Disney CEO designate plans film premieres inside Fortnite

Wednesday 11 February 2026 - 15:08

By: Dakir Madiha

Disney CEO designate plans film premieres inside Fortnite

Josh D’Amaro, who is set to become chief executive of The Walt Disney Company in March, is considering launching new Disney films directly within the video game Fortnite, signaling a major expansion of the entertainment giant’s partnership with Epic Games. The proposal, first reported by Puck on February 10, would move the collaboration beyond character skins and branded virtual experiences into full scale content premieres and integrated marketing events.

Speaking during a recent question and answer session, D’Amaro outlined a vision in which Fortnite could serve as a multifaceted platform for Disney’s broader business. He suggested that the game might host the premiere of a new film, function as a space where consumers book Disney cruise vacations, or even offer interactive tie ins linked to major events such as the Super Bowl.

The remarks reflect D’Amaro’s strategy of treating Fortnite not merely as a licensing opportunity but as a digital extension of Disney’s theme park model. Currently chairman of Disney Experiences, which oversees theme parks, cruise lines and consumer products, D’Amaro played a central role in Disney’s 1.5 billion dollar investment in Epic Games announced in February 2024. The investment aimed to create what both companies described as an expansive entertainment and gaming universe.

Epic Games co founder Tim Sweeney has publicly welcomed D’Amaro’s upcoming leadership, describing him as a strong executive and noting that the two companies are working closely together on an open gaming and entertainment ecosystem.

D’Amaro’s reference to the Super Bowl appears linked to Disney owned networks ESPN and ABC, which hold broadcasting rights for Super Bowl 61 scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in February 2027. The event will mark the first time since 2006 that ABC airs the championship game, opening potential cross platform promotional opportunities across Disney’s media portfolio.

Disney has already experimented with content launches inside Fortnite. In May 2025, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld premiered its first two episodes on the “Star Wars Watch Party” island in Fortnite two days before their release on Disney+. The event marked the first time a Disney+ series debuted within a video game environment.

Fortnite has previously screened films by Christopher Nolan, including Inception and The Prestige, though those were catalog titles rather than new releases. More recently, Quentin Tarantino’s short film The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge, connected to the Kill Bill universe, premiered in Fortnite as part of a collaboration branded “Fortnite After Dark.”

D’Amaro will formally succeed Bob Iger as CEO on March 18, 2026, during Disney’s annual shareholder meeting. Iger, who oversaw the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox, will remain on as a senior adviser and board member through the end of the year.

In internal remarks, D’Amaro has described himself as comfortable with risk taking and has emphasized innovation as central to Disney’s future growth. Premiering major films within a video game platform would represent one of the most significant departures yet from traditional distribution models, positioning Fortnite as both a marketing engine and a digital venue for global entertainment launches.