This is definitely a shocker, but Walt Disney Studios has been forced to furlough "an undetermined number" of employees due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. So far, they've attempted to counter this by furloughing non-essential staff members and significantly cutting the pay of executives, but the studio has now has no choice but to take slightly more drastic steps.
Like other movie studios, Disney is struggling after being forced to postpone productions amid an unprecedented series of theater closures across the entire globe.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "sources say the marketing and distribution departments have been especially impacted." They will receive full health care benefits and will remain Disney employees throughout the furlough period. However, you can probably forget about seeing that Eternals trailer any time soon with these arms of the company closed.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on our world with untold suffering and loss, and has required all of us to make sacrifices. Over the last few weeks, mandatory decrees from government officials have shut down a majority of our businesses," Disney said in a statement regarding initial planned furloughs at the start of April.
The Walt Disney Company as a whole is hurting right now because their theme park business has also been closed but, on the plus side, Disney+ Subscriptions are massively exceeding expectations.