Disney CEO Bob Iger blames The Marvels Box Office flop on 'lack of set supervision due to Covid' and cheap streaming services - but admits company has made 'too many sequels'

Disney CEO claimed that The Marvels flopped at the box office because there was a lack of supervision on set due to COVID and the launch of Disney+ streaming.

The Marvels had a net budget of $274.8 million and featured a star-studded cast including Academy-Awards winner Brie Larson  Samuel L. Jackson - who is the 'second-highest-grossing actor of all time'. 

After premiering in Las Vegas on November 7, 2023, the movie had a disastrous reception and reached only $188.5 million globally - almost $100 million lower than its budget - with a mere $77 million domestically. 

Disney's CEO Bob Iger said the bust was because of a 'lack of supervision' because of pandemic set restrictions which made it difficult for studio executives to oversee the production. 

The CEO admitted that Disney has 'made too many' sequels over the years - something the Marvel universe is guilty of as the series' movie count climbs to 33. 

At The New York Times' DealBook Summit - Iger said 'I don't want to apologize for making sequels. 

'Some of them have done extraordinarily well and they've been good films, too,' Iger said - adding that 'you have to have a good story' to make the films.

He also revealed that 'often the story doesn't hold up' or 'is not as strong as the original story' which can be a problem.

He went on to say that there has to be a better reason than just money to make a sequel - and confessed that Disney has overdone it in recent years.

But Iger made clear that Disney is not going to stop making sequels - and revealed that the major media conglomerate had a number of them currently in the works.

'We will only greenlight a sequel if we believe the story that the creators want to tell is worth telling,' Iger said.

Iger also blames the launch of Disney+ - the company's streaming service -  which he claims also pulled attention away from the production.

Canadian actress Iman Vellani starred in The Marvels and openly discussed how the movie's box office flop was not her problem.

Vellani said  'I don't want to focus on something that's not even in my control, because what's the point? That's for Bob Iger.'

'The box office has nothing to do with me,' Vellani continued. 'I'm happy with the finished product.'

Disney is no stranger to backlash at this point - the entertainment company has been riddled with controversy recently. 

The company delayed the release of its $330 million Snow White reboot by a year after star Rachel Zegler sparked fury with a rant against the 1937 original and vowed that the remake would be more progressive.

In an October publicity shot, Snow White, played by Rachel Zegler, is seated and surrounded by seven CGI dwarfs - the diverse 'creatures' nowhere to be seen.

It is unclear precisely what Disney is planning to do with the 'magical creatures' and original dwarfs.

But even beyond the controversy about the dwarfs, several months ago, a handful of clips of Zegler speaking about the movie in a way audiences detested began to circulate.

Interviews showed Zegler making derogatory claims about the original Snow White movie and chastising the main character for her dated values.

Not only did the 22-year-old admit that she 'hated' the original 1937 movie, she also described the film's Prince as a 'stalker' and branded the storyline 'weird.'

'I just mean that it's no longer 1937. She's not going to be saved by the prince and she's not going to be dreaming about true love,' Zegler Variety a year ago.

'She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.'

Executives warned investors that the company's products and political views may not align with what viewers want - and risk harming its bottom line. 

Disney also took a strong position against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' Parents' 'Don't Say Gay' bill - actually called the Parents' Bill of Rights - that bans sexual and gender curricula for public elementary school students. The company has since continued releasing agenda-driven content.

Back in January 2022, Disney debuted a new look for Minnie Mouse, which saw the beloved character abandoning her signature red polka-dot dress in favor of a 'progressive' blue pantsuit designed by Stella McCartney.

In March 2022, it was announced that staff members, as well recordings throughout the parks, would no longer include 'gendered greetings' like 'boys and girls' or 'ladies and gentleman.'

Instead, they opted for gender neutral terms like, 'Hello, everyone,' or, 'Hello, friends.'

Disney removed or changed things that were considered offensive while remaking its old movies.

The 1992 animated movie Aladdin contained a line in the opening song, Arabian Night, that many considered to be racist against Arabs.