Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios promoted both Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Andrew Millstein and Pixar Animation Studios’ Jim Morris to president.
“We’re fortunate and proud to have an abundance of strong creative leadership at Disney, and Andrew and Jim are two incredible talents that embody the perfect blend of business and artistic focus,” said Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “Not only have they done so much to ensure each of their studios is operating at peak condition, they continually push their teams to new heights of creativity, storytelling and innovation.”
Both Millstein and Morris will continue to report directly to Catmull.
As executive vice president and general manager for Walt Disney Animation Studios, Millstein guided the studio when it released the Academy Award-winning “Frozen,” the highest-grossing animated film of all time. He also oversaw “Tangled,” “Wreck-It Ralph” and the studio’s most recent release “Big Hero 6.” Millstein joined Disney in 1997 as a production executive in the motion pictures group. Prior to his current role, he worked as general manager of Dreamquest Images and The Secret Lab, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ digital division.
Previously, Morris was general manager and executive vice president of production for Pixar Animation Studios, overseeing production of features, shorts, DVD content and theme park activities. Pixar has seen 14 straight first-place openings at the domestic box office, with Morris producing the Academy Award-winning feature “WALL•E.” Prior to joining the Pixar, he was president of Lucas Digital Ltd, where he managed both Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light and Magic.
“I’m continually impressed by Jim’s business and creative acumen,” said Catmull. “He truly understands film production inside and out, and his management of Pixar allows its culture to continually grow, explore new areas and technology, and advance new ways of storytelling.”
Pixar recently announced that John Lasseter will return to direct Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” which Disney will release on June 16, 2017.
The company also reported a record $48.8 billion in revenue for 2014, up 8 percent from a year-ago period. In early October, CEO Bob Iger announced he wouldn’t retire in 2016 and extended his contract. He will remain the head of Disney through 2018.
'Star Wars: Episode VII' Timeline - From Greenlight to J.J. Abrams' Cast Revealed
OCT. 30 2012: Disney buys Lucasfilm from George Lucas for $4.05 billion, and announces a new trilogy of "Star Wars" films. Fans rejoice, trim their neck beards.
NOV. 9, 2012: Oscar-winning "Little Miss Sunshine" screenwriter Michael Arndt is announced to write "Star Wars: Episode VII."
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JAN. 25, 2013: Disney announces J.J. Abrams will direct "Star Wars: Episode VII," despite his link to Paramount's "Star Trek" film series.
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JUL. 27, 2013: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announces to fans at Star Wars Celebration Europe that five-time Oscar-winning composer John Williams will return to score "Episode VII."
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AUG. 22, 2013: "Star Trek" cinematographer Dan Mindel reveals he has been hired to get behind the camera for "Episode VII," and will shoot on 35mm film.
OCT. 24, 2013: Lucasfilm announces that "Empire Strikes Back" screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan will co-write the screenplay for "Episode VII" with J.J. Abrams. The two set to work on a draft originally written by Arndt, who leaves the project.
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NOV. 14, 2013: Bad Robot confirms on Twitter what most fans pretty much already knew: R2-D2 will be back.
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DEC. 3, 2013: Lucasfilm launches the official "Star Wars" Instagram account with Darth Vader showing off a fresh selfie on a smart phone.
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JAN. 19, 2014: J.J. Abrams reveals at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that the script for "Episode VII" is complete.
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FEB. 26, 2014: TheWrap learns that "Girls" star Adam Driver is nearing a deal to play an undisclosed villain role in "Episode VII." Disney, Lucasfilm and Driver's reps would not confirm.
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NOV. 7 2013: Disney announces that "Star Wars: Episode VII" will be released on Dec. 18, 2015.
MAR. 18, 2014: Disney CEO Bob Iger announces that “Episode VII” starts shooting in May, and that it takes place 30 years after the events of “Return of the Jedi.”
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MAR. 18 2014: Iger also reveals that the film will be shot near London at Pinewood Studios, making "Episode VII" the fifth installment of the franchise to be shot in the United Kingdom.
MAR. 20, 2014: Disney and IMAX announce "Episode VII" will get a release on the biggest movie screen around (as if anybody thought otherwise).
APR. 22, 2014: While speaking at a Tribeca Film Festival panel, Disney Chairman Alan Horn teases that a major casting announcement is coming soon.
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APR. 29, 2014: Disney, Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams have unveiled the cast of “Star Wars: Episode VII." Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow join franchise veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker.
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With the cast of ”Episode VII“ finally unveiled, TheWrap looks back at major developments that slowly unfolded since Disney announced a new trilogy in 2012
OCT. 30 2012: Disney buys Lucasfilm from George Lucas for $4.05 billion, and announces a new trilogy of "Star Wars" films. Fans rejoice, trim their neck beards.