Walt Disney Co. strikes another major creative deal, this time with the prolific sports-focused Dude Perfect, The Hollywood Reporter learned.
The deal, which the company is billing as a “company-wide creative partnership,” will span entertainment sports, products and consumer experiences.
Like Disney’s other creator offerings, some content from Dude Perfect will come to Disney+, including some content from the group’s short-form library. But this will also see the group create original content for its platforms and channels inspired by Disney events, with Super Bowl LXI, the 50th anniversary of Star Warsand Marvel Studios Avengers: Apocalypse among the projects highlighted.
Dude Perfect was founded in 2009 when Tyler Toney, Coby Cotton, Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert and Cody Jones were all students at Texas A&M and decided to create a trick shot YouTube channel. It has since grown into a full-fledged studio, boasting an 80,000-square-foot facility in Frisco, Texas, and a full suite of programs and brand deals.
Dude Perfect raised $100 million from Highmount Capital in 2024 to help jumpstart growth, says Coby Cotton THR at the time when they wanted to move further into live events and products, two areas in which Disney has particular expertise.
Disney, meanwhile, has signed deals with creators like Dhar Mann and Like Nastya as it looks to further establish itself in this ecosystem. It also has a deal with TikTok that will bring short-form content to Disney+.
Dude Perfect and Disney have worked together in the past, with the creators releasing videos like “Go to Every Disney Park in 75 Hours,” but the new deal builds significantly on that relationship.
“Disney has always been a place where great storytellers come to create, and Dude Perfect brings a distinctive voice and inventive approach to everything they do,” Asad Ayaz, Disney chief marketing and brand officer, said in a statement. “Building on our long-standing relationship, we are able to offer fans even more ways to experience and engage with the Disney stories they love.”
“We have always been Disney children, having exhausted the VHS tape of The Lion King creating essential family memories at Disney World,” added Garrett Hilbert, co-founder of Dude Perfect. “Disney taught us to think big and dream, and that has shaped everything we’ve built. Now we can bring more of those dreams to life with the Disney team, and we can’t wait to bring our fans along with us.
Gn entert
