Disney’s New CEO Vows ‘New Era of Magic’ in First Address
Disney’s Big Plans: New Movies, Streaming Changes, and a CEO Who Loves Fans
Welcome to the D23 Fan Event
Imagine a giant convention center filled with 12,000 super-fans—people who dress up as their favorite characters, know every movie line by heart, and cheer like crazy for a mouse with big ears. That’s D23, Disney’s official fan convention, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
On Wednesday night, the crowd got a special treat: Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s brand-new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), took the stage for his very first big speech as the company’s top boss.
Important Point: A CEO is the highest-ranking person in a company—the one who makes the biggest decisions about where the company goes next.
A CEO Who Gets the Fans
D’Amaro didn’t walk on stage like a stiff businessman in a suit. He was greeted like a rock star. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. He beamed, clasped his hands together, and said:
“I believe that in order to lead this company, you have to understand what it actually feels like to be a fan. And, I do.”
This wasn’t his first time at D23. Before becoming CEO, he ran Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division—meaning he oversaw Disneyland, Disney World, the cruise ships, and merchandise. So he already knew how to talk to fans. Now, he’s promising to deepen that connection even more.
Important Point: D’Amaro says Disney isn’t just waiting for the future—“We’re building it… right now.”
A Slate of New (and Familiar) Stories
Disney used the event to unveil a mix of brand-new original movies and highly anticipated sequels. Here’s what’s coming:
Brand-New Original Films
| Movie | Studio | Release | What It’s About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Market | Pixar | Spring 2028 | A supernatural animated adventure. |
| Clay | Disney Animation | 2028 | A story about a mentor and mentee relationship. |
Sequels & Franchise Returns (Big Crowd-Pleasers)
The loudest cheers came for these familiar favorites:
- Coco 2 (Pixar) – Return to the Land of the Dead.
- Incredibles 3 (Pixar) – The superhero family suits up again.
- Lilo & Stitch 2 (Live-Action) – More chaos with Experiment 626.
- Camp Rock 3 – The Jonas Brothers are back in their original roles!
- The Bluey Movie – Even the adults in the audience screamed for the beloved Aussie pup.
Important Point: While fans love new ideas, Disney’s current strategy leans heavily on proven franchises (sequels, live-action remakes, spin-offs) because they’re safer bets at the box office.
Disney+ Gets a Makeover: Meet “Verts”
Earlier in the day, Disney executives held panels about the future of Disney+ (their streaming service). The big news? A new feature called Verts.
What is Verts?
Think TikTok or Instagram Reels, but inside the Disney+ app.
- Vertical videos (short, phone-friendly clips).
- Created by creators (influencers, fans, talent).
- Designed to keep you scrolling and watching full shows.
Does it work?
Yes. Erin Teague, who runs product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, shared the early stats:
“Users engaging with vertical video spend double the amount of time in the overall app.”
In plain English: Short videos act as a gateway drug to long-form content. You watch a 30-second clip about The Mandalorian, and suddenly you’re binge-watching Season 3.
Important Point: Disney is trying to “meet users where they are”—on their phones, scrolling vertically.
Going Global: More Local Stories for the World
Disney+ wants to grow everywhere, not just in the US. The plan? Make shows locally.
The Strategy in 3 Steps
- Invest heavily in local original series (shows made in Korea, in Brazil, in Europe, etc.).
- Test what travels – A hit Korean drama might get remade in Spanish for Latin America.
- Scale fast – Disney plans to roughly TRIPLE the number of local original series on Disney+ over the next three years.
Proof It Works
- Korean shows are hitting big in Asia.
- Brazilian content is performing well in its region.
- This “make it local, share it global” model is straight from the Netflix playbook—and it’s working for Disney too.
Important Point: Local content isn’t just "nice to have"—it’s the fuel for global subscriber growth.
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Topic | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| New CEO | Josh D’Amaro is a fan-first leader promising to build the future now. |
| Movies | 2 brand-new originals (Ghost Market, Clay) + a avalanche of sequels (Coco 2, Incredibles 3, Camp Rock 3, Bluey Movie). |
| Streaming (Disney+) | New Verts vertical video feed boosts total watch time by 2x. |
| Global Growth | Tripling local original series in 3 years; using hits in one region to spawn remakes in others. |
| Overall Vibe | Disney is balancing nostalgia (sequels) with innovation (Verts, local content) to keep fans hooked everywhere. |
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Who is Josh D’Amaro and why does he matter?
He’s the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Before this, he ran the theme parks. He matters because he sets the direction for everything Disney—movies, streaming, parks, cruise lines, and merch. His first big message: “I’m a fan, just like you.”
2. What is D23?
It’s Disney’s official fan convention (like Comic-Con, but all Disney, all the time). It happens every two years. The name comes from Disney + 1923 (the year the company was founded).
3. What is “Verts” on Disney+?
A new vertical video feed (short, phone-vertical clips) inside the Disney+ app. It’s Disney’s answer to TikTok/Reels, designed to help you discover full shows and movies. Early data shows it doubles total app engagement.
4. Why so many sequels? Where are the new ideas?
Sequels are lower risk—people already love the characters. Disney is making new stuff (Ghost Market, Clay), but the sure-money sequels fund the risky originals. It’s a balancing act.
5. How does making a show in Korea help Disney+ in Brazil?
If a Korean show is a hit, Disney can remake it locally (e.g., a Brazilian version with Brazilian actors/settings). The story works; the culture fits. It’s faster and cheaper than inventing from scratch, and it builds subscribers in both markets.
Final Thought: Disney is betting that the future looks a lot like the past—beloved characters, emotional stories—delivered in new ways (vertical video, local languages, global reach). And the guy steering the ship? He’s the one clapping loudest in the front row.