Fantasy Series Inspired by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in Development for Disney+

Disney veteran filmmaker Jon Favreau is teaming up with the studio again for a Disney+ series starring the classic animated character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

According to a Deadline report, Favreau will combine live-action and animation techniques to adapt Oswald for the streaming platform, serving as both writer and producer. Specific plot details and casting announcements have not yet been disclosed.

Although Oswald remains an important figure in Disney's rich history of anthropomorphic characters, his initial run with the company was brief. Created by Walt Disney himself, the character appeared in only 26 silent cartoons between 1927 and 1928 before a rights dispute transferred ownership to Universal. As explored in our deep dive into Disney's 100-year history, Oswald's departure marked a difficult period for the animation pioneer but ultimately paved the way for Mickey Mouse.

Disney regained the rights to Oswald in 2006, and in 2022 released the first new original short featuring the character in 95 years. Now, the studio appears eager to expand Oswald's role beyond a symbolic nod to its past. While a release date for Favreau's series has not been announced, the hybrid live-action/animation project is expected to debut in the coming years.

While Favreau is revisiting one of Disney’s earliest animated characters, he has also played a key role in shaping its modern franchises. Star Wars fans will recognize him as a driving force behind recent expansions of the galaxy far, far away—having executive produced series like The Mandalorian, Skeleton Crew, and Ahsoka. Over the past 15 years, he has also contributed extensively to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, both on-screen and behind the camera, and directed the 2019 remake of The Lion King. He is set to return to the director’s chair for the upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu, scheduled for release in 2026.

Although Oswald is now poised for an official Disney revival, the character's most recent film appearance is even more recent. In 2023, just a year after Oswald entered the public domain, the horror film Oswald: Down the Rabbit Hole was announced, starring Ghostbusters actor Ernie Hudson.