Time to reel in Hollywood, Iger says

Disney Dreamin' · #1 06-02-2008, 08:58 AM

Time to reel in Hollywood, Iger says
By Andy Fixmer
Orlando Sentinel
6/2/2008

Walt Disney Co. chief executive Robert Iger says Hollywood studios should reduce the number of films produced annually.

"Too many movies are being released into the market," Iger said Wednesday at a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. investor conference in New York. "They can't all be good enough or marketed well enough to drive good returns."

Return on investment in the film industry isn't impressive, Iger said. Disney has doubled box-office sales for its 2007 movies since the company reduced film production overall and focused on making family titles. That strategy isn't always successful. Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian isn't performing as well as the original Narnia film or as well as the company hoped, Iger said.

"Just because it's Disney and a good film doesn't guarantee it's a successful film," Iger said. "It's a good lesson."

Meanwhile, Disney has formed a venture -- Kingdom Comics -- to develop graphic novels that could be turned into film projects.

Disney will distribute graphic novels created by the artists and have access to the characters for its movies. Kingdom Comics will have access to material from Disney live-action films for its publications. Viacom Inc.'s Iron Man, based on the Marvel Inc. comic book, is the top film so far this year.

mickeyspal · #2 06-02-2008, 04:24 PM

I don't want to sound like a complete moron

(stop laughing, I can hear all of you...), but have many of you ever heard of Ironman? I swear I have no idea

who he is, nor does anyone I've asked. Maybe he's only known in sunny Calif. or something? I have no idea of his story either, of course. Someone please enlighten me. - MP

DisneyRoxMyTubeSox · #3 06-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Not to worry, MP! Iron Man isn't exactly the Mickey Mouse of Marvel. However, he is one of the more popular comic characters. I myself haven't seen the movie, but I know the story. He is basically a rich inventor who decides to make a contemporary space-suit type thing and it can shoot stuff and has jets on the bottom of his feet. His name is Anthony Stark and he got kidnapped and was forced to build a weapon. He built a self-defensive armor suit instead. Here is the Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_man

And here are two photos (one in the comic book and one in the movie)

mickeyspal · #4 06-02-2008, 10:56 PM

Thank you TS, you are a friend and a gentleman! Ummm, he's not very photogenic is he? Kind of clunky looking for a Super Hero, but as long as he's a good guy,I'm all for him. - MP

BelleLovesTheBeast · #5 06-03-2008, 12:06 AM

I only know of 2 people that know Ironman - The Beast and my friend Marty. Both were comic book nerds growing up and can tell you all about the different comic book characters. Ironman is The Beasts favorite comic book hero. So I took him to see the movie. To my surprise it was a really good movie. Prior to that....had no idea who he was.