As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt plans and force the film/TV industry to adapt, one of the big strategies from major studios has been a pivot to digital distribution. Many films have gone direct to VOD release, while some studios like Warner Bros. have opted to put nearly everything they have onto their proprietary streaming service. As so many films end up on streaming, however, some studios have taken issue with how their films are being treated in an on-demand market, including Pixar.
While Disney has been reticent to fully embrace Disney Plus as an avenue for big releases, they have slowly relented. The company initially bit the bullet with Mulan, putting it on Disney Plus under the "Premiere Access" subscription, charging an additional $30 for the privilege of watching it at home when it released. Since then, they've also announced the Black Widow will also hit Disney Plus on the same day it goes to theaters, a move they were clearly hesitant to make, given how late in the game it has been announced.
As well as "Premiere Access," the company has also made some offerings available to all Disney Plus subscribers free of charge. The decision to release Pixar's Soul onto the service for free definitely turned heads and was welcomed by audiences as a charitable gesture during a time when uncertainty over the pandemic was at its height. Recently, Disney also announced that Pixar's next film, Luca, would be arriving on the platform for no additional cost as well, but not everyone is thrilled about it.
According to reports, some Pixar employees feel discouraged by Disney's decision to offer their films for free on Disney Plus, and that it devalues their work. On Twitter, Matthew Belloni, a former editorial director at The Hollywood Reporter, claimed that one of his contacts at Pixar says employees are demoralized by the situation, remarking, "Forget theaters, we're not even good enough for an upcharge?"
It's certainly an awkward and unprecedented situation for the company, which is used to putting out very popular films in traditional theater settings. Even if the current climate necessitates a change in delivery strategy, it can definitely feel like a downgrade to have projects like Soul offered for free with no theater release. While audiences appreciate the free access to the films, hopefully, some kind of compromise can be reached that helps the employees at Pixar feel better about the situation, or at the very least, things return to normal and Pixar films will once again be enjoyed in theaters.
Luca will be available on Disney Plus starting June 17th, 2021.
Source: Matthew Belloni