According to Jan Koeppen, Disney’s president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the company plans to invest at least US$5bn in the UK and continental Europe over the next five years to produce blockbuster movies and TV shows.
Koeppen highlighted that Disney will allocate approximately US$1bn annually in the region, focusing on films, Disney+, National Geographic and other TV productions. This investment is expected to build on the recent success of films like Inside Out 2 and the company’s television ventures.
Inside Out 2 grossed US$1.6bn globally, and Deadpool & Wolverine, which debuted this quarter, has already earned over US$850m.
“We feel like we’re really on a roll again with movies, which is fantastic,” Koeppen said.
The announcement comes after Disney forecasted a “moderation in demand” at its theme parks, which caused a 1.1% drop in shares on Wednesday. Koeppen oversees Disney’s EMEA operations across 130 markets and manages Disney+, motion pictures, television, content licensing, and local original productions.