Disney has announced that its upcoming animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon, will be made available on Disney+ with Premier Access, following in the footsteps of Mulan. Whereas the live-action Mulan movie was strictly released through Disney+, Raya and the Last Dragon will be released simultaneously in theaters. That said, some are questioning Disney’s decision to use Premier Access after the frustrations it recently caused. The debate has also been reignited after another major studio changed their release model due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic concerns.
Set to debut on March 12, 2021, Raya and the Last Dragon follows the fictional world Kumandra in ancient Asia where humans and dragons once lived together in peace. When monsters threatened Kumandra, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save the human inhabitants. 500 years later, a warrior named Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) tracks down Sisu (Awkwafina), the last known dragon with the hopes of eliminating the monsters once and for all. Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada shared the director’s chair while Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim created the story inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.
Initially planned to premiere in November 2020, the pandemic pushed back the release until the spring of 2021. Despite Disey CEO Bob Chapek’s initial claims that Mulan‘s release model was a one-time situation, he recently insinuated that more major content could debut through Premier Access. Raya and the Last Dragon was deemed a fit for the model, meaning that Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch the film for an additional $30 price tag. While Disney claimed that the Premier Access method was a success, subscribers weren’t too pleased with the additional costs on top of normal subscription prices, showing the media company still hasn’t learned from the debacle. This debate was heightened by the fact that Disney+ made Mulan free for subscribers three months after its debut. Then the frustration was even made worse by Warner Bros’ latest decision to release its entire 2021 theatrical slate on HBO Max at no extra costs for subscribers.
How HBO Max Hurts Disney’s Premier Access Release Model
On one hand, it makes sense why Disney would elect to offer premium content at additional costs when a film is primarily bypassing theaters. Major titles with big budgets require strategies that could result in suitable revenue opportunities. Without that income, major studios wouldn’t be able to continue making A-list titles for the long-term. Releasing Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters and through Premier Access makes theater chains and Hollywood happy. On the other hand, WB’s HBO Max deal is giving subscribers access to a slate of highly anticipated titles at no extra costs. While the move was unprecedented, it proves that the studio and HBO Max prioritizes its subscribers over the notion of revenue, something that Disney isn’t exhibiting.
Whether or not Disney considered Raya and the Last Dragon a necessity with a Premier Access release, the timing with HBO Max’s incoming releases isn’t great. Subscriptions to HBO Max are already rising with WB’s recent release strategy. While Disney+ continues to attract subscribers, existing users might not be jumping at the chance to pay an extra $30 for an original title when they can get it for free a few months down the line. Subscriptions could have had the potential jump even higher if Raya and the Last Dragon is made available at base level access, giving all parties a share of revenue. It will be interesting to see what other Disney titles get the Premier Access treatment in the future, or if the model changes to benefit existing Disney+ users.
Key Release Dates
Raya and the Last Dragon
Release Date:2021-03-05
