Maribel Ramos-Weiner
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger made a triumphant return to the Upfronts stage after a 30-year absence. Leading the company’s 2024 presentation at the North Javits Center, Iger last graced a pre-sales event in 1994 when he served as president of ABC.
Exuding tremendous optimism about the future, Iger took the stage after a warm introduction by actress and two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone.
“Today, I think we’re incredibly fortunate to have a captain like Bob Iger at the helm of Walt’s studio, navigating the company through a changing landscape of innovation and technology, while ensuring that the magical essence of imagination and storytelling are at the heart of everything,” Stone said.
“Disney is the embodiment of creative excellence, of great and bold storytelling, of quality and innovation,” Iger emphasized. He recognized the great change that the industry is going through, but indicated that “what has not changed is telling good stories, something that Disney does very well.”
The event featured over 150 of the biggest and brightest stars and leaned into the company’s unique ability to inspire nostalgia across generations, connecting consumers around the world.
ONE IN TWO PEOPLE CONNECT WITH DISNEY
Rita Ferro, president of Global Advertising Sales, highlighted how Disney delivers for advertisers with its revolutionary and innovative approach to technology, and how it delivers for fans by harnessing the power of the Disney ecosystem to provide an unparalleled experience across all platforms. Welcomed by a special animated clip of Family Guy, Ferro jumped from the screen to the stage to accentuate Disney’s unmatched reach and impact. “One in two people connect with Disney around the world every single day.”
Rita Ferro, president of Global Advertising Sales, highlighted how Disney delivers for advertisers with its revolutionary and innovative approach to technology
Highlighting Nielsen’s latest data, Ferro pointed out that Disney dominated content distribution in April with a commanding 11.5% share. YouTube followed closely behind at 9.7%, while Paramount and NBCUniversal were neck-and-neck at 9% each. Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix tied for fourth with 8.1% apiece, and Prime Video trailed in fifth with 2.8%.
TALENT & CREATIVES
Featuring A-list talent and creatives from its award-winning content across ABC, ABC News, Disney+, Disney Television Studios, ESPN, FX, Hulu, National Geographic, Onyx Collective, Walt Disney Studios, and more, the global entertainment powerhouse previewed upcoming programming in the main presentation hall, taking over 350 feet of linear LED tiles and four cosmic hero screens in front of nearly 4,000 guests.
A star-studded lineup graced the stage at the Disney Upfront, including athletes, sportscasters, and news anchors. Representing the streaming world, stars from Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” – Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez – made an appearance. Gomez stole the show by announcing her new series, Wizards: Beyond Waverly Place. James Marsden and Sterling K. Brown presented Paradise, a new show from the producers of This Is Us. Ellen Pompeo, from Grey’s Anatomy, introduced her upcoming Hulu series, Natalia, where she’ll play both lead actress and producer. Michelle Williams took the stage to promote her new Hulu series, Dying for Sex. Musicians joined the mix as well, with Bruce Springsteen announcing a part-documentary, part-concert series featuring the E Street Band on Disney+. Ryan Reynolds then hyped the upcoming Underdogs documentary series, set to debut on National Geographic in 2025. ABC showcased its upcoming scripted series with a teaser for High Potential.
And in a special moment, premiere dates were also announced for the eagerly awaited Marvel Studios’ series, Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again. Sharing the news on-stage were members of the star-studded casts, including Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Joe Locke, Charlie Cox, and Vincent D’Onofrio. The witchy, mysterious series, featuring Hahn, will debut on September 18 with two episodes on Disney+, and Daredevil: Born Again comes to Disney+ in March 2025. Marvel fans were also surprised with an exclusive first look at Ironheart, featuring Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos, set to arrive on Disney+ next year.
The presentation ended with a fiery roast from Jimmy Kimmel, a staple of Disney’s Upfront: “Remember when Netflix thought they were above all this? They came in — destroyed commercial television — and now — guess what they want to sell you? Commercials on television.”
