After 38 years, Dick Cook resigns as head of Walt Disney Studios

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by Mr.Gray

It's time for Lasseter to be the head of studio.

Disney would never let a creative run the Studio, much less an animation director, any more than they'd ever put a creative in charge of WDI or the Parks. It's completely contrary to their mindset.

Megahits or no, John wouldn't have his current title had it not been hardball-negotiated as part of the Pixar acquisition.

[ALIASd]

Producer/director Joe Roth did in the mid-90's with Dick Cook and a couple of others running the various production divisions into 2000.

Roth's efforts clearly paid; Disney led the box office market share five times in six years during his tenure and the studio enjoyed successes with the animated films "Hercules" (1997), "A Bug's Life" (1998) and "Tarzan" (1999), actioners like "Con Air" (1997) and "Armageddon" (1998) and Oscar-nominated dramas such as "The Insider" and "The Sixth Sense" (both 1999).

Joe Roth - Biography*-*Director, Executive Producer, Producer*-*Variety Profiles

Lasseter in the same position would be an ill fit, it would seem an overall waste of his talent and time to have his focuses be shifted in too many other areas.

[ALIASd]

The most recent moment of tension between the two executives came just four days before their Tuesday meeting. The studio had deliberately withheld the names of the big stars and filmmakers whom Cook was going to present at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, the inaugural convention for Disney fans that the company hoped would attract tens of thousands of attendees, a perfect opportunity for the entertainment giant to promote its movies, TV shows and theme parks.

Although Cook allowed his corporate colleagues to publicize the appearance of Nicolas Cage, who stars in the studio's big 2010 summer movie "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," he nonetheless intentionally didn't disclose to them his biggest headliners: "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp, teenage pop sensation Miley Cyrus and directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton. Cook, angling for a showstopper, wanted to wow the paying crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center with a surprise, and he didn't want it spoiled by a leak. Attendance at the four-day event, initially below internal projections, finally sold out.

The move, rather than impressing Cook's superiors, instead exacerbated relations. It was viewed as a classic example of Cook's play-it-close-to-the-vest style, said people at the studio who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak.

story at:
Disney's clash at the top

Studio chief Dick Cook's 38-year career that began as a Monorail operator ends abruptly after he chafes CEO Bob Iger.

Disney's clash at the top -- latimes.com

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by ALIASd

Producer/director Joe Roth did in the mid-90's with Dick Cook and a couple of others running the various production divisions into 2000.

Not belittling John here, but Joe Roth's chops on the business side and as a player in the industry put him in a different league. Joe's a very creative producer and has directed a half-dozen films, but he is not perceived as "a creative." Especially not a niche creative like an animator/animation director.

John would be miscast, as you noted... but more to the point, Disney doesn't give that kind of power to guys with that kind of background. What, John Lasseter is going to cut deals with the Bruckheimers of the world? Not a chance.

[ravencroft]

Originally Posted by disney_leonard

After the Expo I was certain that Disney stock would be strong for the next year. Now, not so sure.

The studio has been struggling for a while. Many of the big studio successes (recently) were green-lit by people who are now gone! I think the change Iger has in mind is going to help get the studio back on track and I think the news is a positive thing for the share price.

[Retrocool]

Kinda feels like the end of an era.

Wonder when Iger's gonna wise up and sell off ABC and ESPN? Not that buying up other studios is really a solution to fix whatever he thinks is wrong with his own.

[Queentitania19]

I just went to Nikki Finke's blog:
THE IGER SANCTION, Cont’d: Does Rich Ross Fit Disney Studios’ Glass Slipper? – Deadline.com

Holy Crap this is the worst thing I've ever even thought of as a replacement.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Any thoughts?

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by Queentitania19

Any thoughts?

To anyone who knew Bob's taste when he was at ABC, it comes as no surprise.

To anyone who knew how Michael admired Paul, it comes as no surprise.

[Queentitania19]

When I read the article I literally lost my breath I was so horrified

[SnorkletsMom]

ye gods.

Walt's ghost weeps icicles.

[Mr Wiggins]

Some people grow up thinking of Disney as a combination cultural institution and national treasure. Others grow up thinking of it not much at all, then later running it.

In the collision of the two is a sorrow that the former experience, and the latter cannot comprehend.

[PragmaticIdealist]

The irony is that the films on Disney's slate that Dick Cook was criticized for approving are precisely the same kind of limited-appeal schlock that inundates the Disney Channel.

[Magenta Panther]

Well, unfortunately, Disney's latest film "Surrogates" has flopped at the box office. This, right after the disappointing "G-Force".

If Cook hadn't been tossed out before, he'd certainly be out now.

I feel sorry for Bruce Willis. One of my favorite actors. I'm sure he'll bounce back though.

I reiterate: every project not already in the can that Dick announced at D23 is now in jeopardy. I wouldn't be counting on, for instance, that Muppet movie actually being produced. Stay tuned.

[Retrocool]

Bob's gonna rue the day he let Dick Cook go.

Imminent rueage.

Disney is about to enter The Suck Zone.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

I would rather see a new weekly Muppet Show on ABC's TGIF than another movie that won't be big enough to garner a real return in the franchise's populatity.