Why Disney Is Releasing So Many Sequels in 2019

CBR

The Reason Disney Is Releasing So Many Sequels in 2019

By Brandon Zachary

Published Mar 6, 2019

The announcement that Maleficent 2 will premiere in 2019 is the latest indicator that Disney is preparing the way for its streaming service.

Disney continues to add more and more sequels and live-action remakes to its 2019 release slate. On top of the previously announced Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: Episode IX, Frozen 2, and Toy Story 4, the studios today revealed that >Maleficent: Mistress of Evil's release date has been bumped up to Oct. 18, 2019.

Forbes has a theory as to why Disney is overloading 2019 with sequels, and it has everything to do with Disney+.

The upcoming streaming service will naturally feature the various franchises owned by Disney, as well as much of the vast library of films produced by the studio. The service is expected to be debut sometime in late 2019, and Disney will want a slew of new properties to sell the service to the general public beyond the library of films and shows already confirmed to be part of that service. Having a number of sequels to well-known films ready to stream to audiences in the comfort of their own home could help with that.

While Forbes predicts this will lower the number of films released in 2020 and 2021 (perhaps giving rival studios the chance to finally unseat Disney from the box office throne,) it also gives Disney the time and properties it needs to make Disney+ a potential giant to rival entrenched services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.