Your Taika Waititi Streaming Roundup!

By Sarah Sterling

To celebrate Waititi’s second directorial adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Love and Thunder, we thought it would be worthwhile to explore all the whimsical, hilarious, and rollicking projects he’s been a part of within the worlds of Disney and 20th Century Fox.

So, strap in and Taika look at these movies and shows directed by—or starring—Waititi, because there’s so much Thor to love than just his MCU projects.

Taika Waititi, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Joe Keery stand facing each other in a sleek, modern office setting, in Free Guy. Waititi has on a long trench coat made of multiple materials, including denim. He is resting casually against the side of a cubicle and is looking at Keery, whose character is speaking. Keery is holding a laptop at his side and is wearing a black polo shirt. In the middle is Ambudkar who is wearing an unbuttoned baseball jersey over a white tank top and black jeans with red lining.

Free Guy (2021)
Set within an open-world video game, 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy follows a non-playable character named Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who realizes he can alter the game, Free City, by breaking free of his programming and participating as a hero character. Simultaneously, in our world, struggling game developer Millie (Jodie Comer) discovers that Free City utilizes the propriety coding created for her own game, Life Itself. Millie and her friend Keys (Joe Keery) must prove that Antwan (Waititi)—the ruthless CEO of Soonami Studios and creator of Free City—stole Millie’s code before he resets the game and reverts Guy to his factory settings.

Stream Free Guy on Disney+

A promotional banner for What We Do in the Shadows on FX. The image is bathed in a purple glowing light and features the bottom half of the faces of four characters, three of which are vampires and one which is a human wearing fake, neon green vampire teeth. The human character is on the far left and his fake teeth are falling out of his mouth. In the middle are two men with beards baring their fangs. On the far right is a woman also showing her fangs and wearing an ornate earring. The show’s title is written in the bottom right corner in cyan font.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019)
Based on the feature film he co-created with Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary television series produced by Waititi following the lives of vampire roommates living together in Staten Island. If you enjoy light horror and a classic fish-out-of-water story, this show should absolutely be on your watchlist! We find it endlessly hilarious to watch this cast of bloodsuckers make their way in the modern human world, and Waititi himself appears in multiple episodes as a Viago, a member of the Vampiric Council and protagonist from the What We Do in the Shadows film.

The IG-11 droid from The Mandalorian stands front and center with both mechanical arms outstretched holding blasters. Behind the droid there are bodies on the ground and one stormtrooper approaching. IG-11 wears a double-breasted holster across the center of its body.

The Mandalorian (2019)
We are all anxiously awaiting more news on Waititi’s directorial debut in the world of Star Wars—but until then, fans can find him in an unlikely place: voicing the droid IG-11 in multiple episodes of The Mandalorian season one. IG-11 is a bounty hunter droid programmed to track down and eliminate our favorite little force-user, Grogu. Luckily, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) stops him from completing his mission and IG-11 is later reprogrammed to be an ally to him and Grogu.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+

Korg (Taika Waititi), a gigantic greyish blue rock creature called a Kronan, sits on the ground against a wall and waves one hand pleasantly towards the camera in Thor: Ragnarok. He is wearing a kilt and large metal armor across his body and over his left shoulder. He is leaning against a brown wall with white accents and details and graffiti written in an alien language.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The third installation in the Thor saga follows Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as they escape their mysterious sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), to the planet Sakaar. There, they reunite with Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a gladiator-like Contest of Champions. Together with the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Korg (Waititi), they defeat Hela and save Asgardian civilization before their home planet is destroyed. Waititi was praised for infusing Thor’s story with humor, heart, and new characters that fans have fallen in love with—including Waititi’s own character, a creature made of rocks called a Kronan, who finds a new home amongst the Asgardians and later joins Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy in their travels.

Stream Thor: Ragnarok on Disney+

Korg (Taika Waititi) sits on Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) couch in a Hawaiian shirt, holding a video game controller and wearing a headset, in Avengers: Endgame. He is raising his right arm in a wave towards characters off-camera who are greeting him. To his left is another alien creature, Miek, a worm-like being from Sakaar. To Miek’s left is an open box of pepperoni pizza.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The next time we see Korg is in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame where he is keeping a very depressed Thor company in New Asgard. Thor’s become a recluse following the events of Avengers: Infinity War and blames himself for not being able to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) and prevent “The Blip.” Eventually, he finds himself and the will to keep fighting—and Korg is there for the entire journey, even joining the Avengers in the Battle of Earth where Thanos is finally defeated.

Stream Avengers: Endgame on Disney+

Buzz Lightyear’s team in Lightyear sits inside their vehicle in large, bulky space suits. Buzz is at the helm, holding the steering wheel and talking into the recorder on his armpiece. Next to him is Izzy Hawthorne with Sox the robot cat in her lap. In the back seat of the vehicle is Mo Morrison staring out the window and on his right is Dale, who looks grumpy.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) & Lightyear (2022)
Catch Korg’s latest appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, now in theaters! But you can also see—or rather hear—Waititi right now in another theatrical Disney release: Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear! In the film, Waititi voices the bumbling but well-intentioned Mo Morrison, a new recruit who is reluctantly eager to assist Buzz in his mission. Lightyear will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting August 3. Keep an eye on D23.com and our social channels for more information on when Thor: Love and Thunder will be available for purchase or streaming on Disney+.

Stream Lightyear on Disney+

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in August 2022

By Zach Johnson

Disney+ just announced its listings for August, and we couldn’t stream—er, dream—of a better lineup. The fun begins Wednesday, August 3, with a new installment of Marvel Studios Assembled, taking fans behind the scenes of Ms. Marvel, starring Iman Vellani. Two days later, Lucasfilm and the LEGO Group’s animated special LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation will premiere. It centers on Finn (voiced by Omar Miller), who has arranged a surprise vacation for his friends aboard the Halcyon Galactic Starcruiser! Things go awry when he’s separated from the group. Alone onboard the Halcyon, Finn encounters three Force Spirits—Obi-Wan Kenobi (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter), and Princess Leia (voiced by Shelby Young)—who each share their own surprising stories of vacations gone wrong.

Wednesday, August 10, marks the debut of I Am Groot, a collection of five original shorts starring Baby Groot. Watch as Baby Groot takes center stage in his own series, exploring his glory days growing up—and getting into trouble—among the stars. Speaking of Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law will debut Thursday, August 18. It stars Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases, who must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk. The nine-episode comedy series features Marvel Cinematic Universe veterans Mark Ruffalo (Smart Hulk), Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky/the Abomination), and Benedict Wong (Wong), as well as Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass, and Renée Elise Goldsberry.

New episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series will roll out weekly. Speaking of musicals, enjoy sing-along versions of Disney films, from Beauty and the Beast (1991) to The Lion King (2019). New episodes of Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, Bluey, and The Ghost and Molly McGee will be added throughout the month, and Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear will make its streaming debut on Wednesday, August 3. Disney+ will also add to its library fan-favorite films and series including black-ish (Season 8), Father of the Bride, and Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge (Season 1).

All the titles coming to Disney+ in August are listed below:

Left to right: Director Adil El Arbi, actress Iman Vellani, and director Bilall Fallah post on the set of Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel. Adil and Bilall are both wearing black suits with white shirts, and sitting in director’s chairs, while Iman is suited up as Ms. Marvel. They are in Kamala Khan’s bedroom, which is adorned with neon lights, doodles, and stickers; it’s essentially a shrine to super heroes.

Wednesday, August 3
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (Season 1, 5 Episodes)
The Ghost and Molly McGee (Season 1, 5 Episodes)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 302: “Into the Unknown”)
Lightyear
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Ms. Marvel (Premiere)

In the foreground, Finn is wearing brown pants and a white and blue printed Hawaiian shirt over a white undershirt. His hands are outstretched as he leads a group discussion. In the background are Rey, Chewbacca, and C-3PO.

Friday, August 5
LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation (Premiere)
The Lion King (2019) (Sing-Along Version)
The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (Sing-Along Version)
Old Dogs

Wednesday, August 10
Bluey (Season 3, 25 episodes)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 303: “The Woman in the Woods”)
I Am Groot (Premiere) (All Shorts Streaming)
Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge (Season 1)

A man, played by Disney Legend Steve Martin, walks his daughter, played by Kimberly Williams, down the aisle. He is wearing a classic tuxedo and she is wearing a lacy wedding gown and a delicate veil. She is carrying white flowers. The church pews are lined with white and pink roses and lilies.

Friday, August 12
Disney Summer Magic Quest
Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride Part II

Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany, stands in a courtroom with her hands crossed. She is wearing a gray suit, but the right sleeve has been ripped and is exposing her white pinstripe shirt. In the background, a photo on the wall is askew, and other members of the court are looking at her with confused expressions on their faces.

Wednesday, August 17
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 304: “No Drama”)
Meet Spidey and his Amazing Friends (Season 2)

Thursday, August 18
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Premiere) (Episode 1)

Belle is smiling and peeking out from behind a tree. She is wearing a pink cape with white fur trim and a pink bow in her hair. The castle grounds are covered in snow.

Friday, August 19
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (Sing-Along Version)
Beauty and the Beast (2017) (Sing-Along Version)
Tangled (Sing-Along Version)

Michelle Obama smiles as Dre, played by Anthony Anderson, pours her a glass of white wine. She is seated opposite Bow, played by Tracee Ellis Ross, at the dinner table. On the table, there is a plate of salad, a stick of butter, salt and pepper shakers, and a floral arrangement.

Wednesday, August 24
black-ish (Season 8)
Chibi Tiny Tales (Shorts) (Season 2)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 305 “The Real Campers of Shallow Lake”)

Thursday, August 25
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Episode 2)

Friday, August 26
Doc McStuffins: The Doc Is 10!

Wednesday, August 31
America’s National Parks (Season 1)
Europe from Above (Season 2)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 306: “Color War”)
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under (Season 3)
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Episode 3)

Play Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy with PC Game Pass and Raise Money for Charity

To celebrate Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy's arrival on PC Game Pass, they’re hosting a live playthrough of the game with Cosmo the Space Dog’s biggest fan—an adorable Labrador retriever named Milo. Tune into the Xbox Twitch channel on July 20 at 3 p.m. PDT to join their cosmic adventure and raise money for SPCA International!

Star-Lord’s famous cassette player and his orange foam headphones sit atop a white display box. Behind the cassette is a neon purple grid extending into a spacey blue abyss. The entire image has a retro, ’80s grain filter over it and the text “Portable Bipedal Frequency Streamer” sits above the cassette in pink and purple font.

When the pressure is on in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, there’s nothing more likely to make the Guardians come out swinging than a sweet mixtape of Star-Lord’s ’80s favorites. Starting today, you can enter their #TheGalaxyHasGuardians sweepstakes for a chance to win your very own cassette player, on which you can enjoy music from the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Original Video Game Soundtrack.

For your chance to hold the Portable Bipedal Frequency Streamer in your hand, just follow @SPCAint on Twitter and follow the instructions posted on the PC Game Pass channel.

In the center of the image, there is white text that reads, “Win Your Own Flarkin’ Portable Bipedal Frequency Streamer.” Beneath the text, on the left is a skeleton hand holding a yellow and black device and on the right there is a yellow hand holding the same device. Between the two hands there is additional text reading, “To Enter use #TheGalaxyHasGuardians.”

You can play Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy today with PC Game Pass and lead the Guardians as Star-Lord. As the self-proclaimed leader of the Guardians, nothing is off limits with your bold combat style, from Element Blasters and jet boot-powered dropkicks to tag-team beat-downs. With the Guardians fighting at your side, you call the shots and overwhelm your opponents with signature attacks. Meanwhile, the consequences of your decisions will range from light-hearted to downright unexpected as your journey unfolds.

Milo the golden retriever sits on the left side of the image wearing a white spacesuit with a red puffy collar. White text to the right of him reads, “Cosmo’s Biggest Fan Goes Live. Watch Twitch.Tv/Xbox on July 20th | 3 PM PDT.” The background of the image is a red and pin swirling galaxy pattern.

Milo is ready to go live on July 20 to raise money for SPCA International (SPCAI), a global nonprofit working to advance the safety and wellbeing of animals everywhere. This organization works in over 70 countries to provide food, care, life-saving treatment, and transportation for animals in need. During PC Game Pass’ livestream, you’ll have the option to donate directly to SPCA International on Twitch via Tiltify. Learn more about SPCAI here.

“Game Pass Has PC Games”—and with PC Game Pass, you can play hundreds of high-quality PC games with friends including new day one titles and games from iconic franchises! With games added all the time, you always have something new to play. Join now to get your first month for $1.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now with PC Game Pass. Take it to the stars!

Disney On Broadway Invites D23 Expo 2022 Attendees Onstage to Watch Iconic Performances in Virtual Reality

By the D23 Team

For 28 years and across 10 titles, Disney On Broadway has been wowing audiences with adapted and original musicals that take us to faraway places and fantasy worlds. As if the theater experience wasn’t immersive enough already, Disney On Broadway is returning to D23 Expo 2022 with its popular show floor activation that allows attendees to take the stage themselves! 

Caissie Levy, performing as Elsa, emerges from a low fog, a curtain of crystals and snowflakes behind her. She looks to her right, with a slight smile on her face.

Disney On Broadway invites D23 Expo attendees to step onstage and immerse themselves in show-stopping performances from Aladdin, Frozen, and The Lion King in the Virtual Reality Theatre. Using virtual reality (VR) headsets, attendees can shimmy with the Genie in “Friend Like Me,” belt with Elsa in “Let It Go,” or sit back in awe as Pride Rock comes together for “Circle of Life.”

Can’t wait to be part of the show? You can enjoy Disney on Broadway’s VR experiences all three days of D23 Expo! Disney On Broadway’s Virtual Reality Theatre will be located on the D23 Expo Show-Room Floor. With 24 productions currently produced or licensed, a Disney musical is being performed professionally somewhere on the planet virtually every hour of the day—and at D23 Expo, you can in the middle of the performance! For more information, visit D23Expo.com.

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 one-day Sunday 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.

MORE EXPO NEWS

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From a superstar baseball player to an aspiring politician and a family of undercover Super Heroes, this week’s content is chock-full of super humans! ESPN Films’ multi-part documentary series The Captain—which follows former New York Yankee Derek Jeter—debuts on Monday.   A brand-new episode of Only Murders in the Building launches Tuesday, and the trio is hot on the trail. The hit series grown-ish returns Wednesday night for its fifth season, followed by an episode of Everything’s Trash airing immediately after. Close out the workweek with a new episode of The Villains of Valley View, debuting on Friday.

Former MLB player Derek Jeter smiles as he sits in a gray chair in front of a blue backdrop in ESPN Films’ The Captain.

The Captain—Monday, July 18, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ESPN and ESPN+
The seven-part documentary series from ESPN Films chronicles the extraordinary life of Hall of Fame baseball player Derek Jeter, on and off the field. Watch exclusive, candid interviews with Jeter, his family, and dozens of former teammates, foes, and fans as they recall Jeter’s career with the New York Yankees and his cultural impact beyond the sports world. Episode one will debut simultaneously on ESPN and ESPN+ following the conclusion of the MLB All Star Home Run Derby, with new episodes debuting weekly. To read our exclusive interview with director Randy Wilkins, click here.

(L-R) Actors Selena Gomez and Disney Legend Steve Martin stare at a small piece of white paper with a blue emblem.

Only Murders in the Building—Tuesday, July 19, on Hulu
Episode five follows Mabel (Selena Gomez) as she hosts a party for an eclectic art crowd. The party also serves as the perfect setting for the trio to smoke out a liar in their midst. Will the threesome get one step closer to finding the murderer?

(L-R) Actor Marcus Scribner and Actress Yara Shahidi stand next to each other near a small bar, wearing all-white clothing at a white-themed party.

grown-ish—Wednesday, July 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
The highly anticipated fifth season is here, and a new Johnson family member is roaming the halls of Cal U! Junior (Marcus Scribner) is joined by his big sis, Zoey (Yara Shahidi), on his first day of school and soon escapes dorm life by attending a white-themed party. Meanwhile, Zoey’s visit stirs the feeling that she’s missing her Cal U days more than she’s willing to admit.

(L-R) Actors Moses Storm, Phoebe Robinson, and Toccarra Cash talk on the sidewalk of a treelined street.

Everything Is Trash—Wednesday, July 20, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Phoebe (Phoebe Robinson) and the gang canvass for signatures to get Jayden (Jordan Carlos) on the State Representative ballot. While on the campaign trail, Phoebe relies on the kindness of strangers, and Jayden and Jessie (Nneka Okafor) quickly realize they need to realign their priorities.

Isabella Pappas (left), Reed Horstmann (center), and Mariah Iman Wilson (right) stand in a junkyard as Wilson dons a brightly colored super hero ensemble.

The Villains of Valley View—Friday, July 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Amy (Isabella Pappas) feels betrayed when she discovers Jake (Reed Horstmann) is hanging out with Starling (Mariah Iman Wilson). Meanwhile, Vic (James Patrick Stewart) attempts to fix Colby (Malachi Barton), but a mishap hilariously transforms Colby into an old man.

Enjoy Classic Disney Songs Performed in ASL for Disability Pride Month!

By Sarah Sterling

Celebrate Disability Pride Month this July by enjoying beautiful renditions of some of your favorite Disney songs performed in ASL (American Sign Language)! Disney Music has curated a playlist of performances by Deaf artists, nationally certified ASL interpreters, and coalitions like the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc., and Deaf West Theatre.

Deaf West Theatre describes themselves as “a group that engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theatre and media experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language, weaving ASL with spoken English to create a seamless ballet of movement and voice.” This is certainly true of these inspiring music videos!

Please enjoy “How Far I’ll Go” (originally performed by Auli’i Cravalho) from Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Moana, as performed by Sarah Tubert in collaboration with the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness:

See Disney Music’s entire ASL playlist here!

Alfonso Ribeiro Joins Tyra Banks for Dancing with the Stars—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Dancing with the Stars Winner Alfonso Ribeiro Returns as Co-Host

As D23 has previously covered, Dancing with the Stars is making a big move this fall—to Disney+! And when it does, it’ll have a new co-host hitting the ballroom dance floor with mic in hand…

Season 19 Mirrorball Champion Alfonso Ribeiro will now co-host the show, alongside supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks, who returns as host and executive producer for her third consecutive season. Expert judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough also return to their seats on the ballroom floor. The season 31 premiere on Disney+ will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned!

New Dancing with the Stars co-host Alfonso Ribeiro is wearing a blue checkered suit and brown shoes, standing against a white background, and is smiling at the camera.

“Dancing with the Stars has been such an important part of my life for so many years, and I am ecstatic to officially rejoin this tight-knit family as co-host,” Ribeiro recently said. “Tyra and I have a longstanding friendship that I hope will resonate with all of the fans at home as we kick off this new season on Disney+.”

Banks added, “I’ve known Alfonso since I was 19 years old, and he always puts a smile on my face whenever I see him. Having such a fun-loving, longtime friend as co-host warms my heart. Plus, he’s won the competition before, so he knows exactly what the stars are going through. Bantering back and forth with him live is going to be so much fun!”

After an incredible 30 seasons on ABC, Dancing with the Stars moves to its new home on Disney+, premiering exclusively in the U.S. and Canada this fall, making it the first live series to debut on the streaming service.

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

We’ve made it to the weekend once again—and as we look toward the second half of July (time doth fly!), there’s lots of fun stuff to take in from around the worlds of Disney. Celebrate the 67th anniversary of Disneyland with The Pre-Opening Report from Disneyland on Disney+; get a double dose of game show fun with ABC’s The Final Straw and The $100,000 Pyramid; and more.

Disney Original Documentary Mija Coming to Theaters This August

Earlier this week, Disney Original Documentary released the official trailer for Mija, the award-winning feature documentary debut from Emmy®-nominated director Isabel Castro. It premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival as an Official Selection of the NEXT section, which featured innovative works with a forward-thinking approach to storytelling.

The film features Doris Muñoz and Jacks Haupt, two daughters of undocumented immigrants from Mexico who are both navigating careers in the music industry. Seeking to provide for their families while achieving their dreams, Doris and Jacks bond over the ever-present guilt of being the first American-born members of their undocumented families and the financial risks of pursuing their dreams. For them, the pressure of success is heightened due to their families’ hope for green cards and reunification. Mija is a poignant and emotional tribute to immigrants and their children.

The film will be released in theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on Friday, August 5—and will stream globally on Disney+ later this year, so keep your eyes peeled.

All the ZOMBIES 3 Info You Need…

With the premiere of ZOMBIES 3 fast approaching, D23 sat down with the stars of the film—including Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Trevor Tordjman, and others—for an exclusive look into what audiences can expect upon their return to Seabrook. Read up on what all your favorite werewolves, vampires, and (now) aliens will be up to by clicking here.

Disneyland Paris Preps to Launch Marvel Avengers Campus

Our friends at Disneyland Paris are preparing for the official opening day of Marvel Avengers Campus—but some fans have already gotten the Super Hero treatment, from a star-studded campus unveiling to an exclusive panel with Imagineers and members of the Marvel Studios team. (Luckily for those of us who couldn’t attend the panel, it was recorded and can be viewed in the video above.)

Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, was joined by Natacha Rafalski, President of Disneyland Paris, Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson, and Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani to introduce the campus to 1,200 invited guests July 9. Summoned around the Quinjet for the grand finale, guests danced the night away thanks to tunes from DJ The Avener—and the evening ended with a spectacular drone show, orchestrated by none other than Doctor Strange himself!

The following day, more than 600 Disney fans, influencers, and media representatives attended the “Creating Avengers Campus” conference to learn more from the Imagineers and Marvel Studios team about the creative and collaborative process that brought Avengers Campus to life—the inspiration for the land; the guiding principles of designing the first-ever Marvel-themed universe in Europe; and the challenges encountered throughout the process.

Look for Avengers Campus to open at Disneyland Paris on July 20!

The members of BTS, dressed in various shades of white, black, tan, and gray, are sitting split up between two couches—one grey, one green—set against a white background. Above them, in white and purple writing, it says “Only on Disney+!”

BTS is Coming to Disney+ in New Streaming Deal

It’s news that rocked the music (and streaming) world this week, and we’re pretty pumped about it too: One of the biggest bands in the world is coming to Disney+!

The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and HYBE have announced an exciting new global content collaboration that will bring the best of Korea’s huge—and hugely successful—entertainment industry to the world stage. The agreement includes global distribution of five major content titles from HYBE, several of which are exclusive series starring international pop icons BTS.

Three of the projects included are BTS: Permission to Dance On Stage – LA, a cinematic 4K concert film features BTS’ live performance at Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium in November 2021; In the Soop: Friendcation, an original travel reality show with a star-studded cast including V of BTS; Itaewon Class’ Seo-jun Park; Parasitestar Woo-shik Choi; Hyung-sik Park; and Peakboy; and BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star, an original docuseries that follows the incredible journey of the group, with unprecedented access to a vast library of music and footage from the past nine years.

Stay tuned for more info on when you can expect these series and films to hit your streaming devices!

49th Annual CMA FEST to Air on ABC

It’s the music event of the summer, and it’s back in a big way… CMA Fest will bring top music acts together on one stage for three full hours of can’t-miss collaborations and unforgettable performances on Wednesday, August 3, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and available next day on Hulu.

Hosted by Dierks Bentley and Elle King, the special features 30 performances from music’s hottest stars as they took the stage during the 49th CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, in June. Stellar collaborations include Bentley and Billy Ray Cyrus; Wynonna Judd and Carly Pearce; Dustin Lynch and MacKenzie Porter; Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson; King and Ashley McBryde; Lady A and BRELAND; and Zac Brown Band and Darius Rucker. Additional performers include Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kanwe Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Parker McCollum, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett, and Carrie Underwood. 

ICYMI: The Walt Disney Company Earns 147 Primetime Emmy® Award Nominations

Broadcast and streaming content from all across the worlds of Disney made a stellar showing when the nominations for this year Primetime Emmy® Awards were announced earlier this week. See the complete list here. We’ll know the winners after the big ceremony on Monday, September 12!

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

By Andie Hagemann

Swing into the weekend with these five fantastic titles coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices). Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fan-favorite film George of the Jungle on Saturday. Then, on Sunday celebrate the 67th anniversary of Disneyland by watching The Pre-Opening Report from Disneyland; later that day learn how Mike and Sulley became best friends by watching Monsters University, followed by a double dose of game show fun with The Final Straw and The $100,000 Pyramid.

Actor Brendan Fraser, shirtless, holds a large lion above his head while standing in the African jungle.

George of the Jungle—25th Anniversary on Saturday, July 16, Available on Disney+
After a plane crash stranded him in the African jungle as a baby, George (Brendan Fraser) raised himself in the wild. Now an adult, he encounters his first human contact in years when he saves an explorer named Ursula (Leslie Mann) from a furious lion. Ursula soon abandons her cantankerous fiancé, Lyle (Thomas Haden Church) in the jungle, and takes the swoon worthy George back to her home in San Francisco. However, after George learns his gorilla pal is in danger, he returns with Ursula to rescue his friend.

Three men assemble railroad tracks at Disneyland Park with additional construction work occurring in the background.

The Pre-Opening Report from Disneyland—67th Anniversary of Disneyland on Sunday, July 17, Available on Disney+
Celebrate the anniversary of Disneyland’s opening day with this exclusive special! Days before the opening of Disneyland, Walt Disney shared a final look at the park and coming attractions. Also, narrator and Disney Legend Winston Hibler shows how the attractions are built in this nostalgic retrospective about the creation of the beloved theme park!

(L-R) Animated monsters Mike Wazowski and Sulley stand over a yellow scare cannister with their jaws agape.

Monsters University—Sunday, July 17, at 5:50 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Mike Wazowski (Disney Legend Billy Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a scarer since he was a young monster. Mike enrolls at Monsters University to chase his dream, but soon realizes the odds are stacked against him. During his first semester, he meets Sulley (Disney Legend John Goodman), a legacy scarer, and the two forge a fierce rivalry that ultimately gets them both kicked out of the elite Scare Program. However, Mike and Sulley must put their differences aside and work together to rejoin the scaring program.

A contestant attempts to remove a large glass jar with fake goldfish from a platform on the game show The Final Straw.

The Final Straw—Sunday, July 17, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
A new slew of contestants face off in a battle against gravity in this brand-new episode. In the first round, a husband and wife work together to beat a pair of siblings after they take on a seafood stack. Meanwhile, in round two, a newly engaged couple duel a pair of cousins with the western stack. Who will earn a shot at The Mega Stack and the grand prize of $250,000? Tune into the competition series hosted by Abbott Elementary star Janelle James to find out!

(L-R) Recording artist Wiz Khalifa sits at a table across from a contestant as he attempts to act out the word “gnaw” on the game show The $100,000 Pyramid.

The $100,000 Pyramid—Sunday, July 17, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
This week, Grammy®-winning recording artists Wiz Khalifa and Ty Dolla $ign compete for the winner’s circle. Meanwhile a pair of hilarious comedians—Bobby Moynihan and Ron Funches—face off as the four celebrities compete for their respective charities.

ESPN Films’ The Captain Follows Derek Jeter’s Life Beyond the Diamond

By Andie Hagemann

Derek Jeter was the face of the New York Yankees, a five-time World Series Champion, and one of the biggest superstars in sports. Now, the once uber-private professional athlete is ready to tell his story. Directed by Emmy® Award winner Randy Wilkins, ESPN Films’ documentary series The Captain chronicles the extraordinary life of the Hall of Fame baseball player on and off the field and features exclusive, candid interviews with Jeter, his family, and dozens of former teammates, rivals, and fans.

Episode one of the seven-part series will debut Monday, July 18, simultaneously on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, following the MLB All Star Home Run Derby.

The series is executive produced by Spike Lee, Mike Tollin, Mandalay Sports Media, Excel Sports Management’s media arm Excel Media, and Connor Schell, in association with The Players’ Tribune and Major League Baseball. For more on the special, enjoy this exclusive Q&A with Wilkins.

(L-R) Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter sits in a grey chair next to director Randy Wilkins on a soundstage in between filming interviews for ESPN Films’ The Captain.

D23: How did you initially become involved with The Captain? What attracted you to the project?
Randy Wilkins (RW): I’m a native of the Bronx and a huge Yankees fan, so that allure brought me into this space well before I knew that I was going to make it. Being a Yankees fan is a big part of who I am and I’m very proud of that. But in terms of specifically being attached to this project, I came up under Spike Lee; I’ve known him for close to 20 years—he was my professor at NYU [graduate film program], and I started off working under him as an editorial intern on Inside Man in 2004. I worked my way through the ranks, later becoming an assistant editor and editor for a lot of Spike’s projects. I was directing on the side and still making things, but in June of 2020, Spike called me out of the blue and asked how I was doing and dealing with the pandemic. Then he asked me who was my favorite Yankee was. I said Derek Jeter—but at that time, obviously, there are no sports [being played] and Yankees were not first and foremost on my mind. So I thought, ‘What’s going on here? Why are you asking me this?’ Spike told me that Derek wanted to do a film on himself and was ready to speak his truth, and Spike suggested that I’d be the one to direct it. I almost dropped the phone in total shock—one, because I was totally caught off guard that Derek wanted to make a film on himself, knowing that he was so private in the in the public and in the media; and two, because I might have this opportunity to tell Derek Jeter’s story, meet him, and all that other stuff. I met Derek on a Zoom call and we hit it off right away; it felt like I’ve known him for 10 years. Maybe a week or two later, I found out that I got the gig.

D23: Walk us through the story structure of the documentary; did Derek have a lot of input on the creative process?
RW: In terms of story structure, that was all me and our team. Derek didn’t have much influence or commentary on it. We wanted to build out a very specific timeline of all the events prior to Derek’s career, and then during and after, that we wanted to explore throughout the film. We had a room in our office where we had two walls, with a corkboard on it, and [on it] we had a year and then all the baseball events that happened that year. Then we were filling the gaps with cultural stuff that happened in that year and things that might have happened with Derek on a personal level during [at the same time]. We built our interview list from there, and we went off to the races.

But it’s important to let people know that we didn’t stick to that to the tee. My philosophy is the footage is ‘clean’—so wherever the footage leads you, that’s where you’re going. You could have this nice row of index cards on a wall, but that’s not really the story. The story is what we captured in footage. I know Derek looked at cuts, it was collaborative [that way], but there was nothing mandated; it was very much making sure that we were accurate with our information from what Derek can remember, and also making sure that we were telling an authentic story.

D23: Did you learn anything new about Derek that you didn’t know before directing The Captain?
RW: I didn’t realize how important trust and loyalty were to him. There were some stories over the years that talked about his relationships with people both on and off the field, but there wasn’t anything that really captured how important those two values are to him. It was very apparent that he treats friends like family, and that family is first and foremost for him. He has a small circle to protect himself, but—he also admits this—he has trouble trusting people. He’s always jumping to what people’s motives might be when he comes across them. I noticed not just from speaking with him, but to his family, his friends, teammates, and former teammates, how important those values are. I also learned how much his biracial identity shaped his worldview—and how the experiences that he had as a young man, and the experiences that his sister had as a young woman, influenced the way that he interacted with the world and how the world interacted with him. On the athlete side, [I didn’t realize] how intense of a competitor he is. He has an insatiable desire to compete and to win.

D23: What’s your favorite episode?
RW: Episode five, because we really get into race in celebrity culture and the impact of celebrity culture on the celebrities themselves. I think it’s the episode that really captures this idea that I was going for—where, when we talk about Derek, we’re also talking about ourselves. To do that, you have to step outside of the baseball field and address with things that are the tenants of our culture. It gave us an opportunity to really explore things that talk about American culture or our social norms. I think they’re really brought into the scope of the film in multiple ways, and I’m very proud of it.

D23: Do you have a favorite memory of Derek Jeter on the field?
RW: Whenever they won a World Series, that’s my favorite Derek Jeter moment. I’m sure that’s his favorite moment too!

D23: What do you hope audiences come away with after watching The Captain?
RW: I don’t believe in dictating to people how they should feel watching a film or watching a series. An audience brings so many different things to the table that influence the way they experience a film that it’s not my place to dictate or challenge those things. It’s to present a story, try to be as authentic as possible, and let people connect to it in the ways that they connect to it. They might have an experience that sets off an emotion because they see something that takes them back to a very personal experience. I don’t want to take that away from the audience. I think once it’s out, it’s theirs; It’s not mine anymore. So I hope that they really connect to it and enjoy it, and are willing to go along for the ride.

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios to Share Never-Before-Seen Footage and Experiences at D23 Expo 2022

By the D23 Team

Animation powerhouses Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios have grand plans for D23 Expo 2022! Fans can look forward to an exciting weekend full of announcements, first looks, sneak peeks, and presentations surrounding upcoming and classic animated feature films, as well as streaming titles. There will also be interactive displays, artist autograph signings, sharable photo opportunities, filmmaker Q&As, and giveaways.

Looking Ahead With the Walt Disney Studios
Friday, September 9, 3:30 PM, Hall D23

On Friday, September 9, thousands of Disney fans will be welcomed to Hall D23 for a special look at upcoming films and series. Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee will present never-before-seen-footage, surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by all-star voice talent from the studios’ upcoming slate of original animated films and series.

Attendees will get an inside look at Pixar’s unique, perspective-shifting, long-form series Win or Lose, which launches on Disney+ next year. Peter Sohn, who will direct Pixar’s 2023 feature Elemental, will transport fans to a city where fire-, water-, land-, and air-residents live side by side.

Disney Animation’s Academy Award-winning director Don Hall will journey alongside fans deep into an uncharted and treacherous land with Strange World—releasing November 23. Disney Animation and their collaborators from the Pan-African comic book company Kugali will reveal new details about Iwájú, a long-form sci-fi series set in Lagos, Nigeria, that launches on Disney+ next year. Please note, cell phones, cameras, and all recording devices will not be permitted at this presentation.

There will be plenty for animation fans to enjoy all weekend long at D23 Expo. Be sure to check out these panels and experiences featuring animation experts, archivists, directors and more discussing the monumental 100-year anniversary of Disney Animation and highly anticipated upcoming projects.

Friday, September 9
Celebrating the People of Walt Disney Animation Studios
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. on the Hyperion Stage

  • The Walt Disney Animation Research Library presents “traceback,” a look at the lives and work as well as the artistic and technical contributions of women and employees of color throughout the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Saturday, September 10
A Century of Storytelling at Walt Disney Animation Studios
2–3 p.m. on the Walt Disney Archives Stage.

  • The Walt Disney Animation Research Library celebrates 100 years of Disney Animation storytelling by highlighting the stories and people behind key art and artifacts in its collection.

A Celebration of Disney Animation’s “Encanto”
3:30–4:30 p.m. on the Premiere Stage

  • Join the team behind Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning hit Encanto for stories behind the making of the film—and a few surprises!

Sneak Peek at “Zootopia+” from Walt Disney Animation Studios
6–7 p.m. on the Backlot Stage

  • Get a first look at the highly anticipated animated series Zootopia+, coming to Disney+ from Walt Disney Animation Studios, with directors Josie Trinidad and Trent Correy.

Sunday, September 11
100 Years of Treasures from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library
2–3 p.m. on the Backlot Stage

  • Never-before-seen clips, recording sessions, and live-action reference mark 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios as the Animation Research Library unveils newly digitized media from its collection and from its Oral History Project, in which the legends of animation have been interviewed.

Show Floor
September 9 through 11, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
As Walt Disney Animation Studios kicks off its 100-year anniversary celebration, the studio will showcase its past, present, and future throughout D23 Expo 2022. They’ll team up once again with Pixar Animation Studios on the show floor, creating an immersive animation experience for fans. The studios’ upcoming original feature films, including Disney Animation’s Strange World, releasing this November, and Pixar’s June 2023 release, Elemental, will be highlighted. A six-foot-tall red panda will greet fans, celebrating Pixar’s Turning Red, now streaming on Disney+, and a photo op with Buzz Lightyear and his robot companion cat Sox from the now-in-theaters film Lightyear will be available. Disney Animation will invite guests into the realms of Strange World, Encanto, and more through engaging photo experiences. Fans will also get opportunities to meet the teams behind the series and movies, with autograph signings of exclusive art and promotional item giveaways.

D23 Expo attendees will be wowed by the announcements, sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes stories, and celebration of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation. For more information, visit D23Expo.com.

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 one-day Sunday 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.

MORE EXPO NEWS