Science friction as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Stranger Things 4 go head to head this Friday

Millions of Brits will be watching two sci-fi giants go head to head this Friday in a historic streaming battle between Disney Plus and Netflix.

Disney Plus is launching new Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi on 27 May, the same day as Netflix releases season four of its hit show Stranger Things.

Obi-Wan Kenobi features Ewan McGregor returning to the role he last played in 2005’s Star Wars prequel Revenge of the Sith, alongside Hayden Christensen’s Darth Vadar. It follows in the footsteps of Disney Plus flagship The Mandalorian, the streaming service’s most successful series to date.

Meanwhile, Stranger Things is back after becoming a worldwide smash for Netflix. More than half a billion viewers streamed season three within 28 days of its release in July 2019 and the show is hugely popular with younger viewers, making a star of its cast, including Brit Millie Bobby Brown.

Both productions have huge budgets and the stakes are high as the rival platforms bid to retain subscribers and entice new ones.

While the first seven episodes of Stranger Things 4 will be available from Friday – fans will have to wait until 1 July for Netflix to release the penultimate and final episodes of the season.

Disney Plus is launching the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi this Friday, and then offering just one episode every Wednesday for the next month.

Nick Baker, TV and streaming expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “By releasing Stranger Things 4 and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the same day, Netflix and Disney Plus are setting up one of the biggest duels we’ve seen in the streaming market.

“The competition for viewers has intensified amid the rising cost of living, and with many consumers trying to save money on their household outgoings, streaming services are understandably feeling nervous.

“For Netflix, disappointing recent growth figures means the company is relying on its big-hitting original content like Stranger Things to become ‘must-watch’ shows to attract more subscribers.

“Stranger Things may be a safer bet than Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will rely heavily on the public appetite for diving further into the Star Wars universe. While The Mandalorian was a big hit for Disney, misfires like the Han Solo movie and an unenthusiastic response to The Book of Bobba Fett suggest the force is not always strong in these spin-offs.

“The once-a-week strategy is clearly a trend to encourage people to subscribe for longer, rather than binge a series in one go.

“While we will have to wait and see who wins this clash of the streaming titans, fans looking to save money could try to avoid the spoilers and watch a whole season in one hit once all episodes have aired – subscribing for one month only.

“Uswitch offers a handy online tool to plan which streaming subscriptions you need – and when – to help save money on your TV streaming bills.”