Dear Bob: Disney Needs to Step It Up on Indiana Jones

by Ray Keating

Analysis/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 12, 2019

Dear Bob,

I just returned from a trip to Walt Disney World, and I’m left wondering, once again, what the heck Disney is doing with Indiana Jones? Please allow me to address some glaring issues.

The first is Indy merchandise. I always stop at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost – while also taking in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – when at Hollywood Studios. And quite simply, the Indy merchandise currently available is underwhelming, compared to what was once offered long ago, and what could be offered, especially when considering what’s presented throughout the Disney parks for other iconic films and characters. And quite frankly, there aren’t too many movie characters more iconic than Indiana Jones.

Yes, I picked up a very nice satchel, as well as a new pin. I have the Indy shirt and a hat – and even an action figure. But the point is, where’s the rest? Where are the assorted mugs, additional shirts, towels, blankets, glasses, posters, and so on. The first three Indiana Jones movies truly rank as classics (with the fourth being okay), beloved by people of all ages. It’s pretty clear that an opportunity is being missed here, which is odd for you and Disney.

My hope is that when the Stunt Spectacular gets a much-needed upgrade for the summer of 2021 – coinciding with Disney World’s 50^thanniversary and the scheduled release of the fifth Indiana Jones movie – the merchandise will be expanded as well.

Secondly, I have written in the past wondering why Disney seems to be lagging on the Indiana Jones front – see What’s Up with Script Delays and Indiana Jones? (July 23, 2018) and What the Heck is Disney Doing with Indiana Jones? (October 25, 2018). I’ve noted:

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion, the House of Mouse not only acquired Star Wars but also the ownership rights to Indiana Jones. So, what the heck has Disney done since with everyone’s favorite archeologist? Oddly, the answer is: Absolutely nothing.

Bob, Disney really needs to step it up on Indiana Jones. There’s the merchandise issue, but let’s expand things in terms of the parks – there’s been talk of an Indiana Jones land – and looking beyond Indiana Jones 5 in terms of additional films (who will be the next Indy?) and Disney+ opportunities. The key, of course, is high quality storytelling and related materials. But quality should not mean a lack of supply. 

By the way, if you need a Kevin Feige-type to helm the Indiana Jones franchise, I’m available.

Thanks for the consideration, and have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

Check out Ray Keating’s previous “Dear Bob” letters...

Dear Bob: When Are You Leaving and Who Will Replace You?

Dear Bob: Do You Have Leader-Storytellers Running Star Wars and Pixar?

Dear Bob: Stream Disney Theme Parks Live

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

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Dear Bob: When Are You Leaving and Who Will Replace You?

by Ray Keating

Analysis/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 28, 2019

Dear Bob,

Your tenure at the helm of Disney has been impressive. And I’m not just talking about the acquisitions of Pixar, Star Wars and Indiana Jones (i.e., LucasFilm), Marvel, and the Fox assets, but also the incredible investments being made in the Disney theme parks, and the bold move into streaming with Disney+, not to mention Hulu and ESPN+.

It’s just a fact that in terms of the history of the company, while each tenure was not without setbacks and poor choices, three names have made unmistakable, positive marks as Disney CEOs – Walt Disney, Michael Eisner, and you. 

Now, having said all of this, I’m not the only one wondering who is going to replace you at the end of 2021, when you’re supposed to retire.

First, I emphasize the “supposed to” because you’ve put off stepping down before – actually doing so four times. And I would argue that you should do so one more time. It would be fitting for you to still be at the helm in 2023, when the company marks its 100^thanniversary. Retire at the close of 2023, and hand over the reins to the next CEO at that time. Of course, there’s no reason that the next CEO cannot be named prior to that point – indeed, most investors obviously would expect that to happen as a signal of a smooth transition.

Second, whether you step down in 2021 or 2023, who is your replacement going to be? I know the board thinks it calls the shots on this, and technically, it does, but no doubt, your voice will carry weight. 

Talk swirling around two people grabs my attention. One is Kevin Mayer, the current chairman of direct-to-consumer and international division.  After all, much of the foreseeable future of the company rides on the success of Disney+. If Disney+ rocks it early on, then Mayer would be a natural next CEO.

The second is Bob Chapek, head of parks, experiences and products since 2015. Given the role and revenue raked in by the parks, and taking note of the investments and transformations going on just at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Chapek has to be a serious contender.

Well, investors and fans await the decision. 

But again, I think it would be fitting for you and your successor to be standing together on October 16, 2023, celebrating the 100^thanniversary of the Walt Disney Company, and then either Mayer or Chapek kicking off his time as CEO at the close of that year.

Thanks for the consideration, and have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, and other books, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

5) Pre-order my next book – FREE TRADE ROCKS! 10 POINTS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW – at Amazon.com for the Kindle, or signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/freetrade.

Dear Bob: Do You Have Leader-Storytellers Running Star Wars and Pixar?

by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 18, 2019

Dear Bob,

I’m starting to wonder if you have the right people in some key leadership posts at Disney.

Over at the Harvard Business Review, in an article titled “Building a Startup That Will Last,” the authors, Hemant Taneja and Ken Chenault, wrote:

Disney CEO Bob Iger has enabled the company to remain an innovative powerhouse by opening the process for creative decision-making to other leaders. As the company acquired widely recognized brands – from Lucasfilm to Marvel and Fox – he provided those leadership teams with autonomy so that they could thrive within the Disney ecosystem. Disney’s continuing success long after the passing of its iconic founder is a testament to the power of a system of leadership that endures over time. 

As someone who taught courses in innovation and entrepreneurship, leadership and strategic management for MBA students for a decade, I like this. But it also has to be understood that if the leadership team is not getting the job done, then there should be consequences. My question is: Does Disney have Disney-style leaders in place?

My concerns spring from recent films from the Star Wars/Lucasfilm and Pixar units. Each film – Star Wars: The Last Jediand Toy Story 4– fell far short of the quality storytelling that Disney needs to produce. Specifically, Luke Skywalker, and Woody and Buzz Lightyear – the key characters in the Star Warsand Toy Storyuniverses, respectively – abandoned qualities foundational to each character. 

We’re suddenly expected to believe that Luke succumbed to darkness and despair, abandoned his friends, and stood on the brink of killing his nephew. This was the guy who saw good in Darth Vader!? Come on, Bob. 

And Woody decided that his core belief that toys find their purpose in being there for a child, well, didn’t seem to be all that important. Instead, Woody seemed to succumb to a kind of mid-life crisis, and abandoned his family and purpose. At the same time, when Buzz managed to be wedged into Toy Story 4, he had regressed from where he was in the first three movies, and became, well, a bit of an idiot. Really? Gee, thanks for these unfortunate changes.

While the writers and directors must take the brunt of well-deserved criticisms here – especially Last Jediwriter and director Rian Johnson, who has shown no regard for Star Warsfans – the people in charge should not escape serious review. While the current heads of Pixar and Disney animation only came on board a year ago, given the Lasseter mess, perhaps they can be forgiven. But they need to be reminded of what was lost in Toy Story 4. As for Kathleen Kennedy, though, she has been alone at the helm of Lucasfilm since June 2013. And her track record raises serious questions, to say the least, given that The Last Jediarguably ranks as the worst Star Warsmovie, with the following film, Solo: A Star Wars Story, suffering the worst box-office showing.

One of the key requirement for leaders at Disney is that they must be more than managers and leaders. They need to be storytellers. At the very least, they need to recognize good and bad storytelling, especially when it comes to iconic franchises and characters. 

It’s time to do a review, Bob, to make sure that Disney has leader-storytellers at the top of each of its divisions. And if not, changes need to be made.

Thanks for the consideration, and have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Dear Bob: Stream Disney Theme Parks Live

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 28, 2019

Dear Bob,

With your company’s new streaming service, Disney+, coming soon, you need to seriously consider offering a few “channels” on this service that simply present live streaming views from each of the Disney theme parks. Trust me, Disney fans would love this.

I don’t know about you, but like many people, I always seem to have something “playing” on the television or on the computer in the background during my day – whether I’m working in the office, writing the next book on my laptop, or just getting some things done around the house. For me, often times, my get-things-done background (as I like to call it) will consist of either a baseball game, news and talking heads via CNBC, music, a podcast, beach views and sounds, or even a television show or movie that helps to spark a certain feeling. I listen as I’m doing something else, and along the way, I’ll occasionally and momentarily turn my full attention to this background stream. And then I get back to the task at hand.

Think about this for Disney fans. As they work, take care of the family, enjoy a hobby, or do some chores, how many would love to be able to flip on a livestream from a Disney theme park in the background during their day? They could enjoy the views and many sounds of the parks – such as music, crowd murmurings, and ride noises – while going about their business. 

Rather than having hosts chatting about anything, the park views and sounds do the talking, with perhaps a bar on the side or across the bottom of the screen serving up information about Disney, and offering all kinds of great deals on Disney merchandise, trips, et al.

Such livestreaming from the Disney parks (and resorts?) wouldn’t replace visiting the parks, obviously, but rather provide another reminder as to why one wants to visit the parks. As for costs, it’s hard to think of a bigger bang for the buck in terms of setting up a few, permanent camera spots around each park that would simply provide the streaming feeds – again, no need for a team of talking heads and accompanying production costs. We’re simply talking a few tech-savvy/creative folks to make sure the streams proceed as planned.

This would act as another enticement for people to subscribe to Disney+, and at a minimal additional cost for the company. As Disney’s CEO, you should love this idea, Bob.

Thanks for the consideration, and have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) A new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – is coming very soon. You can pre-order the Kindle edition, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.