Star Wars Celebration Europe Can’t-Miss Panels and How to Stream Them

By the D23 Team

Star Wars Celebration Europe begins this Friday, April 7, and promises to be packed with enough fun to fill a galaxy far, far away—well, at least as far as London, anyway. If you’re interested in keeping up with all the Star Wars action, you can stream the event on StarWars.com or at YouTube.com/StarWars. Streams begin at 12:30 p.m. GMT / 5:30 a.m. PT on Friday, April 7; 12 p.m. GMT / 5:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, April 8; and 10:45 a.m. GMT / 3:45 a.m. PT on subsequent days. Whether you’re in London or Tatooine, check out the list below for some of the excitement to come.

Friday, April 7

Crash Course Into the Old Republic
Fri, Apr 7, 2023 • 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. GMT
Location: Fan Stage
Thousands of years before the Skywalker name was known throughout the Galaxy, there were the incredibly powerful Rakata, a massive Sith Empire, Mandalorian fleets pushing the Republic to the brink, ancient superweapons, and the redemption of one of the most infamous figures in Star Wars: Revan. Join panelists for a crash course in nearly 25,000 years of history and a chance to pick their brains. Stick around for discussions from both Old Republic lore experts and cosplayers of the Old Republic!

Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase
Fri, Apr 7, 2023 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Streaming to Twin Suns & Galaxy Stages]
This panel is a pre-ticket event; there will be limited standby available.
Star Wars Celebration returns, launching with a must-see showcase that will kick the weekend’s festivities into hyperdrive. Lucasfilm’s current crop of live-action filmmakers will be joined by special guests to discuss the many current and upcoming Star Wars adventures, including The Mandalorian, Andor, and more!

Star Wars Mindful Matters with Ashley Eckstein
Fri, Apr 7, 2023 • 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Star Wars Kids Stage
Need a break from the busy show floor? Overwhelmed by all the jaw-dropping Star Wars news? Join Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, at the Kids Stage as she leads a handful of Star Wars-themed mindfulness lessons.

The Making of Andor Season One
Fri, Apr 7, 2023 • 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Streaming to Twin Suns & Galaxy Stages]
Executive Producers Tony Gilroy and Diego Luna and their team of creatives recount the making of the epic first season of Star Wars: Andor.

Saturday, April 8

Ahsoka
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Streaming to Twin Suns & Galaxy Stages]
This panel is a pre-ticket event; there will be limited standby available.
Join Executive Producers Dave Filoni, Disney Legend Jon Favreau, and special guests for a look at the upcoming Disney+ series, Ahsoka.

Bringing Worlds to Life: The Concept Art of ILM
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Twin Suns Stage
Join host Clayton Sandell alongside Doug Chiang and Industrial Light & Magic Supervising Art Director Jason Horley as they take you behind the scenes to explore what goes into bringing a director’s vision to the silver screen. From the ILM Department’s work on the original trilogy to the Star Wars prequels, and to the latest films in the franchise and beyond, you’ll learn how iconic movie moments are made.

Star Wars: The High Republic
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Galaxy Stage
Centuries before the Skywalker saga there was The High Republic! Join luminous authors for an in-depth conversation about epic new tales spanning books, comics, audio, and beyond. Including all-new announcements and reveals from Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II, and a sneak peek of what’s to come in Phase III! Guests include authors Cavan Scoot, Charles Soule, Claudia Gray, Daniel José Older, George Mann, and Lydia Kang.

40 Years of Return of the Jedi
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage
Forty years ago, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was the highly anticipated sequel that Star Wars fans had been waiting years to see, and the last Star Wars theatrical adventure to be released for the foreseeable future. Counted as a favorite episode by many, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’s story, characters, settings and score still resonate with fans today, and its 40th anniversary offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate this time-honored classic. Join special guest host and Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen as she chats with Star Wars legends of the past, present, and future about the influence of this beloved chapter in the galaxy far, far away.

Clone Wars – 15 Year Anniversary Panel
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Galaxy Stage [Streaming to Twin Suns Stage]
Join Dave Filoni, Athena Portillo, Matthew Wood, Dee Bradley Baker, Ashley Eckstein, Matt Lanter, and James Arnold Taylor for a look back at the beginning of Lucasfilm Animation and how Star Wars: The Clone Wars came to be.

D23 Presents: Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Screening in London
Sat, Apr 8, 2023 • Screenings at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. GMT
This event is SOLD OUT.
We have a very good feeling about this! D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is excited to join the festivities of Star WarsCelebration Europe 2023 with an exclusive screening of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on April 8 in London!

Sunday, April 9

Villains of the Sequel Trilogy [Streaming to Galaxy Stage]
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Streaming to the Galaxy Stage]
This panel is a pre-ticketed event; there will be limited standby available.
The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many panels some consider to be… can’t-miss! Join host Amy Ratcliffe as she sits down with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) as they discuss their villainous roles in the final chapters of the Skywalker Saga.

A Look Back at Obi-Wan Kenobi
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage
Take a look back at the hit limited series with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Indira Varma, Vivien Lyra Blair, and executive producer/director Deborah Chow.

Star Wars Mindful Matters with Ashley Eckstein
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Star Wars Kids Stage
Need a break from the busy show floor? Overwhelmed by all the jaw-dropping Star Wars news? Join Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, at the Kids Stage as she leads a handful of Star Wars-themed mindfulness lessons.

Disney Parks: Where Star Wars Comes to Life
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage
Join some of the creative minds from Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm for a special look at how Disney brings Star Wars to life in its parks and beyond. Discover more about immersive experiences from a galaxy far, far away, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and more. Disney and Star Wars fans alike will be treated to the insights only these creators can provide.

Star Wars Animation Game Night
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. GMT
Location: Galaxy Stage
Star Wars Animation Game Night is a competition of galactic proportions starring voice actors from your favorite animated Star Wars series. Watch as Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Matthew Wood, and Matt Lanter compete in feats of knowledge, skill, and luck to prove who is the ULTIMATE Star Wars fan.

Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories From a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 • 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Twin Suns Stage
From adult-aged novels to nonfiction, from kids comics to audiobook epics, Lucasfilm Publishing explores the stories from a galaxy far, far away. Featuring all-new announcements, exciting details and reveals for new and upcoming titles from the time of the High Republic to the time of the First Order, this panel is not to be missed! Guests include authors Adam Christopher, Cavan Scott, and Charles Soule.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Mon, Apr 10, 2023 • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Streaming to the Twin Suns & Galaxy Stages]
This panel is a pre-ticket event; there will be limited standby available.
Join host Amy Ratcliffe as she invites Star Wars: The Bad Batch executive producer and supervising director Brad Rau, executive producer and head writer Jennifer Corbett, executive producer Athena Portillo, actors Dee Bradley Baker (the Bad Batch) and Michelle Ang (Omega) to discuss highlights from the second season of the acclaimed series!

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2
Mon, Apr 10, 2023 • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage
Join host Amy Ratcliffe, Star Wars: Visions executive producers, and filmmakers from Aardman, Cartoon Saloon, D’ART Shtajio, El Guiri, La Cachette, Lucasfilm, Punk Robot, Studio Mir, Triggerfish, and 88 Pictures for an exclusive first look at Star Wars: Visions Volume 2.

Doug Chiang: Designing Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian
Mon, Apr 10, 2023 • 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. GMT
Location: Galaxy Stage
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: The Mandalorian Production Designer and Lucasfilm’s Vice President and Executive Creative Director Doug Chiang will present an in-depth talk about designing the characters, spaceships, and worlds for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 3. He will share the challenges they faced in revisiting iconic Star Wars characters like Obi-Wan and Darth Vader.

Closing Ceremony
Mon, Apr 10, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. GMT
Location: Celebration Stage [Live on the Celebration, Galaxy, Twin Suns, & Star Wars Celebration LIVE! Stages]

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

By Andie Hagemann

From galactic adventures to royal engagements—and everything in between—don’t miss the spectacular content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend. On Saturday, watch the network premiere of Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe on Disney Channel, followed by the series finale of The Owl House on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Then, on Sunday, don’t miss X-Men: The Last Stand, airing on FXM, a special presentation of Cruella on Freeform, and the Raven’s Home Season 6 premiere on Disney Channel.

In a scene from Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, Perry, an animated, teal platypus, wears an orange space suit and floats in space.

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe—Saturday, April 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
We know what you’ll do today: watch the network premiere of this hilarious animated movie! Phineas (voiced by Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voiced by David Errigo Jr.) set out on a journey across the galaxy to rescue Candace (voiced by Ashley Tisdale) after she’s abducted by aliens. But Candace discovers the far-off planet is a utopia, free of her pesky little brothers. The voice cast also includes Dee Bradley Baker, Alyson Stone, Dan Pvenmire, Ali Wong, and Wayne Brady.

In a scene from an episode of The Owl House, three characters look up at a purple spotlight.

The Owl House—Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney XD
The bewitching series finale is here! The fate of everything on the Boiling Isles now rests on the shoulders of a human, a cursed witch, and a determined but tiny little King. The voice cast includes Sarah-Nicole Robles, Issac Ryan Brown, Alex Hirsch, Wendie Malick, Michaela Dietz, Jorge Diaz, Tati Gabrielle, Elizabeth Grullon, and Cissy Jones. Binge the entire series on Disney+.

In a scene from Cruella, actor Emma Stone portrays Cruella de Vil and wears an all-leather outfit and sits in a newspaper newsroom. 

X-Men: The Last Stand—Sunday, April 9, at 4:45 p.m. ET/PT on FXM
When a cure is created which apparently can turn any mutant into a “normal” human being, outrage overtakes the mutant community. Magneto (Ian McKellen), who still believes a war is on the horizon, uses the resurrected Jean Grey (Famke Janssen)—now Phoenix, the most powerful mutant of all—against the X-Men. While Logan (Hugh Jackman) recruits members of Charles Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) original team and confronts an emerging relationship with Storm (Halle Berry), Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) come into their own as the X-Men’s future. The action-packed film also stars Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, and Elliot Page and is available to stream on Disney+.

In a scene from X-Men: The Last Stand, actors Halle Berry as Storm, Patrick Stewart as Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine stand in a residential neighborhood.

Cruella—Sunday, April 9, at 5:40 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Emma Stone stars in the live-action feature film, which explores the rebellious early days of one of cinema’s most notorious—and notoriously fashionable—villains, Cruella de Vil (Stone). Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, the movie follows a young grifter named Estella and reveals the series of events that cause her to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous and revenge-bent Cruella. The rockin’ film also stars Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Mark Strong and is available to stream on Disney+.

In a scene from an episode of Raven’s Home, actor Mykal-Michelle Harris plays Alice and wears a red and gold gown and a crown and holds a doll that wears a matching outfit.

Raven’s Home—Sunday, April 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Season 6 begins with Raven (Raven-Symoné), Booker (Issac Ryan Brown), and Alice (Mykal-Michelle Harris) venturing across the pond to visit Victor (Rondell Sheridan) in London. After Alice is mistaken for a member of the royal family, the group becomes entangled in hilarious mix-up of majestic proportions. Meanwhile, back in San Francisco, the Chill Grill’s new advertisement invites a crowd neither Neil (Felix Avitia) and Lazlo (Ernie Grunwald) predicted.

See the Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue at Disney Parks!

By Sarah Sterling

D23 Gold Members are looking forward to the arrival of their Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue*, but if you want to see this year’s Collector Set in person NOW, you’re in luck! You can find beautiful vitrine displays across Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort featuring the “platinum pop star” tribute statue, the new Gold Membership card designs, and official certificate that come in this year’s set! (If you’re not a D23 Gold Member yet, there’s still time to sign up today and receive this amazing gift.)

If you want to get a sneak peek, here are all the places you can see the Milestone Statue at Disneyland and Walt Disney World:

Disneyland Resort

  • Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A—Disneyland Park

If you frequent Disneyland Resort, you won’t need to go far to find our D23 Collector Set display. Once you enter Disneyland Park, visit Disneyana on the right-hand side of Main Street, U.S.A.’s Town Square and you’ll find a vitrine full of D23 Gold Member goodies amongst the beautiful art and collectibles available for purchase!

Walt Disney World Resort

  • Island Mercantile—Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

There are many locations at Walt Disney World where you can spot the D23 2023 Collector Set, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Upon entering the park, visit Island Mercantile right in front of the Tree of Life and check it out...

You don’t just have to visit our theme parks to see the D23 Collector Set on display—there are also multiple locations across Disney Springs where you can see the Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Statue up close! Be sure to see this beauty while shopping at World of Disney, located in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs.

But guess what? These are merely a few of the places you can see our D23 Collector Set in person! Whether you’re in the Parks, shopping in Disney Springs, or staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, here are allthe locations where you can visit our vitrine displays:

Disneyland Resort:

  • Disneyana at Disneyland Park
  • Off the Page at Disney California Adventure Park

Walt Disney World Resort:

  • Island Mercantile—Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
  • Box Office Gifts at Magic Kingdom Park
  • Art of Disney at EPCOT
  • Celebrity 5 & 10 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Springs:

  • World of Disney
  • Art of Disney
  • Marketplace Co-Op

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels:

  • Buena Vista Gifts at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • BouTiki at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The 2023 D23 Collector Set comes with every D23 Gold Membership! Sign up to be a D23 Gold Member today and make this piece of history part of your collection.

JOIN TODAY

*The 2023 D23 Gold Member Collector Set, consisting of the D23 membership card (“Card”), certificate (“Certificate”), and Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club" Milestone Statue (“Statue”), will be available starting January 1, 2023, for new or renewing D23 Gold Members joining or renewing on either a D23 Gold Membership Individual Plan or D23 Gold Membership Duo Plan (sent to the Primary Member). For new Members, the Card and Certificate will ship 2-4 weeks following enrollment, and the Statue will begin shipping by Spring 2023. For current D23 Gold Members, the Card, Certificate, and Statue will ship after their D23 Gold Membership renewal in 2023, provided that the shipment of the Statue will begin by Spring 2023 or following the D23 Gold Member’s renewal date, whichever is later. Limit one (1) D23 Gold Member Collector Set per membership plan.

5 Things to Know About Disney and Pixar’s Elemental

By Bruce C. Steele

It’s time to start planning your journey to Element City, a place unlike any you’ve ever seen before and the setting for Disney and Pixar’s new animated feature, Elemental, opening June 16, only in theaters.

The thriving, colorful metropolis is home to interconnected communities of people made of the four elements of classical lore: water, fire, air, and earth. It’s also home to the recently arrived fire couple, Bernie and Cinder (voiced by Ronnie Del Carmen and Shila Ommi, respectively), and their Element City-born daughter, Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis). Bernie runs a bodega-like shop specializing in imports from Fireland and other fire-friendly products, and Ember is his eager apprentice—although her hot temper sometimes get in her way.

“I love Ember. I wish I was Ember,” says the film’s director, Peter Sohn, who also conceived the story’s setting. “I wish I had the strength that she has.”

Ember needs that strength to try to rescue the fire shop from closure, and she latches onto an unlikely source of assistance: water guy Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), who one day splashes into her life. Their journey together—their gradual connection—is at the heart of the movie.

It’s a lot to absorb, so we’re here to give you the spark you need to find your way in this wonderous new land. Following are five key things to know in advance of seeing Elemental, as illuminated by Sohn and producer Denise Ream in a recent online press conference.

1. The story and characters were inspired, in part, by Sohn’s childhood in the Korean immigrant community in the Bronx in New York City.

“My parents came from another county,” shares Sohn, a Bronx native. “The shop they started, and a couple other shops that my father had started, were all in immigrant neighborhoods, so that’s all that I had known [while growing up].” For the film, he continues, “I was trying to capture that idea of people from other places who have gathered to create a life for themselves. That was the emotional hook for me, that my parents had come here from another place to make a better life for us.”

It was not an experience unique to Sohn, of course. “That personal experience resonated with a lot of people—our co-workers and colleagues,” Ream adds. “So many people at Pixar are first- and second-generation immigrants. We ended up having a lot of those people work on the movie, and that added texture and authenticity.”

In a scene from the Pixar Animation Studios feature Elemental, Ember, a female fire person, and Wade, a male water person, arrive in the grandstand of a sports arena in Element City. Ember looks worried, while Wade has a silly smile.

2. The pairing of fire and water people as the main characters was, you might say, elemental.

“When I was first drawing these ideas out, it was just stream of consciousness—just drawing and connecting to different ideas,” Sohn explains. At one point, he says, “I was trying to figure out, ‘What would be really hard for fire?’ And then I drew a bunch of fire characters over water in a boat. Then from there, it was like, ‘Oh, what if there was a water person?’ When I drew a fire person next to a water person, there was an immediate tension of like, ‘Oh, that water person could put that fire character out.’ You couldn’t get the same tension between an earth character and an air character. Fire and water were just a very visual punch of opposites, but then also a conflict.”

Designing the final characters to embody that idea was less simple, Ream adds. Take Ember, for example: “From a design perspective, it [needed to be] very clear that this is not a person on fire. They were made of fire.” The same could be said of Wade, who has the fluidity of water in his every move.

3. Shaping the characters and story tapped into some very personal experiences.

Wade, whom Sohn likes to describe as a “go-with-the-flow guy,” is prone to tears at unexpected moments. “When you drew a water person, having them leak water and sweat or cry was just a funny visual,” he says. “In trying to find Wade as the story was evolving early on, there was something about it that I tied to [the fact that] I am a totally emotional guy. I’m a crier. I was just pulling from my own life.”

Some incidents in the film reflect not just Sohn’s life but those of others on the creative team. “We really [encouraged] our crew members to bring their personal stories into this,” the director says. An early sequence in which Bernie and Cinder, with baby Ember, are searching for an apartment, only to have many doors shut in their faces, “came from a real experience of this French story artist named Bolhem Bouchiba, who boarded this moment for us,” Sohn recalls.

In a scene from the Pixar Animation Studios feature Elemental, Ember, a female fire person, and Wade, a male water person, stand in front of a desk that has common office objects on it. The person behind the desk is out of frame. Ember and Wade are both smiling, and behind them is an assortment of plants.

4. The portrayal of Element City was inspired by many earlier live-action films.

The metropolis is chock-full of details viewers may need multiple viewings to appreciate, from the particular products in Bernie’s shop, to the signs and architecture that characterize the buildings in different neighborhoods, to the water-based mass transit system that poses a particular challenge for fire people. For inspiration on inventing an entire big city and making it appear, for the most part, lush and attractive, the Pixar creative team turned to the great filmmakers of the past.

“I really believe in this creation concept called ‘immaculate reality,’” Sohn explains. “It was a phrase that I heard from [Disney Legend] George Lucas on the making of Star Wars. They were designing things knowing that they had a [fictional] history. The audience would never get to know that history, but because of that, it would make the world feel more real.”

The Elemental team also looked at “how some of our favorite cities were shot” in classic films, Sohn continues. “For example, the way that Roman Holiday was shot to showcase moments of Rome… [and how for] Amelie they made this postcards version of Paris.” They were also inspired by how the late cinematographer Gordon Willis shot New York City for many classic films of the 1970s and 1980s. His work, Sohn says, “showcased the city as this person, and it was that sort of mentality that we were trying to find.”

5. The film’s rich backstory and sweeping visuals are in service of a simple theme.

“This was such a personal journey,” Sohn says, “about wanting to thank our parents for the sacrifices that they’ve made… [and to] connect to something that feels real and truthful and deep within ourselves—from kids to adults, families, and everybody.”

Ream adds that they are always “telling stories that come from a personal place at the studio.” And in this case, the location of that personal place is the fantastical Element City—which everyone will be able to visit at theaters starting on June 16.

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

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

How many Oswald the Lucky Rabbit silent cartoons were made by Walt Disney?

Correct! Wrong!

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!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About TRON Lightcycle / Run

By Alison Stateman

TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise® welcomed guests to the Grid when the attraction officially opened on April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Inspired by the groundbreaking movie TRON (1982) and its sequel TRON: Legacy (2010), the attraction is among the fastest roller coasters in any Disney Park—reaching a top speed just shy of 60 miles per hour.

So, before you take part in a high-stakes race as a member of heroic Team Blue against villainous Team Orange aboard a Lightcycle, here are a few scintillating facts that may surprise you.

1. The story behind TRON Lightcycle / Run takes place after the events of TRON: Legacy.
The attraction picks up where moviegoers last saw Sam Flynn, son of computer genius Kevin Flynn, and Quorra, the Isomorphic Algorithm he rescued and brought back with him to the real world. The couple are now creating permanent gateways to promote and support increased interaction between Programs and Users, also known as humans.

A train of Lightcyles traverse the indoor portion of the illuminated track at night.

2. TRON Lightcycle / Run is the second Disney Parks coaster inspired by the groundbreaking film.
The first coaster dedicated to the sci-fi classic, TRON Lightcycle Power Run,debuted with the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016, following a nearly decade-long development process. “The beauty of this attraction is yes, there is a sister attraction that exists,” Chris Beatty, Portfolio Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), shared. “So, we always like to say that’s the first portal into the Grid in Shanghai, and the second one is here in Orlando.”

3. The past and future intersect at TRON Lightcycle / Run.
The Walt Disney World WDI team was guided by the work done by Imagineers behind the Shanghai attraction, but there were changes needed to bring the attraction to Florida. Chief among them was the fact that the Walt Disney World Railroad—the painstakingly resorted vintage steam train attraction dating back to the park’s opening in 1971—cut through the site. In order to accommodate the Opening Day attraction, the building site had to be raised about 10 feet so the train could run under and then through TRON Lightcyle / Run. Jerold Kaplan, Executive Ride Project Engineer, WDI, shared “Most of the changes were made to things that are blind to the guest. Subtle changes to the structure that help our maintenance crews keep the reliability up to where we want it.”

4. A whole new score.
The attraction’s location in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park required the WDI team to create additional music to help differentiate it from neighboring Space Mountain. Fun fact: The team enlisted composer Joseph Trapanese, who worked with Daft Punk on the Grammy®-nominated TRON: Legacy soundtrack as well as the music for the TRON attraction in Shanghai, to create the new soundtrack.

Guests aboard their Lightcycle train smile excitedly as they experience racing on the Grid.

5. This race is a team sport.
In the TRON films, riders compete as individuals on their own Lightcyle, but for the attraction it’s a team sport. This was done to avoid long wait times for guests. Fourteen guests ride on each train of Lightcycles which are paired side-by-side. Three transfer-accessible vehicles enable guests with disabilities to board and enjoy the attraction as well. Lockers are available for guests to stow larger items before boarding, with compartments available on board to secure smaller items, such as phones and glasses.

Disney D23 Rewind—Week of April 3

By Courtney Potter

The promotional poster for Suga: Road to D-Day, coming soon to Disney+, features BTS star SUGA wearing a bright-green jacket as he stares up towards the sky. He’s set against a darker-green background, as well as the words “SUGA: Road to D-Day” in light gray.

BTS Star SUGA to Release New Documentary Suga: Road To D-Day on Disney+

After collaborating with some of the world’s biggest artists—including Coldplay, Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers, and Halsey—BTS star SUGA is heading out on a musical journey… travelling the world to work on his solo album, in SUGA: Road to D-DAY, coming April 21 on Disney+.

The upcoming documentary will follow SUGA as he journeys around the globe from Seoul to Tokyo, Las Vegas, and beyond in search of musical inspiration for his upcoming album D-DAY. Throughout the film, viewers will see the star at his most vulnerable, as he discusses his writer’s block with other musicians, and delves deep into his most traumatic memories to pen lyrics for several of his latest songs. SUGA: Road to D-DAY also includes exclusive live clips of songs to be featured on the album.

With the documentary slated for an April 21 release, fans can also visit Disney+ (or Hotstar) for lots of other K-Pop fun—including BTS: PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LA, an exclusive cinematic 4K concert film featuring BTS’ live performance at Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium in November 2021; j-hope IN THE BOX, a behind-the-scenes documentary showcasing the creation of BTS star j-hope’s first solo album; and IN THE SOOP: Friendcation, an original travel reality show with a star-studded cast including V of BTS, Itaewon Class’ Park Seojun, Parasite star Choi Wooshick, Soundtrack #1’s Park Hyungsik, and Peakboy, as the five friends venture off on a surprise trip and enjoy a host of activities together.

ILMxLAB Debuts Physical Edition of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition

Apropos of Star Wars Celebration Europe happening as we speak (type?), news from ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive storytelling studio: The physical edition of the incredible virtual reality game Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition has just hit shelves!

Exclusively for PlayStation®VR2 (PS VR2), and released in collaboration with publisher Perp Games, the physical edition offers fans and collectors an additional way to own the experience for themselves…

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition is a sweeping adventure with multiple styles of gameplay and difficulty settings for both seasoned gamers and new players. It follows a droid repair technician who gets swept up into a grand adventure after crash landing on the planet Batuu—the same setting as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive land featured in U.S. Disney Parks.

The Enhanced Edition has been rebuilt to capitalize on the hardware capabilities, including eye tracking and foveated rendering, headset feedback, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback with PS VR2 Sense controllers, and dynamic 3D audio. Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge was originally released on Meta Quest, with Part I debuting in November 2020 and Part II in September 2021.

During their adventure, players will meet fan-favorite characters including R2-D2, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz), Dok-Ondar (Cory Rouse), and Hondo Ohnaka (Jim Cummings). They will also meet new characters developed for the experience like the boisterous barkeep Seezelslak (Bobby Moynihan), treasure hunter Lens Kamo (Karla Crome), Guavian Death Gang leader Tara Rashin (Debra Wilson), and First Order commanding officer Lt. Gauge (Daman Mills).

While at Seezelslak’s Cantina, the Azumel bartender will transport players to other places and times in the Star Wars galaxy through his legendary Tales. Through him, they will live out the story of the Padawan-turned-Jedi Ady Sun’Zee (Ellie Araiza) in “Temple of Darkness” and “The Sacred Garden.” In “The Bounty of Boggs Triff,” players will take on a peculiar bounty while playing as the class four assassin droid IG-88 (Rhys Darby).

Players will encounter and work with familiar characters like Mubo (Matthew Wood), the owner of Black Spire Outpost’s Droid Depot, who will set them up with equipment and items throughout their journey.

The game is available at major American retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart. Copies can also be ordered directly from the Perp Games Store, and a list of global retailers can be found here. Fans interested in the digital version of the experience can purchase it from PlayStation™Store.

ICYMI: 5 Things to Know About Disney and Pixar’s Elemental

With Disney and Pixar’s Elemental heading to theaters in just a few months, it’s time to start getting familiar with Element City and its truly unique citizens… Hear directly from director (pun intended) Peter Sohn right here at D23.com about the inspiration behind the characters; which live-action films fueled the look and feel of Elemental; and more.

Disney Cruise Line’s DisneyBand+ to Preview This Summer

If you’re planning to take a Disney Cruise Line summer vacation, here’s something extra fun (on top of all the amazing fun!) to look forward to: They’ll soon be debuting DisneyBand+, the same wearable technology as the MagicBand+ offered in U.S. Disney Parks.

Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog recently announced that the DisneyBand+ will preview this summer on select Disney Wish sailings before its official release, just in time for Disney Cruise Line’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

With three designs to choose from, DisneyBand+ combines the convenience of hands-free technology with extra magic moments. Just a tap of the wrist will unlock your stateroom door; charge food or souvenirs to your credit card; or link onboard photos to your account. Children can also use their bands in lieu of the Oceaneer Club Band to access kids’ clubs, including the onboard Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Scuttle’s Cove at Castaway Cay.

The DisneyBand+ is waterproof and rechargeable, so it’s perfect for future Disney vacations—including more Disney cruises and trips to Disney Parks. Visit DisneyCruiseLine.com for more info, and as further details are revealed.

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

It’s a spring holiday weekend, and there’s lots to watch from around the worlds of Disney… the network premiere of Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, the series finale of The Owl House, and the Raven’s Home Season 6 premiere, all on Disney Channel; a special presentation of Cruella on Freeform; and more where that came from.

New Trailer for Hulu Original Drama Series Saint X 

Hulu has shared the official trailer for Original drama series Saint X. Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name, the series premieres Wednesday, April 26, with three episodes and will debut a new episode weekly thereafter.

Saint X, which is told via multiple timelines, upends the girl-gone-missing genre as it explores how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.

The eight-episode series stars Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Bre Francis, Kenlee Anaya Townsend, Betsy Brandt, and Michael Park.

Get Ready to Rock: The Muppets Mayhem Debuts May 10!

We’ve got a feeling this’ll crash Disney+… in the best way possible! The Muppets Mayhem unleashes an all-new batch of chaos beginning Wednesday, May 10, when all episodes debut on the streaming service. See the new teaser trailer for the series—if you haven’t caught it already, or even if you have (it deserves manyviewings)—below:

The Disney+ Original series follows The Electric Mayhem Band—Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone, and Lips on trumpet—on an epic, music-filled journey to record their first-ever studio album. With the help of driven young music executive Nora (Lilly Singh), the old-school Muppet band comes face-to-face with the current day music scene…

The Muppets Mayhem also stars Tahj Mowry as Moog and Saara Chaudry as Hannah, with recurring guest star Anders Holm as JJ, and features Bill Barretta as Dr. Teeth, Dave Goelz as Zoot, Eric Jacobson as Animal, Peter Linz as Lips, David Rudman as Janice, and Matt Vogel as Floyd.

Based on characters created by Disney Legend Jim Henson, the series was developed and written by executive producers Adam F. Goldberg, Barretta, and co-executive producer Jeff Yorkes. And keep those ears peel for some sure-to-be-amazing original music by executive music producer and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Linda Perry!

In a still from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones—wearing his signature fedora—leans out of a doorway on a ship that’s sailing on the ocean. He’s looking at something off-camera to the left.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to Premiere at Cannes Film Festival

Yes, it’s true: Indiana Jones will return to the Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on Thursday, May 18. The highly anticipated final installment of the beloved franchise, starring Harrison Ford as the legendary hero archaeologist and directed by James Mangold, will screen out of competition.

“In 1995, I was honored to come to Cannes with my first film as part of Directors’ Fortnight,” Mangold recently said. “Twenty-eight years later, I am proud to return with a slightly larger spectacle. My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand-new and final Indiana Jones adventure with you!”

Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen.

The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and Disney Legend George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has once again composed the score.

Look for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in theaters beginning Friday, June 30!

Marvel Studios Reveals New Secret Invasion Trailer and Premiere Date

Baseball fans were among the first to view it, but in case you, dear reader, haven’t had the chance yet… we’re here to help: The latest trailer for Marvel Studios’ espionage thriller Secret Invasion—seen above—debuted during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast last weekend. The live-action, original series premieres on Wednesday, June 21, exclusively on Disney+.

In Secret Invasion, set in the present-day Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies—including Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and the Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), who has made a life for himself on Earth—and together they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity.

Secret Invasion also stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Christopher McDonald, and Katie Finneran, with Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.

Don’t Miss These Reasons to Get Excited for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Fan-favorite video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is getting a sequel, and we’re less than a month away from its release! Read up on what to expect—including some easier location-switching, an evolved cinematic style, and the fact that you can pet boglings (!!)—from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor right here at D23.com.

New Trailer for National Geographic’s Limited Series A Small Light

This week, National Geographic released the trailer from the upcoming eight-part limited series A Small Light. The powerful series will have a multinetwork launch on Monday, May 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-episode simulcast across National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, and Lifetime. Then, on Saturday, May 6, Freeform will encore the premiere episodes at 8 p.m. ET/PT. For the full series run, two episodes will debut every Monday thereafter at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic; stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu; and be available on the Nat Geo TV and ABC apps.

Based on an inspiring true story, Miep Gies (Bel Powley) was young, carefree, and opinionated—at a time when opinions got you killed―when her boss Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis during WWII. Without hesitation, Miep agreed. For the next two years, she and her daring and devoted husband Jan (Joe Cole)—with several other everyday heroes—watched over the Frank, van Pels, and Pfeffer families hiding in the secret annex.

The cast of A Small Light includes Amira Casar as matriarch Edith Frank, with Billie Boullet and Ashley Brooke playing Edith and Otto’s daughters, Anne and Margot. Andy Nyman plays Hermann van Pels, Caroline Catz plays Auguste van Pels, Rudi Goodman plays Peter van Pels, and Noah Taylor plays Dr. Fritz Pfeffer, all of whom hid in the annex with the Frank family. Eleanor Tomlinson plays Tess, Miep’s best friend. Miep’s co-workers are played by Sally Messham as Bep Voskuijl, Ian McElhinney as Johannes Kleiman, and Nicholas Burns as Victor Kugler. Liza Sadovy plays Mrs. Stoppelman, Laurie Kynaston plays Casmir, and Sebastian Armesto plays Max Stoppelman.

How The Crossover Blends Poetry with Basketball

By Andie Hagemann

Based on the best-selling novel in verse by Kwame Alexander, the new Disney+ Original series The Crossover introduces Josh “Filthy” (Jalyn Hall) and Jordan “J.B.” Bell (Amir O’Neil)—twin middle school basketball phenoms who eat, sleep, and breathe basketball.

Filthy is a laser-focused athlete, determined to be the next LeBron James, while J.B. is content to dutifully go along for the ride. But as J.B.’s interest in basketball wanes, the brothers’ tight-knit bond is put in jeopardy.

Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Filthy (voiced by Daveed Diggs) narrates the story of their coming-of-age, on and off the court, as their father, Chuck (Derek Luke), adjusts to life after professional basketball and their mother, Dr. Crystal Bell (Sabrina Revelle), finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own. As the brothers navigate life’s growing pains, they make the startling discovery that there might be more to life than basketball.

“The Crossover is about resilience,” Alexander says. “It’s about these kids being told ‘no’ after having been told ‘yes’ all their life.”

Alexander, who serves as co-showrunner and executive producer, wrote the novel in verse 12 years ago. However, it took nearly six years and 22 rejections before a publisher recognized his book’s potential impact with young people. “My journey with this book is really a metaphor for this television series and where we are trying to go,” he says. “I heard nos everywhere, and in my head, I said, ‘This is a good book, Kwame; you’ve got to believe in it; you’ve got to say yes to yourself.’”

Based on the best-selling novel in verse by Kwame Alexander, the new Disney+ Original series The Crossover introduces Josh “Filthy” (Jalyn Hall) and Jordan “J.B.” Bell (Amir O’Neil)—twin middle school basketball phenoms who eat, sleep, and breathe basketball.

Adapting The Crossover for the screen challenged co-showrunners and executive producers Damani Johnson and Kimberly A. Harrison to channel their “inner Kwame” and seamlessly weave Alexander’s poetry into the series. “It was a learning experience for all of us,” Harrison recalls. “There’s a special rhythm to The Crossover that comes straight from the poetry. It’s the special sauce for the show.”

Because poetry is a big component of the story, the series’ creatives knew the voice of adult Filthy would require both gravitas and a sense of playfulness. So, when it was time to cast the role, there was only one man who met the criteria: Diggs. “Daveed has one of the best voices that you’ll ever hear, and one of the best cadences,” Johnson says. “Every time you hear his voice, it brings a smile to your face. We would make him do extra takes sometimes just so we could hear him say it one more time.”

The Crossover also highlights the resilience of the Bell family’s matriarch, Crystal, who balances being a school principal, wife, and mother, all with grace and strength. Alexander, Johnson, and Harrison wanted the series to reflect their own upbringing and show a “loving family” that audiences aren’t used to seeing onscreen.

In a scene from an episode of The Crossover, actors Derek Luke and Sabrina Revelle stand side by side inside a residential home. Luke wears a black tracksuit with three white stripes down the arms of the jacket and the side of the pants. Revelle wears a denim dress.

“Generally, the women in our cultures and in our communities are strong,” says Alexander. “There’s this poem, ‘The full potential of a nation cannot be realized unless the full potential of its women is realized / Only fools limit their women.’”

Adds Harrison, “I also think being able to see all the different types of hats that Crystal wears and how she’s able to put out these fires or be in the stands to root on J.B. and Filthy  gives the audience the kids’ perspective to see what parents go through in a day.”

When Harrison screened the series early for her kids, they too recognized the many hats she wears daily in addition to being their mom. “They said, ‘Mom, you do the same type of thing that kind of Crystal does. I didn’t realize that you went from work to the basketball game,’” she recalls.

The Crossover also stars Deja Monique Cruz as Maya, the Bell brothers’ best friend, who is not so secretly in love with Filthy; Trevor Raine Bush as Vondie, the brothers’ teammate and best friend; and Skyla I’Lece as Alexis, a childhood friend who recently returned to town and catches the eye of both Bell brothers. Phylicia Rashad guest stars as the boys’ grandmother and Chuck’s mom, Barbara, who is a fountain of love and wisdom.

All episodes stream exclusively on Disney+ beginning Wednesday, April 5.

Icons of Disney Storytelling: Kerry Washington

By Zach Johnson

Whether in front of or behind the camera, Kerry Washington is a superb storyteller.

The multihyphenate’s first job with The Walt Disney Company came in 1994, when she appeared in an episode of the ABC After School Special anthology series. Twelve years later, she returned to Disney, this time playing Julie Benson in Touchstone Pictures’ Bad Company, toplined by Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock. But it was Washington’s starring role as crisis manager Olivia Pope in ABC’s Scandal (2012–18) that had viewers on the edges of their seats every Thursday night. Not only did Washington break barriers by becoming the first Black woman since 1974 to lead a network television drama—for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy® Awards and a Golden Globe®—but she made her directorial debut with the series’ seventh and final season.

In 2016, Washington launched her production company, Simpson Street, and soon after signed an overall deal with ABC Studios (which was renewed in 2020). She also voiced a statistical analyst, Natalie Certain, in Disney and Pixar’s Cars 3 (2017); executive produced and starred in Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere (2020), for which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie; executive produced and starred in ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “The Facts of Life” and “Different Strokes” in 2021, receiving an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety Special (Live); and executive produced Hulu and Onyx Collective’s Reasonable Doubt in 2022, in addition to directing the pilot, “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” That same year, she guest starred as Rayshelle Peyton, a teacher at Springfield Elementary School, in The Simpsons—a role she has reprised multiple times since. Most recently, she executive produced and starred in Hulu and Onyx Collective’s UnPrisoned (2023), playing Paige Alexander, a relationship therapist and single mom.

Of course, Washington has plenty more stories to tell. Next up is the Disney Branded Television original movie From the Desk of Zoe Washington, based on Janae Marks’ book, which she’s been developing in partnership with Gamechanger Films since 2021.

Recently, she joined D23: The Officially Disney Fan Club for a wide-ranging Q&A...

In Scandal, a barefoot Kerry Washington sips a glass of red wine.

D23: How has Disney’s legacy of storytelling impacted your own work?
Kerry Washington (KW): What we try to do at my company, Simpson Street, is affirm the idea that every single one of us is the protagonist in the story of our lives. We are each the hero at the center of our own journey, and nobody should be living as a supporting character all the time. We can always make the choice to be a supporting character in other people’s lives, and we should often be of service in that way. But that should be a choice. We should know that fundamentally we are the protagonist in the story of our lives, and we have the power to be the hero of our own journey.

What I love about the Disney ethos is that idea gets lived out, again and again, in narrative after narrative. You see so many different kinds of protagonists of different ages and races—whether your protagonist is a toy, a princess, a chief, or a car. We see these stories affirm the idea that so many different kinds of people, places, and things are heroes, and it opens up ideas about who matters and who doesn’t. It really affirms the idea that we all matter.

It’s been fun for me to live in this world, because I gravitate towards the Disney narratives and storytelling. It’s been such a huge part of my life, and it’s the perfect place for my company to be, because what we do at Simpson Street is so in alignment with that overall Disney idea of: “We are all heroes, we all have adventures, we all get to wish, we all get to live boldly toward the fulfillment of our dreams—because we all deserve it, no matter who we are, where we’re born, who we love, what race we are, or what zip code we come from.” Each of us deserves that.

D23: What made you want to get into producing in addition to acting?
KW: I love producing because it’s kind of like being the Olivia Pope of any set. You’re there to fix problems, to make things better, to protect people, and to create space for people to soar. The first project my company produced was a film I made with ABC Studios/ABC Signature for HBO called Confirmation, where I played Anita Hill. I felt like it was important for me to produce that, because I felt like I had something unique to offer as a Black woman, in terms of my perspective. I wanted to make sure I had a seat at the table and the capacity, capability, and agency to really be able to do that. I came onto that project as an actor and a producer and fell in love with producing—the fixing and problem-solving and opportunity building. And I just have not turned back!

On the set of Reasonable Doubt, Kerry Washington directs a scene.

D23: What’s it been like to create projects for Onyx Collective?
KW: The focus is really uplifting and shining a light on creators of color—presenting work to the world that is created by folks of color about our experiences. And it’s a wonderful collective to be a part of, [where I am] able to support other artists who are offering their unique perspectives, as people of color. To be able to champion their work as a producer—like on UnPrisoned, as a producer and actor—is just so exciting.

D23: We have to talk about Scandal. Do you have a favorite episode or storyline?
KW: Oh, my goodness... I couldn’t even begin to pick a favorite storyline, because it all means so much to me—every episode. I mean, I guess there was the fantasy episode where Fitz [Tony Goldwyn] and Olivia got married. That was just so fun to shoot, because I knew how thrilled our fans would be with that. I love the lawn chair episode; I thought that was really poignant. I love the flashback episode, “The Trail,” which was our first window into the past and how this all went down; Tom Verica, who became our directing producer, directed that. So, obviously, I can’t pick one—there’s a bunch!

In Little Fires Everywhere, Kerry Washington sips a glass of white wine.

D23: You also lit up Hulu in Little Fires Everywhere, thanks to your on-screen rapport with Reese Witherspoon. Off-screen, it seemed like there was a little lovefest going on!
KW: “Lovefest” is the word! I love Reese Witherspoon with all my heart. I just adore her. Doing that project together was a delight. Very early in my career, when I knew I wanted to get into producing and start a production company, I called her, because she had started Hello Sunshine. I knew she had two production companies before that, so I thought, “She must have learned some stuff. She has been iterating and evolving, and she’s at a point in her producing where she has a lot of wisdom to offer. I’m going to ask her for some advice before I go into this overall development deal with ABC.” When I called, I said, “I just want to pick your brain and ask you what mistakes you’ve made and what you’ve learned.” And she said, “Nobody’s ever done that before. No other woman has ever called me to do that. I love this!” She was like, “I have so much to share. I have so much to tell you.” And from that moment, we became fast friends.

We always said we were looking for something to do together. I’ll never forget the day that she emailed me and said, “I think I have it. Give me a call.” She had just finished reading Little Fires Everywhere and knew she would be picking it for her book club. She felt like it would be a fun project to do together—and, as always, Reese was right!

D23: What’s harder for you: drama or comedy?
KW: I don’t know! It’s all a joy and it’s all a challenge. I love what I do, and I love being able to change it up. I’ve really loved playing Paige and doing this show [UnPrisoned] because it allows me to use all of the keys on the piano. I love doing serious dramatic work. Obviously, I’ve done a lot of that at Disney and elsewhere, with Scandal and other opportunities... So, it’s really fun for me to do material that’s like a real dramedy.

In UnPrisoned, Kerry Washington cooks a meal over a stovetop.

D23: Speaking of UnPrisoned, what intrigued you about this story?
KW: This show is inspired by the life of an incredible woman named Tracy McMillan. She’s an awesome comedy writer, marriage and family therapist, and just all-around awesome human being. I’m a fan of hers, and when I heard she was writing a show inspired by her life, I was intrigued. And then, honestly, I read the script and I realized, “Wow, we have an opportunity to really shed light on an entire portion of the population that often gets marginalized in our narratives.”

There are 80 million people in America with criminal records, and those people are all surrounded by family and friends who love them dearly. All of those folks are deeply impacted by the criminal justice system, and we’re just not telling that story as often as I think we should be, given how many of us there are. We tell lots of stories about people going into prison and what it’s like in prison, but being a returning citizen and the unique challenges that people face when they become un-prisoned, when they are trying to un-prison their hearts and minds, along with their family members? It’s a real privilege tell that story.

D23: UnPrisoned aside, what’s it like to voice a character on The Simpsons?
KW: It’s such a trip! It’s so much fun and it’s so exciting. For the most part, I’m really playing my mother, because she was an elementary school teacher for many decades and then became a professor of education. So, the character is entirely inspired by my mom. It’s obviously a comic extension of my mother, and so that’s a joy. It’s also just really fun! A lot of the stuff I do isn’t age appropriate for my kids—but The Simpsons is!

In Cars 3, Natalie Certain films a Racing Sports Network segment.

D23: Before The Simpsons, you also voiced a character in Cars 3...
KW: Yes! I will tell you that when we’re at Disneyland, my kids will wait in line until we get the Natalie Certain car! We will wait for the maroon Natalie Certain car, or we will see who gets in it and we will race each other. We are definitely Cars fans in my family!

D23: Lastly, what makes Disney the perfect home for you to tell your stories?
KW: There is something about this ethos of wishing upon a star, of believing in your dreams in the pursuit of an adventure beyond your reef—to borrow words from Moana—that is so core to how I think about life and what I think is important about storytelling. I’m a true, true fan of the Disney ethos and this kind of aspirational wish fulfillment that lives in everything we do. That’s not without the full wisdom of the complexity of the history of the company...

There used to be images that were more limiting for women and more limiting for people of color, and the company has continued to grow and evolve to be a company where you could click on something on Disney+ that’s “problematic,” where the platform invites you to have complicated conversations with your family. This is the company that put the first Black woman at the center of a one-hour network drama after almost 40 years of not having one. ABC and Disney took that “risk” when other networks were saying, “Absolutely not. We’re not putting a Black woman as No. 1 on the call sheet.”... Look at how the company continues to grow, to evolve, to be more inclusive, and to reflect more wish fulfillment—for everyone. I’m really proud to be a part of that legacy and that journey.

Want more? Listen to Washington’s interview on the D23 Inside Disney podcast.

You Can Pet the Boglings Now—Plus, 5 More Reasons to Get Excited for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’re less than a month away from the release of the highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to the fan-favorite game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The video game continues to follow Cal Kestis, a Jedi who survived Order 66, in a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narrative-driven, single-player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness.

Cal Kestis kneels on one knee, with BD-1 on his back, to pet a bogling. The squirrel-like alien leans its head into his touch. They are standing in a desert-like area, surrounded by rocks and plant life.

Set in between the films Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope, this game brings all of action and excitement of its predecessor, plus all-new features and enhancements sure to take you on a lightspeed jump to fun! It’s not just about new fight styles or ways to travel—you can also make some adorable new friends. “Oh, you can pet the bogling in this one,” Narrative Technical Director Joanna Robb tells us. Before you start searching your ship for the tiny, squirrel-like creature native to Bogano, check out what else you can look forward to in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

1. Experience Cal as a Jedi Knight
In 2019, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order introduced us to Cal as a Padawan, but he has grown much more confident. Robb explains, “As we were jumping years ahead, Cal goes from Jedi Padawan to Jedi Knight, and we were so excited to think about how that is going to change the character and change the gameplay. We really looked at everything in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order holistically and broke down how to improve every mechanic and every system, and how to evolve it for the new era that that Cal finds himself in, where the Empire is only growing stronger.” 

Cal Kestis, with his back to the camera, crosses blades with an unknown enemy. Cal wields a blue lightsaber, while his armor-clad opponent wields a yellow-bladed lightsaber.

2. An Evolved Cinematic Style
Cinematic Director Dori Arazi promises a game that is as stunning to look at as it is to play—but also, visuals that reflect where Cal is, emotionally. “Cal’s story is in a very dark place, and we take the story into some interesting twists that I’m really looking forward for players to discover,” Arazi says. “We’ve also changed the cinematic style. It’s a lot more visceral, immersive, gritty—almost found footage. The whole design of the game is to really pull you in and make you experience these dark times.

3. Dual Wielding, Plus More “Uncivilized” Weaponry
Part of Cal’s growth? New ways to challenge foes. The game offers five different styles of lightsaber stances: Single, Dual Wield, Double-Bladed, Crossguard, and Blaster. “We were building on the foundation of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, so one no-brainer for us was more lightsaber stances, and more ways to fight as a Jedi,” Arazi explains. “In this game, we added the dual wielding stance, and that allows you to just be very aggressive in how you fight—which is awesome! Then, later in the game you’ll find a blaster stance, which gives you some ranged combat options, and then also a crossguard stance, which allows you to trade speed for power.”

Cal Kestits and BD-1, their backs to the camera, look out over an expansive landscape of rock formations and greenery, while the sun rises off in the distance.

4. Fast Travel Across the Galaxy
As you explore through Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you might find yourself compelled to revisit the locations you’ve already traversed. Luckily for you, hopping from location to location is easier than ever! “We made the Holomap better; that’s the tool that you used to orient yourself in the world.” Arazi tells us. “Stuff like that and fast travel removes obstacles, so you can enjoy the experience of going back to areas you’ve already been through, but now you understand them in a different way because of a new tool or power you’ve learned.” Keep a note of that hint—as you grow and learn throughout the game, you should revisit old locations and see if your new skills lead to new discoveries!

A close up of Cal Kestis, wielding his blue lightsaber with BD-1, his droid, perched on his back.

5. We Explore a “Compelling Place, Psychologically” With Cal
After surviving Order 66—and the tough decisions he had to make afterwards—Cal is experiencing a complex range of emotions, which we’ll see through his actions as we experience the game. Robb elaborates, “He’s very hardened by the last five years and the toll that that has taken, because he cannot give up this fight. It’s so important to him. He’s carrying the guilt of everyone that he’s ever lost, so he cannot stop fighting, but at the same time, he isn’t winning. The Empire only gets stronger and now he’s one of the last Jedi survivors. So, it’s a really compelling place psychologically.” Although he may feel alone in the galaxy, he still has something to fight for—and the path of a Jedi to follow. “It boils down to the pure conflicts between good and evil and the ramifications of those conflicts,” Robb says. “What does it mean to be a Jedi in the ramifications of these conflicts?”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be available to play April 28, 2023, on PC, Xbox, and PS5. You can pre-order the game and learn more about it here.