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The Sarandos-Disney Fantasy

After a quarter-century at Netflix, Ted Sarandos is a perfect leader for The Walt Disney Co. as its succession derby drags on. There are serious challenges, yes, but also 100 years of I.P. and brand loyalty to build upon. Plus, it’s no secret that he wanted to become sole C.E.O. when Reed Hastings left.

Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger
Imagine the great digital disruptor of Hollywood bringing the town’s largest and most influential studio into the digital future. It’s kinda perfect. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Matthew Belloni
April 8, 2025

I was at a media investor get-together recently where someone asked me a provocative question: When The Walt Disney Co. finally names a successor to C.E.O. Bob Iger—which allegedly will happen by early 2026—is there a name that would cause the stock price to instantly pop? Something like when Starbucks brought in Brian Niccol from Chipotle as its chairman and C.E.O. last summer, and investors were so pleased that shares jumped 25 percent, or $21.4 billion, in one day—and were holding until the recent Trump tariff sell-off.