Hackers claiming to have stolen Walt Disney’s upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film are threatening to distribute it online if they aren't paid a ransom.

Bob Iger, Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer, revealed the threat on Monday in a town-hall meeting with ABC staff before the network's autumn season presentation to advertisers on Tuesday in New York.

Mr Iger did not reveal the name of the film, nor the amount of the ransom, but said the company would not pay up.

He said the hackers threatened to release five minutes of the film and then 20-minute segments unless a bitcoin ransom was paid, according to Hollywood Reporter.