Walt Disney is preparing to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, with many roles expected to go in its marketing division, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The planned layoffs, which will affect less than 1% of the company’s workforce, had already been set in motion before Josh D’Amaro stepped in as chief executive in March.
As of the end of the 2025 financial year, The Walt Disney Company employed about 231,000 people.
Inside the company, the changes are tied to an internal restructuring known as Project Imagine. Asad Ayaz, who took on a bigger role earlier this year, is leading the initiative to bring Disney’s marketing teams under a single structure.
The aim is to reduce expenses and simplify how campaigns are run across its film, television, streaming and parks businesses.
This is one of the first major operational steps under D’Amaro’s leadership. He has told staff he wants the business to function as “one Disney”, with closer links between its divisions.
The cuts come at a time when the film and television industry is facing some challenges. Box office earnings have not fully recovered, traditional TV audiences are still falling, and streaming platforms are yet to deliver the level of profit many expected.
Other studios, including Sony Pictures Entertainment which recently said it would reduce its workforce as part of its own restructuring plans, are making similar moves.
Disney has been here before, in the years following Bob Iger’s return, the company cut thousands of jobs as it scaled back spending and reviewed its content strategy.
At the time, Iger said Disney had been producing too many shows and films in its bid to keep pace with streaming competition.
Its theme parks business still brings in strong revenue, but the company has warned of pressure on international travel to its US locations.
As it stands, Disney has not publicly commented on the latest round of expected layoffs.
