Disney+ is scrapping the Star brand in favour of Hulu to give its streaming service a stronger global identity.

The Star brand on Disney+ will disappear next week, making way for Hulu to take its place as the streaming platform’s general entertainment hub in Australia and New Zealand.

From October 9, the internationally recognised Hulu name will be used across the Disney+ service, with the company saying subscribers can expect the same range of content they have already been accessing, alongside future additions.

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According to Disney, Hulu will continue to house general entertainment programming, as well as popular titles spanning drama, comedy, action and reality. The new branding will also cover international programming from the U.S., U.K., Korea and Japan, including fresh releases such as All’s Fair — a legal drama from Ryan Murphy starring Glenn Close, Kim Kardashian and Niecy Nash — and the crime series Murdaugh: Death in the Family.

Returning shows include season three of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, while Korean thriller The Manipulated is among the new additions.

Established titles already on the service will also carry the Hulu badge, including Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, Shōgun, Paradise, High Potential, The Bear, and Abbott Elementary. Asian favourites such as Tempest, Nine Puzzles, The Judge from Hell, A Shop for Killers, Moving and Gannibal will also remain.

While the change represents the end of Star, few viewers are likely to miss it. Star was rolled out globally by Disney as a catch-all brand for mature content but has struggled to develop a strong identity.

Hulu, in contrast, is already well-known through its U.S. and Japanese presence, and Disney will put more marketing weight behind it to boost recognition here in Australia.

The company has also confirmed that alongside the branding change, there will be updates to the Disney+ app itself. A “more visual home screen”, easier navigation and personalised recommendations are set to roll out over the coming weeks, with further changes ahead of a planned “unified app experience” in 2025.

“These enhancements are just the beginning, with additional updates planned in the lead-up to the launch of a unified app experience next year,” Disney said.

Hulu officially replaces Star on Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand from October 9.

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