A New Potential Suitor for Disney, Iger's Juggling Act and the 'Elemental' Comeback

Blackstone now has two allies inside the Mouse House [bob-iger-kevin-mayer-tom-staggs]( [Watch Out, Apple – Another Disney Buyer Could Be Emerging | PRO Insight]( By Owen Thomas From Hollywood to Wall Street, all eyes in the media and entertainment industry will be trained on Disney Wednesday as it announces its latest quarterly earnings. And question No. 1 from analysts to CEO Bob Iger should be his thinking about M&A. Those questions should take on more urgency now that Iger has retained former top lieutenants Kevin Mayer and partner Tom Staggs — currently running Candle Media as co-CEOs — in a “consulting capacity” to help decide ESPN’s fate. This intriguing development followed Iger’s recent uncharacteristically frank and gloomy comments that pointed to the notion of Disney shedding some of the assets it built up under his first run as CEO. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Why Disney's Future Is Up in the Air | Analysis]( By Lucas Manfredi and Scott Mendelson Bob Iger bought himself time by extending his contract through 2026. But the Disney CEO still has a lot to juggle when he addresses Wall Street on Wednesday. Normally a punctilious diplomat, Iger sent a shockwave through his company and the industry when he all but put Disney’s broadcast and cable networks up for sale by telling CNBC they “may not be core.” He’s on the hunt for strategic partners to take ESPN fully direct-to-consumer. And there’s still the Hulu deal he has to clinch with Comcast. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Elemental]( ['Elemental' and Pixar Have Quietly Made a Box Office Comeback]( By Jeremy Fuster When it earned the worst opening weekend in studio history it seemed like “Elemental” was a sign that Pixar had lost the magic touch that made it a cornerstone of Disney’s box office dominance for years. But over the past two months, “Elemental” has quietly won over audiences worldwide and steamed along to a $423 million total through this past Sunday, with $148 million coming from North America. While still not a theatrical hit, director Peter Sohn’s romantic tale is no longer the “Lightyear”-esque flop it once appeared destined to become, and has shown that Pixar is not as far off from returning to its past form as it seemed. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- ['The Meg 2 The Trench']( ['The Meg 2' Beats the Odds at the Chinese Box Office]( [A picketer at Paramount Studios on July 19, 2023]( [Endeavor Says Strikes Cost It $25 Million a Month]( [BuzzFeed Earnings]( [BuzzFeed Is Still Burning Through CashÂ]( [Wonya Lucas-hallmark-media]( [Hallmark Media CEO Wonya Lucas to Exit]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Wrap Pro logo] Discover why entertainment executives and professionals rely on the WrapPRO platform daily for exclusive coverage, analysis, deeper reporting, and access to VIP events & screenings throughout the year. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](