The Walt Disney Company, once an unassailable titan of entertainment, is grappling with a crisis that has shaken its storied legacy. In 2025, Disney’s theatrical releases have been marred by high-profile box office failures, several projects have been quietly shelved, and CEO Bob Iger is navigating mounting pressure as he plans his exit by 2026. From the catastrophic underperformance of the live-action Snow White to strategic missteps across its studios, streaming platforms, and theme parks, Disney’s challenges have sparked speculation about the company’s future. This article delves into the reasons behind Disney’s recent struggles, the cancellation of projects, and Iger’s desperate attempts to stabilize the company before his departure, drawing on industry analyses and sentiment from platforms like X.

A String of Box Office Disasters

Disney’s 2025 box office performance has been a stark contrast to its historical dominance, with the live-action Snow White remake emerging as a flagship failure. Released in March 2025, the film, starring Rachel Zegler, grossed just $194.7 million globally against a combined production and marketing budget of $410 million, locking in a reported $215 million loss. Posts on X, such as one from @MarioNawfal, described the film as having “crashed and burned,” highlighting its dismal $85 million domestic and $110 million international haul. Disney’s own quarterly earnings report acknowledged Snow White as a flop, alongside Captain America: Brave New World, signaling a broader trend of underperformance.

The reasons for Snow White’s failure are multifaceted. Critics, including Variety and CBR, pointed to a disjointed narrative that struggled to balance modern feminist themes with the original fairy tale’s charm. The film’s CGI-heavy depiction of the Seven Dwarfs was widely panned, with The New Yorker likening the visuals to an “A.I.-generated” product. Additionally, controversies surrounding Zegler’s comments about the 1937 classic’s “outdated” themes alienated some fans, as noted by @iLoveJaneAdams on X, who argued that Disney “mocked its audience” and lost credibility. The film’s 42% Rotten Tomatoes score and 1.5/10 IMDb rating, partly due to review-bombing, further underscored its rejection by audiences.

Other 2025 releases have compounded Disney’s woes. Captain America: Brave New World, another high-budget Marvel project, failed to meet expectations, with Disney admitting in its earnings report that it underperformed. While 2024 saw successes like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, which each grossed over $1 billion globally, ScreenRant notes that 2025 has lacked comparable hits. The live-action Mufasa: The Lion King performed “fairly well” but fell short of the billion-dollar benchmark set by its predecessors, per Business Insider. These failures echo Disney’s 2023 struggles, when films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ($383 million global gross on a $300 million budget) and The Marvels (the MCU’s lowest-grossing film) contributed to an estimated $900 million loss, according to Forbes.

Cancelled Projects and a Shift to Quality Over Quantity

In response to these financial setbacks, Disney has quietly cancelled several projects deemed unlikely to meet its high standards. At a 2024 Morgan Stanley conference, Iger revealed that the studio had axed initiatives with significant sunk costs, stating, “You have to kill things you no longer believe in, and that’s not easy in this business.” Collider reported that Iger’s strategy involves prioritizing “excellence” over volume, a shift from the oversaturation that plagued Disney’s output during the early Disney+ era.

Specific cancellations remain largely undisclosed, but speculation on X and industry reports point to Marvel and Star Wars projects as likely casualties. A Reddit thread on r/marvelstudios, cited by ScreenRant, suggested that films like Thunderbolts and Blade, both slated for 2025, are at risk due to Iger’s omission of them in favor of Captain America: Brave New World and Fantastic Four during earnings calls. Thunderbolts, intended as an Avengers-style team-up of antiheroes, has faced production delays and skepticism about its necessity, while Blade’s troubled development, marked by multiple writer and director changes, has raised doubts about its viability. Similarly, ScreenRant noted that Star Wars projects like Rogue Squadron and Taika Waititi’s untitled film are likely shelved, with Disney focusing on the “Mandoverse” (The Mandalorian and Grogu, Ahsoka Season 2).

This pivot reflects Iger’s acknowledgment of past mistakes. In 2023, he admitted to CNBC that Disney’s focus on quantity for Disney+ diluted quality, particularly for Marvel, which expanded into TV series like She-Hulk and Hawkeye with mixed reception. ScreenRant highlighted how this oversaturation led to “superhero fatigue,” stretching Marvel’s creative resources thin and impacting film quality. Iger’s plan to limit Marvel to two or three films and two TV series annually aims to restore focus, but the cancellations risk alienating fans of lesser-known characters like Riri Williams (Ironheart) or Agatha Harkness, whose projects also face uncertainty.

Bob Iger’s Exit Plan and Leadership Challenges

Bob Iger’s return as CEO in November 2022, following Bob Chapek’s ousting, was intended to stabilize Disney after a tumultuous period. However, ScreenRant and CNBC report that Iger has described himself as “overwhelmed and exhausted” by the company’s challenges, including box office flops, declining Disney+ subscribers, and reduced theme park attendance. His contract, extended to 2026, sets a firm exit timeline, with Disney targeting early 2025 to name a successor, per CNBC.

Iger’s exit strategy hinges on restoring Disney’s creative and financial health, but the pressure is immense. Business Insider notes that Disney’s stock has stagnated over the past decade, and activist shareholders like Trian Partners and ValueAct are pushing for results. Iger has implemented cost-cutting measures, including $5.5 billion in savings through layoffs and reduced content output, but these have not fully offset the financial bleeding. Pixflow reported that Disney’s stock hit historic lows in 2022 and struggled to recover in 2023, reflecting investor skepticism.

The search for Iger’s successor adds further complexity. CNBC identifies a quartet of internal candidates, including studio chief Alan Bergman, who faces scrutiny for Disney’s creative missteps despite his financial background. Bergman’s clashes with Chapek over budget control highlight tensions within Disney’s leadership, and his lack of creative experience may hinder his ability to steer the studio toward quality-driven success. Iger’s previous succession plan, which elevated Chapek, was widely criticized, and CNBC warns that another misstep could tarnish Iger’s legacy.

Broader Challenges: Streaming and Theme Parks

Disney’s struggles extend beyond its film division. Disney+, once a cornerstone of the company’s growth, has seen subscriber growth stall, with losses reported in 2023, per Pixflow. Iger admitted to The Wrap that the rapid push for streaming content hurt Pixar, as films like Soul and Luca went straight to Disney+, reducing theatrical urgency. The bundling of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ has mitigated some losses, but Brand Vision notes that high production costs continue to strain profitability.

Theme parks, historically a reliable revenue stream, are also faltering. Brand Vision reported lower-than-expected attendance in 2024, driven by rising ticket prices, inflation, and post-COVID travel hesitancy. While Iger announced park expansions at the 2025 shareholders meeting, including new attractions at Walt Disney World, the financial impact of these investments remains uncertain. The Walt Disney Company emphasized technological innovations like BDX droids to enhance storytelling, but these may not address immediate attendance declines.

The Road Ahead: Can Disney Recover?

Disney’s 2025 setbacks have fueled narratives of a company in decline, with X posts like @GrrrGraphics calling Snow White a “big woke disaster” and @cosmicbooknews framing Disney’s admissions as evidence of failure. However, Iger remains optimistic, pointing to 2024’s successes and upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2 as potential game-changers. Business Insider notes that Disney’s reliance on sequels and reboots reflects audience demand for familiarity, but this strategy risks further fatigue if quality falters.

The cancellation of projects, while painful, signals a pragmatic shift toward sustainability. Iger’s focus on quality over quantity, coupled with a leaner Marvel and Star Wars slate, could restore Disney’s creative edge. However, the company must navigate a polarized cultural landscape, where films like Snow White face backlash for progressive themes or perceived disrespect to tradition. ScreenRant suggests that Disney’s future hinges on balancing artistic innovation with respect for its legacy, a challenge Iger’s successor will inherit.

Conclusion

Disney’s 2025 has been defined by box office failures, strategic cancellations, and a CEO under pressure to salvage his legacy before exiting in 2026. The Snow White debacle, alongside underperforming Marvel projects, underscores deeper issues of creative missteps and audience fatigue. Iger’s efforts to streamline operations and prioritize quality offer hope, but the road to recovery is fraught with challenges, from stagnant streaming growth to declining park attendance. As Disney prepares to name a new CEO, the company must confront its vulnerabilities while leveraging its unmatched brand to reclaim its place as an entertainment powerhouse. Whether this marks the end of Disney’s dominance or a painful but necessary transformation remains to be seen.