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It appears my initial enthusiasm about the changes happening in Disney these days (the blockbuster $4-billion acquisition of Marvel Comics and getting visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro on board) was a little hasty -- it seems Disney isn't merely adding to its repertoire, but going for a complete overhaul instead. Just recently, Disney chairman Dick Cook announced his resignation effective immediately.

Cook began his 38-year career with Disney as a tour ride operator when he was only 21. Many of his friends saw him as someone who thought, felt, and acted like Walt Disney himself, especially in the conceptualization and creation of films. To see him go so suddenly has raised several questions in the industry.

It's no secret that Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger don't really get along, and that many of Iger and his company don't totally agree with Cook's veteran, traditional style of doing things. Despite the genial parting press statements from Iger, many believe that Iger actually fired Cook.

The shocking news came off the heels of the D23 Expo, where Cook revealed great plans on Disney's table for the coming years. There was news about taking over the Muppets franchise, Pixar sequels Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, and the highly-anticipated Johnny Depp movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. No one really expected the bad news to top the list.

Cook's resignation should ring bells for many of us in the industry -- remember when former Disney head honcho Michael Eisner fired now-Dreamworks CEO Jeff Katzenberg? Now it would be interesting to see whether Cook is going to start his own animation studio, but I think the bigger issue is this -- who's Disney replacing him with? I don't think anyone has better relations with the big names in the industry as Cook did.

Johnny Depp himself was shocked and saddened by Cook's resignation. Depp said that he trusted Cook deeply, and Cook had stood by his side when the actor's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the first Pirates movie raised eyebrows among studio heads.

We all know where the Pirates franchise, and Captain Sparrow with it, went from there. I definitely hope Cook's departure doesn't mean the 4th Pirates movie is going to get killed.

Steven Spielberg was also devastated by the news -- the legendary filmmaker said Cook was the main reason Dreamworks signed a contract with Disney.

Whatever Iger and Disney is planning, one thing is pretty clear -- the Disney we've come to know and love won't be the Disney we're going to be seeing in the future.