Deadline reports Disney's next round of layoffs looks like early 2027, likely January, and is expected to be tied to a restructuring of Disney Entertainment Television. Industry chatter includes folding 20th Television closer to ABC and Hulu.
Disney's next round of layoffs may arrive in January, and it could come with a shake-up of the company's TV group.
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva reported Thursday night, Nov. 5, that the restructuring of Disney Entertainment Television under Chairman Debra OConnell is "starting to get real." The timing of the next layoff round "looks like early 2027, likely January," she wrote, and it's expected to be intertwined with OConnell's reorg.
Deadline also said "nothing is imminent." OConnell has kept her plans close to the vest, so much of what's circulating in Hollywood is speculation. Disney hasn't announced a new structure.
When are the next Disney layoffs expected?
Early 2027, most likely January, according to Deadline. That would be about 10 months after OConnell was named chairman in March.
The round follows a Bloomberg report on Nov. 2 that Disney is planning thousands of job cuts, with some managers asked to target as much as 20% in annual cost savings. Disney declined to comment to Bloomberg. We covered that report Nov. 3.
Variety called it potentially the biggest round of cuts this year. Disney reports its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Nov. 17, Variety noted.
Which Disney TV teams could be affected?
The TV networks division is believed to be among the areas seriously affected, Deadline reported. That group has already been through major cuts as Disney leans less on traditional TV. Disney also recently sold its 50% stake in A+E Global Media to Hearst for $1.2 billion.
Deadline described these as chatter and speculation, not confirmed plans:
20th Television and ABC/Hulu: There's talk of further consolidating the two. In OConnell's first major move, 20th Television President Karey Burke began reporting to Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich, who oversees ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.
20th Television's executive ranks: The studio's senior team grew after it absorbed Touchstone Television and ABC Signature, so "streamlining the team via layoffs may be in the cards," Deadline wrote.
National Geographic: Nat Geo Content, led by Courteney Monroe, still reports separately to OConnell. Deadline questioned whether that lasts if Nat Geo is "gutted by layoffs."
Hulu and Disney+ content: Some expect the teams to be integrated in some way, possibly with a bigger role for Charlie Andrews, an EVP at Disney Branded Television.
FX, led by John Landgraf, sits outside OConnell's group and reports to Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden.
One piece is already public. Joe Earley moved into OConnell's group as president of Disney Entertainment Television franchise and content strategy, Deadline reported.
The Wall Street Journal reported in early October that a TV restructuring would cut hundreds of jobs and consolidate divisions, Bloomberg and Variety noted.
What did Disney tech employees ask at a town hall?
Disney tech employees used a company town hall Thursday afternoon to press leaders for answers, Business Insider reported. BI viewed screenshots of questions submitted in writing.
"Do we know when the cost cutting is targeted to happen?" one software engineer asked.
A veteran tech employee asked whether morale would be better if staff heard about layoffs from management "instead of hearing about these from the media."
Streaming leaders didn't give specific answers on whether or when cuts were coming, two employees who attended told BI. Disney didn't respond to BI's request for comment.
Who took Disney's early retirement offer?
More executives than expected, according to Deadline, which said those exits should soften the coming cuts somewhat. Disney offered the packages in August to U.S.-based directors through EVPs in Disney Entertainment, ESPN and corporate who were at least 50 with 10 years of service, Variety reported.
One of them is Shari Rosenblum, head of publicity for 20th Television and 20th Television Animation. She's leaving after 26 years as part of the early retirement offers, Variety reported Thursday.
How many Disney layoffs have there been in 2026?
There have been several rounds since CEO Josh D'Amaro replaced Bob Iger on March 18, according to Deadline and Variety:
April: about 1,000 roles.
July: several hundred, including at Pixar and National Geographic.
Late September: a few hundred, mostly in tech and HR.
Late October: 100 to 200 in Disney Experiences. We reported Oct. 30 that a state filing shows 159 of those layoffs at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California, effective Dec. 29.
Disney had about 231,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, TheWrap reported.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Deadline (Nov. 5, 2026), the reorg chatter, January timing, TV networks, 20th TV, Nat Geo, Hulu/Disney+ and early retirement details
Business Insider (Nov. 5, 2026), the tech town hall questions and employee accounts
Variety (Nov. 5, 2026), Shari Rosenblum's exit as part of the early retirement offers
Variety (Nov. 3, 2026), the biggest-round context, early retirement eligibility, the WSJ restructuring report and the Nov. 17 earnings date
Deadline (Nov. 3, 2026), the 2026 layoff timeline and D'Amaro's start date
Bloomberg (Nov. 2, 2026), the original report of thousands of cuts and 20% savings targets
TheWrap (Nov. 3, 2026), Disney's head count
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