The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have announced a major partnership that will make Disney the first major content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI’s generative AI video platform.

Under the three-year agreement, Sora will gain access to more than 200 characters across Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, enabling fans to generate short, prompt-based social videos featuring some of the world’s most recognisable animated icons.

According to a media statement issued by Disney on December 11, curated selections of these Sora-generated fan videos will also stream on Disney+. The deal marks a new chapter in how audiences can interact with Disney’s stories, allowing them to create personalised content using elements such as characters, costumes, props, vehicles and iconic environments. The agreement excludes likenesses and voices of talent.

The partnership extends beyond licensing. Disney will become a major OpenAI customer, integrating the company’s APIs to build new products, tools and experiences—including within Disney+—and deploying ChatGPT internally for employees. As part of the arrangement, Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity.

Both companies emphasised their shared commitment to the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence. The agreement includes measures around age-appropriate policy controls, protection of creators’ rights and safeguards to prevent harmful or illegal content generation. OpenAI also reiterated its commitment to ensuring individuals retain control over their voice and likeness.

Disney CEO Robert A. Iger said the collaboration represents the next step in the evolution of entertainment technology. “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,” he said. Iger added that the partnership will place “imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the deal reflects how creative industries and AI makers can innovate together. Calling Disney “the global gold standard for storytelling,” Altman said the partnership will “expand the way people create and experience great content” while respecting the importance of original creative work.

Under the terms, Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to begin generating fan-inspired videos featuring licensed Disney characters in early 2026. Fans will be able to create content using characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Baymax, Moana, Simba, and figures from the worlds of ‘Frozen’, ‘Zootopia’, ‘Toy Story’, and ‘Encanto’, as well as animated versions of Marvel and Star Wars icons including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Loki, Darth Vader, Yoda and many others.

The final transaction remains subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements, corporate approvals and customary closing conditions. Disney cautioned that forward-looking statements in the announcement are subject to risks and uncertainties, including regulatory developments, technological changes and shifting consumer preferences, as outlined in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.