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Could Dick Cook’s Disney Firing Delay Pirates 4 and Johnny Depp’s Return?

By • September 20, 2009 • 3 Comments

So I have been out of it for the last couple of days but I am back and updating the site. One the stories I have misses is the firing/resigning of Dick Cook over at Disney. Dick Cook has been with Disney for over 38 years and was let go on Friday evening. Below is statement from the Chairman and also from Bob iger, the President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

STATEMENT FROM RICHARD W. COOK, CHAIRMAN, THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

I am stepping down from my role as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, effective immediately.

I have loved every minute of my 38 years that I have worked at Disney…from the beginning as a ride operator on Disneyland’s steam train and monorail to my position as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. To wrap up my Disney experience in a neatly bundled statement is close to impossible. But what I will say is, during my time at the Studio, we have achieved many industry and Company milestones. Our talent roster is simply the best in the business. I believe our slate of upcoming motion pictures is the best in our history. But most of all, I love the people, my colleagues, my teammates, who are the most talented, dedicated and loyal folks in the world. I know that I leave the Studio in their exceptional hands.

I have been contemplating this for some time now and feel it’s the right time for me to move on to new adventures…and in the words of one of my baseball heroes, Yogi Berra, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Cook began his career in 1970 as a monorail and steam locomotive amusement park ride operator at Disneyland and moved to the Disney Studios in Burbank in 1977 to manage pay television and non-theatrical releases. In 1980, he moved to the company’s film distribution department, eventually heading both its distribution and marketing efforts. He earned a reputation there by his marketing of Disney’s home video collection and hosting media-worthy movie premieres, for example securing a United States Navy aircraft carrier based in Pearl Harbor to host the debut of the film Pearl Harbor.
In 2002 former CEO/President, Michael Eisner, named him as Peter Schneider’s replacement as chairman of studios, popularly called the studio chief. Cook was in charge of developing, distributing and marketing all films, live-action or animated, released by Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures. Cook was also the executive in charge of the Disney Music Group, which encompasses Hollywood Records and the better known Walt Disney Records. He also oversaw the Home Entertainment and Home Entertainment International divisions of Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group. He was responsible for legal and business matters relating to the studio. Cook, described by BusinessWeek in 2003 as “the nicest guy in Disney’s jungle,” is known for his down-to-earth personality and his good relations with Disney’s partners, including Jerry Bruckheimer.
STATEMENT FROM ROBERT A. IGER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

“Throughout his distinguished 38-year Disney career, Dick Cook’s outstanding creative instincts and incomparable showmanship have truly enriched this company and significantly impacted Disney’s great legacy,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “We thank Dick for his tremendous passion for Disney, and his many accomplishments and contributions to The Walt Disney Studios, including a very promising upcoming slate. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we wish him the best with all the future has to offer.”
I really do not know what to say about this story, it is unclear whether he was fired or resigned. Typically statements like his aren’t given if you are fired so I would assume he resigned. However, the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that all of this has been done to move john Lasseter into the role of Walt Disney Studios Chairman, which is certainly who I can see announced in the role sometime soon. Cook seems to have been running Disney Studios so well in his tenure and he surely brought a lot of quality and development to the studio. The other issue is the effect from all of this and that has seemed to affect the perceptions of one Johnny Depp. The LA Times ran a story from Depp and his response on the matter, merely complementing Cook’s support of his character and the development of Pirates of the Carribean. Depp said his loss ”There’s a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm at the moment.” So could this shake derail the slate of projects Disney will be rolling out.
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  • roycemathew

    My name is Royce Mathew. I have the following information for you regarding Dick Cook's abrupt dismissal at Disney. I believe this all ties into my lawsuit and filings of fraud, corruption and criminal acts within the Walt Disney Company.

    1) As was verified during the legal proceedings, this serious matter particularly involves past and current Disney employees Michael D. Eisner, Dick Cook, Nina Jacobson, Marty Sklar, Jason Surrell, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. It also involves Robert Iger and the Walt Disney Company board of directors failure and refusal to respond.

    2) Dick Cook & Nina Jacboson are the ones who brought in writers Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio for the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Eventually, it is evident that via Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio that my supernatural pirate story is being plagiarized for Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

    3) In 2006, Nina Jacobson was abruptly fired several days after I went to re-file my lawsuit. She was in the hospital with her partner, who was giving birth when they abruptly fired her. This information is found in many noted newspapers. (Google it).

    4) June 1, 2009 – A key notification letter demanding investigations into the evident criminal acts within the Walt Disney Company was sent to the Walt Disney Company’s board of directors including Bob Iger. Then several days before Disney's D23 expo, one of my letters which had demanded investigations was sent to various entities/individuals. Then days later, Dick Cook was dismissed.

    5) With photo proof of fraud and corruption, such as the Art of Walt Disney World book, as detailed on the website www. disneylawsuit.com, and all of my detailing correspondence reaching the right people, Bob Iger is evidently now feeling the collective heat and pressured by certain powerful people who are rightfully questioning Disney's documented criminal acts.

    I welcome all communications and interviews.

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