Disney strikes $1 billion deal with OpenAI. Opens door to fan AI videos.
In the mid to late 90s, I was firmly in the world of The X-Files fandom one of the hot topics in those early days was around fans publishing images from the show, along with TV commercials and all of those other types of assets that are commonplace nowadays.
What fans didn’t have access to (thankfully), was a video generator that could make the characters kiss.
Fandom going forward is going to be in a very different place.
Disney has today announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and a three-year licensing deal. Users of its Sora video generation tool will now be able to create videos using Disney characters - think everything from Goofy to Captain America to Darth Vader.
Last month Disney chief Bob Iger spoke at the Disney earnings call and talked up the potential for user-generated Disney videos that would appear on Disney+… it appears that this is what he was talking about.
Actors will no doubt be talking to their agents about likeness concerns, but the announcement makes a point to note that what is being licensed is the animated and illustrated versions of its live-action characters. So, we won’t be able to make the Disney-controlled Mulder & Scully kiss, at least not versions that resemble David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.
Physical and voice likenesses will not be included in the deal.
As per Variety, here’s the official media release quote by Iger:
“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.”
It’s good to see legitimate deals being struck between content holders and Ai companies like this. What will be interesting will be to learn more about the guardrails put in place to protect the integrity of Disney’s IP and to see how Sora users engage in shenanigans to push the limit on what is possible.
But mostly I am interested to know whether this will enable me to bring The Gummi Bears back to life?
News Desk
Disney has fired off a letter to Google claiming its AI training models and services infringe on its copyright in a major way. Read: Deadline
Robert & Michelle King have re-upped their deal with CBS Studios, which isn’t a surprise considering that they have multiple shows with the studio. Read: Deadline
Paramount+ has greenlit animated shows based on two books that are a very big deal in my house: Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus and Should I Share my Ice Cream (An Elephant & Piggie Book). Read: Variety
The ATX Festival has announced its programming for this year, including a Homicide: Life on The Street retrospective and a Friday Night Lights 20 year anniversary panel. Read: Deadline
Iconic Australian puppet / bathmat Agro is believed to (maybe) star in a TV special on Seven in 2026. Agro’s human Jamie Dunn says that he’s in talks with the network. And I’m very into this idea - Australian TV has lost something without Agro around. Read: Mister Brisbane
Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black has been renewed for a third and final season at Netflix. Read: thefutoncritic
CNBC has unveiled its new logo as part of its break from NBC (and thus, breaking away from the NBC peacock logo). It looks ok-ish.
Trailer Park
Season 2 of The Night Manager debuts Jan 11 on Prime Video.
Supergirl debuts in cinemas June 26. I don’t often add movie trailers for cinema releases, but this looks pretty fun.
His & Hers debuts Jan 8 on Netflix.
Two estranged spouses - one a cop, the other a news reporter - compete to solve a murder case in which each believes the other is a prime suspect.
Hijack returns for season 2 on Apple TV Jan 14.
Alpha Males returns for season 4 on Netflix Jan 9.
Cashero debuts December 26 on Netflix.
An ordinary man who inherits super strength discovers a greater evil out to steal his power. The one catch? Every use drains money from his wallet.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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