BURBANK, CA – The Walt Disney Company has initiated a new round of layoffs, impacting several hundred employees globally across its film, television, and corporate finance divisions. This move is part of the entertainment giant’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and achieve significant cost efficiencies.

Key Facts:

• Current Impact: Several hundred employees are being laid off in the latest round, affecting divisions such as film and TV marketing, publicity, casting, development, and corporate finance.
• Ongoing Strategy: These layoffs are a continuation of CEO Bob Iger’s broader strategy, announced in early 2023, to achieve billions in cost reductions and adapt to a changing media landscape.
• No Team Eliminations: While individual roles are being impacted, Disney has indicated that no entire teams are being eliminated in this specific round of job cuts.

The current reductions underscore Disney’s sustained commitment to its long-term financial goals and strategic realignment in a rapidly evolving entertainment industry.

Why Are These Layoffs Happening Now?

These layoffs are the latest in a series of workforce reductions implemented since CEO Bob Iger returned to lead Disney in late 2022. The company aims to operate more efficiently in response to shifts in consumer behavior, particularly the migration from traditional cable television to streaming platforms. While Disney reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2025, driven by strong performance in its parks and streaming segments, the company remains focused on optimizing its cost structure. The current cuts are part of an ongoing process to achieve a total of $7.5 billion in cost reductions initially set out by Iger.

Which Divisions Are Most Affected?

The current layoffs are primarily concentrated within Disney Entertainment, impacting employees in areas such as film and television marketing, TV publicity, casting, and development. Additionally, corporate financial operations are also seeing reductions. Reports suggest that a significant portion of the affected Disney Entertainment Television staff is based in Los Angeles. While the exact number of impacted employees has not been officially disclosed, sources indicate it is in the hundreds, making it reportedly the fourth and largest round of layoffs in Disney’s television operations over the past 10 months.

How Do These Cuts Relate to Previous Layoffs?

This recent round of layoffs follows several previous workforce reductions. In 2023, Disney completed a multi-phase restructuring that saw approximately 7,000 jobs eliminated across the company. More recently, in March 2025, around 200 employees were laid off from ABC News Group and Disney’s entertainment networks. Prior to that, in September 2024, approximately 300 corporate jobs were cut, and Pixar Animation Studios also reduced its workforce by about 14% in May 2024. These repeated efforts highlight Disney’s persistent drive to become a leaner and more agile organization in the face of ongoing industry disruption.

What is Disney’s Long-Term Strategy?

Disney’s long-term strategy, spearheaded by Bob Iger, involves a significant pivot towards its streaming services like Disney+ and Hulu, while also strengthening its Parks, Experiences and Products division. The cost-cutting measures, including these layoffs, are designed to free up capital that can be reinvested into content creation for streaming, technological advancements, and expansion within its physical properties. The goal is to restore profitability to the streaming business and ensure sustainable growth in a competitive global entertainment market.