Disney Is Reportedly Planning Thousands of Layoffs in a Major New Cost-Cutting Push

Disney has spent much of the year trimming its workforce. According to Tech Times, the company cut about 1,000 jobs in April across marketing, studios, television, ESPN and technology, then cut several hundred more in July across corporate functions and entertainment divisions, including Pixar and National Geographic.

The cuts kept coming. A few hundred jobs, mostly in HR and IT, were eliminated in September, and on October 28 the company cut between 100 and 200 positions at Imagineering.

Now a far larger round of cuts may be on the way. Bloomberg reports that Disney is considering eliminating thousands of jobs, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the report, some managers have been asked to target 20% in annual cost savings. Bloomberg didn’t say exactly how many jobs could be affected.

The savings won’t necessarily come entirely from layoffs. Tech Times noted that the target could be reached through a mix of eliminated positions and lower business expenses, so it doesn’t necessarily mean a 20% reduction in staff.

The cuts are not expected to be spread evenly. Reports say some parts of the company will bear a larger share than others, though the divisions most likely to be affected haven’t been named.

Disney is reportedly eyeing thousands of layoffs. • Managers asked to target 20% savings. • Some operations to bear a larger share of cuts. • CEO Josh D’Amaro aims to reinvest part of the savings into film/TV, tech, theme parks and cruise ships. (via: @Reuters) https://t.co/7Ga6t01C7W

— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) November 3, 2026

Disney had about 231,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, including roughly 172,000 in the United States and 59,000 internationally. The company hasn’t publicly confirmed the scale or timing of any new cuts.

The restructuring comes as CEO Josh D’Amaro faces several challenges. According to the reports, these include expanding the use of AI, weak box office results, fierce streaming competition, and fewer international visitors to the company’s theme parks.

D’Amaro reportedly plans to put part of the savings back into the business. The money would go toward film and TV content, technology, theme parks and cruise ships. The push isn’t entirely new. In an August 5 shareholder letter, D’Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston outlined a cost-reduction effort and said the company was already working through the process.

Disney has made large cuts before. In 2023, under former CEO Bob Iger, the company announced plans to eliminate 7,000 positions as part of a $5.5 billion cost-saving program.

That restructuring reshaped much of the company. The new plan suggests D’Amaro is taking his own approach to cutting costs while still investing in the areas he sees as key to Disney’s future.

Disney isn’t alone. Other major entertainment companies, including Netflix, have also cut jobs in recent months to lower costs. For employees, the latest report adds more uncertainty after a year of repeated layoffs. For fans, the big question is how the cuts might affect the movies, series, and park experiences Disney is known for.

For now, the plan is still being reported through anonymous sources, and Disney hasn’t announced any official cuts. More details could arrive as managers finalize their savings targets in the coming weeks.

The outcome will show how D’Amaro balances cutting costs with his plan to invest in film, TV, technology and parks. Either way, the coming months look set to be another period of major change at one of Hollywood’s biggest studios.

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