Latest in Walt Disney Studios

Following up the enormous success of a box office-shattering, Academy Award-winning film with a sequel carries its own pressures and challenges, but for the team behind Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, they also had to navigate production and life after the loss of their beloved lead, their king, T'Challa…

When approaching features like those in his Avatar franchise and the fantastical worlds they depict, filmmaker James Cameron looks for "true, universal human experience" to ground the narrative.  In the case of the original sci-fi epic released by 20th Century Fox in 2009, he was looking at "a…

Film and TV public relations awards executive René Ridinger has been named VP, Awards at Walt Disney Studios. Ridinger will focus on strategy and talent relations, working closely with internal executives and marketing and publicity teams. In addition, Strategy PR vet Nikki Adler will be joining the Burbank, CA studio…

As the costume designer for Disney’s Cruella, Jenny Beavan would have the opportunity to craft dazzlingly inventive designs befitting a world of fashion, and to put her stamp on a classic Disney character. Still, she admits that when she was first approached for the Craig Gillespie film, her initial response was one…

In Disney's Mulan, composer Harry Gregson-Williams found the opportunity to put his stamp on the journey of a classic Disney character. In his second collaboration with director Niki Caro, Gregson-Williams would pen a score and co-write an original song, "Loyal Brave True," seeing both of these works shortlisted for…

EXCLUSIVE:  Frank Patterson, who served as the Disney Vice President of Sales Eastern Division, has exited the studio after 17 years, Deadline has learned. Patterson is a second generation theatrical distribution vet; his father Frank Patterson Sr. was the longtime EVP and Head Film Buyer at Loews Theaters. When you…

EXCLUSIVE: Disney music vet Tom MacDougall has been named President, Walt Disney Music. MacDougall’s promotion comes in the wake of the studio’s Fox acquisition and recent content & distribution reorganization. Disney Studios Content is consolidating production of music for its live-action and animated content –both…

Disney this morning has named Alan Bergman as Chairman, Disney Studios Content, with Alan Horn continuing to serve as the division's Chief Creative Officer. The two previously served as Co-Chairmen since May 2019. News was swirling heading into Disney Investor Day on Dec. 10 that Horn might possibly retire, but that’s…

The Barcid Foundation is accepting applications for its third Native American Feature Film Writers Lab, a 10-week program that will take place online in late August through late October 2020. The Native American Feature Film Writers Lab was created in accordance with the Barcid Foundation's mission to improve media…

EXCLUSIVE: Following the departure of Emma Watts at 20th Century Studios last month, the label’s 18-year vet Steve Asbell has been named President, Production, of the Disney-owned film division, Deadline has learned. He’ll report to Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Co-Chairman…

The VFX wizard behind such films as Titanic and Apollo 13, Robert Legato has made it his mission in recent years to advance the art form of photorealistic computer-generated animation. Winning his third Oscar in 2016 for his work on Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book, Legato then reteamed with the director on a CG remake…

The first-time feature director behind Toy Story 4, Josh Cooley faced a particular kind of challenge when Don Rickles passed away in the middle of production, in April of 2017. Voicing Mr. Potato Head throughout the franchise, which kicked off in 1995, the legendary actor and stand-up comedian did initially sign on to…