As you have most likely heard, Disney+, the new Disney online streaming service, is set to launch in the United States on November 12th. The media juggernaut announced its plans back in September 2017 to create a streaming video service that would rival others like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (and I guess the new AppleTV+ service?). For the non-broke college students out there, Disney+ will cost $7 monthly, or $70 annually.
What to Expect
1. Everything from old Disney to new Disney to things you didn’t even know were Disney
At launch, Disney+ will offer hundreds of Disney-related shows and movies, including content from all of Disney’s main entertainment studios (Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and National Geographic). This ranges from old Disney classics like Cinderella to newer ones like Frozen and Avengers: Endgame (and ahem, not Song of the South). Disney CEO Bob Iger has even announced that films previously left in the so-called Disney Vault will all be available on the platform. You can also look forward to Disney Channel content like Descendants and Phineas and Ferb. And thanks to the Fox acquisition, all 30 seasons of The Simpsons will also be available. Finally, there’s of course going to be live-action offerings, from all of the Star Wars films and MCU films to something called Mr. Boogedy.
2. Original Content
For Star Wars fans and Marvel fans alike, Disney+ is perhaps best known for housing the spin-off series from each cinematic universe. For the MCU, there are eight spin-off series currently in development or production: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, WandaVision, What if…?, Hawkeye, Moonknight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk. For Star Wars spin-offs, we have the highly anticipated Mandalorian, a seventh season of Clone Wars, an untitled Cassian Andor series, and an untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
There will also be other original movies and TV shows, such as The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Diary of a Female President (not starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Noelle.
3. Classic Revivals
Disney+, clearly following in the footsteps of Disney Studios itself, currently seems more interested in churning out box office-friendly remakes instead of investing in new content (see – The Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan, etc.). First up, we have the “live-action” Lady and the Tramp (somehow half an hour longer in runtime in comparison to its animated counterpart), available at launch next Tuesday. Additionally, Bob Iger has announced that revivals of classic Fox films are currently being “reimagined for a new generation.” This includes films like Hocus Pocus, Home Alone, Night at the Museum, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Cheaper By the Dozen.
What NOT to Expect
1. R or TV-MA rated content
In accordance with its family-friendly approach for programming, Disney has explicitly stated that it will not make any R or TV-MA rated content available on the platform. Titles like Deadpool, Logan, and the Netflix Marvel originals will not be appearing on Disney+. However, rated-R films and more mature content may be diverted to Hulu (acquired by Disney in 2019).
2. But actually…not too much original content?
Even though Disney is making over 600 movies and TV shows available to stream at launch, only a small percentage is actually original content. In fact, Iger has stated that Disney+ will focus on the “quality of content over quantity of content” – especially concerning original movies and shows.
However, as demonstrated by Disney’s competitors, a streaming service’s popularity is often dependent on new and fresh content. For example, hits like Stranger Things and Bird Box have brought massive audiences to Netflix. Shows like The Handmaid’s Tale have brought similar popularity to Hulu. It’s become pretty clear that producing edgy, binge-worthy hits is not Disney’s forte; rather, Disney+ is banking on the fuzzy feeling of nostalgia and its large collection of properties to maintain popularity.
Of course, this approach will be appealing for many consumers, from Disney superfans to those who searching for a platform with solely family-friendly content. Only time will tell if Disney’s transition from blockbuster motion pictures to quality, profitable digital content will be worthwhile for consumers.