WORLD (Enmaeya News) - December 12, 2025

Disney has agreed to invest $1bn in OpenAI as part of a deal that will allow users to generate images and videos of hundreds of the company’s most famous characters through ChatGPT and the video-generation tool Sora.

The entertainment giant is the first major Hollywood studio to license parts of its catalogue to OpenAI, a move that could reshape how traditional studios engage with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

The agreement will permit fans to create and share content featuring more than 200 characters from Disney franchises, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

According to OpenAI, the list includes characters from Zootopia, Moana and Encanto, as well as Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker and Marvel’s Deadpool, alongside classics such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

However, Disney said the deal does not extend to talent likenesses or voices, leaving open questions about how the characters will sound in AI-generated content.

“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry,” Disney chief executive Bob Iger said. “Through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling.” The tools are expected to be available to users in early 2026.

According to BBC, analysts say the OpenAI agreement signals a broader shift toward licensed collaboration between rights holders and AI developers.

Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to face scrutiny over Sora after users created deepfakes of deceased public figures, prompting the company to stop certain content capabilities and promise stronger safeguards.