Inside the World Premiere of West Side Story

November 30, 2021November 30, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Something’s coming, all right!

Last night, New York City rolled out the red carpet for the world premiere of West Side Story. In attendance were director and producer Steven Spielberg; cast members Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Brian d’Arcy James, Corey Stoll, Josh Andrés Rivera, Rita Moreno (who also served as one of the film’s executive producers), and Rachel Zegler; and screenwriter and executive producer Tony Kushner. “After two and a half years since we wrapped—and a year inside—it’s very nice to have us all be together safely to enjoy the film and all the wonderful work that we did,” Zegler, who plays María, told reporters. “It’s just absolutely incredible. The energy is palpable in this room tonight.”

Added Spielberg, “There has been such an anticipation from all of us—the whole company of actors, musicians, filmmakers, writers and choreographers. We’ve been waiting for this night.”

Adapted for the screen from the original Broadway show, West Side Story tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. Calling it an “honor to be entrusted” with reimagining the iconic musical, Spielberg said, “It’s very special premiering it where the story took place, where those four geniuses [Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, and the recently departed Stephen Sondheim] wrote it and conceived of it in 1957. Here we are, literally half a block away from where we did all our rehearsals in 2019.”

DeBose, who plays Anita, can’t wait for audiences to see the film when it opens in theaters December 10. “It’s iconic! It’s West Side Story!” she said. “It was a dream to be included in Steven and Tony’s vision for this film, to see it fully realized and to celebrate the work of so many people. This was not just the work of one man; this was the work of an entire host of individuals who put their blood, sweat and tears into telling this beautiful, authentic story.”

“I’m very excited that the movie is finally going to be out in the world,” said Kushner. “It’s incredibly moving… We worked so hard on this movie. It’s a giant musical and a giant film.” He added that they made West Side Story on “a very steep learning curve,” since “none of us had ever made a movie musical before. This took everything that everybody could give.”

Advance tickets for West Side Story are on sale now via Fandango. “There’s nothing better than musical theater, and quite frankly, movie musicals take that to the next level,” said Debose. “…It’s an exquisite, exquisite thing to be able to bring art to the world in this way.”

Elgort, who plays Tony, understands if people want to sing along when they see the film in theaters. “I’m just excited for audiences to see it,” he said. “Please bring your friends and family—and don’t be afraid to applaud and stand up and be a rowdy crowd in the theater!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

November 29, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin! Christmas is right around the corner, and we’ve got plenty of holiday-themed episodes and specials, including Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends on Disney Channel and Disney Junior and CMA Country Christmas, The Wonder Years, and The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC. Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas kicks off December 1 and includes one of our favorite classic films: Home Alone.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends—Monday, November 29, at 9 a.m. ET on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
In “A Very Spidey Christmas,” Doc Ock (voiced by Kelly Ohanian) wants to steal everyone’s Christmas presents, and it threatens to ruin an important holiday event. Then, in “Gobby on Ice,” Green Goblin (voiced by JP Karliak) creates a giant snow monster, forcing the Spidey team (voiced by Jakari Fraser, Lily Sanfelippo, and Benjamin Valic) to put their fun on hold.

CMA Country Christmas—Monday, November 29, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Enjoy festive performances from first-time hosts Gabby Barrett (“Silent Night”) and Carly Pearce (“O Holy Night”), who join forces for “Sleigh Ride” with two student musicians, supporting CMA’s longstanding commitment to supporting equity in music education. Other must-see numbers include Jimmie Allen with Louis York and The Shindellas (“What Does Christmas Mean?”), BRELAND (“The Christmas Song”), Brett Eldredge (“Merry Christmas Baby”), Lady A (“Christmas Through Your Eyes”), Pistol Annies (“Snow Globe”), Carrie Underwood (“Mary, Did You Know?”), and Lainey Wilson (“Christmas Cookies”).

The Wonder Years—Wednesday, December 1, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
In “Home for Christmas,” Dean (Elisha “EJ” Williams) can’t wait to spend Christmas with his older brother, Bruce (Spence Moore II), when he returns home from Vietnam. But adjusting to life back in Montgomery comes with unexpected challenges for Bruce, meaning the rest of the Williams family must rely on their holiday traditions to bring cheer.

Home Alone—Thursday, December 1, at 5:50 p.m. ET on Freeform
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) becomes the man of the house… overnight! In this 1990 classic, Kevin is accidentally left behind when the rest of his family embarks on a Christmas vacation. So, he decks the house for the holidays—but not with holly and tinsel! It’s up to Kevin and Kevin alone to stop two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) from breaking in. Can Kevin’s DIY booby traps protect his family’s home?

The Great Christmas Light Fight—Thursday, December 2, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC
The holiday festivities conclude in the final two episodes of the season as Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak head to the most spectacular Christmas displays in America. In the back-to-back episodes, four families face off as they showcase their extravagant displays to compete for the coveted Light Fight trophy and $50,000 prize.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

November 24, 2021November 23, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The time has come to gather the family ‘round the fire and enjoy some Thanksgiving leftovers during your annual viewing of Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town on ABC this Friday. That same night, tune in for part two of The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+, which concludes Saturday. Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase also premieres on Hulu Friday, adding more holiday cheer to the mix. On Sunday night, tune in for the jolly special The Wonderful World of Disney: Magic Holiday Celebration on ABC. Then, adults can change the channel to National Geographic and watch the first two episodes of The Hot Zone: Anthrax.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town—Friday, November 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Fred Astaire narrates this timeless holiday tale of Kris Kringle (voiced by Mickey Rooney), a young boy with an immense desire to do good things for other people. Created in 1970 by Rankin-Bass Productions, the perennial stop-motion animated classic also features the voice talents of Keenan Wynn as Winter; Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger, Grimsby, the soldiers, and the townsmen; Joan Gardner as Tanta Kringle; Robie Lester as Jessica and Andrea Sacino; and Dina Lynn, Greg Thomas, and Gary White as the children.

The Beatles: Get Back—Friday, November 26, and Saturday, November 27, on Disney+
Directed by three-time Oscar^® winner Peter Jackson, the second and third episodes of this docuseries continues to take audiences back in time to The Beatles’ January 1969 recording sessions, which became a pivotal moment in music history. Get an inside look into The Beatles’ creative process as they attempt to write 14 new songs in preparation for their first live concert in over two years. How did John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr do it? The docuseries includes never-before-seen, restored footage that at times includes explicit language, mature themes, and smoking. Viewer discretion is advised.

Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase—Friday, November 26, on Hulu
The holidays are here, and Melman (voiced by Luke Lowe) is determined to add another sticker to his yearly “nice” list! After he meets Hank, who has been separated from his family, he embarks on a literal wild goose chase with Alex (voiced by Tucker Chandler), Marty (voiced by Amir O’Neil), and Gloria (voiced by Shaylin Becton) to the merry flock.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magic Holiday Celebration—Sunday, November 28, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC
Hosts Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, and Ariana DeBose share heartwarming moments and exclusive sneak peeks at what’s new around The Walt Disney Company. From new looks at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and the DisneyWish to special previews of Encanto and West Side Story, this special is the gift that keeps on giving! Not only do Julianne and DeBose perform a holiday medley, but the special includes performances by AFTR PRTY, Jimmie Allen, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Brett Eldredge, NEEDTOBREATHE, Norah Jones, Gwen Stefani, and Sebastián Yatra! Oh, and there might be some surprises in store…

The Hot Zone: Anthrax—Sunday, November 28, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic
Intended for mature audiences, the limited series will air over three nights with back-to-back episodes. Inspired by true events, the story is set in 2001 when the United States was rocked by another deadly act of terrorism as letters containing anthrax were sent to unsuspecting victims in Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C. The anonymous assault claimed five lives and caused panic throughout the U.S. Despite many false leads, a team of FBI agents and scientists slowly closed in on a shocking prime suspect. The series follows the parallel stories of Matthew Ryker (Daniel Dae Kim) and Dr. Bruce Ivins (Tony Goldwyn). Ryker, an FBI agent with a specialty in microbiology, risks his career to convince his superiors that the United States is under attack again—just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Ivins, a brilliant microbiologist who becomes involved in the hunt to find the 2001 anthrax killer, works closely with the FBI to uncover who is behind the deadly anthrax letters—all while his mounting instability and paranoia lead to even deeper and unnerving discoveries.

Peter Jackson Talks The Beatles: Get Back

November 23, 2021November 22, 2021

By Courtney Potter

It’s a docuseries event five decades in the making… Starting November 25, Disney+ will debut the brand-new, highly anticipated three-part series The Beatles: Get Back.

Directed by three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), The Beatles: Get Back takes audiences back in time to the iconic band’s intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history. The docuseries showcases the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of the Fab Four, compiled from more than 60 hours of unseen footage shot in January 1969 (by Let It Be documentarian Michael Lindsay-Hogg) and more than 150 hours of unheard audio—all of which have been restored especially for this series. Incredibly, Jackson is the only person in 50 years to have been given access to these private Apple Corps Ltd. film archives.

The Beatles: Get Back is the story of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr as they plan their first live show in more than two years, capturing the writing and rehearsing of 14 new songs (known as the “Get Back” sessions) originally intended for release on an accompanying live album. The docuseries features, for the first time in its entirety, The Beatles’ last live performance as a group—the historic rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row—as well as other classics featured on the band’s final two albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.

Earlier this week, D23 attended a virtual press conference for The Beatles: Get Back—at which Jackson recalled some memorable moments from the process of bringing this incredible footage of the lads from Liverpool to light…

On how he got involved with the project in the first place:
“I went to London to get some footage from the Imperial War Museum, for my World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, and [while I was there] had a meeting with Apple Corps,” explained Jackson. “I was asked to come not to ‘meet a Beatle,’ but to meet [Apple Corps CEO] Jeff Jones and [Apple Corps director of production] Jonathan Clyde—and all they wanted to talk to me about was virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). They must’ve read an interview with me where I said that I was interested in that. So they wanted to pick my brain because they were planning on a Beatles exhibition; it was [potentially] going to have some sort of VR and AR… But during that meeting—I didn’t want to act like a ‘fan,’ but one of the things I’d always wondered about over the last 40 years is, what happened to all the unused footage from Let It Be [the documentary]? I was always curious about that. I knew that Michael Lindsay-Hogg had shot a lot of stuff that didn’t get used. I had no idea if it survived, I had no idea how much there was—and no books really talked about it.”

“And so I asked my ‘fan’ question,” the filmmaker continued. “I said, ‘Oh, by the way, when Let It Be was shot in 1969—are there any outtakes? Have you guys got anything that they didn’t use?’ I was trying not to act like a fan. And they said, ‘Yeah, there’s about 60 hours of film and 150 hours of audio. We’ve got all that.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, how do I get to see that? What tricks do I have to play?’ And then they said, ‘Actually, it’s strange you mentioned that, because we’re thinking we might have a look because we haven’t seen [the footage] either. We were wondering whether there is another documentary that we could make, just using the outtakes.’ And I said, ‘Have you got a filmmaker involved with that? Cuz you’re gonna need a filmmaker.’ And they said no, so I said, ‘Well, I’ve got a little bit of spare time at the moment—I’ve got a spare few years. If you’re interested, just please think of me.’ And they were! So I arrived at this meeting to talk about VR and I left with Get Back. I was in the right place at the right time.”

On what worried him, initially, about revisiting what was previously thought to be a contentious period in the band’s life:
“As any Beatles fan knows—and I’ve been reading all the books [about them] for 40 years—the Get Back sessions are notorious,” the director explained. “Authors write accounts of those sessions. Obviously they weren’t there, [yet] they still write accounts describing them as ‘miserable.’ ‘The most miserable time’; ‘The Beatles were breaking up’; ‘they were squabbling and there were cameras filming the arguments’; ‘they couldn’t bear to be in each other’s company’… and so obviously, that was what I was expecting to see [in this footage].”

“Now I did say to [Apple Corps], ‘Look, if this is as miserable as what it’s supposed to be, I’m not going to want to make a movie, but I need to see [the footage first],” he continued. “There’s no way I was going to take advantage of bunch of miserable Beatles footage and try to make a happy film…So I sat there—I was there for a week; I went there every single day, all day long, sitting in a room by myself, just me and a TV. They just left me alone, and I watched [the footage]. And I was laughing, and I thought it was unbelievable—I can’t believe I’m seeing Paul compose ‘Get Back’! This is incredible… The guys were so funny, and it was so great; it was not what I had in my head for 30, 40 years… Suddenly, after 50 years, everyone goes ‘Oh, it’s not actually what we all thought it was.’”

On what Billy Preston, known colloquially as “the fifth Beatle,” brought to the Get Back sessions:
“Watching [the series], I literally looked forward to Billy arriving—because I just love Billy,” said Jackson. “I love him. He’s such a gentle, beautiful soul. And he is so talented. I mean, I’m not a musician, but when he sits there and plays and he just hits these solos straight away—[and you think] ‘Don’t you have to practice? Are you getting this right on the first go?’ And he is! What an incredible player. I love Billy, and they love Billy. His reputation for making them all ‘behave themselves’ is sort of askew… [As the legend goes]—even Billy Preston himself thought [this] is what happened—George Harrison went to a Ray Charles concert [and saw Billy there] and said to him, ‘You’ve got to come to help us out here and make everyone behave.’ That didn’t happen; that Ray Charles concert was the year before! Billy’s in London [in January ’69] to do a couple of TV shows just by himself, and he drops by [the studio at Savile Row], and John Lennon grabs him—he still has his coat on—and John says, ‘Hey buddy, we need a keyboard player’… He doesn’t even have the chance to get his coat off! And he’s there doing the solo for ‘Don’t Let Me Down,’ and he just rocks it. And the minute he plays, you can feel the energy in the room lift. So I don’t agree with the long-told account that Billy Preston ‘made everyone behave themselves.’ What Billy Preston did is, he gets them all highly excited. Certainly, his presence provides an energy, and there’s a renewed excitement they get for this project. It’s real, and you feel it. It’s fantastic.”

On some of the technical wizardry you can expect to see and (especially) hear:
“[Restoring] the film part of it was something we had, in various ways, done before,” admitted the filmmaker. “We did They Shall Not Grow Old just before [The Beatles: Get Back] with 100-year-old World War I footage, which is pretty pasty-looking stuff. And we tried to make that look as modern and nice as we could. In doing that, we developed a whole lot of software and code. So when it came time to put the 16-millimeter negative of the Get Back sessions through our pipeline, we had done it before.”

“But the audio was the big breakthrough. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard ‘bootleg’ recordings of the Get Back sessions, but they’re interminable—you’d be trying to listen to conversations and there’d be twanging guitars, and you’d get annoyed because you half-hear the conversation… and that’s what we got; we got these Nagra [mono reel-to-reel audio] tapes that the film crew were recording on… So what we ultimately did, here in New Zealand at Park Road Post Production—we’ve got these very clever people [who] developed an artificial intelligence machine-learning program where we can take this mono tape, digitize it, put it in the computer, and teach the computer what a guitar sounds like; teach the computer what a human voice sounds like; teach it what a drum sounds like… so we developed this technology that allows us to ‘de’-mix [and] split all the audio components of these mono tracks. Musically, that allowed us to actually balance these songs—especially in the first half [of the series], at Twickenham Studios. But the other thing it did was… we were able to get rid of all the guitars [and other sounds] and we are revealing 50-year-old conversations that they’d deliberately drowned out, that no one’s ever heard before… By revealing all these conversations—these clear, clean conversations—we were able to have The Beatles tell their own story through these 22 days [of the Get Back sessions].”

On the unique feel of this sure-to-be-memorable event:
“I was thinking about this the other day,” Jackson recalled. “We screened the entire thing in a [movie theater], just to look at it, and at the end of it I was thinking it almost feels like a [narrative] drama. It almost feels like Disney+ decided to ‘dramatize’ the famous Get Backsessions; they’ve got someone to write the script, they’re gonna have a modern film shot—because it looks modern—and they’re gonna show what happened in these sessions. Except, they haven’t got four actors playing The Beatles; through some magical time-travel thing, they’ve got the 1969 Beatles playing themselves… The ‘actors’ are The Beatles playing themselves. It’s pretty cool.”

The Beatles: Get Back, a Disney+ Original docuseries, will debut exclusively on Disney+ November 25, 26, and 27.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

November 22, 2021November 19, 2021

By Zach Johnson

This Thanksgiving, Nat Geo WILD is once again recognizing the professionals who work to keep our animal friends healthy with its Vetsgiving programming block. In addition, on Wednesday, Hawkeye will take aim with two episodes on Disney+. Speaking of Marvel Super Heroes, both Miles Morales and Peter Parker will swing onto FX Wednesday for a Spider-Man movie marathon. On Thursday, ABC will present something for the whole family to enjoy with the spellbinding one-hour special The Magic Maker. That same day, the first episode of The Beatles: Get Back docuseries will begin streaming, only on Disney+.

Vetsgiving—Begins Monday, November 22, on Nat Geo WILD
The network’s annual Vetsgiving celebration returns with an expanded lineup of programming from Monday, November 22, through Sunday, November 28. Each night, feast on four-hour helpings of the veterinarian shows viewers can’t get enough of, such as Heartland Docs, Dvm; Critter Fixers: Country Vets; Hatcher Family Dairy; The Incredible Dr. Pol; Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet; and Vets on the Beach. And, because every feast needs a dessert, the lineup includes a special sneak preview of a new series: Pop Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya!

Hawkeye—Wednesday, November 24, on Disney+
Clint Barton, meet Kate Bishop. Set in post-blip New York City, Marvel Studios’ new original series debuts with two episodes. Former Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. But after a threat from his past shows up, Clint reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a skilled archer and his No. 1 fan, to crack a criminal conspiracy.

Thanksgiving Eve Spider-Man Movie Marathon—Wednesday, November 24, at 11:30 p.m. ET on FX
Our Spidey senses are tingling! FX is giving us four more reasons to be thankful with an all-day movie marathon. The fun starts with Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse and is followed by The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider- Man: Homecoming, and Spider-Man: Far from Home.

The Magic Maker—Thursday, November 25, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Famed magician Adam Trent breaks the No. 1 rule of magic and puts magic in the hands of everyday people to help them with the biggest and most emotional moments of their lives. Whether it’s helping a U.S. soldier “magically” reappear to his family after serving overseas or teaching a nervous young man to “walk on water” for a marriage proposal, Trent spends this Thanksgiving astonishing viewers and making dreams come true as “The Magic Maker.”

The Beatles: Get Back—Thursday, November 25, on Disney+
Directed by three-time Oscar^® winner Peter Jackson, this docuseries takes audiences back in time to The Beatles’ January 1969 recording sessions, which became a pivotal moment in music history. Each episode showcases The Beatles’ creative process as they attempt to write 14 new songs in preparation for their first live concert in over two years. Faced with a nearly impossible deadline, the strong bonds of friendship shared by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are put to the test. The docuseries is compiled from nearly 60 hours of unseen footage shot over 21 days, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and from more than 150 hours of unheard audio, most of which has been locked in a vault for over half a century. The docuseries features—for the first time in its entirety—The Beatles’ last live performance as a group, the unforgettable rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row, as well as other songs and classic compositions featured on the band’s final two albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be. The three-part event—continuing Friday and Saturday—includes never-before-seen, restored footage that at times includes explicit language, mature themes, and smoking. Viewer discretion is advised.

Beauty and the Beast at 30: From Production to Classic

November 22, 2021November 17, 2021

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the 30th full-length animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios: Beauty and the Beast. Produced by Don Hahn and directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, let’s take a look back at how this enchanting story of love and inner beauty became a “tale as old as time.”

WDA - Beauty And The Beast — David Ogden Stiers (voice of the Narrator and of Cogsworth), Disney Legend Angela Lansbury (voice of Mrs. Potts), and Jerry Orbach (voice of Lumiere)

Although the film had its general release on November 22, 1991, the idea for a Beauty and the Beast film at the Disney studio dates back to at least the 1940s. According to documents from 1943 preserved by the Walt Disney Archives, this early take on the classic story was described thusly:

“Fairy tale of girl who learned to love a beast who had inner sweetness despite his ugly exterior.”

The 1991 version certainly expanded upon this idea, and as a result, gave us a beloved film of beautiful visuals, captivating characters, and unforgettable songs and score. In fact, it took around 600 animators, artists, and technicians to produce over a million drawings, 226,000 cels, and 1,300 backgrounds to bring this modern-day classic to the big screen!

Gorgeous colors and visuals are seen throughout the film. But when you think about it, much of the story takes place in a cold, dark castle. Artistic supervisor Lisa Keene recounts that the film’s production team had to come up with ways to counteract that darkness: “‘Be Our Guest’ was certainly one example and here the backgrounds were like confetti, very loud and punchy.” And for the scene featuring the title song, she explained that in order to “create the right emotion for the romantic ballroom scene, we used a very soft gold interior with a very satisfying vibrant blue on the outside.”

Color also became a big part of the characters themselves. Ink and Paint manager Gretchen Albrecht remembers the complexity of colors on the main characters, some of which impressively had up to 17 paint colors and seven inked outline colors. To further the unique look of the characters, art director Brian McEntee explains how they “used color to visually set Belle apart from the rest of the village by making her the only one dressed in blue.” And as the frenzy of townspeople call back and forth about bacon, cheese, and bread, she certainly stands out!

But taking a look back, the final product we see today is not what the filmmakers started with: the film was initially planned with more serious, dark tones, and it was not a musical. But during a 1989 trip to France’s Loire Valley, Hahn and a group of artists found inspiration to develop the story and characters in a different way. Additionally, it was Disney Legend Howard Ashman who really spearheaded turning the script into a musical and who aided another important step in the film’s character development: he suggested the objects in the enchanted castle be individuals with their own personalities! Where would we be without Lumière and Cogsworth’s banter, or Mrs. Potts’ kind words of assurance?

Supervising Animators. Back row, L to R: Chris Wahl, Will Finn, Russ Edmonds, Ruben A. Aquino, Disney Legend Glen Keane. Front row, L to R: David Pruiksma, Disney Legend Andreas Deja, Nik Ranieri, James Baxter.

Roger Allers (story), Brenda Chapman (story), and Linda Woolverton (screenplay).

The film features six songs by Ashman (lyrics) and fellow Disney Legend Alan Menken (music), as well as a gorgeous score by Menken. From the mystical Carnival of the Animals-inspired instrumental prologue, to the showstopping “Be Our Guest” spectacle, the music moves the storytelling along just as much as any action or dialogue. Screenwriter Linda Woolverton recounts: “[Howard] had a real genius for knowing when and where to place songs and he knew that a song can leap you much further into the plot than any dialogue possibly could.” Hahn adds: “Howard and Alan are brilliant at taking a piece of story that works well in the script and turning it into a musical moment that works so much better.” And frankly, this music has provided us with enjoyable earworms for three decades! (How often does “I use antlers in all of my decorating” just pop into your head? Anyone? Just me?)

Richard White (voice of Gaston) and Disney Legend Howard Ashman (lyricist and executive producer).

Danny Troob (orchestrator) and Disney Legend Alan Menken (composer).

Jesse Corti (voice of LeFou), Rex Everhart (voice of Maurice), Richard White (voice of Gaston), Disney Legend Paige O’Hara (voice of Belle).

Even before it’s formal release, Beauty and the Beast was met with great acclaim. Roger Ebert talks about one of its earliest screenings, a work-in-progress version at the New York Film Festival: “I had heard reports that it played at the New York Film Festival to a standing ovation and I questioned those reports. I said, ‘I can’t see the New York Film Festival standing up and applauding anything.’ Then I saw this movie and I heard it interrupted by applause again.” Wise validates this with his own experience: “I remember just being absolutely slack-jawed, stunned, knocked over, goggle-eyed with astonishment. They applauded like they were at a live Broadway show. And I had never seen anything like that in my life.”

The film was eventually awarded the Golden Globe^® for Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy and was also the first animated feature film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards^®. It received six Academy Award nominations in total, three of which were for Music (Original Song) alone, and walked away with two wins: Music (Original Song) for “Beauty and the Beast” and Music (Original Score). But despite all the awards and recognition, one of the highest accolades of the animated Disney musical, of whose legacy Beauty and the Beast is now a part, comes from Ashman, who very simply but poignantly said: “I just don’t think anything is quite as magical as a Disney cartoon fairy tale. There’s just nothing like that.”

*Beauty and the Beast* playing at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Looking for more animated Disney musical magic? Well, you’re in luck! Next up is the 60th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Encanto, coming to a theater near you on November 24, 2021—almost 30 years later to the day of the release of Beauty and the Beast!

Beauty and the Beast is now streaming on Disney+.

Every Magical Moment from Destination D23: Presented by Topps

November 20, 2021November 24, 2021

By the D23 Team

SUNDAY
After all the excitement from Saturday, you’d think we’d have run out of magical moments—but, never fear! The second day of Destination D23: Presented by Topps was just as filled with fun, surprises, and a lot of festive sweaters. The morning began with a surprise performance from musician Jeremy Passion, who performed an acoustic cover of “There’s a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow” from Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress.

Then, the day kicked off with D23 Members diving right into another day of celebrating the “Vacation Kingdom of the World”:

Disney+ Download at Destination D23
After last week’s thrilling Disney+ Day packed with announcements and sneak peeks and posters and… just about everything a fan could dream of, our friends at Disney+ stopped by the Destination D23 stage to showcase some of their can’t-miss upcoming content, including a live interview with Diary of a Wimpy Kid’s author and illustrator Jeff Kinney, a 10-minute preview of Welcome to Earth, and an un-frog-ettable interview with Kermit the Frog himself!

“Speaking as an amphibian who’s spent a lot of times in streams, Disney+ is definitely my favorite,” Kermit told us, before sharing a blooper reel from Muppet Haunted Mansion and revealing that his favorite series on Disney+ is the Imagineering Story, because he gets management tips from Walt Disney Imagineering. “They’re more organized than The Muppets,” he explained.

Onboard the Disney Wish: Creativity & Inspiration Sets Sail
Wishing you could get an inside look at how the newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line fleet was brought to life? Imagineers steered guests through a presentation highlighting the gorgeous new ship, including the new Frozen-themed dining experience, which they announced will be formatted as a dinner in the round. The presenters then gave us a super inside look at “Avengers: Quantum Encounter” at the Worlds of Marvel dining experience, which will feature some of our favorite Super Heroes, including Ant-Man and The Wasp, who will demonstrate their incredible shrinking technology by shrinking Scott Lang’s luggage—and the Disney Wish itself!

Need something that puts you in an animated mood? Guests got a sneak peek at seven out of the nine Mickey Mouse cartoon clips that will be featured in the AquaMouse, Disney’s first-ever attraction at sea!

Just because you’re on the sea doesn’t mean that you can’t visit a galaxy far, far away, as Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge will take Disney Wish guests to seven different locations across the galaxy! Destination D23 guests got a first look at some of the view diners will see from the Star Wars: Hyperspace lounge windows, which include vista like the planet of Mustafar or an asteroid field.

The Dawn of the Disney World
This presentation was jam-packed with special guests, fascinating facts, and even a special appearance from a Disney Legend! Steven Vagnini, one of the co-authors and historians behind the new Disney Editions coffee table book A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth, led an entertaining presentation on the development of the resort. Accompanied by video messages from his co-authors Tim O’Day and Kevin Kern, Vagini shared that they interviewed over 100 people in research for the book—including the next guests featured in the presentation!

Global Ambassador for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration George A. Kalogridis, inaugural Walt Disney World Ambassador Debby Dane Browne, and longtime Imagineering executive Peggie Fariss shared a lively discussion about their experiences being a part of the resort’s unveiling and 1971 opening (and beyond!). All three presenters actually started their Disney careers at the Contemporary Resort—where this very Destination D23 was held!

To close out the session, Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline hosted a special appearance by Disney Legend Dick Nunis for a look at how Walt Disney’s greatest dream was transformed into the Vacation Kingdom of the World. The conversation included many stories about Nunis’ time working with Walt himself, and the revelation that his iconic Bermuda shorts—which were part of the Walt Disney World Resort “Disney Look” for cast members at the time—were inspired by a trip he took to Bermuda. He claimed he saw the shorts and thought, “That’s a great idea!” With so much insight to share about the early days of Walt Disney World Resort and his time working with Walt, we couldn’t cover it all in the panel. Luckily, Nunis revealed that he has written a book, Walt’s Apprentice, which will be available in 2022!

Delicious Walt Disney World
Hungry for some Disney history? Authors Pam Brandon and Marcy Smothers and host Morgan Gaines took guests on a tasty tour of a half century of food at Walt Disney World! We were treated to the reveal that three iconic aspects of Disney dining originated at Walt Disney World: The Mickey ice cream bar originated at The Land pavilion at EPCOT, while Dole Whip debuted at Walt Disney World in 1984. Finally, while character dining can be found at Disney Parks all over the world in modern day, the first ever character dining experience was at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

The book, which includes recipes for classic fan favorites like the “Handwhich,” and soon-to-be classics like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser’s upcoming “Blue Shrimp” dish, was heavily inspired by the spirit of Walt himself. Smothers quoted him saying, “Welcome to the kingdom of good eating, where the food is as fabulous as the fun.”

From the Vault: Merchandise Memories
We all have a beloved souvenir or two from a Walt Disney World trip—and there’s 50 years’ worth of merchandise out there to commemorate countless happy vacations. Actress and fashion icon Ashley Eckstein and the Walt Disney Archives’ own Kelsey Williams joined the creative minds behind the latest must-have Walt Disney World “From the Vault” Collection for a look at the past, present and future of the merchandise you love to collect!

Not only that, but the panel took us behind the creation process of the “From the Vault” collection, revealing that the creative team visited the Walt Disney Archives for inspiration and made their own versions of iconic items. They even created a style guide based off their research! The panelists all wore clothing from the line that is soon-to-be released, including a spirit jersey with a vintage park map and Crocs with the same pattern (a reveal so exciting that a member of the audience shouted “WHAT?!” in shock). New updates to the line will continue to be released throughout the 50th anniversary celebration, including into 2022!

Williams took us behind the creation of the Walt Disney Archives’ featured exhibit at Destination D23, “50 Years of Bringing Home the Magic.” She explained that they wanted to use the new, bigger space for the exhibit to show off the decades of merch in their collection—since the Archives was started in the ’70s, they were lucky enough to be collecting merchandise since the start of Walt Disney World! She also revealed that displays for each decade featured a backdrop of the shopping bags from that era.

Stories of the Walt Disney World Galleries
Ever wondered who was responsible for curating and caring for the incredible artifacts within the galleries and exhibits found throughout Walt Disney World? The Walt Disney Imagineering Collections team took to the stage to share how they brought the galleries to life—and shared the behind-the-scenes stories of creating these unique, authentic, and surprising hidden-gem experiences. They showcased art from everywhere at Walt Disney World—from the galleries of EPCOT’s world showcase to Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer at the Star Wars Launch Bay!

Walt ’90s World
Booyah! The next stop in a pop culture-fueled ride through the Disney decades that defined Walt Disney World is the ’90s, and the Walt Disney Archives’ Francesca Scrimgeour and Williams made sure that not just ’90s kids remembered the wacky and wonderful moments from the era, including The Magical World of Barbie, *NSYNC’s iconic concert at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the talking robot trashcan PUSH who would make Walt Disney World guests dance… to “The Macarena,” of course!

Musical Attractions of Walt Disney World
From “One Little Spark” to “Magic Journeys” galore, the music of Walt Disney World resort is unforgettable! Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald and John Dennis took us on a journey through 50 years of Walt Disney World music, highlighting songs and scores from some fan-favorite attractions—including The Country Bear Jamboree, If You Had Wings, and Horizons. They shared fascinating facts behind the creation of iconic Walt Disney World music, like the fact that It’s Tough to Be a Bug’s insect-inspired instrumental of “Beauty and the Beast” (or should we say, “Beauty and the Bees”?) required the brass section to play their instruments like kazoos! The toe-tapping talk concluded with a magnificent musical moment, where DCappella debuted their music of EPCOT medley.

The World’s Most Magical Finale
After two days’ worth of epic presentations, performances, and special surprises, we had to close Destination D23 with an unforgettable closing moment! After their EPCOT medley, DCappella performed a mash-up of songs from The Lion King, before Syndee Winters took to the stage to sing “Shadowlands” and “Almost There.” Bardo then performed his own iconic take on “There’s a Great, Big, Beautiful, Tomorrow,” before Kayla Alvarez closed out the night with an enchanting performance of the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary anthem, “The Magic is Calling,” joined on the stage by Mickey and friends in their EARidescent best!

Disney+ Season’s Streamings Ugly Sweater Party
…okay, so it’s not really over until there’s a dance party! Our pals at Disney+ threw Destination D23 guests a festive shindig to end the weekend and kick off the holiday season with crafts, photo locations, and special character meet and greets!

SATURDAY
The biggest Disney fan event of the year is here, and we kicked it off in the most magical way! This morning, the fun began with a special welcome moment, featuring Mickey and friends—plus performers from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom all came together to honor the golden anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. After that spectacular beginning, Head of D23 Michael Vargo welcomed D23 Members to this special event honoring Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary—and dazzling future.

From there, D23 Members enjoyed a day of exciting announcements, fascinating presentations, and a special surprise or two:

Connections: A Look at the Future of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
We know you’ve been waiting for this moment! DPEP Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a first look at some of the newest projects around the world, including Zootopia-themed land coming to Shanghai Disneyland, new musicals coming to the Disney Wish, and lightsaber training at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. That’s not all—check out our full round up of everything that was announced this morning here… and mark your calendar for all the Disney Parks magic adding pixie dust to our futures.

Weird Disney World
With all the thrilling announcements still buzzing in our heads, it was time to get weird! The fan-favorite “Weird Disney” presentation made its grand return, hosted by Director of the Walt Disney Archives Becky Cline and D23’s own Justin Arthur. The panel took a closer look at the fun costumes, parades, entertainment, and more from Walt Disney World’s past. (And so, so many kites!) Get a taste of some of the weird for yourself with a closer look at Goofy waterskiing (yes, you read that right) on Bay Lake!

Planes, Trains, and Monorails: Walt Disney World on the Move Presented by Enterprise®
Host, voice of Mickey Mouse, and train enthusiast Bret Iwan joined an array of Imagineers to take us on a journey of Walt Disney World transportation, from Walt Disney’s Airplane to the Disney Skyliner. Highlights from the panel included a look at how the Skyliner paths were developed and the news that Walter E. Disney Engine 1 of the Walt Disney World Railroad was recently fully refurbished.

Walt ’70s World
With five decades of Walt Disney World behind us, there’s more history than can be contained in just one presentation! For our first pop culture-fueled ride through the Disney decades, we explored the resort’s groovy early years in the ’70s with former Walt Disney World Ambassadors Ken Facey and Stephen Lim. Guest enjoyed totally nostalgic footage from the resort’s early years, including Disney Legend Julie Andrews performing at Magic Kingdom during a television special about the park, along with a classic commercial featuring Carousel of Progress.

Drawn to Life: Inside Disney’s First Collaboration with Cirque Du Soliel
The first ever Disney-inspired Cirque du Soleil show, Drawn to Life, just debuted this past Thursday! Destination D23 attendees got an inside look at how this spectacular, animation-inspired show (pardon the pun) came to life. Cirque du Soleil’s Michel Laprise and Fabrice Becker sat down with Natalie Woodward of Disney Live Entertainment and legendary Disney Animator Eric Goldberg to look back over the years long process of creating Drawn to Life. Guests got a special look at an animation test for Baloo and Olaf, and also heard from the creative team about how the storyline of the show was developed.

World Building for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Ever wanted to vacation in a galaxy far, far away? Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be debuting at Walt Disney World Resort March 1, 2022, and Destination D23 guests got an exclusive look at how this all-new two-night immersive experience is coming to life—and how it connects to the broader Star Wars galaxy. Host Ashley Eckstein and an array of the creative minds behind the project shared details on some of the new characters you’ll meet when you’re aboard the Halcyon starcruiser—and how the decisions you make will affect how the story unfolds during your cruise. New apparel and jewelry were also revealed, including a replica Padmé Amidala cape that Eckstein modeled herself. We learned a galaxy’s worth of details, but we couldn’t help but want more—while Eckstein tried to use Jedi mind tricks on the panelists, we’ll have to wait until Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opens next year at Walt Disney World!

Magical Entertainment for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration
With “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” kicking off last month, more surprises and delights unfold as the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World continues. Part of that celebration is live entertainment, dazzling guests with music, dancing, and characters we love. Disney Live Entertainment Creative Director Tom Vazzana shared a look at new experiences created for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” starting with a surprise performance from the Dapper Dans!

Vazzana shared details on Harmonius, Disney Kite Tails, Disney Enchantment, and Beacons of Magic—plus, the Walt Disney World Resort classic, The Electrical Water Pageant, which begins and ends with a special 50th anniversary sequence. If you’re hoping for some epic entertainment news, Vazzana shared that the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular will be returning this December to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That’s not all! Jason Robinson took to the stage to share that Finding Nemo—The Musical is being reimagined as Finding Nemo: The Big, The Blue… and Beyond, which will debut at Animal Kingdom in in 2022. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a new segment was teased for Fantasmic! that will feature characters that have never appeared in the show before. “This segment will bring hope and joy to your heart,” Vazzana promised.

Don’t worry, Magic Kingdom didn’t get left out of this wave of exciting entertainment news—Vazzana revealed that the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade will debut in early 2022 and feature… well, just about everyone! Expect to see Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Baloo, King Louie, Miguel, Merida, Moana, Mulan, Stitch, Clarabelle… and so many more! Get more details on all these announcements over on the Disney Parks Blog, and mark your calendars for lots of entertaining moments in your future!

The Art and Imagery of Walt Disney World
Retired Imagineering executive Peggie Fariss, and Imagineers Gary Landrum, Mike Pucher, and Stacy Shoff shared stories of 50 years of the most gorgeous, stunning, and fascinating artwork and images behind The Most Magical Place on Earth, including concept art for Hall of Presidents, Disney Legend Mary Blair’s iconic mural at the Contemporary Resort, and the Polynesian Village Resort.

Walt ’80s World
Our next totally tubular deep-dive into the Disney decades was hosted by Eckstein and Iwan, who celebrated the pop-culture moments from Walt Disney World in the ’80s. Eckstein skated onto stage to share her love for Pleasure Island’s roller-skating bar, while Iwan showcased some of Mickey Mouse’s ’80s fashion. Plus, guests got to see some footage from the “Totally Minnie” show, Walt Disney World’s 15th anniversary celebration, and more blasts from the past!

The Park Stars of Walt Disney World
From Figment to the Orange Bird, we all have a favorite original character from Walt Disney World—so, naturally, we put together a presentation to celebrate the whole cast of original characters fans know and love from the resort’s history! Imagineers Diana Brost and Jason Grandt as took guests on a journey around Walt Disney World to meet many of the fun personalities that have appeared attractions and shows from 1971 to today—starting with the two characters they dressed up as for the presentation! Grandt donned an orange coat and brought his own fishing pole to be the fishing dad from Magic Kingdom’s If You Had Wings, while Brost dressed as Mary Oceaneer from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon’s Miss Adventure Falls. Grandt and Brost then shared with guests what they think are important aspects for creating Walt Disney World characters before discussing the stories of characters like the sleeping monk from Spaceship Earth, Dreamfinder from Journey Into Imagination, and the sea serpent from The Electrical Water Pageant.

The Magical Musical World of Encanto
The first night of Destination D23 had an enchanting ending— guests were invited to the world of Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s 60th feature film. Composer Germaine Franco, voice actress Jessica Darrow (voice of Luisa), and Senior Vice President, Music, Walt Disney Animation Studios Matt Walker treated guests to a melodic Saturday evening celebration of the upcoming musical. Want to enjoy the music of Encanto for yourself? You can listen to the film’s soundtrack now, right here.

Day one may be over, but the fun has just begun! Join us tomorrow for the second day of Destination D23: Present by Topps, where we will kick off the morning with a special Disney+ Download—and, of course, even more presentations celebrating the Golden Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort! Find out how you can watch select presentations LIVE right here on D23.com so that you don’t miss a minute of the magic. Check out our livestream schedule!

Disney Parks Shares New Details on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the 30th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris, and More

November 20, 2021March 14, 2022

By the D23 Team

We kicked off Destination D23: Presented by Topps with extra pixie dust by opening our first day of Disney Magic with the highly anticipated “Connections: A Look at the Future of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products” presentation. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro gave Destination D23 guests (and viewers of our livestream) a look at new ways Disney is connecting fans to the stories they love most through innovative projects coming to life around the world. We can’t wait to see all the exciting experiences in the future, from joining the Guardians of the Galaxy for an intergalactic adventure at EPCOT and suiting up at Avengers Campus in Paris, to stunning stage spectaculars coming to the newest Disney Cruise Line ship.

“Since the beginning, people have felt a powerful connection to the Disney brand,” said D’Amaro. “As we build original, state-of-the-art experiences that further expand our favorite stories and even tell brand new ones, we look forward to a future filled with connections, endless possibilities and magic for Disney fans everywhere.”

Among some of the awesome demonstrations guests got to see up-close was a new lightsaber from a galaxy far, far away and a full-body exoskeleton system that will bring characters of all sizes to life in the future at Disney Parks. Additionally, the audience also heard first that Walt Disney World Resort will welcome Make-A-Wish^®children and their families as some of the very first guests to experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser when it launches next year.

That’s not all the epic news that was announced! Here’s more of what’s in store for 2022 for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products:

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Set to Open Summer 2022
EPCOT is undergoing a transformation that includes an especially intergalactic, new attraction: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open to guests in summer 2022 as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50thAnniversary celebration. Guests will be invited on in intergalactic chase through time and space in the newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood of EPCOT, where the attraction is located. This family-thrill coaster attraction will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, including two thrilling milestones: It will feature the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster and will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world.

We received a special transmission from Academy Award^®-nominated actress Glenn Close, who revealed that she will be reprising her role as Nova Prime, the Xandarian leader and commander of the Nova Corps. Guests will enter the new Wonders of Xandar pavilion via the Galaxarium and proceed through the Xandar Gallery, where they will learn more about the Xandarian people as well as the similarities that connect Earth and Xandar.

30th Anniversary Celebration of Disneyland Paris Begins March 6, with Avengers Campus Coming Summer 2022
This spring marks the start of a dazzling 30th anniversary celebration for Disneyland Paris, which begins a new era in which every guest is encouraged to dream bigger, laugh louder and smile wider! The 30th Anniversary Celebration will kick off March 6, 2022, with new shows, entertainment, and décor along Main Street, U.S.A. and new costumes for Disney pals, making the resort shine brighter than ever.

That’s not all that will be assembling to Disneyland Paris! As the celebration continues, Avengers Campus will welcome guests in summer 2022. The next chapter of the Global Avengers initiative will offer incredible new experiences for Super Hero fans, right on the heels of the opening of Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel earlier this year.

Disney Wish – Two Dazzling New Stage Shows
While we’ve already heard about the delicious offerings and relaxing opportunities heading to the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Wish, which sets sail for the first time this summer, today we learned about two new shows premiering on the ship in the Walt Disney Theatre: Disney The Little Mermaid and Disney Seas the Adventure. Disney The Little Mermaid reimagines the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic with a modern and innovative take on a young girl learning the power of her voice. The show will feature dazzling special effects, innovative theatrical design, artistic choreography, and a reimagined script and score that will surprise and delight guests of all ages. Seas the Adventure follows Goofy as he discovers his own inner captain with the help of Captain Minnie and an all-star cast of Disney and Pixar characters.

The Society of Explorers and Adventurers Book Series
Disney fans with an adventurous spirit have been following the story of The Society of Explorers and Adventurers through details at Disney Parks around the world—but now, they can full dive into the interconnected lore behind beloved Disney Parks characters, attractions, and more across Disney theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships. The first book in an all-new middle grade adventure series, Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by international best-selling author Julie Kagawa, will be available wherever books are sold in April 2022 from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

MagicBand+ and “Hey, Disney!” Come to the Disneyland Resort
MagicBand+ is headed to Disneyland Resort! The enhanced MagicBand+ wearable technology and “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant, recently announced for Walt Disney World Resort, will come to Disneyland Resort in 2022. This will mark the first time MagicBand+ will be available at Disneyland Resort, and it will have its own unique features to better enhance the guest experience with hands-free convenience and unlock moments of magic unique to Disneyland Resort guests. The “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant, meanwhile, will work alongside Alexa and also will begin rolling out to Amazon Echo devices in guest rooms across the hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

Disney Brings New Magic to the Disneyland Hotel
D’Amaro shared exciting details about the proposed new tower coming to the Disneyland Hotel complex. Disney Imagineers are hard at work infusing the resort with the elements that bring Disney storytelling to life, all inspired by characters and stories from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic films. There will be a newly designed pool and recreation area, along with a variety of room types and the ability to explore the magic steps away at the Disneyland Resort.

Work Continues on Exciting Projects Around the World
That’s not all that was announced, as D’Amaro shared new artwork and photos about the work underway on projects in development around the world. We got sneak peeks at the Frozen-themed land coming to Hong Kong Disneyland, the Zootopia-themed land coming to Shanghai Disneyland, and Fantasy Springs (pictured above) coming to Tokyo DisneySea.

In the U.S., D’Amaro shared a look at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser debuting March 1, 2022, at Walt Disney World Resort. In less intergalactic news, he also revealed the name of a new quick-service restaurant, Connections Café and Eatery, debuting in the World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT as part of the park’s ongoing transformation, along with sharing more about the recently announced reimagining of Mickey’s Toontown and Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort.

We can’t wait to enjoy all the new experiences coming to Disney Parks, Experiences and Products in 2022 and beyond. Stay tuned to D23.com, where we will share every exciting announcement as it breaks.

How Hawkeye Proves Marvel Studios Just Can’t Seem to Miss

November 19, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Trouble has a way of finding Clint Barton.

Marvel Studios’ six-episode series Hawkeye will debut with two episodes on Disney+ on Wednesday, November 24, with two-time Academy Award^® nominee Jeremy Renner reprising his role as the titular former Avenger. Inspired in part by the popular Marvel comic series by Matt Fraction from 2012-2015, the story begins with Clint and his kids visiting New York City to see Rogers: The Musical on Broadway. But plans to celebrate Christmas in the Big Apple are quickly canceled after a threat from his past returns. He sends his kids home and reluctantly teams up with Kate Bishop (Oscar^® nominee Hailee Steinfeld)—a skilled archer and his No. 1 fan—to unravel a dangerous criminal conspiracy.

Hawkeye hinges on a single question, executive producer and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said at a press conference Tuesday: “Will Clint make it home for Christmas?” The series should come as “a breath of fresh air after world-ending stakes, Celestials bursting out of planets, and multiverse shenanigans,” Feige added. “This, like Hawkeye himself, is a grounded, family-based show.” To that point, director and executive producer Rhys Thomas added, “Clint’s family life is a unique aspect of his character, as we’ve seen through the history of the MCU. It’s a joy to explore that more and to see those relationships, because that anchors a lot of who he is.”

Marvel Studios always wanted to dig deeper with Clint, who made his MCU debut with a cameo in Thor (2011) and went on to appear in The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Months before Disney+ launched in 2019, Feige announced onstage at San Diego Comic-Con that they’d get to do just that. “It was always the intention to explore much more,” said Feige, citing Fraction’s writing as a “big tonal inspiration” for the series. “The character’s history is vast.”

That said, the circumstances of how Clint and Kate meet differ from the comics. Without spoiling anything, Clint tracks Kate down one night in the streets of Manhattan—and he finds her in a heap of trouble. Kate, who’s idolized him for more than a decade, can’t contain her excitement. “Kate sees Clint as someone who, despite his past, wants to do good and wants to help people,” said Steinfeld. “And that’s all she wants to do in life. She’s inspired and motivated by him. She wants to be at his level, and she is very overeager. Clint puts up with a lot, but Kate delivers at the end of the day.” Clint and Kate “can be polar opposites in a lot of ways,” Renner added, “but they have a lot of congruent values, belief systems, and skillsets. So, they have a wonderfully complicated relationship, friendship, and partnership.”

Hawkeye marks the MCU debut of Kate, 16 years after her first comic appearance. Vera Farmiga plays Kate’s mother, Eleanor Bishop, who is the CEO of a prominent security firm. “I love the very delicate and complex maternal relationship with daughters. It is a tricky sport, raising a successful daughter, especially when the daughter and the mom have different ideas of what that success means,” Farmiga said, adding, “We learn about who we are based on our relationship with our mommies: who we want to be and who we don’t want to be. That’s at the center of this. I think Eleanor sees herself as a kind of Super Hero. She is in the business of help, of keeping people secure. Having a daughter who is very powerful, who has a lot of prowess, but also a lot of recklessness? All mothers try to help their daughters channel that power into something more effective, and certainly that’s the big lesson for us. That’s how this starts off. Bridling beautiful energy is a mother’s task.”

Tony Dalton plays Jack Duquesne, Eleanor’s accomplished and wealthy fiancé. “Jack is sort of a family friend, and then he falls in love with Eleanor,” Dalton said. There may be more to him than meets the eye, though, said Dalton: “You don’t know where he’s coming from.” Like his character in the comics, Jack is a master swordsman. “I took some fencing, and we did a whole bunch of stuff with the stunts,” he said. “Everything was great. It was good fun.”

The cast also includes Fra Fee and Zahn McClarnon in undisclosed roles, and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez aka Echo. The fan-favorite character Lucky the Pizza Dog will also make his MCU debut in the series. “Well, if you’re going to do Clint and Kate, you have to do Lucky,” Feige said as the stars laughed. “That was that was pretty much a given.”

Amid all the action and comedy (of which there is plenty), there is an “emotional through line” that ties into Avengers: Endgame and everything that came before it, Renner said. Now, with Hawkeye, he hopes fans come away with an even deeper understanding of what Clint has endured. “Managing losses is the Super Hero game, and the lightness and brightness that Hailee’s character brings in kind of counteracts that,” explained Renner. “She comes in and he gets to level out some, so it’s pretty cathartic—and quite beautiful.”

FIRST LOOK: Celebrate a Half Century of Walt Disney World Merchandise Memories with this All-New Exhibit at Destination D23: Presented By Topps

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021

By the D23 Team

Destination D23 starts tomorrow, and with it a celebration of all things Walt Disney World: 50 years of attractions, 50 years of characters, 50 years of music—and, of course, 50 years of merchandise! We all have something we’ve purchased to commemorate a beloved trip to Walt Disney World Resort, whether it’s a mouse ear hat or a cozy spirit jersey. Guests at Destination D23: Presented By Topps can explore 50 fabulous years of memorabilia thanks to our friends at the Walt Disney Archives, who have curated an all-new exhibit showcasing everything from figurines and fanny packs to pins and plush. Relive each magical decade through the souvenirs that brought “The Vacation Kingdom of the World” back to your own home! Check out the photos below for a first look at the exhibit!

The centerpiece of the exhibit is the Dream-Catching Machine from Journey Into Imagination, which later was displayed as an “Easter egg” in the Mouse Gear shopping location.

Merchandise from the 1970s

Merchandise from the 1980s

Merchandise from the 1990s

Merchandise from the 2000s & 2010s

Merchandise from today—Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary!