Disney CEO Bob Iger Wants To “Quickly Find Solutions” To Ongoing Strikes As WGA Walkout Hits 100 Days

As the ongoing WGA strike hits 100 days, the entirety of Hollywood wonders how long both that and the SAG-AFTRA strike will last. In the case of WGA, this strike is no officially longer than the 2007-2008 strike, but has a ways to go before it hits the 1988 writers’ strike 153 days, the longest in the union’s history.  Disney CEO Bob Iger hopes neither strike lasts that long, though. Deadline reports that on a Q3 earnings call yesterday, Iger stressed how “personally committed” he is to seeing them end as quickly as possible.

READ MORE: Disney Delays Marvel Films, ‘Avatar’ Sequels & New ‘Star Wars’ Films Due To WGA Strike

It’s a change of tune for the Disney CEO, whose remarks about the SAG-AFTRA strike as it began last month were dismissive at best, poorly considered at worst. Iger had a more delicate approach on yesterday’s call, however. “It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months,” Iger said on the call yesterday. “And I am personally committed to working to achieve this result.”

“Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community … that includes actors, writers, animators, directors and producers,” the CEO continued. “I have deep respect and appreciation for all those who are vital to the extraordinary creative engine that drives this company and our industry.” Disney hasn’t released any numbers in terms of cost savings the studio has accrued since the strikes began, like some other studios. Still, Iger did state that the company is “on track to exceed our initial goal of $5.5 billion in savings.” That’s a little surprising considering Disney is on pace to have their worst year at the box office since 2014 despite leading all other studios in theatrical revenue to start July.  

Is that drop in numbers all Iger’s fault? Hardly, especially considering Iger returned to the CEO position at Disney swiftly late last year amid several company-wide adjustments. And no one could have predicted how poorly the likes of “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny,” Pixar‘s “Elemental” and other films would do in theaters this year. But all eyes are on Iger now, considering his remarks about the strikes back in July, and the fact that he’s one of the only executives in the same position he was in during the last WGA strike. Many thought he’d lead studio heads to find an agreement with WGA and SAG-AFTRA sooner, but his CNBC interview on “Squawk Box” with David Faber about the strikes last month diverged from those expectations.

“There’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic,” Iger said about the ongoing strikes on July 13. “And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.” Obviously, the CEO took a much different approach with his comments on the earnings call today. But one wonders how long Iger will remain as the Disney head, despite extending his contract as CEO for another two years until 2026 (at $27 million per year before bonuses). As a company, Disney approaches dire straits, with plummeting stock prices, the aforementioned poor box office numbers, 7,000 jobs cut internally, and the company’s ongoing conflict with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Add in Iger hiring his former would-be successors Tom Skaggs and Kevin Mayer at the end of July, and one wonders if Igers wants to exit what he considers a sinking ship as quickly as possible.

Then again, Iger’s comments about the strikes yesterday are just words: media-friendly and the right thing to say given the circumstances, but only words. Do the CEO’s comments promise a swift shift in negotiations between the guilds and studios? Hopeful minds may think so, but with communication stalled, the inconvenient truth may be that the ongoing WGA strike may surpass the 153 days of the 1988 one. As usual, we have to wait and see what happens.