Kevin Feige is still running Marvel Studios, but the power structure above him just changed in a big way at Disney.
With Bob Iger out as CEO as of March 18th, Disney’s new leadership setup means Feige now sits further down a new chain of command.
Disney’s official announcement says Dana Walden is now president and chief creative officer and reports directly to new CEO Josh D’Amaro, while Alan Bergman remains in charge of Disney’s film studios and is part of Walden’s senior leadership team.
Since Marvel Studios has been under Bergman’s studio oversight, that means Feige now appears to answer up through Bergman, then Walden, then D’Amaro.
The shift makes this more than just another corporate shuffle. It means Marvel is now tucked inside a new Disney hierarchy at a time when the company is trying to reset its entertainment business.
Kevin Feige’s new Disney chain of command
Under the old setup, Feige’s path ultimately ran up to Bob Iger through Bergman. Now, the structure looks different.
Disney’s March 16 announcement says Walden reports directly to Josh D’Amaro. The same release says Bergman will continue overseeing Disney’s film studios, including production, marketing, and distribution, while serving on Walden’s senior leadership team.
That puts another layer between Feige and the CEO, with Walden now holding one of the most powerful creative roles in the company.
So while Feige is not being replaced, Marvel now falls under a tighter corporate ladder at Disney, one that runs through Bergman, then Walden, then D’Amaro.
Who is Dana Walden?
For Marvel fans who may not know her name, Dana Walden is not some newcomer.
Disney says Walden joined the company in 2019 after the 21st Century Fox acquisition. Before that, she spent 25 years at Fox and rose to chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group. Disney also credits her with helping oversee major television and streaming operations before this latest promotion.
Now she has been elevated to a newly created role as president and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company, which is a major sign Disney wants a stronger hand guiding content across streaming, film, television, and even games.
This is what makes this relevant to Marvel. Feige is still the face of Marvel Studios, but Walden now has much more power over the broader Disney entertainment machine surrounding him.
The Jimmy Kimmel controversy is worth remembering
What may stand out the most to some readers is Walden’s role in the Jimmy Kimmel controversy last year.
Reuters reported that after backlash over comments Kimmel made following the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation, Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live from the air. Reuters further reported that then-Disney leadership, including Dana Walden, agreed the best move was to take the show off the air and later figure out a path forward. Kimmel later said he had constructive discussions with Walden during that suspension.
Walden is not just a behind-the-scenes executive. She has already been involved in one of Disney’s more politically charged controversies in recent memory.
What Josh D’Amaro is expected to do next
As for Josh D’Amaro, the new CEO officially takes over today, but the reporting so far suggests the bigger question is what kind of Disney he wants to run.
Reuters says D’Amaro steps in with investors looking for a clear growth strategy. The company is dealing with a shrinking television business, pressure from AI and tech platforms, and weaker box office results from brands including Marvel and Star Wars.
Reuters also noted that D’Amaro comes from the parks side of Disney, which delivered roughly 57 percent of Disney’s profit last year, so expectations are that he brings more operational discipline and a more business-focused approach to the entertainment side.
This has led to speculation across entertainment coverage that D’Amaro could push Disney toward a more tightly managed strategy built around fewer mistakes, stronger franchise performance, and closer coordination across movies, streaming, television, and games. Disney’s new structure already points in that direction.
The company’s own release says the goal is to bring streaming, film, television, and games together under one unified entertainment approach led by Walden.
Update: On Wednesday, in a company memo, D’Amaro said that “great storytelling and creative excellence will remain our North Star. They underpin every decision we make. We will continue to raise the bar, take smart risks, learn quickly, and deliver work that exceeds our audiences’ expectations and our own.”
What this could mean for Marvel
Marvel has already been under pressure. The MCU is no longer operating with the same automatic goodwill it once had, and Disney knows it.
So the timing here is interesting. Feige is still Marvel’s top creative executive, but now he sits under a fresh Disney power structure that looks designed for more oversight, more coordination, and likely less room for franchise misfires.
Whether that helps Marvel or creates even more layers of corporate interference remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Kevin Feige now has new bosses above him, and Disney’s latest shake-up just made that impossible to ignore.
