Say goodbye to Disney+ Hotstar. From this month, the platform is officially rebranding to Disney+ in Malaysia and across several other regions, marking the start of a new era for Disney’s global streaming ambitions. Alongside the rebrand, Hulu will step into the spotlight as Disney’s worldwide General Entertainment brand, replacing Star.
Disney has confirmed that the stand-alone Hulu app, long available in the United States, will soon be fully integrated into Disney+. The entertainment giant, which now owns 100% of Hulu, said it is preparing for a ‘fully integrated unified app experience’ set to launch in 2026. As part of this shift, Disney+ subscribers will begin to notice gradual updates that bring Hulu content and branding directly into the platform, starting with new product features and homepage integrations.
From 9 October onwards, Hulu’s presence will officially expand beyond its traditional markets. The familiar green logo will appear within Disney+ around the world, signalling a major change in the company’s streaming strategy. For Disney, this a move towards a more cohesive entertainment ecosystem that brings all of its storytelling power into one place.
The Bear brings us home to heal" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, (max-width: 650px) 75vw, (max-width: 900px) 40vw, 1000px" loading="lazy"> What Disney+ and Hulu’s integration means for Malaysian subscribers?
In Malaysia, the transition means Disney+ Hotstar will now be known simply as Disney+. Despite the new name, subscribers can still look forward to the same wide-ranging library of content that has made the platform a household favourite. From award-winning dramas and family-friendly classics to local and regional productions, Disney+ continues to be the home for entertainment that appeals to audiences of all ages.
Hulu’s inclusion promises even more variety. Known for its acclaimed original series and contemporary tone, Hulu brings with it a mix of new dramas, comedies and international originals. Disney has said that Malaysian viewers can expect a diverse slate of upcoming content, including All’s Fair, a high-stakes legal drama from Ryan Murphy featuring Glenn Close, Kim Kardashian and Niecy Nash; Would You Marry Me, a Korean romantic comedy starring Choi Woo-shik and Jung So-min; The Manipulated, an intense Korean thriller with Ji Chang-wook and Doh Kyung-soo; and WANDANCE, a visually stunning Japanese anime exploring youth and self-expression.
These new titles will join a growing collection of global hits already available on Disney+, including Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shōgun and High Potential, alongside popular Asian favourites such as Tempest, Nine Puzzles, The Judge from Hell, A Shop for Killers, Moving and Gannibal.
Disney+ is also turning up the chills and thrills with a spellbinding lineup this Halloween season, all gathered under one haunted roof with Huluween. Kicking off this fall, fans can look forward to Marvel Animation’s eerie new series Marvel Zombies, along with Halloween-themed episodes of brand-new shows like Vampirina: Teenage Vampire, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Electric Bloom, and Kiff.
Classic favourites are also creeping back onto your screen, including Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Haunted Mansion. And that’s not all, Disney+ will be streaming all 36 Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror episodes, along with a few spine-tingling surprises, exclusively for subscribers. Plus, for the first time ever on Disney+, viewers can explore the Halloween Collection’s ‘Scare Level’ sets—from A Little Fear to Completely Terrified, to find the perfect fright for every mood.
Disney has also revealed that the rebrand comes with a visual refresh. Over the next few weeks, viewers can expect a more immersive home screen, enhanced navigation and smarter personalisation features. These updates are part of a broader plan to make content discovery easier and more intuitive, with further improvements scheduled ahead of the unified Disney+ and Hulu experience in 2026.
Vineet Puri, Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, said the rebrand reinforces Disney’s commitment to storytelling excellence. “Disney+ is known to have the most beloved library of content in Malaysia. With Hulu as our new general entertainment brand on Disney+, we will continue to deliver unparalleled storytelling to families, friends and fans,” he said.
With hundreds of films, exclusive originals and thousands of television episodes from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and now Hulu, Disney+ is positioning itself as the ultimate streaming destination. For Malaysian viewers, the refreshed platform brings the best of global entertainment under one roof—a seamless blend of Hollywood hits, Asian originals and everything in between.
(Hero and feature images credit: Disney+ & Unsplash/ @thibaultpenin)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
