Disney President Dana Walden says she’s working on whether Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC next year. Kimmel’s contract expires in May 2027 after 24 years on the air, and Walden spoke Thursday morning at Bloomberg’s Screentime about the future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the live-action remake of “Moana.”
Walden also explained why the live-action version struggled at the box office. The film earned $323 million worldwide against a $250 million production budget, while the original 2016 animated “Moana” earned $643 million worldwide.
Kimmel’s Contract and the FCC Fight
Page Six reported in September that Kimmel would step back from late-night after his contract expires. ABC told multiple outlets that news of the host’s departure is “inaccurate” and “speculative.” The denial came after a series of incidents involving Kimmel’s jokes and FCC threats.
In April, the FCC ordered ABC to submit its license renewal applications early. That move came just days after Trump called for Kimmel to be fired for a joke about First Lady Melania Trump. Then, in early September, Kimmel revealed during an opening monologue that “Live!” was moving an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico to YouTube, fearing retaliation from Carr’s FCC.
The “Moana” Numbers
The live-action “Moana” arrived with a clear problem: “Moana 2” had already premiered about 18 months earlier. Walden blamed the film’s box office performance on that closeness, saying the remake was hurt by the proximity to “Moana 2,” which came together under unusual circumstances.
The sequel reached just over $1 billion by the end of its run. Against that number, the remake’s $323 million haul looked modest, even with a smaller budget.
Walden’s Plan for “Moana”
Walden said big IP like “Moana” creates value through theme parks, consumer products and streaming. She added that there will be an event or something related to the franchise.
Whether Kimmel stays at ABC depends on the network’s decision. Walden is working on it, and the May expiration date looms.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs ABC’s small business against any agency or giant seeking to interfere with its contract negotiations with Jimmy Kimmel, and is against any rule or pressure that would raise the cost of entry for smaller players in late-night television. The FCC’s move to demand early license renewals after Trump’s call for Kimmel to be fired, and the subsequent threat from FCC chair Brendan Carr, shows how a single large actor can use regulatory power to pressure a small player. Such pressure raises the stakes of every joke, every remark, for anyone working in late-night television.
The paper supports narrow oversight aimed at actual harm, not vague threats of action. Broad new rulebooks and agencies widening their reach simply protect the biggest players and raise the cost of entry for everyone else. ABC is a small player in this fight, and the paper stands with it against the FCC’s heavy hand.
Readers should watch for the FCC’s next move, and for any sign that the agency’s demands go beyond mere license renewal into direct pressure on ABC’s programming decisions.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Kimmel’s contract expires in May 2027 after 24 years on the air.
- The live-action “Moana” earned $323 million worldwide against a $250 million budget.
- The original “Moana” earned $643 million worldwide.
- “Moana 2” reached just over $1 billion by the end of its run.
- FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened to take action against ABC over Kimmel’s remarks.
The FCC fight remains active. The license renewal process is underway. Kimmel’s future depends on ABC’s decision, which Walden is still working on.
Walden’s explanation for the “Moana” box office miss is practical: the sequel was already out, and audiences had already seen the story. That’s a fair point, though it doesn’t fully explain why the remake underperformed relative to its budget.
Source material: “Disney President Dana Walden on the Future of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and Why the Live-Action ‘Moana’ Struggled at the Box Office,” Variety.
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