Pitch to Disney+: What the New EMEA Promotions Mean for European Creators

Hook: Why this matters — and why timing is everything

European creators and showrunners are juggling tighter budgets, shorter development cycles, and an ever-shifting commissioning map. If you missed a greenlight last year, it may not have been your script — it could have been who you were pitching to. In late 2025 and into early 2026, Disney+ EMEA reorganised its commissioning bench; understanding that reshuffle is now one of the fastest ways to improve your hit-rate when pitching for series, limited drama, or unscripted formats.

Quick summary: What changed at Disney+ EMEA

Angela Jain, who stepped into a senior content leadership role for Disney+ EMEA, has moved quickly to assemble a commissioning team she calls “set up for long term success in EMEA.” As part of that reorganisation, four leaders were promoted to strengthen regional commissioning capacity — notably Lee Mason (now VP, Scripted) and Sean Doyle (now VP, Unscripted). These promotions signal a shift toward specialised, senior commissioners with deep local-market relationships and faster decision-making authority.

“set her team up ‘for long term success in EMEA.’” — internal brief quoted in industry reporting

Why that matters for you: a commissioner with VP-level authority and a clear brief means faster answers, clearer brief language and a different set of relationship dynamics than dealing with a rotating slate executive.

Top-line commissioning trends you must know (2026)

Across streaming platforms in 2026 — and especially within EMEA — a few trends are shaping what gets commissioned and why. Use these to make your submission data-driven and contextual.

• Local-language first, global ambition: Platforms are prioritising high-quality local stories that have international export potential. A Spanish or Nordic script with a clear universal hook now has better odds than a generic pan-European concept without a cultural anchor.
• Shorter seasons, higher episode value: The default season length is increasingly 6–8 episodes for prestige drama and 8–10 for commercial series. Budgets are concentrated on tighter storytelling.
• Unscripted remains a cost-efficient slate-builder: With Sean Doyle’s elevation, expect sustained appetite for lower-capex unscripted formats (competition, docu-ent formats, celebrity-driven formats) that can be localised and franchised.
• Data-led commissioning, with creative veto: Platforms use viewer analytics to de-risk. However, senior creative commissioners like Mason are balancing analytics with editorial taste — meaning executions that hit both the data memo and the creative brief win.
• Co-productions and pre-sales: Fiscal pressure means more co-productions with broadcasters and public funds (e.g., TV2, RAI, France Télévisions) — and more expectation that creators package financing and attached talent.
• Franchise & IP caution: Disney remains IP-conscious; original IP is welcome but will be judged against franchise fit and brand safety considerations.

How Disney+ EMEA’s reshuffle changes pitching dynamics

Promotions internalise commissioning decision-making and create clearer verticals: Scripted, Unscripted, and Regional Heads. For creators this means:

1. Faster signposts. Expect clearer briefs and faster ‘fit/no-fit’ signals because VPs have more remit and direct access to budget holders.
2. Fewer gatekeepers — but higher expectations. You may get a direct read from a VP rather than filtered feedback. That’s good — but it means your first pass must be tighter.
3. Relationship depth over breadth. Commissioners promoted from within (like Mason and Doyle) reward sustained relationships and demonstrable track records in local markets.
4. Regional nuance matters. EMEA commissioners are explicitly balancing pan-regional slate with country-specific sensibilities; your pitch must declare territory strategy.

Actionable pitching playbook — tailor every element to the new structure

Below is a step-by-step, actionable playbook for pitching Disney+ EMEA in 2026. Each item aligns with the new commissioning architecture and current market trends.

1. Research before you reach out

• Map the commissioner: confirm whether your project sits under Scripted (Lee Mason’s remit) or Unscripted (Sean Doyle’s remit). If it’s a hybrid (docu-drama), prepare both creative and audience-first rationales.
• Check recent commissions: identify two Disney+ EMEA titles commissioned in the last 12–18 months in your genre. Note tone, episode length, and talent attachment.
• Match regional strategy: if your story is set in France but written in English, explain why it fits French commissioning priorities (local talent, setting authenticity, co-pro options).

2. The 90-second pitch you must nail

Commissioners now get more succinct pitches. Lead with:

1. One-sentence hook: The one-line that would go on a billboard.
2. One-paragraph synopsis: Stakes, protagonist, tone, and season arc.
3. Why Disney+ EMEA: Two lines on regional fit and global potential.

Example 90-second pitch (scripted):

“A washed-up British pop star takes custody of her estranged teenage daughter and discovers their family secret is the key to a cult-like fan movement. 8 episodes. Tone: darkly comic, music-driven. Fits Disney+ EMEA because it’s a UK-set, English-language local story with export potential to Anglophone markets and strong soundtrack licensing opportunities.”

3. Pack the right materials — what to send and why

With more commissioning authority concentrated at the VP level, your materials should be concise, professional and tailored.

• One-page overview (required): Hook, format, episode count, tone, target demo, and a 1–2 sentence business case.
• Short bible (5–10 pages): Series arc for season 1, character bullet points, episode outline for first 3 episodes, visual references, and moodboard links.
• One episodic sample (script or treatment): First episode script (for drama) or detailed treatment (for unscripted/format).
• Budget range & preferred finance structure: High-level budget per episode and whether you’re seeking a full-commission, co-pro, or co-finance model.
• Talent & attachments list: Director, lead cast (if attached), and any production partners or public funding letters of interest.
• Previous audience metrics (if applicable): Viewership or engagement stats from a pilot, festival screening, or social-first content.

4. Email outreach template (short & targeted)

Use a concise subject line — “Scripted 8x45: [Title] | UK music-drama — fits Disney+ EMEA slate” — and this body structure:

1. 1 line introduction (who you are + one-line credential)
2. 90-second pitch
3. One-line why you’re sending it to them (tie to their recent slate or remit)
4. Attachment list + ask for next step (30-minute call / pass)

Keep attachments zipped and include links, not heavy files. If you have a reel, include a timestamped 90-second cut.

Relationship strategy: who to know — and how to become their champion

In a reorganised commissioning team, one champion inside the platform will get your project into a fast lane. Here’s how to cultivate that champion without being pushy.

• Start with an informed intro: Use mutual contacts from past collaborators, production companies, or co-pro partners. Warm intros beat cold emails.
• Be a helpful, not hungry, partner: Offer market intel relevant to their remit — e.g., a 1-page brief on the France co-pro incentives that could reduce episode cost by X% (estimate) — positioning yourself as problem-solving talent.
• Respect their calendar: Many senior commissioners now run compact slates. Ask for a 20–30 minute slot; bring a clear agenda and leave with a next step.
• Deliver speed & clarity: After a call, email a 1-page follow-up summarising next steps and dates. Fast turnaround builds credibility.

Negotiation & rights — practical guardrails for showrunners

Disney’s brand and global rights appetite mean you must understand the trade-offs between a commission and a licence.

• Territory rights: Expect platforms to want global streaming rights for original series, with territorial carveouts only if there are prior deals or broadcaster co-productions.
• Ancillary & merchandising: Disney keeps strong interest in ancillary exploitation. If your story lends itself to merchandising, prepare a proposal that reserves certain categories for creator revenue share or separate negotiation.
• Option vs. commission: A development option gives the platform first look but not a guarantee. A commission (or presale) provides production funds. Be clear which you want and why.
• Engage counsel early: Hire an entertainment lawyer before term negotiations. Key clauses to watch: delivery milestones, approval rights, creative crediting, backend participation, and termination for convenience.

Co-pros, public funds and tax incentives — the pragmatic route to better offers

With budgets under pressure, Disney+ EMEA will prefer projects where public funding or local broadcasters reduce their net exposure.

• Build a co-pro package: Identify a lead producer, a public fund (e.g., CNC in France, BFI in the UK), and a local broadcaster partner. Present a 2-column budget showing gross cost and net platform exposure.
• Leverage tax credits: Show your knowledge of regional tax credits (e.g., UK’s audiovisual tax relief, Italy’s tax incentives). Attach letters of interest or early confirmations where possible.
• Offer flexible delivery windows: If you can accept a delayed window or first-run exclusivity limited to certain territories, note it — flexibility can secure a commission.

Format & genre playbook: what’s more likely to be greenlit

Given the promotions and the market in 2026, prioritise these formats:

• Local-language prestige drama (6–8 eps): High creative cachet, strong international sale potential.
• Character-led limited series: One-season arcs with talent attached that can be marketed as event television.
• Format-friendly unscripted: Franchisable formats that can be localised across EMEA territories.
• Younger-skewing, short-form-adjacent scripted: Projects that bridge streaming and social-first discovery to extend reach and marketing efficiency.

Sample pitch elements — ready to copy and adapt

One-line hook

“An embittered ex-con runs a clandestine repair shop for stolen tech—until a missing prototype forces him to choose family over freedom.”

One-paragraph synopsis

“Set in Lisbon’s shadow economy, this 6x45 drama follows Miguel, a former mechanic who now fixes hot tech for hackers. When the wrong client brings a prototype that everyone wants, Miguel must protect his teenage niece and an unlikely community of makers. Tone: gritty, human-first, character-driven with pulsing electronic soundtrack.”

Why Disney+ EMEA

“A local-language Portuguese production with strong export potential to Southern European and Latin American markets. Cost reduced via Portugal tax incentives and an intended co-pro with a public broadcaster.”

Case study & experience: why promoted commissioners matter

Lee Mason’s commissioning of a show like Rivals (a recent high-profile title) shows how a commissioner with a clear genre pedigree can shepherd projects from idea to greenlight quickly. When VPs with commissioning continuity are in place, they reduce friction: quicker feedback loops, better alignment with marketing and clearer path to production partners. That continuity is exactly what the 2026 Disney+ EMEA reshuffle is designed to achieve.

Future predictions — what to prepare for in 2026–2027

• More regional commissioning hubs: Expect Disney+ to deepen local departments in Germany, France, and the Nordics to tap native talent pools.
• Renewed interest in formats that scale: Franchisable unscripted and format-IP with low-to-medium budgets will be greenlit to fill international release slots.
• Discovery & promotion partnerships: Platforms will partner more with social and short-form networks to build buzz pre-launch — creators who can produce modular promo assets will stand out.
• Stronger compliance & discoverability rules: EU rules on European content quotas and discoverability (implemented across 2024–2025) will remain central to commissioning decisions.

Checklist: Ready-to-send Disney+ EMEA submission

1. 90-second pitch (one-sentence hook + one-paragraph synopsis)
2. One-page overview (format, eps, tone, demo, biz case)
3. Short bible (5–10 pages) + first episode script/treatment
4. High-level budget & preferred finance model
5. Talent attachments & production partner letters of interest
6. Co-pro / tax-credit plan or LOIs (if available)
7. 1-page creator bio / relevant credits
8. Clear ask (development option, commission, or co-pro) and next-step availability

Final practical tips

• Be specific about market-fit: Don’t pitch “a European drama.” Pitch “a French-anchored 6x45 that appeals to 25–45 drama viewers and exports to Spanish and UK markets.”
• Package solutions, not problems: Show how you will reduce cost or increase discoverability — e.g., modular trailers, social-first assets, or festival strategy.
• Use the promotion window: Newly promoted VPs want to make signature commissions. If your project aligns with their remit, be timely — now is the moment to get on their radar.
• Document conversations: After every call with commissioning execs, email a short summary and confirm next steps. That builds trust and demonstrates production discipline.

Call to action

If you’re a European creator ready to pitch Disney+ EMEA, start by updating your one-page overview using the checklist above. Track the new commissioners’ public slates, request a warm intro through mutual contacts, and prepare a co-pro package that reduces platform exposure. For tailored feedback, submit your 90-second pitch and one-page overview to submissions.info’s Commissioning Desk — we’ll match it to the right commissioner profile and give practical, editorial notes to sharpen your submission.

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