Hollywood Week: Bob Iger Departs, Disney’s New Era, Bachelorette Pulled, Oscar Wrap, Chuck Norris
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Saturday, 21 March 2026 09:50
- Written by Janet Walker
The Bob Iger era at Disney has come to a close, for a second time, as the mantle has passed to Josh D'Amaro, who is quickly setting up his agenda as he attempts to carve out his own vision for the Burbank studio.
Bob Iger Has Left the Building
While Bob Iger, who helmed the Walt Disney company, from two decades, has officially handed off the top job. The question that is on everyone's mind is what does the now semi-retired executive plan to do in his spare time?
Iger has been vocal about spending time sailing with his wife, Willow Bay, Dean of USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, after their new mega yacht, Aquarius, was recently delivered, and he remains on the Disney Board of Directors until the end of 2026.
An anonymous executive explained in Deadline, "Just track Willow," the person said. "If she retires from USC, Bob will stay retired. If not, well, if your wife is working full-time and you're not, it can get a little lonely. I believe him when he says he doesn't want the daily hassles of running a giant company. And while I don't think he'll get restless, sometimes people surprise you. He's 74 in an industry where you have people in their 80s and 90s still making big moves."
For now, it looks like Iger will have a plethora of opportunities, which would each generate handsome fees and royalties, from speaking, consulting or books.
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Disney's New Leader Sets Up Shop
With D'Amaro unveiling his new agenda, the Mouse House remains committed to great storytelling, embracing technology, and operating as a cohesive singular unit with one purpose.
Critical, of course, to his success is continuing to rebuild the box office, from the wipe out of the pandemic. While many scoff at the idea that the box office is still struggling from the pandemic and see the transition to streaming as the actual cause of low box office numbers, the fact is that the uptick in streaming is directly related to the global closures experienced during the pandemic. Entertainment isn't the only industry that took a hit, and while many expected a strong bounce back, it was predicted that the pre-pandemic box office wouldn't return for five to seven years.
As Disney's target focus has traditionally been the mom's with young children demographic, utilizing its strength of developing the tentpole animation films that deliver well globally, and deliver equally well on streaming is critical to rebuilding strength at the box office, similar to physical therapy after a debilitating accident.
Following this, the box office needs filler films, those March-to-May, before the Summer box office blasts, and September to November before the Holiday Season. These movies are those that perform above expectation and then translate well to streaming also.
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D'Amaro sent out a first day memo to staff explaining his priorities which included a three point agenda.
"First, great storytelling and creative excellence will remain our North Star. They underpin every decision we make. We will continue to raise the bar, take smart risks, learn quickly, and deliver work that exceeds our audiences' expectations and our own.
Second, we will embrace technology to unlock new possibilities. Innovation has always been part of Disney's DNA. Used thoughtfully, it can empower our storytellers, strengthen our capabilities, and help us create more immersive, interactive, and personal ways for people to experience Disney.
Third, we will operate as One Disney. Our greatest advantage is not any one business, but how our global businesses come together. When our teams are aligned and working in a connected way, we can build on our strengths, reach people wherever they are, and deepen their relationship with Disney," Business Insider reported.
Read D'Amaro First Day Memo here.
Coming up behind Iger's legacy would be a challenge for anyone, and the world will be watching.
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ABC's Bachelorette Pulled
The upcoming season of ABC's long running "Bachelorette" has been pulled after a video surfaced of Frankie Taylor Paul, the Bachelorette, as the antagonist in a domestic violence incident.
The petite, Paul, a former star of the "Secret Life of Morman Wives," is shown physically assaulting her partner, Dakota Mortensen, who is clearly filming her, engaged in a heated verbal tirade, grabbing his hair, pushing and shoving, and then throwing metal bar stools across the room, in the presence of her daughter, who was subsequently hit.
"She was arrested in Salt Lake County, Utah, following the 2023 incident, on charges that included domestic violence in the presence of a child. Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, while other charges against her were dropped," The Washington Post reported.
TMZ aired the video which can be seen here.
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And the Oscars . . . What Happened?
Days after his first Oscar gig in 2025, Conan O'Brien got the invitation to return. A shining success, his jokes were on point, he was actually funny. What a difference a year makes. During the opening monologue I was reminded of The Gong Show, and the need for the mid-performance Shepherd's Crook to pull them off stage before they embarrass themselves more.
Throughout the show, the jokes fell flat, gong, get the Shepherd's Crook, the presenters were swearing, gong, get the hook. And the feeling was universal, as the ratings fell to four year low of 17.9 million viewers, falling a whopping 9 percent off his 2025 ratings.
Granted the skits may have played better in rehearsal or maybe he just wanted to fulfil his obligation and move on, and the best way to accomplish that was to perform poorly and be done with it.
However, through it all there were shinning moments, the split between Sinners and One Battle After Another, and first time winners Michael B. Jordan, Jessie Buckley, and Amy Madigan each so deserving and thankful.
And there were other firsts, Ryan Coogler receiving a screenwriting award, and even Paul Thomas Anderson, who swept most of the major awards throughout the season was a first time Oscar winner. Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the cinematographer for Sinners, was more than a first time Oscar winner, she was the first female to ever win an Academy Award for cinematography. Casting director Cassandra Kulukundis was the inaugural winner in the inaugural year for the Casting Director category.
And of course, the tie: who could have predicted a tie? In the Academy Awards 98-year history, there have only been 16 other times where when the envelope was opened, a tie was announced. The 2026 tie in Documentary Short, for The Singers, and Two People Exchanging Salvia, brings the total to 17 ties.
The award winners, even those who were unable to complete their speeches, perhaps cut a portion of the opening monologues or skits to allow for winners speeches, were inspirational to the next generation of talent.
AFI Awards 2026
The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that the AFI AWARDS 2026 honorees-only event will take place on Friday, January 8, 2027, at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
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Chuck Norris, Action Television Star, Dies
Action television star, Chuck Norris, who turned his passion for martial arts, and his love of country, into a marketable television action star, died this week after a brief and unexpected hospital visit. He was 86.
Norris' family released the following statement, "He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives," they said, "While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him. The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends," reported The Hollywood Reporter.
Norris, who often played the role of a man with moral compass meeting a crucible, and his best known as Cordell Walker, in the long-running CBS drama, Walker, Texas Ranger. His Walker character had morphed from standalone films to several television shows, before finding a lasting home. He also starred in television movies, The President's Man, The President's Man: A Line in the Sand and The Expendable 2, opposite Sylvester Stallone.
Norris was admitted to a Kauai hospital on Thursday, March 21, and died shortly after. His death was unexpected. Upon his passing he was remembered by Texas Governor Greg Abbot, "electrified generations of conservatives, giving them a passion and voice to fight for the principles that make America the greatest nation on earth." He was also remembered by Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Demme, Dolph Lundgren, and other action stars.
He is survived by his wife, Gene O'Kelly and his five children.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five award-winning screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," a non-fiction narrative, "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," and "Songs of Freedom: A Collection of Biblical Teachings," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
