JUST ANNOUNCED: Enter the Enchanting World of Encanto With Disney twenty-three

By the D23 Team

It’s challenging being “ordinary” when you live in a home like Mirabel’s—every child in her family has received a magical gift… except for her. That’s the premise of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ dazzling new film Encanto, which arrives in theaters November 24. The new issue of Disney twenty-three, featuring an exclusive cover in celebration of the film, takes readers on a journey to the colorful world of the Madrigal family, set in the lush landscapes of Colombia. Star Stephanie Beatriz and the creators of Encanto open the door to this extraordinary tale that is anything but ordinary.

And this December, visionary director Steven Spielberg gives audiences a musical holiday gift: his reimagining of the beloved West Side Story. In exclusive interviews, stars Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose tell Disney twenty-three how they brought the classic story to life—and how it’s just as relevant today as it was when it was created. In other holiday happenings, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye series, which takes place at Christmastime, will score a bullseye on Disney+ later this month, and star Alaqua Cox and executive producer Trinh Tran preview the adventure. Plus, guests can cozy up by the “virtual fireplace” as Walt Disney Animation Studios artist Brittney Lee shows off her hand-crafted Arendelle Castle Yule Log coming to Disney+, and Disney twenty-three shines a very merry light on some favorite animated holiday shorts. For even more seasonal fun, visit D23.com starting December 1, when D23 Season of Magic kicks off with videos, stories, sweepstakes, and more to ensure your winter is a wonderland.

The new issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also goes behind the scenes of the first-ever Cirque du Soleil / Walt Disney Imagineering / Walt Disney Animation Studios collaboration, Drawn to Life. Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen discusses her epic roles from The Mandalorian to Mulan and the upcoming The Book of Boba Fett. And readers can take a visual journey through Bob Iger’s remarkable time at Disney—first as an ABC executive, then Disney’s CEO, and now its outgoing Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. From Mickey Mouse and the Jonas Brothers to the Avengers and Disney Legends, it’s been a memorable ride.

Also included in the Winter issue of Disney twenty-three:

  • A salute to Beauty and the Beast on its 30th anniversary
  • A close-up look at the incredible Walt Disney Archives exhibits around the country
  • From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Encanto, a new piece of art features all 60 feature films from Walt Disney Animation Studios
  • Marvel Comics celebrates 60 fantastic years of The Fantastic Four
  • Five wild decades of Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World Resort
  • Regular features including By the Numbers, Character Analysis, and Ask the Walt Disney Archives

Plus, every issue includes special holiday gift tags created by Topps Digital just for D23 Gold Members along with the exclusive opportunity to redeem more than 30 Digital Collectibles from Disney’s Animation Research Library—including scenes from Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast, and 101 Dalmatians! Members will be able to redeem this one-of-a-kind Gold Pack free in the Disney Collect! by Topps app.

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. Learn more about D23 Gold Membership here. The latest issue will begin arriving before the end of November.

“We’re Going to Walt Disney World”: Full House

By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives

If you grew up watching television in the 1980s and ‘90s, there is an objective argument to be made that some of the greatest family sitcoms of all time were produced during this era. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) was at the forefront of this golden age of adolescent television with their Friday night programming block titled TGIF (short for “Thank Goodness It’s Funny”). Debuting in 1989, TGIF became a staple in millions of homes across America, and would continue to be throughout 1990s as audiences tuned in weekly to watch now-classic shows such as Boy Meets World (1993-2000), Step by Step (ABC: 1991-1997; CBS: 1997-1998), Family Matters (ABC: 1989-1997; CBS: 1997-1998), and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (ABC: 1996-2000; WB: 2000-2003)

For Disney fans, these titles are memorable not only for their place in ABC history, but also for the episodes each show filmed at Walt Disney World Resort. Setting family sitcoms in this vacation kingdom could not have come at a better time for The Walt Disney Company, as it was in the midst of vastly expanding its hold on ‘90s popular culture with a string of hit animated films and new Walt Disney World attractions; both were ripe for promotion via TV programming aimed at attracting the attention of parents and their kids.

One of the most beloved and fondly remembered TGIF sitcoms on ABC was Full House. Originally premiering September 22, 1987, the show was not initially well-received by critics, but it soldiered on and eventually became a family favorite and standout in the Nielsen TV ratings. When TGIF debuted in 1989, Full House kicked off the night and was followed by a pair of two other classic ABC sitcoms—Perfect Strangers and Family Matters. In a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bob Iger, then CEO and Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, remembered, “…Full House had not established itself as that much of a success when it was tried in different time slots earlier in the week. And it was Friday night and putting it as the anchor of TGIF that really gave it the lift.”

The original plot of Full House centered on San Francisco TV sportscaster Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) trying to pick up the pieces of his life after the untimely death of his wife, which left him raising three young daughters: D.J. (Candace Cameron [Bure]), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen). To help Danny cope with his unexpected widower role, his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) and best friend Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier) move in to help raise the girls.

By the time season six rolled around, the show had become a smash hit and a cultural phenomenon, thanks in part to its many catch phrases—”Have mercy!”; “You got it, dude!”; “How rude!”; “Cut it out!”— and the wild popularity of the show’s twin actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. In early March 1993, the cast left the controlled environment of the Warner Bros. Studios soundstages in Burbank, California, and trekked to Florida to film a two-part episode set at Walt Disney World.

The story begins with Michelle and Stephanie fighting over who gets the last of a cherry candy, with Danny proclaiming Michelle the winner. This causes Stephanie to lament that Michelle always gets what she wants—an important plot point that will drive the rest of the story. After the candy debacle, Danny says goodbye to his long-distance girlfriend Vicky Larson (Gail Edwards), and then decides seconds after she leaves that he is prepared to propose to her. Meanwhile, Jesse tells his wife Becky (Lori Loughlin) that his band, Jesse and the Rippers, are going to be playing at Walt Disney World, and he wants the trip to be a romantic occasion for the pair to celebrate their anniversary. Joey, who co-hosts a radio show with Jesse, enters the scene and says the radio station agreed to let the two broadcast their show from Florida—much to Jesse’s chagrin. And, of course, the rest of the Tanner family, including bothersome neighbor Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), tell Jesse they are also coming to Florida—again, to Jesse’s dismay.

Once in Florida, the characters gather outside their hotel, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, to discuss their agendas before splitting up to embark on their day at Disney parks. D.J., Michelle, Kimmy, and Stephanie head to the Magic Kingdom where they see a giant lamp on Main Street, U.S.A., that—if rubbed by the right person—will make Genie from Aladdin appear… and that person will become prince or princess for the day. In perhaps one of the cheekiest and self-aware Disney in-jokes ever, D.J. mistakenly thinks she sees her boyfriend Steve Hale (Scott Weinger), who couldn’t make the trip, at the ceremony dressed up as Aladdin; in real life, Weinger was the voice of the title character in the 1992 animated version of Aladdin. Michelle and Stephanie argue over who’s next to rub the lamp, with D.J. pleading for Stephanie to let Michelle go ahead of her. Stephanie agrees, but fumes over Michelle yet again getting whatever she wants. Michelle rubs the lamp and Genie is summoned, making her “Princess for the Day” and the recipient of the three special wishes. Her first wish is to bypass waiting in any lines.

Over at the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Joey meets up with his animator friend, played by real-life Disney animator Mark Henn, at the former attraction The Magic of Disney Animation (now Star Wars Launch Bay). While Mark is away from his animation desk, Joey draws a caricature of himself that inexplicably comes to life and entertains through a variety of sight gags.

Danny goes to meet Vicky, who was able to fly out to Walt Disney World to join the vacation, and he spends the rest of his time trying to find the right moment to propose to her. Unfortunately, every time he tries, something—or someone—interrupts him. Back at the Magic Kingdom, D.J., Kimmy, and Stephanie tire of Michelle’s bossy princess attitude and strict mandate that they only ride the attractions she wants to. After overhearing the group’s disdain for her unfair rulings, Michelle decides to run away from them. To top off the rest of the drama, Becky becomes upset with Jesse after he repeatedly fails to find time in his busy schedule rehearsing with his band and doing his radio show to celebrate the couple’s anniversary.

Michelle doesn’t go missing for very long, thanks to Snow White—who finds her and grants her next wish for a tea party with Disney characters. At the party, Michelle is reunited with her family. Meanwhile, Jesse and Becky get over their tiff, via Jesse’s piano love ballad to her in the lobby of the Grand Floridian; Steve shows up at the hotel because he misses D.J. too much; and Stephanie and Michelle reconcile and admit that they were both being unkind to one another. This leads to Michelle using her last wish to make Stephanie a princess and let her participate in that afternoon’s Surprise CelebrationParade at the Magic Kingdom.

The fun concludes that night in front of Cinderella Castle, with the Tanner family gathering to watch a special performance by Jesse and the Rippers. As the band begins their last song, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” fireworks fill the night sky and a special message made of fireworks reads “Vicky, Will You Marry Me?” Vicky accepts Danny’s proposal, and the episode comes to its magical conclusion.

The following behind-the-scenes and publicity photos—provided by our partners at ABC—are from these 1993 Full House episodes: “The House Meets The Mouse, Part 1,” and “The House Meets the Mouse, Part 2.”

Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas to Bring Good Cheer All Season Long

By Zach Johnson

Just in time to start wrapping presents and trimming the tree, Freeform today announced its highly anticipated 25 Days of Christmas event will return for its 25th Anniversary on Wednesday, December 1. Freeform is the home for all of your Christmas favorites, including Home Alone, The Santa Clause trilogy, and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), as well as beloved classics like Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Freeform will also air special blocks of holiday episodes of The Simpsons and spend an evening with everyone’s favorite toy gang with a marathon of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films. And if that’s not enough holiday cheer, Freeform is bringing the holiday party to you with the network premiere of Office Christmas Party, starring Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston. Other holiday favorites airing throughout December include Black Nativity, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Love Actually, The Preacher’s Wife—and so much more!

Below is a daily list of the movies airing during the 25 Days of Christmas event (ET/PT):

Wednesday, December 1

7 a.m. – Holiday in Handcuffs
10:30 a.m. – The Simpsons
11:05 a.m. – The Santa Clause
1:15 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
3:45 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
5:50 p.m. – Home Alone
8:20 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – The Simpsons

Thursday, December 2

7 a.m. – The Mistle-tones
10:30 a.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11 a.m. – Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House
1:05 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
3:10 p.m. – Home Alone
5:40 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:20 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – The Simpsons

The Santa Clause

Friday, December 3

7 a.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
7:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way 2
9:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
11:35 a.m. – 4:35 p.m. – Family Guy
4:35 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
7:15 p.m. – The Santa Clause
9:25 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
11:55 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Saturday, December 4

7 a.m. – The Simpsons
7:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
9:35 a.m. – Prancer Returns
11:40 a.m. – Home Alone 3
1:50 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
3:55 p.m. – Disney’s A Christmas Carol
6:05 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
7:10 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
7:45 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
8:50 p.m. – Home Alone
11:20 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Sunday, December 5

7 a.m. – Prancer Returns
9:05 a.m. – Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
10:05 a.m. – Unaccompanied Minors
12:10 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
2:15 p.m. – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
3:55 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
5 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
5:35 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:40 p.m. – Home Alone
9:10 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
11:50 p.m. – Daddy’s Home 2

Monday, December 6

7 a.m. – It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
10:30 a.m. – The Simpsons
11 a.m. – Daddy’s Home 2
1:10 p.m. – Home Alone
3:40 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
6:20 p.m. – The Santa Clause
8:30 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
12 a.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Tuesday, December 7

7 a.m. – Stealing Christmas
11 a.m. – Home Alone
1:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
4:10 p.m. – Jingle All the Way
6:15 p.m. – Disney’s A Christmas Carol
8:20 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m. – Arthur Christmas

Wednesday, December 8

7 a.m. – Snow
11 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
1 p.m. – Jingle All the Way 2
3 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
5 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
7:30 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
9:30 p.m. – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – The Simpsons

Snowglobe

Thursday, December 9

7 a.m. – Snow 2: Brain Freeze
10:30 a.m. – Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
11:30 a.m. – The Santa Clause
1:40 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
3:50 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
5:50 p.m. – Home Alone
8:20 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m. – Snowglobe

Friday, December 10

7 a.m. – Call Me Claus
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Family Guy
12 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
2:35 p.m. – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:10 p.m. – Home Alone
6:40 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
9:20 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – Family Guy

Toy Story 4

Saturday, December 11

7 a.m. – Unaccompanied Minors
9:05 a.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
9:35 a.m. – The Star (2017)
11:40 a.m. – Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
1:10 p.m. – Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
2:40 p.m. – Toy Story That Time Forgot
3:10 p.m. – Toy Story
5:10 p.m. – Toy Story 2
7:15 p.m. – Toy Story 3
9:45 p.m. – Toy Story 4
11:55 p.m. – Arthur Christmas

Sunday, December 12

7 a.m. – The Star (2017)
9 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
11 a.m. – Jingle All the Way 2
1:05 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
3:10 p.m. – Disney’s A Christmas Carol
5:15 p.m. – The Santa Clause
7:25 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
9:55 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12 a.m. – Home Alone 5: The Holiday Heist

Monday, December 13

7 a.m. – Holiday in Handcuffs
10:30 a.m. – Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
11:30 a.m. – The Santa Clause
1:30 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
4 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
6 p.m. – Home Alone
8:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – Family Guy

Tuesday, December 14

7 a.m. – 12 Dates of Christmas
10:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
12:30 p.m. – Love Actually
3:30 p.m. – Home Alone
6 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:30 p.m. – Office Christmas Party (Freeform Premiere)
12 a.m. – The Night Before

Wednesday, December 15

7 a.m. – Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. – Family Guy
11 a.m. – Office Christmas Party
1:35 p.m. – The Santa Clause
3:45 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
6:15 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
8:20 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – Family Guy

Thursday, December 16

7 a.m. – Black Nativity
10:30 a.m. – The Preacher’s Wife
1 p.m. – Almost Christmas
3:30 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
6 p.m. – Home Alone
8:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – The Simpsons

Friday, December 17

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Family Guy
9 a.m. – Love Actually
12 p.m. – Home Alone
2:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
5:10 p.m. – The Santa Clause
7:20 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
9:50 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
11:55 p.m. – Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 18

7:35 a.m. – Love Actually
10:45 a.m. – Unaccompanied Minors
12:55 p.m. – The Santa Clause
3:05 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
5:35 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
7:40 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
9:40 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12:20 a.m. – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Sunday, December 19

7 a.m. – The Middle
7:30 a.m. – Unaccompanied Minors
9:30 a.m. – Home Alone 3
11:30 a.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
1:30 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
4:10 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
6:10 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
6:45 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
7:50 p.m. – Home Alone
10:20 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1 a.m. – Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic

Monday, December 20

7 a.m. – Prancer Returns
10:30 a.m. – Home Alone
1 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
3:35 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
4:40 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
5:15 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:20 p.m. – The Santa Clause
8:30 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
12 a.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Tuesday, December 21

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Family Guy
10:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
12:30 p.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
1 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
2 p.m. – Daddy’s Home 2
4 p.m. – Disney’s A Christmas Carol
6 p.m. – Home Alone
8:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – Family Guy

Wednesday, December 22

7 a.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
7:30 a.m. – Jingle All the Way
9:30 a.m. – Love the Coopers
12 p.m. – Daddy’s Home 2
2:05 p.m. – Home Alone
4:35 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
7:15 p.m. – The Santa Clause
9:25 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
11:55 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Thursday, December 23

7 a.m. – It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
9 a.m. – Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
10:30 a.m. – Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
12 p.m. – Arthur Christmas
2:05 p.m. – The Star (2017)
4:05 p.m. – Home Alone
6:35 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
9:15 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
11:55 p.m. – Arthur Christmas

Friday, December 24

7 a.m. – Prancer Returns
10:30 a.m. – The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11 a.m. – The Star (2017)
1 p.m. – Home Alone
3:30 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
6 p.m. – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
8:30 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
9 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
10 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
12 a.m. – 2 a.m. – Family Guy

Saturday, December 25

7 a.m. – Arthur Christmas
9:10 a.m. – The Santa Clause
11:20 a.m. – The Santa Clause 2
1:50 p.m. – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
4 p.m. – Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
5:05 p.m. – Frosty the Snowman
5:40 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:45 p.m. – Home Alone
9:15 p.m. – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
11:55 p.m. – Arthur Christmas

Hocus Pocus 2 to Debut on Disney+ in Fall 2022: All the Details!

By Zach Johnson

Come! We fly! Production on the live-action comedy Hocus Pocus 2, the haunting sequel to Disney’s Halloween cult classic, is underway in Rhode Island. The Disney+ original film, directed by Anne Fletcher, will debut exclusively on Disney+ in Fall 2022.

Disney Legend Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy star as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters who bewitched audiences in the 1993 film Hocus Pocus. Doug Jones also returns as Billy Butcherson. Joining them are Whitney Peak as Becca, Lilia Buckingham as Cassie, and Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, three young women in present-day Salem who incite the wrath of the three witches.

It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.

“I am beyond thrilled to be involved in the sequel to a film that is as beloved as Hocus Pocus,” says Fletcher. “Fans around the world have embraced these characters and have made this film a Halloween tradition whose popularity continues to grow, and how lucky am I to be back at Disney with these three extraordinarily talented ladies in the iconic roles they created, as well as our fabulous new additions to the cast?”

Rounding out the cast of Hocus Pocus 2 are Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Juju Brener, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Paige Henderson, and Nina Kitchen.

Hocus Pocus 2 is written by Jen D’Angelo and produced by Lynn Harris, with Adam Shankman, Ralph Winter, and David Kirschner serving as the sequel’s executive producers.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Zach Johnson

November is here—and with it comes hundreds of hours of films and series to enjoy! Hulu adds dozens of titles to its service today, including the fan-favorite rom-com Never Been Kissed. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Monsters, Inc. tomorrow by streaming Disney and Pixar’s award-winning film on Disney+. ABC presents The Queen Family Singalong Thursday, the same day Hulu debuts Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi: Holiday Edition. Finally, Disney+ on Friday, adds several offerings, including X-Men: First Class, to its library.

Never Been Kissed

Never Been Kissed—Monday, November 1, on Hulu
Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore), a junior copywriter at the Chicago Sun-Times, must go undercover and pose as a student at her former high school to report on today’s teens. With the help of her brother, Rob (David Arquette), Josie infiltrates the popular crowd. However, things take a turn after she falls for her teacher, Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan).

Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc.—Tuesday, November 2, on Disney+
Lovable Sulley (voiced by Disney Legend John Goodman) and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski (voiced by Disney Legend Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But after a cute little girl named Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs) wanders into their world, it’s the monsters who are scared silly! Now, it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep Boo hidden and get her back home.

The Queen Family Singalong

The Queen Family Singalong—Thursday, November 4, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Darren Criss hosts this special one-night-only event! Sing along as Adam Lambert; Derek Hough and Alexander Jean; Fall Out Boy; Jimmie Allen and Miss Piggy; JoJo Siwa and Orianthi; OneRepublic; Pentatonix; and more artists perform Queen’s biggest hits, including “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Somebody to Love,” and “We Will Rock You.”

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi: Holiday Edition

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi: Holiday Edition—Thursday, November 4, on Hulu
Host and executive producer Padma Lakshmi is taking viewers on a journey across the United States, meeting people who’ve shaped what American food is today. Each of the four holiday episodes highlights unique traditions through the lens of a different city and immigrant culture, such as Korean New Year in Los Angeles and Cuban Christmas in Miami.

X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class—Friday, November 5, on Disney+
In the early 1960s, despite their different backgrounds, fellow mutants Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) strike up a strong friendship. With the world teetering on the brink of a nuclear war, the two team up with other mutants—including Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), and Havok (Lucas Till)—to save humanity. However, a situation quickly tears Charles and Erik apart.

Meet the Characters of Marvel Studios’ Eternals

By Zach Johnson

Marvel Studios’ Eternals opens in theaters this Friday, introducing 10 new Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Based on characters created by Disney Legend Jack Kirby, the Eternals are a group of ancient, immortal beings who work on behalf of the Celestials, aka the architects of life itself. The Celestials sent the Eternals to Earth 7,000 years ago to protect mankind from the Deviants, a race of alien predators. Now, the mysterious reemergence of the Deviants is about to force the Eternals out of the shadows. It’s been hundreds of years since the Eternals went their separate ways, and not everyone has kept in touch. But they’ll have to regroup to fulfill their purpose and protect the planet.

Meet each member of the Eternals below. And don’t worry: There are no spoilers!

Eternals

Sersi (Gemma Chan)
Sersi wields the power of matter transmutation, meaning she can change the makeup of any non-sentient material she touches. Dependable and caring, Sersi loves humans. In present-day, she works as a curator at the Natural History Museum in London and has a close relationship with Dane Whitman. She also has a long history with fellow Eternal Ikaris, her on-and-off lover of thousands of years. “This is really a coming-of-age story for Sersi in that when you meet her, although she has not been denying her Eternals background, she really loves humans. She wants to fit in with them,” says Chan. “So, she’s been kind of operating under the radar. Her story in the film is her rediscovering her power and finding out that she needs to use it to an even bigger extent than she ever thought.”

Eternals

Ikaris (Richard Madden)
A moral, charismatic tactician, Ikaris is tasked with keeping humanity—and the Eternals—safe. Not only can he fly, but he possesses incredible strength and can project cosmic energy beams from his eyes. After the Deviants reappear, he finds the Eternals Sersi and Sprite and embarks on a mission to reunite the team. “He’s always constantly wrestling between what’s right for him as a being and what’s right for the greater good,” says Madden. “And the guilt that comes with making either one of those choices. But Ikaris is always more about the greater good of the universe than the greater good of humanity. So, it’s really the greater good of the universe versus his own personal priorities. But he’s a soldier, so he has loyalty to the bigger picture much more than his personal preferences.”

Eternals

Ajak (Salma Hayek)
The matriarch and spiritual leader of the group, Ajak is the only Eternal with the ability to telepathically communicate directly with the Celestials. Cosmic energy pulses through Ajak, which gives her the power to heal her fellow Eternals, as well as animals and humans.

Eternals

Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani)
Enthusiastic and confident—with a lil’ bit of attitude and flair—Kingo is able to create powerful cosmic energy blasts from his hands. Unlike the rest of the Eternals, Kingo hasn’t exactly stayed in the shadows since the team went their separate ways. “Kingo decided to keep a low profile by becoming a Bollywood movie star,” jokes Nanjiani. “He’s this guy who’s always been pretty flashy. He’s always wanted people to know he’s a Super Hero, but he can’t reveal that. So, to him, this is the second-best thing.” These days, Kingo is almost always tailed by Karun (Harish Patel), his longtime valet and videographer. In fact, Karun has been Kingo’s best friend for years, keeping him grounded and connected to humanity.

Eternals

Thena (Angelina Jolie)
Thena can create weapons out of cosmic energy that morph at her will during battle, making her a fierce fighter. However, she is also sensitive, and her memories can overwhelm her. “Thena is like a soldier who is affected by the memories of battle and has PTSD or moral injury to live with,” Jolie says. “Thena just assumes that a fight’s coming at her rather than care and kindness. So, she’s quite wired, and a lot of her struggle is just holding on to her mind and her center and her peace. I understand her, and how she feels.”

Eternals

Gilgamesh (Don Lee)
A fierce warrior, Gilgamesh is remembered throughout history for his legendary battles. When he’s fighting, Gilgamesh displays incredible strength as a golden, cosmic energy-enhanced exoskeleton shields his arms and fists. The strongest and kindest member of the group, Gilgamesh becomes Thena’s de facto partner following events that led to the Eternals’ dissolution. “They are like comrades in arms, who have known each other and fought alongside each other,” Jolie explains. “They are partners, and they fight together.”

Eternals

Makkari (Lauren Ridloff)
Cosmic energy makes Makkari the fastest woman in the universe. She does everything fast, from reading to running. She has seen every corner of the world a thousand times over, collecting artifacts and mementos along the way. Over time, Makkari has become disillusioned and a bit bored with life on Earth. “Obviously, she’s fast; that’s her strength,” she says of Makkari, who, like Ridloff herself, is deaf. “But also, she’s loyal and she values her family. She would do anything for her family. She would do what’s right. But she’s not a goodie-two-shoes. She’s not a saint.” For example, “She likes shiny objects,” she says. “She’s been on this planet for 7,000 years, so she’s picked up a few things that she likes.”

Eternals

Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry)
The brilliant Phastos’ cosmic energy gives him the power to help advance mankind. He is one of the smartest people in the universe, being a technopath and a master inventor. Phastos controls the Domo (the Eternals’ starship). He also has the ability to understand, build, and communicate with machines and devices, in addition to combining different technologies to create whatever he imagines.

Eternals

Sprite (Lia McHugh)
Sprite has the ability to cast lifelike illusions, entertaining and influencing humanity with her grandiose stories. She has the ability to make herself and others invisible. Ironically, people don’t often see her even when she is visible, as she has the appearance of a 12-year-old girl. Sprite can’t hide a world-weary sadness and frustration for being dismissed as a child for centuries, and she is determined to finish the Eternals’ mission on Earth and return to their home planet, Olympia, where she will no longer be treated like a child. “She’s like a cranky old lady, but she’s also like the trickster of the group,” says McHugh. “And she’s sort of funny, but doesn’t always intend to be, just because of how she expresses herself.”

Eternals

Druig (Barry Keoghan)
The aloof Druig has the powerful ability to control other people’s minds using his cosmic energy. He can be intense and withdrawn, and over the centuries, he’s become frustrated with the divisions that exist within humanity. He had hoped to intervene during various events in history, but doing so was strictly forbidden by Ajak and, ultimately, the Celestials.

FINAL PIN SET REVEALED: Celebrate the Many Styles of Mickey Mouse with our “All Started by a Mouse” Pin Set

By the D23 Team

D23 Exclusive Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Pin Set – ”All Started by a Mouse” – Limited Edition

The final pin set in our collection celebrating the characters of Walt Disney World is focused on the Main Mouse himself! This set features Mickey Mouse in some of his fan-favorite roles across Walt Disney World! These D23 Gold Member-exclusive pins, created in vintage-inspired soft enamel, are the perfect way to celebrate a half century of the Vacation Kingdom of the World, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthdays on November 18!

To complement the “Florida’s Fab Five” exclusive pin set included in the D23 Gold Member Collector Set—part of the 2021 D23 Gold Membership—D23 is proud to offer four additional pin sets celebrating 50 years of Walt Disney World Resort. Want to make your collection complete? Be sure to get the previous sets in the series, “A Most Magical Kingdom,” “The Vacation Kingdom of The World,” and “Galactic Journeys.” Collect them all for a cast of characters honoring the golden anniversary of Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney World

 

Walt Disney World

The “All Started by a Mouse” pin set includes:

  • Space Mickey from EPCOT
  • Scuba Mickey from The Living Seas
  • Director Mickey from Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Magician Mickey from SpectroMagic
  • Minnie, Mickey, and Chuuby from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Our “All Started by a Mouse” pin set, offered in a limited edition of 2,500, will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on November 1, 2021.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pin sets are sold for $49.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pin sets of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

Rick Astley “Rickrolls” Players in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

By the D23 Team

The Guardians of the Galaxy and Rick Astley? A match made in heaven—er, space. The ’80s icon teamed up with Marvel and Eidos-Montreal to stir up some mischief for players in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy video game. Watch the legend reclaim the meme in the Galaxy’s Greatest Rickroll:

Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” is just one of the iconic tunes that make up the soundtrack for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The game features 30 classic hits, including tracks from KISS, Wham, Iron Maiden, and Blondie. Plus, discover more than 10 original compositions from the fictional ’80s band Star-Lord, which left quite an impression on a young Peter Quill.

But this game is more than just its killer soundtrack. Fire up your jet boots and get your Cassette player ready because Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy takes players on a rockin’ ride across the cosmos. Play as Star-Lord, leading the misfit team of Guardians in a struggle for the fate of the universe. Along the way, explore familiar and new worlds alike as you come face-to-face with iconic villains and fan-favorite characters from over 50 years of Guardians of the Galaxy lore.

This single-player action-adventure game offers thrilling combat, dynamic social interactions, and tons of unlockable content. In combat, utilize each character’s unique skills to take down enemies as a team and use the innovative new Huddle feature to boost morale and power up the Guardians with added flair. Beyond that, players can engage in choice-driven dialogue that further strengthens the bonds of this dysfunctional family and unlock new combat abilities, costumes, and hidden secrets as they journey across the galaxy.

Ready to save the universe? Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PlayStation® 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PC digital, and PC with streaming via GeForce NOW. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cloud Version for Nintendo Switch is also available now. For more details, visit the official website.

The French Dispatch: A Love Letter to the Written Word

By Zach Johnson

From Searchlight Pictures and the visionary mind of Academy Award® nominee Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th-century French city. A love letter to journalists, the anthology film stars some of Anderson’s frequent collaborators (Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson) as well as a new roster of A-listers (Timothée Chalamet, Elisabeth Moss, Benicio del Toro, Jeffrey Wright).

Swinton describes the film as such: “It’s Wes’ French love letter to internationalism, culture and the blessed art of independent journalism.” Expounding upon that, Anderson says, “I remember reading an interview with Tom Stoppard in which someone asked him where one of his plays came from, and he said that it’s always two different beginnings of an idea for something that he puts together—and that becomes the next play. That’s exactly what happens to me every single time.” This film is “actually three things,” Anderson says: a collection of short stories (“something I’ve always wanted to do”); a tribute to The New Yorker and “the kind of writer” it is famous for publishing; and an ode to “French cinema.”

The French Dispatch

The New Yorker has been a touchstone for Anderson for years. “When I was in 10th grade, my home room in Houston was in the library, and across from me were these wooden racks of magazines,” he recalls. “There was one with illustration on the cover, and I started looking at it. I became a regular reader of The New Yorker in my home room waiting for school to begin. I started reading the back issues and picking up the names of the writers that appeared over and over again. So, I got really hooked.” Anderson’s passion for reading The New Yorker continued into adulthood, according to Wilson. “When we were rooming together in college, he was reading The New Yorkerall the time, which was quite unusual,” the actor says. “I can’t remember if he had a subscription—that might have been out of reach financially—but he was deep into it. What a thoughtful gift to all those writers.”

Similar to his infatuation with The New Yorker, Anderson’s love affair with French cinema began when he was young. “French cinema begins when cinema begins, with the Lumière brothers and Georges Méliès,” he explains. “I love the directors of the ’30s: Julien Duvivier, Marcel Pagnol’s Marseille stories, the films of Jean Grémillon—which I came to more recently—and then Jacques Tati, Jean-Pierre Melville, and the New Wave filmmakers: Truffaut, Louis Malle, Godard. And maybe at the center of it all is Jean Renoir.” For the past several years, Anderson has been based in France. The French Dispatch is a both an homage to his adopted country, as well as an artistic reflection from an outsider looking in.

After opening in select theaters last week, it is playing everywhere starting today. The French Dispatch is set after the death of the magazine’s beloved editor, Arthur Howitzer, Jr. (Murray). The staff of The French Dispatchconvenes in the French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé to write his obituary, where memories of Arthur inspire the creation of four unique stories.

First up is a travelogue of the seediest sections of the city itself, written by Herbsaint Sazerac (Wilson), aka The Cycling Reporter. Next up is “The Concrete Masterpiece,” written by J.K.L. Berensen (Swinton). The work of criminally insane painter Moses Rosenthaler (del Toro, and Tony Revolori as a young man) is discovered, ruthlessly promoted and sold for increasingly astronomical prices by art dealer Julian Cadazio (Brody) and his uncles (Bob Balaban and Henry Winkler). His eagerly anticipated, years-in-the-making masterpiece—inspired by Simone (Léa Seydoux), his prison guard and muse—is unveiled with great fanfare to an impatient art world, which includes renowned Kansas art collector and likely buyer Upshur “Maw” Clampette (Lois Smith). The next story is “Revisions to a Manifesto,” written by Lucinda Krementz (McDormand). It’s a firsthand account of the grievances and the passions that drive the city’s romantically disenchanted youth go to war with their adult masters and initiate a tumultuous general strike that leads to the shutdown of France. Krementz’s hero and heroine are the star-crossed leaders of the movement, Zeffirelli (Chalamet) and Juliette (Lyna Khoudri). Finally, in “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner,” Roebuck Wright (Wright) profiles the legendary chef Nescaffier (Stephen Park), who serves at the pleasure of Ennui-sur-Blasé’s Commissaire (Mathieu Amalric). It unexpectedly explodes into a nail-biting, ticking-clock suspense story when a group of thugs, led by “The Chauffeur” (Edward Norton), kidnap the Commissaire’s son and crime-solving protégé, Gigi (Winsen Ait Hellal), and threaten to kill him unless the local crime syndicate’s recently arrested accountant (Willem Dafoe) is released from jail.

The French Dispatch

“In this film, the relationship to the written word is occurring at many different levels,” explains Anderson. “There’s what you’re seeing on the screen, there are the subtitles, there’s the texture of the magazine and there’s the value of the relationship to writers and to a kind of writing that people feel is being lost now. The hero of each story is a writer.”

The French Dispatch marks Anderson’s 10th feature film, and with it, he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling. “At a certain point, I just decided I’m going to do whatever I want, and that if I wanted to do a sequence that’s black and white widescreen hand-held, then that’s what we were going to do,” says Anderson. “‘Can we do this part as just a cartoon?’ ‘Yeah, we can, so I think we will.’ When I first started doing movies, it was always: ‘Can we do this?’ I feel like I don’t even bother to say that anymore. But, of course, it all has to gel and come together, and that’s why it’s important to have such a great team, led by Adam Stockhausen, Milena Canonero, Bob Yeoman, Sanjay Sami, and Alexandre Desplat.”

Firebuds Coming Soon to Disney Junior—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Firebuds

Disney Junior Announces New Animated Comedy-Adventure Firebuds

Let’s roll! Our pals over at Disney Junior just revealed they’ve greenlit a new animated series from Emmy®Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Disney’s Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First)…

Set in a fantastical world where talking vehicles live, work, and play with the humans who drive them, Firebudsis a music-filled series that will introduce viewers to a boy and his firetruck as they team up with their first responder friends to help others in their community with problems big and small. Whether rescuing a young car that’s stuck in a tree, tracking down lost Dalmatian puppies, or helping their neighbors stock up on emergency supplies during a blackout, the Firebuds highlight the importance of teamwork and helping your fellow citizens. Each episode is comprised of two 11-minute stories and features at least one new original song.

The Firebuds team consists of Bo, the optimistic leader, voiced by Declan Whaley (Criminal Minds); Flash, a young fire engine and Bo’s best friend, voiced by Terrence Little Gardenhigh (Danger Force); Violet, a confident, cool-under-pressure young girl, voiced by Vivian Vencer (Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure); Axl, Violet’s outgoing ambulance friend, voiced by Lily Sanfelippo (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends); Jayden, Bo’s imaginative neighbor, voiced by JeCobi Swain (Home Economics); and Piston, Jayden’s safety-conscious police car sidekick, voiced by Caleb Paddock (Adult Beginners).

Firebuds is slated to premiere on Disney Junior and Disney+ in 2022.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Y’all, it’s Halloween weekend—and you best be ready to have a spooky good time, because you’re in for a proverbial bag o’ treats from around the fang-tastic worlds of Disney. There’s the final weekend of “31 Days of Halloween” on Freeform, as well a marathon of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror over on FXX… and so much more!

Incredible Sneak Peek at West Side Story

Earlier this week, The Walt Disney Company unleashed an all-new “sneak peek” at Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical West Side Story. Check it out, if you haven’t already, above.

Directed by Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, the film tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort as Tony; Ariana DeBose as Anita; David Alvarez as Bernardo; Mike Faist as Riff; Brian d’Arcy James as Officer Krupke; Corey Stoll as Lieutenant Schrank; and Josh Andrés Rivera as Chino; with Rita Moreno as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works; and introducing Rachel Zegler as Maria. Moreno (one of only three artists to be honored with Academy, Emmy, Grammy®, Tony, and Peabody awards) also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

Adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show—with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and concept, direction, and choreography by Jerome Robbins—West Side Story opens in U.S. theaters on December 10.

Adventure Along with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Ready for a wild ride across the cosmos? Players can now fire up Star-Lord’s jet boots for in the brand-new third-person action-adventure game Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, available everywhere.

In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, you are Star-Lord—so nothing’s off-limits with your bold (and hilarious) combat style. And with the Guardians fighting at your side, you get to call the shots and overwhelm your opponents with signature attacks. Meanwhile, the consequences of your decisions will range from light-hearted to downright unexpected as your journey unfolds.

Leave it to the Guardians to set off a somewhat disastrous chain of events, leading to a wild ride through mind-blowing worlds inhabited by iconic and original Marvel characters including Cosmo, Dweller, Lady Hellbender, Mantis, the Nova Corps, and Wendigo, just to name a few. So, turn up the all-star ’80s mixtape and get ready to kick it!

You got this. Probably.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is now available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC, while Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cloud Version is available for Nintendo Switch. For more info, click this link.

It’s the Buzz Lightyear Origin Story We’ve Been Waiting For…

Next year, we’ll get to go “to infinity and beyond” in an entirely new way when Disney and Pixar’s Lightyearrockets into theaters. With this week’s huge debut of the animated film’s teaser trailer, D23 was lucky enough to hear a bit more from director Angus MacLane; whet your proverbial whistle by reading our exclusive interview right here.

Zany, Insane-y Antics Abound in Season Two of Hulu’s Animaniacs

To paraphrase our beloved Yakko, “Hellooooooo, season two!” Hulu, Spielberg’s Amblin Television, and Warner Bros. Animation have delighted fans new and returning with Animaniacs, their Emmy Award-winning animated series—and one of Hulu’s all-time most talked about shows on social media… and now, it’s back with 13 brand-new episodes beginning next Friday, November 5!

Season two of this iconic, family-friendly series (with a lil’ something for everyone, truly) features adorably zany siblings Yakko (voice of Rob Paulsen), Wakko (voice of Jess Harnell), and Dot (voice of Tress MacNeille) as they careen through pop culture parodies and musical showstoppers; take down of historical baddies; and even offer up some important safety tips. Join the Warners—as well as Pinky (voice of Paulsen) and the Brain (voice of Maurice LaMarche)—as they wreak havoc everywhere they go, from the Warner Bros. lot to an international beauty pageant and all the way into outer space! And keep an eye out for season one favorites Starbox & Cindy, as well as some rejected Animaniacs characters that were left on the cutting room floor.

ICYMI: A Delectable Wish Come True

D23 was recently given the very special chance to sample some of the delightful dishes that’ll soon grace the restaurants of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish, setting sail next summer. See what’s in store for the gastronomically minded by clicking here… and if you get as hungry as we did reading the article, don’t say we didn’t warn you!