Trick or Treat Yourself to These 5 Halloween Episodes on Disney+

October 13, 2020October 9, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Orange you excited for Halloween?

This October, Disney+ is celebrating its first ever “Disney+ Hallowstream” with a spooktacular collection of some of the most popular Halloween-themed episodes and specials. And since Disney+ is the ultimate streaming destination for family frights and wicked delights, we’ve hand-picked some favorites you can stream right now (and all month long):

Big Hero 6 The Series: “Obake Yashiki”
This season one standout takes place on Halloween night. Hiro (voice of Ryan Potter) scores an invitation to tour a haunted house, where the team gets sprayed with a mysterious mist. Later, as the Big Hero 6 fight Noodle Burger Boy (voice of Lucas Neff), Hiro gets distracted by the sight of his late brother, Tadashi (voice of Daniel Henney), who is seemingly alive and well. The siblings are reunited in the haunted house, and Hiro can’t believe his eyes. Suddenly, it dawns on him that Tadashi is actually an illusion created by Obake (voice of Andrew Scott) and the mist had manifested each team member’s biggest fear. All the while, Noodle Burger Boy gets one step closer to finishing his evil master plan.

Girl Meets World: “Girl Meets World of Terror 2”
The fangtastic season two episode begins with Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and Maya (Sabrina Carpenter) meeting the ghost of the bay window (guest star Brittany Ross), a flapper from the 1920s. Riley lives in the same room where the ghost once planned her own capers and hatched her own schemes with her own best friend. “I promised I would never leave until someone else finally realized how wonderful it was to sit in this window and laugh, and cry, and dance,” the ghost tells Riley and Maya, who later visit a haunted house in Central Park. There, they befriend Austin & Ally’s Austin (Ross Lynch) and Ally (Laura Marano)… just before the ghost of the bay window visits them to deliver a warning!

Hannah Montana: “Torn Between Two Hannahs”
In this season one classic, Miley (Miley Cyrus) is spooked when she finds out her look-alike cousin, Luann (also Cyrus), is coming to visit. Miley refers to her as the “devil’s little helper,” an “evil genius,” and the “princess of darkness”… but when Luann arrives, she is surprisingly friendly and sweet. Miley remains skeptical, but agrees to make amends and take Luann to a Hollywood Halloween party with her best friend, Lilly (Emily Osment)—as their respective alter egos, Hannah and Lola, of course. But just before Hannah and Lola leave for the party, it’s revealed that Luann is masquerading as Hannah—and Miley has been locked in the closet. At the party, Luann desperately tries to embarrass her cousin. Once Miley escapes, she races to the party, worried Luann will spill her secret. But their resemblance is uncanny, making it extra hard for Miley’s friends to determine who’s who.

Raven’s Home: “Switch-or-Treat”
In this unboolievably funny season two episode, Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) and Raven (Raven-Symoné) unintentionally switch bodies on Halloween, thanks to their psychic powers. Things only get more out of hand when Aunt Maureen (guest star Debbie Allen) comes to warn them—a few minutes too late!—and inadvertently switches bodies with Miles (Faly Rakotohavana). Can they successfully imitate each other until they switch back?

Wizards of Waverly Place: “Halloween”
In this spirited season three episode, Justin (David Henrie) picks yet another lame theme for the Russo family’s annual haunted house. But before he can begin decorating, his plans to create a “worst case scenario scare house” are foiled by the Waverly Place Merchants Association, which threatens to close it down unless the Russos add more frights than delights. So, Alex (Selena Gomez) travels with Harper (Jennifer Stone) to the wizard world to find three “not-too-scary” ghosts. Unfortunately, the ghost trio is a little too friendly, so Alex and Harper return to the wizard world to find Mantooth (guest star Sean Whalen), who used to haunt a young Justin. But will he prove too scary for this year’s haunted house?

Planning faboolous watch party? Select your favorite snack and choose from dozens of Halloween-themed episodes and specials to stream on Disney+, including the following:

N.T. Farm: “Mutant Farm”
Austin & Ally: “Costumes & Courage”
Austin & Ally: “Horror Stories & Halloween Scares”
Austin & Ally: “Scary Spirits & Spooky Stories”
Big City Greens: “Blood Moon Part 1” / “Blood Moon Part 2”
Big Hero 6 The Series: “Obake Yashiki”
Bizaardvark: “Halloweenvark”
Boy Meets World: “And Then There Was Shawn”
Boy Meets World: “Boys II Mensa”
Boy Meets World: “The Witches of Pennbrook”
Boy Meets World: “Who’s Afraid of Cory Wolf?”
Crash & Bernstein: “Health-o-ween”
Doc McStuffins: “Boo-Hoo to You!” / “It’s Glow Time”
Doc McStuffins: “Hallie Halloween” / “Don’t Fence Me In”
Doc McStuffins: “Mirror, Mirror on My Penguin” / “Hide and Eek!”
DuckTales: “Terror of the Terra-firmians!”
Even Stevens: “A Very Scary Story”
Fancy Nancy: “Nancy’s Costume Clash” / “Nancy’s Ghostly Halloween”
Girl Meets World: “Girl Meets World of Terror”
Good Luck Charlie: “Scary Had a Little Lamb”
Gravity Falls: “Summerween”
Handy Manny: “Halloween” / “Squeeze’s Magic Show”
Henry Hugglemonster: “Halloween Scramble” / “Scouts Night Out”
Henry Hugglemonster: “Huggleween Moon”
I Didn’t Do It: “Bite Club”
I Didn’t Do It: “Next of Pumpkin”
Imagination Movers: “A Monster Problem”
Imagination Movers: “Haunted Halloween”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: “Escape from Ghost Island” / “The Island of Doctor Undergear”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: “Night of the Golden Pumpkin” / “Trick or Treasure!”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: “Phantoms of Never-Nether Land” / “Magical Mayhem”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: “Pirate Ghost Story” / “Queen Izzybella”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates: “Tricks, Treats and Treasure!” / “Season of the Sea Witch”
Jessie: “The Whining”
Jonas: “The Tale of the Haunted Firehouse”
C. Undercover: “All Howls Eve”
Kim Possible: “October 31st”
Lab Rats: “Night of the Living Virus”
The Lion Guard: “Beware the Zimwi”
Little Einsteins: “A Little Einsteins Halloween”
Lizzie McGuire: “Night of the Day of the Dead”
Mickey and the Roadster Racers: “Goof Mansion” / “A Doozy Night of Mystery”
Mickey and the Roadster Racers: “The Haunted Hot Rod” / “Pete’s Ghostly Gala”
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: “Mickey’s Treat”
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: “Mickey’s Monster Musical Part 1 (Part 1 of 2)”
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: “Mickey’s Monster Musical Part 2 (Part 2 of 2)”
Miles from Tomorrowland: “Ghost Moon” / “Stormy Night in a Dark Nebula”
Muppet Babies: “Happy Hallowocka!” / “The Teeth-Chattering Tale of the Haunted Pancakes”
Once Upon a Time: “Beauty”
Phil of the Future: “Halloween”
Phineas and Ferb: “Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror (Part 1 and 2)”
Prop Culture: “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
The Proud Family: “A Hero for Halloween”
Puppy Dog Pals: “Return to the Pumpkin Patch” / “Haunted Howl-oween”
Shake It Up: “Haunt It Up”
Sherriff Callie’s Wild West: “The Great Hallow”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror II”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror III”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror IV”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror V”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror VI”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror VII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror VIII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror IX”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror X”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XI”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XIII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XIV”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XV”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XVI”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XVII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XVIII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XIX”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XX”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXI”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXIII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXIV”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXV”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXVI”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXVII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXIX”
The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXX”
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: “Ghost of 613”
Sonny with a Chance: “A So Random Halloween Special”
Star vs. The Forces of Evil: “Hungry Larry” / “Spider with a Top Hat”
Stuck in the Middle: “Stuck in a Merry Scary”
Tangled: The Series: “The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth”
That’s So Raven: “Don’t Have a Cow”
Ultimate Spider-Man: “Halloween Night at the Museum”
Vampirina: “Hauntleyween” / “Frankenflower”
X-Men: The Animated Series: “Bloodlines”

Disney News, Announcements, and Trailers from New York Comic Con

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020

By Jim Frye

It was a big weekend for consumers of pop culture and fan-favorite entertainment, as New York Comic Con went fully virtual this year in an event called the NYCC Metaverse. Participants were able to choose from a variety of panels across the October 8 – 11 event, ranging from movies and streaming series to new TV shows and publishing projects. And Disney did not disappoint, with cast and creators from a variety of TV shows, writers from comic books, and authors from stories from a galaxy far, far away making a big splash all weekend. Here are some of the announcements, videos, and sneak peeks from Disney over the weekend.

Cast of Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. Reveals First Look at Hulu’s New Animated Series
Fans received their first look at Hulu’s upcoming Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. series, starring Patton Oswalt as the titular villain. Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. centers on an egomaniacal supervillain with a really big head and a really little body, who struggles to maintain control of his evil organization and his demanding family. In the series, the megalomaniacal supervillain has long pursued his dream of one day conquering the world. But after years of setbacks and failures fighting the Earth’s mightiest heroes, M.O.D.O.K. has run his evil organization, A.I.M., into the ground. Ousted as A.I.M.’s leader, while also dealing with his crumbling marriage and family life, M.O.D.O.K. is set to confront his greatest challenge yet: a midlife crisis!

The NYCC Metaverse panel included Oswalt, along with voice actors Ben Schwartz who plays M.O.D.O.K.’s son Lou, Melissa Fumero who plays M.O.D.O.K.’s daughter Melissa, Aimee Garcia who plays M.O.D.O.K.’s wife, Jodie, and co-creator Jordan Blum. During the panel, the M.O.D.O.K. team announced a contest where fans could win a chance to appear in the show.

Big Hero 6 The Series
During Disney XD’s Big Hero 6 The Series panel, fans were treated to two sneak-peek video clips of upcoming episodes. In the first clip, Hiro goes to Karmi’s book signing, but a villain interrupts the event and prevents any sparks from happening between the two! This new episode premieres October 12 on Disney XD!

The second clip showcases a musical number that will be featured in the November 11 episode.

Stars Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Brooks Wheelan, Khary Payton, and Lucas Neff and executive producers Mark McCorkle, Bob Schooley, and Nick Filippi were all on hand during the panel, moderated by Jeffrey R. Epstein, co-host of the D23 Inside Disney podcast.

MARVEL | X of Swords
During Marvel’s X of Swords panel, host Angélique Roché described the upcoming X of Swords storyline this way: “Guaranteed to bring you unbelievable revelations, memorable new characters, and events of this tale are going to have a lasting impact on the future of the X-Men, forever changing the fate of the franchise’s most prominent characters.” She was joined by the comic book series’ creators, including Marvel Editor Jordan D. White, Tini Howard, Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, and Vita Ayala!

Animaniacs! on Hulu
During New York Comic-Con, Hulu released a clip from the returning animated series, co-produced by Amblin TV and Warner Bros. Animation. It was a throwback to the original Jurassic Park, featuring animated versions of Sam Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant, Laura Dern’s Dr. Ellie Sattler, Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm, and even Steven Spielberg, who is returning as executive producer of the series. The series premieres on Hulu on November 20.

Conversation and Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hulu’s New Horror Series Monsterland
Cast members Jonathan Tucker, Taylor Schilling, Kelly Marie Tran, and Mike Colter and creator/showrunner Mary Laws delved into the creative process of Monsterland and shared a look at what happened behind the scenes during the making of the series. All eight episodes of Monsterland premiered Friday, October 2, on Hulu.

Polygon Discovers the Secrets of Star Wars: The High Republic
A new series of books called Star Wars: The High Republic tells the stories of the heroes centuries before the Skywalker saga. Yoda and a council of new Jedi deal with an event known as The Great Disaster. Moderated by Polygon’s comics editor, Susana Polo, the panel featured writers Claudia Gray, Charles Soule, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, and Cavan Scott, along with Lucasfilm Publishing executive editor Jennifer Heddle and creative director Michael Siglain. The discussion eventually focused on the weapon of a Jedi—lightsabers. Each author was able to design different lightsabers for the characters they wrote. Fans can watch the panel here

What We Do in the Shadows – Live Panel Discussion with Cast and Producers
Series stars Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, and members of the creative team dropped hints for what to expect in Season 3 of the FX series. There will be at least 3-4 new magical creatures this season, one of which will be Hellhounds. In hilarious fashion, the vampires take off on a long road trip—with all the attendant mayhem you might expect. And throughout the season, expect to see Nandor looking for love. At the end of the panel, viewers were shown a commercial for Jackie Daytona’s bar (Lazlo’s) from season 2. Seasons 1 and 2 are now available on FX on Hulu. You can watch the entire panel here

The Ghost and Molly McGee
The cast—Ashly Burch (Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet) and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)—along with Creator and Executive Producers Bill Motz and Bob Roth and Executive Producer Steve Loter revealed this cool video clip of the opening theme song, written by Motz, Roth, Allie Feder (Frozen 2), and Mike Kramer (Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures). The Ghost and Molly McGee is scheduled to come to Disney Channel in 2021.

Cast and Creator of Hulu’s Helstrom
Hulu’s new Marvel series Helstrom screened the first 10 minutes of its first episode, featuring Dr. Hastings (June Carryl) and Daimon (Tom Austen). On hand for the panel were showrunner Paul Zbyszewski and cast Austen, Sydney Lemmon, Elizabeth Marvel, Ariana Guerra, Carryl and Alain Uy. All 10 episodes of Helstrom premiere Friday, October 16, on Hulu.

ABC’s Lost Anniversary Fan Q&A with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
No big announcements here, just nostalgia, as the showrunners of the hit TV series came together for this special one-time event, moderated by Josh Horowitz, and answered fan questions submitted using the #lostinthemetaverse hashtag. “We will answer all of the questions,” said Lindelof, “except for one, which is the outrigger, and that we will take to our graves.” He’s referring to an unresolved mystery from season 5—who was in the outrigger chasing the Lost survivors? Asked about future stories in the Lost franchise, Lindelof said, “I think that stories can be told by anyone. Anyone can take control of the story and make it their own vision. And that would be quite exciting.”

Christmas Comes Early with Freeform’s “Kickoff to Christmas” in November 2020

October 12, 2020

By Zach Johnson

It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year! Stay inside and curl up with your favorite movies to get you in a cozy mood with Freeform’s “Kickoff to Christmas” programming event, starting on Sunday, November 1. Joining this year’s lineup are fan-favorite films Christopher Robin, Black Nativity, and It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. This year’s event will also feature beloved classics Frozen, Home Alone, Love Actually, and many more!

“Kickoff to Christmas” will also feature an “incredible” night of Disney and Pixar’s The Incredibles, followed by the Freeform premiere of Incredibles 2. Freeform will also air double features of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, followed by the premiere of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, plus the network debuts of both Minions and Despicable Me 3.

Below is a complete list of movies airing during the “Kickoff to Christmas” event (ET/PT):

Sunday, November 1
7:30 a.m.—E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
10:05 a.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
12:05 p.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
2:10 p.m.—The Game Plan
4:50 p.m.—Matilda
6:55 p.m.—Frozen
9:25 p.m.—Coco
11:55 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks

Monday, November 2
12 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
2:05 p.m.—Matilda
4:10 p.m.—The Hunger Games
7:25 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Tuesday, November 3
11 a.m.—The Hunger Games
2 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
5:30 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
8 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
12 a.m.—Stealing Christmas

Wednesday, November 4
10:30 a.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
1 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
4 p.m.—The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
6:30 p.m.—Frozen
9 p.m.—Shrek
12 a.m.—Jingle All the Way 2

Thursday, November 5
10:30 a.m.—The Simpsons
5 p.m.—Shrek
7 p.m.—Hercules
9 p.m.—Inside Out
12 a.m.—Early Man

Friday, November 6
10:30 a.m.—Boxtrolls
12:30 p.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
2:30 p.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
4:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause
6:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
9 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12 a.m.—The Simpsons

Saturday, November 7
7 a.m.—Boxtrolls
9 a.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
11 a.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
1:05 p.m.—Prancer Returns
3:10 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Freeform Premiere)
5:15 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (Freeform Premiere)
7:20 p.m.—Minions (Freeform Premiere)
9:25 p.m.—Despicable Me 3 (Freeform Premiere)
11:30 p.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Sunday, November 8
7 a.m.—The Mistle-tones
9 a.m.—Prancer Returns
11 a.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
1:05 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
3:10 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:50 p.m.—Minions
6:55 p.m.—Despicable Me 3
9 p.m.—Zootopia
11:30 p.m.—A Wrinkle in Time (2018) (Freeform Premiere)

Monday, November 9
12 p.m.—Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
2 p.m.—The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
4:30 p.m.—Alice in Wonderland (2010)
7 p.m.—Tarzan
9 p.m.—Shrek
12 a.m.—Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

Tuesday, November 10
11:30 a.m.—E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
2:05 p.m.—The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
4:10 p.m.—Chicken Little
6:15 p.m.—Shrek
8:20 p.m.—Wonder
12 a.m.—A Cinderella Story

Wednesday, November 11
10:30 a.m.—The Preacher’s Wife
1 p.m.—Wonder
3:30 p.m.—A Cinderella Story
5:30 p.m.—The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
8 p.m.—The Simpsons
12 a.m.—A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits

Thursday, November 12
1:30 p.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
3:30 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
5:30 p.m.—Mary Poppins (1964)
8:30 p.m.—Christopher Robin (2018) (Freeform Premiere)
12 a.m.—Turkey Drop

Friday, November 13
1:30 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
3:30 p.m.—The Goonies
6 p.m.—The Parent Trap (1998)
9 p.m.—The Secret Life of Pets (Freeform Premiere)
12 a.m.—The Simpsons

Saturday, November 14
7 a.m.—The Goonies
9:35 a.m.—The Simpsons
12:35 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
2:40 p.m.—Lilo & Stitch
4:40 p.m.—The Secret Life of Pets
6:45 p.m.—Home Alone
9:15 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
11:55 p.m.—The Perfect Holiday

Sunday, November 15
7 a.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
9:05 a.m.—Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
11:10 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday
1:15 p.m.—The Hunger Games
4:30 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
8:05 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
10:45 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Monday, November 16
11:30 a.m.—The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
3 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
5:30 p.m.—The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
8:30 p.m.—Pitch Perfect
12 a.m.—The Mistle-tones

Tuesday, November 17
10:30 a.m.—Holiday in Handcuffs
12:30 p.m.—The Preacher’s Wife
3 p.m.—The Intern
5:30 p.m.—Pitch Perfect
8 p.m.—Love Actually
12 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday

Wednesday, November 18
11:30 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday
1:30 p.m.—The Intern
4 p.m.—Love Actually
7 p.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
9 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
12 a.m.—A Cinderella Story

Thursday, November 19
12 p.m.—Turkey Drop
2 p.m.—A Cinderella Story
4 p.m.—The Princess Bride
6:30 p.m.—Matilda
8:30 p.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
12 a.m.—It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (Freeform Premiere)

Friday, November 20
10:30 a.m.—Prancer Returns
12:35 p.m.—Matilda
2:40 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
4:45 p.m.—Hercules
6:50 p.m.—Minions
8:55 p.m.—Despicable Me 3
12 a.m.—The Simpsons

Saturday, November 21
7 a.m.—Prancer Returns
9:10 a.m.—Bon Voyage Charlie Brown
10:45 a.m.—The Simpsons
12:15 p.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
2:20 p.m.—Bolt
4:30 p.m.—Minions
6:40 p.m.—Despicable Me 3
8:45 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
11:25 p.m.—Shrek
1:30 a.m.—Scared Shrekless

Sunday, November 22
7 a.m.—Bon Voyage Charlie Brown
8:30 a.m.—The Simpsons
10 a.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
12 p.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
2 p.m.—Shrek
4:05 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
6:45 p.m.—Home Alone
9:15 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
11:55 p.m.—Black Nativity (Freeform Premiere)

Monday, November 23
11 a.m.—E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
1:40 p.m.—The Princess Bride
4:10 p.m.—The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
6:50 p.m.—Inside Out
8:55 p.m.—The Secret Life of Pets
12 a.m.—The Simpsons

Tuesday, November 24
11 a.m.—Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
12 p.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
2 p.m.—The Goonies
4:30 p.m.—The Game Plan
7 p.m.—The Secret Life of Pets
9 p.m.—Shrek
12 a.m.—Prancer Returns

Wednesday, November 25
10:30 a.m.—Prancer Returns
12:30 p.m.—The Goonies
3 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
5 p.m.—Penguins of Madagascar (Freeform Premiere)
7 p.m.—Shrek
9 p.m.—Tangled
12 a.m.—Turkey Drop

Thursday, November 26
7 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
10:30 a.m.—Bon Voyage Charlie Brown
12 p.m.—Penguins of Madagascar
2 p.m.—Pocahontas
4 p.m.—The Princess and the Frog
6 p.m.—Home Alone
8:30 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m.—Matilda

Friday, November 27
10:30 a.m.—Matilda
12:30 p.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
2:30 p.m.—The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
4:30 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
6 p.m.—Ratatouille
8:30 p.m.—Zootopia
12 a.m.—The Simpsons

Saturday, November 28
7 a.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
9 a.m.—Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
11:05 a.m.—The Simpsons
11:35 a.m.—Deck the Halls (2006)
1:40 p.m.—The Parent Trap (1998)
4:50 p.m.—Cinderella (2015)
7:20 p.m.—Moana
9:50 p.m.—Beauty and the Beast (1991)
11:55 p.m.—The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Freeform Premiere)

Sunday, November 29
7 a.m.—The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
9:10 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
11:20 a.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
1:25 p.m.—Matilda
3:30 p.m.—Cinderella (2015)
6 p.m.—The Incredibles
8:40 p.m.—Incredibles 2 (Freeform Premiere)
11:20 p.m.—The Goonies

Monday, November 30
7 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
10:30 a.m.—Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
12:30 p.m.—A Cinderella Story
2:35 p.m.—The Goonies
5:10 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
6:50 p.m.—Up
8:55 p.m.—Wreck-It Ralph
12 a.m.—Snow

Frozen Fan Fest Returns with the First-Ever Frozen Virtual Playdate

October 12, 2020

By Zach Johnson

One year after the global phenomenon of Disney’s Frozen 2 and its retail event took fans by storm, Frozen Fan Fest returns with exclusive content, digital adventures and new toys, apparel, games, books, and more inspired by the internationally acclaimed films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. This year, the highlight of Frozen Fan Fest will be an engaging Virtual Playdate hosted by Ayesha Curry that will air on October 18. The digital event will be available for one day only, offering families the ultimate Frozen 2 experience from the comfort of home. With a robust schedule of new and curated content, immersive activities, and more, fans will also get an exclusive first look at the trailer for Once Upon a Snowman, a Walt Disney Animation Studios short, before its starts streaming October 23 on Disney+.

“I’m thrilled to join in on all of the Frozen Fan Fest fun as the host of the first-ever Frozen Virtual Playdate,” said Curry. “We are big fans of Frozen 2 in our home, and I love that the film celebrates the importance of family, which is something that’s deeply important to me. I’m overjoyed to be a part of an event that offers families a fun a way to spend quality time together, all while enjoying the magic of Arendelle in their homes.”

The Frozen Virtual Playdate lineup boasts activities that will appeal to Frozen fans of all ages, from a sing-a-long and a choreographed dance lesson to an American Sign Language tutorial of “Show Yourself” and the unique opportunity to learn how to draw Olaf with Trent Correy and Dan Abraham, the directors of Once Upon a Snowman. Additional segments will feature new apparel, fashion accessories, bedding, toys, costumes, and more from Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, H&M, Hanna Andersson, Party City, Franco Manufacturing, shopDisney.com, and the LEGO Group. Guest appearances will include social influencers and Frozen fans, as well as stars from Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical North American Tour, Radio Disney’s Cameron McLeod, and actor Jason Maybaum (from Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home).

“Since audiences were first introduced to the kingdom of Arendelle seven years ago, Frozen has become universally beloved,” said Kareem Daniel, president, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “As fans around the world continue to seek out ways to step into this iconic story, we are thrilled to expand this experience—meeting consumers where they are by bringing new products and digital content to life for families at home.”

Frozen Fan Fest kicks off today, October 12, in EMEA with a “Frozen Fashion Week,” a series of short fashion shows that spotlight all-new footwear and apparel, culminating in a full fashion show on October 18. Complete with imaginative vignettes and never-before-seen styles that lean into key elements of the story and its characters, portions of the fashion show will air as a part of the Frozen Virtual Playdate on October 18. Beginning today, fans can visit www.disney.com/FrozenFanFest for a full schedule of events, downloadable activities, and more. The Frozen Virtual Playdate will start at 9 a.m. PT on October 18 and be available for one day only. More information can be found by following #FrozenFanFest.

Hamster & Gretel—a New Animated Series from Dan Povenmire—Coming to Disney Channel

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Dan Povenmire, co-creator and executive producer of the blockbuster Emmy® Award-winning animated series Phineas and Ferb, is up to some new Disney sibling shenanigans… with a very super twist. Disney Channel has just announced it has greenlit Hamster & Gretel, an animated sibling superhero comedy that’s inspired by Povenmire’s relationship with his younger sister.

Hamster & Gretel is centered on Kevin and his younger sister, Gretel, who unexpectedly encounter space aliens who inform the siblings they’ve been chosen to receive super powers… but something goes awry and it’s Gretel and her pet hamster (named Hamster, of course) who find themselves with these new abilities. Older brother Kevin’s protective instincts take over as he tries to help Gretel and Hamster protect their city from strange and mysterious dangers. Expect lots of music and more than a little mayhem in the upcoming series.

“My sister is 10 years younger than me, and I had never seen our kind of sibling age gap portrayed in a cartoon, so I thought it would be an interesting dynamic to explore,” Povenmire said. “The show focuses on how their relationship shifts due to her new super powers and how they both navigate through it. Of course, it is also about cartoon villains, aliens, a talking hamster with super powers, and a lot of comedy.”

Hamster & Gretel follows closely on the heels of this summer’s original movie Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe (which is now available on Disney+), and both mark the continuation of Povenmire’s 15-year affiliation with Disney Television Animation. In addition to five-time Emmy winner Phineas and Ferb—which earned Povenmire 10 Emmy nominations—he also co-created and executive produced Disney’s beloved series Milo Murphy’s Law. During his incredible 25-year career in animation as a director, storyboard artist, and writer, Povenmire has amassed an impressive list of credits that also includes Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Simpsons, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Hey Arnold!

In making the announcement today, Meredith Roberts, senior vice president/general manager, Television Animation, Disney Channels, said, “An incredibly gifted storyteller, Dan has been an esteemed member of the Disney family for many years, consistently showcasing his knack for creating universally appealing shows that resonate with both kids and families. His signature blend of heart, humor, and music are a perfect fit for Disney, and we’re delighted that he will continue our winning partnership with us once again on Hamster & Gretel.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

October 12, 2020October 9, 2020

By Zach Johnson

This week will bring laughter and love when a new season of ABC’s The Bachelorette premieres on its new night, moving from Mondays to Tuesdays. The laughs will continue when Disney Channel airs a new episode of Puppy Dog Pals Thursday, followed by a new special, Disney Channel Halloween Party, Friday. Round out the week with two Disney+ originals: Clouds, a feature film, and Meet the Chimps, a series from National Geographic.

The Bachelorette—Tuesday, October 13, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Get ready for a passionate, crazy journey unlike any other in Bachelor Nation history! Follow along as Clare Crawley searches for a soul mate among 31 men who are eager to win her heart and receive her final rose. At the end of a long first night, only 23 men will remain in the hopes of becoming the love of Crawley’s life… and viewers will get their first glimpse at the shocking moment that will change the course of the unprecedented season!

Puppy Dog Pals—Thursday, October 15, at 9:30 a.m. ET on Disney Channel
The fur-bulous returns with two brand-new stories. First, in “ARF’s Robot Wish,” ARF (voice of Tom Kenny) wishes he had a brother, so Bingo (voice of Issac Ryan Brown) and Rolly (boice of Sam Lavagnino) make it their mission to help him find a robot sibling. Then, in “Missing Collar Mission,” Bingo and Rolly’s collar accidentally gets mailed to Bonnie (voice of Grey DeLisle-Griffin) in Africa, so the pugs em-bark on a fun adventure to retrieve them.

Disney Channel Halloween House Party—Friday, October 16, at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
Fan-favorite stars Raphael Alejandro, Suzi Barrett, Issac Ryan Brown, Kylie Cantrall, Scarlett Estevez, Kaylin Hayman, Ramon Reed, Caroline Rhea, Trevor Tordjman, and Ruby Rose Turner will take on a variety of zany characters and spook-tacular spoofs in this sketch comedy special. Filmed remotely and hosted by Tobie Windham, the actors will transform themselves and their homes for a wicked, fun party with silly sketches and spooky surprises!

Clouds—Friday, October 16, on Disney+
Inspired by an incredible true story, this original movie directed by Justin Baldoni centers on Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a high school student living with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. At the beginning of his senior year, Zach is ready to take on the world. But after learning the disease has spread, Zach and his best friend and songwriting partner, Sammy (Sabrina Carpenter), decide to spend his limited time following their musical dreams. With the help of Zach’s mentor and teacher, Mr. Weaver (Lil Rel Howery), they sign a record deal. With the support of his girlfriend, Amy (Madison Iseman), and his parents, Rob and Laura (Tom Everett Scott and Neve Campbell), Zach embarks on the journey of a lifetime.

Meet the Chimps—Friday, October 16, on Disney+
Take a peek inside one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world: Chimp Haven. A 200-acre refuge tucked deep in the heart of Louisiana, it is home to more than 300 chimpanzees. Narrated by Jane Lynch, this six-part original series from National Geographic tracks the ups and downs of this extraordinary group of chimps that are given a second chance at life by a staff whose dedication, compassion, and commitment knows no bounds. Meet the Chimps gives viewers unparalleled access to everything going on at Chimp Haven, including alliances, romances, tantrums—and, of course, monkey business.

Swing Away with New Meet the Chimps Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

October 9, 2020

By Courtney Potter

National Geographic and Disney+ Want You to Meet the Chimps

Let’s face it: Chimpanzees are unbelievably adorable—and if you’re anything like us, you appreciate any and all opportunities to see them in action (safely and with an eye towards their survival, of course). To that end, color us excited for the latest National Geographic series coming soon to Disney+…

The six-part series Meet the Chimps takes viewers into the secret life of one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world: Chimp Haven. The 200-acre refuge is tucked deep in the forested heart of Louisiana and is home to more than 300 chimpanzees. Narrated by actress Jane Lynch, Meet the Chimps tracks the ups and downs of an extraordinary group of chimps that are given a second chance at life by a staff whose dedication, compassion, and commitment knows no bounds.

Through a seamless blend of natural history and observational-documentary filmmaking, Meet the Chimps puts the chimps front and center. The series gives us TV-streaming humans exclusive access to everything happening at Chimp Haven, including food squabbles, alliances, romances, “bromances,” tears, tantrums, high jinks, and heartbreaks! Honestly, we can’t wait! Look for all six episodes to start streaming on Disney+ beginning Friday, October 16.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Time is ticking, ticking, ticking towards Halloween—so if you haven’t started on your homemade costume yet, this is probably the weekend to do so. Need something to watch during all that sewing and hot-gluing? Look no further than our handy-dandy rundown of must-watch goodies, including new episodes of Disney+’s Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Channel’s Disney Fam Jam. For more on what the weekend has in store, click here.

Official Trailer for Free Guy is Chock Full o’ Hilarious Action

What if you woke up one morning to realize… everything you thought was true about your day-to-day life, well, wasn’t? Such is the premise behind 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy, set to debut later this year. Check out the film’s awfully fun new trailer (if you haven’t already), above.

In this ridiculously epic adventure-comedy, a bank teller named Guy (Ryan Reynolds) discovers he’s actually a background player in an open-world video game—and so doing, decides to become the hero of his own story—one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he’s determined to be the guy who saves his world his way, before it is too late.

Directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Stranger Things), Free Guy also stars Emmy® winner Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi. Look for it beginning December 11!

But wait, there’s more: Wanna hear about the film from Ryan Reynolds directly? (He’s a total hoot, so who wouldn’t?) See what he told D23.com about his experiences making Free Guy by clicking here.

Puppy Dog Pals to Return for Fifth Season—Plus Season 4 Debut News!

Great news for fans of Puppy Dog Pals: Disney Junior has just ordered a fifth season of the super-cute animated series! Plus, we now know when season 4 of the series will kick off—Friday, October 23, at 9 a.m. PT on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.

The hit series centers on fun-loving pug puppy brothers Bingo (voice of Elisha “EJ” Williams) and Rolly (voice of Gracen Newton), whose thrill-seeking appetites take them on exhilarating adventures in their neighborhood and around the globe. Whether helping their owner Bob (voice of series creator/consulting producer Harland Williams), exploring with their adorable pals, or overseeing their own Puppy Playcare center, the pugs’ motto is that life is more exciting with your best friend by your side!

Mark those calendars, y’all.

ICYMI: High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special Coming Soon

We’ve been waiting with bated breath to find out when we’d next see our faves from East High back on Disney+… and just this week, we got great news: The streaming service is set to debut High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, on Friday, December 11! Read up on how you’ll be able to deck the halls (proverbially speaking, natch) with series regulars Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, and more in the all-new 45-minute special event by clicking right here.

Marvel Comics Announces Marvel’s Stormbreakers Artist Program

Earlier this week, Marvel Comics announced the debut of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, its latest talent distinction program designed to spotlight the next generation of elite artists in the industry. The inaugural class includes Josh Cassara (X-Force), Pat Gleason (Amazing Spider-Man), Peach Momoko (known for her best-selling covers), Natacha Bustos (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Iban Coello (Venom), Carmen Carnero (Hellions), Juann Cabal (Guardians of the Galaxy), and R.B. Silva (Fantastic Four, Powers of X). The 2020 Class of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, revealed by Marvel’s editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski and executive vice president and creative director Joe Quesada, is the next evolution of Marvel’s Young Guns program—and features talent from around the world who pushing artistic limits in every single story they tell. Not surprisingly, as a group, they’re already responsible for leading some of Marvel’s most popular titles and shepherding Marvel’s incredible tapestry of storytelling.

Over the next two years, fans can expect to see these eight artists more and more often within the world of Marvel Comics, as they share their creative visions within the pages of Marvel’s biggest titles and storylines. Congrats to all involved!

5 Things You Need to Know About Pixar’s Soul

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020

On December 25, Disney and Pixar’s highly anticipated feature film Soul will premiere exclusively on Disney+, introducing audiences to Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx), a middle school band teacher who dreams of being a professional jazz musician. But soon after he gets his big break, a tragic misstep sends Joe to The Great Before, the place where souls get their interests, personalities, and quirks. Aided by a wise-cracking, centuries-old soul named 22 (voice of Tina Fey), Joe must find a way back to Earth in order to fulfill his lifelong dream.

In mid-September, Academy Award®-winning director and writer Pete Docter, producer Dana Murray, and co-director and writer Kemp Powers invited D23 to participate in a virtual press day to discover more about the original film before it debuts on December 25.

1. Life is about to get exceptionally existential.

Like everyone, Docter has his good days and bad days. “There are some days that I find myself wondering, ‘Gee, really? Cartoons? Is this what I’m supposed to be doing with my limited time on Earth?’” he admitted. “And on darker days I actually wonder, ‘Is there any point to it? If I had a choice, would I decide to be born and come live? That’s actually the cornerstone of our story: A soul who doesn’t want to live looks down on Earth with skepticism and says, ‘Is all that living really worth it?’ To convince this soul that it is, we said, ‘Let’s bring in a character who has already lived to show what’s so great about life.’”

Like many Pixar films, Docter said Soul is like a “trojan horse.” Its premise allowed the team to develop a story that, while humorous, also “delivers something deeper.” Plus, he said, “If we’re going to work on this thing for four or five years, it better engage us in ways that make us excited. We as human beings are trying to tap into things we struggle with: our joys, our successes, our pain, our failures. All of those things go into these movies. Even though these films are about fish, or horses, or bugs, or whatever, they’re really about us.”

2. The story will stand on its own.

Although Soul asks some “big questions,” it’s not linked to Docter’s 2015 Oscar®-winning feature film Inside Out, which took place inside an 11-year-old girl’s head. “Let’s not feed any internet theories that this is an unofficial Inside Out sequel,” Kemp said. “It’s not!” But, Docter conceded, “We were definitely conscious of the similarities at the beginning, and actually, we tried to push against that. One thing we’re not so fond of doing is repeating ourselves. So, it’s pretty different in a lot of ways, but it does explore some similar things.”

3. A new realm will be revealed.

The filmmakers estimated the film is split evenly between Earth and The Great Before, but noted that each location has its own distinct look, feel, and sound. “The soul world was technically and artistically really challenging, because you are creating a world where all we have is an idea of what that might look like, but we’ve never been there,” said Murray. “It was fun, but it was incredibly challenging for our artists and technical teams. And then New York was challenging in its own way, because you’re creating a city that everyone knows and loves, but we also wanted to make sure we were putting our own style in there.”

4. Black culture will be front and center.

The filmmakers assembled a team of cultural and music consultants that included Dr. Peter Archer, Jon Batiste (composer), Dr. Christopher Bell, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Daveed Diggs (voice of Paul), Herbie Hancock, Marcus McLaurine, George Spencer, Ahmir-Khalib “Questlove” Thompson (voice of Curly), and Bradford Young to help tell Joe’s story. As Pixar’s first Black protagonist, it was imperative to do the character—and Black culture—justice. “What we’re trying to do as filmmakers is reach out and connect with people and find that common ground of what it is to live life,” Docter said. “It’s shameful it’s taken this long, but we’re excited to have this chance with this film.”

Offering one example, Kemp said Young, an Academy Award-nominated cinematographer, “contributed a lot to the look of this film,” particularly for the scenes that take place on Earth. “This is not just the first film with a Black protagonist, but there’s a whole range of different Black characters with different skin tones. It was a large learning curve for our lighting team, and Bradford came in and consulted with them on a number of occasions.”

5. Music will get you in the zone.

The worlds in Soul required two distinct styles of music. Jon Batiste handled the original jazz compositions and arrangements, while Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (from Nine Inch Nails) wrote an original score that drifts between the real and soul worlds.

Docter praised Batiste as “not only a super knowledgeable musicologist and historian, but a heck of an amazing guy.” He also revealed sound designer Ren Klyce was the one who pitched Reznor and Ross—a suggestion that perplexed the filmmakers as much as it inspired them. “We started thinking about it like, ‘That’s just too crazy. How would that even work?’ But it was so intriguing we couldn’t drop it. We kept coming back to it,” he recalled. “We met with them and they seemed to click with the film in a really heavy way.”

According to Docter, Reznor and Ross “worked a little differently than we traditionally do. We usually lock the picture and then the scoring starts. But in this case, Trent and Atticus started developing themes as we were cutting the sequences. They would throw a barrage of different music at us, and we’d be like, ‘Oh, wait! This one! That would work great here!’” And ultimately, Kemp said their distinct styles of m

Disney and Pixar’s Soul Concept Art

October 9, 2020January 19, 2024

What makes you… you? That very question is the ethos behind Disney and Pixar’s movie Soul, now in theaters. The film follows Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx), a middle school band teacher with a passion for jazz. His life takes a series of unexpected turns, beginning with the chance to play with Dorothea Williams (voice of Angela Bassett) at the hottest jazz club in town. The next unexpected turn comes when he trips and falls into a manhole (after narrowly avoiding half a dozen other disasters!), taking him from New York City to The Great Before, a mystical place where souls find their sparks.

Feeling cheated, Joe refuses to accept his fate after arriving in The Great Before. Determined to return to his life on Earth, he teams up with 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who doesn’t get the appeal of the human experience. As he tries to show 22 what’s so great about living, Joe just might find the answers to questions he’d never thought to ask before.

In addition to being culturally and musically diverse, the film is a visual masterpiece that paints the real and soul worlds in distinct strokes, as the stunning concept art below shows:

The Inspiration Behind the Characters of Disney+’s The Right Stuff

October 8, 2020

By Jim Frye

Putting a man in space—most of us don’t remember that period in history at the height of the Cold War when the United States and the Soviet Union raced neck-and-neck to put the first person in space. National Geographic’s drama series The Right Stuff, available to stream on Disney+ this Friday, is based on the Tom Wolfe bestseller and tells the story of this singular moment in American history. Seven of the military’s best test pilots joined the Mercury Program, part of the newly formed NASA, and competed to be the first in space, in what has become an aspirational story about human beings achieving the extraordinary.

“This is a fascinating story, and these characters are so colorful,” said executive producer and showrunner Mark Lafferty during a virtual press junket. “Every one of them is just bursting at the seams with life.” Lafferty believes that audiences have a lot to take away from the series—they will leave feeling inspired by the characters and their drive to achieve big things.

One of those characters is Captain Gordon Cooper, played by Irish actor Colin O’Donoghue, who said, “For me, not being American, that era [of the series] is what I picture as pure Americana—I see it as a poster of what, I imagine, it is to be American.” He credits the production and costume designers—Derek Hill and Hope Hanafin—for creating such a vivid representation of the period. “Even some of the shirts I wore still had the tags on them,” he says. “They were actually from 1959.”

For Aaron Staton, who plays Wally Schirra, dubbed the prankster of the group, it was invaluable to have a book written by Schirra to help understand the character. “What we know about him is that he was somebody who had an early release valve and needed jokes and humor to get through these high-pressure situations,” said Staton. “It was part of his personality, and he was genuinely funny and well-liked. I think he would have been a lot of fun to be around—in contrast to the serious nature of his work. He took his work seriously.”

Eloise Mumford portrays Trudy Cooper, an accomplished pilot who puts her own ambitions aside for the sake of her husband’s success of becoming an astronaut. “I feel completely humbled to play Trudy Cooper—she was a spectacular human,” said Mumford. “She was passionate and driven and had a dream, but unfortunately, because of the time period, wasn’t given the same amount of access that men were given. I’m excited that the show explores that—I feel really proud to be able to bring that to the screen. And as a character, I think she’s incredible, and love TV shows that bring untold stories to the screen.”

Nora Zehetner portrays Annie Glenn, wife of John Glenn, a woman who contends with a speech impairment in the public eye. “It was great to get to know her [Annie Glenn] and all that she’s done as an advocate for those who stutter,” said Zehetner. “And her love story is endlessly inspiring to me. They met when they were two or three, they started dating in the eighth grade, and they were in love and together until he passed and then she passed. It was beautiful.”

In contrast, the relationship between Louise Shepard and her husband, Alan, was a bit different, perhaps made all that more stressful because of the norms of the time. Shannon Lucio plays Louise, and said she understood that she made the best decisions she could. “She and Alan did have a really complicated relationship, but a real love, and went on many adventures together. And they stuck together through thick and thin—theirs was one of the few marriages that stayed together. And he died before her, and when she died, I believe it was from a broken heart. She was on a plane, and it was five o-clock, and she and Alan had this ritual where every day, if he was able, he would call her at five o-clock. And after he had just passed, she was on this plane, and it was five o-clock and I think in that moment she realized she didn’t have him anymore. She realized that being up in the air was the closest she would be to him, flying like he used to, and she died of a broken heart. And that speaks to the love that they had.”

Executive Producer Jennifer Davisson says that the mission of the series is to tell the story of “seven, truly inspiring, great Americans. It tells the unvarnished version of who they are to understand what it means to be so brave and be so courageous.”

And even though The Right Stuff may be based in the 1950s and ’60s, Lafferty believes the ideas of hope and aspirations for doing big things still ring true today.

“I look at what happened with Space X just a few months ago,” said Lafferty towards the end of the discussion. “I watched that with my daughters. They had no interest in space before, but we watched that rocket lift off and they were filled with awe and wonder, and they had so many questions and I thought, ‘Ah-ha! This might be the dawn of something new for a new generation. I have to believe that that spark of hope lives for not just space, but anything that we, as a country, want to do. We can totally get there.”

“This series is a wonderful reminder to all people of all generations and interests,” said Eric Ladin, who plays NASA rocket scientist Chris Kraft. “This show demonstrates the wonder and inspiration that I think everybody needs.”

To experience that wonder and inspiration for yourself, catch The Right Stuff when it lands on Disney+ this Friday, October 9.