
Released in 2015, Tomorrowland initially seemed promising. It boasted a strong cast including George Clooney, a script from Lost’s Damon Lindelof, and a story drawing on Disney’s classic, optimistic vision of the future. The film also had an exciting director in Brad Bird, known for animated hits like The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, who had recently moved into live-action films with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. However, by the time it reached theaters, much of that early enthusiasm had faded. Extensive rewrites, starting before filming and continuing through numerous reshoots, created doubts about the film. This was compounded by Disney’s marketing strategy, which relied heavily on secrecy – even including a physical mystery box unveiled at a Disney event – and the studio’s tendency to heavily exploit its existing properties.