The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have entered into a major agreement that will see Disney become the first large-scale content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form generative AI video platform. The deal brings together two global leaders in creativity and technology, with the aim of opening up new ways for fans to engage with storytelling through artificial intelligence.
Under the terms of the three-year licensing agreement, Sora will be able to generate short, user-prompted social videos featuring more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters drawn from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. These will include recognisable costumes, props, vehicles and iconic environments linked to Disney’s franchises. In parallel, ChatGPT Images will allow users to create fully generated images in seconds using the same intellectual property. The agreement does not cover talent likenesses or voices.
Alongside the licensing arrangement, Disney will also become a major customer of OpenAI. The company plans to use OpenAI’s application programming interfaces to develop new products, tools and experiences, including offerings connected to Disney+. Disney will also deploy ChatGPT internally for its employees.
As part of the transaction, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and will receive warrants to purchase additional equity. The deal remains subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements, as well as standard corporate and board approvals and customary closing conditions.
Both companies said the partnership reflects a shared approach to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, with a focus on protecting user safety and the rights of creators. The collaboration is positioned as an effort to advance human-centred AI that respects the creative industries while expanding the possibilities of digital storytelling.
“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.”
The agreement will also see curated selections of Sora-generated videos made available to fans on Disney+. In addition, Disney and OpenAI will work together to use OpenAI’s models to power new experiences for Disney+ subscribers, with a focus on new and creative ways for audiences to interact with Disney stories and characters. Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to begin generating fan-inspired videos featuring Disney’s licensed characters in early 2026.
Characters available for use are expected to span Disney’s major franchises, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba and Mufasa. Fans will also be able to draw from worlds such as Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up and Zootopia. The licence also covers animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters, including Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers and Yoda.
As part of the arrangement, OpenAI said it will continue its work on trust and safety measures, including age-appropriate policies and additional controls across its services. Both companies confirmed they will maintain strong safeguards to prevent the creation of illegal or harmful content, respect the rights of content owners, and protect individuals’ control over the use of their voice and likeness.
