The Marvels’ disappointing performance at the box office has Disney CEO Bob Iger concerned, and he believes one of the reasons for this is the lack of executives on the set. Speaking at the NYT Dealbook Summit, Iger emphasized his return as CEO and addressed the challenges facing Disney, particularly the decline of Marvel Studios at the box office. He reiterated his belief in prioritizing quality over quantity, emphasizing that “Quality needs attention … It doesn’t happen by accident. Quantity, in our case, diluted quality.” The impact of shooting The Marvels during the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer executives supervising the set, was also noted by Iger.
Iger stated, “Right now, my No. 1 priority is to help the studio turn around creatively.” The film opened with a disappointing $47 million, the lowest for an MCU movie. Various factors played a role in this, including overall struggles in the superhero movie genre and the multitude of Marvel/Disney content. Despite this, Iger remains committed to slowing down the content churn that has strained Disney’s workforce and has defended making sequels while emphasizing the importance of a good story.
Iger also spoke about his exit from Disney, expressing disappointment in the transition period and distancing himself from it. He revealed his intention to step back as CEO once his contract expires in 2026, emphasizing the need to address the company’s challenges and fix the problems it has faced. The article ended with a brief bio of Alex Stedman, the Senior News Editor at IGN.
