Disney’s rookie exclusive online
streaming service, rather plainly named Disney+, launched only in November of
last year. And while the House of Mouse has promoted quite the number of new
original productions to premiere on that platform alongside their massive
library of past movies and TV shows, the new Disney+ originals are not expected
to arrive all at once. Things got even worse with the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic, which slowed or stop work on those upcoming shows. But then Disney
decided to premiere the film recording of hit Broadway musical Hamilton on
their exclusive service last weekend, resulting in a massive user explosion.
Seven days since the movie
recording of “Hamilton” premiered on Disney+, the clamor to watch it has not
abated. And as The Verge has it, the
House of Mouse is gearing to capitalize on the grand positive reception by
further entwining the musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda with the larger
Disney media umbrella. That is how it
came across in an all-hands meeting called by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who
remarked on the increase in Disney+ subscribers the moment “Hamilton” the movie
became available. He gave no concrete numbers, save that there were “a lot.”
While not expected, Disney welcomes
the streaming success so far of the cinematic musical recording. After all, it
is now doing something the media giant has been trying to do during the COVID
pandemic and quarantine periods that have stifled entertainment productions
everywhere. Plenty of the new Disney+ subscribers, believes company streaming boss
Rebecca Campbell, came aboard out of a desire to watch “Hamilton.” They likely
comprise of theatergoers who are bummed that the outbreak has shuttered the
theatre houses. Others are possibly curious “Hamilton” fans who could not
afford or access a theatre run of the musical and were just waiting on the film
to premiere in cinemas instead.
Indeed, Walt Disney Pictures’
editing of the live “Hamilton” recording (stitching together three separate 2016
performances into a single play-through under director Thomas Kail) was
supposed to be released next year as an unorthodox fall blockbuster. Deciding to
bring it out early as a digital streaming premiere on Disney+ was inspired and
successful, though thankfully for other fans the original 2021 cinema (and later
home media) release are still on.
Disney now looks set to take
their streaming division further, following encouraging returns for “Hamilton.”
Aside from Disney+, this arm of the House of Mouse includes Hulu and ESPN Plus.
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