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A new feature piece over at Variety has gone into the challenges facing new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro as he takes the reins at the Mouse House.
D’Amaro has landed in the driver’s seat at a time when some of Disney’s previously unstoppable franchises – most notably “Star Wars” and Marvel – are on shakier ground than they were this time a decade ago.
The trade says “concerns” have been raised about the recent Super Bowl spot for “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” an unconventional ad featuring the two characters riding a Tauntaun-pulled wagon.
The commercial reportedly “failed to generate the kind of excitement the marketing team was hoping to spark,” and questions remain over the potential of a streaming series turned film beyond the die-hard fanbase.
However, they also add that those who have seen footage from the Shawn Levy-directed “Star Wars: Starfighter” have been gushing: “[They’re] praising Ryan Gosling’s performance and suggesting Levy has recaptured the franchise’s spirit of fun.”
With “Avatar,” a decision about its future still hasn’t been made. The recent third film grossed $1.4 billion globally, nearly $1 billion less than the previous installment. The exorbitant cost of these movies is a major factor, with one insider telling the outlet: “If you make $1 billion on the next movie, you still lose hundreds of millions.”
As for Marvel, while some suggest that the franchise’s future will ride heavily on “Avengers: Doomsday,” those in the film division believe “the health of the MCU does not hinge on an individual title”.
Executives are reportedly ‘pleased’ with what they’ve seen for the film’s release, and even rival studio heads predict ‘Doomsday’ will be the year’s biggest earner.
The post Disney’s “Star Wars,” “Avatar,” Marvel Challenges appeared first on Dark Horizons.
