Gear Up for Heroic Action with Thor: Love and Thunder Merch

July 8, 2022July 14, 2022

We’re feeling the love and the thunder… because Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder is now in theaters! Looking to celebrate the release? Here are some electrifying products inspired by Thor: Love and Thunder available at shopDisney and select retailers that will bring the thunder home!

Hasbro Marvel Legends Series Thor: Love and Thunder Thor
Inspired by his appearance in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, this detailed 6-inch Thor action figure from the Legends Series by Hasbro features multiple points of articulation and movie-inspired accessories, including his axe, Stormbreaker!

Hasbro Marvel Legends Series Thor: Love and Thunder Mighty Thor
Inspired by her appearance in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, this detailed 6-inch Mighty Thor action figure from the Legends Series by Hasbro features multiple points of articulation and movie-inspired accessories, including the legendary hammer, Mjolnir!

Hasbro Marvel Legends Series Thor: Love and Thunder King Valkyrie
Inspired by her appearance in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, this detailed 6-inch King Valkyrie action figure from the Legends Series by Hasbro features multiple points of articulation and a movie-inspired accessory—her signature sword, Dragonfang!

Thor: Love and Thunder “New Asgard Tours” Trucker Hat for Adults
Grab your souvenir hat celebrating a new tourist attraction for Asgardians as they settle into their new home following the destruction of the original Asgard. Inspired by Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, this trucker hat features the colorful logo for “New Asgard Tours.”

Thor: Love and Thunder Faux Leather Jacket for Women by Her Universe
Electrify your wardrobe with this mighty Thor: Love and Thunder faux leather jacket by Her Universe featuring heroic costume-inspired styling and fitted silhouette. Make mine Marvel!

Mjolnir Wristlet – Thor: Love and Thunder
It’s always good to have Thor’s mighty hammer on hand, as you never know when its powers might be needed. This novel wristlet is inspired by Mjolnir as featured in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. With zip openings in the hammer head and handle, it will protect your valuables.

LEGO® Marvel The Goat Boat Building Kit; Collectible Thor Construction Toy
Thor’s Viking longboat, known as The Goat Boat, will inspire you to recreate favorite moments from Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. With more than 550 pieces, including five LEGO minifigures, this set has lots of great features to bring the excitement of the movie to life.

LEGO® Marvel Attack on New Asgard Building Kit; Thor Construction Toy
Give Super Heroes ages 7 and up a monster treat with LEGO® Marvel Attack on New Asgard (76207). This stand-out action playset from the Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder pitches the heroes against a creature built out of kids’ imaginations. A must-have monster playset for Thor fans! Kids can take on everyone’s worst nightmare with this mega-monster, Super Hero playset. The buildable toy includes three popular minifigures: Gorr, who summons the ShadowMonster to life; Thor, swinging his Stormbreaker axe; and Mighty Thor, carrying the Mjölnir hammer. The towering monster has jointed arms and claws to maximize both play and display possibilities. For extra construction fun, the free LEGO Building Instructions app contains intuitive, digital visualization tools, including zoom and rotate.

Hasbro Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder Marvel’s Stormbreaker Electronic Axe
Kids ages 5 and up can pretend to gear up to protect the cosmos from an evil threat with the Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder Marvel’s Stormbreaker Electronic Axe roleplay item, inspired by Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Push a button on the axe toy’s handle to activate exciting thunder sound FX.

Hasbro Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder Mighty FX Mjolnir Electronic Hammer
Kids ages 5 and up can imagine wielding the enchanted hammer Mjolnir with Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder Mighty FX Mjolnir Electronic Hammer roleplay toy! Crackling light FX allows kids to imagine harnessing the power of lightning in their hands, with a rumbling sound FX. The Mighty FX Mjolnir Electronic Hammer brings the enchanted hammer to life with two modes of heroic play, motion-activated sound FX, lights, and unlockable secret FX power.

Hasbro Marvel Avengers Titan Hero Series Marvel’s Korg
Kids ages 4 and up can unleash the power of the Marvel Universe with the Marvel Avengers Titan Hero Series Thor: Love and Thunder Marvel’s Korg action figure! This 12-inch scale action figure is inspired by Thor: Love and Thunder, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It features movie-inspired design and detail, as well as multiple points of articulation for poseable fun.

Play along with your favorite heroes with this exclusive video!

Super-Powered New Hamster & Gretel Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

July 8, 2022

By Courtney Potter

**Disney Channel Shares Hamster & Gretel Trailer and Premiere Date**

Our pals at Disney Channel just announced the premiere date—and shared the official trailer—for the upcoming animated Super Hero comedy Hamster & Gretel from Disney Branded Television… and it looks mighty adorable!

Hamster & Gretel introduces Kevin (voiced by Michael Cimino) and his younger sister Gretel (voiced by newcomer Meli Povenmire), who are about to be given superpowers by space aliens. But something goes awry—and it’s Gretel and her pet hamster (named, naturally, Hamster) who suddenly have new abilities! Now, protective older brother Kevin must figure out how to work with both Gretel and her pet to protect their city from mysterious dangers.

Starring alongside Cimino and Povenmire in the series are Beck Bennett as Hamster; Joey King as Gretel’s tech-savvy cousin, Fred; Matt Jones as the siblings’ easygoing father, Dave; and Carolina Ravassa as the siblings’ charismatic mother, Carolina. Joining the voice cast as recurring characters are Priah Ferguson as Gretel’s best friend, Bailey; Liza Koshy as news reporter Veronica Hill; Alyson Stoner and Brock Powell as the evil sibling duo Lauren and Lyle, aka The Destructress and FistPuncher, respectively; and viral rap sensation Akintoye as Kevin’s confident buddy, Anthony. Guest stars include Jenny Lorenzo as Carolina’s mother, Abuelita; legendary Latin pop star Karina La Voz as the tear-jerking La Cebolla; YouTube star Thomas Sanders as frat guy horse-man Neighslayer; TikTok star Casey Hamilton as Gretel’s mild-mannered substitute teacher, Mr. Chabner; and Adam Rose as evil jingle writer The Earworm.

Created by Dan Povenmire, Hamster & Gretel is produced by Disney Television Animation and is inspired by Povenmire’s real-life relationship with his significantly younger sister. Look for the series to launch on Friday, August 12, at 9:35 p.m. ET/PT* on Disney Channel! (*Due to special programming, start time is subject to change.)

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

At last! The further adventures of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are finally here, what with Thor: Love & Thunder finally rocketing into theaters on July 8… so prepare yourself for all the hilarious hijinks by checking out a whole weekend’s worth of Thor-related content on Disney+, including Thor: Ragnarok and (break out the tissues) Avengers: Endgame.

First Look at Disney+ Documentary Series Light & Magic

Their full story hasn’t been told—until now. Just this week, Disney+ premiered the trailer for Lucasfilm and Imagine Documentaries’ Light & Magic, a sure-to-be-incredibly-cool and totally immersive series that chronicles the unexplored history of world-renowned Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the special visual effects, animation, and virtual production division of Lucasfilm.

Granted unparalleled access, Academy Award^®-nominated filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtain of Industrial Light & Magic. Learn about the pioneers of modern filmmaking as they go on a journey to bring Disney Legend George Lucas’ vision to life—and, ultimately, inspire the entire industry of visual effects.

All six episodes of Light & Magic will debut on Wednesday, July 27, exclusively on Disney+.

Disney and ABC to Present Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration

It’s a tale as old as time, and it’ll be presented in a whole new way! In honor of the 30th anniversary of the beloved Disney animated classic and its Academy Award^® nomination for Best Picture, The Wonderful World of Disney and ABC earlier this week announced their upcoming Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration event. This two-hour animated and live-action blended special will pay tribute to Walt Disney Animation’s original Beauty and the Beast and its legacy by showcasing the fan-favorite movie, along with memorable new performances—taking viewers on a magical adventure through the eyes of Belle. Jon M. Chu will executive produce, and Hamish Hamilton will direct.

Live, never-before-seen musical performances—not to mention brand-new sets and breathtaking costumes—will be inspired by the classic story, and performances will be seamlessly woven through the original feature film… all designed to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers at home. (Casting will be announced at a later date.) Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

“Beauty and the Beast was always a game-changing cinematic experience for me,” Chu recently said. “When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend. It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve, so the fact that I get to executive produce a tribute to all the creatives that made this masterpiece… is a dream I didn’t even think was possible.”

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration will air Thursday, December 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, and will be available the next day on Disney+.

Every Disney Moment from the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™

Just before the Fourth of July holiday, the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ was held in New Orleans—and The Walt Disney Company was the exclusive entertainment sponsor. From the announcements of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard University, to special panels featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Moses Ingram and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, there was an embarrassment of Disney riches!

New Trailer for 20th Century Studios’ Amsterdam

Acclaimed writer and director David O. Russell is back—and he’s offering up a fascinating and richly intricate tale… one that brilliantly weaves historical fact with fiction for a timely, cinematic experience.

20th Century Studios’ and New Regency’s original crime epic Amsterdam is about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history. The film boasts a truly all-star cast: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, and Zoe Saldaña, with Rami Malek and Robert De Niro.

Look for the film to open exclusively in theaters November 4. Mark those calendars!

**ICYMI: Good Trouble’s Joanna Johnson Answers Burning Questions About Season 4**

The fourth season of Freeform’s Good Trouble took a bit of a break—during which we had a dramatically delightful time contemplating what would be in store for our fave residents of The Coterie once they returned. Well, with the season resuming tonight, D23 asked the show’s the co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner for some inside scoop to help get us further prepared… and boy, did she deliver! See what Joanna Johnson had to say by clicking here.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Inside the Disney Princess’ Bold New Look

July 8, 2022

By Zach Johnson

We’re almost there!

Last week, Walt Disney Imagineering made a splash at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola^®when it announced the reimagining of Splash Mountain will be named Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Set to open in late 2024 at Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida, this new experience is inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios musical The Princess and the Frog.

As we shared earlier, Imagineers made frequent research trips to Louisiana, visiting the French Market and the bayou and consulting academics, chefs, musicians, and more—all to capture the heart and soul of New Orleans, where Tiana’s story is set. Like Mama Odie, we wanted to “dig a little deeper” following last week’s big news, so we interviewed costume designer Ida Muldrow and cosmetology manager Tisa Powell from Disney Live Entertainment to discover exactly how they created one of Tiana’s new looks for the attraction. When Muldrow and Powell first met with Walt Disney Imagineering, “They told us what they wanted to do with Tiana, how they wanted to keep everything authentic and true to the ethnic background of African Americans,” Powell recalls. “The parameters were to stay true to who Tiana represents—African Americans—and to stay in the era of the film.”

The development of Tiana’s look didn’t happen in a vacuum—it’s both a product of prevailing trends of the 1920s, and of the historical forces at play leading up to this period-appropriate look. Muldrow recalls, “Right away, I had a lot of questions: Did ladies wear pants? What did African American women wear? What does a young, Southern woman who’s married wear when she’s going into the bayou? Those are the kinds of questions we had to ask in our research.”

Throughout that process, Muldrow kept one thing in mind: “The goal was to be authentic,” she says. “Even though it is a fairy tale, it’s extremely important to bring out the pride and the dignity of the African American culture at the time.” In addition, representation was also at the forefront of their minds. “One of our goals was to represent the different hairstyles that African American women wore back in those days,” Powell says. “I think it’s great that Tiana is representing that era [in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure] with a beautiful hairstyle that is true to what African Americans wore then.”

Last week, Walt Disney Imagineering released two illustrations of Tiana: one with and without her jacket. The design above shows Tiana in what Muldrow calls “the bayou” of the attraction.

Muldrow drew added inspiration from the military and equestrians, as well as The Princess and the Frog itself. “In the film, Tiana always wore lemon yellows and greens—these soft colors that you might even see on a lily pad,” she says. “I needed to stay within that color palette. Once I understood that those are symbolic colors for her character and her personality, I ‘earthened’ it; I couldn’t keep it bright. You’ll see a saffron green—or chartreuse. It’s not just green and yellow, because I had to take into consideration the lighting and the background.” Of course, no detail was too small: “Notice the embroidery on her collar,” she says. “They’re little flowers in her colors.”

As for Tiana’s cloche hat? “I imagined she is a person who walks into the bayou very often and gathers her own straw grass,” Muldrow says. “She hangs it up in a bundle and dries it, then crochets it into a hat. We used natural things right from the swamp.”

Imagineers are renowned for their forward-thinking innovations, and that extends to creating the textiles used for Tiana’s attire. “Tiana’s gaiters would have been weighed on a very heavy cotton canvas. But those are natural, man-made fibers,” Muldrow explains. “For this attraction, we have to be realistic. There’s going to be moisture, so we can’t use natural linen or cotton; they can break down in a matter of years. Tiana’s costume is going to be polyester-rich, but it is going to look like linen.”

As for Tiana’s hair in the bayou, Powell says she was “relieved” to have authentic, high-quality materials to create her coif. “Now, we can show that there are different textures to African American hair,” she says. “The hair industry as a whole has evolved, because it did not always have hair that represented African Americans.”

In doing her research, Powell not only looked at the popular styles of the day, but also the tools used to create them. “Back then, it was the hot comb; it wasn’t a relaxer,” she says of the hair-straightening tool. “But there’s a difference in the texture of the hair when you use a hot comb versus a relaxer. So, for Tiana being in the bayou, we actually pressed her hair in Marcel waves. It’s perfect for her.”

When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens in late 2024, Powell hopes it inspires a “sense of pride,” particularly within the African American community. “A lot of people will talk the talk, but Disney has talked the talk and they’re walking the walk by creating an attraction centered on its first African American Princess,” Powell says. “I hope people feel overwhelmed with happiness and joy—Disney thought enough about Tiana to create this attraction.”

Power up Your Light Cycles for this D23-Exclusive Tron 40th Anniversary Pin

July 8, 2022July 12, 2022

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Return to the Grid and relive 40 years of Tron with a pin programmed for ultimate enjoyment! This D23 Gold Member exclusive pin is a high score for any collection, featuring some of the best aspects of the epic arcade world we’ve come to admire. Don’t miss your chance to acquire this glowing pin before it gets “derezzed!”

The pin is inspired by the iconic film Tron, which premiered in July 1982. Tron tells the story of a brilliant video game maker named Flynn, who hacks the mainframe of his ex-employer, and is then beamed inside an astonishing digital world, where he becomes part of the very game he is designing.

Our Tron 40th Anniversary pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, will be available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on July 11* at 7 a.m. PT!

SOLD OUT

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pins are sold for $12.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

July 7, 2022July 11, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

Before Thor: Love and Thunder bolts into U.S. theaters on Friday, July 8, enjoy this marvelous slate of Marvel Studios films to reacquaint yourself with the strongest Avenger. From his banishment to Earth and dueling with Thanos, to combating his brother Loki’s endless hijinks, we present five Thor-related titles to binge on Disney+…

Thor—Available on Disney+
As the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the Norse gods, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is next in line to inherit the throne of Asgard. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Thor reacts viciously when the Frost Giants enter the palace—violating their treaty. Odin banishes Thor to Earth and strips him of his powers. Meanwhile, Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots mischief across Asgard. The film also stars Clark Greg as Agent Coulson; Idris Elba as Heimdall; and Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis.

Thor: The Dark World—Available on Disney+
During ancient times, the gods of Asgard fought and won a war against the Dark Elves. The survivors were neutralized, and their ultimate weapon—the Aether—was buried in a secret location. Hundreds of years later, astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) finds the Aether and becomes its host, leading Thor (Hemsworth) to bring her to Asgard before Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) uses the weapon to destroy the Nine Realms. Hopkins and Hiddleston reprise their roles as Odin and Loki, respectively.

Thor: Ragnarok—Available on Disney+
Thor (Hemsworth) is in a race against time to save Asgard from the clutches of the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett), who plots to ascend the throne as Odin’s true successor. However, she sends Thor and Loki (Hiddleston) to the strange, distant planet of Sakaar, where Thor is imprisoned. He soon finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)—his fellow Avenger. The film also stars Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie; Taika Waititi as Korg; and Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster.

Avengers: Infinity War—Available on Disney+
Iron Man (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Hemsworth), the Hulk (Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) unite to battle Thanos (Josh Brolin)—their most formidable enemy yet. He’s on a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, with which he can wipe out a full half of existence. The Avengers’ goal? To thwart this sinister plan before it’s too late.

Avengers: Endgame—Available on Disney+
Post-blip, Iron Man aka Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is stranded in space sans food or water after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, attempting to communicate with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers—Captain America (Evans), Black Widow (Johansson), Thor (Hemsworth), and Bruce Banner (Ruffalo)—plot ways to bring back their vanished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos (Brolin).

SHARKFEST Unveils Must-Sea TV for Its 10th Anniversary

July 7, 2022

By Zach Johnson

Jaw ready for this?

SHARKFEST is about to make a splash with its most immersive and massive programming experience in its 10-year history! The only shark event that proves the truth is stranger than fiction will bring viewers up close and personal with one of nature’s most feared predators by swimming across more Disney platforms than ever before, including ABC, Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu, as well as National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, and Nat Geo MUNDO. Viewers can sink their teeth into almost 30 hours of original programming, plus over 60 hours of enhanced content that pairs captivating science and stunning visuals of the iconic apex predator. Just as it’s always done, this year’s SHARKFEST will not only give viewers a better understanding of the ocean’s most misunderstood predator, but will also showcase their beauty, power, and mystery.

“These are incredibly large creatures that people still only know a little bit about,” says Janet Han Vissering, Senior Vice President, Development and Production, National Geographic. “Every time we look into developing a new show, we find new scientists, new work, and new technology that allow us to get a little bit more information about them. Therefore, we’re able to highlight new content, new technology, and new ways of showing these sharks—which is why we are so excited about our 10th anniversary.”

Dr. Mike Heithaus, the executive dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and a professor in the department of biological sciences at Florida International University, is one of several experts featured in SHARKFEST programming. Echoing Han Vissering, Heithaus says, “We’ve just scratched the surface of what’s out there.”

“People are fascinated by animals that we don’t know well—that we see as very dangerous or from an environment that we are not used to,” he continues. “I come from the cornfields of Ohio, and I was fascinated by sharks. That kid never grew up.”

This year’s fin-tastic SHARKFEST lineup unlocks a treasure trove of new original content, offering a deep dive on over 15 different species with footage from all over the world, including Australia, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, The Maldives, South Africa, the United States (California, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Hawaii), and more.

“I think a part of the fascination is a natural inclination to try to understand things you don’t know,” says Candace Fields, a SHARKFEST expert, Ph.D. student studying the population dynamics and geographic population structure of large predators, and member of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS). “How can an animal like a whale shark be so massive, but eat something that’s basically invisible to the human eye? How can we have all these species that are so dangerous and so feared, yet the amount of shark and human interaction is so low? We’re shifting away from intense fear, which was instilled through films like Jaws, to being more in tune with the conservation side, wanting to save sharks and protect them. Sharks equal a healthy ocean, and a healthy ocean equals sustained life—whether you’re from the ocean, like me, or you’re from the cornfields, like Mike.”

For this milestone SHARKFEST, National Geographic partnered with MISS to encourage diversity and inclusion in the shark sciences field and inspire the next generation of scientists, with Fields, Jasmin Graham, and Carlee Jackson lending their expertise. “I was always drawn to sharks,” says Fields. “As I started to watch more [shark programming], I noticed the lack of representation and saw a need to fill that void as a Black female in this world.” Gibbs Kuguru, a Kenyan shark scientist who works with great whites and studies the DNA of sharks, felt the same way. Not long ago, he says, “Some of the biggest movers and shakers who are pushing the boundaries of shark research didn’t have a voice.” He cites Heithaus, in particular, as someone who has continuously created “opportunities for women and people of color” in their field.

“When I go talk to kids in schools, they remember everything from these shows,” Heithaus explains. “If you don’t have the science right—which SHARKFEST does—and if you don’t have the representation, you are simply not doing what you should be doing. It’s just such an honor to be involved with something like SHAKRFEST that is super entertaining and good for our oceans, but also harnesses the next generation of talent and scientists. People like Gibbs, Candace, and Sara—they’re great role models.”

Additional shark experts featured throughout SHARKFEST programming include Sara Casareto, Ryan Johnson, Melissa Cristina Marquez, and Alison Towner, among others. Viewers will get to see these experts across a variety of programs starting this month. “We’ve worked really hard, within NatGeo and Disney, to bring in diverse voices and scientists,” Han Vissering says. “When kids see SHARKFEST, they’ll see that there is a path, that there is a seat at the table. That’s probably one of my proudest moments in celebrating this year’s 10th anniversary. There are different voices—there are more voices—and our company is committed to continuing that effort for another 10 years.”

Beginning Sunday, July 10, every SHARKFEST premiere will be available on Disney+ as they rollout across a myriad of linear networks during the weeks-long event. The best-of SHARKFEST specials and series over the years will also be available on Hulu July 10.

This year’s SHARKFEST broadcast dates and times (ET/PT) are as follows:

Camo Sharks

National Geographic: Sunday, July 10, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Saturday, July 16, at 10 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Monday, August 1, at 9 p.m.

Backyard Bull Sharks

National Geographic: Sunday, July 10, at 11 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Saturday, August 6, at 6 p.m.

Sharks vs. the World

National Geographic: Monday, July 11, at 7 p.m. (Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Friday, August 5, at 10 p.m.

When Sharks Attack (6-Episode Series)

National Geographic: Monday, July 11, at 8 p.m. (Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Monday, August 1, at 7 p.m.

Sky Sharks

National Geographic: Monday, July 11, at 9 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Saturday, July 16, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Tuesday, August 2, at 9 p.m.

Game of Sharks

ESPN: Monday, July 11, at 9 p.m. (Premiere)
National Geographic: Friday, July 15, at 10 p.m.

Maui Shark Mystery

National Geographic: Monday, July 11, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Sunday, July 17, at 10 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Tuesday, August 2, at 10 p.m.

Great White vs. Tiger Shark

ESPN: Monday, July 11, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
National Geographic: Sunday, July 17, at 7 p.m.
Disney XD: Sunday, July 31, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Friday, August 5, at 8 p.m.

Counting Jaws

National Geographic: Tuesday, July 12, at 9 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Sunday, July 31, at 10 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Wednesday, August 3, at 9 p.m.

Shark Superpower

National Geographic: Tuesday, July 12, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Sunday, July 17, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Monday, August 1, at 10 p.m.

Shark Queens

National Geographic: Wednesday, July 13, at 9 p.m. (Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Thursday, August 4, at 9 p.m.

Baby Sharks

National Geographic: Wednesday, July 13, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Sunday, July 24, at 10 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Sunday, August 7, at 8 p.m.

Shark Beach With Chris Hemsworth

ABC: Wednesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. (Network Premiere)
National Geographic: Thursday, July 2, at 10 p.m.

Croc That Ate Jaws Enhanced

National Geographic: Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m. (Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Thursday, August 4, at 8 p.m.

Shark Side of the Moon

National Geographic: Thursday, July 14, at 9 p.m.
Disney XD: Saturday, July 30, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Friday, August 5, at 6 p.m.

Sharks That Eat Everything

National Geographic: Thursday, July 14, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Thursday, August 4, at 10 p.m.

Planet Shark (3-Episode Series)

National Geographic: Saturday, July 16, at 8 p.m. (Premiere)

Jaws vs. Boats

National Geographic: Sunday, July 17, at 8 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Saturday, July 23, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Friday, August 5, at 9 p.m.

Shark Attack Files (8-Episode Series)

National Geographic: Monday, July 18, at 8 p.m. (2-Episode Premiere)
Nat Geo WILD: Sunday, August 7, at 6 p.m.

World’s Biggest Hammerhead?

National Geographic: Monday, July 18, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Sunday, July 24, at 9 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Wednesday, August 3, at 10 p.m.

Jaws Invasion

National Geographic: Tuesday, July 19, at 10 p.m. (Premiere)
Disney XD: Saturday, July 30, at 10 p.m.
Nat Geo WILD: Saturday, August 6, at 7 p.m.

Watch an Exclusive Sneak Preview of The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse

July 7, 2022

By Victoria Hunt

Can’t get enough of the Daytime Emmy® Award-nominated animated series The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse? An extended-length summer special, The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse, will debut Friday, July 8, on Disney+—and we’ve got an exclusive clip (below). When Daisy Duck (voiced by Tress MacNeille) oversleeps, everything that could go wrong does! Now, she needs to get to the Annual Summer Fireworks Spectacular ASAP. Will Daisy make it?

The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse follows Daisy—along with Minnie Mouse (voiced by Kaitlyn Robrock), Donald Duck (voiced by Tony Anselmo), Goofy (voiced by Disney Legend Bill Farmer), and, of course, Mickey Mouse (voiced by Chris Diamantopoulous)—going on a series of adventures to catch the Annual Summer Fireworks Spectacular. It’s not without a few bumps in the road, and they share their own points of-view as they recall the wild events leading up to it.

Executive produced by supervising director Paul Rudish and produced by Philip Cohen, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse spotlights the endearing, adventurous, and comedic antics of Mickey Mouse, Disney’s No. 1 star. See his latest seasonal adventure when The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse debuts Friday, exclusively on Disney+.

Celebrate 40 Years of TRON by Testing Your Trivia Skills

By Mike Bonifer, senior publicist on TRON (1982); author of The Art of TRON

It has been 40 years since we first entered the grid in Disney’s TRON. User—it is time to digitize yourself and find the correct “data,” or should we say “answers,” to our TRON trivia quiz!

Which video game would Jeff Bridges play on the TRON film set prior to performing his scenes in “cyberspace”?

Frogger

Battlezone

Galaga

Donkey Kong

Defender

Correct! Wrong!

b). Battlezone. Bridges called playing the game right before performing a scene “getting in the ‘Zone.” He would sometimes keep the crew and the rest of the cast waiting for several minutes while he got there!

Which of these video games was stolen from Bridges’ character, Flynn, by his employer, ENCOM, and its malicious Master Control Program?

Bugbasher

Zoid Master

Top Dog

Space Paranoids

Jupiter Moon

Correct! Wrong!

d). Space Paranoids. The other two games Flynn accuses the MCP of stealing from him are Matrix Blaster and Vice Squad.

Which real-world Alan was the inspiration for Bruce Boxleitner’s computer-scientist character in TRON, Alan Bradley?

Alan Kay

Alan Turing

Alan Watts

Alan Alexander (A.A) Milne

Alan Moore

Correct! Wrong!

a). Alan Kay is a renowned computer scientist, best known for his development of object-oriented programming and the Graphical User Interface (GUI). He was a technical advisor on the early development of TRON.

How many layers of photography were required to produce scenes set in TRON’s glowing computer world?

Correct! Wrong!

d). According to TRON animation cameraperson, Glenn Campbell, it was 19. The circuitry, faces, and environments were all photographed in black-and-white live action on large format 70mm VistaVision film; every frame was then blown up to 12”x 20” cels and re-photographed with animation cameras using color filters and backlight to produce TRON’s brightly glowing world.

The film’s co-director of visual effects, Richard Taylor, predicted the film would do what?

“Melt the Naugahyde off the La-Z-boys of middle America.”

“Serve the animation industry its future lunch.”

"Drive demand for high-speed personal computers.”

“Win the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects.”

“Knock the hat off Dr. Seuss’ cat.”

Correct! Wrong!

a). “Melt the Naugahyde off the La-Z-boys of middle America.” Taylor was also frequently quoted as saying “TRON will remind people of something they’ve never seen before.”

What director of a hit Disney animated feature film married a scene supervisor on TRON?

Chris Buck (Frozen)

John Musker (The Little Mermaid)

Byron Howard (Tangled)

Jennifer Lee (Frozen)

Woolie Reitherman (The Jungle Book)

Correct! Wrong!

a). Chris Buck met Shelley Hinton, who—as a scene supervisor on TRON—had an office in the Disney Animation building, where Chris also worked at that time. Chris and Shelley got married several years later, in 1989.

What role did TRON director Steven Lisberger play in a cameo appearance in TRON: Legacy?

Lightcycle mechanic

Bartender

Flynn’s therapist

Solar sailor pilot

Video game character

Correct! Wrong!

b). In his cameo role, Lisberger portrays a drink-serving program named Shaddix at the End of the Line Club.

Celebrate 40 Years of TRON by Testing Your Trivia Skills

Well, we’ve reached the end of the line. How did you do?

Cindy Morgan and Bruce Boxleitner as Lora and Alan in TRON. The pair are in the grid and wearing illuminated blue light suits.

Let us know your results on social media and stay tuned to D23.com for more trivia challenges.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

July 7, 2022

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your TRON knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

In TRON, what unusual item does Alan (Bruce Boxleitner) have in his cubicle at ENCOM?

A Slinky

A popcorn machine

Jello

A Mickey Mouse

Correct! Wrong!

In the 1982 film TRON, Alan has (B) a popcorn machine in his cubicle at ENCOM.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

You are the ultimate Disney fan!

Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!

Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Exclusive Q&A: Behind the Scenes of Ms. Marvel

July 6, 2022

By Alison Stateman

Much like the comic series that inspired it, Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel brings Kamala Khan and her family, friends, and world to vibrant, fully realized life. The Original series, created exclusively for Disney+, introduces viewers to Kamala—the newest member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who also happens to be the first female Muslim American Super Hero.

The show follows Kamala as she becomes Ms. Marvel, all while wrestling with her new superpowers—and some truly fierce adversaries—on her journey toward embracing her Super Hero fate.

Ms. Marvel has covered much ground since its debut on June 8, both the earthly and otherwise—from Jersey City, which Kamala calls home, and the exuberant streets of Karachi, Pakistan, where Kamala’s Muslim American family hails from, to, well, flashes of another realm: the Light Dimension.

On the eve of its penultimate episode on July 6, D23 sat down for exclusive interviews with some of the cast and creative team behind this oh-so-marvelous addition to the MCU.

“This show is really creating a baseline for who these characters are. We’re creating it as it goes,” said Aramis Knight, who plays Kareem in the series. “The comics are definitely a big influence on the characters and the different personality traits we have, but there’s not a lot of history built into them. Our show is actually going to create the path for where the comics will end up going.”

In said comics, Kareem, aka the Red Dagger—who first appears in episode 4 of Ms. Marvel, aptly titled “Seeing Red”—is a lone vigilante crime fighter on the streets of Karachi. However, in the series he is part of a larger crime-fighting society of Red Daggers.

“He’s dedicated his life to a society of Red Daggers. Many have come before him; many will come after him. That’s a big of a difference, but one I was really happy with,” Knight added.

That’s not the only twist in town. Kareem now has a mentor named Waleed, a new character created for the series. Played by award-winning producer/director/writer and Bollywood multi-hyphenate Farhan Akhtar, his appearance has been memorable—albeit all too brief.

“Most of the [character] work was done by the writers, the executive producer, and then the director, who took time to create a flesh and blood individual,” said Akhtar, “not just someone who just steps in and delivers some information. They had a whole history of the character, where he comes from, experiences that he’s had years ago; how he got that scar on his face. All those things were written and given to me, so by the time I got on set to play this character, I already had enough information that I could bring with me to create [someone] that was real, that could be emotionally felt. Not just physically, which was important.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is the intense, knife-wielding fighting that is a signature of Kareem and the rest of the Red Daggers.

Knight cites his prior martial-arts training from playing M.K. on Into the Badlands, not to mention a similar relationship both on- and off-screen with its lead actor and executive producer Daniel Wu, as being instrumental in his landing the role on Ms. Marvel.

“Even in the audition process, after the acting test and the martial arts test, I called my reps afterwards and was like, ‘I’m going to get this because of how much fell into place for me to be Kareem,’” he said. “I trained in Wushu for five years on Badlands. Daniel Wu is my mentor. He’s like a father figure to me; I talk to him weekly. I knew that was really going to come in handy for this role.”

“That’s my favorite part of being an actor—learning new things you never would have expected. I never would have expected to be a martial artist,” he added.

Knight and the cast underwent intensive training and rehearsals to safely create the high-octane fighting and chase sequences for the “Seeing Red” episode, under the supervision of second-unit director Gary Powell and his team.

“I absolutely loved it. Working with Aramis on the scenes was really fun,” said Akhtar. “You really get to let your hair down. Gary is like a little boy in a toy store that wants to just do everything really fast. The more he knows that you have the ability to do the stunt, he will let you do it. So, I had a really fun time because I wanted to do as much as I could do myself and it was great—an absolutely wonderful time.”

Akhtar is one of several well-known Pakistani actors in Ms. Marvel, which also includes Mehwish Hayat, who plays Kamala’s great-grandmother Aisha—a character much alluded to and even seen briefly in flashback. She credits the show’s creative team, including executive producer/writer Sana Amanat (who also co-created comics the series is based on), with helping her develop a fully realized portrait of the mysterious figure.

“Those conversations and reading sessions really helped me as an artist to do justice to Aisha’s character,” Hayat said. “But I try not to go into overdrive and do too much research before the shoot because I think it becomes a bit mechanical. I still like to keep the freshness and spontaneity alive.”

The series is directed by a quartet of acclaimed filmmakers: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (episodes 1 and 6), Meera Menon (episodes 2 and 3), and two-time Academy Award® winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (episodes 4 and 5).

“My episodes are about Kamala finding a voice. They’re about her connecting with her roots and understanding where she comes from and, in doing so, putting the fragments of her identity together. To find the source of her powers,” Obaid-Chinoy explained.

She spoke with El Arbi and Fallah, who helm the finale that follows her two episodes, about her plans, but was left to her own devices. “Marvel was very good about that. I knew that I wanted to stay in the visual language of making sure it was colorful and making sure that we were bringing quiet moments and big moments, and that sense of adventure,” she continued. “As long as I was keeping true to that, it was almost like I had to say I had a free hand at creating a world.”

Karachi, the “City of Lights,” plays a central role in episode 4. Obaid-Chinoy deftly and intentionally captures the vibrancy of a city that many viewers may be unfamiliar with.

“I grew up in Karachi,” she explained. “These are the streets that I walked. The landmarks in episode 4 are the landmarks that I have from my childhood. We often see Pakistan through a very different filter, and I say filter because it’s literally always yellow, and into a different sort of lens when we see it in Hollywood.”

She continued, “Pakistan has so much to offer, and this young girl is going on an adventure—so I pulled what I would think would be how I would see Karachi when I landed. So we have bright, beautiful murals; our trucks and our buses are hand-painted with intricate motifs. We have rich fabrics, and these funky shops. And we have swanky clubs, where she goes with her mother and people are hobnobbing and drinking and it’s like a private club. I think that Karachi has many layers, and that’s what I wanted to feel for audiences. So, they go on this adventure too.”

And then there are those mind-boggling chase scenes through the city streets.

“I will say this: If you have lived in Karachi, you’ve already been in a big chase, okay?” said Obaid-Chinoy, chuckling. “There are some elements of my life on the streets, you know—trying to get out of traffic jams. And from day one, I wanted to use the environment as much as possible, around the streets that we were creating, to tell that story.”

The finale of Ms. Marvel premieres on Disney+ next Wednesday, July 13. And look for Ms. Marvel to make her big screen debut alongside Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) in The Marvels, coming to theaters in 2023.