Disney Music Emporium Pavilion Returns to D23 Expo with Exclusive and First-to-Market Vinyl Albums and More!

By the D23 Team

This news is music to Disney fans’ ears! Disney Music Emporium, the online destination for collectible Disney music products, returns to D23 Expo 2022 presented by Visa with a pop-up store on the show floor. Over the three-day Ultimate Disney Fan Event, on September 9, 10, and 11, the Emporium will feature limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products, including new releases from Marvel and Lucasfilm, vinyl albums, die-cut picture-disc vinyl, and more.

Make Your Disney Vinyl Collection Complete
In addition to the 24 new offerings available at D23 Expo 2022, 10 titles are exclusive or first-to-market, including Encanto die-cut vinyl (featuring “Surface Pressure” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”), Enchanted (available for the first time on clear vinyl), Hocus Pocus (score-only on moon-variant vinyl), Minnie Lo-Fi (on purple orchid vinyl), Adventure Thru Inner Space (picture disc), The Lion King on Broadway (first time on vinyl), The Mandalorian Season 1 (exclusive sand-colored vinyl), Music from WandaVision (exclusive red vinyl), The Legacy Collection: Aladdin (exclusive CD), and Turning Red – The Mix (exclusive CD).

Gifts with purchase include limited-edition Disney Movie Club collectible pendants (Bambi, Cinderella, Olaf, Aladdin Genie Lamp, Simba, and Nemo), while supplies last.

Presentations That Will Make Your Heart Sing
Celebrate the powerful music of Marvel Studios storytelling when Variety’s Jon Burlingame hosts Disney For Scores Podcast Live. Burlingame will bring the format of the popular For Scores podcast to life as he interviews composers of favorite series and films, including Tyler Bates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), Laura Karpman (Ms. Marvel, What If…?), and Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel). The panel is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, on the Backlot Stage.

The previously announced Disney Princess – The Concert performance presented by Disney Concerts will be on Sunday, September 11, at 4:15 p.m., featuring Tony® nominee Susan Egan (Broadway’s original “Belle” in Beauty and the Beast, “Meg” in Disney’s animated feature Hercules), Broadway.com® Audience Award nominee Isabelle McCalla (“Princess Jasmine” in Aladdin; The Prom), Disney Channel star Anneliese van der Pol (That’s So Raven, Raven’s Home, Broadway’s final “Belle” in Beauty and the Beast), and Broadway World Award winner Syndee Winters (Broadway’s “Nala” in The Lion King; Hamilton).

Plus, Even More to Score!
Attendees can get three months free from SiriusXM. Listen to Disney Hits and hundreds of other SiriusXM channels in the car, on the SXM app, and on your connected devices at home. Look for SiriusXM at the show for details. Offer available to new subscribers only; 18 years+.

Giveaways include limited first-edition Disney Hits Trading Cards, featuring 30 collectible cards.

A limited number of single-day tickets for Sunday of D23 Expo 2022 are available for $99 for one-day adult admission and $79 for children ages 3–12. Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $89 for a one-day adult admission. Single-day Friday and Saturday tickets and three-day passes are sold out. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2022, visit D23Expo.com.

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Three Cheers for the ZOMBIES 3 Premiere

By Zach Johnson

The world premiere of ZOMBIES 3 had everything from aliens and cheerleaders to werewolves and zombies! Disney+ rolled out the blue carpet Saturday at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif., to celebrate the upcoming movie’s streaming debut. “This is overwhelming!” Milo Manheim, who plays Zed, told reporters. “There are people in every direction. I’m surrounded by people I love, and that’s all I can ask for!”

Also in attendance were cast members Meg Donnelly (Addison), Chandler Kinney (Willa), Ariel Martin (Wynter), Pearce Joza (Wyatt), Carla Jeffery (Bree), Trevor Tordjman (Bucky), Kylee Russell (Eliza), Terry Hu (A-spen), Matt Cornett (A-lan), Kyra Tantao (A-li), James Godfrey (Bonzo), Kingston Foster (Zoey), Jasmine Renée Thomas (Stacey), Emilia McCarthy (Lacey), Noah Zulkfikar  (Jacey), and Naomi Snieckus (Principal Lee), in addition to director Paul Hoen, screenwriters and executive producers David Light and Joseph Raso, executive producer Suzanne Farwell, and choreographer Draico Johnson.

“There’s a lot of people that I’m seeing for the first time since we finished filming,” Cornett, a newcomer to the ZOMBIES franchise, told reporters. “It’s like a reunion.”

At the world premiere of ZOMBIES 3, co-stars Kyra Tantao (left), Terry Hu (center), and Matt Cornett (right) wrap their arms around each other for a photo against the movie’s branded backdrop, which features the logos for ZOMBIES 3 and Disney+. Kyra is wearing a futuristic jacket with a white collar, and she has dozens of pins in her hair; Terry is wearing a floral embroidered blazer and a black bandeau top, along with delicate gold jewelry; and Matt is wearing a white blazer and over an icy blue tank top.

Celebrity guests who attended the premiere with their families included Jensen Ackles, Rachel Bilson, Hayden Christensen, Donald Faison, and Tiffani Thiessen. And because this was the biggest ZOMBIES premiere in the franchise’s history, the event was of course packed with familiar Disney faces, such as Zelia Luz Ankrum, Malachi Barton, Saylor Bell, Will Buie Jr., Kylie Cantrall, Lucy Davis, Scarlett Estevez, Reed Horstmann, Israel Johnson, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Adrian Lyles, Mallory James Mahoney, Kayden Muller, Isabella Pappas, Dara Reneé, Christian J. Simon, and Shiloh Verrico. See photos of the aforementioned guests and many others in the ZOMBIES 3 premiere gallery (below), and stream ZOMBIES 3 starting Friday, July 15, on Disney+. It will be followed by a special “Lost Song” version of the movie, airing Friday, August 12, on Disney Channel.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

Will you accept these five marvelous titles? This week you won’t want to miss the all-new content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this week! Rachel and Gabby embark on their journey to find their person in the season premiere of The Bachelorette, airing Monday. Heat up the grill for the sizzling streamer debut of The Bob’s Burgers Movie, followed by a new episode of Motherland: Fort Salem, on Tuesday. Plus, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth airs Wednesday along with the launch of the Ms. Marvel finale.

The Bachelorette stars Rachel Recchia (left) and Gabby Windey (right) laugh as they wear ballgowns and talk to two prospective suitors, with candles lit around them.

The Bachelorette—Monday, July 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The new season kicks off with not one but TWO Bachelorettes! Rachel Recchia (left) and Gabby Windey (right) welcome 32 men to the mansion as they attempt to put their breakups in the rearview mirror. Who will secure the “First Impression Rose?” Is everyone there for the right reasons? Tune in to watch Gabby and Rachel search for their Prince Charming. New episodes air weekly on Mondays and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Linda Belcher from The Bob’s Burgers Movie wears a burger costume with a red bikini with white polka dots on top.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie—Tuesday, July 12, on Hulu
Get the patty started this week with the streaming debut of the animated, big-screen, musical-comedy-mystery-adventure movie based on the Emmy® Award-winning series Bob’s Burgers. When a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole in front of Bob’s Burgers, the Belchers’ plans for a profitable summer are in jeopardy. As Bob (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (voiced by John Roberts) try to keep the business afloat, Tina (voiced by Dan Mintz), Gene (voiced by Eugene Mirman), and Louise (voiced by Kristen Schaal) attempt to solve a mystery that could save the restaurant.

Actress Ashley Nicole Williams and Actor Tony Giroux sit at a wooden dining table that’s topped with a large log and oranges.

Motherland: Fort Salem—Tuesday, July 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
The Unit spends the Yule holiday plotting their next steps. Meanwhile, Alder (Lyne Renée) seeks out another steward of the First Song, and Hearst (Bob Frazer), President Silver (Victor Webster), and Kara Brandt (Emilie Ullerup) celebrate a major victory.

Actor Chris Hemsworth lays on a surfboard as he paddles across the ocean in Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth.

Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth—Wednesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
In a network debut, actor Chris Hemsworth embarks on a mission to uncover the science of shark behavior and discover how humans and sharks can safely coexist. The special, which first aired on National Geographic last year, explains the differences between shark species and unveils the latest technology that seeks to stave off future shark-human encounters. Underwater conservationist and legend Valerie Taylor also appears in the program.

Actor Rish Shah sits in a dimly lit room wearing a jean jacket and slacks in Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel.

Ms. Marvel—Wednesday, July 13, on Disney+
The finale picks up immediately after episode five’s explosive cliffhanger. We’ve got some big questions leading into the final episode of the Marvel Studios Original series: Did Bruno (Matt Lintz) and Kamran (Rish Shah) escape the explosion in time? Will Kamala (Iman Vellani) evade more chaos upon her return from Karachi? Rest assured, we’ll be on the edges of our couches!

A Watchlist of Chris Hemsworth’s Awe-worthy Appearances in the MCU

By Victoria Hunt

In 2011, Chris Hemsworth took on the titular role in Marvel Studios’ Thor. And he certainly proved worthy! Since then, he’s taken on the mantle of the God of Thunder in several subsequent films, including the highly anticipated Thor: Love and Thunder, premiering in U.S. theaters on July 8. The film reunites Hemsworth with director Taika Waititi, who helmed the raucous Thor: Ragnarok.

To celebrate Hemsworth’s latest foray as Thor in the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’ve compiled a list of his prior appearances, in order of release, that are perfect to watch or re-watch on Disney+ before seeing Thor: Love and Thunder in theaters!

Chris Hemsworth, as Thor, stands in armor and a red cape looking to his left as he holds his hammer in his right hand in front of a dimly lit background.

Thor (2011)
It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 11 years since Hemsworth made his debut in Marvel Studios Thor. With a hammer in one hand and vengeance in his heart, this oh-so-mighty origin tale brought Thor’s earthly banishment to compelling life. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, and chock-full of legendary actors, including Anthony Hopkins and Stellan Skarsgård, the film and Hemsworth made their mark, leading to his inclusion in several Marvel Studios titles that followed.

Thor crouches on one knee in his armor extending his right arm holding onto his hammer, Mjolnir.

The Avengers (2012)
When Thor’s devious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) attempts to invade Earth, the Avengers gather to form an alliance to thwart his evil schemes. Hemsworth’s role as Thor in this MCU film proved to be a major success at the box office and won 30 awards including setting a Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing domestic opening weekend of all time to date.

Thor stands looking off in his long-sleeved armor and red cape, with hammer in hand.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)
In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor embarks on his most perilous and personal journey yet, but one that reunites him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). The film also showcased the chemistry between Hemsworth and Hiddleston, as they played two brothers battling on the opposite sides of good and evil.

Thor stands in front of the Hulk and Captain America on his right and Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye on his left- each suited up in full armor.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Chris Hemsworth returned as Thor to save humanity from Ultron’s evil plans, along with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). The Super Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to the Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure! 

In a medium close-up, Thor stands in a metal helmet and large metal amor over his shoulders.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
A Super Hero’s job is never done. When Thor and the Hulk are imprisoned and pitted against each other, they must figure out a way to unite to stop the evil Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying Thor’s beloved Asgard. Hemsworth wanted to do something different with Thor this time around, which he achieved with director Taika Waititi, putting an entirely new spin on the character in this rollicking adventure that played off Hemsworth’s comedic abilities.

A bright blue light lights up the right side of Hemsworth’s face in a close-up headshot.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
This Oscar® nominated Avengers film was an ultra-success at movie theaters across the globe. A star-studded cinematic journey, a decade in the making and spanning the entire MCU, Thor is among fellow Avengers and allies such as Black Panther’s T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man’s Peter Parker (Tom Holland), and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin).

Thor stands in dark, steel armor as blue lighting shoots through his body.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos’ devastation of life left the Avengers displaced and feeling defeated. The film introduced yet another incarnation of Hemsworth’s Thor. Depressed and often drunk, Thor suffers from self-doubt, blaming himself for Thanos’ galactic genocide. The film also featured a major changing of the Asgardian guard. After getting his mojo back and defeating Thanos, Thor abdicates his throne and names Valkyrie the king of New Asgard, before hitching a ride with the Guardians of the Galaxy for whatever comes next.

The animated version of Thor reaches down in a blue t-shirt with his left hand to reunite with his hammer.

What If….? (2021)
In this animated twist on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth returns as the voice of Thor in season one’s “What if… Thor was an only child?” episode. The storyline follows what may have happened if Thor’s family had never adopted Loki. Would Thor have ever learned to be selfless? Would he be the hero is he is today?

 

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

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

An action figure depicting Thor from the film Thor: Love and Thunder, wearing gold and black armor, a gold helmet and mask, and a red cape. Beside him is his axe Stormbreaker and an extra, fist-shaped hand that can be swapped onto his arm. To his left is a smaller depiction of the figure as it looks inside its packaging, a black box with a clear window for the figure.

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

An action figure of Mighty Thor, Jane Foster’s version of Thor as seen in the film Thor: Love and Thunder. She wears a silver winged helmet with a mask, black and silver armor, and a red cape. She wields the hammer Mjolnir in her right hand as she poses ready for action.

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

An action figure of King Valkyrie from Thor: Love and Thunder. She wears black and silver armor and a blue cape. She is posed ready for action, wielding her sword, Dragonfang.

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

A navy and yellow trucker-style cap with the logo for “New Asgard Tours” on it. The logo features a Viking longboat with a dragon masthead with a rainbow trailing behind it.

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

A faux leather jacket designed to appear like Thor’s classic armor: Silver and black with a red accent across the back of the jacket to represent a cape.

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

A wristlet purse designed to look like the rebuilt hammer, Mjolnir. The wristlet has a silver zipper pouch designed like the head of the hammer, with blue cracks across it. The brown handle of the hammer has a second zip pouch and an attached wrist strap.

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

The box for a LEGO set featuring minifigures of Mighty Thor, Thor, King Valkyrie, Korg, and Gorr and a buildable version of “The Goat Boat,” a longboat labelled Asgard Tours that is pulled by two LEGO goats. 

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

A LEGO box set featuring Thor and Mighty Thor flying and summoning lightening to fight Gorr, who is holding a sword, and a buildable LEGO ShadowMonster.

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

A toy version of the axe Stormbreaker, an axe with a silver blade and a handle made from one of Groot’s tree branches.

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

A toy version of the hammer Mjolnir, a hammer with a silver and cracked head and a wooden handle.

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

An action figure of of Korg, a grey rock monster wearing blue pants, a brown belt with a golden ram belt buckle, and white fuzzy leg wraps and cape.

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

Play along with your favorite heroes with this exclusive video!

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

By Courtney Potter

Disney Channel Shares Hamster & Gretel Trailer and Premiere Date

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Look at Disney+ Documentary Series Light & Magic

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

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

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

In a still from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Beast and Belle are dancing in the Beast’s ballroom. He is wearing a blue tailcoat and gold vest; she is wearing her signature gold ballgown. The room is surrounded by candelabras and blue bunting, and through the windows at the top of the room you can see the star-filled night sky.

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

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

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

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

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

Every Disney Moment from the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™

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

New Trailer for 20th Century Studios’ Amsterdam

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Zach Johnson

We’re almost there!

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

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

The logo for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The whimsical text is in yellow and green, and is accentuated by a lily and fireflies.

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

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

This illustration reveals a new look for Princess Tiana in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Tiana wears a yellow shirt (with embroidered florals), a patterned scarf, saffron green pants, and brown gaiters. She stands with her left hand on her hip (flashing her wedding ring), and in her right hand, she is holding her straw cloche hat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jocelyn Buhlman

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

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

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

SOLD OUT

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

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

By Andie Hagemann

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

Chris Hemsworth as Thor looks to his left as he holds the Mjolnir in front of dark carved walls in Marvel Studios’ Thor.

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

(L-R) Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Anthony Hopkins as Odin walk through a courtyard in an Asgardian palace in Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World, as flurries fall to the ground.

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

(L-R) Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki stand in a lush grassy field in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok.

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

Chris Hemsworth as Thor stands in the cockpit of a spaceship piloted by Rocket Raccoon and Groot in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War.

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

Chris Hemsworth as Thor sits on a bench in front of a white stone wall, with his hands resting on his knees, in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame.

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

SHARKFEST Unveils Must-Sea TV for Its 10th Anniversary

By Zach Johnson

Jaw ready for this?

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

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

In Jaws vs. Boat, two divers get close to the sharks and their calves to examine them.

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

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

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

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

In Shark Queens, a fearless Tiger shark comes in close.

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

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

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

In Maui Shark Mystery, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Shark Lab researcher Julia Hartl touches the dorsal fin of a Galapagos shark.

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

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

Camo Sharks

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

Backyard Bull Sharks

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

Sharks vs. the World

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

When Sharks Attack (6-Episode Series)

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

Sky Sharks

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

Game of Sharks

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

Maui Shark Mystery

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

Great White vs. Tiger Shark

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

Counting Jaws

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

Shark Superpower

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

Shark Queens

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

Baby Sharks

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

Shark Beach With Chris Hemsworth

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

Croc That Ate Jaws Enhanced

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

In Shark Side of the Moon, a hammerhead swims in waters off the Galapagos Islands, surrounded by marine life.

Shark Side of the Moon

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

Sharks That Eat Everything

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

Planet Shark (3-Episode Series)

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

Jaws vs. Boats

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

Shark Attack Files (8-Episode Series)

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

World’s Biggest Hammerhead?

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

Jaws Invasion

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