Fans around the world undoubtedly rejoiced after Disney made the official announcement that Bluey and her friends would be trading their backyard in Brisbane for the Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line, along with an upcoming feature-length film. However, the Walt Disney Company is far from finished with the beloved blue dog.
As one of the most successful shows on its magical streaming platform, there's no way Disney hasn't been waiting in the wings to get its Mickey mitts on Bluey, but that might not be such a bad thing. However, how will this partnership shape the show?
Bluey Meets the Mouse
Although Disney has played a massive role in bringing Bluey, Bandit, and all the rest to an international audience, the company has mainly played a distributing role in the process. Apart from some scandalous censorship choices Disney really hasn't done anything to alter the experience. However, that's getting ready to change.
The official announcement from the Walt Disney Company shared the following details,
"The announcement comes as part of a major expansion of The Walt Disney Company’s global relationship with BBC Studios for Bluey. The new deal sees Disney acquiring the global theatrical rights for the film, which will be produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios, and which will land in cinemas in 2027 under the Disney banner. Following the global theatrical release, it will stream on Disney+. The movie will also air on ABC iview and ABC Kids in Australia post-theatrical release."
"Global theatrical rights" might be just the beginning. As fans eagerly await the inevitable fourth season, Disney might seek out more than just a movie as the partnership evolves. While we can't say what that might look like at the time of writing, this writer believes Bluey's world is going to get enormously bigger.
Additionally, multiple figureheads associated with both parties shared their two cents on this long-awaited partnership.
Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experience had this to say about the new development.
“Bluey has become a household name for families around the world and we are thrilled to bring her story to life in new ways. We can’t wait to watch our youngest guests and their families make memories with Bluey in our parks and on our cruises.”
And Nicki Sheard, CEO, BBC Studios, Brands and Licensing, shared their enthusiasm with,
“The Heeler family’s debut at Disney Theme Parks and Cruises really is the icing on the cake for what has been an exceptional year for Bluey. We are committed to creating the very best-in-class experiences for our fans and can’t wait to open the doors to families next year.”
We are sitting on the precipice of an absolute Bluey boom, which will undoubtedly be good for both Ludo's flagship dog and Disney fans everywhere. As fans in the States hope that the powers at Disney don't dilute what makes Bluey brilliant, Bluey creator Joe Brumm has already assured us that the show is in the best of hands.
We will be watching Bluey's latest developments with increasing interest, but you can watch all 150 episodes and more on Disney+!