Disney has announced plans to invest $5 billion (£3.9 billion) in producing blockbuster films and TV shows over the next five years, with a significant portion allocated to the UK and Europe. The move underscores Disney’s commitment to bolstering its content production capabilities in these regions, following the success of its recent superhero comedy, Deadpool & Wolverine.
The film, which was shot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire and features stars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, has enjoyed global box office success, earning over £33 million in the UK and Ireland alone, according to trade magazine Variety. The film’s popularity has bolstered Disney’s confidence in the film industry’s continued viability.
Jan Koeppen, Disney’s regional president, told the Financial Times that the success of Deadpool & Wolverine highlights the enduring appeal of the superhero genre. “We feel like we’re really on a roll again with movies,” Koeppen said. “I’ve been positive about people going to the movies again, and especially enjoying our movies.”
Disney’s substantial investment will be directed towards both films and television content for its streaming platform Disney+ and the National Geographic network. The planned expenditure, approximately $1 billion (£0.8 billion) annually, will be focused primarily on the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMA) region, with a significant portion expected to be spent in the UK and mainland Europe.
At Pinewood Studios, Disney has already lined up four major projects, including Snow White, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Roses, and The Amateur starring Rami Malek. The studio, which has a long-term lease with Disney, has previously hosted numerous productions, including several films from the Star Wars franchise and the recent trilogy reboot.
In the past five years, Disney has invested approximately £3.5 billion in UK productions, supporting 29 films and 23 TV series and creating over 32,000 jobs. The company’s commitment to the UK film industry is further underscored by its ongoing projects at Pinewood.
This announcement follows Disney’s recent return to profitability, driven by the success of Inside Out 2, which has become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Disney+ also achieved profitability for the first time. Despite this, Disney reported a decline in revenue at its US-based theme parks and cautioned about potential “moderations in demand” in the near future.
Overall, Disney’s increased investment in European production underscores its strategic focus on expanding its global content production capabilities and leveraging regional success to drive future growth.
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