Disney Finally Targets Young Gen Z Men, Urges Hollywood Creatives to Pitch New Original Films

Disney is pushing hard to get young men back into theaters. According to multiple sources who spoke with Variety, Walt Disney Studios has been asking Hollywood creatives to pitch original film ideas aimed at males aged 13 to 28, also known as Gen Z.

Sources say this is a clear effort to attract an audience that has been difficult for studios to capture. Gen Z men are often described as gaming-focused and socially isolated, a trend that was made worse by COVID-19 lockdowns.

Studios have long tried to convert young audiences into regular moviegoers, but Disney’s approach is more direct: they want new stories that appeal specifically to this group.

Even though Disney owns Marvel and Lucasfilm, franchises that have historically drawn male audiences, the company is looking for fresh ideas.

Sources say Disney is interested in concepts like large-scale adventures, treasure hunts, and seasonal films such as Halloween releases. The timing comes as the Star Wars franchise struggles to produce new movies and superhero films begin to lose viewers.

The push is led by David Greenbaum, who joined Disney in 2024 to run live-action films. Greenbaum, who previously co-headed Searchlight Pictures, has hired Daria Cercek, former Paramount Pictures co-chief, to help find projects that resonate with young men.

According to sources, this strategy also includes developing new projects for properties like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and exploring other male-leaning stories.

Niccolo Messina, CEO of Insurgence, commented on a separate project, saying, “The creative team behind Wicked of Oz — genre veterans James Cullen Bressack, Scotty Mullen, Tom Malloy and Aaron Mirtes — combine credits that span everything from Mel Gibson action thrillers to Sharknado.”

“Together with our wickedly talented cast, the film offers no songs, no rainbows – just blood and bodies piling high onto the Oz sky. Its ferocious fun for every fan of gore.”

While this quote is from another Disney-adjacent project, it highlights how studios are tailoring content for specific audiences.

Disney’s goal is clear: they want original films that attract Gen Z men, rather than relying solely on established franchises. CEO Bob Iger recently said on a quarterly earnings call that the studio will not favor existing IP over new ideas, adding, “The priority is to put out great movies.”

This push comes as Disney continues to dominate the box office. The company had four films gross over $1 billion in the past 16 months, and upcoming releases like “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Zootopia 2” are expected to do very well.

Yet insiders say that despite these successes, Disney sees a need to connect with a male audience that isn’t guaranteed to show up for reboots or sequels.

One studio executive told Variety, “I never thought I’d say it, but it looks like Disney is going to have to start trying.”

It’s clear Disney is betting on original stories to bring young men back to theaters. It will be interesting to see whether this strategy works and which types of films resonate with this audience. What do you think about Disney focusing on young men for new movies? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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