According to Variety, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to license some of its content library to Netflix in exchange for legal tender. The deal is described as a throwback to an era when companies made money off products rather than laying off staff or raising subscription fees.
The agreement includes some of Disney+’s most popular series. Specifically, the first two seasons of Percy Jackson And The Olympians will begin streaming on Netflix a month and a half before the show’s third season premiere on Disney+.
The same timing applies to 20th Century Television titles Will Trent, Shifting Gears, and the series Tracker. Each will be made available on Netflix ahead of their upcoming season premieres on network television.
Disney also plans to use the Ice Age franchise to attract new viewers. Starting on October 4, Netflix will have access to the five existing Ice Age movies in the lead‑up to the sixth installment, Ice Age: Boiling Point, which is scheduled for theatrical release on February 5, 2027. The Ice Age titles will be available on Netflix for a limited three‑month promotional run.
In addition, Disney will allow Netflix to stream some of its less‑seen animated films, including Pixar’s Soul and Elio, as well as the 2021 release Raya And The Last Dragon.
The outlet notes that the strategy aims to monetize previously produced projects and hook audiences on that content for upcoming seasons. It remains uncertain whether this approach will slow the steady tide of layoffs and price increases at Disney, but Netflix subscribers will at least get the chance to encounter the Scrat character that has been referenced in promotional material.
Key facts
- Disney licenses select content to Netflix for legal tender, per Variety
- First two seasons of Percy Jackson And The Olympians stream on Netflix ahead of Disney+ season three
- Will Trent, Shifting Gears, and Tracker also timed to network TV premieres
- Five Ice Age movies on Netflix from Oct 4, ahead of Ice Age: Boiling Point (Feb 5 2027) for a three‑month run
- Underseen animated titles Soul, Elio, and Raya And The Last Dragon also included