The Walt Disney Company is grappling with one of its most tumultuous periods in recent history, with CEO Bob Iger facing mounting calls for his resignation following the catastrophic box office failure of Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Released on July 25, 2025, the film, which kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase Six, grossed a mere $371.9 million globally against a $400 million budget, marking one of the MCU’s steepest financial losses. The fallout has sparked widespread backlash, with fans and industry insiders accusing Iger of mismanaging Disney’s crown jewels—Marvel and Star Wars—leaving both franchises humiliated and the company’s reputation in tatters. As of August 27, 2025, social media platforms like X are ablaze with hashtags like #CancelIger and #MarvelFlop, signaling a growing revolt against Disney’s leadership and creative direction.

A Box Office Bomb Ignites a Firestorm

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, was heralded as a bold new chapter for the MCU, introducing Marvel’s First Family to the franchise. Despite a promising $125 million opening weekend, the film suffered a staggering 66% drop in its second week, a decline rivaling some of Marvel’s worst performers like The Marvels (78% drop) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (70% drop). Critics gave the film mixed reviews, with a 62% Rotten Tomatoes score, praising its visuals but criticizing its lack of “breakout moments” and failure to connect with audiences beyond hardcore MCU fans. Social media posts have echoed this sentiment, with one X user lamenting, “Fantastic Four was supposed to save Marvel, but it’s just another flop in Iger’s graveyard.”

The financial impact is staggering. With production and marketing costs estimated at $400 million, The Fantastic Four is projected to lose Disney between $100–150 million, joining a string of recent disappointments including Snow White ($87 million against $450 million) and Thunderbolts ($350 million against $400 million). The film’s underperformance has been attributed to a crowded summer release schedule, competing against blockbusters like Superman and Weapons, as well as audience fatigue with Marvel’s formulaic approach. Fans on Reddit have criticized the film’s “safe” storytelling, noting the absence of major cameos or ties to the broader MCU, which failed to generate the buzz needed to sustain its box office run.

Iger’s Leadership Under Fire

Bob Iger, who returned as Disney’s CEO in November 2022 after a brief retirement, is now facing intense scrutiny for his handling of Marvel and Star Wars. Once celebrated for orchestrating Disney’s acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Fox, Iger’s reputation has taken a hit as both franchises struggle to recapture their former glory. The Fantastic Four flop has fueled accusations that Iger’s focus on quantity over quality—particularly during Disney’s push to bolster Disney+ with content—has diluted the MCU’s appeal. In a 2023 interview, Iger admitted that Marvel’s influx of TV shows “diluted focus and attention,” a sentiment echoed by fans who argue that the franchise has lost its narrative cohesion since Avengers: Endgame.

Star Wars, too, has faced humiliation under Iger’s watch. The release of Andor Season 2 in April 2025 was met with critical acclaim but abysmal viewership, becoming one of Disney+’s least-watched Star Wars series with a reported 2 million views per episode compared to The Mandalorian’s 8 million. The cancellation of high-profile Star Wars film projects, including those led by Patty Jenkins and Kevin Feige, has further eroded fan confidence. Social media posts have branded Iger’s tenure a “disaster,” with one X user stating, “Bob Iger turned Star Wars into a streaming afterthought and Marvel into a punchline. Time to go.”

The calls for Iger’s cancellation have been amplified by activist investors, who have renewed their push to oust him from Disney’s board. At a recent shareholder meeting, critics pointed to Disney’s declining stock price—down 25% from $115 in November 2024 to $85 in August 2025—as evidence of Iger’s mismanagement. The company’s market value has reportedly dropped by $20 billion in the past year, with theme park attendance falling 15% and Disney+ losing 3 million subscribers. Insiders claim Iger is “panicked,” with some speculating that his planned 2026 exit may be accelerated if the company’s fortunes don’t improve.

Marvel and Star Wars: A Tarnished Legacy

The Fantastic Four failure has cast a long shadow over Marvel’s future. The film was intended to set up the MCU’s next major arc, leading into Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2026 and 2027. However, its lackluster performance has raised doubts about the franchise’s ability to sustain audience interest. Fans have criticized Marvel’s reliance on multiversal storytelling and lesser-known characters, with one Reddit thread stating, “Marvel’s banking on Fantastic Four and X-Men to save them, but they’re forgetting why we loved Iron Man and Captain America.” The studio’s decision to scale back output, announced by Iger in 2024, has done little to quell concerns, with upcoming projects like Blade and Spider-Man 4 facing heightened scrutiny.

Star Wars faces similar challenges. The franchise’s theatrical absence since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019 has left fans frustrated, with Iger’s “careful” approach to film development yielding no new releases in 2025. The failure of Andor Season 2 to attract viewers, despite its 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, has led to accusations that Disney is prioritizing niche streaming content over the cinematic spectacles that defined Star Wars’ legacy. Online discussions have been brutal, with one X post declaring, “Iger’s killed Star Wars by turning it into a TV show nobody watches. Bring back the movies!”

Fan Backlash and Cultural Divide

The Fantastic Four flop has become a lightning rod for broader discontent with Disney’s creative direction. Fans have accused Iger of embracing a “woke” agenda, pointing to casting choices like Rachel Zegler in Snow White and the gender-bent Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four as evidence of prioritizing politics over storytelling. Conservative commentators have seized on these decisions, with some linking Disney’s struggles to President Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024, claiming that audiences are rejecting progressive narratives. Hashtags like #BoycottDisney have trended on X, with users calling for a return to “classic” storytelling that appeals to all audiences.

Conversely, progressive fans have defended Disney’s efforts to diversify its casts and stories, arguing that the backlash is driven by a vocal minority. One X post read, “The hate for Fantastic Four is just recycled bigotry from The Marvels. Marvel’s trying to evolve, and some fans can’t handle it.” The polarized response underscores Disney’s challenge: balancing inclusivity with the expectations of a global audience. Iger’s attempts to navigate this divide, including resuming advertising on X and settling a $15 million defamation lawsuit with Trump in 2024, have been criticized as inconsistent, further fueling the narrative of his leadership failures.

Iger’s Response and Disney’s Future

Iger has publicly defended The Fantastic Four, calling it a “successful launch” for the franchise during Disney’s August 2025 earnings call, despite its financial shortcomings. He emphasized the film’s role in introducing new characters to audiences unfamiliar with the Fantastic Four, framing it as an “original property” despite its reboot status. However, this spin has been met with skepticism, with analysts noting that the film’s $371.9 million global gross falls far short of the $500 million needed to break even. Iger’s broader strategy—focusing on quality over quantity and leaning into established franchises—has yet to yield results, with upcoming releases like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash facing pressure to perform.

Internally, Disney is reportedly in turmoil. Employees are divided over Iger’s leadership, with some praising his long-term vision and others accusing him of losing touch with audiences. The potential appointment of Dana Walden as his successor in 2026 has sparked concerns, given her ties to Vice President Kamala Harris and the polarized political climate. Disney’s decision to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in 2025, following an FCC investigation, has further alienated progressive staff, creating a sense of disarray within the company.

A Make-or-Break Moment

The Fantastic Four debacle has cemented the perception that Marvel and Star Wars are at a crossroads. For Marvel, the success of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will be critical, with Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom carrying enormous expectations. Star Wars, meanwhile, must deliver a theatrical hit to restore its cinematic legacy, with projects like Taika Waititi’s film still in limbo. Iger’s ability to navigate these challenges will determine whether he can salvage his reputation or face the ignominy of being “canceled” by fans and investors.

As Disney grapples with its tarnished franchises, the Fantastic Four flop serves as a stark reminder of the risks of mismanaging beloved IPs. The humiliation of Marvel and Star Wars, coupled with the calls for Iger’s ouster, has placed Disney in a precarious position. Whether the company can reclaim its magic or succumb to the weight of its failures remains to be seen, but for now, the House of Mouse is facing a crisis that threatens to redefine its legacy.