The Hulu political thriller “Paradise” has been renewed for a second season, which is expected to premiere sometime in 2026. But what does Hulu’s merger with Disney+ mean for the future of the show?
Disney took full ownership of Hulu in July after buying Comcast’s remaining stake. You can already purchase a Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle, but there’s also still a standalone Hulu app — for now.
The Hulu app is set to be shut down sometime in 2026, but original shows like “Paradise” will still be available on the integrated Disney+ and Hulu platform. Customers will also still be able to purchase a standalone Hulu subscription or a standalone Disney+ subscription if they aren’t interested in access to both streaming platforms’ libraries.
Even before the Hulu app is phased out, Disney+ users will begin to see a Hulu tab, as well as a “For You” tab that includes recommendations for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. A Disney+ and Hulu bundle is not required to see the Hulu tab and browse through its content.
“It’s to give people a bit of a taste as to what the breadth of our catalog offers, and encourages you to upsell into a bundle that makes sense for you,” Jason Wong, Disney’s Senior Vice President of Product Management, told Fast Company this month.
READ MORE: The disturbing true story behind Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’
While the change might be confusing or frustrating for some Hulu users, Wong said the goal is for subscribers to be able to easily find what they want on the integrated app.
“If, ultimately, our products make it hard for someone who just loves Hulu to get to Hulu content, we’ve failed,” he said. “Our strategy is to build up the Disney+ application and make it a great place for both Disney+ and Hulu users.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston have also stated that the integrated Disney+ and Hulu app will provide “tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization” for users, per Variety.
Currently, the Disney+ and Hulu bundle costs $10.99 a month. The premium version, which is ad-free and allows viewers to download content to watch offline, is $19.99 a month.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
