Disney and OpenAI Sign Sora Deal for 200+ Characters and $1B Investment

The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI announced a landmark agreement on February 2, 2026, that brings more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters to Sora, OpenAI's generative AI video platform. The three-year licensing deal allows users to create short, prompt-driven social videos using those characters, with a selection of fan-made Sora videos set to stream on Disney+. Disney is also making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and receiving warrants to buy additional equity, in one of the largest media–AI partnerships to date.

Background

Sora is OpenAI's short-form generative video product, capable of creating clips from text prompts. Disney has been exploring AI for production and consumer experiences while facing pressure from investors to control costs and embrace new technology. The deal gives OpenAI licensed access to some of the most valuable character IP in entertainment and gives Disney a stake in OpenAI's growth and a new channel for fan engagement and content on Disney+.

Both companies have emphasized responsible AI use. The agreement covers character likenesses only, not talent voices or likenesses. Disney and OpenAI have stated a shared commitment to safety, creator rights, and guardrails to limit harmful or infringing content.

Key Details

Under the agreement, OpenAI can generate user-prompted social videos using over 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. Fans will be able to describe a scene or action and receive a short video featuring those characters. A curated set of fan-created Sora videos will be available on Disney+. Disney CEO Bob Iger said on the company's quarterly earnings call that Sora-generated videos would begin appearing on Disney+ in early 2026, and that the move would not replace the rest of Disney's film and TV pipeline.

Disney's $1 billion equity investment and warrants signal strong confidence in OpenAI's trajectory and align Disney's interests with the success of generative AI in media. The deal is a major validation of Sora as a product that can work with top-tier IP under clear legal and safety terms.

OpenAI has committed to robust controls to prevent illegal or harmful content, to respect the rights of content owners and individuals regarding outputs, and to support appropriate control over use of voice and likeness. The no–talent-likeness rule is a direct response to concerns about deepfakes and misuse of performer identities.

Impact

The partnership blurs the line between official and fan content. For the first time, large numbers of users can create short videos with official Disney character IP through a licensed product. That could boost engagement on Disney+ and social platforms and create new forms of participatory fandom. It also raises questions for fan art communities, unofficial creators, and the long-term balance between studio control and user-generated content.

For the broader industry, the deal sets a template: major studios can license character IP to AI video platforms in exchange for investment and distribution, with explicit guardrails. Other studios and AI video providers are likely to explore similar structures. Critics may still worry about displacement of human animators and the normalization of AI-generated entertainment, but Disney and OpenAI are betting that licensed, governed use will win over both audiences and regulators.

What's Next

Fan-created Sora videos featuring Disney characters are expected to appear on Disney+ and across social media in the coming weeks. Uptake, quality, and audience reaction will shape whether Disney expands the initiative and how other studios respond. Policymakers and creator groups will watch for any misuse or controversy that could affect future licensing and regulation of AI-generated media.