Disney EMEA employees prepare for layoffs and budget cuts

EXCLUSIVE: Disney’s international teams are preparing for layoffs and content reduction.

Several sources inside and outside the Mouse House told Deadline that they expect layoffs and budget cuts to come soon and that those plans are currently being finalized.

We are aware that Disney employs approximately 5,000 people outside the United States, approximately 40% of whom are based in Hammersmith, West London and other locations in Europe and Asia. Based in the UK capital, Disney+’s content team reports to Diego Londono, the organisation’s EVP, Media Networks and Content, while Boots is on the ground in key territories such as France and Germany.

Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly traveled to London late last month, where he met with staff and visited studios where Disney films are made.

Disney’s shareholder meeting was held yesterday and the first of three rounds of about 7,000 layoffs began last week as CEO Bob Iger targeted $5.5 billion in cost savings. The managers have finalized the details of the new structure. Sources described the second round – which is likely to take place in a few weeks – as “the big one” and a “bloodbath”. The third is expected before the summer.

Outside the US, insiders say they are waiting with bated breath. Since Disney+’s content teams are the most numerous, they are likely to face budget cuts, but areas such as marketing and legal are also under threat. It is currently unclear whether the international redundancies are part of the 7,000 or are additional.

A source said: “There will undoubtedly be cuts so we are awaiting names and details on the workforce.”

Another insider said the international division is “right in the middle”. [the decision-making]’ although this source expects to be hit harder by cuts than layoffs. If layoffs are part of the plan, different labor laws in the UK may take longer to organize than the US.

Some of the jitters stemmed from the impending departure of Rebecca Campbell, president of International Operations, whose departure was announced a day after Iger’s planned layoffs were announced in February. “Those who report to her will be concerned,” a source said.

Campbell is leaving in June after a transition period and there is no word on her replacement. She is credited with launching Disney+ in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia, as well as overseeing the Star+ streamer in Latin America. She is leaving after 26 years.

The news comes after a period when US streamers’ international divisions were largely shielded from the massive layoffs, which were also announced by Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Streamers see growth and subscription opportunities outside the US and want to continue riding the non-English content wave created by the likes Squid Game.

Disney+ has been ambitious since establishing a content team outside the US, aiming for 60 international originals in its first two years, a goal that was on track before the US layoffs. Speaking to Deadline in October, Londono dismissed any notion that he would “change direction” due to the changing climate, but since then things have moved on and unforeseen changes have occurred.

Disney+’s top international originals include, among others Unusual of kill Eve Producer Sid Gentle, France Ousekin And parallels and that of Italy The ignorant angels. Shows in production involve the big budget thousand strokes, It is an upcoming Victorian era drama written by Steven Knight and starring Stephen Graham, Malachi Kirby and The crown Erin Doherty, along with adventure series nautilus and an Australian adaptation of The smart runaway.

Disney is gearing up for Star Wars Celebration Europe this week in London. The events begin on Friday (April 7) at London’s ExCel Center and will take place over the Easter weekend and finish on Monday evening.

Disney declined to comment on the clips.