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By Dawn Chmielewski and Deborah Mary Sophia Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video generator, a crucial deal that could reshape how Hollywood makes content. The three-year partnership announced on Thursday is a pivotal step in Hollywood's embrace of generative artificial intelligence, side-stepping the industry's concerns over the impact of AI on creative jobs and intellectual property rights. As part of the licensing deal, Sora and ChatGPT Images will start generating videos using licensed Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Mufasa, from early next year. The agreement excludes any talent likenesses or voices. "Through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," Disney CEO Bob Iger said. TALKS BEGAN LONG AGO Iger and OpenAI's Sam Altman began talking years ago, as they explored a way to do more to showcase the potential of generative AI, when combined with Disney's characters and stories, according to one person familiar with the talks. Prior to the launch, OpenAI offered the studio early looks at its image-generation tool Sora, the source who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations said, adding that Disney found OpenAI willing to engage constructively in this dialogue. Iger previewed part of the strategy during an investor call in November, saying AI would allow the company to provide Disney+ users with tools to create and consume user-generated content, mainly in short form. As part of the agreement with OpenAI, a selection of the videos by users will be made available for streaming on Disney+, allowing the streaming platform to capitalize on the growing appeal for short-form video content. The media conglomerate will also receive warrants to purchase additional equity in the ChatGPT maker. The companies will use OpenAI's models to build new products and customer experiences, including for Disney+ subscribers, while Disney will deploy ChatGPT for its employees. The deal also includes guiderails to protect against the characters being depicted in inappropriate situations and Disney also plans to use OpenAIs tools for its internal purposes to support film production as it looks to gain efficiency, the source said. The partnership comes months after Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's premier talent agency, criticized OpenAI for exposing artists to "significant risk" through Sora and questioned if creative professionals would be compensated for their work. "An entertainment giant partnering with an AI company will inevitably invite backlash from labor groups in the entertainment industry," Emarketer analyst Ross Benes said. "But unions' power is limited and they will unlikely be able to stem the momentum of AI-produced media." CNBC reported earlier in the day that Disney sent a cease and desist letter to Google alleging the company infringed its copyrights. Disney and Comcast's Universal had in June filed a copyright lawsuit against AI photo generation firm Midjourney for its use of the studios' best-known characters. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in San Francisco and Deborah Sophia and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski and Deborah Mary Sophia Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video generator, a crucial deal that could reshape how Hollywood makes content. The three-year partnership announced on Thursday is a pivotal step in Hollywood's embrace of generative artificial intelligence, side-stepping the industry's concerns over the impact of AI on creative jobs and intellectual property rights. As part of the licensing deal, Sora and ChatGPT Images will start generating videos using licensed Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Mufasa, from early next year. The agreement excludes any talent likenesses or voices. "Through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," Disney CEO Bob Iger said. TALKS BEGAN LONG AGO Iger and OpenAI's Sam Altman began talking years ago, as they explored a way to do more to showcase the potential of generative AI, when combined with Disney's characters and stories, according to one person familiar with the talks. Prior to the launch, OpenAI offered the studio early looks at its image-generation tool Sora, the source who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations said, adding that Disney found OpenAI willing to engage constructively in this dialogue. Iger previewed part of the strategy during an investor call in November, saying AI would allow the company to provide Disney+ users with tools to create and consume user-generated content, mainly in short form. As part of the agreement with OpenAI, a selection of the videos by users will be made available for streaming on Disney+, allowing the streaming platform to capitalize on the growing appeal for short-form video content. The media conglomerate will also receive warrants to purchase additional equity in the ChatGPT maker. The companies will use OpenAI's models to build new products and customer experiences, including for Disney+ subscribers, while Disney will deploy ChatGPT for its employees. The deal also includes guiderails to protect against the characters being depicted in inappropriate situations and Disney also plans to use OpenAIs tools for its internal purposes to support film production as it looks to gain efficiency, the source said. The partnership comes months after Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's premier talent agency, criticized OpenAI for exposing artists to "significant risk" through Sora and questioned if creative professionals would be compensated for their work. "An entertainment giant partnering with an AI company will inevitably invite backlash from labor groups in the entertainment industry," Emarketer analyst Ross Benes said. "But unions' power is limited and they will unlikely be able to stem the momentum of AI-produced media." CNBC reported earlier in the day that Disney sent a cease and desist letter to Google alleging the company infringed its copyrights. Disney and Comcast's Universal had in June filed a copyright lawsuit against AI photo generation firm Midjourney for its use of the studios' best-known characters. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in San Francisco and Deborah Sophia and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video generator, a crucial deal that could reshape how Hollywood makes content. The three-year partnership announced on Thursday is a pivotal step in Hollywood's embrace of generative artificial intelligence, side-stepping the industry's concerns over the impact of AI on creative jobs and intellectual property rights. As part of the licensing deal, Sora and ChatGPT Images will start generating videos using licensed Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Mufasa, from early next year. The agreement excludes any talent likenesses or voices. "Through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," Disney CEO Bob Iger said. OpenAI has been engaging with Disney and others in Hollywood for the past year in its search for partners, a person with knowledge of the discussions said. The move marks a major shift in Disney's approach to AI – the company had decided to keep out its characters from the Sora app when OpenAI was in talks with companies regarding the tool's copyright policy. Disney and Comcast's Universal had in June filed a copyright lawsuit against AI photo generation firm Midjourney for its use of the studios' best-known characters. As part of the agreement with OpenAI, a selection of the videos by users will be made available for streaming on Disney+, allowing the streaming platform to capitalize on the growing appeal for short-form video content. The media conglomerate will also receive warrants to purchase additional equity in the ChatGPT maker. The companies will use OpenAI's models to build new products and customer experiences, including for Disney+ subscribers, while Disney will deploy ChatGPT for its employees. The partnership comes months after Hollywood's premier talent agency sharply criticized the same technology Disney is now embracing. Creative Artists Agency, which represents thousands of actors, directors and music artists, said in October OpenAI was exposing artists to "significant risk" through Sora, questioning whether the AI company believed creative professionals "deserve to be compensated and credited for the work they create". (Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video and image generator, a crucial deal that could reshape how Hollywood makes content. The partnership announced on Thursday is a pivotal step in Hollywood's embrace of generative artificial intelligence, despite the industry's concerns over the impact of AI on creative jobs and intellectual property rights. As part of the agreement, Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to start generating fan-requested videos using licensed Disney characters in early 2026. The companies will use OpenAI's models to build new products, tools and customer experiences, including for Disney+ subscribers. The partnership comes months after Hollywood's premier talent agency sharply criticized the same technology Disney is now embracing. Creative Artists Agency, which represents thousands of actors, directors and music artists, said in October OpenAI was exposing artists to "significant risk" through Sora, questioning whether the AI company believed creative professionals "deserve to be compensated and credited for the work they create". Through the deal with OpenAI, a selection of the videos made by users will be available for streaming on the Disney+ platform. It will also deploy ChatGPT for its employees, the companies said. The tie-up will also cover image generation on ChatGPT, drawing from the same Disney intellectual property. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney said on Thursday it will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and that the companies have agreed to bring the entertainment giant's characters to OpenAI's Sora video generation tool. As part of the three-year licensing agreement, Sora will be able to generate short, user-prompted social videos that draw on more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters. A selection of the videos made by users will also be available for streaming on the Disney+ platform. Disney will also use OpenAI's application programming interfaces to build new products and tools, becoming a major customer of the ChatGPT maker. It will also deploy ChatGPT for its employees, the companies said. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Walt Disney said on Thursday it will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and that the companies have agreed to bring the entertainment giant's characters to OpenAI's Sora video generation tool. As part of the three-year licensing agreement, Sora will be able to generate short, user-prompted social videos that draw on more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters. A selection of the videos made by users will also be available for streaming on the Disney+ platform. Disney will also use OpenAI's application programming interfaces to build new products and tools, becoming a major customer of the ChatGPT maker. It will also deploy ChatGPT for its employees, the companies said. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Entertainment giant Disney said on Thursday it will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and that the companies have reached an agreement to bring Disney characters to OpenAI's Sora video generation tool. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Elvira Pollina COLOGNO MONZESE, Italy, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Pier Silvio Berlusconi, chief executive of European broadcaster MFE-MediaForEurope, said he would prefer Paramount’s Skydance rather than Netflix as a buyer for Warner Bros Discovery, arguing the move would boost competition in the streaming industry. Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, challenging a rival offer from Netflix, in a battle that is rattling the global entertainment industry. "It would mean that instead of three major over-the-top players – Netflix, Amazon and Disney– there would be four, adding another competitor for them,"  Berlusconi said at a press briefing at MFE's headquarters near Milan late on Wednesday. The growing dominance of global streaming platforms is eroding Europe’s traditional broadcasting industry, siphoning off viewers and advertising budgets. Controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, MFE has been an active player in a wave of consolidation sweeping Europe’s broadcasting sector this year, as part of a strategy it sees as vital to withstand global video platforms by building an advertising-funded European champion. The Milan-listed company, which runs TV operations in Italy and Spain, in September secured control of German rival ProSiebenSat.1 after a 1.4 billion euro bid. Recently it also  bought a stake in Portuguese media firm Impresa.  The  MFE CEO, the eldest son of the late Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, struck a cautious tone over advertising sales in the final quarter of the year, a crucial moment for broadcasters as they seek to capture corporate advertising spending in the run-up to Christmas. "We are not in a position to make forecasts because the economic and advertising outlook in Italy, Spain and Germany is challenging. It’s not a good quarter,” he said, adding he still expected to post an annual profit and to distribute a dividend similar to the past year. Berlusconi said MFE will now focus on turning around ProSiebenSat.1 with a new business plan that includes cost cuts but no layoffs. Asked about new potential deals in France and Britain, the executive said ideally both markets, where MFE explored acquisitions in the past,  fit MFE's strategy but the company needs to move forward step by step after making a big leap this year.   (Reporting by Elvira PollinaEditing by Keith Weir)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Elvira Pollina COLOGNO MONZESE, Italy, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Pier Silvio Berlusconi, chief executive of European broadcaster MFE-MediaForEurope, said he would prefer Paramount’s Skydance rather than Netflix as a buyer for Warner Bros Discovery, arguing the move would boost competition in the streaming industry. Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, challenging a rival offer from Netflix, in a battle that is rattling the global entertainment industry. "It would mean that instead of three major over-the-top players – Netflix, Amazon and Disney– there would be four, adding another competitor for them,"  Berlusconi said at a press briefing at MFE's headquarters near Milan late on Wednesday. The growing dominance of global streaming platforms is eroding Europe’s traditional broadcasting industry, siphoning off viewers and advertising budgets. Controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, MFE has been an active player in a wave of consolidation sweeping Europe’s broadcasting sector this year, as part of a strategy it sees as vital to withstand global video platforms by building an advertising-funded European champion. The Milan-listed company, which runs TV operations in Italy and Spain, in September secured control of German rival ProSiebenSat.1 after a 1.4 billion euro bid. Recently it also  bought a stake in Portuguese media firm Impresa.  The  MFE CEO, the eldest son of the late Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, struck a cautious tone over advertising sales in the final quarter of the year, a crucial moment for broadcasters as they seek to capture corporate advertising spending in the run-up to Christmas. "We are not in a position to make forecasts because the economic and advertising outlook in Italy, Spain and Germany is challenging. It’s not a good quarter,” he said, adding he still expected to post an annual profit and to distribute a dividend similar to the past year. Berlusconi said MFE will now focus on turning around ProSiebenSat.1 with a new business plan that includes cost cuts but no layoffs. Asked about new potential deals in France and Britain, the executive said ideally both markets, where MFE explored acquisitions in the past,  fit MFE's strategy but the company needs to move forward step by step after making a big leap this year.   (Reporting by Elvira PollinaEditing by Keith Weir)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Dec 10 (Reuters) – For James Cameron, following the release of the 2025 movie “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” it’s imperative to cut costs for future “Avatar” franchise films.  If the Canadian and New Zealand filmmaker can’t find a way to make the cost of production “cheaper,” he may be “doing something else” before getting to the fourth and fifth “Avatar” films that he’s previously announced plans for.  “There are many, many variables ahead of us before we can talk about four and five and beyond," he told Reuters.  "It’s a universe, like the (George) Lucas universe, for example, it’s open-ended. I’ve only imagined a few more stories. Maybe it continues. Maybe it doesn’t,” he added. "Avatar: Fire and Ash," distributed by Disney, is scheduled to debut in movie theaters on December 19, continuing the saga of the blue Na'vi people. Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, and Zoe Saldana portrays his wife, Neytiri. All three of the “Avatar” films that have been completed utilize advanced motion capture technology, requiring large-scale budgets.  Cameron worries that with the popularization of streaming platforms, less people will see films in the movie theaters, including his “Avatar” projects. However, he remains optimistic.  “I still think people want to go have that deeper, more profound experience that you have when you can’t pause it (a movie). The second you can pause it, you lose that,” the Oscar-winner said.  For the cast members, it was meaningful to find emotional connections to their characters to keep themselves immersed in the fictional world.  “I plastered burn victims all over my trailer, which was horrific,” said Oona Chaplin, who portrays the new antagonist named Varang, the Na'vi leader of the volcano-dwelling clan.  While she said she doesn’t think she would do that again, it did help her channel some of her character’s anger and grief.  Similarly, Zoe Saldaña, who reprises her role as Neytiri, said that being a real-life mother helped her channel Neytiri’s grief after losing a child. Cameron applauded each actors’ authentic performance, noting that “Avatar” does not use any generative AI (artificial intelligence) to develop films.  “We have not historically used generative AI on “Avatar” films. I think the broad public doesn’t know how we’ve made these movies. They think it’s some kind of computer thing and now AI,” he added.  While the idea of synthetic actors replacing human actors worries the “Titanic” director, he does see the value in using AI as a supplementary tool to support creative endeavors.   (Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Editing by William Maclean)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)