Disney news covering streaming, parks, box office, ESPN and linear TV, Bob Iger strategy, and Disney's content and franchise business.
Former child actress Raquel Lee filed a lawsuit alleging Disney was negligent in allowing sexual abuse by a worker during the 2001 production of The Poof Point. Lee, now 39, claims she was raped at age 14 after being pressured to drink, while executives ignored misconduct and violated child labor laws.
Disney announced it will stop offering medical insurance to US employees' spouses who have access to coverage through their own jobs, starting next year. The policy change does not affect other dependents or spouses without access to employer-sponsored coverage.
CNBC host Jim Cramer stated he wants to own Disney shares but finds it difficult to hold due to pervasive negative market sentiment. This comes despite strong performance in the company's Experiences and Streaming divisions, which reported record revenue and growth respectively.
Leslie Iwerks argues that her documentary Disney Worldbuilders offers a personal and professional exploration of the creative process behind Disney theme park attractions. She highlights the legacy of her grandfather Ub and father Don Iwerks, emphasizing how their innovations in animation and engineering shaped immersive storytelling and influenced modern Imagineers.
El País reports on Mattel's design process for new Toy Story action figures, highlighting interactive features like blinking and voice recognition developed at the El Segundo facility. The article details how designers utilized script analysis to create products aligned with the fifth film's release.
The Walt Disney Company announced a new original content agreement with Burbank-based Dhar Mann Studios, ordering an initial batch of 20 episodes. Executives cited the studio's optimistic storytelling and global audience connection as key reasons for the deal.
Bloomberg Intelligence analyzes legal challenges facing Disney and Meta, potential regulatory relief for biofuel refiners against EPA mandates, the economic impact of IRS downsizing, and crypto market developments following White House meetings with industry executives.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II urges Disney and Marvel to address the optics of cancelling 'Wonder Man' and delaying 'Blade,' projects led by Black men. He argues the show had all necessary ingredients for success, noting he was not provided with specific audience metrics for the cancellation decision, countering low viewership claims.