Disney has revealed plans to turn Disney+ into an “experiential lifestyle platform” that would let users experience the company’s theme parks “from a virtual standpoint”.
Bob Chapek, Disney CEO, discussed the move in an interview with Deadline at this year’s D23 Expo. “We call it next-gen storytelling,” he said.
“We tend not to use the M word [metaverse] too often, because it has a lot of hair on it,” he added. He said the Disney+ streaming service “will not just be a movie service platform”.
It will serve as a platform “for the whole company to embody both the physical things that you might be able to experience in a theme park, but also the digital experiences that you can get through media”.
Chapek said the metaverse-style platform is being created for “the 90 percent of people that will never ever be able to get to a Disney park”.
Instead, it would “give them the ability to ride Haunted Mansion from a virtual standpoint” and “see how it works, see how those ghost dancers move”.
“We are in the very embryonic beginnings of this,” he said.
Earlier this year, Disney appointed Mark Bozon, a former creative and gaming executive for Apple, to help oversee its metaverse plans. Prior to that, Disney named Mike White as senior vice president of next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences.
Metaverse plans at Disney
“For nearly 100 years, our company has defined and redefined entertainment by leveraging technology to bring stories to life in deeper, more impactful ways,” Chapek said in a memo to staff (via Variety).
“Today, we have an opportunity to connect those universes and create an entirely new paradigm for how audiences experience and engage with our stories,” he added.
“This is the so-called metaverse – which I believe is the next great storytelling frontier and the perfect place to pursue our strategic pillars of storytelling excellence, innovation, and audience focus.”
Images: Disney
