Can Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro reinvigorate Marvel and Star Wars? Read about the specific obstacles the “parks guy” faces in his new role as company leader.
As Josh D’Amaro prepares to take the throne as the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company on March 18, 2026, the theme park community is buzzing. While many of us know him as the “parks guy” who actually walks the beat at Disney theme parks, he is inheriting a kingdom that is currently facing some of its most complex creative and operational hurdles to date. According to a recent deep dive by Variety, D’Amaro isn’t just managing wait times anymore; he’s tasked with fixing the very engines that drive those queues: Star Wars, Marvel, and Avatar.
The “Like vs. Love” Dilemma in Star Wars
For years, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been the crown jewel of Disney’s “Experiences” division. However, internal reports and Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro himself have signaled a shift in how they view these massive investments. In a fascinating look at “experience intelligence” via Harvard Business Review, D’Amaro noted that while Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run draws massive crowds, many guests “like it, but don’t love it.”
The obstacle here is one of agency and consistency. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro is currently pushing a major redesign for the attraction to ensure every seat, not just the pilot, feels essential. Beyond the parks, the Star Wars film franchise is in a “rut,” with The Wrap reporting that the departure of Kathleen Kennedy and the divisive reaction to The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl spot have left the brand’s big-screen future on shaky ground.
The film itself is something of a question mark, given that it’s based on a streaming series and, consequently, may not seem like a big-screen proposition for any but the most die-hard Grogu fans. There’s a sense that “Star Wars: Starfighter,” a spinoff from director Shawn Levy, is more likely to satisfy fans when it hits theaters next spring, with sources who have seen footage praising Ryan Gosling’s performance and suggesting Levy has recaptured the franchise’s spirit of fun.
Reinvigorating a “Tired” Marvel
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has long been a cheat code for Disney, but “superhero fatigue” is a real threat for the new CEO. The challenge for Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro is two-fold: he must reinvigorate the film studio while simultaneously opening massive new park expansions like Avengers Infinity Defense at California Adventure.
Industry analysts at The Wrap suggest that Marvel is currently viewed as a “tired franchise” that needs more than just a new coat of paint. D’Amaro must find a way to make these characters feel essential again to a public that has become increasingly selective about what they see in theaters and what they visit in the parks.
Some pundits argue the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may ride on “Avengers: Doomsday.” However, sources inside the company’s film division believe the MCU’s health does not hinge on a single title. Executives are pleased with what they’ve seen for the December release, and rival studio heads privately predict “Doomsday” will be the year’s highest-grossing film.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and The Avatar Gamble
Finally, there is the blue elephant in the room: Avatar. While Avatar: Fire and Ash grossed an incredible $1.4 billion, SFFGazette notes that it was internally viewed with some caution compared to its predecessors. D’Amaro is currently overseeing a massive Avatar destination at the Disneyland Resort. The obstacle? Ensuring that James Cameron’s vision continues to resonate with a theme park audience that is being pulled toward newer, flashier competitors.
Star Wars and Marvel are not the only franchises facing questions. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro will also have to determine if Disney should continue to fund James Cameron’s cinematic journeys to Pandora. The most recent “Avatar” film, “Fire and Ash,” grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide. That’s nearly $1 billion less than the previous installment earned. Given the cost of these films, every “Avatar” installment needs to be massive to break even. “If you make $1 billion on the next movie, you still lose hundreds of millions,” notes one insider.
As Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro steps into this role, he is moving from the world of operations to the world of high-stakes creative legacy. Can the man who saved the parks save the stories that power them? Can these issues be solved? Sure! Will it be challenging? For sure! Like many things, only time will tell.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
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