In shocking news, it seems the Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Dick Cook, has resigned after 38 years with the company.
This announcement came to the surprise of many with reasons for the resignation undisclosed and being debated. Some sources are even saying that Cook was fired by a displeased Bob Iger.
The major consensus would have to be that, under his leadership lately, the studio’s movies haven’t been performing all that well. This is especially true in the live action department where Disney lost $12 million even with the success of Up.
The major resignation also brings up the question: who will be taking over? Many are pointing to John Lasseter as the best candidate. Lasseter definitely deserves such a position but one would have to ask, will he be spread out too thin at this point? This could terribly affect our favorite Lamp and the many big wigs that do business with Mickey such as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tim Burton and Robert Zemeckis as noted by /Film.
For those who may not be aware, The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group oversees everything from Pixar and Disney Animation Studios to Touchstone and Miramax to Walt Disney Pictures and soon enough Marvel and DreamWorks.
So as you can see, this move could heavily affect Pixar’s upcoming schedule and management. Please post your opinion in the comments section?
(Main Story via LA Times)
Last modified: September 19, 2009
Big fan of Lasseter, but he’s not qualified for that job. And, he’d have to move to Los Angeles. And yes, he already comes across as “spread too thin” as you’d said.
“For those who may not be aware, The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group oversees everything from Pixar and Disney Animation Studios to Touchstone and Miramax to Walt Disney Pictures and soon enough Marvel and DreamWorks”<? “DreamWorks”?
What does that mean???
Dreamworks releases their films through Disney as of a recent deal. Basically, Speilberg’s films (either ones he directs or ones he produces). Not Dreamworks Animation, which is a seperate company. I wouldn’t doubt it they end up doing Dreamworks animation as well, since Disney/Pixar has an interest in animation done in India, and Dreamworks Animation is already set up there.