A Chef on a Mission: We Feed People Highlights the Work of José Andrés and World Central Kitchen

By Andie Hagemann

“People sometimes will say, ‘José, you can’t take care of an emergency thinking of only one plate at a time.’ And I say, ‘I’m sorry, let me prove you wrong,’” says award-winning chef and acclaimed restauranteur JoséAndrés.

Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake once he realized the food distributed to disaster victims was unappetizing Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) packs. With the philosophy “one plate at a time,” he recruited fellow chefs—including those in areas struck by disaster—to help with hunger relief by cooking delicious hot meals and ready-to-go items like sandwiches that can be mass-created and easily distributed. Since the organization’s inception, he’s been proving doubters wrong: From Haiti, Puerto Rico, and North Carolina, to Madagascar and the Navajo Nation, WCK has provided aid in the middle of situations where few thought they could. And now, OscarⓇ-winning director Ron Howard chronicles the humanitarian work of Andrés and WCK in the film We Feed People from National Geographic Films, premiering Friday, May 27, exclusively on Disney+.

José Andrés (L) pours sancocho into bowls for locals after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in the documentary film We Feed People.

“One thing that is so inspiring about José’s approach is how he empowers people; he doesn’t simply ‘show up,’” says Howard. “He has always had a sense that food was a wonderful way for people to have an experience, as well as a great medium of expression for himself.” Howard adds he was inspired by Andrés’ commitment to volunteerism after his rousing speech at the United Nations. With more crises occurring daily due to climate change, Howard felt now more than ever that Andrés’ story should be told to the masses.

We Feed People follows WCK’s evolution, from Andrés’ initial idea to rally chefs together amid catastrophe to becoming one of the premier organizations in the disaster relief sector. The 90-minute documentary film highlights the high and lows of volunteerism—local governments lacking necessities for their constituents; volunteers’ (including Andrés) experiencing exhaustion from working nonstop, going from crisis to crisis; and so much more. Most importantly, the chef notes the documentary shows the need to prioritize food for communities worldwide.

World Central Kitchen Director of Field Operations, Sam Bloch, with an amphibious vehicle delivering meals in Baton Rouge after Hurricane Barry in the documentary film We Feed People.

“I believe that food is a universal human right,” says Andrés. “We need a better use of the funds from the government organizations that are deployed. Everyone in Congress knows we need less red tape.

“But even on a national level in America, how do we make sure that the federal entities that are supposed to be helping Americans in emergencies do it more efficiently and not simply grow the bureaucracy? We need to make food a national security issue.”

Over the last 12 years, WCK has grown—yet so have the number of fires and other disasters per year thanks to the current climate emergency. Andrés adds that the number of hungry people in the world has grown exponentially despite global organizations, including WCK, putting in the work. No one’s mission, including WCK, is nowhere near complete. “We are all still unsuccessful—because even with all of the money put into poverty and hunger and into NGOs, the number of impoverished and hungry keeps growing,” he continues. “And one hungry person is too many.”

José Andrés walking through rubble from collapsed building remains in Haiti after a 2021 earthquake, in the documentary film We Feed People.

Andrés hopes the release of We Feed People inspires viewers to look for ways to help in their own communities—whether that’s joining forces with WCK, or using their own skillsets to, say, advance education; or work on forest management to combat the effects of climate change—as well as during crises worldwide. “I hope it dawns on audiences the way that it dawned on me as we told the story that this is the face of hunger,” he says. “It’s not an insurmountable problem. And it is irresponsible not to face it.”

We Feed People exclusively streams on Disney+ beginning May 27.

All the Incredible News from the Lucasfilm Showcase at Star Wars Celebration

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Not that long ago at a convention center relatively nearby…

Star Wars fans gathered today to kick off the first day of Star Wars Celebration, the out-of-this-world convention celebrating all things a galaxy far, far away. When the doors of the Anaheim Convention Center opened, attendees dressed as Jedi and Sith—or just as really huge Star Wars fans—hit the show floor for the first of four days intergalactic excitement. Those especially Force-attuned—or just savvy about schedules—headed to the Celebration Stage for Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase, where they hoped to hear breaking news about the most anticipated television series and films in the outer rim.

Panel host (and upcoming Mousequerade judge at D23 Expo) Yvette Nicole Brown took the stage to introduce an emotional and epic sizzle reel celebrating the Star Wars galaxy, which was followed by a live performance of the best-known musical piece from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, “The Duel of the Fates.” As the music ended, two familiar figures walked onstage to a standing ovation from the crowd…

Obi-Wan Kenobi

“Hello there.” He can barely be heard above the cheers, but Ewan McGregor—Obi-Wan Kenobi himself—greeted the crowd, accompanied by none other than Hayden Christiansen.

“We are back!” Christensen announced triumphantly, kicking off the panel’s Obi-Wan Kenobi section. The two were joined on stage by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, series director Deborah Chow, and actors Moses Ingram and Rupert Friend.

While the crew had no new footage to share of the hotly anticipated series (coming to Disney+ TOMORROW!), they did have a special surprise for the audience—all attendees were invited to the premiere screening of the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi that night!

“We may have been apart, but we felt your presence,” Kennedy told the crowd—truly, everyone onstage and in attendance was more excited than ever to be at a Star Wars Celebration three years in the making.

McGregor thanked the fans for their support of the Star Wars prequels through the years. “That’s meant an enormous amount,” McGregor said, attributing the creation of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series to the fans’ fervent support.

With a glowing lightsaber salute from the front row, the Obi-Wan Kenobi crew departed, making way for the team behind another highly anticipated series…

The poster for Disney+’s Andor, featuring a black and white illustration of Cassian Andor looking over his shoulder.

Andor

Kennedy and Brown remained on stage for the first big reveal of the day—the all-new logo for Andor, which will be premiering on Disney+ on August 31!

With the newly-revealed logo emblazoned on the screen, the cast and crew of Andor took to the stage: Diego Luna, show runner Tony Gilroy, series executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg, and Genevie O’Reilly.

As to why this series is so important, Kennedy explained, “I think what’s remarkable is the sacrifice Cassian Andor makes for the galaxy.”

For Luna, this moment was a dream come true. “It feels amazing! Today, everything feels amazing!” he exclaimed. “I love what he represents,” Luna added. “This is the story that has the most to do for us. It’s about what we can do.”

Luna wasn’t the only one happy to reprise their character. O’Reilly, who in her own words first played Mon Mothma “nearly 17 years ago,” was ecstatic for a chance to bring her character back into the Star Wars galaxy. “It’s such a gift to come back to this role,” she told the crowd.

As this series doesn’t debut tomorrow like Obi-Wan Kenobi, there were some surprises and reveals in store during the panel! The audience got to hear a snippet of the new music for the series, learn that the series will debut with two episodes on the same night, and that the already-confirmed season two “walks you into Rogue One,” according to showrunner Gilroy.

Oh, yeah… And they may have shared a little something from the show itself. Check out the teaser trailer here:

The new, original series from Lucasfilm takes place prior to the events of Rogue One and launches exclusively on Disney+ August 31. We can’t wait to tune in!

After such an exciting teaser, what could possibly be next? As this is the Lucasfilm showcase and not just the Star Wars showcase, a twist was in store! The next series to be presented would be…

Warrick Davis as Willow Ufgood, standing in a forest and holding an intricately-carved wooden staff. He is mid-speech, talking to someone offscreen

Willow

The dream team of Jonathan Kasdan and Ron Howard, reuniting after Solo: A Star Wars Story, took to the stage to bring us into the world of Willow once again! Howard told the audience that he’s been asked about a sequel to Willow for years—including by Kasdan himself.

To share more about the series, the legendary Warrick Davis was greeted by a standing ovation as he walked onstage.  Describing Willow as “something I’ve always wanted to do—it was a dream,” Davis added, “Making that little movie was one of the best experiences in my life, and I’ve been in Star Wars!”

Next, we got to meet more of the cast—Joanne Whalley returning as the sword-wielding Shorsha, plus three new heroines: Ruby Cruz as Kit, Shorsha’s daughter; Ellie Bamber as Dove, a kitchen maid; and Erin Kellyman as Jade, a knight-in-training and Kit’s best friend.

The series, which is set 20 years (or 250 moons) after the original film, will also feature Davis’ daughter portraying Willow’s own daughter.

With everyone on stage, it was only right to show off the all-new trailer for the series!

Willow will premiere November 30, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

As the Willow crew cleared the stage, Kennedy returned… wearing a certain iconic cowboy hat.

Ahsoka

Of course, she was introducing none other than Dave Filoni—along with Jon Favreau—to let fans know that Ahoska will be premiering on Disney+ in 2023. While Rosario Dawson couldn’t be at Star Wars Celebration, she had a good reason—she was on set filming Ahoska! She greeted fans in a video message, in full Ahsoka costume.

With Favreau and Filoni on stage, they couldn’t just stop with Ahsoka. Next, they brought out Katee Sackhoff to introduce…

The Mandalorian Season Three

Bo-Katan Kryze is back with “unfinished business” in the new season, Sackoff revealed—but that wasn’t all! Exclusive to Star Wars Celebration, a special teaser trailer was revealed for the series, along with the announcement that the new season will debut in 2023.

Favereau and Filoni still had more to share—this time about an all-new series that Spider-Man: Far From Home’s Jon Watts and Chris Ford pitched:

A headshot of Jude Law, a serious expression on his face. To his right is the orange and white logo for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Watts and Ford shared concept art for their all-new series, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, which follows a group of 10-year-old kids who get lost in the Star Wars galaxy, trying to find their way home. Not much is known about this series yet, besides the assertation that it’s “not a kids’ show” and that it’s set some time after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Oh… and they revealed that Jude Law will be starring!

“Are we being mysterious enough?” Ford asked. While they didn’t have much more to share about this intriguing series, they did announce that it will also debut on Disney+ next year.

Happy Birthday, John Williams!

Star Wars wouldn’t be the same without the epic music created by legendary composer John Williams. Since the beginning, his score was there to transport us to distant planets and unknown spaceships. As Kennedy put it, “John Williams has created the score to our lives.” To celebrate the composer’s 90th birthday, Williams himself came out and the crowd was on their feet in an instant.

Williams debuted, live for the audience, an all-new theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi, joined by an orchestra. If that moment wasn’t breathtaking enough, he then led the orchestra in the “The Raider’s March” from Indiana Jones. 

Almost as though summoned by the music, Harrison Ford strutted onto stage to the shock and awe of the audience. In an emotional speech, Ford congratulated Williams and said, “That music follows me everywhere I go, and you know what? I’m happy about it.” He called Williams a “wonderful, wonderful talent that we’re blessed with, all of us.”

His heartfelt words were already enough, but this is the Lucasfilm Studios showcase, after all… So, he also shared that the next Indiana Jones film is almost complete!

Indiana Jones stands silhouetted in profile, with golden light shinning down on him.

With Williams returning to compose the score, the next Indiana Jones film will hit theaters on June 30, 2023. Ford said he’s “really proud of the movie that we made.”

After all the thrilling news, (and the promise of an ACTION-PACKED 2023!) Williams ended by conducting the “Imperial March” to the awe-struck crowd.

We can’t wait to see all the new Lucasfilm series and movies announced during the Lucasfilm Studios Showcase! Stay tuned to D23.com for more Star Wars news as it breaks.

Best Bites to Celebrate National Burger Day at Disney

By Nicole Cantore

Attention burger afficionados! National Burger Day is this weekend and Disney Parks and Resorts have some incredible options that are not to be missed. This important foodie day falls on May 28 and we’re here to help you have a bun-derful time by telling you where to find some of the best burgers at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Are you looking for some entertainment to go along with your snacking on this special day? Lucky for you, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie”, released today, is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series. If you’re a fan, you simply must see what happens to your favorite characters after a ruptured water main creates a sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers.

We won’t keep you and your tastebuds waiting any longer. Get your appetite ready because it’s burger time!

If you find yourself at Disneyland Park and feel urge to cheese-the-day, don’t worry, because this park has got you covered. Hungry Bear Restaurant has the Chili Mac Cheeseburger. This one doesn’t mess around with 1/3 lb angus chuck patty with homestyle chili, mac & cheese bites, American cheese, and fried onions. For a plant-based option inspired by a tale as old as time, Red Rose Taverne has the Beast Breakfast Burger, a 1/3 lb angus patty, bacon-orange marmalade, egg, and arugula on a toasted bun served with potato bites.

Get ready for a bun-in-a-million experience at Disney California Adventure Park. Drop into Smokejumpers Grill to try the Payload Burger featuring two angus beef patties, smoked provolone, bacon, lettuce, onion rings, and chipotle BBQ sauce served with crinkle-cut fries or onion rings – yum! Over at Lamplight Lounge, the Pastrami-spiced Impossible Burger is a great option with a seasoned patty, dairy-free American cheese, pastrami-spiced pineapple, house-made pickles, and mustard aioli on toasted focaccia.

The hotels at Disneyland Resort are also working hard to meat your burger standards. Embrace the beauty of California at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where the Craftsman Grill has the Mediterranean Wagyu Burger. This dish sits an American wagyu patty, tzatziki sauce, and a red onion-feta salad upon an herb bun with your choice of seasonal fruit or za’atar fries. At the Disneyland Hotel, you’ll find the yummy Angus 1/2 lb Hawaiian Cheeseburger served with sweet potato fries for a little bit of a tropical flare.

The Downtown Disney District is also a great spot to stop for some foodie fun tomorrow. At Black Tap Burgers & Shakes, the intense Wagyu Steakhouse Burger has wagyu beef, pepper jack cheese, bacon, crispy onions, A1 sauce, and a roasted garlic mayo – perfectly made for burger lovers. Over at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, for just May 28, get a little flavor from the South with the Bourbon Street BTLA Burger made up of certified angus beef, applewood smoked bacon, fried green tomatoes, baby arugula, avocado, smoked gouda cheese, and a sweet onion spread served with a spicy remoulade slaw. What a combo!

Time for the East Coast! Magic Kingdom Park has more than a few burgers to enjoy, two of which include The Main Street Burger found at The Plaza Restaurant and the 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. The Main Street Burger doesn’t mess around with a 7-ounce all-beef patty topped with cheddar, house-made bacon, lettuce, tomato, a sunny-side-up egg, beer-battered onion ring, and roasted poblano-mayonnaise served upon a flour-dusted Kaiser bun! The 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger is a classic with a flame-broiled 1/3 lb angus burger with bacon, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun with a side of your choice. For an added bonus, you can enjoy the lovely tunes of Sonny Eclipse while you eat.

If you find yourself in EPCOT for National Burger Day, check out Regal Eagle and the Barbecue Jackfruit Burger. This delicious plant-based burger is topped off with barbecue jackfruit and lets you pick from a variety of sides like creamy coleslaw, seasoned French fries, and the house-made pickles. If you haven’t had a chance to go to the new Connections Eatery, then the French Bistro Burger is for you! This dish features a gourmet burger blend, caramelized onions, bacon, brie, mushroom, and Dijon mayonnaise perfectly combined on a toasted brioche bun. Lettuce at it!

Next up – Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ ABC Commissary has the California Burger, which is made up of a grilled plant-based burger, grilled portobello mushroom, cashew-mozzarella, garlic-tomato “aioli,” nut-free pesto, lettuce, and tomato. Whether you eat plant-based all the time or not, this burger is packed with flavor!

Restaurantosaurus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has a couple burgers for you to try. The 1/3 lb Bacon Cheeseburger is your classic cheeseburger topped with lettuce and tomato and served with a true burger staple – french fries. Also at this spot is the Impossible™ Spicy Southwestern Burger. This dish features a plant-based burger patty, “pepper jack,” chipotle sauce, lettuce, and tomato. These are some dino-mite options for National Burger Day!

If you’ve been to D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs, you may want to take another visit because starting tomorrow, May 28, it will be getting a revamp of flavor. Rediscover the enhanced dishes on the menu, like the Classic Cheeseburger with two pressed signature-blend patties – yes, two patties – with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle topped off with the signature 1921 sauce. Or try the Barbecue Burger, also featuring two pressed signature-blend patties, pepperoni, fried mozzarella, tomato sauce, and lettuce situated upon a parmesan tomato herb bun. These new burgers are truly bunderful!

The resorts at Walt Disney World are not messing around with their burger game. These chefs have assembled some truly next-level dishes, all featuring a grilled signature-blend burger and brioche bun that can’t be missed.

Disney’s All-Star Movies’ Intermission Food Court has the Showstopper Burger, and the name is quite fitting. It has a bacon-onion jam, cheddar, provolone, jalapeño, and crispy onions situated on a toasted brioche bun. At the World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, you’ll find the Bleus Burger with blue cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, and garlic aïoli atop that toasted brioche bun. Rounding up Disney’s All-Star Resorts, is the Bases Loaded Burger from the End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. This dish also features a grilled signature-blend burger with fresh mozzarella, basil aioli, arugula, and tomato – how tasty!

At Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Landscape of Flavors is expanding your palette with the Benedict Burger with bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

For some island vibes, Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort perfectly combines a toasted coconut curry aioli, lime jalapeño jam, fried tostones, and arugula into a savory, tropical treat with the Swashbuckler Burger. Classic flavors are here with the Poppin’ Pimento Burger at Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. This burger features that grilled signature-blend burger topped with bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and tomato for a fad that never goes out of style.

Take a little trip down to Louisiana and see what Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter has for you. Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory has the Baton Rouge Burger topped with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, spicy remoulade, and bacon. You and your tastebuds will feel just like you’re in New Orleans with this one. You don’t have to go all the way down the bayou for some Southern flavors, just over to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside where the Riverside Mill Food Court is serving up the Bayou Amber Ale Burger. This burger is topped with spicy shredded prime rib and an amber ale cheese sauce sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun.

Lasty for Walt Disney World Resort, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has quite the item to enjoy for this special day – the Mac & Cheese Burger from The Chuck Wagon. This dish is the best of both worlds with an angus cheeseburger and friend mac & cheese, smoked gouda, and Carolina mustard barbecue sauce. Meat your heart out!

If you’re enjoying a beachside getaway at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort on National Burger Day, make sure you drop into Wind & Waves Grill for their Vero Beach Signature Burger. This plate is signature for a reason with sweet barbeque pork, bacon jam, sriracha coleslaw, beer-battered onion ring, and a fried egg on unique “turtle” bun. It’ll let your tastebuds set sail.

I hope you’re as excited for National Burger Day as we are. Happy eating and enjoy all these delicious dishes from coast to coast!

(Note: All offerings are subject to change.)

8 Epic Stories from the Cast and Crew of Obi-Wan Kenobi

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Filming had finished for the day on the set of The Mandalorian, but the magic of Star Wars was only beginning. The crew—a Mos Eisley Cantina’s worth of passionate Star Wars fans—waited, silently, almost as if they had all collectively sensed a disturbance in the Force. And then, he stepped out, for the first time in almost 10 years: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“I walked into the dressing room and there was a sort of Obi-Wan-ish costume hanging up in the wardrobe that The Mandalorian’s wardrobe department had put together,” Ewan McGregor recalled. In his makeshift Jedi master robes, the actor walked out and greeted the cast and crew. “The set was crazy, because there’s so many Star Wars fans in the crew, which was a new experience for me,” he said. In that moment, everyone felt as if they were Luke Skywalker finally seeing Old Ben come out of hiding. Ewan McGregor was back in the Star Wars galaxy

Practically since the credits rolled on Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, fans have been begging for a continuation on Obi-Wan’s story, filling in from where Revenge of the Sith ends and Star Wars: A New Hope begins. When the news of Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series broke at D23 Expo 2019, fans everywhere rejoiced—and this week, they’ll finally be able to see Obi-Wan’s next steps in a galaxy far, far away.

Last week, McGregor, Mose Igram (Reva), and director Deborah Chow sat down to answer our grand inquisitions on the hotly anticipated series. Through the power of the Force… and, OK, mostly through their insightful answers, we were able to gather the most stellar facts and stories that they shared.

Obi-Wan Kenobi sits on a pillow, barefoot, in almost total darkness. A light from offscreen shines across his face and torso.

1. It took some practice for Ewan McGregor to do “the voice.”
Since he first told Luke to “use the Force,” Obi-Wan’s voice has been embedded in the minds of Star Wars fans everywhere—so, naturally there was a lot of pressure on McGregor to nail the proper voice of his character, especially since he was bridging the gap between his original performance and Alec Guinness’ Oscar®-nominated one. “I was doing a sort of vague English accent,” McGregor explained, “and it wasn’t really Obi-Wan’s voice at all. And I thought, Oh dear, that’s not very good. Luckily, we had months before we actually started shooting. So, I went back and did some homework with Alec Guinness and what I’d done before, in the original [prequel] films. Playing him felt totally like he’d always been there ready to come out any minute. But just his voice needed a bit of work.”

Moses Ingram, as Reva, walks through the streets of Tatooine in her black Inquisitor armor, a serious expression on her face. She is in profile, facing left.

2. Moses Ingram was drawn to the “dangerous” nature of the series.
Newcomer Ingram plays Inquisitor Reva, an imposing figure working alongside Darth Vader himself. “It’s fun to be bad,” she said with a laugh. As one of the series’ baddies, the aspect of the script that pulled her in the most was how it was “dangerous.”

“That was the thing that attracted me the most,” she explained, “realizing that it was edgy and fun and cool—I couldn’t say no. I mean, it’s Star Wars.” She was surprised by the tone of the script. “From what I knew of Star Wars, I didn’t realize it was that dangerous,” Ingram added. “It felt dangerous, what I was reading—and I was like, ‘Oh, I like this. I’m into this.’”

3. Ewan McGregor took inspiration from the “twinkle” in Alec Guinness’ eye.
For the series, McGregor was faced with an all-new challenge: bridging the gap between his own performance from the prequel films and Guinness’ performance originating the character in the original trilogy. “It all comes from Alec Guinness,” he explained. “Alec Guinness had this wit behind his eyes all the time. He had a twinkle in his eyes. I always try and think of him.”

One thing that helped—McGregor was no longer a plucky padawan himself. “Being closer to Alec Guinness in age was interesting,” he said. “We find Alec Guinness’ Obi-Wan as a solitary figure. He’s living in the desert alone, I suppose, and my Obi-Wan now is just a bit closer to his.”

Darth Vader stands in silhouette in the center of the image. Everything around him is dark except for red lights along the walls, the lights on his armor, and the beam of light casting down on him from the ceiling.

4. Reuniting with Hayden Christensen felt like no time had passed at all.
The only people more excited than the fans to see Obi-Wan and Anakin together onscreen again were the actors behind the characters! “I mean, we just were so close when we made Episode II and III,” McGregor remembered of his time with Christensen. Once the prequels wrapped, the duo fell out of contact—so the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was the perfect excuse for the close friends to reunite. “It was really peculiar,” he explained. “When we were acting together, it was really like some sort of time warp. Looking across at him on set was like the last 17 years didn’t happen at all, you know?”

In darkness lit mostly by her red lightsaber, Reva brandishes her weapon and yells at someone or something offscreen.

5. Yes, Ewan McGregor is still making the lightsaber noises.
While Christensen and McGregor were having a reunion years in the making, Ingram was a newcomer on set. Luckily for her, she had an epic way to bond with her costars: Lightsaber training! “It was a nice way to get to know each other,” McGregor explained. “We started months before the shoot together in the fight gym. Our fight styles are very different, as they should be.  So, I was over on one side doing my choreography and [Ingram was] on the other side, and we’d sort of try not to clash into each other. It was fun, though.”

After McGregor let slip that he had trouble not making lightsaber sound effects during fight scenes in the prequels, everyone wants to know: Is he still making the noises?

“Everyone knows that you do it now,” Ingram teased him.

“It’s impossible not to,” McGregor insisted. “And if you’re not making them, you’re doing it in your head.”

6. There was an epic, new way to set the tone on set.
Ingram couldn’t confirm if she heard McGregor making his infamous lightsaber noises on set, because Chow had an ingenious way of making sure the cast felt like they were properly in a galaxy far, far away. “We did play a lot of music when we did the action scenes, so the rest of us didn’t know if you guys were doing [lightsaber noises],” Chow explained. “The big reason we did it is because the music obviously it brings the emotional component. And what John Williams has done has been so inextricably tied—it is Star Wars. If we put it on, all of a sudden I see Moses go like two inches taller and everybody responds to it.”

“It was sick!” Ingram agreed. “We’d be stepping off the ship and the music would swell and you’re just feeling like you’re 10 feet tall. It’s very, very cool.”

Inside a cave, Obi-Wan holds a hand out to the snout of a large, alien creature wearing a bridle. His face is half-lit, and his expression is neutral.

7. Deborah Chow was excited to explore Obi-Wan’s character.
For most fans, thinking about Star Wars brings up the stories centered around the Skywalker family. For Chow, Obi-Wan Kenobi presented a different opportunity. “I was the most excited about getting the opportunity to do a character-driven story,” she explained, comparing it to films like Logan, centered around a singular character. With six episodes on the horizon, we’re going to get a lot of time with Obi-Wan. “You take one character out of a big franchise and then you really have the time to go a lot deeper with the character. To me, it seemed really exciting to get to do that in Star Wars.”

8. The trio revealed their favorite Star Wars media.
For McGregor, there’s only one movie that could be his favorite: “A New Hope,” he said, “because it’s the one the one that changed my life, I suppose, in many ways.” Without the film that started it all, there would be no Obi-Wan Kenobi. But, that’s not the only reason it’s his favorite. “As a kid watching that movie—and when I hear the words Star Wars—I always think of C-3PO and R2-D2 going through the desert, through the sand. That’s the first image.”

Ingram couldn’t help but pick the Star Wars series that is changing her life: “I’m going to cheat and say Obi-Wan Kenobi,” she said, “because it’s attached to now so many moments and memories in my life—similar to A New Hope for [McGregor].”

Chow cited a film that she not only loves, but that helped inspired her own Star Wars work: “One I think is really interesting, visually, is Rogue One. I was really looking a lot at the atmospheric sense in that and in a lot of the visuals in that [film]—which was pretty awesome.”

The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi stream on Disney+ this Friday, May 27.

Venturing Inside National Geographic’s Explorer: The Deepest Cave

By Zach Johnson

Into the unknown he goes...

Renowned cave explorer Bill Stone is determined to reach the unexplored depths of Cheve Cave in Mexico—but such an expedition is like climbing Mount Everest in reverse! The one-hour special Explorer: The Deepest Cave, premiering Monday, May 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic (and streaming this summer on Disney+), follows Stone and his dedicated team as they push the boundaries of what is possible. Together, they attempt one of the greatest feats of exploration: to set a new world record by reaching the bottom of what is thought to be the deepest cave in the world.

Deep in the uncharted depths of Cheve Cave, the expedition team must navigate through over 12 miles of unexplored tight, twisting passages—sometimes in complete darkness, where one mistake can be fatal. During the dangerous and highly technical adventure, Stone and his team are also trying to map everything they see to create traditional 2D maps and CGI 3D models that are relative to the surface topography.

Team members inside Cheve Cave organize packs, which contain all their food and gear while staying inside Cheve Cave.

For the three-month underground journey in the longest active subterranean push duration ever, Stone enlists a team of 69 elite cavers from nine different countries, including expert cavers Victor Bravo, Sonia Dudziak, Gilly Elor, Corey Hackley, and Sean Lewis. “They’re all technically qualified and multidisciplinary,” Stone says. “You don’t get there if you aren’t. But the other thing is, these people didn’t get there by accident. These are the kinds of people whose smiles get bigger the more remote from humanity they get. These are the kinds of people who would be completely, utterly comfortable sitting at the bottom of Shackleton crater on the moon—I have no doubt.”

“We are super curious about what’s in there,” confirms cave explorer Bev Shade. “It’s so exciting to be the first person into a chamber or a passage. And a lot of what we enjoy is the incredible teamwork required to make it all happen.” Indeed, director Pablo Durana says, “I was really amazed, because these aren’t professional athletes. These aren’t people who are getting paid to go into the cave. These are people who have an obvious, shared passion. They dedicate a huge part of their lives to these experiences. It was really incredible to witness—and to, at one point, be a part of that.”

Lest anyone think otherwise, Stone admits fear is always a factor. “When you’re up there, you have to suppress fear. Having a little bit of it is good, but you need focus and control to stay alive,” he says. “It’s a recognition and a willful suppression of fear that allows you to go forward—because of your training, because of your experience.”

Team members inside Cheve Cave examine a massive borehole.

This expedition, however, presents brand-new challenges, which result in brand-new fears. “A lot of other expeditions I’ve been on, I always had this thought in the back of my mind: ‘I’ve got my little inReach® [satellite communicator], so a helicopter can find me,’” Durana recalls. “It’s really different in the cave; there’s no support. For me, it was a little bit scary. It was my very first cave. The first couple of days, it’s known territory, and you travel lightly and carefully. But the fear heightened a little bit when we were going into virgin territory, because that’s when the rocks can be more unstable. You really have to be aware of your environment in a way that I’ve never been aware of before. It is a little scary, but I think you have to keep your composure, understand what you’re doing, and know your limits, because there could be some things you decide you just don’t feel comfortable doing. I think it’s important to recognize that.”

Of course, the team went in as prepared as possible. Throughout their expedition, safety remained everyone’s utmost concern. “There is no rescue organization in the world that could actually retrieve somebody from the bottom of this cave,” Stone explains. “They don’t train for this kind of thing. There’s no fire rescue, no mountain rescue, anything like that. We basically design the team for self-rescue capability from the start—and that has been one of the tenants of these expeditions for decades now.”

Without spoiling how Explorer: The Deepest Cave ends, there’s no slowing down Stone. “I was 68 years old during the expedition,” he says. “Expeditions keep you in incredible shape... As far as I’m concerned, I aim to be on expeditions when I’m 100!”

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

By Andie Hagemann

Cancel your other plans because the content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend is jam-packed with thrilling galactic adventures and heartwarming classics. In celebration of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening at Walt Disney World Resort, binge both Guardians of the Galaxy films. Meanwhile, the Day of Unity is finally here in Saturday’s season finale of The Owl House, and don’t miss Lilo & Stitch, airing later that day. On Sunday, watch the live-action adaption of The Jungle Book and High School Musical 2!

Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) stand before the Sovereign people in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2—Available on Disney+
With new family-thrill coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening this weekend at EPCOT, assemble your own ragtag crew for a Guardians of the Galaxy double feature! In the first film, space ravager Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is forced to evade a group of ruthless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by the evil Ronan (Lee Pace). To escape Ronan, Quill teams ups with four misfits: Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). However, once he discovers the orb’s powers, he rallies the crew to save the universe. The sequel finds Peter and his fellow Guardians hired to protect the Sovereign, a powerful alien race from invaders. After it’s revealed Rocket has stolen the items they were instructed to guard, the Sovereign unleashes its army in search of vengeance. Meanwhile, Peter’s mysterious origins are revealed. Disney Legend Kurt Russell stars as Ego in this action-packed adventure.

Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) stands excitedly inside large metal doors in the season finale of the animated series The Owl House.

The Owl House—Saturday, May 28, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The second season concludes with the long-awaited Day of Unity. Will everything go according to Emperor Belos’ plan or will Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) be transported back to the human side?

Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders) plays in the sand in the animated film Lilo & Stitch.

Lilo & Stitch—Saturday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
The heartwarming animated classic follows a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase), who adopts what she assumes is just an ugly dog. Lilo names the ambiguous creature Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), and he instantly becomes the perfect companion… except for the fact that he’s actually a mischievous genetic experiment who escaped from an alien planet! While Stitch evades the crew tasked to retrieve him, he bonds with Lilo and becomes the best friend she’s always wanted.

Mowgli (Neel Sethi) huddles inside a cave full of baboons in the live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book (2016)—Sunday, May 29, at 10:15 a.m. ET/PT, on Freeform
Directed by Disney Legend Jon Favreau, the live-action adaptation of the Disney classic follows Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a young boy raised by a family of wolves since birth. Mowgli is forced to leave the only home he’s ever known after a threat from the ferocious tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba). A panther named Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley) and Baloo (voiced by Bill Murray), a free-spirited bear, look after Mowgli as they embark on an epic journey, meeting a slew of animals along the way.

Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) and Troy (Zac Efron) dance inside a classroom celebrating the start of summer vacation during the opening musical number of High School Musical 2.

High School Musical 2—Sunday, May 29, at 5 p.m. ET/PT, on Disney Channel
What time is it? Summertime! Well… almost. The East High kids are ready for fun in the sun. However, they’re all broke. Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) persuades her family’s country club to hire Troy (Zac Efron), and the basketball star hilariously brings along the entire Wildcat crew, Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) included, to be his coworkers.

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

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

In Star Wars: A New Hope, what animal call does Obi-Wan Kenobi mimic to scare off the Tusken Raiders attacking Luke?

Correct! Wrong!

Before rescuing Luke from the Tusken Raiders, Obi-Wan mimics the call of (B) a Krayt Dragon to frighten the raiders away.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
You are the ultimate Disney fan!
Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Thursday. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!
Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!
Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Thursday! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Celebrate the Return of Fantasmic! at Disneyland Resort with This Illuminating Quiz

By Alison Stateman

Disneyland Park guests will be treated to the return of Disney’s popular and longest-running nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! in just a few days’ time. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the emotional extravaganza will once again feature an array of colorful Disney animated film images, choreographed to an exciting musical score, highlighted by an iconic 45-feet tall fire-breathing Maleficent dragon!

Ahead of its return to Disneyland Resort on Saturday, May 28, we offer you a chance to test your knowledge with this illuminating quiz.

When did Fantasmic! officially premiere to the Disneyland public?

Correct! Wrong!

How long does the dragon light the Rivers of America on fire for?

Correct! Wrong!

At the beginning of the show, two light towers appear on either side of the main stage. During the day, these towers rest 26 feet underground. During the show, how high do they rise?

Correct! Wrong!

How much does the dragon weigh?

Correct! Wrong!

How many times has Fantasmic! been performed since its premiere?

Correct! Wrong!

Celebrate the Return of Fantasmic! at Disneyland Resort with This Illuminating Quiz
Nothing is more powerful than the imagination... and we imagine you’ll do better the next time you take this quiz!
Were you pulled into the Magic Mirror, too? Because your knowledge of Fantasmic! truly sparkles!

 

Inside Grey’s Anatomy’s Landmark 400th Episode—and Its Future

By Zach Johnson

After 18 seasons, Grey’s Anatomy remains in excellent health.

The ABC series is the longest-running primetime medical drama in history, and on Thursday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the series will reach a major milestone when it airs its 400th episode. Created by Shonda Rhimes, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy has been must-see TV ever since its debut in 2005, and Krista Vernoff—who took over as showrunner in 2017—has been there for nearly every ferry accident, hospital explosion, and plane crash that brought patients to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (née Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital). Ahead of the landmark episode—which is one-half of the two-part Season 18 finale—Vernoff revealed the secret to Grey’s Anatomy’s sustained success, teased the return of fan-favorite characters, and repeatedly praised the cast and crew.

As Richard Webber, James Pickens Jr. is one of the few original cast members of ABC’s award-winning, critically acclaimed drama Grey’s Anatomy to remain with the show throughout its 18 seasons.

D23: Producing 400 episodes is no small feat! How are you able to keep things feeling fresh so that the actors and the viewers remain engaged week-to-week?
Krista Vernoff (KV): We have a tremendous writing staff. We also have several doctors on staff and on call. We bring in experts in many different fields to come talk in the writers room each year. We pull from what inspires us. If it inspires us, there’s a good chance it will also inspire viewers.

D23: What does this landmark episode mean to you, as well as to the cast and crew?
KV: It’s just kind of mind-blowing. We’ve been doing this for almost two full decades now, and the fact that the show still means so much to so many people, that matters to us. The idea that what we are doing has a real impact on people‘s minds and hearts… That’s what keeps us going.

D23: We know former cast members Sarah Drew and Jesse Williams are back for the 400th episode. What can you share about bringing back Drs. April Kepner and Jackson Avery? 
KV: It’s the 400th episode, so we knew we needed some great guest stars. Somehow, miraculously, Sarah and Jesse were both available and happy to come make it work. It was great to see them, and we know fans will be thrilled to see them, too!

Original cast member Chandra Wilson has received a Screen Actors Guild Award, a People’s Choice Award, a Prism Award, and three NAACP Image Awards, in addition to four Emmy® Award nominations, for her portrayal of Dr. Miranda Bailey.

D23: Kate Walsh recently reprised her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery. What’s the secret to creating an environment in which cast members are always willing to return?
KV: We write the show from character first rather than from plot. That gives the actors something to really sink their teeth into. When an actor has lived out a character who is rich and full and complex, they’re usually happy to come back and visit!

D23: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr. are the only actors who have starred in every season. What’s in store for their characters in the 400th episode?
KV: The 400th episode is dramatic! We were lucky enough to have the 400th episode fall on the season finale, so we pulled out all the stops. You have to tune in to see how it all plays out!

D23: Out of all the stories Grey’s Anatomy told across 18 seasons, which do you hold nearest and dearest to your heart? Which episodes do fans still bring up to you?
KV: The one that is nearest to my heart is the death of George O’Malley‘s father [Season 3, Episode 12], because it was very autobiographical for me. And the one that the fans still bring up to me is the death of Denny Duquette [Season 2, Episode 27]!

D23: What can you tease about the upcoming 19th season?
KV: I’m gathering with the writers next week. Everyone just had a well-earned break, so I can’t give you much about season 19 yet—but I can tell you that we’ve got a tremendously talented group of writers, so it’s gonna be great!

D23: Is there anything you want to tell fans as the 400th episode approaches?
KV: We are so grateful for your continued passion. We are blown away by the folks have been with us from the beginning and still show up week after week, and also by the new generation who found us on Netflix! We don’t take any of it for granted. Thank you for watching!

Saluting Goofy Through the Decades

By Courtney Potter

Lovable, good-natured, and (let’s face it) hilariously accident prone, Goofy is a stalwart friend—and proof that good things do ultimately come to those who try, try again. The animated character who’d become Goofy made his very first appearance on May 25, 1932, in the Mickey Mouse cartoon Mickey’s Revue. Audiences had to keep their eyes peeled, though; the character, who isn’t onscreen for very long, is a member of the audience memorably cheering on Mickey’s musical comedy. But he obviously made an impact, as he’s gone on to an incredible 90 years of mirth and merriment—onscreen (the name “Goofy” officially kicked off with his first starring role in an animated short: 1939’s Goofy and Wilbur); within the panels of comic books; inside Disney parks around the world; in video games; and so much more!

To celebrate Goofy’s nine decades of fun, we’ve rounded up some favorite stills of Goofy’s adventures through the years. Did yours make the cut?

...And keep the Goofy gaiety going by checking out some goof-tastic animated shorts and features on Disney+!

Goofy’s Glider (1940) — Goofy tries to demonstrate glider-flying, but is unsuccessful—until finally, a cannon does the job, shooting him into orbit!
How to Play Baseball (1942) — After a few other successful shorts in which Goofy demonstrated how—or maybe how not—to do something, it became a series. How to Play Baseball finds Goofy illustrating the game by playing all the positions on both teams and displaying the different types of pitching, accompanied by an offscreen narrator.
Hold That Pose (1950) — Goofy buys photographic equipment for his fun new hobby, and eagerly goes out to find a subject—which turns out to be a bear. But he so annoys the bear with the flash that it chases him all the way back to his apartment.
Aquamania (1961) — Nominated for an Academy Award®, this animated short finds Goofy demonstrating the art of water-skiing. After all manner of misadventures, including encountering an octopus and (somehow) a roller coaster, he manages to win a championship race.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) — Goofy costars in this animated feature, based on Charles Dickens’ classic yuletide tale, as Jacob Marley’s ghost—warning Ebenezer Scrooge (in this instance, Scrooge McDuck) what fate awaits him should he not change his miserly ways.
Goof Troop (1992) — Goofy hit the big time with this Disney Channel series that chronicled the heartwarming misadventures of his struggles to raise son Max in 1990s suburbia.
A Goofy Movie (1995) — A feature film spin-off from Goof Troop, this fan favorite follows Max and Goofy as they go on what’s supposed to be a fishing trip, with plentiful father-son bonding time... only Max has other plans, all to impress his girlfriend Roxanne. Chaos, but ultimately happiness, ensues.
An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000) — In the sequel to A Goofy Movie, Goofy enrolls in college with Max... but brings his 1970s collegiate notions with him. When he teams up with a like-minded school librarian, the disco lights and mood rings swing back to action on campus!
Kingdom Hearts (2002) — Goofy costars as a captain of the royal knights in this action and role-playing video game series, which features tons of Disney characters and situations. The popular game was developed by Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios, and debuted in the U.S. in 2002.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006) — The “Sensational Six,” including Goofy, star in this CG-animated Disney Channel series for preschoolers, designed to encourage problem solving and promote early math skills.
How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (2007) — Goofy makes his way back to the big screen (and the “How To” series) with this animated short, in which our enthusiastic but clueless friend is confronted by a huge instruction manual for his new home theater setup—and has to deal with a truly gargantuan universal remote and a spaghetti of multicolored cables! Directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers (Prep & Landing).
How to Stay at Home (2021) — During the COVID-19 pandemic, iconic Disney animator Eric Goldberg created several brand-new, hand-drawn Goofy shorts for a three-episode Disney+ series called How to Stay at Home. We follow along as Goofy learns how best to wear a mask; how to cook a unique meal; and how to binge-watch a favorite show while still trying to complete some other tasks.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021) — Goofy is part of Disney Junior’s latest whimsical animated series featuring Funny, an enchanted talking funhouse who leads Mickey and his pals on imaginative adventures. The series’ most recent special finds Mickey, Minnie, and friends joining legendary pirate Captain Salty Bones on a big treasure hunt!