Disney & OpenAI Sign 1B USD Deal to Bring Characters to ChatGPT & Sora

Disney and OpenAI have finalized a three-year, $1 billion deal that gives ChatGPT and Sora access to more than 200 Disney characters, marking one of the entertainment industry’s largest licensing arrangements in recent years.

The agreement covers characters from Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, allowing users to create short videos and images featuring these figures on OpenAI’s platforms.

Sora, OpenAI’s text-to-video tool, will support short scene generation based on user prompts, while ChatGPT Images will allow users to create visuals using the same licensed catalogue.

The partnership features a broad lineup, including Mickey Mouse, Simba, Moana, Buzz Lightyear, Iron Man, Captain America, Darth Vader, and Yoda. Disney has clarified that the deal does not include the likenesses or voices of the actors associated with these roles, establishing clear boundaries for usage.

• Disney and OpenAI sign a $1 billion deal granting ChatGPT and Sora access to more than 200 iconic Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters
• The partnership enables users to generate videos and images with licensed characters while Disney adopts OpenAI’s tech across its platforms
• Rollouts begin in early 2026, marking a major shift toward structured digital content licensing in the entertainment industry

As part of the agreement, Disney will become a major commercial client of OpenAI, adopting its API services for product development, digital operations, and internal tools across divisions, including Disney+. The collaboration introduces new ways for Disney to expand engagement with its extensive character library, offering fresh formats and interactive storytelling options for global audiences.

The partnership signals a shift in the entertainment sector toward structured content licensing rather than disputes over digital rights. It provides OpenAI access to one of the world’s most recognizable character portfolios, while giving Disney a new pathway to distribute creative assets across emerging digital platforms.

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Rollouts for these character-driven video and image features on Sora and ChatGPT are scheduled to begin in early 2026, with Disney indicating that selected user-created clips may appear on Disney+.