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Former Disney CEO Bob Iger says The Mandalorian and Loki prove that a Disney+ series can be just as successful as theatrical releases.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger labeled The Mandalorian and Loki as movie theater competition.
Speaking to The New York Times, Iger discussed how some of the Disney+ shows should be held at the same level as movies. “If you were to look at some of the films,” he said, “some of the TV shows that Disney has made — The Mandalorian being one, the Marvel series Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki — each one of those is a movie. So… movie theaters have much more competition than they ever had before.”
Iger went on to explain how the way audiences consume content is changing. “It’s not even about whether you watch a movie on the big screen or at home. It’s just, you have so many more choices in the home,” Iger explained. “Think about the number of TV series that we’re talking about — at a quality level that’s pretty good, much better, from a production-value perspective, than it used to be.”
Iger also noted that this rise in streaming popularity, such as Disney+ recently outperforming Netflix movie viewership, could severely damage theaters. “I don’t think it’s the death. I think it’s a severe injury that maybe doesn’t heal. And what I mean by that is, not fatal. It might be fatal to some,” he said. “However, they will be much more, I think, discerning about what movies they want to see out of the home, where you’re likely, I think, to say or ask yourself, wait a minute, is this a movie I need to see on the big screen and do all that, or can I wait or not even wait, for that matter, and see it at home?”
There is some substance to Iger’s comments, as theaters did suffer an almighty blow during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in many streaming-only releases. Disney famously struggled to balance streaming and movie releases last year, notably Black Widow, with Scarlett Johansson filing a lawsuit after Disney promised a theater-exclusive release. However, this has since been settled.
Iger’s examples of The Mandalorian and Loki are perfect for showing how series and theatrical releases can be on a par, as both Disney+ shows debuted to widespread acclaim and popularity. The Mandalorian has spawned two spinoff series, with The Book of Boba Fett currently streaming and Ahsoka coming soon. Loki has also seen its fair amount of success, being renewed for a second season that is rumored to begin filming later this year.
Source: The New York Times
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