Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek won praise in many corners in 2020 for ably steering the company through the devastation of Covid after taking the baton from Bob Iger early in that fateful year.
10.06.2022 - 07:35 / deadline.com
In 2004, Disney’s cable networks executive Anne Sweeney was named co-chair, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney/ABC Television Group. The promotion, announced by then-Disney CEO Bob Iger, to whom Sweeney reported, set off a decade-long reign of Sweeney as one of the most powerful women in entertainment, with a vast TV portfolio encompassing a broadcast network and cable networks, Disney’s TV studio and news.
When Iger announced that he planned to step down in 2016 (he ultimately did not leave and ended up postponing his retirement four times since 2013), Sweeney had to be considered a contender as one of the most senior executives under Iger who was coming up the same route he had taken to the top job, via Disney’s TV operation.
But in 2014, Sweeney announced her exit to become a TV director. (She actually never went into directing.) According to insiders at the time, the fact that Sweeney was not looking likely to succeed Iger when he was to depart in 2016 played a part in her decision to go for a career change — though she insisted at the time she never wanted the top job.
Sweeney was the closest a woman had ever gotten to the CEO job at Disney — until today. In a move that shocked Hollywood, Iger’s successor, Bob Chapek, fired Peter Rice for no obvious reason and promoted Rice’s longtime top lieutenant Dana Walden to his post, Chairman of Disney General Entertainment. The messy way the executive change came about, with Chapek dispatching unceremoniously the top Fox executive to join Disney after the 2019 acquisition just a year into his new contract, understandably stole the spotlight from Walden’s ascension to the top content job.
Disney Board Backs CEO Bob Chapek And Top Exec Team Following Peter Rice Ouster
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Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek won praise in many corners in 2020 for ably steering the company through the devastation of Covid after taking the baton from Bob Iger early in that fateful year.
Disney’s public spat with Scarlett Johansson last summer over compensation tied to Marvel’s “Black Window,” which opened day-and-date in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access for a $30 fee. This was followed by Chapek’s uneven handling of Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education Bill.” Chapek initially aimed to avoid taking a public stance on the controversial bill, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay,” which elicited a backlash from staffers.
Former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger is at work on a new book about decision-making in business, entertainment and politics, with a tentative 2024 publication date by Random House.
Dame Deborah James has sadly passed away at the age of 40, after battling bowel cancer for five years. The tragic news was announced on 28 June on the journalist and podcaster's Instagram page, with Deborah's family releasing a lengthy statement alongside a stunning photograph of the star and a clip of her happily dancing.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek has gotten a new long term contract as the the board meets this week. Directors voted unanimously to replace his current deal, which expires in Feb. of 2023, with a new three-year agreement starting July 1.
Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaEmbattled Walt Disney Company chief Bob Chapek got a critical endorsement after the entertainment giant’s board of directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to extend his contract for three years. “Disney was dealt a tough hand by the pandemic, yet with Bob at the helm, our businesses—from parks to streaming—not only weathered the storm, but emerged in a position of strength,” said Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board.
Clayton Davis Anya Taylor-Joy, Billie Eilish, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan and Disney exec Dana Walden are among the 397 artists and executives invited to join the membership of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. If all of this year’s invitees accept membership, it will bring the total number of Academy members to 10,665, with 9,665 eligible to vote for the 95th Oscars set to take place on March 12, 2023.The 2022 class is 44% women, 37% belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50% are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that it is inviting 397 artists and executives to join the Oscar organizer’s membership ranks. The prospective 2022 class includes 71 Oscar nominees and 15 winners, with 44% of the invitees women, and 37% of the group belongs to underrepresented communities.
EXCLUSIVE: Euphoria‘s Eric Dane will star alongside KJ Apa in the motorcycle racing film One Fast Move, from Gulfstream Pictures and Luber Roklin Entertainment, which has entered production in Atlanta.
Dean McDermott is speaking out loud and proud!
As his mother’s coffin lay on a gun carriage, draped in the Royal Standard and white lilies, a teenage Prince William bowed his head in deep mourning. But while he could easily have broken down during the funeral for the late Princess Diana of Wales, the 15-year-old held back the tears, giving younger brother Harry extra strength to cope with such a heartbreaking ordeal.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeDana Walden is ready for this moment. On the heels of a shocking Hollywood management shake-up at Disney, the newly promoted chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content now oversees a massive portfolio that includes the programming arms of Hulu, FX, ABC, Freeform, Nat Geo, 20th Century Television, ABC Signature and more.Walden’s ascent at Disney is not a surprise, but the sudden departure of her predecessor and longtime boss, Peter Rice, surely was when the news surfaced on June 9 that Disney CEO Bob Chapek had fired him.Walden has the respect of the Hollywood community, the chops of having run (or co-run) two broadcast networks and multiple studios, plus deep relationships with towering creatives like a certain superstar producer (ahem, Ryan Murphy) who is, by all accounts, itching to reunite with her after a rocky run at Netflix.
In her first public comments since she was elevated to Chairman of Disney General Entertainment, Dana Walden sent a memo to staff Monday morning. In it, she expressed her “immense appreciation to Bob Chapek for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime,” noting that “is enormously proud of what we do.” She also praised Peter Rice, “a gifted executive,” for his mentorship and friendship and highlighted the achievements of each division in the content group’s portfolio.
William Earl Dana Walden, newly promoted to Disney’s top TV post, addressed the shocking management shakeup that saw her elevation and the ouster of her longtime boss, Peter Rice.Walden sent a note to Disney General Entertainment staffers detailing the vast unit’s many recent success stories across ABC, FX, Hulu, Freeform, National Geographic and the production units that Walden now oversees. She noted the surprising transition that was unveiled June 9.
wedding of the year took place in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles on 10 June, with Britney Spears and Sam Asghari finally getting to say their I do's.MORE:The nuptials took place in Britney's home, which was transformed into a setting only seen in fairytales, and though the guest list was intimate, and her sons as well as mother, sister, and dad were absent, it was nothing short of star-studded nonetheless.Drew Barrymore, Selena Gomez, Paris Hilton and Madonna were some of the stars that made waves as soon as fans learned about their presence at the highly-anticipated wedding, and as they continue to share glimpses from the romantic event, Drew is sharing a cheeky detail about them.WATCH: Drew reacts to Britney's heartfelt tribute to herMORE: Drew Barrymore models bold yellow swimsuit while fashioning the most unexpected accessoryMost images from the wedding were instantly iconic and went immediately viral, particularly two which featured some of Hollywood's favorite starlets.One is of Britney, Selena and Drew tightly hugging one another, and the other is of Donatella Versace alongside Paris, the bride, Madonna, and once again Selena and Drew.Fans couldn't help but comment how incredible it was to see so many iconic women come together, and, as has been popular for decades when it comes to girl groups, author Danny Pellegrino was quick to analyze who in the group was the Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda from Sex and the City.A post shared by Comments By Celebs (@commentsbycelebs)Drew answers an age-old questionHe couldn't help but wonder: "Madonna/Donatella are the Samanthas, Drew/Paris are the Charlottes, Brit is the Carrie, and Selena is the Miranda? Is that right? Please leave thoughts in the comments!"MORE: Drew
Eric Dane is single, ready to mingle and receiving racy DMs…but not ones he’s particularly interested in.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWarren Littlefield is looking to make more Must-See TV with Disney’s 20th Television and ABC Signature. The network president-turned-producer, whose prolific output in recent years has included “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Dopesick,” has sealed a multi-year overall deal with 20th and ABC Signature that will keep him exclusive with those studios through 2026.Littlefield was most recently in a joint deal with 20th Television and Fox 21.
Selome Hailu After being ousted from his post as Disney’s head of TV content, Peter Rice sent a final memo to staffers.The news came Thursday morning as a shock to the industry, including many at Disney. Rice is being replaced by his top lieutenant, Dana Walden.View the memo in full below.Hi everyone:I am incredibly sad that this will be the last “weekend read” that I will be sending you.
Peter Rice was known for turning down opportunities to take a public victory lap.The soft-spoken British executive, who was ousted on Wednesday from the top TV job at Disney, has a reputation for quietly cultivating relationships with producers and directors such as Baz Luhrmann and Danny Boyle. In the 2000s, he leveraged those ties to boost the performance of Fox Searchlight Pictures with hits such as “Moulin Rouge!” and “Slumdog Millionaire.” More often than not, Rice let the directors, producers and actors take the bows.That low-maintenance demeanor would serve Rice well in Murdoch’s empire as he became close to the family and rose in 2009 to oversee all of Fox’s entertainment networks.
William Earl After the shocking news that Peter Rice has been ousted as the head of TV content for Disney, and will be replaced by his top lieutenant, Dana Walden, media insiders are left scratching their heads and speculating about the behind-the-scenes dealmaking taking place. For the uninitiated, Variety has put together a primer on the incoming and outgoing heads of Disney television.*Bio:Born and raised in the U.K., Rice’s family was close to Rupert Murdoch’s family, which lead to a Fox film internship in 1987.