At a media showcase in Johannesburg on Tuesday, The Walt Disney Company Africa highlighted upcoming releases, including new seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and a new Ice Age feature film, while detailing a broader content licensing agreement with rival streamer Netflix.
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Under the terms of the deal, key Disney-owned catalogue titles are arriving on Netflix globally for limited three-month promotional windows. The initiative aims to build audience momentum ahead of new releases while generating licensing revenue from Netflix’s base of over 325 million subscribers. Primary releases under the arrangement include:
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Seasons 1 and 2 arrived on Netflix on 4 October, leading into the Season 3 premiere on Disney+ on 20 November.
- Ice Age: All five original films went live on Netflix on 4 October ahead of the theatrical debut of Ice Age: Boiling Point on 5 February 2027.
- Drama Series: The first four seasons of Will Trent arrive on Netflix on 3 November, followed by three seasons of Tracker on 26 February 2027.
- Animated Features & Catalogs: Animated films including Pixar’s Soul and Elio, alongside Raya and the Last Dragon and legacy series like This Is Us, will hit Netflix in early 2027.
While shared catalogue titles will stream on both platforms, Disney-branded releases remain anchored to Disney+ or theatrical runs, including Pixar’s upcoming original feature Gatto, slated for cinemas on 5 March 2027.
The strategy represents a reversal from Disney’s previous approach of locking content exclusively within its own ecosystem. It comes as Disney+ adjusted its South African Premium tier pricing to R179 per month (up from R159/month), following the shutdown of MultiChoice’s Showmax earlier this year.
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In tandem with core entertainment additions, Disney+ is bolstering its local sports footprint via the ESPN hub. Beginning 18 December with the 2026/2027 season, every Formula E race, including practice, qualifying, preview shows, and highlights, will stream live on Disney+. The motorsport joins existing properties including France’s Top 14 rugby, European football, and exclusive English-language coverage of the NBA Finals across sub-Saharan Africa.
Finally, Disney confirmed the rollout of an updated Disney+ application in South Africa, featuring enhanced personalization, upgraded parental controls, and international roaming capabilities across Europe and the US.
