Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Being on Trump’s Council Isn’t Endorsement of Policies
Exec also pays tribute to “Star Wars” icon Carrie Fisher during shareholder meeting
Matt Pressberg | March 8, 2017 @ 10:49 AM
Last Updated: March 8, 2017 @ 10:55 AM
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Disney CEO Bob Iger defended his participation on President Donald Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum at the company’s shareholder meeting Wednesday, saying being in the room gives the company the opportunity to advocate for its values and points of view.
“I made a decision that I thought was in the best interests of this company, and I would have an opportunity to express my points of views directly to the president of the United States, and to his administration,” Iger told attendees at the meeting in Denver in response to a comment from an audience member questioning whether his presence on the President’s panel might be perceived as an implicit endorsement of Trump’s policies.
“I think it’s an important opportunity to be in the room,” he added.
Iger, a registered Democrat who supported Hillary Clinton, is the only entertainment or tech executive on the president’s panel. He has also been floated as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.
At the meeting, Iger defended embattled, subscriber-shedding ESPN, and said that its new standalone streaming service, powered by BAMTech — in which Disney invested $1 billion last year — will be operational by the end of the year. ESPN is currently finalizing a list of on-air talent layoffs as it works to cut costs.
Iger also showed clips of some of Disney’s upcoming tentpoles, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The latter will be the final appearance in the “Star Wars” canon for Carrie Fisher, who played Princess-turned-General Leia Organa in the franchise and passed away late last year.
Iger shared his thoughts on the late actress. “We all miss her,” he said. “We’re proud that this movie coming up is part of her legacy”
17 Live-Action Disney Movies in the Works (Photos)
Disney will be pumping out live-action versions of its animated classics for a long time to come. Here's a list of titles in the works, including the release date of the original.
"Cruella" Extracted from the famous villainess of 1961’s “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” this origin story of a woman who declares open season on purebred puppies -- Cruella de Vil -- stars Emma Stone. The reigning live-action Cruella is Glenn Close, who herself starred in two live-action adaptations. It's due in theaters May 28, 2021.
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"Jungle Cruise"
OK, OK, "Jungle Cruise" might not count as live-action film based on a previously animated classic, but it is based on a ride at Disneyland, so we're going to include it. Plus, we'll take any chance to talk about Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the same sentence. It will hit theaters July 30, 2021.
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"The Little Mermaid" So now we're getting into films that are in some stage of development but haven't necessarily been slated for release. After all, Disney has so many untitled films slated, it's hard to count. But a live-action version of "The Little Mermaid" has been long discussed, as it is arguably one of the most popular and profitable movies in Disney's vault. Rob Marshall is on board direct, with newcomer Halle Bailey set to star as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian the crab.
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"Pinocchio"
"Pinocchio" is also in the works, with Tom Hanks playing Geppetto.
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"The Jungle Book 2" This is a no-brainer follow-up to Favreau's hit from spring 2016, based on the animated classic released in 1967.
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"Rose Red" This one is trippy (no pun over producer Tripp Vinson), but promising creatively. In the German fairy tale, Rose Red is Snow White's sister. Disney and Vinson are collaborating on introducing the world to the sibling of the famous apple-loving princess. Disney released the original "Snow White" in 1937.
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"Snow White" Forget her sister -- the original baddest chick in the Disney animated kingdom is coming back for her own standalone film. It was announced at the end of October 2016.
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"Aladdin 2"
After the $1 billion-plus box office success of 2019's Will Smith-led "Aladdin," the studio announced in February 2020 that John Gatins and Andrea Berloff would write a sequel.
"Hercules"
Talk about going from zero to hero. The original 1997 retelling of Greek myths was a box office underachiever, but developed a big enough cult following that the studio announced plans for a live-action remake in April 2020, with "Avengers: Endgame" directors Joe and Anthony Russo producing.
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"Peter Pan" Neverland will get a practical set if Disney has its way updating the 1953 animated film.
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"James and the Giant Peach" In one of the more interesting adaptations, this beloved Roald Dahl book became a quirky claymation hit for Disney in 1996 with director Henry Selick. Heavy dramatist director Sam Mendes was attached to take a stab at it, but he has since dropped out.
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"Hunchback"
In early 2019, a live-action film based on 1996's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was announced. Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang was tapped to pen the script, with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz handling the music.
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"Tinker Bell"
This movie has also been in the works for quite some time, with Reese Witherspoon attached as the cute little fairy from "Peter Pan."
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"Bambi"
In January 2020, Disney hired Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Captain Marvel") and Lindsey Beer (“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser,”) to write the script for the live-action remake of the 1942 animated classic.
"Oliver Twist" While Disney never formally made a direct animated take on Charles Dickens' beloved orphan, the studio did release the adorable 1988 "Oliver and Company," inspired by Dickens' tale but told with animals. The studio also made a small-screen live-action version in 1997 with Richard Dreyfuss.
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"Lilo & Stitch"
And another film that is supposed to get the live-action treatment and some point. This project was announced in October 2018 with Mike Van Waes attached to pen the script. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing. In November, it was announced that Jon M. Chu was in early talks to direct.
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"The Lion King" Sequel
In September, it was announced that Barry Jenkins would direct the follow-up to Jon Favreau's 2019 hit. The logline is being kept under wraps, but Deadline reported that the film will explore the mythology of the other characters throughout Pride Rock, including Mufasa’s origin story.
No release date for the next film has been set, and it’s unclear when production would begin. No cast has been set either.
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The studio is raiding its vault to remake classics including “The Little Mermaid”
Disney will be pumping out live-action versions of its animated classics for a long time to come. Here's a list of titles in the works, including the release date of the original.
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