Disney Announces Huge Slate of Series and Films as It Leans Sharply into Streaming

Disney has unveiled a galaxy’s worth of new streaming offerings including plans for 10 ‘Star Wars’ series spinoffs and 10 Marvel series that will debut on streaming platform, Disney+.

In a virtual presentation for investors, Disney chief executive Bob Chapek laid out super-sized ambitions for it direct-to-consumer efforts, leaning heavily on some of the company’s biggest brands.

Over the next few years, Disney is planning to premiere directly on Disney+ not just a large number of ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel series but 15 live-action, Pixar and animated series and movies.

Disney also kept its biggest films — including Marvel’s ‘Black Widow,’ Pixar’s ‘Luca,’ a ‘Lion King’ prequel — on course for theatrical release. Whereas WarnerMedia last week pushed its entire 2021 slate to streaming, Disney executives signaled that theatrical release remains essential to its big-budget spectacles and its business, overall.

“We build the franchises through the theatrical window,” said Chapek.

Patty Jenkins (‘Wonder Woman’) will direct the next ‘Star Wars’ theatrical film, ‘Rogue Squadron,’ with a release in theaters planned for Christmas 2023.

Jenkins becomes the first woman to direct a ‘Star Wars’ film.

Other films are going ahead with theatrical plans, among them a Buzz Lightyear prequel, due in 2020, and the ‘Black Panther’ sequel. 

Many in Hollywood had eagerly awaited Disney’s response following WarnerMedia’s announcement last week that it will release all 17 of its 2021 films — from ‘Dune’ to ‘The Matrix 4’ — simultaneously on its streaming platform, HBO Max, and in theaters.

 

 

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