Disney+ Inks Multi-Year Deal to Accelerate Production of Japanese Live-Action Originals
Disney+ has announced a strategic move to enhance its portfolio of live-action originals from Japan, marking a significant step for the company’s Asia-Pacific content team. This initiative comes as part of Disney’s broader strategy to expand its streaming services globally.
Development Deal with The Seven
On Tuesday, Disney revealed a multi-year development agreement with Tokyo-based production company The Seven, known for its collaborations with Netflix on various Japanese-language films and series. The deal is described as a “long-term, ongoing content development collaboration,” although specific details regarding its duration and financial arrangements were not disclosed.
Carol Choi, Disney’s executive vice president of original content strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasized the importance of local originals since the launch of Disney+ in Japan. She stated that this collaboration represents a natural evolution in Disney’s investment in content, reinforcing the strong relationships built over time and deepening the company’s storytelling roots in Japan.
Collaborative Project Development
Under the terms of this agreement, Disney’s content team will be involved from the initial stages of project development, collaborating closely with The Seven’s producers to create Japanese-language series exclusively for Disney+. This marks a notable shift for Disney+ in Japan, where the platform has traditionally acquired or co-produced titles on a project-by-project basis rather than establishing dedicated development partnerships.
The Seven was founded in late 2021 as a subsidiary of TBS Holdings, one of Japan’s leading commercial broadcasters, with an initial investment of ¥30 billion (approximately $205 million). The company, led by President and CEO Katsuaki Setoguchi and Vice President and Chief Content Officer Akira Morii, has quickly become a key player in producing live-action originals for the global streaming market. Its notable works include the dystopian survival series Alice in Borderland and the manga adaptation Yu Yu Hakusho. The Seven is also behind the upcoming jidaigeki series Song of the Samurai, which HBO is set to release in May.
Positioning in a Competitive Market
This deal positions The Seven uniquely as one of the few Japanese production houses with partnerships at two of the world’s leading streaming platforms. This reflects the scarcity of experienced live-action producers with global aspirations in Japan’s evolving production landscape.
The agreement arrives at a time of increasing competition for Japanese content. According to a report from Media Partners Asia (MPA), Japan’s premium streaming sector experienced a 15 percent growth in 2025, reaching revenues of $7.2 billion. Japan is now estimated to be the third-largest premium streaming market by revenue, trailing only the U.S. and China, the latter of which restricts foreign platform operators. As of February, Netflix held a 22 percent share of premium VOD revenue in Japan, while Amazon Prime Video boasted the largest subscriber base at 19.3 million. In contrast, Disney+ commands only 3 percent of total viewing hours, although it has recently expanded its presence through a joint bundle with Hulu Japan.
Rising Demand for Japanese Content
The global appetite for Japanese-themed content has surged in recent years. While anime has long dominated youth culture, live-action Japanese storytelling is gaining traction. Disney’s own Shōgun, a samurai epic, achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Emmys, winning a record-setting 18 awards, including Best Drama Series. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters noted that Japanese titles on the platform have amassed a cumulative 25 billion viewing hours, making them the second-most-watched form of non-English content globally, surpassed only by Korean titles.
Katsuaki Setoguchi expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating that leveraging The Seven’s creativity through Disney’s extensive network could transform Japanese stories into a global phenomenon. Gaku Narita, Disney’s executive director of content production in Japan, highlighted the focus on developing engaging stories that resonate with audiences, allowing for close collaboration with local creators from the earliest stages of development.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-04-21 05:37:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk