By Courtney Potter
This New The Little Mermaid Poster Wants to Be Where the People Are…
Yes, it’s true: The first poster for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar®-winning animated musical classic, has just been revealed. The film, helmed by visionary director Rob Marshall, opens exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 26, 2023.
The beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure, stars Halle Bailey in the lead role. Rounding out the cast are Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, and Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina-with Javier Bardem as King Triton and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. Take a gander at the film’s teaser trailer (which premiered at the recent D23 Expo 2022) for the first, or perhaps 21st, time, below…
The Little Mermaid is written by David Magee, with a live-action story adaptation by Magee, Marshall, and John DeLuca, based on the short story by Hans Christian Andersen, and the Disney animated film by Ron Clements and John Musker. The score is by Disney Legend Alan Menken, who won two Oscars® for the music in the animated version; music is by Menken, with lyrics by Disney Legend Howard Ashman and new lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®
As we creep ever closer to Halloween, there’s progressively spookier content to fill your weekends from around the worlds of Disney. What should you expect this weekend? The sing-along version of Into the Woods premieres on Disney+; Toy Story of Terror! offers up some frights and delights on Freeform; The Owl House debuts the first of its final specials on Disney Channel and Disney XD; and so much more.
Second Season of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Ordered
News from our friends at Disney Branded Television: A second season of the highly anticipated animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur has already been ordered, before the first episode of Season 1 has even premiered! The news, along with a clip from the theme song, “Moon Girl Magic” (above)-written and produced by executive music producer Raphael Saadiq and performed by series star Diamond White (who voices Lunella, aka Moon Girl)-was revealed over the weekend during the Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur panel at New York Comic Con.
The full soundtrack from Walt Disney Records is set for release the same day the series debuts-February 10, 2023-and will feature songs from the first season. And next summer, fans can also look forward to a brand-new assortment of toys, apparel, and more inspired by the series.
Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, the series follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex partner, Devil Dinosaur (voice of Fred Tatasciore), whom she accidentally brings through time into present-day New York City. Equipped with Devil’s fierce loyalty and brawn, the loving support of her family and best friend Casey (voice of Libe Barer), and an array of her own inventions, Lunella sets out to make a difference and protect her Lower East Side neighborhood from danger.
Cast Announced for 20th Century Studios’ A Haunting in Venice
Production on 20th Century Studios’ A Haunting in Venice, an unsettling supernatural thriller inspired by Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party, is set to begin next month-and with that news comes the announcement of the film’s notable ensemble cast, including Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarico, and Michelle Yeoh.
The film, directed by and starring Oscar® winner Kenneth Branagh, is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and features the return of Christie’s most celebrated sleuth. Hercule Poirot (Branagh), now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo; when one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
A Haunting in Venice, with a screenplay by Michael Green, is set to open in theaters nationwide in 2023.
Your Selena Gomez Streaming Guide
We’ve seen her go from a Disney Channel sitcom star to holding her own opposite two comedy icons… so why not celebrate Selena Gomez with a full binge-watch of some of her works from across the worlds of Disney? D23 has a handy streaming guide to her most notable appearances-Princess Protection Program is an all-time fave-right here.
Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? Documentary-Coming Soon to Disney+
Our pals at Disney+ recently announced the premiere of the new documentary film Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? From Disney Branded Television, the intimate and inspirational film follows Disney Legend and Tony Award®-winning icon Idina Menzel on her path to realize a lifelong dream: headlining a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City.
Featuring never-before-seen performance footage alongside raw and vulnerable interviews, the documentary follows Menzel on a personal journey as she juggles the challenges of being a working mom and wife on a grueling travel schedule while preparing to take the stage at the legendary arena. Featuring interviews with Menzel herself, along with her parents, family, friends, and co-creatives, the film also weaves in show-stopping performances as she conquers the Madison Square Garden stage.
Directed by filmmaker Anne McCabe and produced in partnership with Ideal Partners, Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? will premiere on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Disney+.
BUNK’D Renewed for Seventh Season on Disney Channel
More news from the good folks at Disney Branded Television: They just announced that a seventh season of the hit comedy series BUNK’D has been given a greenlight. This seventh-season renewal is historic, as is makes BUNK’D the longest-running live-action Disney Channel series to date!
Series regulars Miranda May (Lou), Trevor Tordjman (Parker), Mallory James Mahoney (Destiny), Israel Johnson (Noah), Shiloh Verrico (Winnie), Luke Busey (Jake), and Alfred Lewis (Bill) are all set to return. Erin Dunlap will remain as executive producer and showrunner of the series in addition to May, who’ll continue her season six appointed role as executive producer while also directing select episodes.
Season 6 of BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes will air a holiday-themed episode on Friday, December 2-with new weekly episodes returning in January 2023. Lou, Parker, Destiny, and Noah have been working double time to get the new Kikiwaka Ranch up and running in Dusty Tush, Wyoming. They must learn new ranch skills, acquaint themselves with the townsfolk, and welcome their new campers. It’s been a bumpy start… but campers Bill, Winnie, and Jake have still loved their time at summer camp. Meanwhile, counselors and campers band together to hunt for a mysterious treasure that is said to be hidden somewhere on the ranch.
New Trailer for Disney+’s Save Our Squad with David Beckham
Disney+ just debuted the official trailer for the UK Original series Save Our Squad with David Beckham, which premieres exclusively on Disney+ next month.
The heart-warming series sees Beckham return to his East London roots to mentor Westward Boys, a young, grassroots team who are at the bottom of their league, facing relegation. However, this isn’t just any league… this is the same league that Beckham played in as a young boy. Working with the head coaches, he’ll try to turn the team’s fortunes around.
The series follows along as he mentors the young squad, sharing stories from his own playing career (which spanned over 20 years and saw him play for some of the most successful clubs in the world) to teach them valuable lessons about practice, ambition, and teamwork. Off the pitch, Beckham gets the chance to spend time with players and their families, learning about their lives, hopes, and concerns while talking to them about the importance of collaboration, work ethic, and community.
Look for Save Our Squad with David Beckham to debut exclusively on the streaming service on Wednesday, November 9.
ICYMI: How Marvel Studios Unleashes Its Monstrous Side in Werewolf by Night
With the haunting new Special Presentation from Marvel Studios, Werewolf by Night, now streaming on Disney+, D23 got some spooky (and very cool) behind-the-scenes scoop from its director, Michael Giacchino. Click here to find out how the project came to be; what ’70s syndicated horror TV show inspired him; and much more.