For years, Bob Iger has been treated like the man who modernized Disney. He led the company through massive growth, bought some of the biggest entertainment brands on the planet, and helped turn Disney into something that felt almost unstoppable. Even when fans didn’t love every creative decision, most people still assumed Iger always had the bigger picture figured out.
But now that Iger is officially on his way out again, Disney fans are starting to look at the timing of his exit a little differently.
Because Disney isn’t just entering a normal leadership transition.
It’s entering a moment where the entire entertainment industry is being rewritten in real time. And Disney may be less prepared than anyone wants to admit.
The reason? Artificial intelligence.
A recent report has raised concerns that Iger’s approach to generative AI could leave Disney exposed in ways the company has never faced before. And if those concerns are valid, Josh D’Amaro might be inheriting a situation that’s already spiraling before he even has the chance to stabilize it.
This isn’t the type of challenge that can be fixed with a new theme park land or another big franchise announcement.
It’s the kind of crisis that could impact Disney’s identity at its core.
According to the report, Iger leaned into Disney’s partnership with OpenAI, a deal that includes Disney investing $1 billion and allowing access to some of its most valuable intellectual property. That’s the kind of move that sounds bold on paper, but it also comes with serious risk.
Disney has always guarded its characters like they’re priceless artifacts. Mickey Mouse, Marvel heroes, and Star Warsicons aren’t just popular—they’re the foundation of the entire Disney empire.
So the idea of AI tools being able to generate Disney-style content instantly has fans asking the obvious question: what happens when Disney’s brand becomes something anyone can replicate?
That’s the scary part.
AI doesn’t just create new content. It creates endless content. It blurs the line between official storytelling and fan-made knockoffs. It makes everything feel cheaper, faster, and less special.
And Disney is a company built on the idea that its stories are premium.
That’s why this may be Josh D’Amaro’s biggest challenge yet. He’s stepping into a leadership role at a time when Disney must protect its creative reputation, while also trying to keep up with a technology that moves faster than any studio strategy ever could.
Fans are already nervous about where Disney is heading. Disney+ has struggled to maintain momentum. The box office has been inconsistent. The theme parks are constantly criticized for pricing and construction fatigue.
Now add AI into the equation, and suddenly Disney’s next CEO isn’t inheriting a smooth transition.
He’s inheriting a crisis.
And the decisions D’Amaro makes in the next year could define what Disney becomes for decades.
