Disney’s upcoming streaming service will be called Disney+ and launch in the US in late 2019. The company has also greenlit a second Star War series and a Marvel production based on Loki. There is still no word on the global launch.
Disney+ streaming service
Amazon, Netflix et al will soon be joined by a true heavyweight competitor. Disney chairman and CEO Bog Iger has confirmed that the streaming service will be called Disney+ and that it will launch in the US in “late 2019”.
- “The Walt Disney Company’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service will be called Disney+,” Iger announced. “Disney+ is scheduled to launch in the U.S. in late 2019.”
The company also announced that Lucasfilm is developing a second live-action series that will follow “the adventures of Rebel spy Cassian Andor”. In addition, it has greenlit a Marvel series based on Loki, to star Tom Hiddleston.
- “Lucasfilm is in development on a second Star Wars live-action series for Disney+ that will go into production next year. The series will follow the adventures of Rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative years of the Rebellion and prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the company said. “Marvel Studios is developing a series based on Loki, the god of mischief, to star Tom Hiddleston.”
The two new TV series will join a slate of other films and series planned for Disney+, including TV series based on Pixar’s Monsters Inc and Disney’s High School Musical as well as The Mandalorian based on the Star Wars universe. The streaming service will furthermore include library content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic. Disney recently acquired 21st Century Fox, which adds franchises such as X-Men.
The company has yet to announce details regarding the global roll-out of Disney+. It will face competition from established services from Amazon and Netflix as well as other upcoming streaming services from WarnerMedia (née Time Warner) and Apple. Netflix has a head start with its 139 million subscribers and that number is likely to cross 150 million before Disney even joins the race. On the other hand Disney has an incredibly strong slate of content to offer.
Disney has also yet to comment on technical details. Will Disney+ be available on all of the popular TV platforms or will it be exclusive to one platform at launch? Will it offer 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos? We will have to wait for those answers.
- Source: Disney
