Alan Horn Left The Place of Magic For A Land of Discovery

That sound you hear is the tectonic plates shifting as the elephantine shoes of Alan Horn, Walt Disney Company’s former chairman and chief creative officer, walk out of retirement to consult David Zaslav at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), beginning August 1.  

Zaslav’s edict was bringing on someone “as we transition our film business and hone our motion picture strategy.” That someone is Alan Horn. It’s important to note that he isn’t just riding shotgun at WBD for DC Films. Warner Bros. is the engine behind other film groups, such as New Line Cinema, Warner Animation Group, and HBO Max.

Horn, 78, was the chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company during its halcyon days and unprecedented growth over the past decade. Today, his name is one of the most revered among all movie studios for his track records and a laundry list of achievements. The news arrived on Earth from Mount Olympus, or whatever the hell Zaslav calls his new fiefdom these days. (Actually, it was a staff memo, but that’s technical semantics.) Here goes:

I am thrilled to share with you that Alan Horn, one of the most respected studio executives in the industry, has agreed to assist me in a consultant role during this transition period, starting August 1. No one knows this business better than Alan does. He has had an extraordinary career spanning nearly half a century.

Most recently, he served as chairman and later co-chairman and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Studios, where for a period of nearly 10 years, he oversaw the production of all motion pictures and the integration of Lucasfilm and the Fox film studios, as well as the expansion into producing content for Disney’s streaming services.

Variety, July 28, 2022

Follow Alan Horn and His Glorious Fingerprints

Alan Horn has a serious Midas Touch in the entertainment industry. He has been the creative force and marketing muscle behind some of the most profitable franchises in cinematic history. We’re talking Lucasfilm, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Disney usurping Fox, and Warner Bros.

It’s time to come home, Mr. Horn, but first, let’s hear from the Wonderful Wizard of Disney:

Alan has had a profound impact on the entertainment industry and audiences worldwide. We have been very fortunate to have Alan at the helm of our studio for nearly a decade, presiding over an unprecedented period of growth and exceptional storytelling, while solidifying his reputation as one of the industry’s true icons. Like so many, I will be forever grateful for his strong support, wise counsel and enduring friendship

Bob Iger, Disney executive chairman, CNBC

Before Alan Horn took over for the unceremoniously ousted Disney chairman Rich Ross in 2012, he was president and COO of Warner Bros. See the year? That means he was gale force wind behind both the Harry Potter franchise and the beloved “Nolanverse.” The guy knows a great cinematic franchise when he sees one. Once he traversed over to Disney, he had sway over Kevin Feige for the Infinity Saga. And in his free time, he had a few words to share with JJ Abrams as he was rebooting Star Wars. 

If you need more convincing that David Zaslav just pulled the coup of the century to resurrect DC Films, Bob Iger wrote in his autobiography that Alan Horn was his best hire in 15 years! During his illustrious 50-year career, wherever Alan Horn has walked, that has become sacred ground. Acclaim, prestige, and a Brinks truck of cash follow him everywhere.

Oh yeah. He also spearheaded the creativity and promotion behind this decent TV show called Seinfeld. This hire is about as huge as the hole left at DC Films after Marvel decided it would own the space. Alan Horn still has the magic, but as the headline reads, he’s ready for the discovery of the future.

And we are all here for it!

Featured Image Credit: Alan Horn at the D23 Expo in 2019 (Credit: Image Group LA | Walt Disney Television | Getty Images)