It seems Disney didn’t waste time fulfilling CEO Bob Iger’s promise to integrate AI-generated content into Disney+. The company announced the beginning of a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI, under which more than 200 of its beloved characters — including characters from “Star Wars” and Pixar — will come to the Sora app and to ChatGPT. Once the agreement goes into effect, OpenAI users will be able to enter prompts into ChatGPT to create images that use Disney’s intellectual property, including costumes, accessories, vehicles, and environments.
The agreement does not include voices or “likenesses of actors/talent,” which means Sora users will not be able to ask the app to create a video featuring “Black Widow” and receive content with Scarlett Johansson. Instead, both Sora and ChatGPT will receive access only to animated and illustrated versions of Marvel and Star Wars characters, such as “Black Panther,” “Captain America,” Han Solo, Darth Vader, and others. Disney will stream a “treasure selection” of fan-made Sora videos on Disney+. Sora and ChatGPT users will be able to begin creating images and videos with Disney characters at the beginning of 2026.
“Disney is the global standard for storytelling, and we are excited to collaborate to enable Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand how people create and consume great content,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to advance innovation that benefits society, respects the importance of creativity, and helps works reach new and broader audiences.”
In addition, Disney has agreed to become an OpenAI customer and has committed to using the company’s API interfaces to build new products, tools, and experiences. Disney will also invest one billion dollars in OpenAI, with the option to purchase additional equity in the future.