R-rated content is coming to Disney+. As well as increased prices.
Being a journalist nowadays is very difficult because the information or misinformation spreads faster than The Flash. What can you say that’s not already on forums and social media. The only thing you can say is your take on it and maybe a new angle.
After Disney’s investor meeting last Thursday, Disney unveiled a lot of information like we will be getting 10 new Marvel shows, 10 new Star Wars shows and 15 Disney / Pixar features. As well as a new Indiana Jones film starring Harrison Ford with him going to tombs and probably forgetting why he went there in the first place, Indiana Jones and the AARP. I guess that’s what Disney thinks we want. What was absent was the announcement that Black Widow will be coming to Disney+.
After WarnerMedia announced they will be putting the entire slate of 2021 movies on HBO Max, the same day they hit theaters, without an additional cost for existing subscribers, a lot of people were looking forward to what will Disney do and how will they respond.
They responded like it didn’t happen, which makes me think it was pre-recorded because it looked too polished and produced. The new Spider-Man deal was also absent. Yes some people would say Spider-Man is Sony but the deal is still with Marvel AKA Disney. But that’s besides the point, a lot of people were surprised that Black Widow is still getting a theatrical release meaning exclusive to theaters and then on digital after 90 days. In other Marvel news Kevin Feige announced that they will not be recasting Chadwick Boseman’s part in BLACK PANTHER 2.
Disney announced that 80% of their movies in the coming years will go straight to Disney+ at an additional cost like they did with MULAN (Here’s my thoughts on that movie). But how much each movie will cost was conveniently not talked about.
They have mentioned SOUL will be free to existing subscribers because of the holiday season and it’s like a good will gesture. But going forward expect their new big movies to cost extra.
And speaking of extra cost Disney is also planning to raise prices next year in America by $1 USD, €2 in Europe and $3 CAD in Canada. But prices will remain the same for 6 months for existing subscribers. Nothing mentioned for founding Circle members.
Disney also unveiled Star it’s Hulu replacement for international customers. Star is a free 6th icon within Disney+ for customers in Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and certain Asian markets for the first time like Singapore in February. Followed by Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea later in 2021.
Star has been India’s leading pay-tv player since it launched in 2015 as Hotstar and quickly became India’s biggest platform. Later being acquired by Disney and renamed simply as Star as the international equivalent to Hulu which is how Disney+ will get R-rated content.
Star will still be available as a standalone service for those that don’t want Disney+, But whether it will be ad free or not was not addressed. FX also announced they will be producing four more seasons of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia that will be available on Hulu one day after they air on TV.
What are you most excited about and now that The Mandalorian season 2 has come to an end. Are you going to cancel Disney+ or are you going to keep it? Let me know in the comments below, or chat with me on Instagram or Twitter (but lets keep the comments spoiler free, please.)
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