Disney Motion Picture Studios President Sean Bailey resigned from his position on Monday effective immediately, ending an almost 15-year stint overseeing the studio’s live-action film projects. Bailey’s departure comes amid a larger leadership reshuffling at Disney as investors voice their displeasure over the company’s disappointing box office performance in 2023.
“These 15 years at Disney have been an incredible journey, but the time is right for a new chapter. I’m deeply grateful to my exceptional team and proud of the slate and history we’ve built together,” Bailey said in a statement.
After joining Disney as a producer for “Tron Legacy” in 2010, Bailey went on to oversee a host of other projects as studio president, eventually spearheading the studio’s efforts to adapt its classic cartoons into live-action films. This led to remakes of “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and “The Jungle Book,” as well as new adaptations of older stories like “Maleficent” and “Alice in Wonderland.” More recently, however, Bailey’s division struggled to match past box office success, with 2023 projects like “The Little Mermaid” collecting only $570 million on a $357 million budget in the spring and “The Haunted Mansion” falling flat last July.
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According to The New York Times, Bailey is also an advocate for diversity at Disney, taking particular pride in casting Black actress Halle Bailey (no relation) in “The Little Mermaid” and Hispanic actress Rachel Zeigler as “Snow White.” Per the Times,
That worldview — and business strategy — increasingly put Disney and Mr. Bailey…in the middle of a very loud, very unpolite cultural fight. For every person who applauds Disney, there seems to be a counterpart who complains about being force-fed “wokeness.”
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After stepping down as studio president, Bailey will remain with Disney to produce “Tron: Ares,” which will likely premiere sometime next year. “I joined Disney while producing Tron: Legacy, so it seems fitting that I will have the opportunity to work on the latest Tron as I depart,” his statement continued. “I wish Bob Iger, Alan Bergman, and all my amazing colleagues the very best for a bright future.”
In his place, Disney has appointed Searchlight Co-President David Greenbaum to the newly created role of President, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. During his time with Searchlight, Greenbaum was involved with Oscar-winning projects like “The Shape of Water” and “Nomadland,” as well as 2024’s “Poor Things,” which has been nominated for 11 Oscars.
Greenbaum will report to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, who described Disney’s newest acquisition as having “an incredible creative sensibility and eye for film, and a reputation as an exceptional leader and creative executive.”
Ongoing projects for Bailey’s former department include the Ziegler-led “Snow White” adaptation and a “Lion King” spinoff “Mufasa,” as well as remakes of “Moana” and “Lilo & Stitch.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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