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Incoming Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro is signaling that the company’s partnership with Epic Games — the developer behind Fortnite — could extend well beyond gaming, with potential applications spanning film premieres, cruise vacations, and live events like the Super Bowl.
In a recent interview with Laughing Place, D’Amaro outlined his vision for what the Epic Games relationship could unlock: “It could be a new film premiering there. It could be the place that you decide to book your next cruise vacation. You could participate with the Super Bowl in some way there.”
A $1.5 Billion Bet on Gaming
Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games in February 2024 to acquire an equity stake in the company. The deal was announced alongside plans to create what Disney described as an “all-new games and entertainment universe” connected to Fortnite, featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters and worlds.
Two years later, Epic Games co-founder Tim Sweeney has publicly endorsed D’Amaro’s appointment as CEO. In comments to The Hollywood Reporter, Sweeney called D’Amaro “a great leader and a genuinely nice guy, too,” adding that the two have been working “closely” together on bringing Disney characters to Fortnite and on “bigger plans” for an upcoming project. Sweeney described the project as an “open game and entertainment universe” and said of Disney’s future: “The company is in good hands.”
Breaking Down Silos
D’Amaro’s comments on Epic Games fit into a broader theme he’s been emphasizing since his CEO appointment was announced on February 3: breaking down the walls between Disney’s divisions.
“In every environment, every touchpoint that we have with the consumer, my goal is to make sure that all those things are coming together and that a fan doesn’t see an org chart,” D’Amaro told Laughing Place.
He also made it clear that despite taking on a company-wide role, he intends to stay connected to the parks: “I am not going to disappear. Something that is very important to me is to be with our fans and with our cast members.”
What’s Next
D’Amaro officially takes over as CEO on March 18, 2026, at Disney’s Annual Meeting. He’ll oversee a company that has committed $60 billion to expanding its parks and cruise lines, and the Epic Games partnership appears positioned to be a key piece of his strategy for connecting Disney’s physical and digital experiences.
What do you think about Disney’s plans for Fortnite and Epic Games? Let us know in the comments.
Sources: Laughing Place, The Hollywood Reporter, The Walt Disney Company
