For a company known for castles, fairy tales, and galaxies far, far away, Disney has always had its feet firmly planted in California. The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank has been the company’s creative core since 1940, just a short drive from where Mickey Mouse made his theatrical debut. From the red-carpet sparkle of Disneyland to boardrooms in Glendale, Disney’s empire in the Golden State runs deep.
Still, even legacies have limits. And one historic piece of Hollywood real estate is officially on Disney’s way out.
Disney Confirms Exit from the Fox Studio Lot
This week, Disney confirmed it will vacate the iconic Fox Studio Lot in Century City by the end of 2025. The move comes as part of the company’s gradual pullback from the property, where it’s been the primary tenant since its $71.3 billion acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets in 2019.
Although the deal gave Disney control of Fox’s entertainment empire—including studios, streaming rights, and franchises—it did not include ownership of the lot itself. Instead, Disney inherited a lease agreement that runs through March 2026. Sources inside the company told the Los Angeles Times that Disney has opted not to renew and will exit several months before the lease expires.
Opened in 1928, the Fox Studio Lot has played host to some of the most celebrated productions in Hollywood history, from The Sound of Music to The Seven Year Itch. It’s also the longtime home of The Simpsons writers’ room and serves as headquarters for Fox Sports. While Fox Corporation—still a separate entity from Disney—owns the lot, Disney remains its largest tenant.
“The Fox Lot is second to none in terms of location and premium production and post-production facilities available,” Fox Corp. said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times, adding that it’s confident about securing new tenants to replace Disney, which reportedly pays $50 million annually to lease the space.
A Shift Toward Burbank and Centralized Operations
Disney’s departure from the Fox Lot marks more than just a change of address—it reflects a broader shift in the company’s operational strategy. Over the past year, Disney has quietly moved teams from Century City to its main headquarters in Burbank, about 12 miles away.
The Burbank campus is already home to Disney’s original studio lot, as well as buildings housing ABC and Disney Animation. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s legendary R&D division, is headquartered just three miles east in Glendale. The consolidation signals a push to streamline operations and unify TV and creative divisions that had remained scattered across the city.
Insiders say the goal is to bring executives, production teams, and development leads under one roof. However, it remains unclear what will happen to ongoing productions based on the Fox lot, including 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star. Disney has yet to announce whether those series will relocate or wrap filming before the lease ends.
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