Enchanted Rose Pastries Recipe

Fall under the spell of these enchanted rose pastries! Your sweetheart—or your Pal-entine—is sure to enjoy this delicious dessert. Make a whole evening out of it by watching Beauty and the Beast on Disney+!

Ingredients

  • 2 large red apples
  • 1 package frozen puff pastry sheets
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 lemon
  • A pinch of flour

Directions

  1. Thaw the puff pastry sheets as directed (about 30 mins at room temperature). Prepare a muffin tin by spraying with a non-stick spray.
  2. Cut the lemon in half, and add the juice from half to a microwave-safe bowl. Fill the bowl about halfway with water.
  3. Cut each apple in half and remove the core. Slice each apple half into thin slice, about a half centimeter thick. Place the slices in the bowl of water and lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
  4. Once the apples are fully sliced, microwave in the water for 2-5 minutes, until softened and able to bend without breaking. Strain the apple slices and set aside.
  5. Unfold the thawed pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 2-inch-wide strips.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
  7. Using a butter knife or pastry brush, smooth a thin layer of butter on top of each pastry strip. Spread a spoonful of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top in an even layer.
  8. Begin placing the softened apple slices along the top edge of the pastry, overlapping each slice slightly. Once the entire top edge is covered in apple slices, fold the bottom of the pastry sheet up over the bottom of the slices.
  9. Starting at one end, begin rolling the apple-filled pastry. Once done, you should have a beautiful rose shape!
  10. Place each rose in its own indent in the muffin tin, then place in the refrigerator while the oven preheats. Preheat the oven to 375° F, then bake the pastries for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Gently remove each pastry before allowing to cool, so as to prevent sticking.
  11. Serve warm and enjoy!

Click here to see more of our dessert recipes.

A Ming-Na Wen Fan’s Guide to Disney+

By Jocelyn Buhlman

If you’re a Disney fan, you’re definitely familiar with Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen’s work. Her debut was an iconic one—voicing Mulan in the 1998 film of the same name. If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ve heard her voice in animated stories of Super Heroes and villains. Are you a Star Wars fan? (Fun fact—so is Ming-Na Wen!) You might have seen her in The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett as the mercenary Fennec Shand… What we’re getting at here is that no matter where you go in the worlds of Disney, you can probably find Ming-Na Wen there, bringing another fascinating character to life.

With the finale of The Book of Boba Fett debuting today on Disney+, fans of Wen’s work can binge the entire series at once—but why stop there? Make it a Ming-Na Wen marathon with all of these Disney films and series where she lends her legendary talent.

Mulan

It all started with a brave woman who took her father’s place in the Imperial Army. Wen gave Mulan her speaking voice in this beloved film, which recounts the story of one of China’s greatest heroines.

Mulan II

Wen returned to voice the iconic heroine in Mulan II, which follows the newly engaged Mulan on a mission to protect three princesses.

Phineas and Ferb

Most episodes of Phineas and Ferb showcase the hijinks of the titular brothers, along with their sister Candace’s failed attempts to foil them. But sometimes—in a few episodes, at least—we also get to hear Ming-Na Wen! Wen voices Dr. Hirano, the mother of Candace’s best friend, Stacy. You can hear her in episodes such as “Robot Rodeo” and “I Scream, You Scream.”

Milo Murphy’s Law

Time to receive some classified information: Wen voices the Bureau of Time Travel agent Savannah on the silly series Milo Murphy’s Law. Rated “Time Traveler First Class,” she journeys through time with her partner Brick, taking on missions with their special abilities.

Guardians of the Galaxy (series)

What do the episodes “Happy Together,” “Gotta Get Outta This Place,” “Long Distance Runaround” and “You Don’t Own Me” all have in common? You can hear Ming-Na Wen voice a Marvel character! Phyla-Vell is a Kree Accuser tasked with the ultimate challenge: arrest the Guardians of the Galaxy!

Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors and Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron

The Marvel Rising animated shorts unite young Marvel heroes like Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl and Ironheart in new adventures—but for every team of heroes, there needs to be a villain. Enter Hala, a Kree accuser voiced by Wen, who is determined to gain power by any means. The only way to stop this cosmically strong villainess is if the young Marvel heroes rise together to face the challenge!

Mulan

The live-action adaptation of the iconic heroine’s story features Wen as the well-deserved “Esteemed Guest” in a cameo appearance, nodding to her original role as the speaking voice of Mulan in the animated film.

The Mandalorian

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Ming-Na Wen brought to life the deadly mercenary Fennec Shand. Debuting in “Chapter 5: The Gunslinger” in The Mandalorian season one, her character’s fate is left ambiguous at the end of the episode, when she lies abandoned on Tatooine with the shadow of a mysterious figure looming over her…

We find out in season two that the shadow belonged to no other than Boba Fett! The two bounty hunters team up, eventually agreeing to help Mando in his mission to rescue Grogu. At the end of season two, we discover that Shand and Fett returned to Tatooine to claim the throne that once belonged to Jabba the Hutt.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

In a slightly longer time ago—28 years longer, to be exact—the events of Star Wars: The Bad Batch give us a peek at a younger Fennec Shand, voiced by Wen. Here, Fennec is working as a bounty hunter in pursuit of Omega, an unmodified female clone who has the genetic template of Jango Fett. Shand makes multiple attempts at capturing Omega in the episodes “Cornered” and “Bounty Lost.”

The Book of Boba Fett

If you haven’t been watching The Book of Boba Fett, now is the perfect time for a binge! The series, which shared its final episode today, follows Fett and Shand on Tatooine after their takeover of Jabba’s empire. Can the duo reinvent themselves on the desert planet? Well… You better start that binge watch now to find out!

Hulu’s Love, Victor Announces Third and Final Season

By Zach Johnson

This Love story is coming to a close.

Ahead of its presentation at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, Hulu announced the third season of Love, Victor will be its last. All eight episodes will debut on Wednesday, June 15. This season will find Victor (Michael Cimino) going on a journey of self-discovery—not only deciding who he wants to be with, but more broadly, who he wants to be. With their post-high-school-plans looming, Victor and his friends will face a new set of problems they must work through to make the best decisions for their futures.

Rounding out the cast of Love, Victor are Rachel Hilson as Mia, Anthony Turpel as Felix, Bebe Wood as Lake, Mason Gooding as Andrew, George Sear as Benji, Isabella Ferreira as Pilar, Mateo Fernandez as Adrian, James Martinez as Armando, Ana Ortiz as Isabel, Anthony Keyvan as Rhaim, and Ava Capri as Lucy.

The series, which debuted in 2020, is an offshoot of the 2018 film Love, Simon, which is based on the acclaimed YA novel by Becky Albertalli, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who wrote the film Love, Simon, serve as the series’ executive producers alongside Brian Tanen, Rick Wiener, Kenny Schwartz, Jason Ensler, Isaac Klausner, Marty Bowen, Adam Fishbach, Wyck Godfrey, Pouya Shahbazian, and Adam Londy. Love, Victor is produced by 20th Television, a division of Disney Television Studios.

The first two seasons of Love, Victor are now streaming on Hulu.

Behind the Scenes of The Book of Boba Fett with Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen

By Zach Johnson

You might call The Book of Boba Fett a real page turner.

After being teased in The Mandalorian’s surprise end-credit sequence in late 2020, the highly anticipated original series debuted on December 29, 2021, at last putting the fan-favorite character Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) front and center. Ironically, it’s a position the bounty hunter isn’t totally comfortable with—at least not compared with his former employer, Jabba the Hutt. With the mercenary Fennec Shand (Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen) by his side, Boba Fett returned to the sands of Tatooine to stake his claim on the territory previously ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.

But as viewers have seen across the first six chapters—the seventh, the season finale, streams Wednesday, February 9—Boba Fett and Fennec have different leadership styles. “Fennec has less patience,” explains Wen, whose character debuted in 2019 in The Mandalorian. “Boba Fett has gone through an incredible experience, living with the Tuskens, learning their ways and being part of a real family, and she is someone who is used to being a loner, getting things done and not questioning her choices. There are some stumbling blocks while they’re trying to learn diplomacy. Boba and Fennec respect each other very much, so there’s a lot of give and take, and he reins her in—sort of like on set in real life!”

Morrison adds, “It’s a wonderful relationship. It grows through the series as well.” For example, one thing Boba has taught Fennec over time is that “sometimes the gung-ho [approach] is not going to work,” he says. “Sometimes it takes a little bit more… finesse.”

The Book of Boba Fett

Indeed. But it’s difficult to enjoy the trappings of being the Daimyo of Tatooine when you’re constantly being undermined. Boba promised to establish order, which riled up everyone from water-monger Lortha Peel (Stephen Root) to Jabba the Hutt’s cousins, aka The Twins. But he’s also made some allies, including the Wookiee bounty hunter Krrsantan (Carey Jones) and a cyborg street gang led by Drash (Sophie Thatcher).

Speaking of the gang, aka The Mods, Morrison says they add “a lot of color and a lot of youthfulness” to the series. Beyond that, they represent a new order—one in which Boba gives everyone a fair shake. Rather than becoming enemies, he offered the youths a job opportunity. “If you can’t beat these people, sometimes it’s good to join them—or get them to join you,” Morrison says. The Mods aren’t the only ones to join their side, of course, as Fennec drafted one of their old friends, The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), to help them in an upcoming war.

Tense as things can get onscreen, it’s nothing but laughs behind the scenes. “We had some long days on the set sometimes, and I’d be looking at my mate, going, ‘Not bad for an old man and an old lady, eh?’” Morrison says with a chuckle. “We’d have a good laugh and pick each other up and say, ‘Come on. We gotta represent!’”

Wen, who in 2020 wrapped a seven-season arc as Melinda May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., was up for the challenge. “I like representing older, strong females,” the actress says. “I do have a certain set of skills, whether it’s martial arts or kickboxing or stunt fighting. But it used to be that when a woman reached 40, they’d get put out to pasture. I’m far beyond that now, and it’s great that I can still continue to do this. I feel very privileged and honored, and I’m living out my dream of being in a Star Wars project—I’m going to kick butt for as long as I can!”

The Walt Disney Company Earns 23 Oscar® Nominations

By Zach Johnson

It should come as no surprise that we here at D23: The Official Disney Fan Club consider the number 23 especially lucky! Nominations for the 94th Oscars® were announced this morning, with films from across The Walt Disney Company combining to earn-you guessed it!-23 Academy Award® nominations.

We've been singing its praises ever since it debuted in December, and now West Side Story has received seven nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Directing, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Cinematography and Best Production Design. With Nightmare Alley, Searchlight Pictures has now received 20 Best Picture nominations and a grand total of 172 Academy Award nominations. In addition to Best Picture, the film received nominations for Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography and Best Production Design. Disney's Onyx Collective secured its first Oscar nomination with Summer of Soul Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), in partnership with Searchlight Pictures and Hulu. In addition, Jessica Chastain was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Searchlight Pictures' The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The film also garnered a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Pixar Animation Studios' Luca earned a Best Animated Feature nomination, as did Walt Disney Animation Studios' Raya and the Last Dragon. The latter studio's film Encanto received three nominations, for Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song.

Seven of the nominated films are available to stream now on Disney+ and Hulu.

Here is the complete list of nominations from across The Walt Disney Company:

West Side Story

West Side Story (20th Century Studios) - 7 Nominations

  • Best Picture - Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger (Producers)
  • Best Directing - Steven Spielberg
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Ariana DeBose
  • Best Costume Design - Paul Tazewell
  • Best Sound - Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson, and Shawn Murphy
  • Best Cinematography - Janusz Kaminski
  • Best Production Design - Adam Stockhausen (Production Design), Rena DeAngelo (Set Decoration)

"I am filled with gratitude, especially for Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macasko and everyone at Amblin and 20th Century Studios," Tazewell said. "Being invited into the circle of exemplary talents with whom Steven surrounds himself has been utterly life-changing, and I will forever cherish my West Side Story experience with humility and great joy. Thank you to the Academy for this beautiful honor. What a bright and shining moment!"

Said DeBose, "My morning walk along the river was extra special today. I am absolutely overjoyed by this morning's news. To be recognized alongside such incredible women for their inspiring performances is surreal enough, but to share this celebration with Steven, Kristie, and the entire team that made our beautiful movie is a dream come true. I'm so thankful to the Academy for this acknowledgement and am beyond grateful to Steven, Kristie, and everyone at Amblin and Disney. What a moment."

Nightmare Alley

Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures) (Streaming on Hulu) - 4 Nominations

  • Best Picture - Guillermo Del Toro, J. Miles Dale, and Bradley Cooper (Producers)
  • Best Costume Design - Luis Sequeira
  • Best Cinematography - Dan Laustsen
  • Best Production Design - Tamara Deverell (Production Design), Shane Vieau (Set Decoration) 

"We want to thank the Academy for this tremendous recognition of so many artists' hard work," del Toro, Dale and Cooper said. "To see Nightmare Alley nominated for Best Picture alongside so many terrific, artistic, unforgettable films is a testament to the entire cast and crew on the production. It took nearly four years to bring this project together, and to see the commitment, creativity and determination of the artisans come to life with nominations for Tamara and Shane for their immersive and inventive production design; Luis for his spectacular and sumptuous costume design; and Dan for his incomparable cinematography is truly gratifying. We thank Searchlight for never giving up on this film and want to express our appreciation to the wonderful cast for making Nightmare a dream come true."

Watch Nightmare Alley on Hulu

Encanto

Encanto (Walt Disney Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (Streaming on Disney+) - 3 Nominations

  • Best Animated Feature Film - Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino, and Clark Spencer
  • Best Original Song - "Dos Oruguitas," Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Best Original Score - Germaine Franco

"We are incredibly grateful to the Academy for this nomination and so honored to be recognized with our fellow nominees in such a strong year for animation," Howard, Bush, Merino and Spencer said of their Best Animated Feature nomination. "Huge thank you to our cast, our crew and our musical partners, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco, for making miracles and bringing the world of Encanto to life."

Miranda added that he was "grateful beyond belief to the music branch and to the Academy for recognizing our work on Encanto. Germaine is such a singular talent and I'm so proud to work alongside her. And 'Dos Oruguitas' is a very special song to both our movie and my family. Thank you so much."

Watch Encanto on Disney+

Cruella

Cruella (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (Streaming on Disney+) - 2 Nominations

  • Best Costume Design - Jenny Beavan
  • Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne, and Julia Vernon 

"I'm totally thrilled as this is the ultimate accolade for my crew!" Beavan said.

"Thank you to the Academy for recognizing our work," Stacey added. "I'm not sure this will ever sink in, but after I stop jumping around the room and calm my mum down, I will call the rest of the amazing team and thank them for their work. I have so many people to be grateful for, but Emily Jean Stone, you are the reason this happened so thank you the most. This is a great day!" 

Watch Cruella on Disney+

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight Pictures) – 2 Nominations

  • Best Actress in a Leading Role – Jessica Chastain
  • Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh

Free Guy

Free Guy (20th Century Studios) (Coming Soon to Disney+) - 1 Nomination

  • Best Visual Effects - Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalazitzidis, and Dan Sudick 

"There's no better feeling than being recognized for a film so dear to my heart," said Gillberg, VFX Supervisor. "I'm so proud of Free Guy and all the hard work that brought us to this point. Congratulations to my fellow nominees, and Go Blue Shirt Guy!"

Grill, VFX Supervisor, Scanline, added, "Waking up to a stream of congratulations texts was overwhelming and joyous! But talking to my fellow Free Guy nominees Swen Gillberg and Nikos Kalaitzidis is one of those moments you can only hope for."

"It's an honor to be recognized by the Academy, and I'm extremely proud of the remarkable work everyone at Digital Domain created for Free Guy-it was an incredible experience," said Kalaitzidis, VFX Supervisor, Digital Domain. "I'd like to thank Swen Gillberg and director Shawn Levy for bringing me on the team, and I'd also like to congratulate my fellow Academy nominees including Bryan Grill, Kelly Port, Scott Edelstein, Joe Farell and Paul Lambert. It's been a pleasure to have worked with so many amazingly talented people for the last 25+ years!"

Luca

Luca (Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (Streaming on Disney+) - 1 Nomination

  • Best Animated Feature Film - Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren

"We are incredibly honored and grateful to the Academy for this nomination," Casarosa and Warren said. "Lucabegan as a personal story inspired by a life-changing friendship and nostalgia for summers spent on the Italian Riviera-and we were delighted that the universal message of accepting those in any way different from us resonated with audiences around the world. We would like to thank everyone at Pixar who helped bring this story to life. Grazie mille!" 

Watch Luca on Disney+

Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (Streaming on Disney+) - 1 Nomination

  • Best Animated Feature Film - Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer, and Peter Del Vecho

"On behalf of the amazing cast and crew of Raya and the Last Dragon, we'd like to express our sheer joy and deep appreciation to the Academy for nominating our film," said Hall, López Estrada, Shurer, and Del Vecho. "We'd also like to congratulate our fellow nominees. We're honored to be in your company."

Watch Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+

Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings (Marvel Studios) (Streaming on Disney+) - 1 Nomination

  • Best Visual Effects - Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker, and Dan Oliver

"I'm so proud of all the work in the film; it's a real collaboration between so many departments, and for the VFX to be recognized in this way is fantastic," said Townsend, VFX Supervisor. "So many artists, producers, coordinators, support staff, spread across the world, many working from home during these crazy times, helped create some beautiful imagery. It's incredible to be nominated."

"I'd like to say a huge thank you to the team at Marvel, especially Chris Townsend, whose passion and love for this film pushed the visual storytelling to such a beautiful and mythical place," added Walker, VFX Supervisor, Weta. "Thank you to [director and writer] Destin Daniel Cretin for trusting us and allowing us to collaborate with him on this incredible journey.  The biggest of thank yous to our incredible team at Weta who worked on this project. They are the best at what they do, and they bring joy to my life every single day. Their passion and enthusiasm are the life blood of the production and without them I wouldn't be here. I couldn't be prouder of them all. And lastly, a huge thank you to all the other vendors who worked on this film. Their work is outstanding, and it was a pleasure to work alongside and collaborate with them. It was an incredible joint effort with the best in the business and the end result is something we are all incredibly proud of."

"It was an amazing experience working with our Australian production crew in my home town of Sydney and honored to be part of such a beautiful film," said Farrell, Additional VFX Supervisor. "I am thrilled we have been recognized by our peers in the Visual Effects community."

"Working on Shang-Chi with many talented crew across all departments was a real honor," added Oliver, SFX Supervisor. "Also a great honor to be recognized by our peers for the work we did on Shang-Chi."

Watch Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings on Disney+

Summer of Soul

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (Searchlight Pictures / Onyx Collective) (Streaming on Hulu and Disney+)

  • Best Documentary Feature - Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent, and David Dinerstein

"It is a huge honor to receive this nomination," said Thompson. "The Harlem Cultural Festival was both a testament to Black genius and Black joy at a formative time in our country's history, and a cautionary tale about the way that history, especially Black history, can be erased. Being entrusted with the responsibility of keeping that past visible has been one of the great honors of my life. I am beyond gratified to be nominated alongside these four other incredible filmmakers. Congratulations to the entire filmmaking team and everyone at Searchlight, Onyx and Hulu."

Will Packer will produce the 94th Oscars, marking his first involvement with the show. Glenn Weiss will direct the ceremony for the seventh time. The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood and be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT (and in more than 200 territories worldwide).

Watch Summer of Soul on Disney+

5 Things to Know About Alice’s Wonderland Bakery

By Andie Hagemann

Don’t be late for a very important date with the brand-new animated series Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, premiering Wednesday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. The first 6 episodes will also be available on Disney+ same day. Alice (voiced by newcomer Libby Rue) and her pals are whipping up magical delicious treats for all of Wonderland in this fanciful show geared toward kids aged 2 to 7 and their families.

Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, inspired by the animated classic Alice in Wonderland, centers on the great-granddaughter of the 1951 film’s heroine and a promising young baker at the Wonderland Bakery; audiences will also be reintroduced to iconic characters such as the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Max Mittelman), and meet new and reimagined characters—including the Queen of Hearts (voiced by Eden Espinosa) and Princess of Hearts (voiced by Abigail Estrella).

Before savoring this sweet series, here are five things you need to know about Alice’s Wonderland Bakery:

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Food is an integral part of Alice in Wonderland, as the heroine eats and drinks her way through her magical journey. For executive producer Chelsea Beyl and co-executive producer and art director Frank Montagna, it was only fitting to include food and baking in Young Alice’s story too. “I think so many kids love baking, and I hope the show inspires them to try something new or express themselves creatively through a batch of cupcakes, cake, or decorating—because food is so creative,” Beyl tells D23. The treats at the Wonderland Bakery use real-world ingredients such as eggs and milk to connect with the show’s young viewers, and a touch of whimsy to give recipes a Wonderland twist. “One dessert I love is when Hattie [Alice’s madcap pal, voiced by CJ Uy] makes the ‘Try Again Tart,’ because it’s a cute example of when kids make something and put their own twist on it, and he later has to remake it for the Queen. It’s a fun lesson on how he bakes the Hatter way,” says Montagna.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me
Alice is joined in the Wonderland Bakery by best friends Hattie; Fergie (voiced by Jack Stanton), a white rabbit; and Rosa, the Princess of Hearts… along with her magical cookbook, Cookie, and some enchanted appliances. The group uses teamwork, creativity, and friendship to create delectable creations for all their pals. Alice, Fergie, Hattie, and Rosa are descendants of the iconic characters and created for a modern audience; to that end, the creative team was inspired to bring a global feel to the series—seen in the set design, the food, the music, and the casting. “We always wanted the cast to be diverse, and when we were thinking about Hattie or Rosa, the Queen, we tried to clue into different cultures; it just seemed natural,” says Montagna, who landed on a Japanese-inspired design for Hattie and a Cuban influence for the Queen (and Princess) of Hearts.

Dance (and Bake) to the Music
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery features toe-tapping songs sure to get fans movin’ and groovin’ in the kitchen. With music being a major part of storytelling, the show’s creators turned to the pros to ensure the fun songs go off on the right note: “We got a lot of talent from Broadway, especially for the flowers [characters], who have a big singing presence in Wonderland,” says Beyl.

Inspired by Disney Parks… and Beyond
In the early days of production, the crew took a field trip to the central bakery at Disneyland Park to view which tools Alice would need to make her bakery unique—and may of the items the creative team chose (including a giant mixer similar to Disneyland’s industrial one) also passed muster with Beyl’s pastry-chef sister. Alice’s bakery itself is reminiscent of the eye-popping treats she’s creating, with a color palette full of candy-coated pastels.

Wonderland’s Whimsical Guests
Make sure to keep those (rabbit) ears open: The first season of Alice’s Wonderland Bakery features hilarious guest voices including former Saturday Night Live comedians Vanessa Bayer and Bobby Moynihan (Tweedle Do and Tweedle Don’t) and Ana Gasteyer (Kiki); Craig Ferguson (Doorknob); Donald Faison (Harry the March Hare); friend of D23 Yvette Nicole Brown (Mama Rabbit); and many more!

Don’t miss Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, debuting February 9—with new episodes premiering on Thursday, February 10, and Friday, February 11, as well—on Disney Junior and Disney Channel and the first 6 episodes available on Disney+.

National Geographic Announces 13 Original Projects for Disney+

By Zach Johnson

The Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour continued today with exciting announcements and presentations from National Geographic. To kick things off, Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Content, announced that 13 new original projects are being produced exclusively for Disney+ in partnership with visionary filmmakers, passionate conservationists, and marquee talent. “At National Geographic, our strategy is to tell bold, best-in-class stories that ignite curiosity and inspire people to explore and care about our world,” Monroe said. “With premium, creatively ambitious shows from the very best storytellers in the world, we are bringing awe and wonder to the lives of global Disney+ subscribers with wildly entertaining National Geographic documentary series, feature documentary films, epic natural history, and fact-based scripted drama.”

Today’s announcements expand upon the previously announced slate of Disney+ Originals from National Geographic, which include this year’s Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and America the Beautiful, and future series A Real Bug’s Life, Queens, and Oceanxplorers. Monroe also announced Michael B. Jordan will narrate America the Beautiful, and Benedict Cumberbatch will narrate Super/Natural. Finally, Monroe announced that the next documentary from the award-winning National Geographic Documentary Films banner will be Ron Howard’s We Feed People. Following a festival run, starting with its world premiere at SXSW, the film will launch on Disney+ this Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 27.

Read on for more detailed descriptions of each project...

Pole to Pole (National Geographic/Disney+)
In his third epic project for National Geographic, Will Smith will lead viewers on an astounding journey from the bottom of the planet to its top—covering more than 12,000 miles from the South Pole to the North Pole—to unlock the mystery of Earth’s astonishing diversity and alchemy. Filming for more than 100 days, the series documents Smith’s trip across all of Earth’s biomes: polar ice, desert, jungle, mountain, savannah, and swamp. In each location, Smith and his film crew embed with local communities and experience firsthand what it is like to live in some of the most amazing and extreme landscapes on the planet.

Great Migrations (National Geographic/Disney+)
Our planet is on the move. Animals across every landscape embark on epic migrations in search of food, shelter, and safe breeding grounds. Whether by land, sea, or air, all of these journeys are full of obstacles and dangers—but only those with the strength, determination, and persistence go the distance. Now, using the state-of-the-art remote cameras and drones and the latest tracking technology that can break down animal behavior by the hour, we can follow the drama, jeopardy, and courage every step of the way. Inspiring animal stories of endeavor and emotion are set against a backdrop of sweeping wildlife spectacles and epic landscapes.

Home (National Geographic/Disney+)
Filmed over an unprecedented decade and running an exceptional nine seasons, National Geographic and BBC Studios Natural History Unit embark on Home, the most ambitious and definitive portrait of life on Earth ever attempted. Production is underway on the first three seasons, with development committed to six more seasons of what will be a cinematic spectacle of natural history across the planet, created by an award-winning team. Homewill journey through five oceans and seven continents to reveal the deeply symbiotic relationships between all living things.

Lion (National Geographic/Disney+)
Disney Legend Jon Favreau, the world’s foremost natural history producer, Mike Gunton, and the BBC Studios Natural History Unit have joined forces in a formidable creative partnership to present a landmark series, now in preproduction, about one the world’s most majestic creatures: lions. When principal photography begins, Lion will follow a single pride for an unprecedented four years. In this intimate and emotional series, the filmmakers will use cutting-edge technology to explore the heart-stopping challenges facing an entire species, all told through a compelling, serialized dramatic story of a single group of characters.

Secrets of the Elephants and Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic/Disney+)
National Geographic is turning its Emmy® Award–winning Secrets of the Whales into a new annual multipart franchise to coincide with Earth Day each year, with James Cameron returning as executive producer. Each year will focus on one species to fully explore its unique traits and culture. In 2023, the franchise will present Secrets of the Elephants with conservationist Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Elephants have long been a source of wonder and mystery with their rich emotional lives and almost supernatural ways of navigating the world. Secrets of the Elephantstravels the globe to meet different families of elephants, each with their own set of remarkable cultural behaviors which they’ve adapted to suit the environment in which they live. This series deploys the latest science and brand-new camera technology to reveal the elephant’s secret world, revealing not just how truly extraordinary they are in their own right but also how similar they are to humans. Secrets of the Octopus, meanwhile, will be presented by wildlife scientist Dr. Alexandra Schnell.

Sentient (National Geographic/Disney+)
If monkeys do math, whales mourn their dead, bees draw maps, and the largest communication network on Earth is run by mushrooms... how special are we? For centuries, we’ve set ourselves apart from nature because of the way we think, feel, and learn, but the latest revelations from the fields of animal behavior, cognition, and psychology reveal some astonishing truths about the other minds with which we share our planet. Sentient will show that life at all scales—plants, animals, and arguably, entire ecosystems—has aspects of sentience and will ask us to rethink our place in nature.

Super/Natural (National Geographic/Disney+)
Executive produced by James Cameron and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, this new series—set to premiere later this year—utilizes the latest scientific innovations and leading-edge filmmaking technology to reveal the secret powers and super-senses of the world’s most extraordinary animals. Viewers will get to see and hear beyond normal human perception and experience the natural world as a specific species does—from seeing flowers in bee-vision, to eavesdropping on a conversation between elephant seals, to soaring the length of a football field with glow-in-the-dark squirrels.

The Biggest Little Farm (National Geographic/Disney+)
After previously announcing an Earth Day special for Disney+, based on the award-winning feature documentary about John and Molly Chester, who abandoned urban Los Angeles to live on a dried-up farm in Ventura County, National Geographic will expand their story in a series for Disney+. Over the course of 14 years, the Chesters transformed that farm into Apricot Lane Farms, which reflects the biodiversity of our planet. The new, heartwarming series is akin to a real-life Charlotte’s Web, as it will soon introduce audiences to the animals on the farm, including Georgie, the gopher-eating egret; Walter, the rooster who protects injured chickens; and Moe, an adorable lamb who befriends the family.

Beyond Belief with David Blaine (National Geographic/Disney+)
Beyond Belief with David Blaine presents a rarely seen side of magician and endurance artist David Blaine. This new documentary adventure series brings viewers along as Blaine goes on a global odyssey across remote cultures, each embedded with unique histories and practices. He will hunt for extraordinary people—including shamans, fakirs, and magicians who perform magic that defies what doctors and scientists think is possible—and convince them to share their secrets.

The Epic Adventures of Bertie Gregory (National Geographic/Disney+)
The face of a new generation of aspirational adventurers and natural history filmmakers, 27-year-old Bertie Gregory takes viewers on a nail-biting journey that pushes into the most spectacular and secretive corners of our wild world. Armed with leading-edge film technology, The Epic Adventures of Bertie Gregory breaks the mold of the traditional natural history program by telling extraordinary, real-life animal stories and taking viewers with him for every beat of the action. For weeks at a time, the charismatic, award-winning cinematographer immerses himself into the animals’ lives to capture the untold stories of iconic creatures living in some of the harshest environments on our planet. This season finds Gregory braving the icy worlds of Antarctica in search of the biggest gathering of whales ever filmed and coming face-to-face with specialist buffalo-hunting lions in Zambia. In this multipart adventure series, he takes audiences on an ambitious odyssey across the globe, showcasing the natural world at a time when it faces its greatest challenges. Set to premiere this year, the series has been picked up for a second season, which is filming now.

Photographer (National Geographic/Disney+)
A stunning and intimate documentary series from Academy Award® and Emmy Award-winners E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Photographer tells the intensely personal stories of the world’s greatest visual storytellers and artists. Spanning diverse genres of photography, each episode profiles an extraordinary talent, taking viewers on a journey to discover exactly what is required to produce the world’s most iconic images and offering immersive insights into what it feels like to be the person behind the lens capturing extraordinary moments. Each episode is directed by a different filmmaker, who partners with a photographer to tell the story of his or her life. Vasarhelyi and Chin direct the first episode, which profiles conservation photographers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier.

A Small Light (National Geographic/Disney+)
As previously announced, this powerful limited scripted series tells the remarkable story of twentysomething Miep Gies. After her boss, Otto Frank, came to her and asked her to hide his family from the Nazis during World War II, she didn’t hesitate. For the next two years, Miep, her husband, and the other helpers watched over the eight souls in hiding in the Secret Annex. And it was Miep who found Anne’s Diary and preserved it so that she and Otto could later share it with the world. Gies, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 100, was an amazing and unlikely heroine whose story is both inspiring and deeply humanistic.

We Feed People (National Geographic Documentary Films/Disney+)
From Director Ron Howard and producers Brian Grazer and Imagine Documentaries, We Feed People spotlights chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s incredible mission and evolution over 12 years, from being a scrappy group of grassroots volunteers to becoming one of the most highly regarded humanitarian aid organizations in the disaster relief sector. As the world’s most prominent food-focused first responders, Andrés and the World Central Kitchen team have snapped into action, combating hunger in the wake of crisis by serving over 60 million meals to date. Featuring exclusive access to World Central Kitchen’s initiatives and archives, the documentary follows Andrés and his team around the globe as they address the increasing environmental and humanitarian crises that devastate our world the best way they know how: through food. The film takes an in-depth look at World Central Kitchen’s collaborations with local chefs to feed affected people and first responders, which has instilled an extraordinary sense of hope in these communities. From the frontlines of a crisis to the backrooms of the kitchen, the film examines the restoration of community and the activation of change—one meal at a time.

Castings Announced for Beauty and the Beast, National Treasure, and More

By Zach Johnson

Storytelling is what Disney does best—and today, Disney Branded Television announced it will be adding new titles to its growing slate of premium original programming across Disney+ and Disney Channels. Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television, shared magical details, along with key casting updates, at today’s Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour. “With each one of these projects, we see an opportunity to build upon the strong foundation of storytelling that is a hallmark of the Disney brand,” she said. “I am so proud to be working with some of the most creative and diverse talent in the industry, both in front of and behind the camera, to bring these fresh, inventive, and impactful stories—new and reimagined—to life for our audiences to enjoy, regardless of platform.”

Davis announced that Rita Ora has joined the cast of the Beauty and the Beast (working title) prequel limited series, while Daveed Diggs will narrate The Crossover series. In addition, Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined the cast of the National Treasure series, while Michelle Yeoh will star alongside a global cast in American Born Chinese. New greenlights announced today include the original movies Prom Pact (working title), The Naughty Nine, and Under Wraps 2; the unscripted series Growing Up and Rennervations; and the scripted series Goosebumps. Secrets of Sulphur Springs was also renewed for a third season, and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouderwill now debut with two episodes on Wednesday, February 23, only on Disney+. Developing projects include two series, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears and Tiny Trailblazers, and a movie, Superfudge.

Additionally, Disney Junior’s groundbreaking animated series Doc McStuffins will turn 10 this year. To celebrate the anniversary, Davis announced a new animated music special inspired by the series will debut later in 2022. Disney Junior will also air episodes daily throughout March, including a marathon on March 23 to mark the anniversary of its debut.

Read on for more detailed descriptions of each project…

Prom Pact (Working Title) (Disney+ Original Movie)
It’s the height of prom season and high school senior Mandy Coleman (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend and fellow outsider Ben (Milo Manheim) are surrounded by over-the-top ’80s-themed Promposals. However, Mandy keeps her eyes focused on a different goal: her lifelong dream of attending Harvard. When she finds out her acceptance has been deferred, she is determined to do whatever she can do to get herself off the waitlist, even if that means asking for help from the one person she abhors—popular all-star jock Graham Lansing, whose father is a powerful senator and Harvard alum. Once Mandy becomes Graham’s tutor, she begins to realize there’s more to him than she thought and perhaps something more to life than Harvard.

The Naughty Nine (Disney Channel and Disney+)
The Naughty Nine is a holiday heist movie—think Ocean’s 11 at the North Pole—that follows fifth grader Andy, who has been a bit of a troublemaker this year. When Christmas morning rolls around and Andy gets stiffed by Santa, he realizes he’s on the “naughty list.” Feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a crack team of fellow “naughty listers” to execute an elaborate heist to get the presents he and the others feel they deserve. The determined ensemble includes Dulce, Andy’s best friend and archery expert; Lewis, a North Pole conspiracy theorist; Ha-Yoon, a daredevil “wheel woman”; Rose, an animal whisperer; Jon Anthony, a master-of-disguise; Albert, an adorable charmer; and Laurel, Andy’s older sister, a talented gymnast seeking to regain her confidence. Andy also enlists the help of Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa’s sleigh. However, in the process of finding their gifts, the gang begins to realize that Christmas is more about giving than taking. The Naughty Nine stars Winslow Fegley, Camila Rodriguez, Anthony Joo, Clara Stack, Imogen Cohen, Madilyn Kellam, and Deric McCabe.

Under Wraps 2 (Disney Channel and Disney+)
The sequel to Under Wraps, the remake of the very first Disney Channel Original Movie, Under Wraps 2 picks up as Amy (Sophia Hammons) is preparing for her father’s spooktacular Halloween-themed wedding to his fiancé, Carl. However, plans quickly go awry when Amy, Gilbert (Christian J. Simon), and Marshall (Malachi Barton) discover that their mummy friend Harold (Phil Wright) and his beloved Rose may be in danger. Sobek, an evil mummy with a 1,000-year-old grudge against his best friend-turned-bitter rival Harold, is unexpectedly awakened and out for revenge. With help from his hypnotized lackey Larry, Sobek kidnaps Rose, and Amy, Gilbert, Marshall, Buzzy and Harold must use their skills once again to save her and get back in time for the wedding. Melanie Brook, T.J. Storm, Rryla McIntosh, Jordan Conley, and Adam Wylie round out the Under Wraps 2 cast.

Growing Up (Disney+ Original Series)
Executive produced by Brie Larson, Growing Up is a groundbreaking hybrid docu-series that explores the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of adolescence through 10 compelling coming-of-age stories. It uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story. They represent a wide range of lived experiences, with powerful narratives that offer an engaging look at teenage-hood and the diverse social, familial, and internal obstacles they face on their path to self-discovery and acceptance. Each 30-minute episode features one young person, or “hero,” and their experience growing up and is anchored by a deeply personal interview that allows them to walk us through their childhood and teenage years. Alongside these interviews, creative cinematic reenactments help bring their major inflection points to life.

Rennervations (Disney+ Original Series)
Rennervations is an original four-part series that embraces Jeremy Renner’s lifelong passion for giving back to communities around the world by reimagining unique purpose-built vehicles to meet a community’s needs. Behind the big screen, Renner is a construction aficionado. He is heavily invested in the highly creative fabricator culture that exists across the globe and hopes to change lives with these skills and inspire others to do the same.

Goosebumps (Disney+ Original Series)
Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling book series, Goosebumps combines teen comedy with horror, action-adventure, mystery, and psychological thrill. The series follows a group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together—thanks to and in spite of their friendships, rivalries, and pasts with each other—in order to save it, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process. The television series is influenced by five of the most popular Goosebumps books.

Secrets of Sulphur Springs Season 3 (Disney Channel and Disney+)
In season three of the popular live-action, time-travel mystery series, a new ghost will torment The Tremont. In addition, Griffin (Preston Oliver) will travel to the future and then back to the present, where he and Harper (Kyliegh Curran) will have to figure out a way to change the timelines of their lives in order to save both their friendship and their families.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+ Original Series)
A continuation of the acclaimed series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder follows the adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and the Proud family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring new career highs for matriarch Trudy, wilder dreams for patriarch Oscar and new challenges for Penny, including a socially woke neighbor who thinks she has a lot to teach her, bullying social media influencers who want to cancel her, and her own teenage hormones. The highly anticipated animated series will premiere with two episodes on Wednesday, February 23.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Disney+ Original Series)
Executive produced by Eva Longoria, this fantasy/adventure television series is based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by author Tehlor Kay Mejia and published by Disney-Hyperion under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Inspired by the legend of La Llorona (the Weeping Woman), the story introduces a teen girl, Paola Santiago, who has always relied on hard science and logic to make sense of the world—unlike her mother, who believes in magic. But folklore becomes fact when Paola’s best friend goes missing, and to save her, Paola has to enter a world of mind-bending monsters and relentless spirits steeped in Latin folklore that defy both logic and legend.

Tiny Trailblazers (Disney Junior Original Series)
Geared towards kids aged 2-7, the entertaining stories in Tiny Trailblazers model positive attitudes about the great outdoors and highlight the importance of environmental conservation and wildlife protection. Partners from National Geographic are consulting on the project. Reese Witherspoon serves as executive producer and voices one of the mom characters, Fern, a wildlife specialist. Tiny Trailblazers follows adventurous city kid Tilly and the more risk-averse Birdie, who become friends after Tilly’s family moves to a campground while her scientist mom is doing field research on forest streams. As the girls observe their mothers’ careers and interests and begin to explore and discover the magic of nature all around them, they develop a supportive friendship and a deep understanding of and appreciation for the natural world. The series also highlights age-appropriate social and emotional lessons about thoughtfulness, self-esteem, good instincts, and trying new things.

Superfudge (Disney+ Original Movie)
Based on the best-selling book by Judy Blume and from Joe and Anthony Russo of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Superfudge centers on the Hatcher family. Twelve-year-old Peter Hatcher almost has it all—two boomer parents, a perfect though slightly odorous turtle, his very own bedroom in a cramped Manhattan apartment, a ride-or-die best friend, and eight whole weeks of summer vacation ahead of him—with just one massive problem. Farley Drexel Hatcher, his 3-year-old brother, aka Fudge, isn’t just a problem—he is a tornado, a tsunami, a superstorm, an arctic bomb of chaos and destruction. When Fudge runs away under Peter’s watch, an epic family adventure across the city ensues, one that ultimately brings these two together just as their world is turned upside down by the arrival of a brand-new problem: an infant baby sister. It’s a reminder that nothing is ever constant… except change.

American Born Chinese (Disney+ Original Series)
The previously announced genre-hopping action-comedy series, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. The action-packed coming-of-age adventure explores identity, culture, and family. The newly announced international cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan, Jim Liu, and Sydney Taylor.

Beauty and the Beast (Working Title) (Disney+ Original Series)
Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the previously announced prequel series will follow Gaston (Luke Evans) and LeFou (Josh Gad) as they set off with LeFou’s stepsister, Tilly (Briana Middleton), after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure. While the mysteries of the past are uncovered and the dangers of the present grow, old friends and new enemies reveal that this familiar kingdom harbors many secrets. Rita Ora joins the previously announced cast, which includes Fra Fee and Jelani Alladin, as a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom.

Big Shot Season 2 (Disney+ Original Series)
Marvyn Korn (John Stamos) returns to Westbrook with a new fire, ready to show that his girls basketball team belongs in D-2 and that he’s still the championship-winning, powerhouse coach he was in the NCAA. Marvyn’s latest plan toward relevance is to get his team broadcast on ESPN, and his method is to recruit an unlikely player: Ava (Sara Echeagaray), a gutsy beach volleyball phenom whose public tantrum got her ousted from her own sport. Between losing their assistant coach, Holly Barrett (Jessalyn Gilsig), to a rival school; new friction amongst teammates; a sudden and unexpected proximity to boys; and off-the-court disasters that no one could’ve predicted, this season, the Westbrook Sirens have even more to prove. Rounding out the cast of Big Shot are Sophia Mitri Schloss, Nell Verlaque, Tiana Le, Tisha Custodio, Cricket Wampler, and Yvette Nicole Brown.

The Crossover (Disney+ Original Series)
Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel-in-verse by Kwame Alexander, The Crossover introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of he and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball, and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own. Daveed Diggs narrates the series, which stars Jalyn Hall, Amir O’Neil, Derek Luke, Sabrina Revelle, Skyla I’Lece, Deja Monique Cruz, and Trevor Raine Bush.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Season 2 (Disney+ Original Series)
Set in modern-day Hawai’i, this coming-of-age medical dramedy follows Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a 16-year-old prodigy juggling a budding medical career and life as a teenager. Series regulars include Jason Scott Lee, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Matthew Sato, Wes Tian, Emma Meisel, Mapuana Makia, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 3 (Disney+ Original Series)
As previously announced, season three of the hit series is set at Camp Shallow Lake, a family-owned sleepaway camp in California. There, the Wildcats and their fellow campers stage a high-stakes production of Frozen and determine who is “best in snow.” In addition to music from Frozen, season three features music from Camp Rockand the High School Musical franchise. The cast includes Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Adrian Lyles, Saylor Bell, Corbin Bleu, Meg Donnelly, Jason Earles, Kate Reinders, Olivia Rose Keegan, and Olivia Rodrigo.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Season 2 (Disney+ Original Series)
After winning back the Mighty Ducks team name last year, our squad-with-heart and their coach Alex Morrow (Lauren Graham) take to the road to attend an intense summer hockey institute in California run by charming yet hardcore former NHL player Colin Cole (Josh Duhamel). It’s a place for kids to get excellent at hockey—without school to get in the way. As our Ducks try to survive in this super-competitive environment, they’re faced with the question: Can you win summer?

The Mysterious Benedict Society Season 2 (Disney+ Original Series)
Based on the best-selling YA book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, season two picks up as the team of four intrepid orphans reunite a year after their first mission, when they were assembled by Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale) and his cohorts to foil the nefarious “Emergency” created by Benedict’s twin brother Dr. L.D. Curtain (Hale). Now they must embark on a perilous journey, relying on wits, intellect, and empathy to try and stop Curtain as he shifts to a new strategy with global implications. The series stars Kristen Schaal, MaameYaa Boafo, Ryan Hurst, Gia Sandhu, Seth B. Carr, Emmy DeOliveira, Mystic Inscho, and Marta Kessler.

National Treasure (Disney+ Original Series)
An expansion of the popular National Treasure movie franchise, this Disney+ original series centers on the young heroine Jess, a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer with a natural talent for solving puzzles and a proclivity for unraveling good mysteries. In search of answers about her own family, Jess embarks on the adventure of a lifetime and recruits a few treasure-hunting friends—Tasha, Ethan, Oren, and Liam—and an FBI agent to help uncover the truth about her parents and their connection to a long-lost Pan-American treasure. Catherine Zeta-Jones joins the previously announced cast that includes Lisette Alexis, Zuri Reed, Jordan Rodrigues, Antonio Cipriano, Jake Austin Walker, and Lyndon Smith.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+ Original Series)
The previously announced Percy Jackson and the Olympians is an epic adventure series based on—and closely aligned with—Disney Hyperion’s best-selling book series by award-winning author Rick Riordan. The live-action series tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound supernatural powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. Now, Percy must trek across America to find it and restore order to Olympus.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Disney+ Original Series)
The previously announced series The Spiderwick Chronicles, based on the best-selling books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, is a modern coming-of-age story combined with a fantasy-adventure. It follows the Grace Family—twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory, and their mother Helen—who move into their dilapidated ancestral home and begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great uncle, who once discovered the secret (and maybe foreboding) faerie world existing parallel to their own.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

As usual, this week features some spectacular content the whole family will enjoy… Monday marks the anniversary of the animated classic Pinocchio. On Tuesday, the latest episode of black-ish has Bow serving as Olivia’s mentor through the college admissions process. Will Boba and Fennec be victorious in the big battle? Find out when the season finale of The Book of Boba Fett lands Wednesday; that same day, travel down the rabbit hole once again with the debut of the animated series Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, then go behind-the-scenes of the hit series Hawkeye with Wednesday’s premiere of Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye. So, grab the popcorn and your favorite cozy blanket and watch all these fantastic titles!

Pinocchio

Pinocchio—Monday, February 7, on Disney+
“Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee,” it’s this classic’s 82nd anniversary! Woodworker Geppetto (voice of Christian Rub) wishes upon a star that the puppet he created, Pinocchio (voice of Dickie Jones), could become a real boy. That very night, the Blue Fairy (voice of Evelyn Venable) appears and grants Geppetto’s wish and asks Jiminy Cricket (voice of Cliff Edwards) to serve as Pinocchio’s conscience. Jiminy has his work cut out for him when the naïve young boy falls with the wrong crowd; later, Pinocchio redeems himself by saving Geppetto from the clutches of Monstro the whale.

black-ish

black-ish—Tuesday, February 8, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, on ABC
Mother knows best? When Junior’s (Marcus Scribner) girlfriend Olivia (Katlyn Nichol) is accepted into Yale, he turns to Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) for guidance, asking his mom to convince her to stay in Los Angeles and attend USC instead. Will Bow follow her son’s wishes or encourage Olivia to choose the Ivy League? Meanwhile, Diane (Marsai Martin) and Jack (Miles Brown) discover the inspiration for Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) ads—and it’s hitting a little too close to home.

The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett—Wednesday, February 9, on Disney+
We left off watching Grogu train at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi school on Yavin-4, learning how to use the Force… and the power of restraint. Mando (Pedro Pascal) flies to give Grogu his present (and watch his training from afar) before traveling back to Tatooine to help Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) with his Pyke problem. Meanwhile, Fennec (Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen) lays out a plan to fight the crime syndicate. It all culminates with this season finale… Will Boba bring the Rancor out of its cage?

Alice's Wonderland Bakery

Alice’s Wonderland Bakery—Wednesday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m. ET, on Disney Junior and Disney Channel
It’ll be a very merry unbirthday when this brand-new animated series premieres across Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+! Meet Alice (voiced by newcomer Libby Rue), the great-granddaughter of the heroine of the 1951 animated classic Alice in Wonderland and a promising young baker at Wonderland Bakery. In the first episode, which is comprised of two 11-minute stories, Alice surprises her friend Rosa, Princess of Hearts (voiced by Abigail Estrella), with an extraordinary unbirthday cake. Then, hilarious hijinks ensues when the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Max Mittleman) puts in a large order for his party in the Tulgey Wood. The first six episodes will also be available on Disney+ the same day.

Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye

Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye—Wednesday, February 9, on Disney+
Lights, camera, action! Learn how Marvel Studios created the hit series Hawkeye, starring Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld (above), in this behind-the-scenes feature debuting on Disney+. The immersive episode is an in-depth examination of the latest storytelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Which Disney Pal Pairing Are You and Your Friend?

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Every day is a good day to celebrate the magic in our friendships, but this Valentine’s Day season, we’re finding extra reasons to honor our buddies during D23’s Pal-entine’s Day celebration! Right now, you’re probably thinking about a special pal—whether they’re a childhood friend, a buddy from work, or just a cool someone you met at the right time. You might know everything about this friend, but there’s one thing any Disney fan should know about their friendship—which Disney pal pairing is most like theirs? Worry not, because we’ve concocted this quiz to help you discover which two buddies from the worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars are most like you and your friend.

1. Where did you and your pal meet?

2. How long did it take for you to become friends?

3. You’re going out with your pal—what’s your destination?

4. What’s one word that describes your friendship?

5. You’re going to Disneyland! What are you and your friend doing first?

6. Pick a Disney+ series for you and your pal to binge together

7. Which of the following most describes your friend?

8. Pick one thing to symbolize your friendship

Which Disney Pal Pairing Are You and Your Friend?
Mike and Sully

Mike and Sully

You and your bestie might have started off on the wrong foot, but soon enough you realized that you make a great team! While you might be opposites in some ways, those differences only make the two of you stronger. Together, you can achieve anything—whether it’s rescuing a lost kid or doing hilarious stand up, you’ve created a monstrously great friendship!
Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau

You’ve got a friendship strong enough to survive space and time! Most likely, your friendship was founded from a shared interest—maybe through work, a hobby, or an invasion of shape-shifting aliens! You both love making the world better... and getting into trouble. When you and your friend work together, you’re flying higher, further, faster as a team.
Luca and Alberto

Luca and Alberto

It’s a big world out there, and you and your friend are determined to explore it together! Your friendship is filled with a sense of wonder, and more often than not, the pair of you can be found trying something new. While the unknown can be scary, you both remind each other to say “Silencio, Bruno!” to your worries and take on whatever new food, activity, or place is next.
Shang-Chi and Katy

Shang-Chi and Katy

As a duo, you bring unique talents to the table, although you’re probably using them for more wacky hijinks than fighting bad guys. You’ve known each other for a long time, growing from goofy kids to... still goofy adults! While you both know how to have fun, when the going gets tough, you always have each other’s backs. Dedicated to supporting each other, you’ve created a legendary friendship that can handle any challenge in life.
Finn and Poe

It only took one moment for this friendship to form, and then you were instantly a pair. Even though you’ve lived totally different lives, it feels like you should have known each other forever. You make great copilots for navigating life, inspiring hope in each other when times get tough. You’ll never find a more perfect pairing in all the galaxy then you and your bestie!
Tiana and Charlotte

Tiana and Charlotte

Since childhood, you and your bestie have been believing in fairy tales and finding magic in the world. You’re both royalty in your own ways, supporting each other’s aspirations no matter how different they might be. If there’s an emergency (be it fashion- or frog-related), you are always ready to drop everything and help your friend.