. Following the staggering success of Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 last year, the studio is now betting on Zootopia 2 (2025) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) to deliver.
Pixar’s Inside Out 2, directed by Kelsey Mann, returned to the emotional landscape of Riley’s mind—this time focusing on the turbulence of adolescence. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), and Anger (Lewis Black) were joined by new characters like Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke). With sharp writing and a fresh score by Andrea Datzman, it resonated with audiences, topping $1.5 billion at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing animated film to date.
Moana 2, directed by Dave Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, reunited Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui. The film expanded on Moana’s journey as a leader, exploring her cultural roots and destiny with a brand-new soundtrack. Audiences responded enthusiastically, propelling the sequel past $1.1 billion globally.
“[Iger] also touted the Zootopia and Avatar sequels arriving later this year as strong candidates for box office success while celebrating the $1 billion success of the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie,” Variety reported.
Set for release on November 28, 2025, Zootopia 2 follows the wildly successful original, which earned over $1.02 billion and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The first film, directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore (with Jared Bush co-directing), followed bunny cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and con-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they unraveled a massive city-wide mystery.
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives December 19, 2025. The third installment of the sci-fi saga returns viewers to the world of Pandora. The first Avatar broke records in 2009, grossing nearly $2.92 billion and pioneering 3D filmmaking. Its 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, earned over $2.32 billion and introduced new characters and underwater realms.
Cameron has directed, written, and produced each chapter alongside producer Jon Landau. The franchise has remained a juggernaut under 20th Century Studios, with Fire and Ash expected to continue that trajectory.
Are Zootopia 2 and Avatar 3 poised to carry Disney through a make-or-break holiday season? Let us know in the comments—these sequels may just be the company’s biggest plays of the year.
