Rich Ross, Disney film boss resigns

Rich Ross, the head of Disney film – making company, has resigned after one of the biggest flops in the history of Disney and Hollywood - “John Carter”. He said to his staff, that he the chairman role doesn’t fit him.

Ross became a chairman in 2009, though he is Disney veteran. Predominantly he was the president of the Disney Channel, when it made such series as Hannah Montana and High School Musical, which really succeeded.

Though “John Carter” had been already in development, when Rich Ross joined Disney studio, it was he who approved the production of this science – fiction film.

“John Carter” is based on a series of novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the writer of books about Tarzan. The movie costs more than 250 million dollars, but last month Disney claimed that it expected “John Carter” to lose about 200 million dollars. So the studio will be in operating losses for from 80 million dollars to 210 million dollars.

Disney Company will not immediately name a new head of the studio. It is likely that the company will look for a candidate outside its studio. Analyst of Evercore Partners, Alan Gould said that Ross was a superstar of the Disney Channel, but the results of his work at the studio have not been brilliant. Alan Gould added that still the resignation of Rich Ross was a surprise for everybody.

Ross’ story at the Disney Channel started in 1996. At that time he was a programmer and production executive. In 2004 he was elevated to president of the Channel. His work at the cable channel was really successful, which led him to the seat of the Disney studio.

Still Rich Ross had few successful movies during his work as the president. One of them is the world’s hit - "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".