10 Favorite Costume Evolutions from More than 10 Years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

April 12, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Since 2008’s Iron Man, we’ve joined Marvel Super Heroes on their epic journeys leading into this month’s Avengers: Endgame. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, our heroes have transformed in the more-than-10 years of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) stories. But that’s not the only ways they’ve changed—many of our favorite heroes have had major costume evolutions as their super missions have taken them to new challenges. We’re taking a look at some of the most iconic costume evolutions in the MCU while we look forward to what costumes designs we’ll see next.

Captain America
Back when Steve Rogers first became Captain America, his suit was designed less for saving the day and more for performing as “The Star-Spangled Man with a Plan.” However, this brightly colored suit got a makeover when Steve combined it with combat gear during his mission to rescue Bucky Barnes. From there, his proper world-saving suit goes through many designs, first by Howard Stark and later by our favorite fanboy, Agent Phil Coulson. Steve’s suits continue their evolution based on need, such as his less colorful and more tactical stealth suit from Captain America: The Winter Soldier or his advanced suit designed by Tony Stark for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Of course, no matter how his suit changes in design, we can always count on him sporting his patriotic red, white, and blue vibranium shield.

Iron Man
We might be here a while if we break down the entire evolution of the Iron Man suit, because Tony Stark is constantly upgrading and changing his famous armor. Starting with the Mark I armor that was built in a cave with a box of scraps, all the way to The Mark L in Avengers: Infinity War that allowed Tony to travel in deep space, we’ve seen this iconic super suit evolve in major ways. Some of our other favorite designs include the Hulkbuster armor (ironically worn by Bruce Banner himself); the “suitcase suit,” aka the Mark V; the Mark VII from The Avengers that forms around Tony via bracelets; and the massive selection of suits in the Iron Legion.

Black Panther
Designed by his super-genius sister Shuri, Black Panther’s armor has become instantly iconic as a go-to cosplay, Halloween costume, and cultural icon. He hasn’t changed up too much about his classic claws and cowl, but his sister did make one key change—making his mask easier to remove with her high-tech Wakandan technology.

Bucky/The Winter Soldier
When he was only known as Sgt. James “Bucky” Barnes, he dressed for combat during World War II. But that classic look underwent a big change in the modern day when Bucky reawakened as The Winter Soldier. He is almost unrecognizable, from his sleek black suit to his long hair to—of course—his high-tech bionic arm. He unwillingly became the ultimate weapon, and was dressed for the part. However, he still maintained a similar look even after he was freed from his brainwashing (although he did add a new accessory in the form of a gun-wielding Rocket Racoon).

War Machine/Iron Patriot
Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes—or “Rhodey,” as Tony Stark affectionately calls him, first donned the War Machine suit in Iron Man II. However, the silver and black variation on the Iron Man suit was under the control of Justin Hammer, who had nefarious motives. In Iron Man III, Rhodey’s suit gets a redesign and rebrand as the star-spangled Iron Patriot. However, as of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Rhodey has returned to the classic War Machine suit and is still rocking the silver and black in the latest trailers for Avengers: Endgame.

The Wasp
Hope van Dyne inherited the mantle of The Wasp from her mother, and over the years the iconic Wasp costume received not just a redesign, but a color update, as well! Currently, Hope rocks a yellow and silver look, while her mother’s costume was a classic red to match the Ant-Man suit. Either way, we say that this costume is seriously some high-flying fashion!

Captain Marvel
Green and black: colors of the Kree Star Force, representing the past that Carol Danvers can’t remember. We won’t spoil the events of Captain Marvel for you yet (but hurry up and go see the movie, already! Avengers: Endgame comes out this month!), but if you’ve seen the trailers for Avengers: Endgame, you know that now Carol has swapped her Kree Colors for something new, namely her iconic red, yellow, and blue! Comics fans recognize this as her classic costume, and we can’t wait to see her rock it alongside the rest of the team later this month!

Thor
As the God of Thunder, Thor’s armor has stayed fairly consistent throughout his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he has undergone two major costume changes. The first was his dramatic haircut during Thor: Ragnarok. No longer does he rock the long flowing locks we’d come to know him for, instead opting for a shorter style perfect for a warrior on Sakaar. Along with his haircut, Thor’s also swapped out an iconic accessory. Well, the change wasn’t entirely his choice—Hela destroyed Mjolnir, so Thor now wields the giant-forged Stormbreaker, which also holds the special distinction of having a handle donated by Groot himself!

Groot
A tree of few words and even fewer accessories, Groot doesn’t have a costume evolution so much as a physical evolution—from towering tree to baby sprout, finally becoming a rebellious teenager just in time to take on Thanos. No matter if he’s just a sapling or if he’s towering above the rest, we love all the ways we’ve seen this guardian grow throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Widow
Her trusty, black suit has gotten her through the action since Iron Man 2—but as an expert spy, sometimes Natasha has to change up her look a little. Fans noticed right away in the promotional art for Avengers: Infinity War that Natasha was perhaps testing out a platinum blonde hairstyle, and soon discovered that she was actually going undercover after the events of Captain America: Civil War. It looks like her undercover days might be done, if the new trailers for Avengers: Endgame are any indication, as her blonde dye job has grown out to her redheaded roots. Why the hairstyle switch-up? We’ll have to watch the movie to find out!

11 Things We Learned From the Avengers: Endgame Press Conference

April 11, 2019April 13, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Over the weekend, the cast of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame assembled at a press conference to promote the epic continuation of Avengers: Infinity War in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)—and D23 had a front row seat for all the action! Appearing onstage with producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo, actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Brie Larson, Paul Rudd, Danai Gurira and Karen Gillan fielded questions about the highly anticipated blockbuster (in theaters April 26). Jon Favreau—who directed Iron Man and Iron Man 2, and also reprises his role as Happy Hogan in Avengers: Endgame—moderated the Q&A at the InterContinental Los Angeles.

Surrounded by empty chairs representing their fallen Avengers, the cast and filmmakers managed to avoid sharing any spoilers while answering the questions. Here’s what we learned:

1. Iron Man flew so the Avengers could soar.
In his wildest dreams, Feige never imagined a movie like Iron Man would become so popular—not to mention profitable. “We hired a great director to do the first film in the MCU,” he said, winking at Favreau, “and then we hired a great actor.” The production was a gamble, he said, and the bar for success was pretty low. (“It felt high at the time,” he noted.) But once cameras began rolling, Feige had a funny feeling they had a hit on their hands. “As we were making the movie, and as we were looking at dailies, and as we were looking at effects tests coming in, we realized this was going to be special—perhaps more special than we’d thought.”

2. Even Super Heroes have their insecurities.
Just like Tony Stark, the self-described “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” who laid the groundwork for future heroes, Downey’s bravado masked his anxiety. “There’s always two tracks, at least in my mind. One is, ‘The sky is falling.’ The other is, ‘The sky is the limit,’” he said. Downey saw endless storytelling potential, and he hoped fans would, too. “I’m reminded now that I was talking a lot of smack, saying, ‘Wait ’til you see where this goes,’” he said. “But in the moment, I was just hoping… we were getting good stuff. I just wanted to not drop the ball.”

3. After every ending, there is a new beginning.
The Russo brothers hit fans with a gut-punching climax in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, with Thanos (Josh Brolin) using the Infinity Gauntlet to decimate half the universe in a single snap, killing fan-favorites like Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). It put the surviving heroes in a unique and unfamiliar position going into Avengers: Endgame, as they’d previously won nearly every battle and suffered minimal casualties to them or their allies, save for Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), the former of whom was resurrected on the ABC series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “One of our favorite storytelling adages is, ‘Write yourself into a corner.’ What we take that to mean is: Put yourself in a place at a narrative level where you have no idea how you could possibly move forward from here,” Anthony explained. “That’s a very exciting place to be, and it forces you to come up with some really creative ways forward. We’ve tried to do that with the endings of every single Marvel movie we’ve done—never more so, of course, than Infinity War. We are very committed to the end of that movie.”

“We think stories lose their meaning, and relevancy and resonance unless there are real stakes,” Anthony added. “Moving into this new movie, into Endgame, the story is very much about, ‘How do these heroes deal with loss—resounding loss, true loss, devastating loss?’ That’s what they experienced in Infinity War, and that was a unique experience for all of them.”

4. Captain America doesn’t need to shield everyone anymore.
Even before he became a super soldier in the 1940s, Captain America was a natural-born leader. His sensible style often clashed with Iron Man’s audacious approach, but he never lost the team’s trust. Now, as new heroes emerge, the burden of leadership no longer rests squarely on his shoulders. “I think he tends to lean on those people who are of like mind and nature, who are intrinsically selfless,” Evans said. “All the heroes up here have their baked in the cake flaws, and I think a lot of that makes for really good conflict and storytelling. That’s why my favorite stuff in this arc has been my stuff with Downey, because it’s such a dichotomy between how we approach things—and, at the end of the day, our hearts are both in the right places. That provides a lot of great friction. Introducing characters like Captain Marvel, like Black Panther, who align very similarly to Cap’s nature, I think it reinforces Cap’s sense of purpose and home.”

5. Ant-Man has a big—and little—job to do in Avengers: Endgame.
Ant-Man (Rudd) was M.I.A. in Avengers: Infinity War, but he’ll rejoin the surviving heroes in their quest to right Thanos’ wrongs. Beyond that, he can’t say much. “I did see the trailer, so I do know that I’m in it. How I fit in, how any of this works, it remains to be seen. It’s going to be fun to have audiences discover it along with us,” the actor teased. “We haven’t seen it, either.”

Rudd joined the MCU with 2015’s Ant-Man, seven years after Downey’s Tony Stark announced to the world, “I am Iron Man.” Reprising his role in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War alongside such a stacked cast of characters was mind-blowing, according to Rudd. “It’s a weird thing to be hired and then, for somebody like me, to step into it as it’s already picked up speed,” he said. “It’s like having the Beatles say, ‘Come on and jam with us for a while.’ It’s an unreal sensation.”

Going into Avengers: Endgame, the significance of the film series wasn’t lost on Rudd. “Getting to work with all of these actors in this series of films is a one-off. It will never happen again—not for me,” he said. “I keep taking steps back and trying to recognize this for what it is. It is so surreal, profound and incredible to be a part of it. It’s amazing to meet so many people who are so passionate about it. It’s incredible to meet so many kids whose lives are affected by these characters, and to play a small part in that—pun intended—is something I will always treasure.”

6. Brie Larson got a crash course in how the MCU operates.
Like Rudd, Larson said she joined the franchise at “the most magical time.” Although audiences first witnessed her character fly higher, further, faster in 2019’s Captain Marvel, it wasn’t the first time she suited up in the MCU. “This film will always be personally dear to me, because it was my first time playing Captain Marvel; we shot this first,” she said. “So, I had to stumble and try to figure out who this character was… and perform—for the first time—in front of legends.”

7. The Russo brothers see Avengers: Endgame as an experiment.
The fate of the heroes won’t be clear until Avengers: Endgame hits theaters. But one thing is already apparent: It won’t end on a cliffhanger. “With Endgame, we get the opportunity to finish one of the grandest experiments in movie history and bring it, as Kevin said, to an epic conclusion,” Joe said. “What we’re hoping for is that people feel satisfied with the conclusion.”

8. Women redefined the MCU—especially in Phase Three.
Johansson, who debuted as Black Widow in 2010’s Iron Man 2, appreciated how audiences “really pushed” Marvel Studios to pay attention to “what’s going on in the zeitgeist” by putting diverse stories front and center—particularly as it added more women to the Avengers ensemble. “I remember when [Elizabeth Olsen] signed on and [Cobie Smulders] was there, we were all clinging to each other,” Johansson said. “I felt like I’d been in this testosterone fest for such a long time! It was nice to see other female cast members. And then with Brie coming on, and Karen, and Danai, I feel like I’m amongst so many wonderful actors, so many strong actors.”

Reflecting on her nine years and seven films in the MCU, she added, “It’s grown beyond my wildest dreams. I could never have imagined where this would take us. It’s been quite a journey.”

9. No longer daddy’s girl, Nebula is out for blood.
Nebula (Gillan), last seen on the planet Titan with Iron Man in Avengers: Infinity War, has an axe to grind. “I think it’s maybe safe to say she suffers from some daddy issues—because Thanos is her dad, so who wouldn’t?” the actress said with a laugh. “I’m excited for her to finally face the source of this abuse. This has been building through multiple Guardians movies, and she’s talked about how she wants to inflict revenge. I would like to see her try to face that.”

10. Mark Ruffalo can’t imagine life without his fellow Avengers.
Ruffalo, who first appeared as Hulk in 2012’s The Avengers, will miss seeing his co-stars on a regular basis. “It doesn’t feel like family to me because we all really get along. There’s not that much drama,” the actor quipped, adding, “No, it does feel like family—it’s a family that you wish you had, in a way.” Noting the “bittersweet” mood in the room, he told Favreau, “We’re all talking about it like we’re dead: ‘Oh, I loved working with these guys. It was great knowing them…’”

“As actors, we’re like vagabonds,” Ruffalo continued. “We kind of bounce around. We have these intense relationships, and then you don’t see anybody until you get nominated in something and you end up at an award ceremony.” Without missing a beat, a self-deprecating Evans piped in and joked, “What’s that like? Speak for yourself,” prompting the others to laugh.

11. Expect the unexpected in Avengers: Endgame.
In the lead-up to Avengers: Endgame, the Russo brothers have shown amazing restraint in terms of what they have and haven’t shown fans. Rest assured, it’ll all be worth it when the movie arrives in theaters. “We grew up loving the comics. We came to the MCU already fans of the MCU. So, the energy we move on is our own passion and our own stories,” Anthony said. “We learned long ago that you have to tell stories for yourself. You can’t be thinking about how others might receive them. For Joe and me, because we have such an intimate relationship with the material, because we have so many amazing collaborators—starting with Kevin—we are able to just really fashion the story around what we want to see as fans. How do we surprise ourselves? How do we excite ourselves? How do we challenge ourselves? How do we force ourselves to keep digging deeper and keep exploring this narrative and these characters in ways we never imagined? That’s how we guide ourselves through the process. And once the film is complete and we put it out into the world, we really have no idea how it’s going to be received.”

Your Complete Guide to Disney+ Entertainment

April 11, 2019November 8, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We hope you don’t have any plans this November, because Disney+ is going to be the ultimate destination for your Disney binge watching. New details about Disney’s highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service were announced today, including an extensive list of which Disney classics and new favorites will be available for streaming. Of course, this list isn’t complete yet—we’ll be keeping you updated as more details are announced. But for now, start making room on your calendar for your Disney watch parties, because here’s everything we know so far that’s coming to Disney+:

LIVE-ACTION SERIES

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
The 10-episode scripted series, set at the real-life East High, where the original movie was filmed, follows a group of students as they countdown to opening night of their school’s first-ever production of High School Musical. With meta references and some docu-style elements, it’s a modern take on the “classic” from 15 years ago. Show-mances blossom; friendships are tested, while new ones are made; rivalries flare; songs are sung; and lives are changed forever as these young people discover the transformative power that only high school theater can provide.
Timing: Available at launch

The Mandalorian
The first ever live-action Star Wars series is written and executive-produced by Emmy®-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau, with Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) directing the first episode. The highly anticipated series features an all-star cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog, and Nick Nolte. Set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, the series follows a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.
Timing: Available at launch

Diary of a Female President
Told from the narration of her diary, the series follows a Cuban-American 12-year-old girl as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and her journey to becoming the future president of the United States. Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and Emily Gipson (I Can and I Will) will executive produce along with Ilana Peña (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend).
Timing: Year One

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie will return as Falcon and Sebastian Stan will reprise his role as Winter Soldier in the new Marvel Studios series.
Timing: Year One

Loki
Tom Hiddleston will reprise his role as Loki in the new Marvel Studios series.
Timing: Year Two

Untitled Cassian Andor Series
Diego Luna will reprise his role of rebel spy Cassian Andor in this series set during the formative years of the Rebellion prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The rousing spy thriller will explore tales filled with espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire. Alan Tudyk will also reprise his role as K-2SO with Stephen Schiff (The Americans) as showrunner and executive producer.
Timing: Year Two

WandaVision
Elizabeth Olsen will return as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany will reprise his role as The Vision in the new Marvel Studios series.
Timing: Year Two

ANIMATED SERIES AND SHORTS

Forky Asks a Question
Forky, from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4, is a craft project created from trash, so he has important questions about how the world works, such as: What is love? What is time? And of course, the deepest question of all, What is cheese? He explores all of these questions and more in a series of 10 shorts.
Timing: Available at launch

SparkShorts
Disney+ will be the exclusive home of SparkShorts, the Pixar Animation Studios short film series designed to discover new storytellers and explore new storytelling techniques from across the studio.
Timing: Available at launch

Lamp Life
Bo Peep makes a big comeback in Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 and she leads the way in the all-new animated short film, finally answering the questions about where Bo was since we last we saw her in Toy Story 2.
Timing: Year One

Monsters at Work
Inspired by the characters of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., the animated series from Disney Television Animation picks up six months after the events of Monsters, Inc. and follows Tylor Tuskmon, an eager and talented young mechanic who works on the Monsters Inc. facilities team but dreams of working his way up to the Laugh Floor. Returning cast members Billy Crystal, John Goodman, John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, and Jennifer Tilly will join new cast members Ben Feldman, Kelly Marie Tran, Henry Winkler, Lucas Neff, Alanna Ubach, and Stephen Stanton.
Timing: Year One

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The Emmy® award-winning animated series will be returning with 12 all-new episodes exclusively on Disney+. This will mark the return of classic characters Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Amidala, as well as fan-favorites Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex.
Timing: Year One

Marvel’s What If…?
Marvel Studios’ first animated series, taking inspiration from the comic books of the same name. Each episode will explore a pivotal moment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and turn it on its head, leading the audience into uncharted territory.
Timing: Year One

DOCUMENTARIES, UNSCRIPTED SERIES, AND LIVE SPECIALS

Encore!
Executive producer Kristen Bell brings together former castmates of a high school musical, tasking them with re-creating their original performance in a high school reunion like no other. Emotions run high as the former students face faded friendships, former flames, self-doubt, and killer choreography. Through it all, these unlikely groups of friends—with the help of Broadway’s best—just might pull off a standing-ovation-worthy performance of beloved musicals like The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, and more.
Timing: Available at launch

Untitled Walt Disney Imagineering Documentary Series
The documentary series chronicles the 65+-year history of Walt Disney Imagineering with parallel storylines of the people, the craft, and the business. Created by Academy Award-® and Emmy-® nominated director and producer Leslie Iwerks, the series includes exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from Disney’s parks around the world.
Timing: Available at launch

Marvel’s Hero Project
The series, produced by Marvel New Media in partnership with MaggieVision Productions, reveals the remarkable, positive change several young heroes are making in their own communities. These young heroes have dedicated their lives to selfless acts of bravery and kindness, and now, Marvel celebrates them as the true Super Heroes they are.
Timing: Available at launch

The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Through the prism of Jeff Goldblum’s always inquisitive and highly entertaining mind, nothing is as it seems in this new series. Each episode is centered around something we all love—like sneakers or ice cream—as Jeff pulls the thread on these deceptively familiar objects and unravels a wonderful world of astonishing connections, fascinating science and history, amazing people, and a whole lot of surprising big ideas and insights.
Timing: Available at launch

Be Our Chef
What if your family had the chance to create the next great Disney Parks dish? Hosted by Angela Kinsey, Be Our Chef invites families from diverse backgrounds to join a Disney-inspired cooking competition at Walt Disney World that is positive and playful in tone. In each episode, two families will participate in a themed challenge based on their family traditions and the magic of Disney. The finalists will apply what they have learned to create a dish that represents their family through a Disney lens.
Timing: Year One

Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies (working title)
Cinema Relics is an anthology series that takes a unique look at beloved films through the props and costumes (now modern “artifacts”) that made them unique—from the craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them, and the collectors/archives who own and cherish them. The show will be hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan. Among the films featured in the first eight episodes are Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Cinema Relics is produced by ABC Studios, Alternative and executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan.
Timing: Year One

Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2
As never before in its near-century-long history, Walt Disney Animation Studios is opening its doors, allowing cameras to capture in intimate detail how the voice cast, directors, and team of artists come together to create Frozen 2. This multi-episode documentary series shows the hard work, imagination, heart, fun, and intensity that go into making one of the most highly anticipated Disney Animation features of all time.
Timing: Year One

Magic of Animal Kingdom
In the heart of Central Florida, a team of more than 1,000 highly respected animal-care experts, veterinarians, and biologists perform groundbreaking work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Epcot SeaBase aquarium. Now for the first time, National Geographic will offer viewers an all-access pass into the 24/7 world of the incredible animal caretakers running one of the most advanced veterinary facilities in the world.
Timing: Year One

Marvel’s 616
An anthological documentary series from Marvel New Media in partnership with Supper Club that explores the intersection between Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters, and creators, and the world outside your window. Each documentary will dive into the rich historical, cultural, and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe.
Timing: Year One

(Re)Connect
In each episode of (Re)Connect, a family will disconnect from their busy lives, devices, and outside influences in order to address a relatable issue that’s driving a wedge between them. With the help of a specialized expert, each family will go on a unique journey to confront the family’s dilemma head on. Can they finally come together as a family to overcome their obstacles… and reconnect?
Timing: Year One

Rogue Trip
Renowned journalist Bob Woodruff travels the world with his 27-year-old son, Mack, and visits all of the places your average tourist is least likely to venture—the roguish, often misunderstood, and frequently overlooked corners of the world whose hidden corners surprise, amaze, and inspire. This is the family vacation most of us are least likely to take.
Timing: Year One

Shop Class (working title)
A new competition series featuring teams of inventive students, who are tasked with designing, building, and testing new contraptions. In each episode a panel of experts will rate their work based on engineering, design, and the final test of the build. In the final episode, one team will be named Shop Class Champs.
Timing: Year One

Earthkeepers (working title)
From the award-winning creators of Chef’s Table and the producers of One Lucky Elephant, Earthkeepers is a cinematic documentary series that enters the adventurous lives of the people changing the way we see the animal kingdom. The episodes focus on conservationists and the animals they’ve devoted their careers to studying, diving deep into the personal trials and professional breakthroughs of protecting the planet’s most endangered species. Executive produced by Jason Sterman, Brian McGinn, and David Gelb for Supper Club and Cristina Colissimo and Jordana Glick-Franzheim for Wellworth Pictures.
Timing: Year Two

Ink & Paint
The documentary series, based on the book of the same name, tells the story of Animation at Disney, and how an unsung workforce of trailblazing women helped create some of the greatest animated films of all time.
Timing: Year Two

ORIGINAL FILMS

Lady and The Tramp
A timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic about a prim and proper house dog and a tough but lovable stray who embark on a series of adventures and, despite their different upbringings, grow closer and come to understand the true meaning of “home.” Starring Tessa Thompson (voice of Lady), Justin Theroux (voice of Tramp), Kiersey Clemons (Darling), Thomas Mann (Jim Dear), Janelle Monae (voice of Peg), Yvette Nicole Brown (Aunt Sarah), and Sam Elliot (voice of Trusty).
Timing: Available at launch

Noelle
Nick Kringle (Bill Hader) is first in line to become Santa Claus, but he struggles at every step of the way. His younger sister Noelle (Anna Kendrick) enjoys all the perks of being a Kringle without any of the expectations or responsibility. As the holiday draws near, the pressures of being Santa become all too much for Nick, who disappears just weeks before the big day. Now it’s up to Noelle to scour the globe to find him, bring him home, and save the Christmas season. Cast also includes Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, Julie Hagerty, and Shirley MacLaine.
Timing: Year One

The Phineas and Ferb Movie (working title)
Stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb, their older sister Candace, Perry the Platypus, and the Danville gang will reach a new pinnacle—Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming service—when they are back together again in The Phineas and Ferb Movie, an animated adventure in production now. The movie, executive-produced by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (creators and executive producers of the long-running Emmy Award-winning series Phineas and Ferb), centers on Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue Candace, who has been abducted by aliens and has found utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers. Reprising their roles are: Ashley Tisdale as Candace Flynn; Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor as Buford; Olivia Olson as Vanessa; Tyler Mann as Carl; and Povenmire and Marsh as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Monogram, respectively. David Errigo Jr. joins the cast as Ferb Flynn.
Timing: Year One

Stargirl
Based on the critically-acclaimed New York Times best-selling Young Adult novel of the same name, this teen coming-of-age story is about Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere), an average 16-year-old who is content to fly under the radar until an offbeat and unconventional new student named Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal) shows up at his high school, turning his and everyone else’s world upside down, forever changing the way they see themselves and each other.
Timing: Year One

Timmy Failure
Based on the book Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis from the beloved illustrated book series of the same name, Timmy Failure is helmed by Academy Award®-winning director Tom McCarthy with a screenplay by McCarthy & Pastis, and tells the story of Timmy, our quirky, deadpan hero, who along with his 1,500 pound polar bear partner, Total, operates TOTAL FAILURE INC., a world-class detective agency (at least in Timmy’s mind anyway).
Timing: Year One

Togo
Based on a true-life adventure in the Alaskan tundra, this story takes place in 1925, when an epidemic of diphtheria breaks out in a remote Alaskan town, causing countless children to fall gravely ill. The necessary antitoxin is hundreds of miles away, across treacherous terrain with a massive storm on the horizon. As the crisis grows more desperate, the village leaders realize their only hope lies with one man—Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and his lead sled dog, Togo.
Timing: Year One

AVAILABLE ON DISNEY+
Unprecedented access to the best content from the world’s most iconic entertainment brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

RECENT RELEASES
Disney+ will serve as the exclusive streaming home of The Walt Disney Studios’ blockbuster films beginning in 2019 including:

Captain Marvel
Dumbo
Avengers: Endgame
Aladdin
Toy Story 4
The Lion King
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Frozen 2
Star Wars: Episode IX

LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS
By the end of year one, Disney+ will house more than 7,500 episodes of television and 500 movies. Below is a sampling of content available at launch:

FILMS:
101 Dalmatians
A Bug’s Life
A Goofy Movie
An Extremely Goofy Movie
Bambi
Bao
Big Hero 6
Born in China
Cars
Fantasia
Finding Dory
Finding Nemo
Free Solo
Frozen
Fun and Fancy Free
Hercules
High School Musical
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Inside Out
Iron Man
Lady and the Tramp
Lilo & Stitch
Mary Poppins
Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
Moana
Monsters University
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pixar Short Films Collection Vol 1
Ratatouille
Remember the Titans
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 film)
Steamboat Willie
The Good Dinosaur
The Incredibles
The Little Mermaid
The Parent Trap (1961)
The Prince & The Pauper (1990)
The Princess Diaries
The Rocketeer
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (short)
The Sword in the Stone
The Three Caballeros
Thor: The Dark World
Toy Story
Tron (1982)
Up
Wall-E
Zootopia

TELEVISION SERIES:
Amazing Planet
Andi Mack (seasons one–three)
Boy Meets World
Brain Games
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan
Dr. K’s Exotic Animals
Dr. Oakley Yukon Vet
Drain the Ocean
DuckTales (1987)
DuckTales (2016, season one)
Earth Live
Goof Troop
Great Migrations
Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things
Kim Possible
Malcolm in the Middle
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (animated series)
Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man (animated series)
Mickey and the Roadster Racers (seasons one and two)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickey Mouse Shorts
One Strange Rock
Raven’s Home
Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue
Star Wars Rebels
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 series)
That’s So Raven
The Incredible Dr. Pol
The Simpsons
Unlikely Animal Friends
Wicked Tuna

Disney+ will launch in the U.S. on November 12, 2019, for $6.99 per month. The service will be available on a wide range of mobile and connected devices, including gaming consoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs. Visit DisneyPlus.com to register your email and be kept up to date on the service.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

Every Amazing Announcement About Disney+ from The Walt Disney Company’s 2019 Investor Day

April 11, 2019November 8, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Today, investors and fans were given a first look at Disney+, the upcoming streaming service set to bring original and fan-favorite content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic (and more) directly to consumers. The Walt Disney Company’s 2019 Investor Day answered so many burning questions that we have about the service, but left us with one incredibly challenging question: Which of these amazing new movies and series will we stream first?!

Lucky for all of us, we have a little bit of time to ponder that dilemma. It was announced during Investor Day that Disney+ will launch in the U.S. on November 12, 2019. The service, which will be available to subscribers at just $6.99 a month, will offer fans of all ages a new way to experience the unparalleled content from across The Walt Disney Company’s iconic entertainment brands and will be available on connected TV and mobile devices.

Disney leaders, including Chairman and chief executive officer Bob Iger, were joined by top executives from Disney’s streaming services, including Hulu, ESPN+, Hotstar and Disney+, for today’s event, which also featured presentations from some of the creative executives behind Disney+’s impressive and extensive content slate. Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios; Pete Docter, chief creative officer, Pixar Animation Studios; Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm; Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios; Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide; Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Productions; Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Global Television Networks; and Jon Favreau, executive producer and writer, The Mandalorian, provided a glimpse of what lies ahead on Disney+.

“Disney+ marks a bold step forward in an exciting new era for our company—one in which consumers will have a direct connection to the incredible array of creative content that is The Walt Disney Company’s hallmark. We are confident that the combination of our unrivaled storytelling, beloved brands, iconic franchises, and cutting-edge technology will make Disney+ a standout in the marketplace, and deliver significant value for consumers and shareholders alike,” Iger said.

More than 25 original series and 10 original films, documentaries, and specials by some of the industry’s most prolific and creative storytellers are planned for Disney+ in its first year alone. Here are just some of the titles announced today that we truly can’t wait to binge:

Marvel Studios:

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: Anthony Mackie returns as Falcon and Sebastian Stan reprises his role as Winter Soldier in the new live-action series.
WandaVision: Another pair of Marvel Cinematic Universe favorites reprise their roles in the live-action series, which stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as The Vision.
Marvel’s What If…?: This animated series—the first from Marvel Studios—is inspired by the comic books of the same name. Each episode will explore a pivotal moment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and turn it on its head, leading the audience into uncharted territory.

Walt Disney Animation Studios:

Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2: Do you want to watch a documentary series? One that’s worth melting for? Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 shines a light on the hard work and imagination that go into making one of the most highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios features of all time.

Pixar Animation Studios:

Our Emeryville friends went into their amazing toybox to create the new Toy Story-based projects Forky Asks a Question, an animated short series, and the short film Lamp Life.

National Geographic:

The World According to Jeff Goldblum: The ever-entertaining actor pulls back the curtain on a seemingly familiar object to reveal a world of astonishing connections, fascinating science, and a whole lot of big ideas in this new documentary series.
Magic of the Animal Kingdom: Journey to the Walt Disney World Resort in this documentary series, which takes viewers behind the scenes with the highly respected animal-care experts, veterinarians, and biologists at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot’s SeaBase aquarium.

Disney Television Animation:

The Phineas and Ferb Movie (working title): Many of the original voice cast return for this animated film based on the iconic Disney Channel series.

These new projects are, of course, on top of the series we’re already eagerly awaiting, including several projects set in the world of Star Wars—The Mandalorian, the world’s first scripted live-action Star Wars series; the exclusive new season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars; and the untitled Cassian Andor series starring Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk—as well as a return to East High in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; the Marvel Studios series Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston as the God of Mischief; the animated series for families Monsters at Work, with Billy Crystal and John Goodman returning to voice Mike and Sulley; and Diary of a Female President.

We’ll also be popping barrels of popcorn while we watch the films Lady and the Tramp, Noelle, Togo, Timmy Failure, and Stargirl; and we’re excited to dive into nonfiction series announced earlier this week, such as Be Our Chef, with Angela Kinsey; Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies (working title), Earthkeepers (working title), Encore!, the untitled Walt Disney Imagineering documentary series, Marvel’s 616, Marvel’s Hero Project, (Re)Connect, Rogue Trip, and Shop Class (working title).

And d’oh—we can’t forget to share some truly excellent news! On day one, Disney+ will feature all 30 seasons of The Simpsons. In fact, there’ll be more than 7,500 television episodes and 500 films on Disney+—including blockbuster hits from 2019 and beyond—in the service’s first year alone, and classic titles from Fox, such as Malcolm in the Middle, The Princess Bride, and The Sound of Music, will also be as close as our nearest screen. Click here to discover the incredible collection of movies and series you’ll find on Disney+, which ranges from perennial Disney favorites such as The Sword in the Stone, Boy Meets World, and Up, to recent must-watch (or must-watch-again) titles such as Free Solo, Moana, and Captain Marvel.

This brings us back to our initial challenge: deciding what we’ll want to experience first. Disney+ has been designed with fans in mind. Subscribers will enjoy a wide variety of features—including immersive brand tiles and dedicated pages for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic—and will find it easy to navigate and watch their favorite content (and discover new favorites!). Through custom profiles that you create, Disney+ will offer personalized experiences curated to subscribers’ unique tastes.

No matter where you access Disney+, which will be available on a wide range of mobile and connected devices, including gaming consoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs, the service will adjust to the best possible high-definition viewing experience based on a subscriber’s available bandwidth, with support for up to 4K HDR video playback. And even when they’re not connected, fans will be able to access an unprecedented amount of content to view offline.

Disney+ will be available in the U.S. this November and will expand rapidly across the globe—and is planned to be in nearly all major regions of the world within the next two years. D23 will continue to bring you updates as more details are revealed about the incredible content that will be streaming soon. Stay tuned to D23.com, and visit DisneyPlus.com to register your email and be kept up to date on the service.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

New The Lion King Trailer Roars to Life—Plus More in News Briefs

April 11, 2019

By Courtney Potter

See Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa in all-new action, and get a first look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Join the Circle of Life with Brand-New The Lion King Trailer

Ready to revisit the Pride Lands? We’re positively replete with anticipation… in fact, we’re brushing up our roar as we speak! And there’s no better way to “Be Prepared” (channel that inner Scar, y’all) for the upcoming debut of Disney’s live-action The Lion King than to watch the brand-new trailer, above.

Disney’s The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba (Donald Glover) idolizes his father, King Mufasa (James Earl Jones), and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy, and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious (and hilarious) pair of newfound friends (Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon), Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. Utilizing incredible, trailblazing filmmaking techniques to bring some beloved characters to life in a whole new way, The Lion King thunders into theaters on July 19!

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 13, 2019
Join D23 for a Special Screening of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi!
April 15, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
May 1, 2019
30 Years of Disney’s Hollywood Studios – A D23 Celebration!
May 4, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Lion King at Walt Disney World
May 6, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
May 11, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Lion King on the Lot
May 16, 2019
D23 Celebrates Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World
June 1, 2019
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Return to Walt’s Chicago
June 8, 2019
Lunch with a Disney Legend – Paige O’Hara
June 10, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
June 22, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
July 8, 2019
Lunch with a Disney Legend – Paige O’Hara
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
September 9, 2019
Lunch with a Disney Legend – Paige O’Hara
Parks
March 1-April 23, 2019
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
March 6-June 3, 2019
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
May 31, 2010
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort
August 29, 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort

Studios
April 17, 2019
Penguins opens in U.S. theaters
April 26, 2019
Avengers: Endgame opens in U.S. theaters
May 24, 2019
Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
July 19, 2019
The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters
August 9, 2019
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
March 3, 2019
American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST)

Magically Mysterious New Image from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Well friends, ahead of this weekend’s sure-to-be-incredible Star Wars Celebration Chicago (make sure to tune in to D23.com for in-person coverage!), we’ve been gifted with a brand-new image from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order—the highly anticipated game from Respawn Entertainment.

“Don’t stand out” is the warning that came with the image, scene above, on EA Star Wars’ tweet about the action-adventure game—which shows a damaged lightsaber atop some ancient symbols from a forgotten age. Set in the aftermath of Order 66, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will follow a Padawan trying to survive as the Empire grows stronger following the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and the defeat of the Jedi Order. The game is set for release later in 2019, so we don’t have to wait too much longer… You can expect even more details (and images from the game) during its panel at Star Wars Celebration in the “Windy City” on Saturday afternoon, April 13.

Fantastic Slate of New Nonfiction Projects for Disney+

As we inch ever closer to the big debut of Disney+ (Disney’s brand-new streaming service) later this year, news of what audiences should expect to see is starting to ramp up. Case in point: this week’s big reveal of a slew of cool nonfiction projects, including a cooking show hosted by Angela Kinsey (The Office) and a new Marvel anthological documentary series. Read all about these unique new shows here at D23.com.

Latest Additions to the Wonderful World of Disney MaxPass

Fans of Disneyland Resort’s epic nighttime extravaganzas—chiefly, Fantasmic! at Disneyland park, and World of Color at Disney California Adventure park—will now be able to maximize their day in a whole new way… Yes, it’s true: Beginning this week, guests who purchase Disney MaxPass for their day will be able to make Disney FASTPASS selections for those two offerings right from the “comfort” of their very own mobile device, via the Disneyland app!

This new ability to make digital FASTPASS selections for Fantasmic! and World of Color adds to the other supremely cool benefits of Disney MaxPass, which include making select attraction FASTPASS selections from your smartphone, as well as the ability to download an unlimited number of Disney PhotoPass photos of the day’s fun. Plus, the Disneyland app itself is a goldmine of peachy perks—such as the ability to mobile order delicious eats and treats from more than 20 locations around the resort.

For more information, click on over to Disneyland.com/MaxPass.

Breaking News: Mike and Sully are Coming to Disney+

There is so much to look forward to when Disney+ debuts later this year… and just this week, the cast for one of their brand-new shows was revealed—and we’re monstrously excited! Monsters At Work, which will debut on the streaming service in 2020, will feature the dulcet tones of original Monsters, Inc. stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman. Read more about it here at D23.com.

New Cast Members Join Aladdin North American Tour

It’s hard to believe, but the fabulous North American tour of Disney on Broadway’s Aladdin is fast approaching its second anniversary! To celebrate such a momentous occasion, several brand-new principal cast members will be added to the company when it makes its upcoming stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, at The Eccles Theatre.

Kaena Kekoa, a native of Hawaii who was discovered at a Disney on Broadway open casting call in Honolulu, will make her professional theater debut (cool, right?!) in the iconic role of Jasmine. Additionally, original tour cast member Reggie De Leon—who spoke with D23.com in 2018 about his Disneyland past, and about how the Aladdin tour was a literal dream come true—returns to the hilarious role of Iago. As part of the show’s trio of Aladdin’s sidekicks, Ben Chavez will assume the role of Omar, and Colt Prattes will step into the role of Kassim; plus, Frank Viveros will stand by for the roles of Genie and Babkak.

The North American tour of Disney’s Aladdin officially celebrates its second anniversary on April 19 in San Jose, California, where the critically-acclaimed tour will also welcome its two millionth guest during a two-week engagement at The San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (April 10–21). For more “shining, shimmering, splendid” information, visit AladdinTheMusical.com/tour.

Sneak a Peek at the Live-Action Aladdin—Coming Soon to Disney Parks

Speaking of Aladdin, unless you’ve been living in Agrabah (where we hear the WiFi can be a little tricky), you know the live-action retelling of Disney’s 1992 animated hit—starring Will Smith as the fast-talking Genie, Mena Massoud as the charming “street rat” Aladdin, and Naomi Scott as the self-determined Princess Jasmine—will be soaring into theaters this summer… and, as was just announced by our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, guests at several Disney Parks and aboard Disney Cruise Line (DCL) will soon get a special sneak preview of scenes from the film!

Beginning April 19 and for a limited time only, the preview of Aladdin will be shown inside the Main Street Opera House in Town Square at Disneyland park; as part of the Walt Disney Presents attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; and on all DCL ships. See Smith and Massoud announce the sneak peek in the clip, above.

The high-flying film, directed by Guy Ritchie, opens at a cineplex near you on May 24.

Avengers Universe Unites to Bring Joy to Kids Around the World

Last Friday, April 5, a gaggle of Avengers: Endgame stars—including Robert Downey Jr., Brie Larson, and Chris Hemsworth—joined Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger at Disney California Adventure park to announce the new Avengers Universe Unites initiative, aimed at bringing comfort to seriously ill kids around the globe. Find out about this incredible charity event right here at D23.com.

Disneynature Celebrates 10 “Wild” Years

For the last decade, Disneynature has taken moviegoers to places they’ve never dreamed of—to far-flung locales around the world (or sometimes deep into the oceans), and always following a colorful array of animals that have delighted young and young at heart. Soon, we’ll meet the latest adorable creature to get the Disneynature treatment: Steve the Adélie penguin, in Penguins—opening in theaters and in IMAX on April 17!

Disneynature recently debuted a heartwarming video celebrating these last 10 “wild” years—check it out, above!

Hades Joins the Fun in New Descendants 3 Trailer

Descendants 3, the highly anticipated “trequel,” will premiere this summer on Disney Channel—and to tide us over, they’ve released a new trailer featuring all your favorite VKs (that’s “villain kids,” for the uninitiated) as they begin their face-off with nemesis Hades (Broadway’s Cheyenne Jackson). See it for yourself right here at D23.com.

Every Digital Disney twenty-three Article to Celebrate 10 Years of D23

April 11, 2019

By D23 Team

Our 10-year FANniversary celebration encompasses all things D23: 10 years of amazing events, 10 years of unbelievable D23 Expos, 10 years of stunning member gifts, and—of course—10 years of the Disney twenty-three publication! All D23 Gold Members receive a one-year subscription to our collectible publication, filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations, and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. It’s an all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present, and future!

While Disney twenty-three is sent exclusively to D23 Gold Members, we’ve rounded up some content that fans have enjoyed on D23.com that originated on the publication’s pages. Once you’re all caught up on your reading, you might consider becoming a D23 Gold Member so you can get even more Disney magic from Disney twenty-three!

Articles
8 Disney Myths Every Disney Fan Needs to Know
A Monster Partnership: Celebrating the Collaboration of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman
Celebrate 35 Years of TRON Downloading Us into the World of Computers
Did You Know? 5 Animated Facts about Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Director Andrew Stanton Brings Dory Back
How Eyvind Earle’s Stunning Art Made Sleeping Beauty a “Moving Illustration”
How Walt Disney World Found Its Home in Florida
The Technology of Soarin’ Around the World
To Annette, with Love

Galleries
Gallery: Disney and the Anaheim Halloween Parade
Gallery: Get a Close-Up Look at the Main Street, U.S.A. Christmas Tree
Gallery: Enchanting Cinderella concept art
Gallery: Stunning Bambi Artwork from the ARL

Infographics
Infographic: Celebrate 10 Spectacular Years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Infographic: Disney’s Animal Kingdom By the Numbers
VIDEO: Disney Afternoon By The Numbers

Downloadables
Downloadable: Heroines of Star Wars Desktop Wallpaper

Find Out When the New Nighttime Spectacular Epcot Forever Debuts

April 10, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Ready to light up the sky this fall? Epcot Forever, a new nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World Resort, will make its grand debut October 1, 2019, on World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. The limited-time show will be a celebration of the past, present, and future of the theme park, built around the magical soundtrack guests have come to know and love. The new show will feature thrilling fireworks, lighting, and lasers, as well as choreographed, special effects kites.

Disney Parks Live Entertainment is collaborating on the show with conductor and composer Don Harper, who is producing new arrangements of classic Epcot tunes to weave into the show.

“Epcot Forever is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become,” said Alan Bruun, show director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment. “Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today—from attractions, spectaculars, and other shows—and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.”

After it launches this fall, Epcot Forever will continue into 2020, when it will then make way for the debut of the next epic nighttime spectacular as part of the park’s multi-year transformation. The current nighttime spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, will end its 20-year run September 30, meaning guests have 173 days to see the enchanting production one more time.

Marvel 616 is Among the Exciting Nonfiction Projects Just Announced for Disney+

April 10, 2019November 8, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming streaming service, set to launch in the U.S. later this year, has just revealed an incredible slate of nonfiction programming, including Marvel 616 (working title), an anthological documentary series that explores the intersection between Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters, and creators and the world outside our window. The series comes from Supper Club, the independent production company founded by David Gelb (Chef’s Table, Jiro Dreams of Sushi), Brian McGinn (Chef’s Table, Amanda Knox), and Jason Sterman (13th, Five Came Back), who have entered into an exclusive deal to create premium franchise-based and original-concept nonfiction programming for Disney+, as well as other platforms and networks across the worlds of Disney.

Marvel 616, produced in partnership with Marvel New Media, marks Supper Club’s first original series for Disney+, and they’ve assembled a diverse group of filmmakers to take us on a deep dive into the rich historical, cultural, and societal context that has become increasing woven into stories of the Marvel Universe.

Supper Club will also produce Earthkeepers, a cinematic documentary series that centers on the adventurous lives of the people changing the way we see the animal kingdom. Each episode will spotlight conservationists and the animals they’ve devoted their career to studying, giving us a greater sense of the personal trials and professional breakthroughs that come with protecting the planet’s most endangered species.

The additional original nonfiction series announced today for Disney+ feature fan-favorite talent, exotic locations, inspiring stories—and plenty of Disney magic. Here are all of the series we can’t wait to stream:

Be Our Chef
Angela Kinsey (The Office) presides over this delicious new competition series, which gives families the chance to create the next great Disney Parks dish. Be Our Chef invites families from diverse backgrounds to join a positive and playful Disney-inspired cooking competition at Walt Disney World. In each episode, two families will participate in a themed challenge based on their family traditions and the magic of Disney. The finalists will apply what they have learned to create a dish that represents their family through a Disney lens. The winner’s magical food creation will become a signature dish or treat served at Walt Disney World.

Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies(working title)
This anthology series that takes a unique look at beloved films—including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit—through the props and costumes (now modern ‘artifacts’) that made them unique. We’ll hear from the craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them, and the collectors/archives who own and cherish them in the show, which will be hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan.

Encore!
Our toes are already tapping over this series—executive produced by Kristen Bell (Frozen)—which brings together former castmates of a high school musical, tasking them with re-creating their original performance in a high school reunion like no other. Emotions run high as the former students face faded friendships, former flames, self-doubt, and killer choreography. Through it all, these unlikely groups of friends—with the help of Broadway’s best—just might pull off a standing-ovation-worthy performance of beloved musicals such as The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, and more.

Marvel’s Hero Project
Even in the Marvel Universe, not all heroes wear capes, and this new series (also produced in partnership with Marvel New Media) spotlights real-life heroes who are making remarkable, positive changes in their own communities. These inspiring kids have dedicated their lives to selfless acts of bravery and kindness, and now, Marvel celebrates them as the true Super Heroes they are.

(Re)Connect
Every episode of (Re)Connect focuses on one family with a modern-day, relatable issue that’s driving a wedge between them. Issues range from workaholic parents, overly competitive siblings, technology addiction, or a family secret that has recently been revealed. All of these families have reached a breaking point, and it’s time for them to disconnect from their busy lives, devices, and outside influences in order to address their issues head-on. With the help of a specialized expert, each family will go on a unique journey that organically ties to the issues they are facing in order to confront the family’s dilemma. Can they finally come together as a family to overcome their obstacles… and reconnect? Real-life husband and wife Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa are among the producers of this compelling new series.

Rogue Trip
Bob Woodruff and his 27-year-old son, Mack, take fans to all the places the average tourist wouldn’t typically visit—frequently overlooked (and even misunderstood) destinations whose hidden corners surprise, amaze, and inspire. It’s the family vacation most of us are unlikely to take—but now is our chance to venture to these amazing locales via Disney+.

Shop Class (working title)
Youthful ingenuity is on display in this new competition series that features teams of inventive students tasked with designing, building, and testing new contraptions to vie for the title of Shop Class Champs. In each episode, they’ll present their work to a panel of experts who will rate their projects based on engineering, design, and the final test of the build.

Untitled Walt Disney Imagineering Documentary Series
A Disney fan’s dream, this documentary series looks at the more than 65-year history of Walt Disney Imagineering through parallel storylines focused on the people, the craft, and the business. Oscar®- and Emmy®-nominated director and producer Leslie Iwerks is creator of the series that will feature exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from Disney parks around the globe.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hannah Montana: The Movie

April 10, 2019

By Karina Schink

Ten years ago today, we got the best of both worlds when Hannah Montana went from being a television superstar to making her big-screen debut in Hannah Montana: The Movie. To celebrate, here’s a look back at the iconic Disney film, and a couple of facts we think might surprise you.

1. The film shot just a few miles away from Miley Cyrus’ childhood home.
It may be already well known that Miley Cyrus was born and raised in Tennessee, but what you might not know is that Hannah Montana: The Movie was not only shot on location in Tennessee, but just a stone’s throw away from Miley’s childhood home! One of the shoot’s main locations, Grandma Ruby’s farm, was on a 200-acre ranch just south of Nashville, only miles from the Cyrus family farm. One of the film’s stars, Emily Osment, recalled visiting Miley’s childhood bedroom,“We shot 20 minutes from where Miley grew up. Her room was decorated like it was in sixth grade when she left [For L.A.]. It’s adorable.”

2. Extensive stunts were used to create the famous “sabotage scene.”
While a Disney film based off of a Disney Channel series may not immediately bring stunts to mind, there were quite a few used in this film about the double-life pop superstar. The sabotage scene (yes, the one featuring some not-so-mild hot sauce), required extensive stunts and effects, a 3-D architectural model, and 700 pounds of walnuts.

3. The film had a slew of special guest stars.
We’re pretty sure you remember that infamous scene with Tyra Banks over a pair of shoes that sets Miley off on her trip back to her roots. But, do you remember catching Vanessa Williams, Barry Bostwick, Rascal Flatts, and a then-unknown Taylor Swift? Maybe it’s time to put “Crazier” on repeat again.

4. The writer penned several Disney Channel Classics
Screenwriter Dan Berendsen not only wrote Hannah Montana: The Movie for Disney, but also Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam; Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie; The Cheetah Girls: One World; Twitches; Halloweentown High; Up, Up, and Away; Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-Off; Stuck in the Suburbs; and Twitches Too. But, that’s not where his relationship with Disney ends. In fact, he also has developed, produced, and written for several ABC shows including Sabrina the Teenage Witchand Baby Daddy.

5. It was only the second theatrical film released based on a Disney Channel Original Series.
In 2009, Hannah Montana: The Movie was only the second film released based on a Disney Channel Original Series. Can you guess the other one? We’ll give you a hint. It was released in the early 2000s, featuring a high school teenager, as well as a miniature animation version of her. Did we help you get one step closer? Hey now, hey now, don’t worry, we’re sure you’ll figure it out your own way.

Stunning Marvel Studios Concept Art Every Fan Should See

April 9, 2019April 26, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Let’s take a look back at MCU movies in a new way! Our friends at Marvel Studios have rounded up a gallery of amazing concept art from films like Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, Captain Marvel, and more! The journey from concept to screen is just as epic as the actual Marvel films—so check out the gallery below to see how artists imagined our favorite heroes’ most epic moments.

Join the Circle of Life with Brand-New The Lion King Trailer

Save the Date! Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

Magically Mysterious New Image from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Fantastic Slate of New Nonfiction Projects for Disney+

Latest Additions to the Wonderful World of Disney MaxPass

Breaking News: Mike and Sully are Coming to Disney+

New Cast Members Join Aladdin North American Tour

Sneak a Peek at the Live-Action Aladdin—Coming Soon to Disney Parks

Avengers Universe Unites to Bring Joy to Kids Around the World

Disneynature Celebrates 10 “Wild” Years

Hades Joins the Fun in New Descendants 3 Trailer

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar: