Disney Names Josh D’Amaro Next CEO

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Disney’s board has chosen Josh D’Amaro as its new CEO. He will take over from Bob Iger, who led the company from 2005 to 2020 and again from 2022 until 2026.

Josh D’Amaro is currently the Chairman of Disney Experiences, overseeing all of Disney’s theme parks and resorts. He’s been with Disney since 1998, starting his career at the Disneyland resort.

In a press release, Iger said of D’Amaro…

Josh D’Amaro is a truly gifted leader and the ideal choice to be our next CEO. He instinctively understands the Disney brand and what connects with people, while also having the strong, detail-oriented approach needed for our biggest projects. He expertly blends creative vision with practical execution, and I’m excited for both his future and the future of the company.

According to the official announcement, D’Amaro played a key role in growing Disney’s most popular brands by developing engaging and story-filled attractions at Disney’s parks, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Avengers Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and World of Frozen.

Disney has gone through a similar leadership change before. In 2020, Bob Chapek took over from Bob Iger, having previously led Disney’s theme parks. Iger then became executive chairman, but was later brought back as CEO in late 2022 after Chapek’s performance and several issues led to his removal by the board. This time, Disney is aiming for a more seamless handover to its next leader.

Bob D’Amaro will become Disney’s CEO on March 18th, taking over from Bob Iger. Iger will continue with Disney as a Senior Advisor and board member, but plans to fully retire by the end of 2026.

Forgotten Live-Action Disney Movies

1. Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

As a movie critic, I cover a lot of films, and it always surprises me which ones stick in the cultural memory. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is a massive star now, but back in 2009, he was still really establishing himself in leading roles. That’s why it’s so odd that Race to Witch Mountain largely faded away. It was a Disney reboot – of Escape to Witch Mountain, if you remember – and actually did pretty well at the box office, pulling in over $106 million on a $50 million budget. Yet, you rarely hear anyone talk about it. It’s a perfectly serviceable family action movie about a Vegas cabbie caught up with two kids who aren’t from around here, but it just hasn’t resonated over the years, which is a little strange considering its success.

2. Max Keeble’s Big Move (2001)

In the early 2000s, movies featuring determined kids taking charge of their lives – like Snow Day and Big Fat Liar – were incredibly popular. However, Max Keeble’s Big Move from 2001 often gets overlooked. This comedy follows a middle schooler who plans an elaborate series of pranks on his bullies, even the principal, after finding out his family is moving. The movie definitely feels like it came from that era – it even has a cameo by Tony Hawk! – and stars Josh Peck before he became famous on Drake & Josh. Despite this, it’s largely been forgotten except by dedicated fans of early 2000s Disney films, likely because it wasn’t successful in theaters and didn’t earn back its production costs.

3. G-Force (2009)

Released in 2009, G-Force is a family adventure film about a team of highly trained guinea pig spies tasked with saving the world. While it earned $292 million globally, the movie received negative reviews and didn’t attract a large audience beyond young children. With a hefty $150 million budget, its financial success for Disney was limited. Now, G-Force is mostly remembered fondly as a quirky childhood memory by those who grew up watching it.

4. Meet the Deedles (1998)

The 1990s were full of silly buddy comedies like Dumb and Dumber, Bio-Dome, and Wayne’s World. But one film from that era, Meet the Deedles (1998), is almost always forgotten. Starring a young Paul Walker, the movie is about two rich, spoiled brothers sent to boot camp after skipping school to go surfing. While incredibly silly, it’s not particularly enjoyable. Critics didn’t like it, and it lost money at the box office—earning just $4 million on a $24 million budget—which likely explains why it’s been largely overlooked.

5. Tomorrowland (2015)

Despite its beautiful visuals and hopeful message, the 2015 film Tomorrowland—inspired by the futuristic areas of Disney parks—didn’t resonate with audiences. While the film, starring George Clooney, aimed high, a confusing plot and unclear advertising led to disappointing box office numbers. Though it wasn’t a success initially, Tomorrowland has slowly gained a small but dedicated fanbase over time, but remains largely overlooked in Disney’s recent film history.

6. Old Dogs (2009)

I honestly went into Old Dogs expecting a wave of nostalgia – it’s got Robin Williams, John Travolta, and Bernie Mac, after all! But it just didn’t click. The movie’s about two guys who are used to a carefree life and suddenly have to raise two kids. You can pretty much guess what happens next – lots of silly situations as they learn a lesson about what really matters. Honestly, though, nothing really stood out, and I think that’s why most people have completely forgotten about it.

7. A Far Off Place (1993)

Released in 1993 and featuring a young Reese Witherspoon, A Far Off Place tells the story of three children who must journey across the Kalahari Desert in Africa after their parents are killed by a hunter. While it came out during a trend of adventure movies in the ’90s where kids helped animals – like Free Willy, The Amazing Panda Adventure, and Monkey Trouble – this Disney film is remembered as being more dramatic and serious than most.

8. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)

Released in 2010, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice draws inspiration from a classic segment in Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia. The movie follows an old sorcerer and a contemporary student who must work together to stop a powerful, evil sorceress from returning. Despite featuring Nicolas Cage, the film isn’t widely remembered, even by devoted Disney enthusiasts. Because it’s not a traditional live-action remake of an animated film – though it is inspired by one – it’s often excluded from discussions about movies like Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland.

9. Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

The 1956 film Around the World in 80 Days remains a well-loved classic, but the 2004 Disney remake wasn’t nearly as successful. Starring Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan, it’s likely a forgotten movie – it didn’t perform well in theaters, earning just $72 million despite costing $110 million to make, making it a significant box office failure.

10. The BFG (2016)

Though released less than a decade ago, many people have likely forgotten Steven Spielberg’s 2016 film, The BFG, which was based on Roald Dahl’s classic 1982 children’s book. While critics generally liked it, the movie wasn’t a success in theaters. It came out in a year filled with blockbuster films, making The BFG seem small by comparison. The film’s gentle, slow pace and lack of major stars probably kept audiences away, especially since it was released so soon after Finding Dory.

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2026-02-03 17:57