Disney May Delay TWO Movies Due to IATSE Strike

The Walt Disney Company has a mess on its hands, even if it's hard to see at the moment. I'd like to remind my dear friends here on the Patreon that I have consistently said that Nelson Peltz was unlikely to win the proxy battle this year. I've also said that if he stays in the fight for another year, his chances go up dramatically (and for more board seats). So when George Lucas' name was placed on the statement for yesterday, it didn't rock me to my core the way it seems to be impacting some. 

That's not to dismiss their pain... it's just not all that surprising to me. I think for them it's like a grandfather betraying you. For me, I see it as Lucas getting something in return, and frankly, I think we care more about these stories and cultural impacts than those who created them. 

But back to Disney's troubles. Whatever you might think about yesterday, articles out of Deadline are taking on TWDC directly by saying they're goosing Wall Street with overly-inflated quarterly reports that don't reflect what's happening at ground level. That's what we've been saying on That Park Place and on the Pro Channel for months.

https://deadline.com/2024/03/hollywood-job-losses-executives-full-scale-depression-1235841674/

So that's a huge Main Street v Wall Street situation. Disney is winning with Wall Street (because the institutions want to back China/ESG/DEI) and losing tremendously with Main Street. Bad news, Hollywood: Main Street is bigger.

And Disney knows they have a tremendous problem with Main Street. That's why they may already be developing a plan to delay a couple of movies that could spell trouble. I've already explained how Moana 2 can easily be delayed if the IATSE strike happens in August. That's an animated film being produced in six months for what is normally a five year production schedule. It's crazy. And it's being made by a studio that has never made a movie before, under a director who has zero film credits to his directorial portfolio.

But a lesser-known production schedule might also give Disney an out. Captain America 3 is coming and it's undergone massive reshoots. All of that is due to politics and the fact that Marvel is reeling from taking the wrong side in the culture war (by the way, taking any side in the culture war is devastating to entertainment finances). BUT the reshoots of Cap 3 have it continuing production into August... which just so happens to be when IATSE may go on strike! Could it be that Disney chooses not to expedite production and reshoots, thereby giving themselves an out if they want to delay again? 

It's a very interesting thing to see -- and one we should all be watching!

Huge thanks to LW Ghost for sending me the heads up on the production schedule and the IATSE conflict.

Your pal,
Pro