Disney character doll sisters, Elsa and Anna of Arendelle, from the Disney movie Frozen.
Catherine Lane | Getty Images
Mattel shares jumped Wednesday after the toy manufacturer said it won the license to make toys based on Walt Disney’s princess lineup, including the popular “Frozen” franchise.
It marks a significant triumph for Mattel after it lost the license to rival Hasbro in 2016. That sparked a period of financial troubles at Mattel and active turnover in the C-suite.
But notably, Hasbro said Wednesday it extended its relationship with Lucasfilm by renewing its longstanding licensing deal for the “Star Wars” franchise. It also struck a new agreement to develop products based on the “Indiana Jones” franchise, which it hasn’t done since 2008.
Mattel’s stock was recently up more than 6% in premarket trading. Hasbro was down more than 1%.
Mattel will start selling new Disney toys in 2023, and the business will be managed by the same group that oversees its Barbie franchise. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Mattel said the new licensing deal builds on its existing licensing relationship with Disney for Pixar Animation Studio’s “Toy Story” and “Cars” franchises, as well as the recently announced global licensing agreement for “Lightyear.”
“As the worldwide leader in dolls, we look forward to bringing our unique Mattel Playbook approach to brand management, product and marketing expertise,” said Mattel President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Dickson.
Hasbro, meantime, said the “Indiana Jones” items will be on sale in the U.S. in 2023, aligning with the release of the franchise’s feature film.
Read the full press release from Mattel here and the release from Hasbro here.
