Disney Licenses ‘Percy Jackson,’ ‘Ice Age’ and More to Netflix in New Deal

For years, a fundamental rule of the streaming wars was that Disney kept its most popular titles locked behind the Disney+ wall. Netflix has long been seen as the rival that Disney aimed to draw viewers away from. However, this rule is now being rewritten, and the new Disney-Netflix licensing deal is a clear indication of the shifting streaming landscape.

Disney isn’t entirely new to Netflix. Titles such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Arrested Development,’ ‘Scandal,’ and ‘Black-ish’ have been available on the platform under previous agreements, and they will continue to stream there. What sets this new deal apart is the inclusion of a current Disney+ original and franchises with significant upcoming releases.

On Oct. 2, Variety reported exclusively that Disney Entertainment has entered into a broad new licensing agreement with Netflix. This deal brings a diverse mix of library titles and current-season TV shows to Netflix for varying durations on a nonexclusive basis. All titles will still be available on Disney+ and Hulu.

The standout title is the Disney+ original ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians.’ Seasons 1 and 2 will be available on Netflix worldwide starting Oct. 4 as part of a three-month promotional window, leading up to the Season 3 premiere on Disney+ on Nov. 20.

All five ‘Ice Age’ movies will also be available globally on the same day for a three-month window, setting the stage for ‘Ice Age: Boiling Point,’ which is set to hit theaters on Feb. 5, 2027. This collection includes the original 2002 film, ‘The Meltdown,’ ‘Dawn of the Dinosaurs,’ ‘Continental Drift,’ and ‘Collision Course.’

The lineup extends beyond these two franchises. ABC’s ‘Will Trent’ Seasons 1 through 4 will arrive globally on Nov. 3, just ahead of the Season 5 premiere on ABC in early 2027. ‘Shifting Gears’ Seasons 1 and 2 will follow on Dec. 1, with Season 3 premiering on ABC in January.

Nostalgia fans will also be pleased. The series ‘Felicity’ will debut in the U.S. on Oct. 7, with international dates to follow, along with ‘Revenge’ and ‘Army Wives’ coming globally. ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ will be available in the U.S. and select regions, while ‘This Is Us’ will stream internationally outside the U.S.

Starting in early 2027, a selection of non-franchised Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar films will join the lineup. These include ‘Soul,’ ‘Elio,’ and ‘Raya and the Last Dragon,’ with titles and launch dates varying by region. This marks a significant shift for a company that has typically kept its animated family features behind its own paywall.

The reasoning is straightforward: this is as much a marketing strategy as it is a revenue-generating move. Netflix is compensating Disney for hosting these titles, and several are being utilized to promote content that viewers must pay Disney to access, whether on Disney+, ABC, or in theaters. The windows for ‘Percy Jackson’ and ‘Ice Age,’ for instance, are designed to prepare audiences just before new releases.

With approximately 325 million subscribers, Netflix boasts a massive audience. Disney hopes that showcasing the first two seasons of its mythical fantasy series to this base will encourage some viewers to subscribe to Disney+ for Season 3. Variety also noted that this arrangement generates millions in additional revenue.

This deal also reflects a practical approach to library content. Disney has generally kept most library titles exclusive to Disney+ while allowing select licensing agreements to proceed. Critics of the previous strategy argued that billions spent on streaming content didn’t always translate into viewership, and this deal illustrates the other side of that equation.

For subscribers, the immediate takeaway is clear: there will be more to watch on Netflix, along with more reasons to check out Disney+ if a show captures your interest. Fans of ‘Percy Jackson’ will have three months to binge or rewatch before Season 3, while families can enjoy a built-in ‘Ice Age’ marathon ahead of the new film. Whether this strategy will be effective will be evident in Disney+ sign-ups when Season 3 premieres on Nov. 20.

The streaming wars have undeniably entered a new phase, with old rivalries giving way to new partnerships.

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