Photo: IMDB
Step aside Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO GO… there’s a new player in town. Introducing Disneyflix… or what ever this new streaming service by Disney will be called when it comes to fruition next year.
Like the hidden Mickeys secretly splattered all over the Disney theme parks, the wonderful world of Disney is keeping the details of the program under wraps, including the official name, rollout date, and inclusions.
The New York Times reports that Disney executive Ricky Strauss will act as president of content and marketing for the service, with the power to give his stamp of approval on new episodic series and movies.
Disney will allow their licensing deal with Netflix to expire, which means that all future Disney releases will go straight from theaters to Disney’s streaming service instead.
There are plans for a live-action Star Wars series directed by Jon Favreau, who also directed hits like Iron Man and The Jungle Book. The series is estimated to cost around $100 million for 10 episodes. Disney is also in the works to give the live-action treatment to cartoon classics Lady and the Tramp and The Sword in the Stone.
There will also be original movies on the platform, including Timmy Failure, based on the book series by Stephan Pastis about an overly confident kid detective. The film has a $45 million budget and will be directed by Tom McCarthy, the Spotlight filmmaker.
High School Musical and Monsters Inc. are being spun into their own episodic series for the platform.
In addition to all the new content and spin-offs, Disney fanatics can also expect all the old Disney classics and at least 5,000 episodes of old Disney TV shows.
With that, the bar is set.
