Disney taps Dhar Mann for 20-episode original series

Disney is partnering with YouTuber and filmmaker Dhar Mann to produce a 20-episode original series, marking the latest tie-up between a traditional entertainment company and a creator-led studio.

The deal will see Dhar Mann Studios produce original episodic content for Disney, with further details about the series yet to be announced.

Dhar Mann Studios claims more than 170 million followers globally and nearly 300 million weekly views across platforms. Founded in 2018, the company produces several hours of scripted programming centred largely on moral-driven stories about everyday conflicts.

Disney executives Asad Ayaz and Debra O'Connell said Mann had built a "distinctive voice" and "enormous global following", pointing to the relationship his studio has established directly with its audience.

"We've spent years building a direct relationship with our audiences and learning what makes them laugh, cry, share and, most importantly, feel seen," Mann told Deadline.

Sean Atkins, chief executive of Dhar Mann Studios, framed the deal as a meeting of two different models of entertainment.

"We all believe that when traditional brands and emerging creator-led brands work together well, the math becomes 1 + 1 = 3," he wrote on LinkedIn.

The partnership comes as Dhar Mann Studios expands its relationships with traditional media companies. In January, it struck a deal with Fox Entertainment to produce 40 narrative-driven vertical micro-dramas for My Drama, an app owned by Ukrainian media company Holywater.

The studio has also worked with brands including Adobe, the NFL and Gap, and operates a FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus.