One of our most often discussed topics here at Last Movie Outpost has been the decline of Disney. For a few years, it has seemed like they had some kind of reverse Midas touch, able to turn previously unassailable, powerhouse IPs into failures.
We knew why this was. We talked openly about it down in the Disqus. It was because they behaved like they actively hated their core audience across a number of markets. From making their parks a luxury, high-priced experience, seemingly catering to “Disney Adults” rather than families, to somehow not quite realising that the core audience of superhero and Star Wars movies is young males, every decision was seemingly, gobsmackingly stupid.
Now it seems some degree of sanity might be dawning at Disney.
Reports started in the trades like Variety, then spread like wildfire through the comment-o-sphere across outlets such as The Critical Drinker. Disney has realised it has a “man” problem. In that it has realised that it needs them.
Leadership at Walt Disney Studios has been actively pressing Hollywood creatives in recent months for movies, content, and IP that will bring young men back to the brand in a meaningful way.
By young men, they mean ages 13-28, aka Gen Z. Not so fast, Disney, you have also completely alienated both Gen X and Millennials as well!
According to the reports, Disney has surprised producers, writers, and other partners in the larger industry by calling for original concepts to lure the demographic back. Reports also state that Gen Z is hard to entice as they are much more of a “loner” type than previous generations, less interested in relationships and dating, among other things. Gee, I wonder why that could be?
Their goal? According to the stories, they want pitches such as “splashy global adventures and treasure hunts”… so like Indiana Jones then? We all saw what an absolute mess you made of that. And you also already own National Treasure, geniuses!
Insiders say the mandate to recruit young males goes as high as the C-suite, and the task has fallen on David Greenbaum, the former Searchlight Pictures co-head brought on in 2024 to run Disney’s live-action film business.
Charitably, that particular part of the business seems to have been unable to launch anything of note that isn’t feminised for about ten years.
Why this sudden pivot? Well, they are running out of juice in their previously reliable content, and they are looking jealously at things like A Minecraft Movie that was based on a Gen Z staple.
Fantastic Four: First Steps failed to meet expectations, and Star Wars hasn’t put out a movie for going on a decade. This si the equivalent of a studio having an “uh-oh” moment and sending out the bat-signal.
Disney is effectively the blue-haired anti-patriarchy warrior who has suddenly realised that none of her jars are open, and that there is a scary-looking spider in the corner.
