That acquisition, along with international strides by ESPN and other company properties, will likely help propel the media giant, which employs thousands of workers in Glendale and Burbank, experts said.
“I’m very impressed with the Disney management,” said Jason Squire, a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and former executive at 20th Century Fox. “I think Bob Iger is really ahead of the game, and I have every confidence that his overall slate of theatrical, plus everything else that Disney is involved in, is going to generate strong returns.”
Disney’s net income fell 25% a year ago, largely because of broader economic trends involving spiraling consumer demand, although Iger acknowledged disappointing performance from the company’s film division, which included major titles “Up” and “The Proposal.”
Still, Disney executives decided that new investments would be key in helping the studio grow, Iger said.
“Ultimately, that’s the best way to ensure Disney’s prosperity,” he said.
The company’s $4-billion acquisition of Marvel was a major part of that effort, giving the studio an extensive archive of potential projects that could become major revenue generators, experts said.
The vault of Marvel films and upcoming releases for Disney include characters and stories that could influence business opportunities that may not have been possible with other recent films, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
