Advertisement
Advertisement
Disney
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is scheduled for release in December. Photo: Disney-Lucasfilm

Netflix loses Star Wars and Marvel films in move to Disney’s new streaming service

Disney CEO Bob Iger says that the blockbuster films will be available on the company’s upcoming streaming services in 2019, although Netflix will get keep its original Marvel TV series such as Jessica Jones and Luke Cage

Disney

Disney’s big move away from Netflix just took another major step.

Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, announced that two of its biggest cinematic franchises, Star Wars and Marvel, will migrate to Disney’s streaming service that’s set to go live in 2019.

Disney CEO Robert Iger announced the migration of Star Wars and Marvel films from Netflix to Disney. Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Iger’s pronouncement settles a question that had hovered for a month, since Disney announced that it would launch a sports streaming service next year and a family-friendly streaming service by 2019. Disney owns ESPN and Pixar, as well as Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm.

Disney to launch streaming services for films, live sports

“We’ve now decided we will put the Marvel and Star Wars films on this app,” says Iger.

Netflix-produced Marvel shows such as The Defenders won’t be affected by Disney's plans. Photo: Sarah Shatz/Netflix/TNS
Marvel and Star Wars films had been offered through Netflix, and Marvel and Netflix have partnered on original superhero series in the Defenders universe, such as Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.

Stars of Netflix’s new Marvel superhero spin-off The Defenders say it’s more frenetic, less deep than individual characters’ shows

As Disney adapts to cord-cutting and mobile-device trends, it is smart to maximise the worth of its content through its own streaming services – especially given its blockbuster films due in 2019, including Star Wars: Episode IX, a new Avengers film, Frozen 2, Toy Story 4″and a live-action adaptation of Lion King.

Fourteen Disney films have grossed more than US$1 billion worldwide, including two Star Wars releases and four Marvel movies.

Post