Disney is struggling with the very audience that once made Marvel and Star Wars global blockbusters: men and boys. A Variety report revealed that the company’s push to reshape these franchises for women and girls has left young male viewers disillusioned.
For years, Bob Iger, Kevin Feige, and Kathleen Kennedy steered stories in directions that sidelined iconic heroes and altered beloved characters. The shift alienated the demographic most invested in these properties. Now, Disney seems to be backpedaling.
Studio head David Greenbaum has been asked to create original films aimed at Gen Z males between 13 and 28 years. This is the same audience that once filled theatres for Iron Man and The Force Awakens but has since drifted away after unimpressive releases like The Acolyte and Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Industry experts view the move less as innovation and more as desperation. After dismissing fan criticism as toxic for years, Disney appears to have realised that the ignored audience still matters. But winning them back will take more than PR statements.
Fans want authentic heroes, strong stories, and respect for the franchises that shaped their childhoods. Disney once excelled at this. Restoring trust will now require storytelling powerful enough to cut through the cynicism Disney itself created. Until then, the shift looks more like damage control than a bold new direction.
