Disney on Thursday shared additional details about its upcoming streaming service, which will be called “Disney+” and will debut in late 2019.
The Walt Disney Company’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service will be called Disney+. Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger revealed the service’s name today during a live audio webcast of Disney’s fiscal full year and fourth quarter 2018 financial results. Disney+ is scheduled to launch in the U.S. in late 2019.
The new service will be the home of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars content, almost assuring its success in the crowded streaming field.
In Thursday’s press release, the house of the mouse shared details about an exclusive Star Wars live-action series that is scheduled to go into production next year.
The series will follow the adventures of Rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative years of the Rebellion and prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Diego Luna will reprise the role of Andor, which he originated in the 2016 film.
Disney+ is also producing a live-action series centered around a fan-favorite character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki, the god of mischief. The series will star Tom Hiddleston, who played the popular character in Marvel’s Thor and Avengers film series.
Other Disney+ projects include:
The new projects join an impressive slate of films and series planned for Disney+ that includes new stories set in the worlds of Disney•Pixar’s Monsters Inc. and Disney Channel’s High School Musical, as well as a galaxy far, far away. Earlier this year, Lucasfilm revealed that Emmy®-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau will write and executive produce The Mandalorian for Disney+. The live-action series, which is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, is currently in production with a lineup of directors that include Deborah Chow (Marvel’s Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates) and Taika Waititi (Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok).
Disney hasn’t announced the pricing for Disney+. However, Disney CEO Iger said last year that the service would be priced “substantially below” the Netflix streaming service. Netflix starts at $7.99 for its one scree SD service, charging $10.99 for its two screen HD streaming service.
To stay in the loop on Disney+, hang out on MacTrast, or if you’re into the whole “email notice” thing, you can sign up here to register your email and be kept up to date on the new service.
