Fans will be able to generate short videos with more than 200 Disney characters in early 2026.
The Walt Disney Company on Dec. 11 announced plans to invest $1 billion in OpenAI as part of a three-year licensing agreement.
Disney will collaborate with OpenAI to stream “curated selections” of artificial intelligence-generated videos on Disney+ starting in early 2026.
The media enterprise, founded in 1923, will create these videos using OpenAI’s artificial intelligence (AI) video generator, Sora.
Fans will also be able to create their own AI-generated short films featuring more than 200 popular characters, including Luke Skywalker and Iron Man.
“The agreement does not include any talent likenesses or voices,” a Dec. 11 statement from Disney reads.
AI-generated videos have been a hot-button issue in the entertainment industry, as creators have expressed fears that AI will take away their jobs. Those concerns even prompted historic strikes in 2023 by actors in the SAG-AFTRA union and the Writers Guild of America.
Disney did not respond to a request for comment on how it plans to create AI-videos of iconic characters without using the “likenesses or voices” of the actors who played those roles in movies and television.
A representative from SAG-AFTRA had no comment on the agreement.
The Animation Guild told The Epoch Times it is “prepping a statement” to respond to the Dec. 11 announcement.
The new deal makes Disney the first major content licensing partner to use OpenAI’s video-generating tool.
The entertainment producer will also use OpenAI to build new products, tools, and experiences for streaming and to deploy ChatGPT to employees.
“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” Disney CEO Robert Iger said in a statement on Dec. 11.
“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI.”
OpenAI and Disney suggested they would “respect the rights of content owners in relation to the outputs of models“ and ”respect the rights of individuals to appropriately control the use of their voice and likeness.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help works reach vast new audiences.”
By Jacki Thrapp
