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☆ What’s In Our Queue? ‘Andor’ and More
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sophie Downes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

What’s In Our Queue? ‘Andor’ and MoreLucasfilm Ltd./Disney+, via Associated PressI am an editing resident on The New York Times Culture desk. I can often be found going solo to old movies or hunting for deals on theater tickets. Here are five things I have watched, listened to and enjoyed recently →

☆ We're looking for outstanding social media pros working in Hollywood. Here's how to nominate a star candidate.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Insider is crafting a list of Hollywood's standout social media professionals. We want to read your nominations for the social media pros helping to shape the entertainment industry. Sign up for our newsletter to get the news, trends and strategies that advertising and media pros want to know — delivered weekly to your inbox. Major entertainment conglomerates have their own in-house teams of social media experts and audience engagement pros who work to boost awareness of upcoming projects and shape a studio's, network's, or brand's voice online. Insider is compiling a list of standout social media professionals working at companies that create, develop, distribute, and promote filmed entertainment.

☆ Disney insiders are worried about how Bob Iger will remake former CEO Bob Chapek's business structure — here's what they hated about it and what they hope will change
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Elaine Low | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger has said he will put "decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams." Under former CEO Bob Chapek's structure, distribution and budgets were taken out of the hands of creative execs. Chapek's 2020 restructuring — which focused the company's firepower on boosting streaming subscriber growth at Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ — meant additional layers of approval for studio and network execs at Disney General Entertainment (DGE) to get projects made. That meant hands were tied across Disney's studios and networks, from Disney+ to 20th Century to Hulu. For creative execs whose careers were built on their ability to balance storytelling and business needs, losing control over the latter was frustrating.

☆ Harrison Ford cracks the whip in teaser trailer for ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —It’s a name so iconic, he comes with his own theme song, and boy, is it a sweet sound. In the new teaser trailer for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Harrison Ford returns as the titular hero archaeologist, this time alongside “Fleabag” star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Colonel Weber (Thomas Kretschmann) and Doctor Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Lucasfilm Ltd.“Indiana Jones movies are about mystery and adventure but they’re also about heart,” he said. After the audience reacted to the mention of this being his last film in the role, he joked, “This is it.

☆ 6 Disney executives Bob Iger will trust to drive his new strategy as he radically remakes the business structure implemented by former CEO Bob Chapek
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The returning CEO will have to unwind the business structure implemented by Bob Chapek while finding a successor. Disney CEO Bob Iger returns to a company facing significant pressures on its linear and streaming businesses. He'll also need to unwind the business structure implemented in 2020 by his short-lived predecessor, Bob Chapek — which separated budgeting and distribution decisions from creative content development. Alan Bergman, chairman, Disney Studios ContentAlan Bergman. Dana Walden, chairman, Disney General Entertainment ContentDana Walden.

☆ 'Willow' review: Warwick Davis returns in Lucasfilm's series sequel for Disney+
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Setting that aside, a Disney+ revival series isn’t without its charms, in a more contemporary narrative that brings back Warwick Davis while focusing on the next generation. The latter were played by Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley, respectively, who as an off-screen bonus got married after the film. Jonathan Kasdan (who also worked on “Solo”) serves as showrunner, collaborating with four directors who each oversaw back-to-back episodes. While that combination doesn’t add up into making “Willow” significantly worthier of the “beloved” label than its late-’80s predecessor, consumed on its own unpretentious terms, it’s easy enough to like. “Willow” premieres November 30 on Disney+.

☆ The small but mighty love for ‘Willow’ that led to a shiny new series
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s a refreshing turn against recent trends that a cult classic without the sizable built-in fanbase of, say, a “Star Wars” or Marvel property would receive the fancy reboot treatment. “You could be walking around a convention floor, and in a sea of Harley Quinns, you’ll spot a Willow,” Delaney observed. High hopesThe arrival of the new 8-episode series comes with high hopes from the small but mighty fanbase. Bob Dolman, who wrote the screenplay for the original film, also acted as supervising producer on the first episode. Kilmer’s ex-wife Joanne Whalley, who he met on the original film, will be back in the series as warrior Sorsha.

☆ Out with the new and in with the old: Why companies from Starbucks to Disney are bringing back their old CEOs to run the companies again
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There are perhaps hundreds of qualified candidates for the job of Disney's CEO. After all, returning CEOs have mixed track records. Iger was Disney's CEO for 15 years — presumably, he won't need much onboarding. In the best-case scenario, the returning CEO has learned more in the time since leaving the post. Indeed, there's always the risk that a returning CEO leans too heavily on their former experience.

☆ Disney is counting on Bob Iger to make hard decisions about its streaming and TV assets – or find someone who will
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Of course, while Iger said Disney was all-in on streaming, the reality was it wasn't, and it still isn't. Part of that shift was Disney's realization that it likely wasn't going to hit its target of 230 million to 260 million Disney+ subscribers by 2024. Disney shares have fallen nearly 40% this year. Disney shares surged during the pandemic even as theme parks closed and movies were kept out of theaters. "The old plan can't be the new plan," Greenfield said.

☆ Hightower's Stephanie Link buys shares of Disney, says they're 'attractive' after Bob Iger's return
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower, bought shares of Disney , calling them attractive after the return of Bob Iger signaled a clean-up at the media company. Shares of Disney closed up more than 6% Monday following the CEO change announcement, but they are down more than 2% during Tuesday trading. Brown expects that the CEO change could signal "transformative transactions" ahead at the media company, probably within the "first couple of quarters" of Iger's return. Over his previous tenure at Disney, Iger led notable acquisitions in Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. Separately in the same "Halftime Report" episode, Brown named CrowdStrike the best of the cybersecurity names.

☆ Bob Iger needs to fix Disney's 'Star Wars' problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He said then that a movie-a-year strategy for "Star Wars" was "too much, too fast." But Disney might have slammed on the brakes a little too hard: The only "Star Wars" movie to be released since then has been "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," in 2019. And now, there isn't a "Star Wars" film on the theatrical release calendar until 2025. It's unclear if Iger foresaw a six-year wait, at least, when he said back in 2018 that "Star Wars" movie output would slow. But Lucasfilm hasn't made any public commitment to any of them as the next stage of "Star Wars" on the big screen.

Iger is widely considered entertainment industry royalty, celebrated for his management acumen and creative chops. He turned Disney into a global powerhouse by acquiring marquee brands such as Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox. Bob Chapek, left, and Bob Iger, in Orlando, Fla.,on Sept. 30, 2021. Shares of the Walt Disney Co. are down 40% this year, and layoffs are pending. But almost immediately, the entertainment industry media zeroed in on what was thought to be a frosty relationship between the two men.

Disney, in a shocking late Sunday announcement, said it had re-appointed Iger as chief executive, effective immediately, after Iger’s handpicked successor as CEO, Bob Chapek, came under fire for his management of the entertainment giant. Iger will help the company’s board develop a new successor, Disney said in a release. Chapek was named chief executive in February 2020, succeeding Iger, who had previously said he wouldn’t return to the role. Iger, who held the CEO role for 15 years at Disney, had favored Chapek as his successor. Chapek distanced himself from Iger with a series of decisions, including his new approach to streaming prices for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

Disney , in a shocking late Sunday announcement, said it had re-appointed Iger as chief executive, effective immediately, after Iger's handpicked successor as CEO, Bob Chapek, came under fire for his management of the entertainment giant. Iger will help the company's board develop a new successor, Disney said in a release. Chapek was named chief executive in February 2020, succeeding Iger, who had previously said he wouldn't return to the role. Iger, who held the CEO role for 15 years at Disney, had favored Chapek as his successor. Chapek distanced himself from Iger with a series of decisions, including his new approach to streaming prices for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

☆ Disney’s tale of two Bobs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This was a big surprise Sunday night, for a few reasons:1) Iger has previously dismissed the idea of going back to Disney. Then, he kept going: Iger’s Disney acquired Lucasfilm, home of the Star Wars franchise, for a little over $4 billion. Disney shares surged 9% Monday morning, reflecting investors’ hopes that Iger will swoop in and work his magic. The Trump news was no surprise — even before buying Twitter, Musk made clear he would reinstate Trump and rethink the site’s content-moderation policies. And if Musk’s strategy is to stoke controversy, he’s already brought out the big guns in letting Trump back on.

☆ Can Bob Iger fix Disney?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But If anyone can bring back the magic to the Walt Disney Company, the company believes Bob Iger may be uniquely qualified to do it. StreamingIn a shocking move, Bob Iger is returning as Disney's CEO. Disney’s streaming service — which includes ESPN+, Hulu and most importantly, Disney+ — had been the most vital part of the company’s vast media kingdom. In its statement reintroducing Iger as CEO, Disney said he was “uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period.”Iger was instrumental in forming the modern Disney. With the media industry in turmoil, Disney hope Iger is up to the tall task of righting its ship.

☆ Bob Iger is back at the helm of Disney after less than a year in retirement. Here's how the media titan makes and spends his fortune.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Dominic-Madori Davis | Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bob Iger is back in charge at Disney after less than a year of retirement. Iger was at the helm of the company during Disney's acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and most recently, 21st Century Fox. On Sunday, Disney announced that Iger would be returning as CEO to replace Bob Chapek. Iger, meanwhile, was compensated $65.6 million in 2018 — which Forbes notes is 1,424 times what the average Disney employee makes. Here's what we know about Iger's life and rise, including how he makes and spends his multimillion-dollar fortune:

☆ Bob Iger named Disney CEO in shocking development
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN Business —In a move that shocked Hollywood, Bob Iger, one of the most notable CEOs in the history of the Walt Disney company, is returning to run the media empire. Bob Chapek, who replaced Iger in 2020 as CEO, is stepping down immediately. Iger has an almost mythical status as the leader of Disney. He spent 15 years as CEO and was instrumental in acquiring major brands like Marvel and Lucasfilm, the home to Star Wars. Iger also kicked off the streaming revolution at Disney with the creation of Disney+ in November 2019.

☆ Chadwick Boseman and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever': How the sequel makes a case for recasting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”CNN —“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” deftly completes the difficult task of continuing the franchise without its star, Chadwick Boseman, sensitively acknowledging his death by killing off the character of King T’Challa. Writing around his absence isn’t the first time that a fantasy story has been changed to accommodate a tragic loss. The death of Carrie Fisher (right) created "an impossible question" for the producers of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." To be fair, “Wakanda Forever” does as well and probably better than should have been expected under such trying circumstances. The question might well be impossible, but the answer is right there, and rooted in screen history.

Welcome back to Insider Weekly, a roundup of some of our top stories. The industry took a beating after Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft reported poorer-than-expected earnings, wiping nearly $1 trillion off their collective market caps. Microsoft and Amazon reported slower growth in their usually outperforming cloud divisions, with Amazon also warning of slower holiday sales. Stephen Lam/Getty ImagesAmid a streak of disappointing financial results, inflation, and global turmoil, companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Google are looking to rein in runaway costs. For years, Big Tech companies competed on pay and perks to lure workers in a tight labor market.

☆ 'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi' review: Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku shorts show animation remains a creative force in Lucasfilm's galaxy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Animation has been the driving creative force behind the “Star Wars” universe for some time, a state of affairs cast into sharper focus by how live-action series Lucasfilm has produced for Disney+ have drawn upon those shows. That relationship continues with “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” an animated anthology that provides an opportunity to flesh out the stories of peripheral but familiar lightsaber-wielding figures. The anthology format creates the opportunity to drop in at different inflection points scattered across the “Star Wars” timeline. Animation has also become a vehicle for greater experimentation, as witnessed in the “Star Wars: Visions” anime shorts that premiered last year. “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” premieres October 26 on Disney+.

☆ ‘Star Wars’ movie in development from 'Watchmen' showrunner and 'Ms. Marvel' director, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A new "Star Wars" movie is under development with a pair of buzzy names already attached, according to media reports. Damon Lindelof, showrunner for "Lost," "The Leftovers" and "Watchmen," is co-writing the new Lucasfilm movie, with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy of "Ms. Marvel" signed on to direct, according to media entertainment site Deadline. But the upcoming feature marks the first "Star Wars" film set for theaters since 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker." "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" was a massive success for the franchise, grossing $1 billion at the global box office. Other "Star Wars" film projects from Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson and Kevin Feige have yet to be officially announced by the studio or given release dates.

☆ Hulu insiders are confused and frustrated about their future as Disney and Comcast battle it out for control of the streamer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Sparring between Disney and Comcast CEOs over Hulu has stoked uncertainty among insiders about the streamer's future. Many wonder how Hulu will stay differentiated from Disney+ if Disney becomes Hulu's sole owner. Insiders and advertisers alike are also watching to see if Hulu will lose some of its distinctiveness as Disney invests more in Disney+. "That was a clear departure from Disney being family-focused and Hulu being general entertainment," said a second former Hulu exec. And as the CEOs posture, people inside the streamer are eager for leadership to tell them, as a third former company insider put it, "what Hulu means to the Walt Disney Company."

☆ James Earl Jones steps back from voicing Darth Vader, signs off on using archived recordings to recreate voice with A.I.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

James Earl Jones, who has voiced Darth Vader for nearly 50 years of “Star Wars” films, seems to be stepping away from the role. “He had mentioned he was looking into winding down this particular character,” Matthew Wood, a Lucasfilm veteran of 32 years, told the outlet. “So how do we move forward?”James Earl Jones and Darth Vader attend the charity premiere of "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" in New York on May 12, 2022. The two also teamed for the voice performance of Darth Vader on the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which debuted on Disney’s streamer this summer. Jones voiced the character on both the big and small screen up until this point.

☆ James Earl Jones is retiring as the voice of Darth Vader
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —James Earl Jones, who for decades has provided Darth Vader’s iconic, menacing voice, will not record new lines for new “Star Wars” projects. Instead, Jones’ voice will live on artificially through an AI program that can recreate his voice, so Vader can deliver new lines of dialogue and maintain the commanding bass sound that made him a widely feared villain, Vanity Fair reported. Jones, 91, last recorded a Vader voice cameo for the 2019 sequel “The Rise of Skywalker,” sound editor Matthew Wood told Vanity Fair. “So how do we move forward?”James Earl Jones' signature bass has helped make Darth Vader an iconic villain. Jones, an EGOT-winning actor, has voiced Vader since 1977’s “A New Hope,” though his role was uncredited for that project.

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