Disney’s Bob Iger pulls back the curtain at ‘Ultimate Fan Event’
It plays more like an all-star rock concert than a corporate rollout of Disney releases: 12,000 screaming fans packed into Honda Center, and a stage lit up by smoke effects, lasers, explosions, a cavalcade of big names and stars, Broadway-level productions, plus David Blaine pulling off a stadium-wide card trick at the end.
That’s the setting for D23’s Disney Entertainment Showcase this year. While this opening night is always HUGE for D23—the three-day “Ultimate Fan Event” that blends cosplaying fans, floors of interactive fan sites, behind-the-scenes panels and exclusive merchandise—this one now expands from its homebase of Anaheim Convention Center to Honda Center.
This year, fans were treated to a roster of big names, big stars, and big upcoming releases: from Studios Marvel CEO Kevin Feige to newly inducted Disney Legend James Cameron, Dwayne Johnson to Jude Law, Zoe Saldana to Gal Gadot, Jeff Bridges to Jared Leto, directors Ryan Coogler, Jon Favreau and Barry Jenkins, Anthony Mackie to Diego Luna, video messages from Deadpool’s Ryan Reynolds, Pedro Pascal and the new Fantastic Four, plus Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan… the list goes on from there.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan announcing 'Freakier Friday' with host Yvette Nicole Brown.
But for many fans out there and those in media, the whispered wish was this:
“I just want to see Bob.”
Dwayne Johnson announced 'Moana 2' and 'Monster Jam.'
For those following D23, spotting Disney CEO Bob Iger himself has become a bucket list priority. Like the “Hidden Mickeys” of Disneyland, fans crane their necks when they sense Iger himself is actually in the park, the way they might’ve when Walt Disney himself used to drive a green jalopy up Main Street, U.S.A. back in the day. Maybe it’s because this year’s D23 seems pivotal, as Disney looks again to balancing its books and expanding once again. (Disneyland Resort president Kevin Potrock announced an upcoming $1.5 billion expansion of its theme park properties, which is just—phew!)
So seeing Iger take the stage at Honda Center can be compared to watching a smiling, avatar-like Steve Jobs stoking a crowd at a classic Apple rollout except with multiple “Just one more thing”s in store.
“Who else but Disney could pull off a weekend like D23?” Iger asked the huge crowd Friday night. “Our deep bond with fans, forged over a century of storytelling, is stronger today than ever before—driven by the unmatched strength of our creative studios, the wide appeal of our brands and franchises, and the innovative ways that we bring our stories to life in our theme parks and experiences.”
Disney is in fact focused on “four key pillars” at this moment:
- Reinvigorating creativity at Disney’s film studios
- Achieving significant profitability in streaming
- Positioning ESPN for the future and turning it into the preeminent digital sports platform, and
- Turbocharging long-term growth in the company’s Experiences business, including domestic and international Parks and the Disney Cruise Line.
Some of those pillars were affected by COVID, which also simultaneously boosted streaming platforms, chiefly its signature Disney+. Studio films were a mix of massive successes (record-breaking Inside Out 2, Avatar: The Way of Water, Deadpool & Wolverine, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Little Mermaid, et al) balanced against some disappointments.
Iger, who stepped down from the top Disney spot only to return as the company’s forward-facing CEO again in 2022, set out how Disney’s successes emanate from Walt’s “flywheel” model of creativity.
Kathryn Hahn did a witchy turn for 'Agatha All Along' spinoff from 'WandaVision' on Disney+
“While each of our businesses might seem different from one another, in fact, they fuel each other in ways that are just distinctly Disney,” Iger said. “They are bound by a common mission: to tell great stories… and to bring you those stories in the most modern, relevant and compelling ways.”
Iger added that the world needs to be entertained, maybe even more so now than ever. That is both Disney’s mission and its message.
“We take that responsibility seriously,” he said. “We are grateful for every moment, every memory that we’re fortunate enough to be part of. And we’re grateful to you for caring so much about the things we create and inviting Disney into your lives in such profound ways.”
D23 is something else, for fans and for Iger: “It gives Disney the chance to pull back the curtain” and offer fans “a glimpse of the vast array of creativity, talent, and innovation that powers our wonderful company.”
For Disney’s ultimate fans, having the CEO himself onstage to pull back the curtain is a wish come true.
