Disney CEO Bob Iger offered some insight into the future of the Walt Disney Company during a media panel this morning.
Iger participated in a Q&A session at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2017 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference, and he shared information about Disney’s upcoming streaming service and plans for Marvel and Star Wars films.
Highlights from the panel:
- Iger confirmed Marvel and Lucasfilm movies will move from Netflix to the Disney streaming platform, set to launch in 2019. “We’ve now decided we will put the Marvel and “Star Wars” movies on this app as well,” Iger said.
- Disney will produce 4 – 5 lower budget films along with TV shows exclusively for the new Disney app.
- The app will include a library of content, including films, shorts, and over 7,000 episodes of Disney television shows.
- The Disney app will not have advertising.
- Patrons can subscribe to the Disney streaming service without a cable or multichannel subscription.
- The streaming platform will be released in international markets, possibly before the U.S. debut.
In non-app news, Iger mentioned the company has big plans for Mickey Mouse’s upcoming 90th birthday (he was born November 18, 1928). If successful, the birthday celebrations could stretch for a very long time.
In terms of Disney’s massive hit “Frozen,” Iger acknowledged the franchise’s popularity has waned a bit. He’s confident the new Broadway musical and “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” a short featured before the upcoming film “Coco,” will reinvigorate the “Frozen” brand.