Mega-Deal: Disney Licenses 'Percy Jackson' and More to Netflix!

Disney Entertainment and Netflix have formalized an expansive new content licensing agreement, transforming their competitive dynamic into a strategic partnership. While both companies vie for streaming subscribers, Disney leverages Netflix's massive customer base of over 325 million to monetize and promote its own content, with Netflix readily investing in these offerings. This multifaceted deal introduces an eclectic mix of library titles and current-season television shows to Netflix, with varying availability periods and strategic objectives.

A key component of this agreement is Disney's promotional strategy for upcoming releases. For instance, the Disney+ original series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Seasons 1-2 will become available globally on Netflix starting October 4. This serves as a three-month promotional window designed to attract a broader audience ahead of the series' Season 3 premiere on Disney+ on November 20. The series, which follows the adventures of young demigod Percy Jackson, portrayed by Walker Scobell, alongside Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth) and Aryan Simhadri (Grover), has garnered a following for its blend of fantasy adventure and compelling character relationships. Season 3 is set to adapt Rick Riordan’s acclaimed novel, “The Titan’s Curse,” focusing on Annabeth’s disappearance and the unfolding Great Prophecy, with new cast members Levi Chrisopulos as Nico di Angelo and Olive Abercrombie as Bianca di Angelo.

Similarly, all five films in 20th Century Studios’ popular “Ice Age” franchise – including “Ice Age” (2002), “Ice Age: The Meltdown” (2006), “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (2009), “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (2012), and “Ice Age: Collision Course” (2016) – will debut on Netflix worldwide on October 4. This also marks a three-month promotional window, preceding the theatrical release of the franchise’s sixth installment, “Ice Age: Boiling Point,” slated for February 5, 2027.

The agreement further extends to current series from 20th Television. The crime drama “Will Trent” Seasons 1-4 and the sitcom “Shifting Gears” Seasons 1-2 are scheduled for global release on Netflix. “Will Trent” (S1-4) will be accessible from November 3, ahead of its Season 5 premiere on ABC in early 2027. “Shifting Gears” (S1-2) arrives on Netflix in the U.S. on December 1, followed by international availability in January, prior to its Season 3 premiere on ABC in early 2027. Additionally, the action-drama “Tracker” Seasons 1-3 will be available on Netflix internationally outside the U.S. as part of a multiyear term, launching on February 26, 2027, before its Season 4 premieres on CBS on October 4.

Beyond these, a selection of non-franchised Disney-branded films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar will also join Netflix’s catalog. Beginning in early 2027, titles such as the Oscar-winner “Soul,” “Elio,” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” will become streamable globally, with specific launch dates and regional availability subject to variation. A variety of library series from Disney Entertainment are also included in the deal, featuring “Felicity” (U.S. release Oct 7, international later), “Revenge” (global), “Army Wives” (global), “Fresh Off the Boat” (U.S. and select regions), and “This Is Us” (internationally outside the U.S., following a prior U.S. licensing in 2024-25). These new additions will complement existing licensed content from Disney on Netflix, which includes popular shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Arrested Development,” “Scandal,” and “Black-ish.”

From Disney's perspective, this expanded licensing pact represents a mutually beneficial arrangement. It enables Disney to reach a broader audience, thereby boosting the visibility of its titles and generating millions in incremental revenue, all while steadfastly adhering to its general strategy of keeping core Disney-branded content largely exclusive to its proprietary platforms and TV channels. All titles currently available on Disney+ and Hulu, including “Ice Age” movies and “Percy Jackson,” will remain accessible there. Netflix, on the other hand, significantly enhances its diverse content offerings with these licensed titles, supplementing its substantial investment in original productions like animated hits “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Swapped,” and upcoming projects such as “Steps,” “Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory,” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Buried Giant,” with sequels to existing originals also in development.