Disney

Disney boss Bob Iger steps down as chief executive

Disney said it had appointed Bob Chapek, who previously ran the company's parks and products division, to replace him.

Mr Iger will remain Disney's executive chairman until the end of next year to direct "creative endeavours".

The move came as a surprise.

Mr Iger, who is considered by many to be the most powerful man in Hollywood, had served as chief executive since 2005. He has previously announced plans to retire only to push back his departure date.

     

Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone fans mock remake news

Disney announced it'll be rebooting the classic family movie for its streaming service Disney Plus, with Night at the MuseumCheaper by the Dozen and Diary of a Wimpy Kid remakes also in the works.

The company, which owns franchises like Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar along with recently acquiring 20th Century Fox, is making billions remaking older properties such as The Lion KingAladdin and Dumbo.

But Home Alone may be a step too far, according to many social media users.

Disney star Cameron Boyce dies aged 20

Boyce suffered a seizure as a result of an ongoing medical problem, his family said.

"It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron," a family spokesperson said.

"He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated.

How Avengers put Disney at the top of the charts

More than 90% of the value of all tickets sold in UK cinemas last weekend was for Avengers: Endgame.

Within five days it had become the fastest film to break the $1bn sales barrier worldwide.

But more significantly, it is the latest evidence that Walt Disney is now the world's biggest box-office player.

Of the 10 films with the biggest worldwide sales in their opening weekend, Disney has distributed five.

Variety magazine reported that Disney took one fifth of all global box office takings in 2018.

Disney seeks patent for a 'humanoid robot' that can play a character

A new patent application from Disney (DIS) suggests it's something the company has considered.

Disney's live-action remakes explained: Why now and what's coming?

This week Beauty and the Beast is the latest to hit the big screen, with a CGI-packed blockbuster take on the 1991 animation.

These remakes are bringing in big bucks for Disney and the studio has even more planned in the coming years.

But are they any good, who are they for, and why are we seeing this cartoon-to-live-action trend now?

Amy Schumer 'bummed' over Barbie film departure

The comedian and Trainwreck star was attached to appear in the famous toy's live-action debut - but has now pulled out, saying she's just too darn busy.

"Sadly, I'm no longer able to commit to Barbie due to scheduling conflicts," the actress told Variety.

"I'm bummed, but look forward to seeing Barbie on the big screen." No replacement has been announced for the film, which is due out next summer.

Hollywood screenwriter accuses Disney of stealing ideas for Zootopia

Gary Goldman, whose credits include Total Recall and Minority Report, is suing the firm and says elements of the film are based on his work.

He claims Disney copied themes, settings, plot, characters and dialogue and the title of his Zootopia concept.

Mr Goldman also claims he pitched the idea to the studio in 2000 and 2009.

The copyright infringement case suggests Disney works in "a culture that not only accepts the unauthorised copying of others' original material, but encourages it".

'Beauty and the Beast' nabs $350 million worldwide

Of that total, $170 million came at theaters in North America.

The domestic total exceeded what people in the industry had expected, and it broke the record for the biggest box office opening in March. The record had been held by last year's opening of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." It's also the best opening weekend of 2017 so far.

Disney's blockbuster formula for rebooting tales as old as time

Starring Emma Watson, "Beauty and the Beast" is another reimagined tale for Disney that follows box office hits "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), "Maleficent" (2014), "Cinderella" (2015) and most recently, "The Jungle Book."

Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios motion picture production, told CNN the company's strategy of adapting its animated classics for contemporary audiences can be traced back to Walt Disney himself.