The launch of Disney+ awards Disney with a new home for some of its content and we think these movies, which currently have theatrical release dates announced, could debut there instead. Over the last several years, Disney has become a money-making machine that dominates the box office, even though they release far fewer films than other major studios. This has been possible thanks to the strong brand recognition that Disney holds.
With the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Pixar, live-action remakes, and other Disney animated movies, Disney's release slate is traditionally packed with some of the most anticipated movies of the year. And now, the company has integrated Fox into their family to include high-profile upcoming films like the Avatar sequels. The richness of content presented in theaters is the same reason why Disney+ has quickly become a popular service. The latest movies from these brands and franchises are not only represented on the service but so is most of Disney's library.
This backlog of content that subscribers are familiar with is only half of the Disney+ equation, as Disney also is making exclusive content for it. The live-action/CGI remake of Lady and the Tramp was made specifically for the service to be available at launch, while shows like The Mandalorian have maintained high levels of interest. But, in addition to Lady and the Tramp, another movie that was available at launch was Noelle, but it was not originally conceived as a streaming service play. After production was done, Disney decided to move the film to the streaming service instead.
So far, Lady and the Tramp and Noelle are the only Disney+ original movies, but more are on the way. Willem Dafoe's Togo arrives later this year, while they have a variety of different films in various stages of development. Their slate includes the family comedy Magic Camp, a biographical sports drama Safety, and movie adaptations of books through Stargirl, Flora & Ulysses, and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. All of these films are being made with the idea that they fit the family-friendly Disney+ brand, but also are going to the streaming service because they don't fit Disney's blockbuster, IP-driven theatrical approach. But, there are a few films on their current slate that stick out as odd inclusions and could wind up (and be better fits) on Disney+.
The Call of The Wild
Now a Disney release thanks to the Fox acquisition, The Call of the Wild is a dog adventure film directed by Chris Sanders (The Croods) that stars Harrison Ford as the lead human. As shown in The Call of the Wild's trailer, he accompanies the sled dog through the Alaskan wilderness. The movie is set to hit theaters February 21, 2020, and also features Karen Gillan, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford, and Omar Sy. Admittedly, the inclusion here is a bit more unlikely now that the marketing campaign has begun, but The Call of the Wild makes more sense as a Disney+ play than a theatrical release for the studio.
For starters, Disney is only making and releasing this movie because of the Fox deal, and it doesn't match Disney's theatrical approach. There's also the matter that dog-led features like this have become strangely popular in the last year but none had impressive results. A Dog's Way Home, A Dog's Journey, and Fox's The Art of Racing in the Rain all made less than $80 million worldwide. That's not the type of return that Disney is used to and they just experienced the latter's $33M performance first hand. They've even already released one live-action/CGI dog movie on Disney+ and Togo will mark their second dog-led movie in as many months. With a reported budget over $90M, it would be a miracle if The Call of the Wild does well enough to be profitable, so a move to Disney+ could allow Disney to keep potential losses to a minimum.
Artemis Fowl
Based on the literary series by Eoin Colfer, Disney currently has Artemis Fowl set to hit theaters May 29, 2020. The movie adaptation of the first novel is directed by Kenneth Branagh (Thor) and has been an oddity on the studio's schedule for quite some time. The cast's biggest members are Josh Gad and Judi Dench, but newcomer Ferdia Shaw plays the lead role. The marketing campaign kicked off at the end of 2018 when Artemis Fowl had a fall 2019 release date set.
With Disney already delaying Artemis Fowl once (and not marketing it again since), the movie is a far more logical Disney+ release at this point. A movie adaptation of a child's fantasy novel is not what Disney has become known for and reportedly boasts an $125M budget. This is higher than the budgets of regular Disney+ movies, but the fit is much better. A fantasy film based on a book that doesn't feature any major stars makes Artemis Fowl a risky theatrical play, especially in the heat of the summer. Families and children may not be interested in paying the increasing ticket prices to see Artemis Fowl in theaters, but the commitment to checking out the film is much smaller on Disney+, which could allow the movie a chance to find it's intended audience faster. And if Artemis Fowl proves to be a hit, then Disney+ has a major movie franchise on its hands.
The One and Only Ivan
The One and Only Ivan is potentially the best fit for Disney+ of the bunch. Based on the novel by K.A. Applegate, the story follows a silverback gorilla named Ivan who lives in a cage in a mall. The book is told through Ivan's point of view as he tries to remember his past and escape with the help of an elephant named Stella. Directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You), the movie will star CGI versions of these animals, with Sam Rockwell and Angelina Jolie voicing Ivan and Stella, respectively.
While Disney has shown with The Jungle Book and The Lion King that realistic looking animals can lead movies, The One and Only Ivan doesn't have the name recognition to inspire similar confidence. While some people may know the book, the fever to see the story on the big screen isn't widespread. It may currently have an August 14, 2020 release date, but a move to Disney+ could better suit the movie. Disney has yet to start marketing the film, so there's no telling how the movie has shaped up, but all of the risks mentioned before with The Call of the Wild and Artemis Fowl are true with The One and Only Ivan too.
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With all of these titles, it remains to be seen what Disney will do with them. Each one poses potential challenges to the studio to be financially successful, so a move to Disney+ could allow them to save some money. Essentially, Disney+ gives Disney the ultimate "get out of jail free" card with movies they no longer believe can thrive in the current blockbuster-driven theatrical landscape, all while growing the library of Disney+ exclusive content.
