Disney+: Streaming service will load up on Marvel, ‘Star Wars’ and Pixar series

Disney, joining other large entertainment companies, is going all in on streaming. 

A four-hour investor presentation Thursday is making that abundantly clear, as company executives promised that, in coming years, its Disney+ streaming service plans 10 new Marvel series, 10 more “Star Wars” series, 15 live action or animated series under the Disney or Pixar umbrella and 15 new Disney or Pixar movies. 

Disney CEO Bob Chapek said Disney+ has 86.8 million subscribers as of Dec. 2, up from 73.7 million in November.  At $6.99 a month, Disney+ is cheaper than Netflix’s lowest-price plan ($9.99) and less than half the cost of HBO Max.

A remake of George Lucas’ 1988 film “Willow,” directed by Ron Howard, will return as a 2022 series, with original star Warwick Davis in the cast and John Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) directing the pilot episode. 

‘Star Wars’ forever

But much of the streaming firepower was directed at “Star Wars.” Two spin-offs of Disney+’s biggest hit, “The Mandalorian,” “Rangers of the New Republic” and “Ahsoka” are joining Disney+, beginning in Christmas 2021. 

And more “Star Wars” series are coming soon: “Andor,” starring Diego Luna as the character he played in 2016’s “Rogue One” film, and (as previously announced) “Obi Wan Kenobi,” with the return of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. (Production on “Obi Wan” begins in March.)  Justin Simien (“Dear White People”) is behind “Lando,” featuring the Lando Calrissian character from earlier films. And “The Acolyte” is also in the works from Leslye Headland (“Russian Doll”). 

More “Star Wars” animated series, “The Bad Batch” and “A Droid Story” are also in the works. And “Star Wars Visions” is a series of short films. 

Hulu, which offers more adult fare, including a vast library of TV and movie titles and TV episodes a day after their initial airing, has 38.8 million subscribers. ESPN+ has 11.5 million. Many of these subscribers pay for a $12.99 DIsney Bundle that includes all three services.  (Starting in January, an ad-free version of Hulu can be substituted for an additional $6 a month.) 

Among Hulu projects showcased at the presentation:

• “Only Murders in the Building,” a Hulu murder mystery starring Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez.
• “The Dropout,” a new take on scamming Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, played by Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live.” 
• “Dopesick,” a drama starring Michael Keaton and Kerry Washington about Big Pharma’s profiteering from Oxy-Contin. 
• “Nine Perfect Strangers,” based on “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty’s novel,  about the wellness and healing industry, starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy. 

Kardashians move to Hulu

The Kardashian family, which will end their long-running “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” on NBC Universal’s E! next year, will develop new shows for Hulu that wil be distributed globally on Disney’s Star service. The agreement starts in late 2021, the streaming service announced.  No details were disclosed. 

Disney+ Originals

Disney Television Studios plans several new original series for the streaming service:

• “Game Changers,” an update of 1992’s “The Mighty Ducks” hockey series featuring Lauren Graham and original cast member Emilio Estevez. 
• An update of “Turner Hooch” the dog-and-man comedy starring Josh Peck (“Drake josh”) in the role played by Tom Hanks in the 1989 film. 
• “Big Shot,” a drama series from David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies,” “Big Sky”) starring John Stamos as the coach of a girls’ high school basketball team. 
• In development: A prequel series to “Beauty and the Beast,” a new version of “Swiss Family Robinson” and “The Mysterious Benedict Society,” based on a popular young-adult book series. 

FX had its own turn to shine: The edgy cable network, like Hulu a recent addition to the Disney family, touting a “Shogun” series and a drama about the Rolling Stones. 

And NatGeo will focus its next “Genius” series on Martin Luther King Jr. and plans a film about undeewater explorer Jacques Cousteau. 

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