Kevin Feige Just Got New Bosses at Disney Under Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro

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Kevin Feige remains in charge of Marvel Studios, but there’s been a significant shift in leadership above him at Disney.

Now that Bob Iger has stepped down as CEO on March 18th, Kevin Feige reports to someone higher up in Disney’s new organizational structure.

Disney has announced that Dana Walden is now President and Chief Creative Officer, reporting directly to CEO Josh D’Amaro. Alan Bergman will continue to lead Disney’s film studios and will work closely with Walden as part of her leadership team.

With Bergman now overseeing Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige reports to him, then to Walden, and finally to D’Amaro.

This change is significant, going beyond a simple reorganization. It places Marvel within a revised structure at Disney as the company works to revitalize its entertainment strategy.

Kevin Feige’s new Disney chain of command

As a movie fan who follows the behind-the-scenes stuff, it used to be that Kevin Feige reported to Bob Iger through someone named Bergman. But now, things are changing – the way information flows seems to be structured differently.

So, Disney made some changes recently. Apparently, Walden now reports directly to Josh D’Amaro, which is interesting. And good news for movie fans – Bergman’s still in charge of all the Disney film studios, handling everything from getting movies made to how they’re marketed and released. He’ll also be part of Walden’s top team, which seems like a smart move to keep things running smoothly.

This creates another level of management between Feige and the CEO, as Walden now has a key leadership position overseeing creative projects.

Although Kevin Feige isn’t being removed from his position, Marvel Studios will now report through a more structured chain of command at Disney, starting with Alan Bergman, then Bob Walden, and finally Josh D’Amaro.

Who is Dana Walden?

For Marvel fans who may not know her name, Dana Walden is not some newcomer.

Dana Walden came to Disney in 2019 as part of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Prior to that, she had a 25-year career at Fox, ultimately becoming Chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group. Disney also recognizes her significant contributions to overseeing various television and streaming businesses before her recent advancement.

She’s now been promoted to a new position – President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company. This move signals Disney’s desire for stronger leadership in creating content for all its platforms, including streaming services, movies, TV shows, and games.

This connection is important for Marvel because, while Kevin Feige remains the public face of Marvel Studios, Walden now wields significant influence over the larger Disney entertainment organization that encompasses it.

The Jimmy Kimmel controversy is worth remembering

Some people might remember Walden most for being involved in the Jimmy Kimmel situation from last year.

I was really surprised to read that Disney actually pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air after some controversy surrounding comments Jimmy made about the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation. Apparently, Reuters reported that Disney’s leaders at the time, including Dana Walden, felt it was the best course of action to temporarily stop production while they figured things out. It’s good to hear that Jimmy and Dana later had some positive conversations during that break, though – it sounds like they worked through it.

Walden isn’t simply an executive working from the back office. She’s previously navigated a significant and sensitive issue for Disney.

What Josh D’Amaro is expected to do next

Josh D’Amaro is officially the new CEO starting today, but early reports indicate the main focus is on his vision for the future of Disney.

According to Reuters, Bob D’Amaro is taking on a key role as investors push for a solid plan to grow the company. Disney is currently facing challenges like a decline in traditional TV viewership, competition from artificial intelligence and tech companies, and lower-than-expected movie earnings from franchises like Marvel and Star Wars.

Reuters pointed out that D’Amaro previously worked in Disney’s parks division, which generated about 57% of the company’s profits last year. This background suggests he’ll bring a stronger focus on efficient operations and business results to Disney’s entertainment division.

Many in the entertainment industry are suggesting that D’Amaro might guide Disney to focus on careful planning, successful franchises, and better teamwork between its films, streaming services, TV shows, and video games. Disney’s recent organizational changes seem to support this idea.

According to the company, their aim is to combine streaming, movies, TV shows, and games into a single, cohesive entertainment experience, with Walden leading the effort.

What this could mean for Marvel

Marvel was already facing challenges. The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t enjoying the same level of automatic positive reception it used to, and Disney is aware of this shift.

The timing of these changes is notable. While Kevin Feige remains Marvel’s chief creative officer, he’s now part of a new Disney leadership setup that appears to prioritize increased supervision, better teamwork, and a reduction in risky creative decisions for its franchises.

It’s still unclear if these changes will benefit Marvel or cause more issues with company management. However, it’s now obvious that Kevin Feige has new superiors at Disney, and the recent restructuring has made that perfectly clear.

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2026-03-18 19:02