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Disney Film Chief Alan Horn Talks Edgier Content For Studio, 2019 Slate and More

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”16235″ img_size=”618×417″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]For some the Disney/Fox merger is all about Disney getting back the rights to their favorite Marvel characters. To others they see the end of a long running movie studio with a rich tradition and home to many great franchises that people fear will all come to an end. Some worry that since Disney likes to maintain a wholesome family first image that movies like Die Hard, Aliens, Deadpool and more will never get made or see the light of day again. Disney’s Bob Iger has said that this is not the case and that they are open to making R rated content but that it will marketed to fans in a way that audiences know what they are getting. Alan Horn who is Disney’s Film Chief actually talked to The Hollywood Reporter about the merger and was asked if Disney would incorporate edgier content to which Alan had this to say

With Fox, we can make movies that right now I say no to. Take Bohemian Rhapsody, which is PG-13. It’s a hit movie and very, very good. But there’s no way we could make it under the Disney label because the characters smoke cigarettes and other content. Nor could we have made [Warner Bros.’ R-rated] Oscar-winning Argo because the characters smoke and use the F-word. We always have to think about the smoking policy. The audience for a Disney movie may not know what they are going to see, but they know what they aren’t going to see. There are certain things we just can’t include because we’ll get letters.

So it does appear that Disney will continue to create films under the Fox brand label and Disney will also be able to produce content under Hulu once the merger is done and they own over 60 percent. Disney+ is and will be for family content only and you should not expect to see edgier content on that platform.

When it comes to Disney’s huge 2019 slate, Alan had some interesting things to say about managing expectations for films such as Aladdin, Lion King, Avengers: Endgame and more

It’s always a challenge because — and I say this with love and respect for media — the thing about these big movies is they get a lot of attention, whether positive or negative. So when they don’t work, like Solo, the media says it’s a failure. I think it was a pretty good movie. It didn’t resonate as much as we’d hoped it would, but the press writes it up in a more negative way than I would. These are very high-profile movies. If Aladdin, which I happen to think is a terrific film, doesn’t work somehow, that’s big news and much bigger news than if a movie somewhere else, like The Kid Who Would Be King [at Fox,] doesn’t work.

Horn was asked in Star Wars Episode IX would get the franchise back on track after the backlash of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi and Horn responded

I just got back from the United Kingdom, which is not so united. (Laughs.) I went to the set, and was with J.J. [Abrams], Kathy and the cast. I watched a couple of scenes being shot and then we all had dinner. I have not seen a cut of it yet, but I watch dailies every weekend and send J.J. and Kathy a note every weekend. It’s a big deal, and it’s going to be terrific.

Horn also stated that there are discussions about future Star Wars films after episode IX.

So how do you feel about Horn’s comments when it comes to Fox and Disney creating content outside their norm? Does this ease your fears? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]