The Walt Disney Company has entered a landmark agreement with OpenAI to become the first major content licensing partner on Sora, the startup’s short-form generative video platform. The three-year pact blends Disney’s legacy of storytelling with OpenAI’s fast-evolving video technology, opening the door to new forms of fan expression anchored in some of the world’s most recognisable characters.
Under the agreement, Sora will be able to generate short, fan-inspired videos based on more than 200 characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Viewers might see Stitch cruising through space or Ariel exploring iconic Disney environments, while costumes, props and vehicles add depth and detail. The arrangement excludes talent likenesses and voices, ensuring that the creative output respects established performers and their contributions.
A strategic investment to reinvent the Disney experience
Alongside the licensing deal, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, becoming both a major customer and a strategic collaborator. The company plans to use OpenAI’s APIs to develop new tools, products and interactive elements across its ecosystem, including Disney+. Employees will also gain access to ChatGPT-powered features that support workflows behind the scenes.
Disney will receive warrants for additional equity, signalling long-term confidence in OpenAI’s trajectory. The partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to innovation grounded in creative respect. Both companies emphasised the importance of human-centred technology that strengthens storytelling while protecting individual rights and industry standards.
Once the definitive agreements and approvals are completed, Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch curated Sora-generated videos directly on the service. OpenAI and Disney will also work together on new subscriber experiences that blend familiar characters with imaginative user-driven narratives. Fan-created videos featuring Mickey, Moana, Elsa, Baymax, Groot, Darth Vader and dozens more are expected to roll out in early 2026.
Ensures safe and responsible storytelling
As the entertainment world wrestles with how to safeguard creative work in a rapidly evolving digital environment, this partnership places responsible use at its core. OpenAI has committed to maintaining strict trust and safety measures, including age-appropriate controls, and ensuring that generated content does not violate copyright or misuse personal likenesses. Both companies have aligned on preserving the rights of creators and content owners, a priority that has become increasingly urgent across film, music and publishing.
By combining Disney’s vast storytelling universe with OpenAI’s next-generation video capabilities, the partnership sets the stage for a new era in fan creativity. With protections, clarity and collaboration built in from the start, it points toward a future where audiences can engage with beloved characters in entirely new ways, while the magic remains distinctly Disney.
“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “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, while respecting and protecting creators and their works. Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love.”
“Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content,” said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI. “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.”
