Disney streaming service eyeing up incredible launch line-up, including Star Wars, Marvel and Monsters Inc. TV shows
Disney is busy working on their own streaming service, the studio — which will soon encompass the film and TV departments of FOX (not including news) — looking to rival Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Of course, the company will need exclusive content to entice viewers to their service come launch in 2019, something they will certainly not be short of. Deadline has given a lowdown on which properties are being developed, along with some intriguing information about the service itself.
First of all, the publication notes Disney are looking to rollout the service in North America first, before releasing overseas. There’s also no price-point yet and no R-Rated content will feature — instead Disney will continue to put that onto Hulu, which they partly own (with 20th Century Fox, Comcast, and Time Warner). That also means the Netflix/Marvel shows — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage etc — will remain where they are
Original content-wise, the most alluring exclusive TV show being developed is a Star Wars-branded title. Speaking to Collider, Disney boss Bob Iger recently revealed that they are actually working on multiple Star Wars shows, one of which is close to being announced.
Other intriguing TV titles Deadline says are coming include an animated Monster Inc series, a Marvel live-action title, and a High School Musical show. Apparently each one will cost between $25-35 million for 10 episode, while a particularly ambitious project could be capped at $100 million.
The report also says Disney is hoping to develop “four to five” original movies during the first year, prospective projects including a live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp, Don Quixote from Billy Ray (writer of The Hunger Games), an adaptation of The Paper Magician, the Julia Hart-directed Stargirl, and Togo, from Ericson Core.
There are also two projects in post-production already bound for the service: the Gillian Jacobs and Jeffrey Tambor starring Magic Camp, and Anna Kendrick-led Noelle. Not to mention three “priority” projects: a remake of Three Men and a Baby, Sword and the Stone, and the Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) directed adaptation of Timmy Failure.
With so much to offer, will Disney’s service may be able to draw a few people away from their current streaming service provider? Only time will tell. The service launches in 2019.