Disney licenses Ice Age, Percy Jackson and other titles to Netflix in expanded deal
Disney Entertainment has signed an expanded, nonexclusive licensing deal putting library and current-season titles, including all five Ice Age films and Percy Jackson seasons 1-2, on Netflix from 4 October. Disney says titles on Disney+ and Hulu stay there.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
MixedDisney Entertainment and Netflix have entered an expansive content licensing agreement that brings library titles and current-season TV shows to Netflix for varying periods on a nonexclusive basis, Variety reported in an exclusive. VarietyLC “Disney Entertainment and Netflix have entered into an expansive new content licensing agreement, which will bring an eclectic mix of library titles and current-season TV shows to Netflix for varying periods of times on a nonexclusive basis.” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “Disney has signed a new expanded licensing agreement with Netflix” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Mixed"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Seasons 1-2 and all five "Ice Age" films will be on Netflix worldwide from 4 October, each in a three-month promotional window. VarietyLC ““Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Seasons 1-2 will be available on Netflix globally beginning Oct. 4 as part of a three-month promotional window” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “All five Ice Age movies will also run on Netflix globally for the same period starting October 4” Read at Screen Rant ↗ MixedThe windows are timed ahead of upcoming releases: Percy Jackson Season 3 premieres on Disney+ on 20 November, and "Ice Age: Boiling Point", the sixth film, opens in theatres on 5 February 2027. VarietyLC “ahead of the franchise’s sixth installment, “Ice Age: Boiling Point,” releasing in theaters on Feb. 5, 2027” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “overlapping with the premiere of Percy Jackson season 3 on November 20” Read at Screen Rant ↗
LeftThree 20th Television series are included: "Will Trent" Seasons 1-4 (global, from 3 November, before Season 5 on ABC in early 2027), "Shifting Gears" Seasons 1-2 (U.S. from 1 December, internationally in January) and "Tracker" Seasons 1-3 (outside the U.S. from 26 February 2027, as part of a multiyear term). VarietyLC ““Will Trent” (S1-4) will be on Netflix globally as of Nov. 3, ahead of the Season 5 premiere on ABC in early 2027.”““Tracker” (S1-3) will be available on Netflix internationally as of Feb. 26, 2027” Read at Variety ↗ MixedFrom early 2027, non-franchise Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar films including "Soul", "Elio" and "Raya and the Last Dragon" will stream on Netflix globally, with dates varying by region. VarietyLC “Beginning in early 2027, Oscar-winner “Soul,” “Elio,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and other movies will be will be available to stream on Netflix globally” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “which are set to premiere on the streamer in early 2027” Read at Screen Rant ↗ MixedLibrary series also included are "Felicity" (U.S. from 7 October), "Revenge" and "Army Wives" (global), "Fresh Off the Boat" (U.S. and select regions) and "This Is Us" (outside the U.S.; it had been licensed to Netflix in the U.S. in 2024-25). VarietyLC ““Felicity” (available on Netflix in the U.S. Oct. 7, internationally at later dates), “Revenge” (global), “Army Wives” (global)” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “Revenge and Army Wives worldwide, Fresh Off the Boat in the U.S. and select regions, and This Is Us internationally” Read at Screen Rant ↗
MixedThe deal expands an earlier arrangement under which Netflix already carries Disney-owned shows such as "Grey's Anatomy", "Arrested Development", "Scandal" and "Black-ish". VarietyLC “will join other licensed content from the media conglomerate on Netflix, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Arrested Development,” “Scandal” and “Black-ish.”” Read at Variety ↗ Screen RantN “This is an expansion on a previous licensing agreement” Read at Screen Rant ↗ LeftVariety presents the deal as a win-win: Disney gains visibility and what it calls millions in incremental revenue from Netflix's base of over 325 million customers, while Netflix adds content. It says Disney is not changing its general strategy of keeping Disney-branded titles largely exclusive to its own platforms, and that titles now on Disney+ and Hulu stay there. VarietyLC “Disney is bringing the collection of titles to a broader audience to boost their visibility (while also generating millions in incremental revenue) and Netflix is adding more content offerings.”“And Disney is not deviating from its general strategy in which Disney-branded titles remain largely exclusive to its platforms and TV channels.” Read at Variety ↗ CentreScreen Rant, citing Variety, describes the deal as a brand-building exercise for Disney and its streaming content, since Netflix has a wider viewership base than Disney+. Screen RantN “this is ultimately intended as a brand-building exercise for Disney as a whole and for their streaming content, as Netflix still has a wider viewership base than Disney+.” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Variety's exclusive treats the deal as a pragmatic business move: Disney monetises and promotes content via Netflix's large subscriber base, with Disney-branded exclusivity intact.
- Emphasis
- Detailed title-by-title dates, promotional windows tied to upcoming releases, and the win-win financial rationale.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not suggest any risk to Disney+.
- Charged language
- “Mouse House”“win-win”
- For example
-
“the Mouse House also sees the rival’s massive customer base of over 325 million as a way to monetize and promote its own content, and Netflix is happy to write the checks.” — Variety
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Screen Rant rewrites Variety's report with a headline presenting the deal as a strategy shift and a landmark moment.
- Emphasis
- Headline franchises (Percy Jackson, Ice Age) and that the titles are not exclusive to Netflix.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Variety's statement that Disney's general exclusivity strategy is unchanged and that titles stay on Disney+ and Hulu; omits the Will Trent, Shifting Gears and Tracker details.
- Charged language
- “Officially Changing Streaming Strategies”“landmark”
- For example
-
“Disney, which has its own streaming service, strikes a landmark licensing deal with Netflix that includes some of their biggest franchises.” — Screen Rant
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The deal is a nonexclusive expansion of an existing Disney-Netflix licensing arrangement.
- Percy Jackson Seasons 1-2 and all five Ice Age films reach Netflix globally on 4 October for three months.
- Soul, Elio and Raya and the Last Dragon come to Netflix in early 2027.
- Netflix is a competitor to Disney+.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the deal changes Disney's streaming strategy
- Left
- Variety says Disney is not deviating from its general strategy of keeping Disney-branded titles largely exclusive to its own platforms.
- Centre
- Screen Rant's headline says Disney is "Officially Changing Streaming Strategies", though its text calls the deal a brand-building exercise.
Disney organisation
As reported by Variety, Disney sees the deal as a way to reach a broader audience, promote upcoming releases and earn incremental revenue, while keeping Disney-branded titles largely exclusive to its own platforms.
“Disney is bringing the collection of titles to a broader audience to boost their visibility” — Variety
Left1 article
-
Neutral Detailed trade exclusive presenting the licensing deal as a mutually beneficial business arrangement.
Centre3 articles
-
Disney Officially Changing Streaming Strategies In Major New Netflix Deal
Mixed Summary of Variety's report under a headline that frames the deal as a strategy shift.
-
-
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Oct 16:02 First VarietyLC Disney Licenses Slew of Titles to Netflix, Including All Five ‘Ice Age’ Movies, ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians,’ ‘Felicity,’ ‘Will Trent,’ ‘Elio’ and More (EXCLUSIVE)
- 2 Oct 16:20 +17m Screen RantN Disney Officially Changing Streaming Strategies In Major New Netflix Deal
- 2 Oct 17:28 +1h 25m ColliderN Percy Jackson Is Officially Moving to Netflix
- 2 Oct 17:42 +1h 40m ColliderN Tim Allen's Hit Sitcom Is Officially Coming to Netflix
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.