Well, it only took them four years, but Disney+ is finally giving UK audiences a general entertainment tile we actually recognise. This autumn, Hulu will replace Star on the app in the UK (and other international markets), ending what was always a slightly baffling branding choice for these shores.
Star has been the “grown-up” hub on Disney+ since February 2021, but let’s be honest, did anyone here actually know what Star was? Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek once claimed Hulu wasn’t well known outside the U.S., whereas Star was a more recognisable brand globally. That might have been true in parts of Asia and Latin America, but in the UK Star meant nothing. Just one of many Chapek decisions that raised a few eyebrows.
So what does this change actually mean? In short, it’s mostly a rebrand. Disney wants Hulu to become a “global general entertainment brand,” aligning international Disney+ with its U.S. service where Hulu content has already been integrated. That means your favourite shows like 9-1-1, Grey’s Anatomy, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and all those other ABC and Disney-produced Fox series aren’t going anywhere. There will still be some content differences between the U.S. and UK libraries, just as there are now, but the overall lineup shouldn’t change much.
If you’ve been using Geektown to keep track of your favourite series, you’ll know we gave up tagging shows as premiering on “Star on Disney+” a while ago because it just confused people. We’ve stuck to listing them simply as “Disney+” shows, and that’s not going to change now.
Over in the U.S., Disney announced today the integration of Hulu into Disney+, with a unified app scheduled to launch in 2026. This move will phase out the standalone Hulu app and combine content from both services into a single platform. It seems that strategy is extending globally with this rebrand.
In its Q3 earnings commentary, Disney said: “Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalised homepage.” All this will pave the way for the fully unified Disney+/Hulu experience coming next year.
It’s been a long road for Hulu to reach UK screens. The brand nearly struck a big content deal with ITV back in 2009, and Disney only recently completed its full buyout of Hulu by purchasing Comcast’s remaining stake. With a new content-sharing deal between Disney+ and ITV now in place, Hulu finally arriving on Disney+ UK feels long overdue.
So goodbye Star, we barely knew you, and hello Hulu.
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