CEO of Disney Bob Iger has made several statements lately about the company’s future and its intentions to focus on quality over quantity moving forward. However, that doesn’t mean he plans to cut sequels from the studio’s slate. In a recent question-and-answer session at the New York Times DealBook conference, Iger said:
“I guess I don’t want to apologize for making sequels. Some of them performed extraordinarily well. And they were good movies too. I think there has to be a reason to do it, beyond trade. You have to have a good story. And we’ve done too many. That doesn’t mean we won’t continue to produce them.”
Interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin read a letter to shareholders in attendance written by Walt Disney in 1966, in which he discussed his position on sequels, and it reads:
“I am a born experimenter. To this day I don’t believe in sequels. I can’t follow the popular cycles, I have to move on to new things. There are many new worlds to conquer. As a matter of fact, people have been asking us to make sequels ever since Mickey Mouse became a star. Right now we’re not thinking about making another Mary Poppins, we never will. Perhaps there will be other ventures with the same critical and financial success. But we know we can’t hit a home run with the bases loaded every time we come into the game. We also know that the only way to get to first base is to constantly go back and keep swinging.”
Iger said he sometimes goes into Walt’s office, which has been preserved as it was.
“I go to his office, just to feel the presence. I know it may sound a little strange, but it’s a nice way to relax and appreciate the company’s heritage. And the first thing you really realize when you study Walt is that Walt was incredible at adapting to change. First of all, he loved technology, he loved using technology. And he also knew that the world was not a static place.”
He acknowledged that things had taken a turn and promised once again that Disney would emphasize quality over quantity going forward The wonders, the latest Indiana Jones and a handful of other disappointed films. But he also defended the studio’s track record.
“I’m not sure another studio will ever achieve some of the numbers we achieved. I mean, it got to the point where if a movie didn’t make a billion dollars at the global box office, we were going to be disappointed. This is an incredibly high standard. I said it very publicly and I would say right now my number one priority is to help the studio change direction creatively.”
We’ll see how their plan turns out. I don’t think they necessarily need to cut sequels, but I like a smaller version where they focus on great storytelling.
via: Deadline
by Jessica Fisher
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
