Latest news with #Comic-Con
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney Layoffs Hit TV Development & Casting Executive Ranks
Names of Disney TV executives impacted by today's sweeping layoffs are starting to emerge. As Deadline reported exclusively earlier today, several hundred employees are being laid off globally, with Disney Entertainment's film and television marketing as well as television publicity, casting and development, among the main targets. According to sources, leaving is Eric Souliere, VP Casting for 20th Television who had been working on Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story and 9-1-1 series. He is not going far though as the former casting director will be transitioning to casting on the new 9-1-1 spinoff, Nashville, I hear. More from Deadline Ex-'Doctor Odyssey' Crew Members Sue Disney, 20th TV Claiming Sexual Harassment And Wrongful Termination Marvel Skipping Comic-Con's Hall H This Year 'Lilo & Stitch': All The Box Office Records Broken Also said to be departing is Tony Tompson, VP Content Development at Hulu Originals who had been at the streamer for more than six years. He already is pursuing new opportunities and has been meeting for jobs. Lower level development executives, including a manager of drama programming, ABC Hulu, also have been affected. There has been some confusion today as several Disney TV executives are leaving or have just left though their exits are not part of today's layoffs. That includes SVP Casting Dylann Brander Gunning who departed after her contract was up last month, I hear. She was head of casting at ABC Signature before the casting departments of 20th TV and ABC Signature were merged in August under 20th TV Head of Casting Stephanie Levinson, with Gunning reporting to her. Also no longer part of Disney is Crystal Holt, VP Series for 20th TV, as well as Collin Sapera, VP Drama Development, ABC Hulu, whose contract was up. Other recent Disney departures include Ashley Chang who left as Hulu VP Content Development to join Amazon MGM Studios. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
It Looks Like Marvel Studios Is Ditching Comic-Con This Year — GeekTyrant
There are dueling reports regarding what Marvel's plans are for Comic-Con this year. Heat Vision is saying, 'Marvel will break with tradition and not have its infamous, senses-shattering Saturday evening Hall H panel.' This seems crazy to me because they have so much going one right now and they'd have plenty of stuff to announce and show off. But they say, 'it didn't feel like the right [time].' It's explained that the 'company is still planing panels and events focused on its comics and games, as well as a booth that will play off of the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps , which opens in theaters on the Friday of the annual fan convention.' Before that news hit, another report from Alex Perez at The Cosmic Circus, who is pretty reliable, said Marvel Studios was planning to drop the first teaser for Avengers: Doomsday at SDCC 2025. So, I guess he didn't get that one right. Avengers: Doomsday is the next massive team-up event from the MCU and fans could get their first look at the movie during the the event's run from July 24–27. While nothing is confirmed, the idea isn't far-fetched. In a response to a fan question, Perez shared: 'I have heard Marvel will return for SDCC, but I don't expect them to make it a grand spectacle like they normally do with Phase reveals. I think that the main focus for Marvel at SDCC will be to promote their new film, Fantastic Four: The First Steps, which coincidentally drops around the same time as SDCC this year. 'I'd also expect looks at Wonder Man, Daredevil: Born Again season 2, and VisionQuest, and an additional first look, possibly maybe even a teaser of Avengers: Doomsday.' So, the focus may not be a full-blown Phase 6 rollout, but there's a good chance Doomsday sneaks in with a first look, especially since it's already been filming since April. Marvel has a history of previewing early footage for the Comic-Con crowd before the rest of us get to see it. The film, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who are returning after their high-stakes run with Infinity War and Endgame, is already in production and scheduled to hit theaters December 18, 2026. I was hoping that Marvel would show up to SDCC this year, they always tend to give fans a thrilling mic-drop moment. It would've been wild to see them bring out the entire cast for Doomsday, including all of the unannounced cast members! That would be insane! But, it's not looking like it's going to happen. Bummer. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars follows one year later on December 17, 2027.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Marvel to skip Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 amid Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars delay
Panels focused on comics and video games are still on the schedule, and the studio will host a booth promoting The Fantastic Four: First Steps Marvel Studios is officially stepping away from San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H stage this year. While the studio will still have a presence at the July 24–27 fan convention, reports have confirmed it won't be hosting its signature Saturday night presentation in the massive Hall H arena. The decision comes just days after Disney and Marvel pushed the release of Avengers: Doomsday to December 18, 2026. The highly anticipated film had previously been a key piece of the studio's promotional plans, and sources say the revised timeline prompted Marvel to sit this year out in terms of big-screen reveals. With Secret Wars also slated for the following December, the studio is now positioning itself for a larger splash at Comic-Con 2026.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-‘Doctor Odyssey' Crew Members Sue Disney, Fox Claiming Sexual Harassment And Wrongful Termination
Three former members of the props department on ABC's medical drama Doctor Odyssey filed a lawsuit Friday against the network's parent company Disney and producer 20th Television's parent Fox, alleging they were subject to sexual harassment on the set of the series and eventually retaliated against and terminated when they complained about it. The suit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, says the plaintiffs — Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland and Ava Steinbrenner — were hired in late spring/early summer 2024 to work in the new series' props department. The defendants then hired Tammie Patton as Prop Master and her husband Tyler Patton as Assistant Prop Master who supervised and directed the plaintiffs in their work. More from Deadline 'Doctor Odyssey' Finale Upbeat With No Hint Of A Future On The High Seas ABC Chief Provides 'Doctor Odyssey' Status Update Marvel Skipping Comic-Con's Hall H This Year The suit claims the props department 'was an unlawful den of sexual harassment and retaliation,' and that the plaintiffs were subject to 'an an unchecked campaign of sexual harassment for months' by 'Taylor Patton and his male buddies.' The behavior cited in the lawsuit (read it here) allegedly included 'sexual jokes, innuendos, comments, sexual gestures and images, and unwanted touching including, but not limited to: (i) regularly giving Plaintiffs unwanted, lingering hugs; (ii) touching one of the Plaintiff's thighs; (iii) frequently placing his hands on one of the Plaintiff's lower back; (iv) placing his arms around Plaintiffs' necks and forcing them to 'walk with him;' and (v) openly grabbing a visiting female employee's buttocks on set.' The suit said the plaintiffs eventually went to senior production members to report the misconduct including Tammie Patton, and say they were retaliated against by being forced to do demeaning tasks, and having their jobs threatened. 'Even though Defendants' Human Resources Department and Senior Management assigned to Dr. Odyssey were fully aware of Tyler Patton's inappropriate behavior and the retaliation his wife/Plaintiffs' boss Tammie Patton engaged in, they took no action to prevent it,' says the suit. 'In fact, Defendants' human resources was asleep at the wheel and permitted the frustrated managers/producers on set to handle these conflicts on their own. This led to Plaintiffs suffering additional mistreatment, retaliation, and emotional distress.' In the end, the plaintiffs say that rather than taking action against the alleged harassers, the defendants informed the entire props department in August that it was being terminated. That became effective at the end of September. 'Defendants took the 'easy' way out choosing to eliminate not only the wrongdoers — Prop Master Tammie Patton and Assistant Prop Master Tyler Patton — but all of the remaining employees in the Props Department who had been subject to the wrongdoers' misconduct,' the suit says. As a result, the plaintiffs are claiming wrongful termination in addition to claims of sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment and retaliation. The suit also cites negligent hiring on the part of Disney, Fox and co-defendant Entertainment Partners, saying the defendants knew Tyler Patton had been subject to similar accusations and lawsuit on the set of the mid-2000s Fox medical drama series House. 'Notably, there was some overlap between employees on Dr. Odyssey and employees on the set of House,' the suit says. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial. Doctor Odyssey, from Ryan Murphy and starring Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson, debuted its first season in September and is on the bubble for a Season 2 pickup. It was not on ABC's fall 2025 schedule when that was announced earlier this month at the broadcast upfronts. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney Just Dropped the Ultimate Streaming Perk Bomb--And It's Not What You Think
Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) is rolling out a new wave of subscriber perks across its streaming platformsand it's not just about a better deal, it's about locking you in. Starting this week, Disney+ users logging in via the website can snag everything from $10 credits and collectible pins to discounts on theme parks and in-game bonuses. There are even sweepstakes for Disney cruises and premiere access to films like Freakier Friday. Hulu's getting in on the action tooits perks program kicks off June 2 with chances to win tickets to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comic-Con, and Lollapalooza. If you subscribe to both, you'll get access to both programs. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Sign with DIS. This move isn't about adding new users at all costs anymore. Disney has been pivoting toward profitabilityand with 126 million Disney+ subscribers and 54.7 million on Hulu, the focus has shifted to keeping them around. The streaming division delivered $629 million in operating income in the first half of fiscal 2025, and that's the real win. The idea: the longer you stay, the more valuable you becomeespecially to advertisers. And with churn at just 3% in April, well below the industry average, the early signs are encouraging. Disney's betting that perksnot just contentcould be the next moat in streaming. Executives say the new offers are a thank-you to fans, but this is also a calculated strategy to drive stickiness and reduce subscriber fatigue. Perks will hit the U.S. first, with international rollouts later this year. Whether it's a cruise, a collectible pin, or just not having to re-enter your login for the fifth time this week, Disney wants to give you one less reason to cancel. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
