| A DEEP BENCH REMAINS INTACT AFTER BOB IGER'S EXIT, PROOF OF (FINALLY) A WELL-MANAGED TRANSITION PROCESS |
A new Disney CEO is a momentous thing. What makes Wednesday’s handoff from Bob Iger to Josh D’Amaro especially notable is the calm: Disney succession hasn’t been this drama-free in more than 30 years.
The process was transparent. Plus, key leaders from Dana Walden to Alan Bergman down the new org chart are staying put.
Historically, the Mouse loses top executives during CEO transitions, from Jeffrey Katzenberg back in 1994 to parks chair Jay Rasulo, CFO Tom Staggs, Direct-to-Consumer & International Chair Kevin Mayer and chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content Peter Rice, to name a handful.
Over the years, messy planning has led to controversial, costly golden parachutes, shareholder lawsuits, a stockholder revolt and a bitter, distracting proxy fight.
This time has been different.
Kevin Groves, professor of organization theory and management at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, praised the “smooth” process. It’s called a “relay succession,” he said, focused on “several candidates that were reporting to Iger. Clear visibility and an understanding of these candidates’ abilities are signs of a high-quality … and a comprehensive process.” >>>No "Boomerang" Bob
Related:
D’Amaro Talks Theme Park Prices, Notes “Wide Range Of Options” Like $50 Kids Tickets
Tough Love For New CEO As Wall Street Frets Over Sluggish Stock
D’Amaro Tells Shareholders “Disney Is In A Category Of One”
Read His Memo To Staff
Iger Reflects On 52-Year Disney Run, Says He’ll Be “Cheering On” D’Amaro & Walden |
Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
Best Of Seven - Lionsgate has won a seven-studio bidding war for The Correspondent, a feature package based on the #1 New York Times bestseller by Virginia Evans that has Jane Fonda attached to star and produce alongside Todd Lieberman via his Hidden Pictures. >>>Cat Vasko To Script
Villaraigosa Cries Foul - Disney-owned station KABC and USC now face possible “legal remedies” from former L.A. Mayor and now gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa over his omission from their March 24 California gubernatorial debate. >>> Polling At 4-5%
TBPN Wants An Emmy - TBPN is hosted by Jordi Hays and John Coogan, and has been described as ‘What if SportsCenter and LinkedIn merged?’ The live show features commentary on the day’s biggest business stories and in-depth conversations with leading executives and cultural figures. It is launching a full-on Emmy campaign in the Emerging Media Program Category. >>> Billboards |
QUOTABLE
"There is no such principle" - Netflix film chief Dan Lin on claims that they ask creators to have characters repeat key plot details of a film or series for inattentive viewers |
ExclusiveAmid the buzzy rollout of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, which she co-headlines for FX, Sarah Pidgeon has entered talks to star alongside Kevin Costner and Jake Gyllenhaal in Honeymoon with Harry, Amazon MGM Studios' new dramedy.
ExclusiveElsbeth has lined up Patti LuPone, Michael Urie (Shrinking) and Erich Bergen (Love Story) for roles in the series.
ExclusiveJenna Burgess, who has recurred as teen Melissa on Showtime's Emmy-nominated drama Yellowjackets since Season 2, has been promoted to series regular for the fourth and final season.
Netflix has assembled the human part of Mystery Inc., the amateur sleuthing gang at the heart of Scooby-Doo. Tanner Hagen (The Pitt) will play Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret) will portray Velma Dinkley and Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space) is set as Fred Jones in the untitled Scooby-Doo live-action series.
ExclusiveAma Qamata, Thapelo Mokoena, Bohang Moeko, Ama K. Abebrese, Alessandra Fuller and Francisca Aronsson join cast of Boyz Trip, an action-comedy filming in Cape Town, South Africa.
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BY THE NUMBERS
350M - Number of hours of 'Paw Patrol' viewed on Netflix in 2025, according to the latest Netflix Kids Content Performance Report |
MORE NEWS
📺 California and six other states filed suit to block Nexstar‘s merger with Tegna. The $6.2 billion deal would create an unprecedented broadcast giant, with 265 stations covering 80% of the country.
🧑⚖️ Kevin Spacey has agreed a settlement with three men who accused him of sexual assault, according to multiple reports. The civil case was due to go to trial in London later this year but has been frozen due to the settlement. Financial terms and details were not disclosed.
📁 Daniela Elstner, managing director of French cinema and TV export agency Unifrance, has filed a police complaint against singer and actor Patrick Bruel for attempted rape and sexual assault.
🏆 South by Southwest announced its Film & TV Festival Jury and Special Award winners. Wishful Thinking, starring Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke took the Narrative Feature prize, while Susan Kent’s work in The Snake won her the Special Jury Award for Performance.
🤖 Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has unveiled a draft legislative framework that targets some of the most hot button issues swirling around Hollywood and AI. Blackburn’s proposals also call for sunsetting Section 230, the provision of a 1996 law that exempts platforms from liability for third party content.
💅 Bravo has hit pause on The Real Housewives of Miami. It comes amid a lawsuit from Alexia Nepola’s husband, Todd Nepola, who accuses Bravo, NBCUniversal Media and Purveyors of Pop Productions of defamation and using his name to amplify false storylines. |
OBITUARIES
🕯️ Eric Overmyer, a veteran TV writer-producer and playwright known for his work on Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, The Wire, Treme, Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, died March 16 after an illness. He was 74. 🕯️ Sam Semon , Head of Business Affairs, International Originals, at Amazon MGM Studios and a former executive at NBCUniversal and Gaumont Television, died March 17 after battling cancer. He was 60. 🕯️ 2026 Deaths Photo Gallery |
| ON THE RADAR
Thu - Anya Taylor-Joy on Seth Meyers
Sat - Saturday Night Live UK debuts
Mon - NewFronts: Google
Tue - NewFronts: Tubi, TikTok |
Hail, Ryan - Ryan Gosling arrives for the Project Hail Mary NY premiere at Lincoln Center. |
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