Disney Headlines for January 13th, 2026
Star Wars fans continue their push for something Disney doesn’t want.
Also, Disney is somehow NOT one of the ten most iconic companies in America.
Oh, and former Disney animators have strong opinions about last month’s AI deal.
We’ve got a lot happening in Disney Headlines.
You Gotta Admire the Effort
Image: Star Wars
A while ago, MickeyBlog told you about a Star Wars movie you’re (probably?) never going to see.
Adam Driver revealed the existence of a script for a Ben Solo standalone movie, one with a redemption arc.
Photo: NBC
To Star Wars fans, this was a dream come true, as the new narrative could have cleaned up some stuff.
Many fans felt that either the eighth or ninth film was unforgivably terrible.
There’s not really a consensus about which is which, but one of them definitely wasn’t good enough.
So, a tenth movie could maybe make everything better and thereby restore the franchise to its glory.
I don’t claim to understand the underlying mechanics of it, but I want this movie, too.
Steven Soderbergh apparently spent two years working on it, and Steven Soderbergh is a genius.
Like, he legitimately may be the best storyteller in Hollywood. I’d watch any of his films, even a Star Wars title.
I’m obviously not alone on this front, as some dedicated Star Wars fans are keeping hope alive.
Star Wars Fans Vote with Their Wallets
They’ve embarked on a publicity campaign, one based heavily on peer pressure.
The idea is that if fans can drum up enough support for the Ben Solo movie, Disney has to make it.
Photo: Disney
In the latest twist, Ben Solo enthusiasts have bought billboard ads at Times Square.
Since there’s a Disney Store in this area, one of the few remaining ones, it’s an interesting tactic.
Photo: WanderDisney
Personally, I’d argue that a more effective ploy would be to post billboards near 7 Hudson Square.
After all, that’s where Disney’s new headquarters is, just three miles from Times Square.
Still, I admire the effort as well as the tagline, “May 2026 renew hope in the galaxy and bring him home.”
The billboard also includes a link to SaveBenSolo.com. Yes, that’s real.
Photo: Pexel.com
Why do I feel like Star Wars fans are marketing Star Wars better than Disney is right now?
Anyway, this story is likely a frivolous attempt on a settled matter.
Photo: Playbuzz.com
In the unlikely event that Disney changes its mind, this is an all-time fan push, though. (Is there a better word than push? I couldn’t think of one that fit well.)
I mean, Times Square billboard rentals aren’t cheap.
Animators Don’t Love AI
ABC
In the aftermath of Disney’s OpenAI deal, we’ve learned a lot more about Disney’s plans.
According to Business Insider, Disney is now pushing its employees to use AI for job tasks.
Photo: Disney
The idea is that the sooner these workers learn how to maximize AI, the more efficient they’ll be.
Anyone who has used AI at work rolls their eyes at the thought of AI being efficient.
Getty
Companies don’t care, though. They’ve had boardroom meetings where they’ve gameplanned huge savings.
For that to happen, the working class must embrace AI. Cast Members don’t love that thought.
As the article notes, AI “can make mistakes and lacks a ‘personalized touch’ that people provide.”
That’s just office employees talking. Imagine what some Disney animators think.
Photo: Rappler
Well, they cannot speak on the record since they don’t want to lose their jobs.
Dana Terrace, the creator of Disney’s The Owl House, did that for them in an interview with Deadline.
Computer World
The artist, who has spoken ill of Disney since leaving the company, hates this initiative.
According to her, “the mood is “miserable” among (Disney) animators.” Since she presumably stays in touch with many of her former coworkers, she should know.
However, Aaron Blaise, the director of Disney’s Brother Bear, isn’t quite so dismissive of the tech.
Getty
In the same article, he mentions that Disney isn’t planning to make AI films or the like.
As he states, “the notion of creating films with AI couldn’t be further outside the universe of what they want.”
Photo:seoclerk.com
Blaise also correctly notes that Disney really doesn’t have much of a choice here.
In fact, he uses the same argument I have about Disney’s OpenAI deal. It’s really as simple as, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
You Did Bad, and You Should Feel Bad
TIME
The Artist Formerly Known As Time Magazine posted another one of its clickbait lists the other day.
I’ll link it here, but I’ll recommend that you spray it with Febreze before it stinks up the joint.
TIME
Why am I being so dismissive? Well, according to Time, America’s most iconic company is…Ford?
Like, what year is this? Ford’s a barely profitable company whose glory days fell squarely in the 20th century.
Photo: CNN
Second place is a bit of an odd choice as well, as it’s Apple.
I’ve got nothing but great things to say about that brand, as I’ve got an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook within five feet of me.
Photo: Apple
Still, I don’t see what’s so intrinsically American about it. Similarly, Walmart finishes fourth.
I’m not clear on what makes it such a patriotic business, either, but at least I understand third place.
That one is The Coca-Cola Company, which is decidedly American, as is sixth place McDonald’s.
Fifth goes to Amazon, which is, like Apple, an odd choice. Then, we get to General Motors.
Shutterstock
I’m unclear what makes Ford so much better than GM, but I can live with that.
What absolutely astounds me and many other Disney fans is that Microsoft, Google, and Nike come next.
Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, THE most American dream-ish of businesses, finishes 11th.
Yes, Time doesn’t have freakin’ Disney in the top ten! It’s absolutely indefensible.
Photo: Disney
Like, I’d give all the voters drug tests for this one.
To these voters, there’s not much difference between Disney and…Oracle, which finishes 13th.
Photo:mynews13/com/Getty
This is a bad list, and they should feel bad.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Lucas Film
