Under the deal, fans will be able to create their own short videos featuring some 200 Disney characters – from Marvel superheroes to Pixar favorites and Star Wars icons.
The three-year licensing agreement centers on OpenAI’s Sora platform, which turns text prompts into video. Users type what they want to see, and Sora generates a short clip that can be shared across social media.
But the announcement is raising concerns in Hollywood, where AI has become a flashpoint. Talent agencies and industry insiders worry about the technology’s impact on jobs for actors, writers, and other creative professionals.
Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed those fears in an interview with CNBC, emphasizing the deal only covers character images – not voices or performers’ likenesses.
“This does not represent a threat to the creators at all,” Iger said. “It gives us an opportunity to play a part in what is really a breathtaking growth in essentially AI and new forms of media entertainment.”
Iger also revealed that some user-generated content from Sora will be curated and featured on Disney+, the company’s streaming platform.
In their joint statement, Disney and OpenAI pledged “a shared commitment to the responsible use of AI that protects user safety and the rights of creators.”
The new AI-generated content is expected to launch in early 2026. Wall Street responded positively – Disney shares rose 2% on the news, trading at $110.65.
