Disney+ announced plans to expand its Asia-Pacific operations during a presentation at the Busan International Film Festival, with Jon Wax, executive vice president of international original television at Disney Entertainment, outlining the company’s regional strategy.
The streamer is increasing investment in Australian original content and will be appointing a new commissioner for the market. Regarding other Asian territories, Wax indicated that while Disney+ is not currently operating in many countries across the region, the company is prioritizing growth in established markets before expanding further. When asked about resuming production in Indonesia after previous pullbacks, Wax stated that specific titles are under exploration there and described the market as “on the menu,” though execution would require additional time.
Local adaptations of Korean content are gaining traction, with “Battle of Fates,” a supernatural competition series featuring practitioners of shamanism and divination, becoming the biggest premiere in Disney+ Korea’s history and spawning a spinoff titled “House of Fates.” Wax emphasized the show’s cultural distinctiveness while noting that similar practitioners exist in other societies, positioning the format for potential international adaptation. The company is also pursuing other regional adaptations, including a Korean reworking of FX’s “The Americans.”
Wax acknowledged that Disney entered the local original content space later than competitors like Netflix but noted the company is now prioritizing non-U.S. content more aggressively under current leadership. The streaming service is balancing adaptation of established intellectual property with development of original stories, with Wax stating that creative ideas and character development matter as much as recognizable properties or talent. He stressed that Disney+ prioritizes shows working in their home markets first, as local success is viewed as essential for global appeal.
Unscripted programming is being integrated into the overall content strategy, offering both creative diversity and production efficiency advantages. The company is also developing systems to identify Korean shows that gain momentum after launch and expand their reach to international audiences.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI