Disney Hit with Major Layoffs as Hundreds Cut Across Film, TV, and Finance

The Walt Disney Company has initiated another significant wave of layoffs, impacting several hundred employees globally across multiple divisions, according to a new exclusive report from Deadline. The cuts are affecting key areas of Disney Entertainment, including film and television marketing, TV publicity, casting, development, and even parts of the company’s corporate financial operations.

This latest round marks the fourth wave of staff reductions in the past ten months—and, according to the report, it’s the largest yet. While no full departments are being eliminated, the scope of the cuts across film and television is described as roughly equal. The majority of affected employees within Disney Entertainment Television are based in Los Angeles.

HULU ON DISNEY+ CELEBRATION – Some of the biggest stars across The Walt Disney Company celebrate the official launch of Hulu on Disney+ at an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with special guest Bob Iger, on Friday evening in Los Angeles. (Disney/Greg Williams)
DANA WALDEN (CO-CHAIRMAN, DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY), ROBERT A. IGER (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY), ALAN BERGMAN (CO-CHAIRMAN, DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY)

The restructuring is part of an ongoing cost-cutting initiative led by CEO Bob Iger, who returned to the helm of Disney in late 2022 and immediately pledged $7.5 billion in reductions across the company. That plan resulted in the elimination of 7,000 jobs in 2023. This newest wave is further evidence that the company’s aggressive streamlining strategy is far from over.

Layoffs Follow a Supposedly Strong Earnings Report

What’s particularly notable about this latest development is the timing. Just last month, Disney reported better-than-expected financial results for Q2, fueled primarily by its theme parks and sports divisions. Operating income in the direct-to-consumer streaming segment rose sharply, jumping $289 million year-over-year to $336 million.

Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World at Magic Kingdom during a clear Orlando day – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro

At Disney’s April shareholder meeting, Iger emphasized growth in the company’s Experiences division—particularly theme parks—claiming that new jobs were being created to support expansion and increased demand. That public optimism now appears to be in stark contrast with the reality behind the scenes.

A Steady March of Cuts

This isn’t the first time in recent months that Disney staffers have faced sudden layoffs:

• In March 2025, nearly 200 employees were let go, including members of ABC News and entertainment network teams like Freeform and FX.
• In October 2024, a major restructuring shut down ABC Signature, folding its operations into 20th Television. About 30 employees lost their jobs.
• In July 2024, approximately 140 workers were cut from Disney Entertainment Television, including 60 at National Geographic.

Epcot Spaceship Earth Walt Disney World Orlando 2010. Photo Credit: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Each wave has focused on streamlining Disney’s traditional media operations, even as the company expands investments elsewhere.

A Broader Industry Pattern

Disney’s layoffs arrive just as NBCUniversal begins its own restructuring, spinning off multiple cable networks into a new entity known as Versant. That move has also led to job losses, as the broader media landscape continues grappling with the fallout from declining cable viewership, a saturated streaming market, and shifting audience behavior.

The exterior of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro

While some media conglomerates are consolidating to stay afloat, others are trimming legacy operations to fund future growth in theme parks, sports broadcasting, and international expansion.

The Road Ahead

With more cuts reportedly looming, questions are swirling about what Disney’s long-term entertainment strategy truly looks like. Despite strong performance in theme parks and incremental streaming gains, its core entertainment divisions continue to bear the brunt of restructuring efforts.

Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube

Whether this strategy ultimately stabilizes the company—or further fragments its identity—remains to be seen.

What do you think of these Disney layoffs? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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