news briefs 10/10

Go Galactic with a First Look at The Mandalorian—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Read up on the latest from the Star Wars universe, and get “Legendary” with stars from your favorite Disney Channel series… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Red Alert: Directors, First Image for The Mandalorian Revealed!

It was news heard ’round the galaxy when word got out that there’d be a brand-new live-action series—based on the Star Wars universe—created for Disney’s upcoming streaming service. Well, we now have a bit more info on just what to expect!

Production has begun on The Mandalorian, a show set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. The plot—as recently revealed by writer and executive producer Jon Favreau (Disney’s upcoming live-action The Lion King) on his Instagram account—will follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. The show’s first episode will be helmed by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels); look for later episodes to be directed by other TV and film luminaries including Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates, Jurassic World), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok). Check out the awesome first-look image of the title character, above.

Stay tuned for more info on The Mandalorian as we draw ever closer to its sure-to-be-epic streaming premiere…

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
October 6-21, 2018
D23’s Spooktacular Fanniversary Complimentary Screenings
October 19, 2018
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Ron Logan
October 22, 2018
D23’s Sip and Stroll at Epcot
October 28, 2018
D23 Celebrates 25 Spooktacular Years of Hocus Pocus
November 10, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
December 8, 2018
Mickey’s of Glendale – Holiday Shopping 2018
December 9, 2018
D23’s Light Up the Season – 2018
December 15, 2018
D23’s Grand Gingerbread Workshop
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
August 17, 24, 28, 31
September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 19, 21, 24, 26, 28
October 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, 31

Mickey’s Halloween Party at the Disneyland Resort
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 7-October 31, 2018
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
Summer 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort
Fall 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort

Studios
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
November 21, 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet opens in U.S. theaters
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
March 8, 2019
Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters
March 29, 2019
Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters
April 19, 2019
Penguins opens in U.S. theaters
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
Television
November 4, 2018
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular airs on ABC (8–10 p.m. EST)

Disney Channel Stars Get “Legendary” to Inspire Girls Everywhere

Wednesday, October 11, is the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl—and to celebrate, Disney Channel and DisneyMusicVEVO just released an incredible new song and its companying video featuring some of TV’s most dynamic young actresses.

“Legendary” is a validating, affirming anthem that supports girls’ great potential everywhere. Created for kids and tweens ages 6-14, the song encompasses a spirit of camaraderie—and delivers the powerful message that when girls and young women support each other and work together, nothing is out of reach! Rock out to the new clip, above.

The song was written and produced by The Heavyweights, the Grammy®-nominated production team of Jamie Jones, Jack Kugell, and Matt Wong (along with songwriter Hanna Jones). The video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis (who’s helmed vids for Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony), features the likes of ZOMBIES’ Meg Donnelly and Kylee Russell; Bizaardvark’s Madison Hue and Olivia Rodrigo; Andi Mack’s Peyton Elizabeth Lee; Stuck in the Middle’s Jenna Ortega; Freak Friday’s Cozi Zuehlsdorff; and many more! And don’t forget—a version of “Legendary” will also be heard this Friday, October 12, at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT during the upcoming Raven’s Home musical episode…

Misty Copeland Twirls Us Into The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

She’s the first African-American principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, and she’ll soon grace movie screens across the world in Disney’s latest holiday film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Check out this new featurette, above, to hear from prima ballerina Misty Copeland about what it was like to film the movie—and to delve deeper into a world that’s meant so much to her as a dancer.

But that’s not all: If you’re visiting Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort or Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in the next few weeks, you can catch a special advance look at 12 minutes of the film, complete with a brand-new video introduction by the film’s Clara, Mackenzie Foy.

Also starring Kiera Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Morgan Freeman as godfather Drosselmeyer, and Helen Mirren as the fearsome Mother Ginger, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms was directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale. Look for it at a cineplex near you beginning November 2.

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More Star Power Added to ABC’s Mickey’s 90th Spectacular

When you’re ready to celebrate a truly incredible 90 years of bringing joy to people across the globe, it’s no wonder that a cavalcade of stars would want to be on hand to assist! We already clued y’all in that the likes of Josh Groban, Meghan Trainor, and Leslie Odom, Jr. would be lending their dulcet tones to ABC’s Mickey 90th Spectacular…  and now, we’ve just revealed even more stars who’ll be joining Mickey Mouse on stage. Read all about it right here!

Here’s the Dish on Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s Upcoming Epcot Appearance…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yeah, sure, we mean fall’s cooler weather and all the upcoming holidays. But we also mean the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival—which is currently in full swing, tickling the taste buds of Walt Disney World Resort guests now through November 12!

One of the amazing celebrity chefs appearing at this year’s festival—now in its 22nd year—is acclaimed restauranteur and Iron Chef star Alex Guarnaschelli. Recently, our good pals over at the Disney Parks Blog visited Guarnaschelli at her New York City restaurant Butter, to hear from the culinary master herself about what she’ll be bringing to the table (literally and figuratively) on November 11 at this year’s foodie fest. Check out the clip, above.

Throughout the 75-day event, guests have a chance to meet their favorite celeb chefs; try a new food and drink pairing in the Festival Center each Friday through Sunday; and even dance the night away during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. For more info on all things Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, visit DisneyWorld.com.