Inside For Life’s Post-Prison Second Season

November 18, 2020November 17, 2020

By Zach Johnson

In the highly anticipated second season of the hit ABC drama For Life (returning Wednesday, November 18, at 10 p.m. ET), wrongfully convicted inmate turned lawyer Aaron Wallace will finally become a free man. But will he ever truly be free? After spending nearly 10 years behind bars, he will experience the “worst of the worst,” warns series executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “The trauma from that can be like a soldier reentering society after war.”

Indeed, this season of For Life, inspired by executive producer Isaac Jackson Wright Jr.’s own journey, won’t shy away from the harsh realities Aaron is about to face. “There is the weight of everything he went through last season with the added responsibility of who he is now as a husband and a father,” says Nicholas Pinnock, who plays Aaron and also serves as a producer on the series. “There are certain prison aspects of Aaron that are still with him now that he’s on the outside. He’s not just a free man going straight back into regular, everyday societal life. He’s having to adapt. That adaptation brings with it a weight of its own.” Complicating matters: Aaron will be re-entering society in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. “He’s constantly having to navigate himself through those journeys, everything he does on the outside. How is he feeling? How is he navigating?” asks Pinnock. “He’s constantly thinking about these things.”

Creator and executive producer Hank Steinberg believes “the events of the summer” pushed For Life “even more into the zeitgeist,” resulting in “exciting, challenging and daunting” storytelling. “We feel like we have a lot of responsibility,” Steinberg adds, “but we also have a huge opportunity.”

By dealing with sensitive subject matter head on, the cast and creatives hope For Life will open a constructive dialogue. Says Indira Varma, who plays Safiya Masry, “I think life is complicated and one of the exciting things about this show is that it’s not black and white.”

Without spoiling anything, what other topics will For Life explore? “What you saw in season one—what you gravitated toward, what you fell in love with, what you identified with, what you connected to—is all going to be there and them some. I mean, I loved season one; I just think season two is going to be better… If the audience can understand it in the way that we’ve depicted it, if they can get an essence of how we felt doing it and what it really means to us, then absolutely it will be a stronger season than season one. And season one was already strong,” says Pinnock, adding, “When I read the first episode for season two, it didn’t feel like it was a hangover from season one. It felt like its own show, immediately. And for me, that’s what a season two pilot needs to feel like… It feels like it’s on its own track, not [like] season one is a train and then season two follows it. No! Season one is on one track and season two is on another, and I think that is what’s going to make it so strong.”

Party Like It’s 1953!

November 18, 2020November 17, 2020

By Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives

Inspired by the Mickey Mouse compilation film Mickey’s Birthday Party, which was itself released to celebrate Mickey’s 25th anniversary in 1953, Walt Disney Productions released this fun pamphlet for families. This vintage publication, sponsored by Weather-Bird Shoes, is full of ideas, games, and directions for a birthday party, but is adaptable for any occasion. So, please enjoy this look back, or use it to celebrate your favorite character and his best buddies with your very own “Mickey Mouse Birthday Party.” So much fun… and so easy!

Watch the Brand-New Trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special

November 18, 2020November 30, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

It’s beginning to look—and sound—a lot like the holidays! Disney+ has just released the trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, which is coming to Disney+ on Friday, December 11. As the cast promises, the festive special is full of laughs, a Santa hat or two, a whole lot of music, and dreidels!

#HSMTMTS fans can unwrap an early holiday present courtesy of the brand-new trailer, which includes a preview of “The Perfect Gift,” a new song from the highly anticipated second season of the series, written and performed by Joshua Bassett. “The Perfect Gift” appears on the soundtrack from the special, available this Friday, November 20. Both the soundtrack and special also include a sneak peek of “Something In The Air,” the first major musical number from the upcoming second season of the series.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special will bring together the cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr, and Kate Reinders—to share childhood holiday memories, best (and most embarrassing!) gifts, favorite traditions, and family photos. But first and foremost, there will be music! Here is the track listing for the special, and for High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack:

“This Christmas (Hang All The Mistletoe)”—performed by Sofia Wylie
“The Perfect Gift”—written and performed by Joshua Bassett
“Feliz Navidad”—performed by Frankie Rodriguez and Joe Serafini
“The Hanukkah Medley”—performed by Julia Lester
“Last Christmas”—performed by Matt Cornett
“White Christmas”—performed by Larry Saperstein
“Little Saint Nick”—performed by Joshua Bassett and Matt Cornett
“Believe”—performed by Dara Reneé
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”—performed by Kate Reinders and Mark St. Cyr
“River”—performed by Olivia Rodrigo
“Something In The Air”—performed by the season two cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
“That’s Christmas To Me”—performed by Frankie Rodriguez, Kate Reinders, Julia Lester, and Joe Serafini
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”—performed by Dara Reneé

The special is executive-produced by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (Golden Globe®- and Academy Award®-nominated Ferdinand) and Ashley Edens (Dancing with the Stars). High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—”Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes as measured by a consensus of reviews by top critics and audience members, and the recipient of the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Kids & Family Programming”—is available now on Disney+.

Anthony Daniels Talks Bringing LEGO C-3PO To Life in Disney+’s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Much like the characters of Star Wars use holograms to communicate with each other across the galaxy, last Wednesday, reporters gathered in front of their screens to communicate with C-3PO… or, well, to communicate with the actor who has brought the golden beacon of Human-Cyborg Relations to life for over 40 years. Not unlike the Jedi communing through the Force, Daniels introduces himself with a cosmic statement: “Everybody is listening, but I can’t really see people. I know you’re there. I feel your presence.” While Daniels spent some of the conference musing about a modern saying he thinks would be excellent to introduce to Threepio’s vocabulary (“Mute yourself!” he exclaims in a perfect rendition of C3-PO’s irritated exclamations, “I’ve just written it down”) he also took some time to answer our burning questions about The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special and his lasting Star Wars legacy.

How Did He Feel About Being part of a New Star Wars Holiday Special?

Anthony Daniels (AD): When I saw what they were going to do [a new special] and that it was LEGO, I was just thrilled to be asked. I was delighted because I know anything with LEGO and with Star Wars is going to be a blast, LEGO has been a wonderful companion to Star Wars. I think people who remember the original holiday special will be surprised. This is different. This is fun. And, it also references so many memories that audiences have around the world.

I love the irreverence that LEGO has always brought, whatever the product, because you can’t be serious if you’re a dumpy inch-and-a-half doll—you cannot be serious. So intrinsically, a LEGO product is going to be fun, it’s going to be irreverent and it’s going to allow you to places you wouldn’t normally go in a Star Wars movie. And that’s why the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special allows you to go on weird adventures, meeting people you wouldn’t normally meet in the same room with and it works out.

What’s the Difference Between Making a Live-Action Holiday Special and a LEGO Special?

AD: The only difference is I’m not wearing the suit. I am there in jeans and a shirt of some kind that doesn’t make rustle-y noises in the microphone, so you have to be careful what kind of material you’re wearing. Because with Threepio, I stand up, I stand as him—very tense because he’s a tense character—but he moves most of the time when he’s talking. And if I’m wearing the wrong clothes, cotton that’s a bit sharp or whatever, it can make rustle-y noises, so I had to be very careful to wear sloppy clothes. That way I can remain as physically as Threepio. If you’re watching me, people forget that I’m there in the shirt and the jeans, they see the gold. That’s kind of fun for me.

In an animation you tend to only have your lines, so always you have to read what, or ask what, the line before was—but, that is second nature to me, because in the original film when I talked to R2-D2 they didn’t tell me [what R2-D2 said], but R2-D2 never beeped or anything until six months later when Ben Burtt, eventually, won an Oscar for being the voice of R2-D2.”

Why Should You Use The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special to Introduce Your Kids to Star Wars?

AD: Anybody with small children who don’t yet know that Star Wars is a very important film (concerning the adventures of a gold robot played by Anthony Daniels), [The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is] a great introduction. I think people are going to have fun over the holiday season talking about it and explaining to kids, “Well, this is about this and this is about that. And then let’s go watch the movie.”

It’s interesting that the original film was called A New Hope and these days we need to feel there is hope and there is lightness, and fun, and joy in life. And without realizing it, I think the producers of this film, this LEGO special, have hit the right moment to bring this out because we need, this year, right now in the holiday season, to be reminded that there are good things in life, there are good things to celebrate. It’s difficult right now for many, many people in all sorts of different circumstances.

There’s so much for a family to enjoy and if you’re not there with a family there is so much warmth in the program that you can relax, be there. Just stop looking out of the window for a moment and just sink into this program. And you’ll feel better, I think.

What Does He Have in Common with C-3PO?

AD: People often ask me what characteristics do I share with Threepio and well, how can I put this? Because I liked him very much—and you’d have to ask my wife! I mean, he can be irritating and I’m sure she would deny that I was irritating. But one thing I really do like that I share with him is his sense of loyalty. I think loyalty in humans, loyalty to each other, is extremely important. One of the lovely things in the movies is that Threepio shows great loyalty even to dreadful human beings like Han Solo. Nevertheless, he would want him to be okay, but loyalty to the princess, to Luke Skywalker and of course, to R2-D2. A very, very major important human attribute.

What Would He Like to Say to the Fans?

AD: I’m going to say, “thank you” to you and everybody else, all the fans, who have reciprocated, who have enjoyed, who have watched, who have loved what I and the other members of the cast and crew and producers and so on have brought to you. Without the fans, there would have only been one Star Wars film. Then it became Episode IV, because the fans took it and loved it—so George made the next film, The Empire Strikes Back, and so on. So, you’re thanking me and I’m thanking you for playing your part as a member of the audience. It’s a two-way process, and you’re part of the team. And I thank you.

Happy Life Day! The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is now streaming on Disney+.

Three Marvel’s 616 Filmmakers Discuss Their Episodes

November 17, 2020November 16, 2020

By Jim Frye

There’s one simple guiding principle that sets Marvel apart: storytelling that reflects the world outside your window. That means that even though Marvel weaves fantastical tales that span far-off worlds, one thing rings true: Marvel characters are relatable—they’re real people, with real struggles… who just so happen to also have super powers. Captain America may be a super-soldier who can lift a jeep over his head, but in the end, he still gets nervous about asking Peggy out on a date.

The brand-new docuseries Marvel’s 616, premiering November 20 on Disney+, explores the rich legacy of pioneering characters, along with the real-life creators, artists, and passions behind them. Each documentary in the series is helmed by a unique filmmaker and showcases the storytelling, pop culture, and fandom within the Marvel Universe.

In his episode “Lost and Found,” actor and director Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) digs deep into Marvel’s dusty archives and discovers some of the most interesting characters you’ve probably never heard of. “When you hear the name Marvel, you probably have a couple images that pop into your head,” says Scheer. “It’s Spider-Man, it’s Iron Man, it’s Black Panther… but I got to thinking, there’s such a wealth of material in the Marvel 80-year history. I kind of think of it as the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark: In every box there is some sort of treasure, we just have to open the right boxes… and I found some great characters, some that we couldn’t even put in the documentary! Like a cow who was bitten by a vampire and became a Hellcow. Or a medieval, time-traveling knight who was also Billy Ray Cyrus. There was a villain who became Asbestos Lady. Or U.S. 1, who is a truck driver who gets into a terrible accident and gets a CB put into his head and he’s able to click his tongue and talk on a CB!”

Actress Gillian Jacobs (Community, Love) goes a different route in her episode “Higher, Further, Faster,” tracing the history and contributions of the women creators at Marvel. “Even going back before Marvel was even a company, there were women in comics,” says Jacobs. “That was incredibly exciting to me, to get to highlight these women who were in the comic book industry in the 1930s and 1940s. I’m so sad I never got to speak to Marie Severin [artist) and Flo Steinberg [editor/publisher, Stan Lee’s assistant], who were two incredibly influential women in the world of Marvel comics. But I did get to talk to Jo Duffy [editor] who worked there in the ’70s… Then to be able to talk to female creators who work there today, it was interesting to see how the female characters have evolved as well.”

Whereas Scheer and Jacobs dove into Marvel’s characters, history, and creators, Alison Brie (GLOW, Community) takes us behind the scenes at a high school-produced one-act play featuring Marvel characters who address real-world teen issues of today. “The Marvel Spotlight Program was completely new to me,” she says. “It’s a collection of one-act plays that are written for high school students to perform, about characters in the Marvel Universe who are also high school or college age. The nature about my episode is dealing with these one-act plays about specific characters, and me wanting to experience them through the eyes of these high school students and how they were relating to the characters. I certainly did research on these specific characters, such as Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Squirrel Girl (Doreen Green)—but it was more preliminary research, and once the train left the station it was more about being in the moment, being in tune with the students and their personal experiences. It’s much more about their emotional journey and less about learning every fact about these characters.”

Other episodes explore topics like Japanese Spider-Man, Marvel artists around the world, cosplay, collectibles, and more. And that name? Marvel’s 616 (pronounced Six-One-Six)? According to executive producer Sarah Amos, it’s a nice, deep cut for our Marvel fans. “The whole series is looking at how Marvel has affected pop culture, and how pop culture has affected Marvel,” says Amos. “Everyone is familiar with multi-verses now. Earth-616 is one of the Earths in the multi-verse. It is the classic Earth we know. Cap, Spider-Man, all the heroes that we grew up on—that core Earth, that is Earth-616.” So, in essence, Marvel’s 616 is the classic Marvel we all know—the core Marvel. The one right outside our window.

Catch all eight episodes of the series on Disney+ beginning November 20.

Add These D23 Gold Member-Exclusive and Early-Access Items to Your Fantastic World

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020

By the D23 Team

This week, we’re celebrating the wonderful worlds of Disney with an exciting week of virtual events, articles, and merchandise during our D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration. Speaking of merchandise, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members can explore a whole new world of exclusive and early-access merchandise that celebrates the wonderful worlds of Disney Animation, Disney Parks, Star Wars, and more! Check out these items below to find out what treasures are in store for you.

D23 Fantastic Worlds Puzzle

D23 Gold Members will have a special opportunity to take home a one-of-a-kind collectible for the ultimate Disney fan! Celebrate the worlds of Disney—both real and imagined—with this 1,000-piece premium puzzle featuring the one-of-a-kind D23 Fantastic Worlds map, designed by Disney artist Bryan Mon!

This boxed puzzle—a limited edition of 3,300—will be available exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on November 23, 2020.

Fantasia Pin Set

Now’s your chance to take home a melodious tribute to animation history with an exclusive pin set celebrating the 80th anniversary of Fantasia and the 20th anniversary of Fantasia/2000, created in beautiful enamel with glitter infill exclusively for D23 by Disney artist Caley Hicks.

This boxed pin set—a limited edition of 2,000—will be available exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on November 23, 2020.

Exclusive Early Access to Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Hilt, Ben Solo Lightsaber Hilt, and Reforged Skywalker Lightsaber Hilt from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Get your hands on these detailed creations of the most elegant weapons in the galaxy. From November 19–20, D23 Gold members will have an exclusive “first-access” opportunity to purchase three legacy lightsaber hilts from Star Wars: Galaxy Edge on shopDisney.com, before the general public on November 25. These exclusive items are from Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration Limited-Edition Disney “A Man and His Mouse” Mickey Mouse Plush

This Mickey Plush, created exclusively for D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration, honors Mickey’s ‘Walter ego,’ Walt Disney. Disney artist John Hench decided to honor both man and mouse in Mickey’s 70th birthday portrait by dressing Mickey in an orange cardigan sweater, just like the sweaters that Walt Disney liked to wear around the Studio and WED (now Walt Disney Imagineering). This special-edition Mickey Mouse plush, wearing a similar cozy cardigan sweater, was created exclusively for D23 Members, to honor the Man behind the Mouse, Walter Elias Disney.

Want to make these items part of your world? Become a D23 Gold Member today! For a limited time, you can get a complimentary D23 Fantastic Worlds 4-pin set when you buy a new D23 Gold or Gold Family Membership.

Magical Updates on New Disney Parks Attractions and Entertainment

November 16, 2020

By Zach Johnson

On Monday, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took the virtual stage at the IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference to share a behind-the-scenes look at lessons learned over the past year—and to chart Disney Parks’ path forward.

While the pandemic required some projects to be put on pause, Disney Imagineers never stopped dreaming up new experiences. Groundbreaking updates are coming to Disney destinations around the world, with progress continuing to be made on several projects—many of which are pushing the boundaries of innovation and storytelling like never before.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the announcements D’Amaro made today:

Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris
Guests are invited to team up with the Avengers and their allies in a new land: Avengers Campus. The Worldwide Engineering Brigade (aka WEB) building will soon house the attraction WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, where guests will board vehicles and help Spider-Man subdue of an army of Spider-Bots that have taken over Avengers Campus.

Guests visiting Disneyland Paris will soon be able to experience Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, celebrating 80 years of Marvel storytelling in a typical New York setting. Inspired by an art gallery, with more than 300 items from more than 95 artists on display, the four-star hotel will boast one of the largest collections of Marvel artwork in the world.

Walt Disney World Resort
Work continues on the historic, multi-year transformation of EPCOT, including “Harmonious,” Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

“Harmonious” will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created, with massive floating set pieces that house a variety of show effects, including custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and much more. “Harmonious” will feature the hallmarks of a Disney experience, like images and music, which will be reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world.

Work also continues on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the family-friendly “storytelling coaster” that features a revolutionary ride system with vehicles that rotate 360 degrees and can even do a reverse launch! The Omnicoaster is a first-of-its-kind programmable roller coaster ride system, where guests can be rotated along the ride track in any direction while traveling at high speeds. Fun fact: The Omnicoaster name builds upon the tradition of the Omnimover ride system in which Walt Disney Imagineers are able to turn guests in any direction, redirecting their attention to a specific element or scene.

At Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the adventure will start in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about Xandar’s treasures… until the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive and adventures across the cosmos ensue. The attraction will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.

Plans are on track to open Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 2021. Based on Disney and Pixar’s hit film Ratatouille, this family-friendly attraction will invite guests to shrink down to the scale of a rat for a culinary adventure with Chef Remy. During each adventure, guests will race across Gusteau’s kitchen floor aboard trackless ride vehicles in a rousing 3D chase.

In a galaxy not so far, far away, progress continues at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, where guests will live aboard a starship for a two-day, two-night experience that’s out of this world. Unlike any typical cruise, guests will become the heroes of their own Star Wars story in a new type of immersive experience that only Disney could create. Guests will cruise the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. During their stay, guests will stay in well-appointed cabins, experience onboard dining, make a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and more.

Shanghai Disney Resort
Progress continues on the Zootopia-themed land, where guests will be invited to experience the metropolis of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar®-winning animated film. This expansion—the park’s eighth themed land and the first-ever Zootopia-themed land at any Disney park—will include a new attraction that will seamlessly blend Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life. The aerial photo of the area shows how big the show building will be!

Tokyo Disneyland
New attractions, restaurants and shops recently opened at Tokyo Disneyland, marking the largest expansion in the park’s 37-year history. Part of the expansion will be “Fantasy Springs,” which will be themed to a magical spring inspired by the beloved films Frozen, Peter Pan and Tangled. It will feature four new attractions, three restaurants and a new Disney-themed hotel situated inside Tokyo DisneySea that will overlook Fantasy Springs.

Explore the World of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on D23.com

November 16, 2020November 13, 2020

By the D23 Team

Whether you’re a regular visitor to Batuu or you’re admiring the planetary trading outlet from afar, (or should we say far, far away?) you can dive deeper into the details, facts, and secrets of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland with these exclusive videos and articles full of must-know information for any intergalactic traveler.

Video

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Storytelling through Merchandise

Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
Watch Here: D23.com | Facebook.com/DisneyD23 | YouTube.com/DisneyD23

Meet the Inspiring Women of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Amazing 360° View of Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

A 360 Look into Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Your Guide to the Beverages of Batuu | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

DJ R-3X: From Pilot to Performer | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

The Coolest Star Wars Shout-Outs in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Hidden Details Inside Dok-Ondar’s that Every Fan Should Find | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Inside Secrets From the Creative Minds Behind Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Articles

EXCLUSIVE: Imagineer Scott Trowbridge Talks About Bringing the Edge of the Star Wars Galaxy Directly to Fans’ Homes

7 Out-of-this-World Facts about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Through the Black Spire Novel

Hidden Gems and Attention to Detail Create Authenticity in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and All Its Starships and Speeders

7 Surprising Stats and Fascinating Facts from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Creatures, Droids, and Aliens: Meet the Fantastical Figures of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Cool Things You Might Not Know About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Stunning Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Photos Reveal Intergalactic New Details

D23 Inside Disney Podcast Episodes

D23 Inside Disney Episode 51 | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Trading Post Collection With Scott Trowbridge

D23 Inside Disney Special Episode | Exploring Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Inside the Thrilling and Mysterious World of ABC’s Big Sky

November 16, 2020November 13, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Nothing is as it seems in Big Sky, a new thriller created by 11-time Emmy® Award winner David E. Kelley and based on C.J. Box’s book series. Premiering Tuesday, November 17, at 10:01 p.m. ET on ABC, the series follows private detectives Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury) and Cody Hoyt (Ryan Phillippe) as they join forces with Cody’s estranged wife, former police officer Jenny Hoyt (Katheryn Winnick). The goal? To find the Sullivan sisters (Natalie Alyn Lind and Jade Pettyjohn), who have been kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana. By the time they discover the two sisters aren’t the only girls who have disappeared in the area, it becomes a race to catch their captors… before it happens again.

Ahead of the series premiere, Kelley and the cast of Big Sky—including Bunbury, Brian Geraghty, Jesse James Keitel, Lind, John Carroll Lynch, Valerie Mahaffey, Pettyjohn, Phillippe, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Winnick—got on a Zoom to tease what mysteries lie ahead.

The idea to adapt the story as a series arose after Kelley devoured Box’s 2013 novel, The Highway. “It’s cliché to say that I couldn’t put it down, but really, I couldn’t put it down. It was a page‑turner,” said Kelley, who, in addition to serving as executive producer and showrunner, also wrote several episodes. “What drew me in first was the plot, the tension. And then, what resonated after that was the layering of the characters. Beyond that, it was the authenticity and the sense of place that he brought to Montana. When we set about adapting it, the biggest challenge for me was to be able to deliver what the book did: the tension, the thrill, the drama, the relational equations of the characters—which are rich and profound at times—and the sense of escapism. It was a great ride and a great journey.”

With so many twists and turns, even the cast isn’t sure what to expect as the season progresses. “We’re all on a group chain, and as the scripts keep pouring in, we’re all like, ‘Holy smokes! Did you read that? Do you know what’s happening?’” Winnick said with a laugh. “Because we are all on the edge of our seats just turning our pages. And I think the audience is going to be so ecstatic and they’re going to feel the same way.” Similarly, Geraghty added, “I’ve never gotten so many scripts where there’s so many different ways to play it. And then, when you get [to set] on the day, it changes again—it’s evolved. Every time it’s something different, always on the day. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

When the series begins, relations between Cassie, Cody and Jenny are awkward at best. “There’s a triangle, absolutely, and that’s where we find these characters at the beginning,” said Phillippe. “They are sort of dealing with or figuring out what the dynamics of that triangle are or what they will be.” Added Winnick, “It’s pretty unexpected, what happens.”

They’ll have to push all that aside, of course, if they want to find the Sullivan sisters. But will the Montana Highway Patrol help them? Unclear. “One thing I really love about Cassie is that she’s very intuitive,” Bunbury said. “Immediately, there are red flags when she meets Legarski.” Cryptically, Lynch added, “He may not necessarily be a very good police officer.”

Big Sky may appear to be a beautiful town, but it’s also filled with very dark, very ugly secrets. “There’s such great tension in the story, and there’s such [high] stakes that, in each episode, it feels like every single character is asked, ‘What are they capable of?’” Lynch shared. “And it raises the level to which they are capable of doing whatever action they need to do in order to fulfill their objectives and survive. There are also these amazing shifting loyalties. The people you feel that are least capable of protecting themselves, of being dangerous, suddenly become very dangerous. That’s a tribute to not just the source material and to the writers, but also to the actors. Every script I read, I think to myself, ‘I can’t wait to see Jade do this,’ or ‘I can’t wait to see what happens with Valerie’s scenes or Jesse’s scenes.’ It’s a wide‑ranging piece. We don’t get a chance to work with each other as much as all of us would like, but it’s so much fun even to watch a sizzle reel to go, ‘Ooh, that’s a nice choice for that.’ Or, ‘Ooh, I can’t wait to see that whole scene.’ It’s really fun.”

Bearing that in mind, audiences should expect the unexpected when Big Sky premieres. “What you will notice is we come out of the box as a thriller and as we proceed from episode to episode, we will cultivate a real investment in the characters,” said Kelley. “It’s no coincidence that the stable of actors are pretty gifted in their fields. We will be calling on them to be able to hold the attention of the audience, not just with car chases and dramatic action surprises, but also the complexity of character development. I’m very excited about the storytelling prospects for this show, but at the end the day, I think I rub my hands together at the opportunity for real character development with these actors.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

November 16, 2020November 13, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Roll out the virtual red carpet for five new premieres! It all starts Tuesday with Big Sky on ABC and LEGO Star Wars Special on Disney+, followed by No Man’s Land on Hulu Wednesday. Then, on Friday, start streaming Disney+’s Marvel’s 616 and Hulu’s Animaniacs.

Big Sky—Tuesday, November 17, at 10:01 p.m. ET on ABC
Twists and turns are around every corner in gripping series premiere, written by executive producer and showrunner David E. Kelley. While on a road trip to visit her boyfriend in Montana, Danielle (Natalie Alyn Lind) and her sister Grace (Jade Pettyjohn) are kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote part of the highway. Their disappearance sets off a chain of events that leads private detectives Cody (Ryan Phillippe) and Cassie (Kylie Bunbury) to team up with Cody’s estranged wife, former police officer Jenny Hoyt (Katheryn Winnick), to find Danielle and Grace. When they discover the sisters aren’t the only ones missing in the area, it becomes frighteningly clear they’ve just stumbled onto something much bigger.

LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special—Tuesday, November 17, on Disney+
Joy! Unlimited joy! LEGO is reuniting your favorite Star Wars characters for a special unlike any other. Directly following the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey goes solo as she prepares for Life Day (a holiday first introduced in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special), setting off on a new adventure with BB-8 to gain a deeper understanding of the Force. At a mysterious Jedi Temple, she is hurled into a cross-timeline adventure through beloved moments in Star Wars cinematic history, coming into contact with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and more heroes and villains from all nine Skywalker Saga films. Will Rey make it back in time for the Life Day feast and discover the true meaning of holiday spirit?

No Man’s Land—Wednesday, November 18, on Hulu
Hulu’s original drama series explores the Syrian civil war through the eyes of a young French man, Antoine (Félix Moati), in search of his estranged and possibly dead sister (Mélanie Thierry). Throughout the course of his journey, Antoine ends up joining forces with a unit of Kurdish female fighters and travels with them in ISIS-occupied territory. Antoine crosses paths with adventurers, anarchists, spies, and victims, all while offering a unique look on the tragic events in the country—and the ways they affect the entire world.

Marvel’s 616—Friday, November 20, on Disney+
Explore Marvel’s rich legacy of pioneering characters, creators, and storytelling in this original documentary series. Each entertaining, informative, and inspiring episode showcases the intersections of fandom, mythos, and pop culture within the Marvel Universe. All eight episodes—including “The Japanese Spider-Man,” directed by David Gelb; “Higher, Further, Faster,” directed by Gillian Jacobs; “Amazing Artisans,” directed by Clay Jeter; “Lost and Found,” directed by Paul Scheer; “Suit Up!,” directed by Andrew Rossi; “Unboxed,” directed by Sarah Ramos; “The Marvel Method,” directed by Brian Oakes; and “Marvel Spotlight,” directed by Alison Brie—will premiere on November 20.

Animaniacs—Friday, November 20, on Hulu
They’re baaack… and they’re still zany to the max! The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and their Warner sister, Dot, get a kick out of causing chaos and making mischief. After returning to their home, the Warner Bros. water tower, the siblings waste no time causing comic confusion as they run wild through the studio, turning the world into their personal playground. Meanwhile, throughout 13 new episodes, Pinky and the Brain continue their quest for world domination. As the series’ theme song goes, “You’ll laugh ’til you collapse!”