Disney and NFL Partner for First Animated Star Wars Super Bowl Telecast
Burbank, Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Disney and the NFL will stream the first-ever animated Star Wars Super Bowl alternate broadcast in February 2027, featuring real-time game tracking and original actor Anthony Daniels as C-3PO.
Historic Partnership Announced for Super Bowl LXI
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) and ESPN have officially confirmed a collaboration with Lucasfilm and the National Football League to produce an animated, Star Wars-themed alternative broadcast for Super Bowl LXI [1][2]. Scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, the event will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the first time an animated alternate telecast has been produced for the Super Bowl [1][3]. The announcement was made on October 19, 2026, revealing that the ‘Star Wars Funday Football’ alt-cast will stream globally on Disney+ and broadcast on Disney Channel and Disney XD [1][3]. This strategic move represents Disney’s latest effort to leverage premier intellectual property to drive youth engagement and expand streaming audience reach during major sports events [2][5].
Technology and Talent Behind the Broadcast
The production will utilize Sony’s Beyond Sports data visualization technology, which integrates NFL Next Gen Stats and Sony Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking to recreate every gameplay in real-time [1][2]. Iconic Lucasfilm characters will feature prominently, with original 1977 cast member Anthony Daniels confirmed to return to voice C-3PO for the telecast [1][2]. The animated characters, referred to as ‘Lils,’ are cartoon interpretations of characters from ‘A New Hope’ developed by Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic [3]. This broadcast marks the fourth overall NFL animated alternate telecast produced by the partnership, following previous successes with other franchises [1].
Strategic Expansion of Disney’s Sports Portfolio
Disney’s strategy for a Super Bowl ‘mega cast’ originated in 2021 following a rights deal with the NFL extending ‘Monday Night Football’ through 2033 [2]. The company currently broadcasts NFL games under a 10-year contract reportedly worth $2.7 billion per year, with the league holding an option to opt out following the 2030 season [5]. In addition to the animated alt-cast, Disney+ will simulcast the traditional game presentation to subscribers in the U.S. and in over 55 international markets [5]. This approach aligns with comments by Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro describing live sports as a ‘fan engagement and ecosystem play’ beyond driving viewership [5].
Viewing Options and Global Availability
The broadcast will be available in over 155 markets worldwide, including live coverage in Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, and Canada via TSN+ [1]. For Super Bowl LXI, Disney+ will stream the traditional game presentation while ESPN networks will broadcast the game in over 130 countries and territories [1]. Additional viewing options announced on October 11, 2026, include ‘Super Bowl LXI with Peyton and Eli’ on ESPN2 and ‘Super Bowl LXI Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show’ on ESPNU [1]. Following the event, a restored version of the original 1977 Star Wars film is scheduled to return to theaters on February 19, 2027, as part of Lucasfilm’s 50th-anniversary celebration [1][3].