Oswald Hops to Disney

While there isn’t any specific time frame or outlet at the moment, The Walt Disney Co. plans to put the recovered rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s predecessor to Mickey Mouse, into play

“Our creative people say there are a number of opportunities and they are excited about it,” Disney spokeswoman Michelle Bergman said. “It all depends on what they’re looking at.”

Disney recovered Oswald and other rights from NBC Universal in what amounted to a trade that enabled Al Michaels to exit his ESPN Monday Night Football play-by-play contract, starting next season, and instead perform those duties for the Peacock’s new Sunday-night package.

Walt Disney created 26 Oswald shorts, but Universal controlled the cartoon’s rights and then produced another 169 installments.