The Walt Disney Company is set to significantly expand its collaboration with Fortnite, turning the battle royale game into a major platform for showcasing films, promoting vacations, and even tying into major live events.
Incoming CEO Josh D'Amaro, who will take over from Bob Iger in March, outlined an expansive vision for the partnership during a recent conversation. The initiative builds on Disney's substantial $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite. D'Amaro stressed that the collaboration would go well beyond basic character skins or appearances. "It's not just gonna be one character. It could be a new film premiering there, it could be the place that you decide to book your next cruise vacation. You could participate in the Super Bowl in some way there," D'Amaro said, as reported by Puck.
Currently heading Disney's Experiences division—which includes theme parks, cruise lines, consumer products, and gaming—D'Amaro brings a deep understanding of immersive entertainment to the CEO role. His comments signal a strategy to harness Fortnite's enormous, highly interactive audience to deliver Disney content in fresh, engaging formats. The game has previously proven capable of hosting large-scale virtual events, including concerts, branded experiences, and full movie screenings, making it an ideal space for innovative crossovers.
Fortnite has already experimented with cinematic content, such as virtual premieres and screenings of films including Christopher Nolan's Inception, The Prestige, and Batman Begins, as well as a short film event connected to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill universe. These precedents provide a strong foundation for Disney to introduce more ambitious projects, potentially debuting major theatrical releases directly in the game to reach younger demographics in an interactive setting.
D'Amaro has positioned himself as a risk-taker who views bold experimentation as crucial to Disney's long-term success and relevance. Showing new movies inside Fortnite represents exactly this kind of forward-thinking approach, moving beyond conventional release channels like theaters and streaming services. His reference to the Super Bowl likely connects to Disney's broadcasting rights—held through ESPN and ABC—for Super Bowl 61 next year. A Fortnite tie-in could feature themed modes, challenges, or special events that blend the excitement of the championship game with the platform's gameplay. Similarly, the idea of booking a Disney cruise within Fortnite suggests interactive in-game promotions or virtual previews designed to encourage players to explore and reserve real-world vacations, creating seamless bridges between digital engagement and physical experiences.
By evolving Fortnite into a central hub for Disney's storytelling, travel offerings, and event programming, the company aims to foster deeper fan connections in a digital-first world. This multifaceted strategy reflects broader industry shifts, as media giants increasingly integrate with interactive platforms to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and maintain cultural impact.
Under D'Amaro's leadership, these Fortnite collaborations could mark a transformative step in how Disney brings its vast portfolio to life, blending gaming, cinema, sports, and leisure in unprecedented ways.
