Disney Shuts Down Metaverse Unit as Part of First Wave of Layoffs

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are promoting their new film “Air,” telling the story of Nike’s Air Jordans. The film follows a Nike executive that lands a Michael Jordan endorsement, boosting the young athlete’s career and creating a product that revolutionized the sports market. In an interview, Affleck and Damon discussed the first time they met Jordan, with Jordan and Affleck entering a challenge of who was tallest.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Montana would become the first state in America to fully ban TikTok starting in 2024, after the state’s legislature on Friday passed a bill banning the short-form app. The bill now goes to the desk of Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte before it becomes law. Under the Montana legislation, TikTok would face fines if it continued to operate in the state. In addition, the state could impose penalties on Apple and Google if they allowed users in Montana to download the app. TikTok blasted the passage of the bill as an attempt to “censor American voices.” “The bill’s champions have admitted that they have no feasible plan for operationalizing this attempt to censor American voices and that the bill’s constitutionality will be decided by the courts,” TikTok said in a statement. “We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.”

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Less than a year after Spotify acquired Heardle, the audio streamer is mothballing the music game. “Heardle is going away on May 5th,” a message on the service’s website says. “Thanks for playing Heardle, but unfortunately we have to say goodbye.” In the note to Heardle users, Spotify said that if they have statistics they would like to save, “make sure you go to your stats and take a screenshot by May 4th.” When Spotify announced its deal to buy Heardle in July 2022, the company touted it as “a tool for musical discovery,” saying that playing the game “might just help you to rediscover old tracks you may have thought you’d forgotten, discover amazing new artists, or finally put a title to that wordless melody you’ve had caught in your head forever.”

The “Real Housewives” franchise isn’t growing more just yet.

Ready to sympathize with “The Sympathizer,” the miniseries adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen starring Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey, Jr.? Well, the first trailer for the series from Park Chan-wook and A24 is here. And it’s a doozy. Watch it above.HBO described the series as “an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese Communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.” The show also stars Fred Nguyen, Toan Le, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le and Alan Trong, with Sandra Oh, Kieu Chinh, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen and Robert Downey, Jr.

his accident Jan. 1, at the red carpet premiere Tuesday of his Disney+ series “Rennervations.” Watch a clip of that above, taken by TheWrap.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor On Tuesday night, Jeremy Renner walked his first red carpet since his near-fatal snow plow accident. The “Avengers” actor was on hand at the premiere of “Rennervations,” his new Disney+ reality series about renovating used vehicles for underserved communities around the world. The event was held at the Westwood Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Using a cane, Renner arrived on the carpet at around 6 p.m., appearing alongside his family for photographs. After walking for a bit, the actor then took to a motorized scooter to assist him through press interviews.

Disney has a new streaming boss.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor In a shake-up of Disney’s streaming leadership ranks, the company is moving Hulu president Joe Earley into the role of president of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment effective immediately — succeeding Michael Paull, who is leaving Disney after six years. In the new role, Earley will lead Disney Entertainment’s streaming businesses including Disney+ and Hulu, reporting to co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden. A former longtime Fox exec, Earley joined Disney in 2019 as was instrumental in the launch of Disney+. In addition, Earley will continue as the top exec in charge of Hulu until the company identifies a replacement. Disney+ is led by president Alisa Bowen, who was elevated to the post last fall after overseeing global business operations for Disney’s streaming platforms.

EXCLUSIVE: Disney’s international teams are braced for layoffs and content cuts.

Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, has taken to TikTok to shut down conspiracy theories about his dad’s death.Chester Bennington took his own life in 2017 after struggling with depression.The singer’s widow Talinda Bennington launched the 320 Changes Direction initiative shortly afterwards to support those with mental health issues and to break down the stigma attached to depression and addiction. A festival focused on bringing awareness to mental health issues followed in 2020.Chester Bennington’s 17-year-old son Tyler Lee has also used his TikTok page to raise awareness about depression and to advocate for mental health.Last month he said he’d be using his page more and shared a tribute to Chester on what would have been his 47th birthday.

Céline Dion is feeling the love from fans on a very special occasion.

Disney has let go SVP and Chief Compliance Officer Alicia Schwarz, Deadline has learned, amid a major retrenchment at the company.

co-hosted a D23-themed podcast, “D23 Inside Disney,” along with Oh My Disney’s Sheri Henry. News of the ouster came from six separate sources with knowledge of the situation.

#BanAssaultWeaponsNow. https://t.co/R6u4zsaBmGThe Republican representative for Knoxville and surrounding communities in Tennessee didn’t have much to say when asked about the latest mass shooting, which occurred in Nashville on Monday morning. “Three precious little kids lost their lives and I believe three adults and the shooter, of course, too lost their life.

Disney has eliminated a small business unit focused on exploring the metaverse, part of its initial efforts to reduce its workforce by about 7,000 employees.

the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.The metaverse team, per WSJ, was tasked with “fiinding ways to tell interactive stories in new technological formats using Disney’s extensive library of intellectual property.” It employed approximately 50 people, all of whom have been let go, according to WSJ. However, the division’s boss, former Disney consumer products executive Mike White, remains with the company in an undetermined capacity.Representatives for Disney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.The move comes just over a year after Disney created the division under former CEO Bob Chapek.

Amy Jo Johnson is clearing up rumours.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Disney will begin layoff notices this week for more than 7,000 staffers whose positions will be eliminated as part of a deep cost-cutting effort that will be felt across all of the company’s key divisions. Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed Monday morning in a memo to employees that the layoffs will come in three waves, starting today. Iger disclosed the plan to significantly cut Disney’s overhead with massive staff reductions on Feb. 8. The cuts are expected to hit across the board and hit senior management levels as well as lower-level executives. “The difficult reality of many colleagues and friends leaving Disney is not something we take lightly. This company is home to the most talented and dedicated employees in the world, and so many of you bring a lifelong passion for Disney to your work here,” Iger wrote. “That’s part of what makes working at Disney so special. It also makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye to wonderful people we care about. I want to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to every departing employee for your numerous contributions and your devotion to this beloved company.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed the first of three rounds of layoffs is starting this week as the company looks to reduce its workforce by about 7,000 employees.