Disney fans, it’s almost time to break out the credit cards and add a new subscription service to your monthly expenses. Yesterday, during the media company’s fiscal full year and fourth quarter 2018 financial conference call, CEO Bob Iger confirmed details of the studio’s upcoming streaming service, including the first officially confirmed Marvel series for the fledgling network.
First, the name — Disney+. Iger confirmed that Disney+ is the title of the long-awaited service that’s going to provide streaming versions of tons of Disney-related content, including multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe spin-off TV series from Kevin Feige, two “Star Wars” live-action series (“The Mandalorian” and the newly-announced ‘Rogue One’ spin-off starring Diego Luna), and original films like a live-action “Lady and the Tramp.” The CEO confirmed that Disney+ will launch in the United States in late-2019. Sadly, no official word on when it might globally launch or an exact date. But hey, this is the first time we at least got a release window that’s more specific than just “2019.”
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Also confirmed in the conference call is the fact that actor Tom Hiddleston will return as fan-favorite MCU character Loki in a new spin-off TV series about the Asgardian god. No word on the time-period of said TV series, especially in light of the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” but fans have to be excited that Loki is returning in one form or another with Hiddleston in the lead.
The significance of Hiddleston returning officially is two-fold. First, it shows that Disney+ will feature series more closely aligned with the MCU, versus what fans have seen in the regular shows that have be released on ABC, Freeform, Netflix, and Hulu. Secondly, Hiddleston’s involvement is a direct result of Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige taking these new Disney+ projects under his purview, instead of the Marvel TV banner led by Jeph Loeb.
But it wasn’t all Marvel that was discussed. Iger also confirmed that there is a slate of films and series planned for Disney+ that are going to be set in the universes of Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.” and the hugely popular live-action “High School Musical” franchise.
So, while we don’t have an official launch date, Disney+ is confirmed to happen in 2019 and has a lineup of projects that is sure to get fans of the various Disney franchises very excited.
— Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) November 9, 2018