Meet the Characters of Ron’s Gone Wrong

October 21, 2021

By Zack Johnson

A broken B*Bot named Ron (voiced by funnyman Zack Galifianakis) and awkward middle-schooler Barney (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer) headline the new film Ron’s Gone Wrong, a co-production of 20th Century Studios and British studio Locksmith Animation. The film, a mashup of laugh-out-loud humor, action, a bit of romance, and heartfelt observations on family and friendship, sees a world where every kid gets a new B*Bot—a robot-slash-social media tool that promises to be your “best friend out of the box.” It might sound appealing—especially to the blundering, gawky Barney—but when he discovers that his new B*Bot, Ron, is defective, and has definitely Gone Wrong, his whole world gets turned upside down as he learns that sometimes, believe it or not, true friends don’t come in a box.

As you get ready to join Barney and Ron on their B*Bot adventure in theaters starting this Friday, October 22, here’s a primer on the characters you’re going to meet on your way.

Jack Dylan Grazer as Barney
Middle school is hard enough, but add in the chaos that comes with having to look after a wildly erratic and off-kilter B*Bot named Ron and you’ve got the recipe for some truly embarrassing (but also poignant) moments. Barney, voiced by up-and-coming actor Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam! and Stephen King’s IT), not only has to contend with the trauma of being an outcast in middle school, but he also has a super-nerdy dad and an eccentric grandmother, which only adds to his embarrassment. He’s got eyes for the popular pretty girl, Savannah Meades, and hopes his new B*Bot will help him get some attention from her—which he does, albeit probably not the attention he was hoping for.

Zach Galifianakis as Ron
Every kid in America seems to be getting a new B*Bot, a self-described “best friend out of a box.” B*Bots are egg-shaped robots that connect to each kids’ social media accounts to create a “perfectly constructed” life for that kid, connecting to friends with similar interests, downloading games and videos, and knowing which music to play at just the right moments. It’s a too-perfect device to create a too-perfect life. That’s when Ron comes crashing in—a new B*Bot who fell off the truck, damages his circuitry, and starts sputtering and whizzing without the safeguards that keep B*Bots safe. In other words, Ron quickly goes off the rails, and in so doing, pulls his human, Barney, into a wild adventure. It’s a wild, madcap character that seems custom-built for the wild, madcap comedy of Zach Galifianakis. Is this true friendship? Is it contrived? Does it matter?

Ed Helms as Graham Pudowski, Barney’s dad
Barney’s dad, Graham Pudowski, (voiced by Galifianakis’ Hangover colleague Ed Helms) is a nerdy gag-gift salesman who does his best to provide a comfortable life for his son. And although Graham sells his wares the world over, he can’t seem to save up enough money to buy a B*Bot for his son. But he keeps trying, working long hours to give his family what they want—trouble is, though, those long hours might be loaded with good intentions, but they also might be pushing father and son further apart.

Olivia Colman as Donka, Barney’s grandmother
Barney’s grandmother, Donka, also lives with him and his dad, and oh what a character she is. Donka escaped communist Bulgaria for the United States, bringing many of her customs (and chickens!) with her. A no-nonsense woman who thrives at cooking, sausage-making, and taking care of her family, Donka loves Barney deeply and goes to great lengths to get him that B*Bot of his dreams.

Kylie Cantrall as Savannah Meades, Barney’s crush
Barney doesn’t have many friends (does he have any?), but one person who catches his eye—and maybe his heart—is Savannah Meades, a super-popular girl who excels at… being more popular. As a matter of fact, Savannah’s B*Bot is able to maximize Savannah’s most popular videos online, earning thousands—nay, millions—of views and followers worldwide. But is it worth it? Are those millions of followers really considered friends? And how will she respond to the awkward yet deeply felt overtures from her classmate, Barney, and his weird new B*Bot?

Ricardo Hurtado as Rich Belcher, Barney’s classmate
Barney may not have many friends, but he does have plenty of “enemies” who want to make his life miserable, chief among them being Rich Belcher. Rich does everything you’d expect a smarmy, middle-school bully to do—antagonize Barney, embarrass him in front of the other classmates, and try to make fun of Barney’s new B*Bot, Ron. Trouble is, Ron doesn’t have the same safety code that other B*Bots have, and when Rich starts trying to pick on Barney, Ron snaps into action in a not-so-safe manner. But don’t mistake Rich for just another garden-variety bully… there’s more to this kid than what we see—and Ron might be just what we need to see what’s really going on with Rich.

Rob Delaney as Andrew Morris, CEO of the Bubble Company
Every great film adventure has a great “bad guy,” and Andrew Morris is just that. A slimy tech CEO who cares more about profits than anything else in the world, Andrew’s cold consumerism is the perfect counterbalance to Barney’s emotion-on-his-sleaves angst. Will Andrew win, and will the world embrace his brand of “digital friendship,” or will Ron’s malfunctioning whimsy be the catalyst that turns things around? Find out this Friday, when Barney, Ron and all their friends (and not-quite-friends) embark on the adventure of their young lives. Middle school is tough already—but just wait until Ron shows up.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

October 21, 2021

By Zach Johnson

In a kitchen far, far away, three teams of two bakers are designing Star Wars-inspired cakes! See what they’re cooking up when a new episode of Disney’s Magic Bake-Off airs Friday on Disney Channel. That same day, Disney+ will add two films the ’90s, Rookie of the Year and Thumbelina. Freeform’s “31 Days of Halloween” is in full swing, and this weekend includes family-friendly films like Halloweentown, as well as chilling, thrilling titles like Fright Night.

Disney’s Magic-Bake-Off—Friday, October 22, at 7 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
We have a good feeling about this! Our favorite astromech droid, R2-D2, and baking influencer John Kanell join co-hosts Dara Reneé and Issac Ryan Brown as baking teams design 3D galactic cakes that celebrate the Star Wars universe and their favorite characters.

Rookie of the Year—Friday, October 22, on Disney+
In this 1993 sports comedy, a freak accident transforms 12-year-old Little Leaguer Henry (Thomas Ian Nicholas) into one of the best pitchers in history! Recognizing his talent, the Chicago Cubs sign the middle schooler to a contract. Unprepared for such a high-pressure environment, Henry struggles until aging fastballer Chet Steadman (Gary Busey) takes him under his wing and teaches him how to play in the big leagues. Meanwhile, Henry’s mom’s corrupt boyfriend (Bruce Altman) tries to exploit him by selling his contract to a rival team.

Thumbelina—Friday, October 22, on Disney+
This 1994 animated musical comedy tells the story of Thumbelina (voiced by Disney Legend Jodi Benson). Born of a flower and only a couple inches tall, Thumbelina worries she’ll never meet someone her own size… that is, until she catches the eye of Prince Cornelius of the Fairies (voiced by Gary Imhoff). Not long after Thumbelina finds love, however, she is kidnapped by Ms. Toad (voiced by Charo). She must escape Ms. Toad’s clutches to reunite with her prince. Luckily, several animals and insects are willing to help.

Halloweentown—Saturday, October 23, at 4 p.m. ET and Sunday, October 24, at 1:45 p.m. ET on Freeform
On her 13th birthday, Marnie Cromwell (Kimberly J. Brown) learns she’s a witch, discovers a secret portal, and is transported to Halloweentown—a magical place where ghosts, witches, and werewolves live apart from the human world. Soon after, her grandmother (Debbie Reynolds) is attacked, forcing Marnie to fend off evil curses and wicked warlocks.

Fright Night—Saturday, October 23, at 11:30 p.m. ET on Freeform
This 2011 reimagining of the 1985 cult classic centers on popular high school senior Charley (Anton Yelchin). Trouble enters his seemingly perfect life in the form of Jerry Dandridge (Colin Farrell), his charismatic new neighbor. After witnessing some unusual activity next door, Charley concludes Jerry is a vampire. No one believes him, of course. After seeking advice from a Las Vegas illusionist (David Tennant), Charley decides to face Jerry himself.

The Stars of Ron’s Gone Wrong Open Up

October 20, 2021

By Jim Frye

The whacky, whimsical, sympathetic characters in the new animated film Ron’s Gone Wrong all seem to be trying to find their place in the world as best they can—through work, through online celebrity, or through their B*Bots, aka their “best friends out of a box.” What they soon learn, though, is that fitting in takes a lot of hard work, and sometimes your best friends might not be the ones who need to be plugged in… or do they? The concepts of friendship, family, connectedness, and finding out what really matters in life are burrowed deep into the DNA of the new film from 20th Century Studios and British studio Locksmith Animation.

Recently, the stars of the film zoomed together to discuss their characters.

Jack Dylan Grazer, who voices the lead character of Barney, has been working on Ron’s Gone Wrong for over five years. “I started… back in 2017. I was 13 and I’m 18 now, so it’s been a while,” he said. “But it’s been a whirlwind of a process and there’s so much evolution that has happened, especially with Barney and the story as a whole. I remember the [original] script, and there were so many different people, it was a whole other ballgame when I started. But I’m so glad that I stuck around and here we are now, and I’m so thrilled.”

Voicing the other lead character, Ron, is Zach Galifianakis. “I think that that was a joint effort, to find that voice,” he said about developing the distinctive voice and tone for Ron. “Sometimes I would be too emotional, I think, and then I would get feedback from the booth like, ‘That’s too… we’re hearing a little crack of emotion there.’ And I thought, ‘God, I think I’m doing this wrong.’ I saw the buyer’s remorse in [writer and director] Sarah [Smith]’s face. But I think honestly, it was a little tricky just to find it because you don’t want to do a robot [he mimics a monotone robot-style voice]. Obviously, they didn’t want that. They wanted more of my voice. But then how do you walk that line of not too much emotion, but likeable or lovable? So, I had a lot of help, really, because I needed it.”

He continued: “Also, it’s a tone thing, too. In an animated thing, there’s a lot of it. There’s a lot of imagination that’s required in the beginning, because you don’t see a lot of visual stuff quite at the beginning. You’ve been told what’s happening and that’s a little bit of it. Sometimes it’s a little challenge, but honestly, I had help and they were very patient with me, which, when you don’t know what you’re doing like me, it’s helpful.”

Ed Helms, who voices Graham, Barney’s dad, addressed the question of how he was able to work “physical comedy” into his voice work with the character. “That’s a really interesting question,” he pondered, before quipping, “The short answer is that I did none of it… it was all the talented directors and animators who did all the physical comedy. My more nuanced answer, though, is that as a brilliant voice actor I’m able to infuse little nuggets of physicality. No, it’s really all there on the page. It’s really fun to just bring these lines to life, and these guys [filmmakers] can tell you that I don’t hold back in the [sound recording] booth. I’m definitely physical in the space and think that helps it sound right, and helps it sound physical and gets me there mentally.”

Kylie Cantrall voices popular girl Savannah, whose B*Bot helps to make her famous online… although things quickly get out of hand. “Savannah, you know, she’s your classic popular girl in school and from the outside,” she said, “and I think she seems like she has it all together.”

Cantrall went on to discuss the challenges and pitfalls of relying too much social media: “Social media is a huge part of this film and she’s taking these cute selfies and she’s doing these makeup tutorials. But I think underneath it all, she’s just a young girl trying to figure herself out, and I hope that young girls can relate to her and understand the pressures that she goes through and kind of resonate with that part of her… There’s so many pressures that come with social media. Especially with cancel culture, it’s definitely a scary thing. I think as long as you have that balance and know when to put the phone down and have those in-person connections, it’s important to know your limits and not let it be your whole world.”

Addressing the struggles kids face with fitting in, finding friends, and avoiding the darker sides of social media, Grazer joked, “Who am I to give advice? I still don’t fit in!” But he then shared how he personally resonates with Barney. “Firstly, I really related to Barny. I’d just finished middle school, which was the most awkward stage of my entire life, but then I found Barney, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, yeah! I can pull that off… I can do that!’”

And his advice? “Just know who you are at every age,” he said. “Incorporate self-love and know your self-worth and value… There are so many pressures on social media, and the funny thing about it is that I grew up with it, but 75-year-old Zach didn’t. [Laughs all around]. It’s been part of my life. It’s advertised as the greatest way of making friends ever, but it’s the most toxic playground where you’re fed the most judgment you’ll ever see in your life. So, the greatest thing is just to know who you are and stay grounded.”

Galifianakis, responding to his young castmate’s jest, responded, “If you’ve ever been desperate for a friend, that makes for an interesting relationship. What’s neat is to see the juxtaposition of all the cool kids [in this movie] with their toys that work, and then Barney’s given this more ‘human’-like robot, if you will, with its flaws and glitches. Just watch that kind of natural progression; they kind of fall in love with each other. I mean, you’ve seen how charming Jack (Grazer) is…”

“…If he’d just shave that mustache, he’d be fine.”

Join Barney, Ron, Graham, Savannah, and all their friends in Ron’s Gone Wrong, in theaters this Friday, October 22.

Stargazing at World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ Eternals

October 19, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Marvel Studios’ Eternals introduces a group of heroes from beyond the stars—and on Monday night, the film’s stars introduced fans to their characters at the world premiere! Cast members Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Brian Tyree Henry, Don Lee, Richard Madden, Lia McHugh, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, and Kit Harington joined director and screenwriter Chloé Zhao; producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore; executive producers Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso; and screenwriters Ryan Firpo, Kaz Firpo, and Patrick Burleigh on the blue carpet in Hollywood to celebrate the third film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before it opens in theaters on November 5, 2021.

“I really think this is a beautiful film,” Jolie, who plays Thena, told reporters. “I love this cast, and I am so happy to come here tonight and see everybody and be together. It’s nice.”

Nanjiani, who plays Kingo, said he was “very excited” to see Eternals with an audience. “The Marvel fans are probably some of the best fans,” he said on the blue carpet. “It’s awesome, because I just walked in and saw so many people dressed up as characters from the movie. The movie’s not even out yet! That’s how much they trust and know the movie is going to be awesome. They already love these characters, even though they haven’t met them yet.”

In the highly anticipated film, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity yet again after the Deviants, monstrous creatures long thought lost to history, mysteriously return. “It’s an epic tale,” said Chan, who stars as Sersi. “It spans 7,000 years.”

Feige said getting to bring these cosmic characters to the MCU “really represents” what Marvel Studios has been working towards after the Infinity Saga concluded in 2019. “We always wanted to do a movie that spanned millennia and focused on immortals who have lived amongst us, and Eternals seemed like the greatest way to do that,” Feige explained. “It was when Nate brought in Chloé that we really decided, ‘We have to make this movie.’”

“I came into this as a filmmaker,” said Zhao, “but also as a fan.”

According to Moore, Zhao really delivered on her pitch. “Not only do you have 10 of the most interesting characters we’ve ever had, but some of the mythology in this movie is so breathtaking,” he said. As such, Moore predicts fans will “leave the theater really satisfied.”

“As with all MCU movies, there are surprises, there are twists, there are things you should stay till the very end to see,” added Feige. “What I’m most excited about, though, is the audience finally meeting these 10 Eternals that they’ve seen on posters around the world.”

Before Eternals opens in theaters November 5 (get your tickets now via Fandango), see more highlights from the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in the gallery below.

The Story Behind The Story of Marvel Studios

October 19, 2021June 15, 2023

By Zach Johnson

The Story of Marvel Studios is the first-ever, fully authorized, all-access history of Marvel Studios’ creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as told by the people who brought it to life. The two-volume set, available today via multiple retailers, features more than 200 interviews with creative talents who worked on all 23 movies in The Infinity Saga.

The book includes previously unpublished behind-the-scenes photography and archival production material, as well as personal photos and memorabilia from cast and crew. The Story of Marvel Studios is an essential collectible for fans of the MCU—and given that we’re HUGE fans of the MCU here at D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, we had a lot of questions for coauthors Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, who were granted unprecedented access to Marvel Studios during their years-long journey to write this 512-page chronicle. As a bonus, Abrams Books kindly shared an exclusive photo from the book with us (below).

D23: You spent four years working on this book. Where did you begin?
Tara Bennett (TB) and Paul Terry (PT): It was a multi-faceted beginning, for sure. Starting in the spring of 2017, we did a complete re-watch of all the MCU films and studied all of the Blu-rays’ bonus features to become more familiar with the myriad of behind-the-camera people and to help create a wish list of interviewees. By July of 2017, we were already booking interviews with Marvel Studios’ producers to start talking with them about how their journeys with the studio began. And, while all of this was happening, we were planning set visits, coordinating with the unit publicist for on-set interviews, and making the beginnings of a “book map” to help guide us, and Marvel Studios, into the storytelling direction the book would take. As you can tell from that list, we started in fifth gear, straight out of the gate, and it never really let up after that.

D23: How does it feel to unlock the MCU’s secrets from Odin’s vault, so to speak?
TB and PT: Honestly, even now, with the book finished, it still feels so surreal. Especially as we came into this project as huge MCU fans. We know that the unique, and very special experience that this project gifted us will remain an honor. Our teenage selves, who grew up adoring movies and slavishly studying them and reading about how they were made, could never have imagined that we would end up telling the story of Marvel Studios.

D23: Did you approach this project sequentially, or did you try a different method?
TB and PT: It was impossible to approach it, or plan the interviews to be, sequential—in terms of the release dates of the movies. Simply because, a lot of the time, we had to pivot on a dime and be prepared to interview a producer, cast, or crew member based on their availability. That meant that one day we could be chatting to someone involved with Ant-Man, and the next day, talking about Captain America: The First Avenger. However, what we were able to do was strategize the discussions with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and the core studio producers, about the chronological order of Marvel Studios’ output. We had multiple interviews with them, and we began that process by going all the way back to where everyone was in their lives prior to Iron Man, and then gradually moving forward in time. As you can imagine, those conversations were long, detailed, and numerous, because there was so much to dig into. But those really helped give us new paths to travel down and investigate, to flesh out their collaborators’ memories of how the studio was formed, grew, and evolved.

D23: As the MCU expanded, there were multiple projects in production as new ones were in development. How did you manage to tell a coherent and chronological story?
TB and PT: A project of this magnitude involves a ton of careful, detailed organization and planning. We know that our previous creative projects definitely set us up very well to take on something as gigantic as this. And what that involves is related to the previous question. When we discovered a brand-new piece of the overall Marvel Studios story-puzzle, we had to carefully track when exactly that happened, make a note of that date/period of time, corroborate it, and then figure out how to weave it into the overall narrative of that chapter so that it became a compelling addition to a chapter, rather than being a random, distracting deviation. We cannot thank Marvel Studios enough for helping us land such details—Stephen Broussard, one of the core producers, fast became an invaluable guide and collaborator in helping us figure out the best way to fill this book with as many details as possible, without it becoming unwieldy.

D23: Some films were in production as you worked on this. Did you do any set visits?
TB and PT: We did. We were on location, and on the sets of Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and Avengers: Endgame. Additionally, we were there for pre-production/production/post-conversations for Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel, including getting to see very early cuts as part of their in-house test screenings.

D23: You interviewed more than 200 people. Who surprised you the most?
TB and PT: As you can imagine, with that many people being interviewed, for the amount of movies that we covered, it really is impossible to pick the most surprising thing that was said. However, what we will say is that this book contains a plethora of deeply personal stories from the Marvel Studios family and the cast and crew of The Infinity Saga. And, beyond the fascinating stories we were told about the making of the films themselves, it really is those personal stories that we feel are the strongest and most rewarding aspects of the overall story told in this book. It makes it a really special keepsake of this history-making period of cinema.

marvel studios — *Volume 1*, pg. 165 Filming Tony’s crash landing in Rose Hill ©2021 MARVEL

D23: How long did the average interview last? Who did you talk to the most?
TB and PT: We quickly lost count of how many times—and how long—we spoke with Kevin Feige. We deeply appreciate how much time he invested in this book, and how many times he sat down to talk us through, in detail, the journey that Marvel Studios has been on. When we think back to all of the other interviews, most average around one to two hours for each interview. And that doesn’t count the multiple sit-downs. So, we gathered literally hundreds and hundreds of hours of material.

D23: Can you share some of your favorite never-before-told details or stories in the book?
TB and PT: Well, in the true spirit of the MCU—no spoilers!—we don’t want to give anything away. But we will hint that you will get some very surprising insight into how a brand-new member of the Marvel Studios family joined the team during the shooting of Iron Man 3, the hilarious truth behind “Bruce Banner’s twin,” and what it felt like to watch the filming of Tony Stark’s funeral.

D23: There are more than 500 photos in the book. How did you narrow it down to the ones you did, and how do they enhance the story you’re telling?
TB and PT: Much like the text, the selecting of the images for this book was a mammoth task. And it really took the entire book team, and a lot of hard work, research, scanning, and then trying different combinations of pictures out on the pages—multiple times—before we all felt that each page’s images were working in the best possible way to support telling the story of Marvel Studios. What was incredible about this process, is that we were gifted hundreds of personal photos that no one has ever seen—because so many literally came from the phones of the producers and The Infinity Saga’s cast and crew.

D23: Of all the movies in the MCU, which one holds the most meaning for you?
TB and PT: That’s a very, very hard question to answer! But, the first Iron Man will always have a special place in our hearts—because it’s where our love for the MCU began, and because Tara was at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con as an entertainment journalist covering the panels on Iron Man. It will remain eternally surreal that, 10 years later, we ended working with Marvel Studios. Beyond that film, Captain America: The First Avenger has always had our heart, because we adore everything about the Cap and Peggy story. And, of course, Endgame—because we got to experience so many of its scenes being filmed. And then we got to attend the world premiere. Endgame has this very special, up-close, and full-circle feeling for us—not just as fans, but as authors of this book.

The Story of Marvel Studios is available to purchase now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop, IndieBound, !ndigo, Powells, and wherever books are sold.

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1980s: Predator

October 19, 2021October 18, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

This film is for mature audiences.

Halloween is just a couple weeks away and with it, all manner of spooky, scary creatures have begun haunting us… Among these ghouls and goblins, there may be a particularly scary creature lurking in the shadows of the jungle. Get to the chopper and join us in the 1980s as the hunters become the hunted in Predator (1987), the next installment of our 20th Century Fox “Spooktacular”!

Predator begins as a simple rescue mission for Major Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team. Accompanied by CIA agent Al Dillon (Carl Weathers), an old friend of Dutch’s, the team ventures deep in the heart of jungle to a guerrilla encampment—but Dutch grows suspicious, especially after encountering the wreckage of a helicopter along the way. After defeating the forces at the encampment and capturing Anna (Elpidia Carillo), a young guerrilla fighter, Dillon reveals to Dutch and his men that the rescue mission was in fact a cover; their true purpose was to stop a rebel invasion backed by the Soviets. However, this quickly becomes the least of everyone’s concerns as it grows increasingly apparent a malevolent, unseen force is stalking the group. The team gets gruesomely picked off one by one by this invisible hunter, until only Anna and Dutch remain, fleeing to a waiting helicopter at the extraction point. Dutch realizes that his hidden nemesis is not hunting the unarmed Anna and screams “Get to the chopper!” to her, leaving only him as the extraterrestrial Predator’s target. After he realizes that the cold river mud renders him undetectable to the Predator’s infrared vision, Dutch prepares elaborate traps and weapons out of the raw materials of the jungle to defeat his foe. The final showdown between Dutch and the Predator is a chilling battle of wits and strength, with Dutch as the eventual victor.

Although it is unseen for most of the film, the Predator itself is a terrifying and believable enemy for Dutch, a man whom Schwarzenegger describes as someone “who is always in control of the situation… But all of a sudden, this unknown comes in, something I’ve never dealt with before in my life—then it becomes scary. And I become very vulnerable.” Legendary special make-up effects designer Stan Winston designed the Predator creature while Kevin Peter Hall, who stood at a towering 7’2”, portrayed the creature. Hall spent a considerable amount of time physically preparing for his role, undergoing a daily regimen of aerobics, weight-training, and gymnastics before the start of filming. To make the Predator an even more intimidating adversary, Hall noted that “an alien warrior wouldn’t come from outer space doing old Bruce Lee routines… I wanted something a little different from standard movie karate. Medieval combat seemed appropriate.”

Predator was a commercial success upon its release and has since become a science fiction classic. Its story has continued across sequels and even crossed over with another notable alien-themed science fiction franchise. Stick around and watch Predator if you dare!

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in November 2021

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The countdown to Disney+ Day continues!

On Friday, November 12, The Walt Disney Company will host Disney+ Day, a global celebration that will come to life across all dimensions of the Company. Subscribers will be treated to new content releases across the service’s iconic brands, along with a special presentation on Disney+ for fans with sneak peeks into what’s to come. You can stream the feature films Jungle Cruise and Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings that day… but that’s not all! From new specials from Marvel Studios and Star Wars to a collection of fan favorite shorts from Walt Disney Animation Studios, there’s something for every Disney fan!

Throughout the month, dozens of new films, series, and shorts will be added to the Disney+ library, including Becoming Cousteau, Jingle All the Way, Port Protection Alaska (Season 4), Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa, and X-Men: First Class. As we previously announced, the documentary feature Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives, which premiered in June 2020 exclusively for D23 Gold Members in celebration of The Walt Disney Archives’ 50th anniversary, will be available to stream starting Friday, November 19.

The Disney+ Original Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. will end its freshman season on November 10. A few weeks later, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye will debut with two episodes on November 24, while the three-part documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, directed by Oscar^®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, will debut over three nights on November 25, 26, and 27.

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

Wednesday, November 3
Amphibia (Season 3, 5 Episodes)
Dino Ranch (Season 1, 7 Episodes)
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (New Episode: “Scutwork”)
Photo Ark (Season 2)
Storm Rising (Season 1)

Friday, November 5
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Jingle All the Way
Jingle All the Way 2
Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa (Short)
Santa Buddies
The Search for Santa Paws
Snow Buddies
Space Buddies
X-Men: First Class

Wednesday, November 10
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (Episode 110: “Aloha – The Goodbye One”) (Finale)
Mickey Mouse Funhouse (Season 1, 7 Episodes)

Friday, November 12 — Disney+ Day
The Ballad of Nessie (Short)
Ciao Alberto (Short) (Disney+ Day Premiere)
Entrelazados (Disney+ Day Premiere) (Season 1, All Episodes Streaming)
Feast (Short)
Frozen Fever (Short)
Get a Horse! (Short)
Home Sweet Home Alone (Disney+ Day Premiere)
Jungle Cruise
The Little Matchgirl (Short)
Marvel Studios’ 2021 Disney+ Day Special (Disney+ Day Premiere)
Olaf Presents (Disney+ Day Premiere) (Season 1, All Episodes Streaming)
Paperman (Short)
Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings
The Simpsons All-New Short
Tangled Ever After (Short)
Tick Tock Tale (Short)
Under The Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett (Disney+ Day Premiere) (Documentary Special)
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Disney+ Day Premiere) (Season 2, Episodes 1-5)

Wednesday, November 17
Disney’s Magic Bake-Off (Season 1, 3 episodes)
Life Below Zero: Next Generation (Season 3)
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Party Palace Pals (Season 1, 4 Episodes)

Friday, November 19
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives
Puppy for Hanukkah
The Pixar Story

Wednesday, November 24
Becoming Cousteau
Hawkeye (2-Episode Premiere)
PJ Masks (Season 5, 3 Episodes)
Port Protection Alaska (Season 4)
Puppy Dog Pals (Season 4, 2 Episodes)
Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa (Season 2)

Thursday, November 25
The Beatles: Get Back (Episode: “Part 1”) (Premiere)

Friday, November 26
The Beatles: Get Back (Episode: “Part 2”) (Premiere)
Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special
Ernest Saves Christmas
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas

Saturday, November 27
The Beatles: Get Back (Episode: “Part 3”) (Premiere)

D23 Halloween Invasion Stencils and Decorations

October 18, 2021October 15, 2021

By the D23 Team

Please note, these stencils are not for beginner pumpkin carvers. Kids, be sure to have an adult help you with the carving tools!

What you will need for the stencils:

Ready-to-carve pumpkin
Standard printer paper
Soft graphite pencil
Clear tape
Ballpoint pen
Black permanent marker
Pumpkin-carving tools

Instructions:

Download and print the template on standard printer paper. Scribble heavily all over the back of the template with a soft graphite pencil.
Tape the template onto a ready-to-carve pumpkin that is clean and dry with the scribbled pencil side on the pumpkin.
Trace over the template with the ballpoint pen to transfer the image onto the pumpkin. Define the template with a marker and then carve out the design.

What you will need for the decorations:

8.5 x 11-inch white printer paper
Scissors
Decoupage or double-sided tape
OPTIONAL: 8.5 x 11-inch white sticker paper (found in scrapbooking section of craft store)

Instructions:

Download and print out this sheet of stickers onto printer paper or sticker paper.
Using scissors, cut around each sticker (using its pink border as your guide).
Attach to your pumpkin using decoupage, double-sided tape, or self-adhesive (if using sticker paper).

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

October 18, 2021

By Zach Johnson

As two series end, two more begin!

On Monday, The Bachelorette returns for a new season on ABC, followed by the series premiere of Queens. That same night, you can stream the mysterious season finale of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. On Wednesday, a new installment of Marvel Studios: Assembled arrives on Disney+, and the next day, The Next Thing You Eat debuts on Hulu.

The Bachelorette—Tuesday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Michelle Young’s journey to find love begins! Thirty men are hoping to impress her with their charm and wit. But before they can attempt to woo her, they’ll have to get through hosts and mentors Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams first. It may be night one, but the men quickly learn it will take more than a good entrance to win this Bachelorette’s heart.

Queens—Tuesday, October 19, at 10:01 p.m. ET on ABC
The series follows a fractured girl group living in the shadows of their once-prominent hip-hop dynasty. Their popularity skyrocketed following the release of a chart-topping single, and the women became regarded as one of the greatest girl groups of their generation. Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and jealousy. Estranged, out of touch, and now in their 40s, the four women (Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and Brandy) reunite for the chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had in the ’90s when they were legends in the hip-hop world.

Only Murders in the Building—Tuesday, October 19, on Hulu
If the walls in the Arconia could talk! In the hilarious and nail-biting season finale, “Open and Shut,” podcasting trio Charles (Disney Legend Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) race toward a resolution… as their own lives are put in danger!

Marvel Studios: Assembled—Wednesday, October 20, on Disney+
Go behind the scenes of Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, directed by Cate Shortland and starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow. Hear from the cast and creative team, including stars David Harbour and Florence Pugh and producer Kevin Feige.

The Next Thing You Eat—Thursday, October 21, on Hulu
From chef David Chang and Academy Award^®-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville, the six-episode docuseries explores the seismic changes happening all around us and what they mean for the way we’ll eat in the future. Chang and a diverse cast of characters dare to dive headfirst into what lies ahead, ranging from robots to lab-grown fish, insect farms to artificial intelligence calling all the shots… and everything in between!

Stars in their Rides: What It’s Like to Make Magic in a Walt Disney World Attraction

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

By Jeffrey R. Epstein

In honor of the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort, we’re sharing a classic Walt Disney World article that was originally printed in Disney twenty-three magazine in 2011 for the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to D23.com for more stories celebrating the past, present, and future of Walt Disney World Resort!

On the opening day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, Walt Disney made history in countless ways. One of those enduring achievements was combining popular stars of the day with his classic talent for storytelling. So, along with Snow White, Dumbo, and Mr. Toad, on hand that day was Davy Crockett star Fess Parker, who led the parade and the Mouseketeers made their debut (their Mickey Mouse Club wouldn’t premiere until that October). And of course, Walt himself was there—already a huge celebrity to millions of people around the globe.

The tradition of blending storytelling with celebrities has continued to this day. D23 had the chance to speak with some of the talented individuals who have appeared in Walt Disney World attractions from the past and present, lending their voices, bodies, and sometimes hours of time in a makeup chair to create magic for park guests.

Check out the first half of this story here, featuring quotes from Steven Tyler, Allison Janney, and more!

Illeana Douglas
Manager, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (2000 – present)

What was your reaction when you got the call to play Aerosmith’s manager?
At first I thought it was a joke, Growing up, Aerosmith was my favorite band ever! It was the first or second concert I went to. So, of course, I wanted to do it. How I was cast has been a total mystery to me. You wouldn’t think I’d be the choice. I was doing The Drew Carey Show at the time playing his girlfriend. So it may have come from that. Drew did something for Disney [Sounds Dangerous] and it was right around the same time. Whoever pitched me, I’m glad that they did.

What was it like filming with Aerosmith?
The shooting of it was absolutely hysterical. Aerosmith couldn’t remember any of the words. We had to do the whole thing as one take. So if somebody messed up you had to do it again. Between the four guys in Aerosmith, I’d walk on and then they’d say, “Maybe we should ask our… ” And I’d say “Manager! I’m the manager! OK, let’s take it again.” They messed up so many times, I think Steven just put it in his own words. “Yeah, make it happen!” They were the nicest group of people.

What was it like going on the attraction for the first time?
When it came time for the ride, we had to go down to Walt Disney World. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done in my life, I guess because of the lights being out! And they had an Aerosmith concert at the opening. They were just the best. I have such fond memories of that. I got autographs from everybody. And more times than not, people have come up to me and ask me about it. I think they’re going to mention a movie I’m in. And they say, “You’re on a ride in Walt Disney World!”

What’s it like being a part of Disney history?
Growing up in Massachusetts I think I went to Walt Disney World once, but I was such a huge fan of the animation. Who doesn’t want to be a part of Disney? I hadn’t gone to the parks so much but I was a fan of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and all the movies. I didn’t think about it at the time. I was thinking more about the fun Aerosmith thing. As the years have gone by and the way people keep coming up to me, I am thrilled to have been a part of it. It’s such an elite group—somehow I got snuck in there.

Paul Reubens
Captain RX-24 (Rex), Star Tours, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (1990 – 2010)
DJ R3-X (DJ Rex), Oga’s Cantina, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (2019-present)

Had you been a fan of Disney World and Disneyland?
I am a huge fan of Walt Disney World and Disneyland! Like most baby boomers, these parks and the Mickey Mouse Club played a significant role in my childhood. I was about 3 years old when I watched the opening of Disneyland live on TV. That moment was like the moon landing for little kids. I still remember it. I think every kid in America went to their parents and said, “Take me to Disneyland,” after that broadcast. I finally got to go when I was 12, when my family took a trip out west. It blew my mind back then and still does every time I go. I have family in Florida, and when I go back, we often visit the parks, and I’m always struck by something new. There is nothing like it anywhere. I am in awe of the concept, execution, and technology of Walt Disney World. One of the perks I got from working on Star Tours and other Disney projects was a yearly pass, and I used it a lot. I took a lot of friends to the park and have many great memories from our visits. I’ve even had a helicopter tour of the Florida property, and I was struck by the vastness of the place. I’m also a graduate of California Institute of the Arts, conceived and endowed by Walt Disney himself. So I guess you could say Disney helped start my career.

What did you think when you were approached about being a part of Star Tours?
I was beyond thrilled and said “yes” right away. First, it was a chance to work with George Lucas, someone I admire very much. And it was getting to work with Disney and be part of a theme park ride that was going to change the way people experience theme park rides. It was so cool. It was the first flight simulator ride, which is still very much the standard today. There were so many reasons to be involved with Star Tours; honestly, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. I’m so happy I did.

What did you think of Rex when you saw him?
Unlike other animated projects I have worked on, I got to see the character pretty close to complete. Usually, it’s just a rough mock-up. But this was far along. I think George Lucas heard my voice in the film Flight of the Navigator and then I got asked to work on it. Regarding the performance, I tapped into the enthusiasm of someone getting to go on this fantastic ride. It was very easy, since I was pretty blown away by the whole experience. I was having the time of my life, as I imagine Rex was.

How was the recording process?
The recording process was pretty straightforward. I only improvised a tiny bit. It was more about fitting a particular reaction into a specific amount of time. With this kind of work, I trusted the creative team behind creating the ride and followed their lead. It was such a joy to see the finished product. Friends called me and said, “The wait time is 45 minutes for this ride, is it worth it?” I said, “Absolutely! It will be a few of the coolest minutes of your life!”

Are people surprised to know you recorded Rex?
People bring it up to me and ask me about it quite often. It’s a variation on Pee-wee’s voice, altered electronically, so it’s not that hard to connect the dots. It’s one of those things I am really happy to be a part of and thrilled to be recognized for.

Eric Idle
Dr. Nigel Channing, Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Journey Into Imagination with Figment (1994 – 2010, 2002 – present, respectively)

What was it like filming Honey I Shrunk The Audience?
We shot it all in one take, because all the action is contained in that wide shot. Like a play really—no close ups and huge 70 mm camera. We would set up the whole piece and then go again.

What was your first reaction when you saw the film?
I found it very impressive. I liked the interaction gags, the mice and so on. Disney kindly flew us all to EPCOT for the opening, and since we had kids they loved it.

Then they flew me and my family to France for the opening at Euro Disney, which was also a great time.

How did they approach you about joining the Imagination attraction?
Bit by bit they would ask me to come back and shoot the character Nigel Channing—to help with links and entertain the audience while they were waiting. It was always just a day shoot. The final time with Figment I was made up as the moon, which took a while. I was happy to meet [Disney Legend Richard] Sherman who wrote that and so many songs.

How do you feel being a part of Disney history—featured in not one but two popular attractions?
I am proud to be in two attractions. I love being able to appear 15 times a day without having to turn up!

Kathy Najimy
Dr. Femus, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, Magic Kingdom (1995 – 2003)

The makeup process must have taken quite a while?
It was about a four-hour application to make our heads and faces green. It was so much fun. At the time we were trying to figure out what was happening—they showed us sketches of the monster. But it sounded like a ride we’d never seen before. The ground was shaking and you feel the breath of the monster on your neck. So that was so cool.

Did you have fun while shooting?
We had done two days of filming. It was the second day and we were done. Kevin Pollak (Spinlok) had taken the green makeup all off—it took about an hour to get it off. Then the director walked in and said, “I’ve got some bad news… We need to reshoot.” And Kevin literally lost it. He was freaking out. The director and I turned to Kevin and said, “April Fools!” That was one of my best ones ever.

Do you remember what your reaction was seeing it for the first time?
I went and saw it with my now-husband, and I loved it. It was almost a little too scary for me. I thought it was so innovative. I had never experienced anything like it before, and I had been to Disneyland a thousand times. I thought the combination of the live action, the movie, the breaking of the tube the monster was in, the stomping around and the breath on your neck—I thought it was genius. The only thing I’m bummed about is that my daughter never got to see it. But I still have a picture of me and my dog sitting on the director’s chair with the big green watermelon head.