The Walt Disney Company has reached an agreement with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and the generative AI video platform Sora. This partnership makes Disney the first major content licensing partner for Sora, making more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars brands available for generating short, fan-promoted social videos.
The three-year licensing agreement marks a significant step in the entertainment industry and comes with a shared commitment to the responsible use of AI that protects user safety and the rights of creators.
As part of the deal, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity. The partnership includes:
- Sora license: Fans will be able to generate short, user-prompted social videos that can be viewed and shared by fans, drawing from a set of more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, including costumes, props, vehicles, and iconic environments.
- ChatGPT Images: Users can generate full-sized images with the same intellectual property in just a few words.
- Talent Likenesses or Voices: The agreement expressly excludes the use of voices or likenesses of actors.
A selection of fan-generated Sora videos will be available for streaming on Disney+. Disney will also become a major customer of OpenAI, using its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+, and deploying ChatGPT for its employees.
The leaders of both companies emphasize the importance of responsible innovation.
Robert A. Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, sees AI as a important moment for the industry: “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.” Iger added that the combination of Disney’s iconic stories and OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans.
Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, calls Disney the “global gold standard for storytelling”: “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.”
From Mickey Mouse to Darth Vader
Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to start generating fan-inspired videos with Disney’s multi-brand licensed characters in early 2026.
Among the characters fans will be able to use in their creations are Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, Mufasa, as well as characters from the worlds of Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up, Zootopia. Iconic animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers and Yoda will also be available.
Both parties have reaffirmed a shared commitment to protecting the safety of users and the rights of creators. OpenAI has pledged to continue to demonstrate leadership in implementing responsible measures, including age-appropriate policies and robust controls to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content.
The transaction is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements, required corporate and board approvals, and customary closing conditions.
