Disney Licenses Characters to OpenAI, Takes $1 Billion Stake

Disney to Invest $1 Billion OpenAI, License Characters on Sora

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By Molly Schuetz

December 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM UTC

Updated on

December 11, 2025 at 10:00 PM UTC

Walt Disney Co. is licensing iconic characters including Mickey Mouse and Cinderella to OpenAI for use on its artificial intelligence video platform and has agreed to take a $1 billion stake in the startup.

As part of the new three-year pact, OpenAI’s Sora will be able to draw from a library of more than 200 animated and creature characters — from Lilo and Stitch to Ariel and Simba — when generating AI videos in response to user prompts. The deal announced Thursday doesn’t cover any talent likenesses or voices, however. So a video could feature Woody from Toy Story but without the voice of actor Tom Hanks, who plays the character in the popular movies.