The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) is reportedly set to lay off up to 1,000 employees in the coming weeks under new CEO Josh D'Amaro.

Disney is gearing up for substantial layoffs, primarily within its recently consolidated marketing department. These plans were reportedly in the pipeline before D’Amaro’s appointment, reported the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

The entertainment behemoth is also merging the staff of its Disney+ and Hulu streaming services into a single app. As part of its cost-cutting strategy, Disney has been consulting with Bain & Co.

Since assuming leadership last month, D’Amaro has not detailed specific plans for restructuring Disney. However, sources told the publication that fostering quicker and more efficient collaboration across different divisions is one of his priorities.

The Walt Disney Co. did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comments.

Past Layoffs At Disney

This move comes on the heels of previous reports indicating layoffs at Disney. In June, the media giant was reportedly set to lay off several hundred employees across its film, television, and corporate finance divisions, impacting teams such as marketing, publicity, casting, and development worldwide.

The company also laid off nearly 6% of staff, fewer than 200 employees, across ABC News and its Disney Entertainment Networks in March 2025. Moreover, in 2023, Disney slashed 7,000 roles to help achieve $5.5 billion in cost savings.

Challenges Ahead Of D'Amaro

Since taking over as CEO on March 18, D’Amaro has faced early challenges, including setbacks in two major tech bets. Epic Games cut 1,000 jobs after newer Fortnite versions underperformed, raising concerns about Disney's $1.5 billion digital universe bet. Meanwhile, OpenAI shut down its Sora video tool, ending a planned $1 billion partnership with Disney.

While its Q1 earnings beat expectations, the company warned that Experiences’ income growth may be modest next quarter due to weaker international visits and new attraction costs.

Despite these hurdles, analysts see potential for a turnaround under D’Amaro’s leadership, given his push to deepen fan engagement through technology and his plans to expand Disney+ into a broader platform for games and interactive experiences. Analysts also believe that D’Amaro’s leadership could help improve execution across content, streaming, and theme parks.

According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Disney has a growth score of 96.95 and a value rating of 63.82. Benzinga’s screener allows you to compare Disney’s performance with its peers.

DIS Price Action: So far this year, the shares of The Walt Disney Co. have declined 11.33%, as per Benzinga Pro. On Wednesday, the stock climbed 3.55% to close at $99.18.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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