The Look uses DaVinci Resolve for Disney+ Rivals season 2 HDR grade
Post-production facility The Look detailed the HDR and SDR grading workflow for the second season of the Disney+ series Rivals. The project utilized DaVinci Resolve Studio to manage look development, Dolby Vision trims, and multi-format deliverable consistency.
Key Takeaways
- Colorists Thomas Urbye and Grace Weston used Colour Warper and Colour Slice tools to increase chroma contrast and image depth.
- The project prioritized an HDR-first workflow to maximize color volume in sunlit exterior and bright interior scenes.
- Vintage Ikegami broadcast camera footage was integrated into the HDR master to replicate period-accurate television coverage.
- A side-by-side review process in DaVinci Resolve enabled shot-by-shot luminance and contrast adjustments for the SDR deliverable.
Why It Matters
Optimizing HDR workflows is critical for premium period dramas that rely on specific visual aesthetics to drive viewer immersion. By utilizing specialized tools like Colour Slice, colorists can now achieve greater tonal separation and color volume that mimics real-world perception, a key differentiator for high-end streaming original content. For the broader ecosystem, this highlights the growing necessity of advanced metadata management to ensure visual fidelity across fragmented device types, ranging from 1,000-nit HDR displays to standard 8-bit SDR screens. Industry observers should watch for how these complex grading pipelines impact post-production timelines as Disney+ increases its volume of local international originals.
Additional Context
The second season of Rivals, which premiered its first three episodes on May 15, 2026, represents a significant pillar of Disney’s international content strategy. During a recent investor update in August 2026, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro confirmed that the series became the largest EMEA region original premiere for the platform in the UK and Ireland. This success aligns with a broader three-year plan to triple local original production as a means to reduce churn and acquire users in international markets, according to company statements reported by What’s on Disney Plus.
Technically, the series faced unique hurdles due to its ambitious 12-episode scope and 1980s period setting. Per TechRadar and Televisual reporting from June 2026, the production was split into two six-episode batches to accommodate the intensive finishing process required for such high-end drama. The second half is scheduled for a November 2026 release, with writer Laura Wade noting the extended delivery timeline was necessary to maintain quality. The show’s renewal for a third season in June 2026 further underscores the demand for these technically rigorous, high-fidelity productions within the Disney+ and Hulu ecosystems.
Read full article at broadcastnow.co.uk
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