The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI said they have reached a three-year licensing and investment agreement that will allow OpenAI’s Sora video platform and ChatGPT Images to generate short-form content using more than 200 characters and environments from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The deal makes Disney the first major content provider to join Sora, OpenAI’s generative AI video system, which produces short clips from user prompts.
Under the terms, Sora and ChatGPT Images will draw from a curated intellectual property catalogue that includes animated, masked and creature characters, costumes, props and locations. The companies said the license excludes talent likenesses and voices. Selected Sora-generated videos will later be available to watch on Disney+, and Disney will use OpenAI’s APIs to develop products and internal tools. Disney will also invest $1 billion in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity.
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Disney Chief Executive Robert A. Iger said the partnership reflects a moment of technological transition for the entertainment sector. “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,” he said. He added that combining Disney’s franchises with OpenAI’s tools “puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the companies aim to expand how audiences engage with stories and characters. “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,” he said. Altman added that the deal demonstrates how AI developers and creative industries can work together “to promote innovation that benefits society.”
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The companies stated they will maintain safety controls, age-appropriate policies and protections for content owners and individuals. The agreement remains subject to final documentation, board approvals and standard closing conditions. Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to begin generating Disney-branded user content in early 2026.
Source: OpenAI