Netflix can be in “active discussions” with Walt Disney about keeping Marvel along with “Star Wars” films after 2019 when completely new Disney along with Pixar movies will stop appearing on the streaming service, a senior Netflix executive said on Thursday.
Disney announced on Tuesday which the idea was pulling completely new Disney along with Pixar films coming from Netflix starting with its completely new releases in 2019 along with will put the movies on a completely new Disney-branded online service.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger told analysts the company had not yet decided where the idea could distribute superhero films coming from Marvel Studios along with movies coming from “Star Wars” producer Lucasfilm, which Disney owns, at which time.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos told Reuters “we are still in active discussions” with Disney about the possibility of securing a deal to retain the rights to stream Marvel along with Lucasfilm releases on Netflix after 2019.
A Disney spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iger said on Tuesday the Marvel along with Lucasfilm movies could go to Netflix or another streaming service after 2019, or Disney might retain the rights for itself.
Sarandos said he expected Disney’s service could be “complementary” to Netflix, which carries various other family-friendly programming such as animated movies coming from “Despicable Me” creator Illumination Entertainment along with “Shrek” producer Dreamworks Animation.
Disney’s plan to stream its content directly to consumers can be “a natural evolution” for traditional media companies which Netflix expected, Sarandos said in an interview at an event to celebrate Emmy nominations for Netflix drama “The Crown.”
“which’s why we got into the originals business a few years ago, anticipating the idea may be not as easy a conversation with studios along with networks” to license their content, he added.