Disney Partners with OpenAI to Bring Iconic Characters to Sora

The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) has announced a three-year partnership with OpenAI, becoming the first major content licensing partner for Sora, OpenAI’s generative AI video platform. Under the agreement, Sora users will be able to create videos featuring a wide range of Disney-owned characters, including iconic animated figures such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella, as well as illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters including Iron Man and Darth Vader.

Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the deal includes a one-year exclusivity period, after which Disney will be free to license its intellectual property to other AI companies. Commenting on the partnership, Iger said it “puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love.”

Sora, a short-form video platform, allows users to generate content simply by entering text prompts. While major media companies have previously expressed concerns around safety and copyright infringement in generative AI, this partnership gives Disney the opportunity to establish clear guardrails governing how characters are used and portrayed on the platform.

As part of the agreement, Disney will invest US$1 billion in OpenAI and will also receive warrants to purchase additional equity in the company.

Sora and ChatGPT are expected to begin generating content featuring licensed Disney characters in early 2026.

Author: Jack Borins, 2025-2026 Articling Student-At-Law