Disney named five companies to its 2026 Accelerator cohort, and every one of them is an AI company — the clearest signal yet of where the studio thinks the next decade of production goes. The most directly relevant to filmmakers is Promise, an AI-native studio building film, series, and visual effects with generative AI integrated throughout production rather than bolted on in post. Alongside it: Physical Intelligence, building general-purpose AI for the physical world; FieldAI, whose foundation models let robots operate safely in dynamic environments without maps or GPS; OpenArt, reimagining fan engagement through generative AI while protecting the underlying IP; and Simile, whose foundation models simulate real human behavior for consumer insight. "In a time of incredible change, we move forward together by supporting Disney's creative innovators and these founders as they share ideas and breakthroughs for storytelling," said Bonnie Rosen, GM of the Disney Accelerator. The cohort gets mentorship from Disney executives and access to the company's creative and technical resources. Worth holding both facts at once: Disney is incubating AI-native production and suing over it at the same time — the company is a plaintiff against Midjourney and, with NBCUniversal and Warner, against MiniMax. The distinction it is drawing is between AI built with licensed material and partners at the table, and AI trained on its catalog without permission.