WITH the much anticipated release of Disney+ Hotstar just a few days away, a virtual event or Sembang Bersama was held yesterday to promote the service.
While as expected, Disney+ Hotstar will bring together blockbuster Hollywood movies and content from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, FX, 20th Century Studios and others, there will also be exclusive premieres and blockbusters from leading Malaysian studios.
At launch there will be more than 800 films and 18,000 episodes of television available for streaming.
Among the extensive library of award-winning Malaysian hits are 'J2: J Retribusi', 'Zombitopia', 'Ada Hantu', 'Ejen Ali', 'Upin & Ipin' and many more.
During the event, Ahmad Izham Omar, Executive Director of Content & Creative of Disney+ SEA, spoke on what it meant for the Malaysian entertainment industry to work with such a renowned company as Disney.
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“So when we can bring Malaysian content or Malaysian creativity or Malaysian talent to be part of Disney, I think it is very very special and is nothing anyone here can take for granted, we have to really work the best that we can.”
He sees the collaboration between Disney+ Hotstar and leading Malaysian studios such as Primeworks Studios, Skop Productions, Revolution Media Films, WAU Animation, Act 2 Pictures, and others, as a way of pushing Malaysian content regionally and beyond.
As part of its push to appeal to local audiences, the streaming service will be the exclusive home to some of Malaysia’s most anticipated blockbusters, which will launch straight on the streaming service.
These movies are 'J2: J Retribusi', 'Zombitopia' and 'Ada Hantu', all of which were promoted during the event with the stars appearing happy and excited to now be under the Disney umbrella.
‘J2: J Retribusi’ is an action movie starring Zul Ariffin, Ashraf Sinclair and Amelia Henderson and is a sequel to the 2017 release ‘J Revolusi’. When it was made it was intended for a theatrical release but it will now find a home on Disney+ Hotstar, which is for the best given the current lockdown situation. It releases alongside the service on June 1.
'Zombitopia', starring Shaheizy Sam, Bront Palarae and Sharifah Amani, is a zombie movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family and will start streaming on July 2. “There is a novelty to it, it’s something I want to share with my daughter and her friends and it is also family entertainment,” said ‘Zombitopia’ star Bront Palarae.
‘Ada Hantu’ starring Hairul Azreen, among others, a horror comedy with a unique Malaysian twist, starts streaming on August 13.
In addition to movies, there will also be exclusive shows, which includes these drama series; ‘Semanis Senyumanmu’, starring Aiman Hakim Ridza and Daiyan Trisha and ‘Wifi Sebelah Rumah’ starring Zul Ariffin and Ruhainies, both of which will start streaming June 25.
Interestingly, there will also be top-rated Malaysian primetime drama series which will premiere first at 7am on Disney+ Hotstar, before being broadcast on local television 15 hours later. That’s definitely a unique arrangement and time will tell how appealing it will be.
The current shows that this will apply to are ‘Single Terlalu Lama’, starring Ungku Ismail Aziz and Julia Farhana Marin, and ‘Kekasih Hati Mr. Bodyguard’ starring Redza Rosli and Sharifah Rose.
This doesn’t include the extensive catalog of Malaysian titles on offer, such as 'J Revolusi', 'Tombiruo', 'KL Special Force', 'Munafik', 'Ejen Ali The Movie', 'Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal' (starts streaming mid-June), The Rock movies, 'Mukhsin', 'The Kid From The Big Apple 2', 'Vedigundu Pasangge', 'Evolusi KL Drift 1 & 2', 'KL Gangster 1 & 2', 'Gol & Gincu 1 & 2', 'Guang', 'Redha' and 'Roh'.
This is in keeping with Disney+ Hotstar’s biggest advantage: its tremendous library of content.
Every Marvel movie and show, everything Star Wars, every animated film Disney has made, – including Pixar’s newest movie ‘Luca’ that will premiere directly on Disney+ Hotstar on June 18 – 'Grey’s Anatomy', 'Home Alone' franchise, 'The Walking Dead', 'Aliens' franchise, 'Avatar', 'Planet of the Apes' franchise, 'Family Guy', 'Modern Family', 'The Simpsons', 'The X-Files' franchise, and more will be available.
There will also be plenty of Chinese, Tamil and Hindi content, both old and new, with plenty of exclusives.
Disney+ Hotstar launches on June 1, subscribers can sign up directly for RM54.90 for three months via the Disney+ Hotstar website or the app on Android and iOS devices. Astro Movies Pack customers will have access to the service through a special package. – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
