Disney+ Is Changing Forever, And You Can Already See The Effects

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Disney+ is undergoing significant changes, and we’re already seeing the results. Launched just before the pandemic, the service initially filled gaps left by delayed movie releases while also complementing existing franchises. They heavily focused on TV shows connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars to build on the success of the films.

Early Disney+ series like WandaVision, Hawkeye, Loki, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier featured popular Marvel characters. Meanwhile, Star Wars has focused so much on streaming shows that it hasn’t released a movie in theaters since The Rise of Skywalker. Disney even released the Marvel film Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ at the same time, which led to a legal dispute with its star, Scarlett Johansson.

While Disney+ offers more than just Marvel and Star Wars, those were the main attractions, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Disney heavily promoted these popular franchises—they were the biggest money-makers—over other original shows like Renegade Nell or Diary of a Future President. This strategy led to some excellent series, but it also meant viewers missed out on a wider variety of TV programming.

Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television, announced in February 2025 that Marvel would be changing how it creates shows. Previously, their series were designed as short, self-contained stories meant to connect to the larger movie universe. Now, the focus is on making ongoing, yearly television shows, similar to a traditional TV model.

This news marks a significant shift for Disney+, and we’re now seeing the results. The streaming service is beginning to feel more like traditional television, offering a wider range of content beyond limited series. Importantly, Star Wars is returning to movie theaters with the exciting new installment featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu, instead of depending only on Disney+ subscribers to support the franchise.

Recent Disney+ TV Shows Introduce The Streamer’s New Style

Disney+ is changing its focus with shows like ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ and ‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord,’ both of which are getting second seasons. While these shows include well-known characters from the Marvel and Star Wars universes, you don’t need to follow the main storylines of those franchises to enjoy them.

The animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man exists in its own separate universe, meaning it doesn’t connect to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the character Maul’s storyline in Shadow Lord links to both The Clone Wars and Rebels, the first season is easy for newcomers to enjoy. It doesn’t feel like the show is building towards a Maul-focused movie. Knowing his backstory from other Star Wars content adds to the experience, but it’s not essential to understanding the story.

We’re now seeing this approach in Marvel’s live-action series too. Projects like Echo and Wonder Man are great because they stand on their own and aren’t dependent on big-name movie characters making appearances. Instead, Echo focuses on grounded characters like Wilson Fisk/Kingpin and Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Wonder Man’s main connection to the wider MCU comes through characters like Trevor Slattery and Agent P. Cleary.

It’s unclear what will happen with Echo, but Wonder Man is confirmed to return in season 2. While both Echo (Maya Lopez) and Wonder Man (Simon Williams) could potentially appear in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe later on, the current story feels like it’s standing alone, with any connections to the wider MCU being optional for the future.

Like Daredevil: Born Again, Disney+ seems to be entering a new phase with its shows. This series feels like a traditional TV show, prioritizing a self-contained narrative rather than setting up future movies. The story centers on characters like Kingpin and Daredevil, and while they could appear in the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, their story works perfectly well on its own.

The team creating the show appears to be prioritizing a compelling, long-term story over immediately linking it to a wider cinematic universe. Interestingly, they’re choosing to feature characters from other television series, such as Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, instead of relying on major stars from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2026-04-28 05:08