Phoebe Waller-Bridge Joins Indiana Jones Cast

April 9, 2021

By Zach Johnson

If adventure has a name… it must be Indiana Jones!

Lucasfilm Ltd. just announced that Emmy®- and Golden Globe®- winning actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge will star alongside Harrison Ford, who is returning to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist, for the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.

In addition, John Williams will return to score the film, continuing a musical journey which began 40 years ago with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Williams’ unforgettable Indiana Jones soundtracks—packed with all the epic thrills, suspense, romance, and excitement—have over time become as beloved and familiar as the adventurer-hero’s signature hat and whip.

“I’m thrilled to be starting a new adventure, collaborating with a dream team of all-time great filmmakers,” said James Mangold, the film’s director. “Steven [Spielberg], Harrison, Kathy [Kennedy], Frank [Marshall], and John are all artistic heroes of mine. When you add Phoebe, a dazzling actor, brilliant creative voice and the chemistry she will undoubtedly bring to our set, I can’t help but feel as lucky as Indiana Jones himself.”

The next Indiana Jones film will swing into theaters on July 29, 2022. Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Simon Emanuel are serving as the movie’s producers.

New Loki Trailer Makes Mischief—Plus More in News Briefs

April 9, 2021April 28, 2021

By Courtney Potter

Disney+ Debuts New Trailer for Marvel Studios’ Loki

We’ve been looking forward to this series for a while, and now we’re only a few months away: Marvel Studios’ Loki is an all-new, original series bringing mischief and mayhem exclusively to Disney+ beginning this June—and we were just gifted a brand-new look at the series, above…

Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Loki follows the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother Thor’s shadow; after fleeing with the Tesseract, Loki is a fish-out-of-water when he lands in a world of trouble with the bureaucratic TVA (Time Variance Authority). Tom Hiddleston returns as the title character and is joined by a veritable who’s-who of costars—including Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E. Grant.

Mark your calendars: Loki will appear on your TV (and/or favorite streaming device) starting Friday, June 11.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Did you know Disney’s fan favorite Newsies was released to theaters 29 years ago this very weekend? Celebrate with Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, David, Crutchy, Spot Conlon, and the whole toe-tappin’ newsboy gang by checking out the 1992 film (that later inspired Disney Theatrical’s stage musical) on Disney+… and there’s more fun to be had from around the worlds of Disney, so take a gander at what you can expect and plan your weekend viewing accordingly, y’all.

The Bold Type

**Freeform’s The Bold Type Returns for Fifth and Final Season**

Freeform’s critically acclaimed series The Bold Type will premiere its fifth—and final—season on Wednesday, May 26, at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT, and will be available the next day on Hulu. The farewell episodes of this fan-favorite series will celebrate the trio’s journey into becoming who they were each meant to be. Nikohl Boosheri will recur during the season as Adena El-Amin, and renowned fashionista (and RuPaul’s Drag Race judge) Carson Kressley will guest star as himself in the season premiere.

Season four of The Bold Type left Kat (Aisha Dee), Jane (Katie Stevens), and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) at their limits, both personally and professionally, at Scarlet Magazine. Now, after five truly empowering seasons, this group is on the brink of defining who they really are and how best to leave their mark on the world. Also starring Melora Hardin, the series is executive produced by Wendy Straker Hauser, Matt McGuinness, David Bernad, Joanna Coles, Brian Madden, Ruben Fleischer, and Sandrine Gros d’Aillon.

Another Sneak Peek at Marvel Studios’ Black Widow

Just this week, in anticipation of its long-awaited premiere this summer, Marvel Studios released an all-new peek at Black Widow—showcasing Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) as she struggles to face her past and deal with unfinished business.

In Black Widow, Romanoff tries to wipe out some of the red in her ledger after a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, she must deal with her history as a spy… as well as the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. The film also stars Florence Pugh as Yelena; David Harbour as Alexei, aka The Red Guardian; and Rachel Weisz as Melina. The first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Widow is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.

This action-packed spy thriller will launch simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access (requiring a one-time additional fee), in most Disney+ markets, on July 9. We can’t wait!

First Look at Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Get ready, Wildcats: We’re about to catch back up with our favorite troupe of teenage thespians! Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series kicks off Friday, May 14, on Disney+, and there’s major competition in the air; East High decides to produce Beauty and the Beast as their spring musical and face off with crosstown rivals North High whilst doing so… Check out the tuneful trailer, and some new images from the season, right here at D23.com.

abc summer

ABC Summer Premiere Dates Announced

Our friends at ABC are ready to kick off a summer full of fun, thrills, and even romance, with their lineup of fabulous star-studded unscripted series. Three new shows—The Celebrity Dating Game, When Nature Calls (working title), and The Ultimate Surfer—will make their debut alongside 11 of the most popular and well-known titles on television.

On May 26, Press Your Luck and The $100,000 Pyramidwill return for their patented high-stakes shenanigans… then the Luke Wilson-hosted Emergency Call returns on Friday, June 4. Next, ABC will welcome back Celebrity Family Feud, The Chase, and To Tell the Truth on Sunday, June 6. Fan favorite Katie Thurston will make her entrance as The Bachelorette on Monday, June 7.

And that’s not all… Are you ready for a boatload of Bolton? Yes, you heard us: Michael Bolton himself is coming to ABC, as the executive producer and costar of the all-new The Celebrity Dating Game, hosted by actress and singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel. The series—which is exactly what you think it is (celebrities looking for love with a series of initially hidden singletons, but with the added benefit of hilarious parody tunes from Bolton)—makes its “Summer Fun & Games” debut on Monday, June 14.

But wait, there’s more! Look for more Card Sharksbeginning Wednesday, June 16. Thursday nights will feature hilarity and hijinks with the premieres of brand-new show When Nature Calls (WT); the returning fan-favorite show Holey Moley; and the newest mystery game show The Hustler on Thursday, June 17. Later in the summer, Bachelor in Paradise will make its long-awaited return on Monday, August 16—and on Monday, August 23, the competition series The Ultimate Surfer will make its network debut.

It’s truly an embarrassment of summertime riches, and we are—as the kids say—here for it.

**Revenge, But Make It Fashion: New Cruella Trailer**

Just what happened to make Cruella de Vil the ridiculously memorable—not to mention terrifically chic—villain she is today? That’s the premise behind Disney’s live-action feature film Cruella, debuting simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ (with Premier Access, for a one-time additional fee) next month. And this week, we’ve been gifted with another colorful trailer for the Craig Gillespie-helmed film…

Cruella follows the rebellious early days of one of cinema’s most notorious antiheros. In 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, a clever and creative young grifter named Estella (Oscar® winner Emma Stone) is determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Oscar winner Emma Thompson), a fashion legend who is devastatingly, and more than a little terrifyingly, haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable, and revenge-bent Cruella.

Look for Cruella to stomp the proverbial runway beginning Friday, May 28!

ICYMI: Premiere Date Set for Disney Junior’s The Chicken Squad

An adorable new animated series, which takes its inspiration from popular books from author Doreen Cronin, is coming to Disney Junior beginning Friday, May 14! We’ve got a look at all the news that’s fit to hatch about The Chicken Squad—including a rundown of some of the show’s amazing guest-star voices, as well as a new trailer—right here.

A Look Back at the Oscars®—The Old Mill

April 9, 2021April 8, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

In honor of the upcoming Academy Awards^® ceremony, let’s take a look back at some of Walt Disney’s Oscar-winning films. First up, The Old Mill (1937), winner of best Short Subject (Cartoon) at the 10th Academy Awards (1938).This charming short depicts the efforts of birds, toads, and other critters to stay safe and dry in—where else!—an old, abandoned mill as a raging thunderstorm rolls in.

Most notably, the entry was the first of the Silly Symphony series to utilize the multiplane camera in production. Through the use of layered, painted backgrounds on glass plates, the camera was able to add a sense of depth to the animated film’s backgrounds and setting.

The opening of The Old Mill is just one of many terrific examples of how the camera was employed in the short. For this innovation, studio technology wizard William Garity and his team from Walt Disney Productions were also awarded a special Scientific and Technical-category Academy Award^® during the 1938 award ceremony.

To see the multiplane camera in action as well as all the critters of the mill braving the storm, be sure to catch The Old Mill, streaming on Disney +!

JUST ANNOUNCED: Epic News About Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Calling all Super Hero Recruits—and yes, that means you! Disney Parks, Experiences and Products has just announced that Avengers Campus, an entirely new land dedicated to discovering, recruiting and training the next generation of Super Heroes, will open June 4, 2021 at Disneyland Resort, inside Disney California Adventure Park. And whether you’re a lifelong fan of our favorite Super Heroes or you’re only discovering them now, get ready to team up with the Avengers and their allies to live out your most heroic dreams in this fully immersive land that mixes innovative technology and fun for all ages.

“We are so excited to soon welcome our guests to Avengers Campus, our first land dedicated to Super Heroes,” said Ken Potrock, president, Disneyland Resort. “Here, our cast members will unite to help guests of all ages find their super powers and create special memories.”

Avengers Campus brings together Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for the common good. The land is comprised of several heroic locations, each hosted by a different Avenger to share their unique powers, technology and knowledge with recruits.

At the first key area, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade—aka WEB—Tony Stark has assembled an incredible group of bright innovators like Peter Parker, who are dedicated to inventing new technologies that equip everyday people to become Super Heroes like the Avengers. It’s at WEB where guests will experience the brand-new WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature the iconic friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

“When we set out to create these extraordinary Super Hero experiences across the globe, we designed a new Spider-Man attraction for Disney California Adventure Park in an immersive land with amazing character experiences,” said Scot Drake, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We also crafted an original story that ties all the experiences together in ways that are authentic to these characters. We worked side by side with teams who brought the Avengers films and comics to life to create a place that champions the next generation of heroes.”

Tom Holland reprises his role as Peter Parker in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, and the new attraction promises fun for the entire family through an action-packed adventure that invites guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test. Using innovative technology that’s been adapted specifically for this attraction, guests will team up with Spidey and help capture out-of-control Spider-Bots before they wreak havoc on the Campus. During an open house at WEB, Peter Parker and the aspiring inventors ask guests to wear 3D glasses and test drive their latest invention, the WEB Slinger vehicle, which allows them to sling webs like Spider-Man and experience what it’s like to have super powers.

Of course, the towering citadel of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, which opened in Disney California Adventure in 2017, also looms high above Avengers Campus. Guests will continue to be the protagonists of this rockin’ adventure as they help rescue our favorite cosmic gang of misfits.

Avengers Headquarters—look for the Quinjet sitting atop its roof!—will offer guests the opportunity to see some of their favorite heroes, such as Captain America, Black Panther or Black Widow, assemble to survey the campus. In fact, throughout Avengers Campus, Super Heroes come to life in ways that are more exciting than ever, from Spider-Man defying gravity as he flips 60 to 65 feet in the air above the rooftop of the WEB building; to Black Panther’s loyal bodyguards, Dora Milaje, who impart their wisdom to recruits and share a sense of what it’s like to be a member of this elite royal guard. Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, also debuts for the first time in a Disney park as she leads this training encounter. And not far from Avengers Headquarters, guests can explore the overgrown ruins of an Ancient Sanctum and learn mysterious secrets from Doctor Strange, who will train recruits in the ways of the mystic arts by bringing this Ancient Sanctum to life with powerful spells (and at night, the Ancient Sanctum glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights pulsating with mystic energy).

Science has never been as delicious or as delightful as experienced within the Pym Test Kitchen and Pym Tasting Lab. In the Pym Test Kitchen, just as Ant-Man and The Wasp use “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Technologies applies this science to the creation of shareable bites, inventive entrees and sweet treats. Among the menu items are the Impossible™ plant-based large and micro meatballs with pasta, and the “Pym-ini,” a panini served by the slice or as a long, multi-portion sandwich. All of it pairs perfectly with a glass of Pingo Doce, the distinctly green beverage from Avenger lore that will be available at Avengers Campus.

Grown-up beverages are available at Pym Tasting Lab, including craft beers that range from a blood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager. And adding to the fun (as if the oversized beer can overhead wasn’t enough!), these are poured from a different kind of draft system where, thanks to the food scientists, the glass fills from the bottom up. The Pym Research Staff has also concocted some unique Pym-Particle infused cocktail experiments, along with bite-sized snacks guests are sure to enjoy.

Recruits who have worked up an appetite can also partake in the offerings at Shawarma Palace—a favorite of the Avengers, who discovered their new favorite food after the Battle of New York, when they took Tony Stark up on his offer to try the food at the “shawarma joint” about two blocks from the battle zone. This second location of their beloved dining spot is at Avengers Campus by special request of the Avengers. And Taneleer Tivan is curating a weird and wonderful menu of intergalactic eats at Terran Treats, a food cart near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

No visit to Avengers Campus will be complete without a visit to the WEB Suppliers store, where guests will discover the latest inventions, including interactive Spider-Bots much like the ones you will see WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Each Spider-Bot has a remote control, and all eight articulated legs move forward and backward. Spider-Bots can be customized with tactical upgrades to harness the powers and style of favorite Super Heroes, including Black Panther, Iron Man and Black Widow, as well as Ant-Man and The Wasp. Other must-have items at WEB Suppliers include a specially designed backpack to carry Spider-Bots when they are not in action, Spider-Man light goggles, a take-home spider web kit, and Funko Pop! vinyl figurines of Spider-Man and Iron Man. The Campus Supply Pod is the perfect spot for powering up with official Avengers Campus gear, including performance fleece hoodies and tees, headwear, drinkware and other Super Hero supplies.

“Avengers Campus will be a place where fans and guests can finally step into the universe they love, and stand alongside some of their favorite heroes,” said Dave Bushore, vice president of Franchise Creative & Marketing for Marvel Studios. “The optimism inherent in Avengers Campus captures the diversity, power and teamwork these extraordinary characters possess, and now they come together to unite people from all over the world under one guiding principle: We are stronger together.

Important Information about the Disneyland Resort Theme Parks Reopening:

Magical moments are returning to Disneyland Resort theme parks when Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure officially reopen to the public on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity.

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. Theme park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks, and in groups no larger than three households, in line with current state guidelines. Details about this new reservation system are at Disneyland.com, and guests are encouraged to check the site for the latest updates as they become available.

The health and well-being of guests and cast members remain a top priority. Enhanced health and safety measures and operational changes will be in place at the theme parks based on guidance from health authorities and learnings from Disney parks around the world to promote physical distancing, enhanced cleanliness and reduced contact. Cast members throughout the resort will assist with questions, and guests may check Disneyland.com/update for current health and safety measures, including mandatory temperature screenings and required face coverings for guests ages 2 and older.

Learn more about Avengers Campus at Disneyland.com/AvengersCampus and, of course, stay tuned to D23.com. We’ll assemble every last detail while we await the opening of this epic new land!

Adam Faison Promises Everything’s Gonna Be Okay in Season Two

April 8, 2021April 7, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Freeform’s hit comedy Everything’s Gonna Be Okay returns for its second season tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes. After the series’ critically lauded debut in 2019, creator, writer, and star Josh Thomas has packed even more humor and even more heart into each episode of season two. After a stressful trip to New York, the Moss family and Nicholas’ boyfriend, Alex (Adam Faison), are just trying their best to move forward. After returning home to a global pandemic, Matilda (Kayla Cromer) is rethinking her life goals as Genevieve (Maeve Press) grows a bit bolder. All the while, Nicholas (Thomas) continues to balance being a brother, a parental figure, a boyfriend, and an entomologist. Ahead of its return, we talked to Faison about what fans can expect throughout season two.

D23: The first season was so well-received. Why do you think it resonated with fans?
Adam Faison (AF): I think it’s this formula Josh has of using real life experiences to dictate the characters as opposed to trying to broadly appeal or relate to every demographic. Josh likes to ask [the actors] questions about what we would do in various scenarios. For this season in particular, he interviewed each of us for maybe an hour and a half or two hours, and he asked us for life experiences so he could then imbue them into scenes for the show.

D23: Despite everything that’s going on in the world, it seems as if Alex and Nicholas are in a really good place in season two. Would you say that’s an accurate assessment?
AF: They have really stood the test of time, all things considered. After Nicholas’ dad passed away in the first season, Alex could have fully dipped out. But he was like, ‘I’m going to stick around and work through this weird, funky time with Nicholas.’ In these first couple of episodes in season two, everything’s kind of chill. But in a pandemic, their personalities come out in this pressure cooker, so there’s bound to be conflict. And also, Alex was very trepidatious in the first season about saying what he wants in a relationship. Now the dust has settled a little bit and they can hash it out a bit more. They don’t have to mince words.

D23: I don’t want to get too spoiler-y, but in the second episode, Alex learns his parents are getting divorced. How will that play out throughout the rest of the season?
AF: You see his breaking point in that second episode. Everything comes crashing down, literally and metaphorically. He wanted to become a dentist, but he can’t finish school, and he’s got all this student loan debt. And then these people come over [guest stars Richard Kind and Maria Bamford], and they’re trying to make him fly this drone, which crashes down on Genevieve head. And he’s just like, ‘I never wanted this! This is not how I expected life to go!’ That felt really realistic. For Alex, when he first finds out his parents are splitting up, it doesn’t hit him that he wants to scream until that drone comes down on Genevieve’s head. That’s when he pops off. I feel like that’s real life. It’s not like there’s a perfect moment where he’s allowed to be mad. Sometimes it comes out when you least expect it.

D23: Will Alex’s parents getting divorced affect his own relationship with Nicholas?
AF: Alex’s dad is played by CJ Jones, and he’s deaf. I think will be hopefully interesting, and maybe even relatable to some people, to see what it’s like being a child of a deaf adult—a CODA—and to see what the communication between a hearing family member and a deaf family member, or hard-of-hearing family member, is like. And Nicholas and Alex are working through their problems. Alex is constantly comparing and contrasting in his mind the relationship between his parents and the relationship he has with Nicholas. My parents divorced in real life, too, so it was this constant thing where you can’t help but inevitably compare the things that your parents did to each other with what’s happening in your real-life relationships. Alex tries to take his dad’s advice with a grain of salt, because he’s a bit more embittered and was in a relationship for a long time that inevitably didn’t work out.

D23: This season will also feature Nicholas and the girls coping with the one-year anniversary of their dad’s death. How will Alex help Nicholas get through that time?
AF: Alex tries to get Nicholas to open up a lot. It’s really hard for Nicholas, because his mode of communication is much different. He likes to push things off or compartmentalize, and then be like, ‘It’s OK.’ Alex, on the other hand, likes to talk things out—and when he doesn’t get to talk things out, he gets frustrated and he feels like he’s not getting the love he needs. At one point, Alex says, ‘You just want to laugh, but you’re putting this off because you don’t like hard things.’ I think Alex really wants Nicholas to face the way he feels about his dad, because he never talks about it; it’s almost like it was a blip in his life, and now they never speak about it anymore. You’ll see Alex try to pull it out of Nicholas more. It’s something that’s gone relatively unaddressed. Nicholas busies himself with the girls and asks how they feel about it, but never actually speaks about how he feels about it.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

April 8, 2021

By Zach Johnson

As we look to the weekend ahead, we see a brand-new episode of Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home in our future! Also on Friday, the 1995 comedy Man of the House joins the Disney+ library. Tune in to Disney Channel Saturday for a hilarious episode of Amphibia, then join us in celebrating two milestones—the 12th anniversary of Hannah Montana: The Movie and the 29th anniversary of Newsies—by streaming the beloved movies on Disney+.

Raven’s Home—Friday, April 9, at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
In the all-new episode “10 Things Debate About You,” Levi Grayson (Jason Maybaum) helps convince Booker Baxter-Carter (Issac Ryan Brown) to join the debate team. The two best friends are then pitted against each other in order to prep for the big debate tournament.

Man of the House—Friday, April 9, on Disney+
Resourceful 11-year-old Ben (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) does everything imaginable to scare off his mom’s boyfriend, Jack (Chevy Chase), who is a federal prosecutor. Ben’s scheme seems to be working… until a vengeful mob boss enters the picture and tries to have Jack killed! A series of high jinx ensue, leading Ben and Jack to forge a bond of love and respect.

Amphibia—Saturday, April 10, at 9:30 a.m. ET on Disney Channel
Ready for a toad-ally fun new episode? It starts with “The Second Temple,” in which Anne (voice of Brenda Song) and Marcy (voice of Haley Tju) explore an icy mountain temple in their quest to get home. Then, in “Barrel’s Warhammer,” Sasha (voice of Anna Akana) and Grime (voice of Troy Baker) embark on a mission to retrieve a legendary war hammer. Ron Cephas Jones and Daisuke Tsuji guest star as Captain Aldo and Captain Bufo, respectively.

Hannah Montana: The Movie—Saturday, April 10, on Disney+
Can she really have the best of worlds? When Miley Stewart aka Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) gets too caught up in the celebrity lifestyle, her dad (Billy Ray Cyrus) decides it’s time for a change of scenery and trades Hollywood for Crowley Corners. At their family farm in Tennessee, Miley begins to question how long she can sustain her dual identities. Moisés Arias, Jason Earles, Melora Hardin, Margo Martindale, Mitchel Musso, Emily Osment, and Lucas Till round out the cast, with cameos by Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift.

Newsies—Saturday, April 10, on Disney+
Directed by Disney Legend Kenny Ortega, this musical film features original songs by Disney Legend Alan Menken and Jack Feldman. New York City’s newsies are outraged when newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall) increases his distribution price so he can squeeze out more profits for The New York World. Led by the spirited Jack Kelly (Christian Bale), the newsies decide to challenge the media elite by going on strike. With the help of reporter Bryan Denton (Bill Pullman), the newsies get word of the strike out to the whole city, galvanizing other child laborers to “seize the day” and join their cause. In a battle of wills, Jack himself confronts Pulitzer. The strike is eventually successful, thanks in large part to Teddy Roosevelt (David James Alexander) intervening on the newsies’ behalf.

FIRST LOOK: The Drama Is Real in the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season Two Trailer

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021

By Zach Johnson

There’s something in the air, all right!

Today, Disney+ revealed the official season two trailer and key art for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, premiering Friday, May 14. In season two of the original series, the East High Wildcats, who are preparing to perform Beauty and the Beast as their spring musical, face off against rival school North High to win a prestigious and cutthroat student theater competition. Wigs are snatched, loyalties are tested, and ballads are belted. This season also includes brand-new solos written by stars Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett.

In addition to Rodrigo and Bassett, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series regulars are Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr, and Kate Reinders. Guest starring this season are Derek Hough, Olivia Rose Keegan, Roman Banks, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Asher Angel.

In addition to today’s trailer, Disney+ also released some new images from season two:

From creator and executive producer Tim Federle, season one of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is currently available to stream exclusively on Disney+. It has been “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes and is a recent recipient of a GLAAD Media Award.

Flip through the photo gallery for more season two images:

UPDATE: Costume Exhibition from the Walt Disney Archives Headed to Seattle’s MoPOP in June

April 8, 2021May 6, 2021

By D23 Team

The costuming of Disney characters has dazzled us for years, and now you have a chance to see some of the most stunning pieces up close. The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) today announced that the exhibit Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume will now open June 5, and you can purchase tickets here. The exhibition was previously announced to open in October of 2020. Through more than 70 original items, including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, military uniforms, tiaras, and, of course, glass slippers, the exhibition immerses visitors into the world of Disney and shows how our understanding of its iconic characters is shaped through the artistry and creativity of its costumes.

“In film, television, and theater, costuming is a tremendously powerful tool for storytelling and character development,” said MoPOP Executive Director Alexis Lee. “Disney in particular is a master of the art and sets a standard for using wardrobe as a device for creative expression.”

The exhibit, which guests were first able to experience at D23 Expo 2019, includes costumes from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers, past and present, including Academy Award® winners Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell, and Tony Walton, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy® nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.

Visitors will experience “Cinderella’s Workshop,” a gallery featuring the beloved fairy-tale character’s dresses from her numerous Disney incarnations, including 1997’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella; 2014’s Into the Woods; the 2015 live-action reimagining of the animated masterpiece Cinderella; and the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time.

The main gallery will be divided into three sections: “Disney Heroes,” “Disney Villains,” and “Spaces Between,” reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them among Disney’s most complex characters. There will also be interactive elements and plenty of chances for photo ops.

Among the costumes included in the “Disney Heroes” section are Belle’s village dress and ballgown from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast; Giselle and Prince Edward’s costumes from Enchanted; and two iconic Mary Poppins “traveling dresses”: one from the 1964 original film and the other from 2019’s Mary Poppins Returns. “Disney Villains” ensembles include the trio of wonderfully wicked witches from 1993’s Hocus Pocus, the duo of dresses worn by the stepsisters in 2015’s Cinderella, and the dress worn by the incomparable Bette Davis in 1978’s Return from Witch Mountain. And “Spaces Between” includes Maleficent’s gown from the 2014 film, as well as the Evil Queen and Hook’s costumes from Once Upon a Time.

MoPOP is the first museum to show the exhibition, which premiered at 2019’s D23 Expo. More information on the exhibition will be announced later in the year.

National Geographic Announces Star-Studded Earth Day Eve Celebration

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

By Zach Johnson

This year, National Geographic will offer multiple ways for people to celebrate Earth Day with a lineup of activities that will meet people wherever they are, kicking off with an Earth Day Eve virtual celebration. Hosted by travel expert Jessica Nabongo, Nat Geo’s Earth Day Eve 2021 will feature performances from Angélique Kidjo, AURORA, José González, Maggie Rogers, Rostam, Valerie June, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, and Ziggy Marley, as well as a world premiere new music video from My Morning Jacket.

Beginning Wednesday, April 21, at 8:30 p.m. ET, Nat Geo’s Earth Day Eve 2021 concert will premiere exclusively on the National Geographic YouTube channel and at NatGeo.com/EarthDayEve. Fans can join the conversation online with #NatGeoEarthDay.

As viewers join in the musical event remotely from around the world, they will be introduced to extraordinary National Geographic Explorers, including world-renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, carnivore ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn Grant, environmental journalist Lillygol Sedaghat and biologist Dr. Lucy Hawkes. A highlight of the event will include National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry, one of the world’s leading marine photographers, as he previews the new four-part Disney+ original series Secrets of the Whales, from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer at Large James Cameron. Narrated by award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver, the series from National Geographic takes viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of whales. The series will anchor National Geographic’s activities on Earth Day and becomes available on Disney+ at 12 a.m. PT on April 22.

The event will also include a number of exciting announcements by the brand and be followed by a virtual afterparty on the new National Geographic TikTok account at 10 p.m. ET. In Nat Geo’s first-ever TikTok Live, viewers will be invited to drop by to hear Jayda G. spin an original set accompanied by stunning visuals from the new Disney+ series Earth Moods. In the meantime, National Geographic has published a newly created Spotify playlist that’s the perfect soundtrack for Earth Month.

“For over 133 years, National Geographic has strived to inspire people to care more deeply for the planet. This Earth Day, we hope to provide that inspiration with a one-of-a-kind celebration that invites audiences everywhere to unite around the power of music,” said National Geographic Chairman Gary Knell. “Our Earth Day Eve event—virtual and accessible to everyone—will showcase environmentally passionate artists from around the world together with some of National Geographic’s most extraordinary Explorers. From AURORA’s forest performance in Bergen, Norway, to Jane Goodall’s greeting from her home in England, the celebration will give us even more of a reason to fall in love with the place we all call home—and empower us to act to protect it.”

The event art is by Cachetejack, whose colorful illustrations and playful style perfectly bring the music of National Geographic’s Earth Day Eve 2021 to life. Nuria Bellver and Raquel Fanjul of Cachetejack are a Spanish freelance illustration duo working together since 2011 to bring an irreverent and playful style to their work that honors their ancestors.

Real Life Money Matters Inspire Hilarious Family Matters in ABC’s Home Economics

April 7, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Home Economics executive producers Michael Colton and John Aboud have had what Colton describes as both “good years and bad years” throughout a creative partnership that goes back nearly two decades. Their new series, which premieres Wednesday, April 7, (8:30–9 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC, is inspired by one of the particularly difficult years—a year in which Colton found himself completely unemployed while his twin brother was enjoying his best year ever, making a sizable amount of money by selling a company he’d built. The imbalance between the siblings was challenging to Colton. During ABC’s recent Television Critics Association virtual event, he recalled his feelings at the time as a mix of anxiety, pride, jealousy and insecurity. He also remembered thinking the situation had the makings of a show.

The new comedy series looks at the complicated dynamic between three adult siblings who find themselves in wildly different income brackets. Topher Grace (That ’70s Show) stars as eldest sibling Tom, who is based on Colton. Tom is firmly in the middle class in Home Economics, while Connor (Jimmy Tatro) has reached the 1% while youngest sister Sarah (Caitlin McGee), a social worker, is barely hanging on.

“It’s so important that the show really be about something, so that you want to tell all these different stories about it,” emphasizes Grace, who is also one of the Home Economics’ executive producers.

Colton and Aboud set out to create a relatable family sitcom that reflected their lives, as well as the lives of the viewing audience. Aboud shared, “We’ve been fans of Modern Family for forever, but when you look at those three families and how those stories intersect, you look at their houses—all those guys are rich… We wanted a family where there were different levels.”

Like Colton, in Home Economics Tom is also a writer. He’s secretly working on a novel about his family, though in real life Colton kept his siblings in the loop about the pilot he and Aboud were developing. Tom’s book also serves as a jumping-off point for narration, which plays a similar role as the documentary device in Modern Family. “He’s actually telling the story. We’re seeing what he’s putting in his book,” Aboud explained. “We get to see Tom’s perspective and get a lot of extra information in a really simple and fun way.”

In the initial pilot, Tom was the middle sibling in the family. But once the executive producers met Tatro and McGee, they re-conceived the family dynamic. “You always go with the best actors you have,” Colton said.

Grace is the eldest sibling, and he’s also something of an elder statesman among the Home Economics cast, which he praised as a “dream team,” similar to the ensemble he was part of at the start of his career on That ’70s Show. “Maybe I know slightly more about being on a dream team than some of [the cast]. We’ve been working together a short time and it’s like going on a date except not just with one person. You either kind of have that chemistry or you don’t,” Grace shared. “I would say almost every scene, we have trouble finishing the scene because we’re all laughing so hard and then that feeling bleeds into the show.”

Grace admits he was hesitant to return to network television after an extended period of time spent working on feature films and series for streaming services. But, he shared, “My agent did a tricky thing. She sent me the pilot without the cover page on it. When I looked back I said, oh right, I guess there aren’t any swears in that. I really fell in love with the characters and the writers.” Any nerves Grace was feeling about launching a new network show quickly disappeared. “About 48 hours into it became overconfident,” he admitted. “And the reason is because of these actors.”

According to Colton, he and Aboud always envisioned Home Economics as an ABC show, continuing the tradition of must-watch series for the entire family, such as Modern Family. “This didn’t need to be a show that was edgy and has swears. Everybody who has read it, has said, ‘Oh, I’m the Tom in my family. Or ‘I’m the Connor in my family’ or ‘I’m the Sarah in my family.’” He believes it’s the most relatable project the pair has written, noting that at some point, everyone struggles with money or siblings who may need it, and he noted, “It seems like it’s hitting a chord.”