The future of Disney+ may look remarkably different than it does today. The streaming giant is quietly exploring a radical shift in how we consume its content: vertical video.
Imagine iconic scenes from your favorite Disney films, reimagined for a phone screen, or entirely new, bite-sized stories designed for quick viewing. Everything is being considered, from repurposed clips to original short-form creations.
This isn’t a haphazard experiment. Disney intends to seamlessly integrate this new format, aligning it with how people naturally use their devices. The goal is to create an experience that feels intuitive, not jarring.
The rise of vertical video has been meteoric. What began on TikTok quickly spread to nearly every major social platform, fundamentally changing how we watch and share videos online. Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook all embraced the format, recognizing its power to capture attention.
Now, streaming services are joining the fray. YouTube already features “Shorts” on its TV app, and Netflix has been quietly testing vertical videos within its mobile app. Disney isn’t new to this either, having launched “Verts” on the ESPN app just months ago.
But Disney’s ambitions extend beyond simply offering previews. The company envisions vertical video as a way to transform Disney+ into a daily habit, a destination viewers return to not just for long-form entertainment, but for quick, engaging moments throughout the day.
The exact implementation remains unclear, but the direction is set. Disney is betting that vertical video isn’t just a trend, but a fundamental shift in how stories are told and experienced.
