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.

Every Panel From Disney at New York Comic Con

October 8, 2020October 12, 2020

By The D23 Team

Are you ready for a behind-the-scenes look at Disney Channel’s upcoming The Ghost and Molly McGee? How about a LIVE discussion with the cast and producers of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows? Or maybe you want to join the stars and creators of Disney XD’s Big Hero 6 The Series, moderated by Jeffrey R. Epstein, co-host of our own D23 Inside Disney podcast. Those are just a few of the incredible panels from Disney over the next four days during the online version of New York Comic Con, an annual event featuring the biggest names in TV, animation, comic books, publishing, movies, and pop culture. Called Metaverse, the digital convention—which has gone completely virtual this year due to health guidelines—runs October 8 – 11 and includes Disney panels from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Hulu, and more!

To join various panels and get information about the convention, including a complete schedule, list of guests, artists, merchandise, and more, go to https://www.findthemetaverse.com.

Here’s a list of all the incredible Disney panels you can enjoy.

OCTOBER 8

9:35 a.m. PDT
Women of Marvel
Women of Marvel invites some of Marvel’s celebrated storytellers into a virtual panel to talk about how they stay true to their creative style while continuing the stories of comic book characters so many people know and love.

Watch on YouTube

10:10 a.m. PDT
MARVEL | X of Swords
This fall, ten X-Men will rise, swords in hand, to defend the new mutant nation of Krakoa from mysterious new enemies in X of Swords! Join host Angelique Roche and an X-traordinary lineup of the finest creators weaving this bold new tale, including Marvel Editor Jordan D. White, Tini Howard, Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, and Vita Ayala!

Watch on YouTube

11:20 a.m. PDT
Serial Box | Marvel’s Black Panther – Sins of the King
Step into Wakanda with Emmy®-nominated William Jackson Harper and the award-winning writing team for Marvel’s Black Panther: Sins of the King, from Serial Box. Get an inside look at the upcoming immersive e-book and audiobook series and be the first to hear an exclusive audio excerpt from William Jackson Harper (The Good Place), who will be narrating the series.

Go to Serial Box to read the first episode of Marvel’s Black Panther: Sins of the King.

Watch on YouTube

2:30 p.m. PDT
The Great Disaster Hits! Polygon Discovers the Secrets of Star Wars: The High Republic
Join the story architects of Star Wars: The High Republic as they introduce the heroes of a brand-new saga, set centuries before the Skywalker saga, and reveal details of the central event that forever changes the galaxy far, far, away. Moderated by Polygon’s comics editor, Susana Polo, the panel features 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.

UK fans get the books here!

US fans get the books here!

Watch on YouTube

4:15 p.m. PDT
Hulu’s WOKE | In Conversation with Cast and Executive Producers of Timely New Show
Join the Cast and Executive Producers from the hit Hulu & Sony Pictures Television series WOKE for an in-depth discussion about the show and why it is so relevant for today’s times.

Watch on YouTube

5:40 p.m. PDT
Screening of Hulu’s Books of Blood
Step into uncharted and forbidden territory for a screening of Hulu’s upcoming film Books of Blood. Based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed horror anthology, the film will take audiences on a journey through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time. Stick around after the screening for a panel with the cast and creator!

Watch on YouTube

7:35 p.m. PDT
From the Nightmares of Clive Barker | A Conversation with the Cast of Hulu’s Books of Blood
Join the cast and creator of Hulu’s upcoming film Books of Blood for a conversation about the film. Panelists include director Brannon Braga, and cast Britt Robertson, Rafi Gavron, Anna Friel, Freda Foh Shen, and Yul Vazquez. Be sure to watch the screening at 5:40 p.m. PDT!

Watch on YouTube

OCTOBER 9

7:35 a.m. PDT
Lucasfilm Publishing | Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Join some of the biggest and best Star Wars authors as they talk about some of their exciting new projects set in a galaxy far, far away. Featuring Daniel José Older, Preetei Chhibber, Phil Szostak, Katie Cook, Zoraida Cordova, and Amy Ratcliffe. Moderated by This Week! In Star Wars host Kristin Baver.

UK fans get the books here!
US fans get the books here!

8:45 a.m. PDT
MARVEL | Venom – King in Black
This December… Darkness Reigns! Marvel editor Devin Lewis, writer Donny Cates, and artist Ryan Stegman will bring you everything you need to know leading into Eddie Brock’s climactic standoff with one of Marvel’s most terrifying villains in the next shocking chapter in their Venom saga, King in Black!
UK fans get the books here!
US fans get the books here!
Watch on YouTube

10:50 a.m. PDT

The Ghost and Molly McGee
Be the first to venture into the fantastical world of the new animated series The Ghost and Molly McGee before it launches on Disney Channel. Meet the cast, Ashly Burch (Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet) and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), along with Creator and Executive Producers Bill Motz, Bob Roth, and Executive Producer Steve Loter as they discuss their influences for the show and reveal an exclusive sneak peek months before it airs

11:20 a.m. PDT
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Seven Seasons of Amazing Gear & Gadgets with Prop Master Scott Bauer and Live Auction Preview
Prop Store is bringing more than 500 lots of original props and costumes from all seven seasons of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to an online auction this October 8 to November 10 (go to Propstore.com/Marvel for more information). Join series Prop Master Scott Bauer as he talks about his experiences working on Marvel Television’s longest-running television series and as he reveals the stories behind some of his favorite pieces in the auction.

Watch on YouTube

4:55 p.m. PDT
Conversation & Behind-The-Scenes Look at Hulu’s New Horror Series Monsterland
Discover the monsters and unpack the thought-provoking tales brought to life in Hulu’s new series Monsterland, based on the collection of short stories from Nathan Ballingrud’s North American Lake Monsters. Join cast members Jonathan Tucker, Taylor Schilling, Kelly Marie Tran, and Mike Colter and creator/showrunner Mary Laws as they delve into the nightmares and share a look at what happened behind the scenes. All eight episodes of Monsterland premiere Friday, October 2, on Hulu.

Watch on YouTube

5:30 p.m. PDT
Cast of Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. Reveals First Look At Hulu’s New Animated Series
Get an exclusive first look at the upcoming adult animated series Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., hear from creators Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum and the cast of characters voiced by Aimee Garcia, Ben Schwartz and Melissa Fumero. Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. is coming soon to Hulu.

Watch on YouTube

6:05 p.m. PDT
Get Heated with the Cast & Creator of Hulu’s Helstrom
Get an exclusive sneak peek at the first 10-minutes of Hulu’s Helstrom, followed by a conversation with showrunner Paul Zbyszewski and cast: Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon, Elizabeth Marvel, Ariana Guerra, June Carryl and Alain Uy. All 10 episodes of Helstrom premiere Friday, October 16, on Hulu.

Watch on YouTube

OCTOBER 10

4:25 p.m. PDT
ABC’s Lost Anniversary Fan Q&A With Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
Join the showrunners of the hit TV series for this special one-time event where they will answer fans’ burning questions, moderated by Josh Horowitz. Submit questions using the #lostinthemetaverse hashtag.

Watch on YouTube

OCTOBER 11

10:40 a.m. PDT

What We Do in the Shadows – Live Panel Discussion with Cast & Producers
Fresh off its eight Emmy nominations, What We Do in the Shadows returns to New York Comic Con for a LIVE discussion with the cast and producers. Named “TV’s funniest comedy” by Rolling Stone, What We Do in the Shadows is a documentary-style look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of four vampires who’ve “lived” together for hundreds of years. Joining the conversation will be series stars Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch and the creative team. Seasons 1 and 2 are now available on FX on Hulu.

Watch on YouTube

1 p.m. PDT

Big Hero 6 The Series
Join Disney XD’s Big Hero 6 The Series stars Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Brooks Wheelan, Khary Payton and Lucas Neff and executive producers Mark McCorkle, Bob Schooley and Nick Filippi as they discuss the trajectory of the beloved animated superhero comedy series and share sneak peeks of season three. Moderated by Jeffrey R. Epstein, co-host of D23 Inside Disney podcast.

Watch on YouTube

4:45 p.m. PDT
A Conversation with Executive Producers and Cast Members from ABC’s The Good Doctor
Join the Cast and Executive Producers from the hit ABC & Sony Pictures Television series The Good Doctor. David Shore, Freddie Highmore, and the cast will break down the season three finale and give fans an exclusive inside peek into what’s to come in the two-part season four premiere of Frontline, about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Watch on YouTube

JUST ANNOUNCED: Pixar’s Soul to Debut Exclusively on Disney+

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Consider this an early Christmas present: The Walt Disney Company just announced that Soul, the all-new original feature from Pixar Animation Studios, will debut exclusively on Disney+ on December 25, 2020! In international markets where Disney+ isn’t currently available (or is soon to be), Soul will be released theatrically, with dates to be announced.

“We are thrilled to share Pixar’s spectacular and moving Soul with audiences direct to Disney+ in December,” said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “A new original Pixar film is always a special occasion, and this truly heartwarming and humorous story about human connection and finding one’s place in the world will be a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season.”

Soul comes from visionary filmmaker Pete Docter, the Academy Award®-winning director behind Inside Out and Up, and co-director and writer Kemp Powers. The voice cast includes Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, Angela Bassett, and Daveed Diggs. The film features original jazz music by Grammy® Award-nominated artist Jon Batiste and a score composed by Oscar®-winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

“The world can be an exhausting and frustrating place—but it’s also full of unexpected joys, even in seemingly mundane things,” said Docter, director of Soul and Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios. “Soul investigates what’s really important in our lives, a question we’re all asking these days. I hope it will bring some humor and fun to people at a time when everyone can surely use that.”

Over the last six months, marketplace conditions created by the ongoing pandemic, while difficult in so many ways, have also provided an opportunity for innovation in approaches to content distribution. With over 60 million subscribers within the first year of launch, the Disney+ platform is an ideal destination for families and fans to enjoy a marquee Pixar film in their own homes like never before.

Previously scheduled for theatrical release on November 20, 2020, Soul was named an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film will play at multiple upcoming festivals, including the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival on October 11.

All the Spookiest Disney Channel Original Movies You Can Stream on Disney+ Right Now

October 8, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

When’s the right time to watch a Disney Channel Original movie? The correct answer is “all the time,” but there’s a certain spooky selection of films that are especially timely around the month of October. Some of the scariest, silliest, and frightfully fun DCOMs are now streaming on Disney+, and we’re certain you need to add them into your schedule of Halloween binge-watching. (Although, we know you already have a Halloweentown screening scheduled). Ready for your monstrous marathon? Here’s all the spookiest DCOMs you can stream right now:

Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999)
Strange things are afoot in the town of Middleton, and all signs point to logical (and innocent) student Frances Bacon McCausland as the source of the pranks. She’s determined to discover the real perpetrator—but the truth is even stranger than she could imagine. She’s being framed by the Boogeyman! The only person who can help her is (you’re reading that right) an imaginary friend named Larry. It’s up to Frances to look beyond her logical disposition and use her imagination to defeat this Boogeyman before his mean-spirited pranks get Frances into more trouble than she bargained for.

Halloweentown (1998), Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004), and Return to Halloweentown (2006)
Ever felt like you were a little too weird and spooky for your home town? You should take a trip to Halloweentown, the home of all the creeps, monsters, goblins, and ghouls we know and love. Fans of this terrifying town can marathon four frighteningly fun films in the Halloweentown saga—the original Halloweentown, where we first meet the Cromwells and their witchy heritage, plus the sequel Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, the spooky back-to-school shenanigans of Halloweentown High, and the final film, Return to Halloweentown.

Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire (2000)
When Adam and Chelsea Hansen get grounded, they hatch a master plan to get their mom out of the house so that they can enjoy some freedom—they set her up for a date with the mysterious Dimitri Dentatos. The kids are home free until their youngest sibling, Taylor, discovers the chilling truth: Dimitri is a vampire! Now it’s up to the siblings to stop their mom’s date before she’s bitten and transformed into an immortal monster.

Phantom of the Megaplex (2000)
This modern-day twist on The Phantom of the Opera follows movie theater manager Pete Riley as he tries to put a stop to all the malfunctions and sabotage happening due to the alleged “phantom” who resides at his theater. It’s up to Pete to solve the mystery of the phantom before the specter can ruin the night’s star-studded movie premiere.

The Scream Team (2002)
Every year, ghosts flock to the town of Steeple Falls, a town considered a “soul processing center,” so that they can move on to the afterlife. It’s also the hometown of teenagers Ian and Claire Carlyle’s father. When they all go to visit, the kids make a startling discovery that an angry spirit won’t allow their late grandfather’s soul to rest. Soon, the siblings meet The Scream Team, the district’s police who are some good-intentioned but bumbling ghosts.

Twitches (2005) and Twitches Too (2007)
Twins Tia and Tamara Mowry star as twin witches… or Twitches in this duo of films. Camryn and Alexandra are twins separated at birth who discover each other—and their magic—on their 21st birthday. Across both films, the sisters learn to master their witch powers while defeating the Darkness, both on Earth and in their magical home dimension of Coventry.

Girl vs Monster (2012)
All Skylar wants to do is have fun at a Halloween party and show off her singing talent. Her parents force her to stay home—which would have been the scariest thing happening to her except in her attempts to sneak out, she accidentally releases a monster her parents were keeping trapped in the house! Discovering that she comes from a legacy of monster hunters, Skylar and her friends team up with the hope of defeating the monster before the night ends—and Skylar’s parents find out!

ZOMBIES (2018) and ZOMBIES 2 (2020)
High School is hard enough as it is—but try getting through teenage angst when you’re also a zombie! The first ZOMBIES film follows the zombie Zed as he learns to integrate into the normal human high school, Seabrook High, and must learn to confront the conformity of the town after falling in love with the human cheerleader Addison. In ZOMBIES 2, Seabrook becomes shaken when werewolves are discovered in the nearby forest. The discovery results in anti-monster laws that could keep Zed from attending Prawn (Seabrook’s equivalent of Prom) with Addison. It’s up to the zombies, cheerleaders, and werewolves to team up together to save the day.

D23 Amazon Mickey Plush Surprise Release!

October 8, 2020December 17, 2020

Hey D23 Members, we have some exciting news!

Our friends at Amazon are offering a surprise release of two new limited-edition Mickey plush and a limited-edition 13-pack of small plush, and D23 Members will, once again, have a first look at the all-new designs.

Starting Thursday, October 8, at 12 p.m. PST, D23 Members will have an early-access opportunity to purchase the new plush on Amazon before it goes on sale to the public. So head on over to Amazon to pick up your Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse , Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse , and Disney Year of the Mouse Mickey Mouse Collector Small Plush Set 13 pack while supplies last!

Please note: You must be signed in as a D23 Member to access the link to purchase. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page.

Disney Year of the Mouse Collector Plush – Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse
Commemorate the Year of the Mouse with this Limited-Edition Disney Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse Plush. This exclusive Mickey Mouse plush celebrates Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Mickey Mouse stands 16 inches tall and is made of a soft thick polyester fabric featuring a vibrant geometric kaleidoscope print, holographic gold embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes. Mickey Mouse features a commemorative gold and satin foot patch and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. He even comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging—ideal for collectors. The Year of the Mouse Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse plush makes the perfect gift for Disney fans of all ages. Collect all the commemorative Mickey Mouse plush.

On the premiere episode of his television series Disneyland (1954), Walt Disney dedicated half of the program to telling the story of Mickey Mouse, and stated the now famous phrase, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.” Walt’s television show would continue to evolve as technology progressed, moving to a new network in 1961 so it could be broadcast in living color. Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color treated viewers to a kaleidoscope of colorful Disney entertainment, highlighting the worlds of Music, Adventure, Nature, Comedy, Drama, and Classic Disney Cartoons. Special-Edition Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse Plush celebrates Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

Includes Certificate of Authenticity.
Comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging.
Amazon exclusive.
Mickey stands 16 inches tall.
Made of a thick polyester fabric featuring a vibrant geometric kaleidoscope print, holographic gold embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes.
Ages 3+

Disney Year of the Mouse Collector Plush – Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse
Commemorate the Year of the Mouse with this Limited-Edition Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse Plush. This exclusive Mickey Mouse celebrates Disney Parks’ tradition of fireworks. Mickey Mouse stands 16 inches tall and is made of a thick polyester fabric featuring a rich fireworks print with metallic detailing, embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes. Mickey Mouse features a commemorative gold and satin foot patch and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. He even comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging; ideal for collectors. The Year of the Mouse Fireworks Mickey Mouse plush makes the perfect gift for Disney fans of all ages. Collect all the commemorative Mickey Mouse plush. Brilliant fireworks displays are a beloved nighttime tradition at Disney Parks around the world. Beginning in 1956, summer nights came alive with a cascade of colorful showers in the skies high above Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. The tradition continues, as breathtaking fireworks spectaculars become nightly celebrations at Disney Parks from Florida to Shanghai. And if you believe and wish hard enough, you too might see the familiar silhouette of Mickey Mouse appear in the fireworks, adding an extra touch of Disney magic to each evening’s performance.

Special-Edition Fantasy in the Sky Mickey Mouse Plush celebrates the Disney Parks’ tradition of fireworks.
Includes Certificate of Authenticity.
Comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging.
Amazon exclusive.
Mickey stands 16 inches tall.
Made of thick polyester fabric featuring a rich fireworks print with metallic detailing, embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes.
Ages 3+

Disney Year of the Mouse Collector Plush – Mickey Mouse Collector Small Plush Set (13 pack)

Special-Edition Year of the Mouse Collector Small Plush includes replicas of the 12 Year of the Mouse Plush, plus a bonus Kaleidoscope of Color Mickey Mouse.
Comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging.
Amazon exclusive.
Each Mickey Mouse stands eight inches tall.
Features embroidered buttons and eyes.
Ages 3+

7 Spooky Shorts You Can Watch on Disney+ Right Now!

October 8, 2020October 22, 2024

By The D23 Team

With Halloween just around the corner, we’re more than ready to get into the spooky spirit this weekend! Fans of all things thrilling and chilling will be happy to know you can find some of our favorite Halloween-themed shorts on Disney+… Read on for the perfect playlist to watch while carving jack o’ lanterns and eating all manner of delicious candy. (Well, that’s our plan, at least.)

Trick or Treat (1952)
Trick or Treat was released almost seven decades ago and features a turn by iconic voice actor June Foray as Witch Hazel—who teaches Donald a most valuable lesson about the magic of Halloween with the help of his three costume-clad nephews. This short features the song “Trick or Treat for Halloween,” performed by The Mellomen. Find out more spine-tingling Trick or Treat trivia by clicking here.

Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
Interestingly enough, this particular animated short was released on Christmas Eve 1937… but you wouldn’t know of its holiday adjacency when you look at its spooky plot: Overconfident spirits hire professional—though, unfortunately, inept—ghost exterminators Mickey, Donald, and Goofy to try and get rid of them, hoping to have some fun in the process. Many misadventures ensue, with the exterminators ultimately scaring the ghosts right out of the house.

Frankenweenie (1984)
The live-action short Frankenweenie, one of director Tim Burton’s earliest works, starred Barret Oliver (The Neverending Story) as Victor Frankenstein—a young scientist who, after his beloved pet dog Sparky is hit by a car, decides to bring him back to life. Though the experiment works, it causes panic around Victor’s neighborhood until he convinces everyone that Sparky’s the good, loyal friend he always was. Burton and Disney later released a full-length, stop-motion version of Frankenweenie in 2012.

Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers (2012)
Speaking of 2012’s Frankenweenie, this short finds Victor and Sparky watching one of their very favorite home movies, in which Sparky captains a space ship and battles some hostile flying saucers. Frankenweenie producer Derek Frey and animation supervisor Mark Waring wrote and directed the short, respectively.

Mater and the Ghostlight (2006)
Created for the DVD release of Disney and Pixar’s Cars, Mater and the Ghostlight finds everyone’s favorite tow truck haunted by a very mysterious blue light that winds up teaching him not to play pranks on the other cars in Radiator Springs. Mater is once again voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, and Owen Wilson reprises his role as Lightning McQueen.

Vampirina: Ghoul Girls Rock! (2018-19)
From the world of fan-fave Disney Junior series Vampirina comes these music-video shorts. Inspired by their favorite band (The Scream Girls), Vee, Poppy, and Bridget decide to form their own band called The Ghoul Girls; the shorts find Demi, Georgie, and Chef Remy also coming along for the fun as the band lets their inner ghouls rock out.

The Legend of Mor’du (2012)
This animated short was attached to the DVD and Blu-ray release of Disney and Pixar’s Brave. In it, the film’s eccentric witch (voiced by Julie Walters) recounts how the villain Mor’du came to be. The tale follows a power-hungry prince who seeks to wrest control of a kingdom from his brothers through mysterious, magical means.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

October 8, 2020October 12, 2020

By Zach Johnson

In the mood for something spook-tacular? This Friday, Disney Channel delivers tricks and treats with a Halloween-themed episode of Disney Fam Jam. Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween” continues daily, with two of our favorite films—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Twitches—set to air Sunday. If you’re looking for something less spooky but still fang-tastic, Disney+ is adding The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and a new episode of Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom to its library Friday.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader—Friday, October 9, on Disney+
While visiting their obnoxious cousin Eustace (Will Poulter), siblings Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) are transported through a painting to a magical land. They reunite with an old ally, King Caspian (Ben Barnes), and join his quest to find the seven lost Lords of Telmar, whose swords will protect Narnia from an evil green mist.

Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom—Friday, October 9, on Disney+
In the third episode, “Betty and the Beast,” Hartmann’s mountain zebras arrive on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the first time in the park’s history! The keepers work to acclimate the mischievous herd and prepare the other animals to meet their new neighbors—including a curious young Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Clementine, and mom-to-be Prima. Meanwhile, babirusa pig Betty is introduced to a bachelor babirusa, Mentari, in the hopes that they will hit it off and give the park its first-ever babirusa piglet! Then, at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, an 1,800-pound rescued manatee named Lou has a potentially infected tail. To heal him, the keepers must use a crane to lift him out of the aquarium and transport him to the veterinary treatment room for a high-definition CT scan.

Disney Fam Jam—Friday, October 9, at 8:25 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
In the brand-new episode, “Trick or Treat Yo Self,” the dance battle turns spooky when the Gandia and Devers families compete for the ultimate treat: a $10,000 prize and the Disney Fam Jam trophy! Ariel Martin and Trevor Tordjman host the family dance competition, and choreographer Phil Wright helps the families master their wicked moves.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Sunday, October 11, at 1:50 p.m. ET on Freeform
What’s this? What’s this? It’s the story of Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who has grown bored of his usual tricks and treats. When he accidentally stumbles upon the bright and merry Christmas Town, he decides to spread some holiday cheer in Halloween Town… by kidnapping Santa Claus (voice of Ed Ivory) and assuming his role, causing nightmares for good little boys and girls everywhere.

Twitches—Sunday, October 11, at 9:50 p.m. ET on Freeform
Inspired by the best-selling book series, the Disney Channel Original Movie centers on twin witches born on Halloween night and separated at birth. But on their 21st birthday, Alex/Artemis (Tia Mowry) and Camryn/Apolla (Tamera Mowry) reunite and discover that their unusual powers double in strength when they work together—a discovery that definitely comes in handy when they go up against an evil entity known as the Darkness!