14 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Disney

Once the public face of squeaky-clean, harmless family entertainment, the Walt Disney Corporation has evolved into a widespread conglomerate known as much for the properties it controls as the films it produces. With subsidiaries including Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, A&E, 20th Century Fox, ESPN, Hulu, and Pixar, Disney has a commanding control of some of the world’s most lucrative franchises, plus an extensive library of film and TV classics. Its streaming service Disney+ signals a new interest in controlling its own online distribution, setting aside decades of licensing partnerships. Follow along with The Verge as we look at Disney’s new films and shows, and its strategies for dominating the box office and the streaming dollar.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
A five-minute teaser for Marvel’s Secret Invasion series awaits, if you jump through one hoop.

With the next MCU series set for a Disney Plus debut on June 21st, the marketing for Secret Invasion is winding up, but with a spy twist this time. Instead of just dropping yet another trailer, it’s stored on this dedicated site that requests a password (RSD3PX5N7S), which is conveniently listed in the tweet.

Figuring out which characters are Skrulls in hiding will hopefully be a little harder than that.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Captain America: Brave New World.

That’s the new name for the franchise’s fourth installment, which was previously called Captain America: New World Order. The upcoming flick is part of Phase 5 of the MCU, and is set to hit theaters on May 3rd, 2024, starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, and Shira Haas.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Disney isn’t done pulling content just yet.

After yanking dozens of shows and movies from Hulu and Disney Plus on May 26th, a new filing with the SEC indicates that Disney plans on taking down even more content “during the remainder of its third fiscal quarter.”

Disney has already racked up a $1.5 billion impairment charge following last week’s takedowns, but now it estimates an additional $400 million charge as a result of its upcoming content removals.

The Little Mermaid is Disney’s most animated ‘live-action’ remake yet

Halle Bailey’s turn as The Little Mermaid’s Ariel is inspired, but the movie’s lackluster sense of visual magic does her very few favors.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Comcast is quarreling with Disney over its decision not to expand Hulu internationally.

After Comcast found out that Disney quietly blocked Comcast’s ability to make major decisions about Hulu, the WSJ reports they made a deal saying Disney would continue to “aggressively” expand the streaming service.

However, Disney never brought Hulu to international markets and only released the service under its Star branding in foreign countries. This reportedly set off an arbitration dispute, as the two also wrangle over a buyout to end their shared ownership and for how much.

Disclosure: Comcast is an investor in Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Disney’s third planned round of layoffs has started.

They’re expected to affect more than 2,500 jobs, according to Deadline. The second round happened in April, affecting approximately 4,000.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Disney is backpedaling on some yanked content.

After facing backlash, Disney is no longer removing Howard — a documentary about Howard Ashman, a legendary songwriter and gay man who helped write the songs for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

There’s a chance that Disney may spare some other shows and movies as well, as a Disney spokesperson tells Deadline that the slate of content getting removed from Hulu and Disney Plus “is still being finalized.”

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
ESPN is preparing for its “flagship” streaming future.

When Bob Chapek was still Disney’s CEO, he called the idea of a streaming ESPN channel (in full, not just ESPN Plus) “the ultimate fan offering that will appeal to the superfan who loves sports.” Chapek is gone, but the process of shifting ESPN from a cable channel that pockets nearly $10 from every subscriber is still underway, according to the Wall Street Journal:

Now, as consumers increasingly cut the cable-TV cord, the company is actively preparing for that shift under a project with the internal code name “Flagship,” the people said.

ESPN would continue to offer the TV channel after launching a streaming option

ESPN has begun securing flexibility in its deals with cable providers to offer the channel directly to consumers, the people said...The company is having similar discussions with pro sports leagues as those rights deals come up and has secured the same flexibility from at least two major leagues, the people said.

Loki season 2 hits Disney Plus this OctoberLoki season 2 hits Disney Plus this October
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Microsoft will give you a Zune, really.

In coordination with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (and calling back this deleted scene from the second movie), Microsoft is giving away this unopened 8GB “green” Zune to a US resident over the age of 18.

No, it’s not a big-boy Zune 80GB or OLED touchscreen-equipped Zune HD, and there are no promises it will even work, but if you want to join the Zune squad (a real thing that exists, I promise), then this is your ticket in.

Image: Microsoft (Twitter)
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Google says 50 of its own Android apps are ready for big-screen tablets (and presumably Pixel Fold).

Also, Spotify and Disney Plus. The Fold hasn’t been fully announced here yet. Stay tuned.

Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
Have you ever tried to take a screenshot of your favorite Netflix video?

What you’ll get is likely to be a blank screen. Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and HBO Max are understandably nervous about letting people make copies of their copyrighted stuff — but just as understandably, fans want photos and clips of their favorite scenes. Here’s how to get that screenshot you’re trying for.

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 is pure signal in a franchise full of intergalactic noise

Star Wars: Visions’ second season is a breathtaking reminder of how freeing living outside of the canon can be.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Disney’s putting all 12 of Andor’s scripts online.

During an Andor-focused FYC Emmy event over the weekend, series creator Tony Gilroy announced that all of the show’s scripts will soon be posted online alongside concept art.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
The Little Mermaid’s IMAX poster has what the entire movie needs.

Some genuinely magical lighting that makes living under the sea look like a fairytale fit for a princess.

The Mandalorian’s season 3 finale didn’t need to answer every question

Rather than dotting every single i and crossing all of its t’s The Mandalorian spent its extremely adequate third season trying to forge new lore for lore’s sake.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
An Everything Everywhere All At Once reunion.

A story about parallel worlds featuring cool martial arts and a cast that includes Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu? No, I’m not talking about that movie that dominated the Oscars, but American Born Chinese, a new series coming to Disney Plus. It starts streaming on May 24th.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
In non-Star Wars news...

It may be called Star Wars Celebration, but at this year’s event Disney made sure to show off another one of its properties with a trailer for the next Indiana Jones film. The Dial of Destiny (yes, that is the real name) hits theaters on June 30th, but will premiere at Cannes in May.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Meet the directors of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

We already knew The Daniels were set to direct an episode of Disney Plus’ Star Wars: Skeleton Crew series, but at this year’s Star Wars: Celebration (Europe) event, the rest of the directing lineup was revealed to include Jon Watts, David Lowery, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Disney has a new head of streaming.

The latest shakeup in the streaming industry has Hulu president Joe Earley replacing Michael Paull as Disney’s direct-to-consumer president, a role that oversees Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu.

There isn’t any word on who will take over for Earley just yet, as Disney says he’ll keep leading Hulu until they find a replacement. Earley first joined Disney in 2019 to help launch Disney Plus and became the president of Hulu last year.