Get Ready to Spin with New Disney Channel Original Movie—Plus More in News Briefs

August 21, 2020August 25, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Disney Channel Announces New Original Movie Spin

There’s a sure-to-be-fabulous new Disney Channel Original Movie coming to a TV screen (or mobile device) near you in 2021… Spin—starring Avantika Vandanapu (Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective; Disney+’s Diary of a Future President) and directed by Manjari Makijany (the upcoming Desert Dolphin, India’s first-ever skateboarding feature)—follows an Indian American teen who discovers her artistic side through the unique world of DJ culture.

Rhea Kumar (Vandanapu) is an effervescent 15-year-old who lives with her tight-knit multigenerational family. After her mother’s death, she has been her father’s emotional rock, and her life revolves around her family’s restaurant; her eclectic group of friends; and her after-school coding club. Everything changes when she falls for aspiring DJ Max and a long-lost passion for music is reignited. Rhea discovers that she has a natural gift for creating beats and producing music that blends the textures of her Indian heritage with the world around her… but she must find the courage to follow her inner talent.

Look for Spin on Disney Channel next year!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

With kids around the country starting school, we’re facing facts—summer is almost over, and so is the month of August. (Crazy, right?) But don’t fret: There’s plenty of cool stuff to watch this weekend, from around the worlds of Disney. Take a breather from those back-to-school shenanigans with a brand-new episode of Muppets Now on Disney+; the series finale of Elena of Avalor on Disney Channel; and more! To make sure you don’t miss a moment of fun, click here for our weekend-watching rundown.

American Idol Season 4: Bryan, Perry, Richie, and Seacrest Will Return

Great news, American Idol fans! Just this week, ABC announced the iconic star-maker competition series will welcome back music industry legends Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges—and veteran host Ryan Seacrest—to help find America’s next singing sensation for a fourth season on the network!

Last season, American Idol became the first reality competition series to air remotely and the unprecedented season dominated Sunday nights, claiming the No. 1 spot for a broadcast series (among adults ages 18 to 49) as well as the night’s most talked-about show on social media.

And guess what? Virtual auditions for season 4 are already underway! Idol Across America will give hopefuls in all 50 states the chance to showcase their talents from anywhere in the U.S. of A., across any official audition date and face-to-face with an American Idol producer—staying true to its roots by providing aspiring Idols real-time feedback on their journey to being crowned the next American Idol.

Stay tuned for more Idol news as it becomes available…

**New Trailer for Earth to Ned—Coming to Disney+ in September!**

These are the kind of thoughts that keep us up at night: What would a talk show hosted by a very curious alien be like? We’re ever so thankful we don’t have to wonder any more… because this September, Disney+ is premiering Earth to Ned—a fresh take on the late-night format starring larger-than-life extraterrestrial creatures as they interview some of the biggest stars in our galaxy. Check out the brand-new trailer for the series, above.

The talk show is hosted by alien commander Ned and his lieutenant Cornelius, who call off an invasion of Earth after they fall in love with human culture. Broadcasting from the bridge of their spaceship, hidden deep underground, Ned and Cornelius interview Earth’s greatest resource: celebrities. With the help of the ship’s artificial intelligence, BETI, and the destructive CLODs (Cloned Living Organisms of Destruction), Ned must keep his show a secret from his home planet or suffer the wrath of his father, the Admiral of the Galactic Fleet.

Each episode focuses on a topic or theme that is both equally unique to earthlings and fascinating to Ned, including comedy, sports, social media, and fashion. Look for appearance from the likes of Rachel Bloom, Billy Dee Williams, RuPaul, Andy Richter, Raven-Symoné, High School Musical The Musical The Series’ stars Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo, and so many more…

Produced by Brian Henson and Vince Raisa from The Jim Henson Company, Earth to Ned will feature creations brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop—the team behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters. Meet Ned and crew when the series makes its Disney+ debut on Friday, September 4!

ICYMI: New Trailer and Posters for The New Mutants

D23 recently heard from writer/director Josh Boone about The New Mutants, an original horror thriller debuting soon. Inspired by a spin-off of Marvel’s X-Men comic series, the film follows four teenage mutants as they’re held in an isolated psychiatric hospital for monitoring. Read more about the film—and see its brand-new trailer and posters—by clicking here.

First Trailer Revealed for Death on the Nile

The latest film from Twentieth Century Studios, the daring mystery-thriller Death on the Nile, is set to mystify audiences beginning this October… and to that end, they just debuted the film’s brand-new trailer this week! Directed by and starring five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh, this tale of passion, jealousy, and intrigue features an all-star cast of suspects. Take a look at the new clip, above.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s (Branagh) Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against a landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, Death on the Nile features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers—and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until its shocking finale.

The film reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit Murder on the Orient Express; joining Branagh onscreen this time are a cavalcade of stars including Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.

Death on the Nile is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on October 23.

Danny DeVito and Phillipa Soo Talk The One and Only Ivan

August 20, 2020August 25, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Disney’s The One and Only Ivan tells the story of a gentle, artistically inclined 400-pound silverback gorilla (voice of Sam Rockwell) who begins to wonder what life is really like outside the suburban shopping mall habitat—and struggling circus attraction—he calls home. Ivan’s not alone, however; among his circle of animal friends are a colorful parrot named Thelma (voice of Phillipa Soo), and an adorable stray dog named Bob (voice of Danny DeVito).

With this CGI/live-action adaptation of Katherine Applegate’s award-winning novel coming to Disney+ in just a few days’ time, D23 spoke with both DeVito and Soo about what made their experiences making The One and Only Ivan so unique.

When it came to joining The One and Only Ivan’s voice cast, Tony®-nominated Soo (Broadway’s Hamilton) was especially elated. “I actually didn’t know anything about the novel or the story that it was based on,” explains Soo, alluding to the true tale that inspired Applegate’s Newbery Medal-winning book. “[But] I was so excited—I just got married three years ago and because of that, I have all of these young nieces and nephews. Being asked to be a part of something that’s so iconic for them was super cool for me; so many cool ‘aunt’ points!” It’s not just the story (and its popularity amongst family) that delighted Soo—it’s the particularly impactful way it’s presented. “[Kids] are so knowing—and at the same time, they’re just curious and wide-eyed and open to the world,” she continues. “So they connect with [this story] a lot… And especially in this day and age, when we’re just trying so desperately to protect our environment, I think that kids are really aware of that. I think what this story shows them is that they can really contribute to that. Big change starts small. And just because they’re young should not deter them from wanting to help advocate for change, and change what they want to see in the world.”

As for Emmy® winner DeVito (Taxi), his participation in the film came about—at least in part—due to a previous role: “[With The One and Only Ivan], I’m working with a director I’ve worked with before,” he explains. “I did The Sunshine Boys on the West End in London, which Thea Sharrock directed, and it was great. I loved working with her, and when she told me about this [project], I thought it was great! I’ll play an animated dog in your movie, y’know? So I read the book—an amazing book.”

Giving voice to a CGI-animated animal is an interesting challenge from the start—but when said animal already has an iconic sound, it could prove daunting. Not so for Soo, who took her parrot voice seriously—with a hearty dollop of humor, of course. “It’s not very often I get to play characters like this parrot; it’s a very long jump from Eliza Hamilton,” says Soo, chuckling. “So as an actor, I feel so lucky that I was given that opportunity—because all I want to do is stretch, [and] be asked to do things that I’ve never done before and take risks. What a great way to be involved with, now, two Disney films”—Soo also lent her voice to 2016’s Moana, featuring music by her Hamilton compatriot Lin-Manuel Miranda—“[where] the characters are very different.” During recording, “I was lucky enough to see my Ivan character as I was working on it,” explains Soo. “The animation had largely been complete for Thelma, so when I got to go in and record, I had something there to reference. That was really exciting.”

For DeVito, recording included something that’s not often done in animation: “The uniqueness of doing this was that we—Sam Rockwell [voice of Ivan], Angelina Jolie [voice of Stella], Brooklynn Prince [voice of Ruby], myself, Helen Mirren [voice of Snickers]—were able to, at some point or another over the past couple of years that we’ve been doing this, to be actually in the same room. Disney had fixed it up so that we could see each other [in the recording studio]; it really makes a difference for an actor to be able to communicate, because you improvise—one thing leads to another… That was a unique experience, and it was great working with those people.”

Lending her talents to a Disney film—especially an animated one, and one that focuses on animals and the natural world to boot—might’ve been fate for Soo, who came of age during the Little Mermaid-led renaissance of Disney animation. “Growing up, my best friend and I would watch Pocahontas over and over and over and over,” she admits. “And we would go outside and run around—run through the woods, which we called ‘the forest.’ I definitely feel like it was such a great way—kind of like The One and Only Ivan—to really understand and appreciate nature. I think Pocahontas was my first deep understanding and connection that I had with the planet, and the animals that are on it.”

All told, both Soo and DeVito feel The One and Only Ivan is the perfect film for such a singular time in our history. “This is one of those great films where you feel like there’s a lot of wonderful lessons, as well as humor,” Soo says. “[And] what I think is so unique about this film is that it really captures the purity and the sweetness of these animals… I was just so struck by the fact that the writing and the directing really captured this purity; the knowingness that these animals have, and how precious that is.” DeVito agrees, adding, “It’s a movie for kids of all ages. First of all, it’s a lot of fun—it’s a comedy and it’s spirited. And the themes in it—of captivity and freedom—[it’s] heartfelt… The way it [all] was woven in with Mike White’s screenplay—Ivan the gorilla realizing that he should be free; keeping promises; being true to your word. All these different themes are woven into The One and Only Ivan—and that’s what makes it such a spectacular movie.”

Don’t miss The One and Only Ivan, premiering on Disney+ this Friday, August 21!

Go on an Adventure with These Disney Parks Attraction Posters

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Pirates! Ghosts! Hippos that wiggle their ears and blow bubbles! No matter what perils and thrills appear on our adventures, we can’t help but return to experience the fun all over again. At Disney Parks around the world, you can find adventure in all sorts of places—from jungle rivers and ancient temples in the aptly-named Adventureland, to the Rivers of America along Frontierland—but keep an eye out for ghosts next time you travel to Thunder Mesa! No matter where your next journey takes you, one thing is for certain—it’s going to have some gorgeous poster art. Check out this gallery of attraction posters for some of the most thrilling, wildest, and spookiest attractions at Disney Parks all over the globe.

Want to keep celebrating 65 years of the Disney Theme Park? Make sure to check out all the ways we’re celebrating, including more digital content right here on D23.com, all month long!

Eating Our Way Through 65 Years of Disney Theme Parks

August 20, 2020August 19, 2020

By Jim Frye

The savory aroma of a smoked turkey leg at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; the sweet taste of churros at Disneyland; the tangy deliciousness of a DOLE Whip at Magic Kingdom; or the cool, refreshing pleasure of a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar on a warm summer afternoon. The ever-evolving, always-enticing food stands and eateries at Disney theme parks have become can’t-miss stops—offering everything from fully immersive experiences to high-end dishes prepared by world-renowned chefs. But it hasn’t always been that way.

EARLY DAYS
Dining in Disney theme parks has changed dramatically over the years. These days, the parks in the U.S. use more than 49,900 different recipes at just over 710 food and beverage locations, including more than 130 table-service restaurants and 420 quick-service restaurants. To put that in perspective, if Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts were a single restaurant chain, it would rank as the 30th largest restaurant chain in America. And consider this: If the number of churros consumed annually at Disneyland Resort were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 1,162 miles and could line the Disneyland Resort Monorail Track 468 times. Also, if the number of Mickey-shaped soft pretzels sold annually at Walt Disney World Resort were laid ear-to-ear, they would stretch 352 miles and could circle Spaceship Earth at EPCOT 3,600 times.

How things have changed. In the early days when Disneyland was first opening, comfort food was the name of the game. Walt Disney brought in a number of outside/sponsored restaurants. “Walt was successful surrounding his brand with other well-known established brands, such as Carnation, Coke, and Sunkist,” says John State, culinary director, Disneyland Resort. “These brands boosted guest confidence, as they aligned with what was familiar.”

Those early sponsored eateries included Swift’s Red Wagon Inn and Swift’s Market House, Carnation Company Ice Cream Parlor, the Main Street Refreshment Corner sponsored by Coke, Chicken of the Sea’s Pirate Ship Restaurant, and Welch’s Grape Juice Stand. But, according to Robert Gilbert, culinary director, Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, there was always a push to develop food into something more exciting. “It is said that Walt knew food could be much more than just something that you ate,” Gilbert says. “It could also be entertaining and part of the experience. He wanted his food to be part of the show and help tell stories.”

Robert Adams, culinary director, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, agrees: “Walt was a great storyteller and restaurants were themed to the lands they were in,” he says. “Eventually, performance-theming was developed in order to have the cast really play a part in the show of the restaurants. Guests have always considered Disney restaurants more than just a place to get a meal. They often plan their vacations around making sure they experience certain restaurants, much like they plan for the attractions.”

THEMED DINING EXPERIENCES
As Imagineers began to rethink food in Disney theme parks, Disney dining became as much of an experience as the attractions—sometimes even more so! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the waitstaff at the 50’s Prime Time Café tell guests to get their elbows off the table and wash their hands before eating. And the dining area is designed to look like your mom’s or grandma’s old-school kitchen. The Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant—where diners sit in “cars” at an “outdoor theater” watching classic ’50s sci-fi film clips—is a throwback to the glory days of ’50s car culture and outdoor movie theaters. Elsewhere, Jiko—The Cooking Place, tucked into a section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, feels as though you’re sitting on a savanna, enjoying authentic African cuisine and wine.

Carthay Circle Restaurant, at the hub of Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure, invites guests to step into an oasis of well-crafted California-inspired menu items in a dining room filled with Hollywood nostalgia—the entire restaurant is a replica of the original Carthay Circle Theatre, which premiered Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

“Starting with the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland, which opened in 1955, on up to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland Hotel in 2015, these restaurants help support the surrounding stories and bring the show to life with theme food, décor, and creative cast members,” says Karlos Siqueiros, project manager, Food and Beverage Concept/Product Development, Disneyland Resort. “It’s a Disney destination dining experience brought to life.”

DINING ELEVATED
As Disney parks expanded and opened additional properties—and resort hotels—dining options changed to meet the variety of palates and appetites. At Disneyland, the Plaza Inn opened in 1965, originally designed to be an elegant restaurant for the whole family. The Blue Bayou Restaurant, which sits along the “banks” of the waterway that ferries guests through the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, first opened its doors in 1967, meeting the growing demand for a high-quality restaurant in the park.

“Disney has transformed theme park dining, and has been recognized by both consumers and industry experts for exceptional, innovative, fun, and healthy dining experiences,” says Siqueiros. “From immersive dining that brings guests into the stories they love to the broad range of options, varying from five-star restaurants to quick-service choices, Disney parks are moving the culinary industry forward.”

According to Adams, fine dining at Walt Disney World, as it was defined at the time, started at the Resort Hotels soon after opening. “The Contemporary Resort had the Top of the World dinner show, as well as the Gulf Coast Room that was created out of a banquet space on the second floor,” he says. “The Empress Lilly’s Empress Room came on line with Walt Disney World Village around 1977. Theme park fine dining [at Walt Disney World] really did not exist until the opening of EPCOT with Paul Bocuse at Les Chefs de France.”

Speaking of EPCOT—which is currently undergoing its largest reinvention ever—it’s hard to imagine a trip inside the Walt Disney World Resort’s second theme park without savoring all the scrumptious offerings around World Showcase. This promenade of international pavilions offers an unparalleled selection of foods from around the world, including some of Disney’s most exceptional restaurants. These include Le Cellier Steakhouse inside the Canada Pavilion, Monsieur Paul at the France Pavilion, Restaurant Marrakesh in the back of the Morocco Pavilion, and the San Angel Inn Restaurante at the Mexico Pavilion, to name just a few. This is also the location of the super-popular EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

Eventually, the desire to create the finest dining experiences available produced the most elegant, high-end restaurants ever seen inside the theme parks and the surrounding resort hotel properties. These included the intimate opulence of Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa beside Magic Kingdom Park (the Chef’s Table provides an exceptionally immersive meal), Napa Rose inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel, and even Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.

“We have our fair share of hot dogs (which, I might add, are great, high-quality, all-beef hot dogs), cotton candy, popcorn, and DOLE Whips,” says Gilbert. “But we also have a restaurant in Cinderella Castle that offers a feast fit for a prince and princess or a queen and a king.”

CHARACTER DINING
Perhaps no other dining experience is as celebrated at Disney parks and resorts as the chance to eat with your favorite characters from Disney animated films. “It is my recollection that the first character dining was a buffet banquet experience at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and soon afterward they tested the concept at Empress Lilly at the Fisherman’s Deck,” says Adams. “It was a huge success and drew in the local crowds, especially on the weekends. After several months, they started to re-concept restaurants in the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Golf Resorts with character dining.”

The 1980s found Goofy inside Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, along with breakfast with Winnie the Pooh or Minnie Mouse and Friends at the Plaza Inn at Disneyland. Both options are still available to this day. Guests can find Mickey and his friends at Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet at Storytellers Café inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Or, if Donald Duck is your favorite, head on over to Donald Duck’s Seaside Breakfast at Disney’s PCH Grill inside Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. At Walt Disney World, character dining can be found at Story Book Dining at Artist Point inside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Chef Mickey’s Buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT, Cape May Café inside Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and many more.

To the delight of fans both young and young-at-heart, Disney characters show up and delight guests at dining establishments all across the theme parks—and Disney Cruise Line, too! “Character dining is popular, unique, and sets us apart from other brands,” says State. “The great thing about character dining is that we have so many themes to tie together and likely more to try. This brings so much joy to our guest of all ages, but particularly our youngest.”

Eating has come a long, long way at Disney parks. What started as simple comfort food provided by outside vendors at the opening of Disneyland has grown into a collection of world-renowned dining destinations and culinary adventures sure to please the pickiest of palates.

Whether it’s grabbing a corn dog at Corn Dog Castle at Disney California Adventure, or dining on the savanna while watching graceful giraffe grazing nearby at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the opportunities to satisfy your appetite are nearly endless.

CHEF’S CHOICE! DISNEY RESORT HOTEL RESTAURANTS NOT TO MISS
As Disney resort hotels continue to develop dining locations to delight travelers from across the world, it can seem almost daunting trying to figure out which ones to visit. Not to worry, though, because Chef John State has put together his list of seven marquee hotel restaurants that guests simply cannot miss.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort: California Grill
Disney’s BoardWalk: Flying Fish
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Jiko—The Cooking Place
Disney’s Riviera Resort: Topolino’s Terrace
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: Victoria & Albert’s
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort: Yachtsman Steakhouse
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Napa Rose Restaurant

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

August 20, 2020August 19, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Immerse yourself in the worlds of spies, spirits, and more this weekend! Disney+ will debut another laugh-out-loud episode of the original series Muppets Now Friday, while FX will air the 2014 blockbuster Kingsman: The Secret Service. On Saturday and Sunday, Freeform will premiere its original four-part limited series Love in the Time of Corona (available the next day on Hulu). Also scheduled for Sunday are the series finale of Elena of Avalor on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW and a new episode of Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa on Nat Geo WILD.

Muppets Now—Friday, August 21, on Disney+
In the fourth episode, Scooter wakes up in horror to discover his all-nighters have finally caught up to him… and now he has only 30 minutes to upload the show! With the clock ticking and his eyelids drooping, he enlists Animal to help him stay awake. Meanwhile, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, conduct a series of vibrational experiments with the help of a lonely, outdated computer. As the Swedish Chef uncovers the secrets of spaghetti carbonara when staring down his competitor, Giuseppe Losavio, Miss Piggy sits down with actress Aubrey Plaza to conduct a fabulous one-on-one interview. Later, Miss Piggy looks out for No. 1 as she focuses on self-care with Linda Cardellini and Taye Diggs.

Kingsman: The Secret Service—Friday, August 21, at 4 p.m. ET on FX
Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton) is a juvenile delinquent living in South London. His world is turned upside down when he discovers his late father secretly worked for a spy organization—and now agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) wants to recruit him to be a trainee in the secret service! Meanwhile, tech villain Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a diabolical plan to solve the problem of climate change… via global genocide! It’s up to Eggsy, Harry, and the other spies to thwart the diabolical plan before it’s too late.

Love in the Time of Corona—Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, at 8 p.m. ET on Freeform
Filmed using remote technologies and shot in the cast’s actual homes, this four-part, limited series follows four interwoven stories about the search for love and connection while in quarantine, covering the early days of the stay-at-home order through the events that ignited the Black Lives Matter protests. James (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Sade (Nicolette Robinson) are a married couple who have been living somewhat separate lives until the pandemic halts his work travel and puts them back under the same roof. Meanwhile, the mostly platonic relationship between roommates Oscar (Tommy Dorfman) and Elle (Rainey Qualley) becomes increasingly complicated as they wonder if they can find love under one roof. Then there’s Paul (Gil Bellows) and Sarah (Rya Kihlstedt), who hide their separation from daughter Sophie (Ava Bellows) after she returns home from college. Finally, there’s Nanda (L. Scott Caldwell), who is determined to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary—even if her husband is unable to return home from a rehab facility.

Elena of Avalor: Coronation Day—Sunday, August 23, at 7 p.m. ET on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW
After three seasons, Princess Elena (voice of Aimee Carrero) will embark on one more heroic journey in an epic prime-time finale special. With plans for Elena’s coronation underway, Chancellor Esteban (voice of Christian Lanz) and his team of villains unleash legendary spirit misfits: The Four Shades of Awesome (voices of Jenny Slate, Disney Legend Mark Hamill, Fred Armisen, and Andy García). In order to save her kingdom, her family, and her friends, Elena must journey to the Spirit World, where she encounters Grand Macaw (voice of Patrick Warburton), ruler of the dark side of the Spirit World. To make it home and become queen, she must face the ultimate test of courage and character.

Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa—Sunday, August 23, at 9 p.m. ET on Nat Geo WILD
In the brand-new episode “Kitty Kitty Fang Fang,” you’ll get to meet the locals of ZooTampa: the Florida wildlife! As the team prepares to relocate two rescued Florida panther cubs, a young manatee has to prove he can survive in the wild. Meanwhile, the reptiles team races against the clock to breed a pair of indigo snakes. And the vet staff has a big problem in a tiny package with a lined seahorse who needs surgery to remove a lump.

Beyond the Big Top with The One and Only Ivan’s Director Thea Sharrock

August 19, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Readers of Katherine Applegate’s Newbery Medal-winning book The One and Only Ivan already know it to be a heartwarming tale of friendship, hope, and the place one’s heart calls home. And now, thanks to Disney’s brand-new film—told through an incredible hybrid of live-action and CGI—audiences all over will learn about a very special gorilla and his equally special friends when it premieres exclusively on Disney+ this week.

Helmed by acclaimed British director Thea Sharrock (Me Before You, BBC’s The Hollow Crown), the film follows Ivan (voice of Sam Rockwell)—a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant (voice of Angelina Jolie), Bob the dog (voice of Danny DeVito), and various other animals… all under the watchful eye of the mall’s circus attraction owner, Mack (Bryan Cranston). Ivan has few memories of the jungle where he was born, but when a baby elephant named Ruby (voice of Brooklynn Prince) arrives, it touches something deep within him—and he begins to question his life, where he comes from, and where he ultimately wants to be.

D23 recently sat down for a virtual chat with Sharrock, who gave us a peak “under the big top” for some behind-the-scenes tidbits—including the surprisingly Disney-related moment she found out she’d be directing the film…

D23: This is your first Disney film—so we’re curious: What was your first thought when you found out you’d gotten the job?
Thea Sharrock (TS): “Well the funny thing is—believe it or not—I was actually sitting in a movie theater at the time, [and] I was watching Disney’s [2017 live-action] Beauty and the Beast with one of my kids! And I saw my phone ringing; it was obviously on silent, but I was waiting to hear, and I knew it would come that day. So I’m sitting there and the number comes up and I knew that this was the call that was going to tell me whether or not I was going to have the opportunity. So I scooted out and took the call outside. And I had quite a muted reaction in that sense, because I was really aware of where I was … but I remember how utterly elated I was. And there was something just magical about the fact that I was sitting in that in the middle of watching Beauty and the Beast. And then I skedaddled back into the cinema and I told my son, and then he did scream in the middle of the movie! It was so sweet! I was really proud and excited, and it just felt like an enormous privilege—and it has done ever since.”

D23: That’s amazing! As to the actual process of making the movie, what was the biggest technological challenge you faced—and how did you work through it?
TS: “On the one hand there was a huge technical challenge of just not knowing what all of this technology could do and what I had to do to make it work. But I never got nervous about that, because I was surrounded by such a brilliant team. And [Disney] is so careful [about] sharing all of their knowledge and making sure that you feel you have all the information that you need to make the decisions as a director that you need to make. So I never felt worried or scared. It wasn’t that—it was just new and big. But actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize that probably the biggest challenge is that for months and months of post-production, you are looking at unfinished shots. And you have to just live with a huge leap of faith that it will ultimately look like how you’ve now seen it. But there were hundreds of shots that were never going to come in until right at the end of the process. The early ones came in and we started to get very excited when we saw things… So in a way that was the hardest part—because like I said, you’d have to sort of travel in hope and trust that it was going to be where you wanted it to be. It just didn’t look like it now.”

D23: Do you have any favorite memories from the process? Or scenes you’d really looked forward to shooting?
TS: “There was so much, it’s the honest truth… I realized that I carried with me throughout the process, in particular, three or four scenes—all of which had Ivan in. And they were the goodbye scenes. [For instance], I knew we were on the right track when, even just through rehearsal performance… I had actors who were either being the puppeteer for Bob the dog or the physical presence of Ivan, [so] the very first time I had them physically acting out this particular scene and we could all hear Danny [DeVito, voice of Bob] and Sam [Rockwell, voice of Ivan] saying lines… [when] we looked at that together, I remember turning towards my lead animator and he had a tear in his eye at that point… But all of this is leading up to, actually, when Mack [played by Bryan Cranston] has a special scene with Ivan toward the end of the film. That was really very, very special. And Bryan was just incredible on that day—it was a real pleasure to be with him and to help him get to where we got to.”

D23: Anything else you’d like the readers of D23.com to know about The One and Only Ivan?
TS: “I think—I hope—that this is exactly the moment for a movie like this. I feel that we all have gone through and are going through a really hard time together, and that this movie is a shared experience. That [it] gives us a little bit of hope, a little bit of a heartwarming feeling, a feeling that we’re all in it together—and that kindness can go a long way.”

Look for The One and Only Ivan beginning Friday, August 21, only on Disney+!

Meet the Wild Characters of The One and Only Ivan

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020

By the D23 Team

IVAN (Sam Rockwell)
The 400-pound silverback gorilla may live in a shopping mall circus attraction, but his dreams expand much further than the mall. After meeting a new baby elephant, Ivan reassesses his life and explores a new route of self-expression. Rockwell reflects on Ivan’s character, “There are a few elements to Ivan that make him who he is. There’s an optimism to him. And then there’s a real dark quality to him in that he has sort of post-traumatic stress from the jungle and seeing his father killed and his sister dying that gives the character a lot of potency.”

STELLA (Angelina Jolie)
Never knowing a life of freedom, Stella the African elephant has lived in the circus for years and served as a comfort to all the animals—especially Ivan. Jolie says of the elephant, “Stella knows that she won’t be around forever, and she’s trying to think of what needs to be understood for the next generation. She watches a new, young elephant come in, Ruby. She’s at that time in her life when she knows that she won’t have long, but she hopes the little elephant will have a life very different from hers.”

BOB (Danny DeVito)
TV-loving Bob is a scrappy, stray dog who has adopted the mall as his home—and has quickly befriended all the animals in the circus attraction. DeVito describes Bob as “a scruffy dog that comes around, and he and Ivan become friends. Bob is on his own. He can go anywhere he wants, but he prefers to stay there for a couple of reasons. First of all Ivan is the coolest guy. Second, Stella is the sweetest elephant you’ll ever want to meet. And there’s another good reason why he loves Ivan. Ivan has this big belly and he’s got this cage with a TV in there and Bob sleeps on Ivan’s belly. It’s the softest, biggest, most comfortable pad Bob’s ever had.”

SNICKERS (Helen Mirren)
Separate from the animals in the circus attraction, Snickers is a glamorous white poodle who lives with Mack, the owner of the mall’s circus attraction. Unlike the other animals, she lives an impeccably clean and pampered life. Mirren explains that Snickers especially has a complicated relationship with Bob, saying, “Snickers has this sort of love-hate relationship with Bob. You want them to get together but, of course, they’re never going to get together. It’s never going to happen.”

RUBY (Brooklynn Prince)
Can you think of anything more delightful than a baby elephant? The animals at the mall’s circus certainly can’t. When Ruby the baby elephant joins the circus, everyone is besotted with her—especially Stella, with whom she forms a close bond. Prince describes Ruby as “very inquisitive because she can ask like a hundred questions at the same time. She’s very cuddly. She’s very cute.”

HENRIETTA (Chaka Khan)
Chaka Khan, who voices Henrietta, says that her character is like an “alpha female chicken.” She adds: “We have a lot in common. Henrietta and I are both outspoken and speak our minds. We can cuss you out or nurture you. And I have those traits, as well.”

FRANKIE (Mike White, who also wrote the screenplay)
The nervous Frankie spends his days balancing a ball on the tip of his nose. As far as he is concerned, that is his sole purpose in life.

MURPHY (Ron Funches)
Murphy, voiced by Ron Funches, is a white rabbit whose job in the circus is to drive around in a little red fire truck and squirt people with a hose. Murphy and his truck are so inseparable that Murphy has forgotten how to be a rabbit.

THELMA (Phillipa Soo)
Thelma, voiced by Phillipa Soo, is a macaw who likes to view the goings-on from her perch on Mack’s shoulder.

D’scovered – “Are You Walt Disney?”

August 19, 2020August 11, 2020

By Becky Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives

When doing research in the collections of the Walt Disney Archives, it’s always fun when you stumble across interesting tidbits from Disney History.

One day, while looking in Walt Disney’s 1955 correspondence files (for something else entirely), I came across this very charming note to Walt—and his equally charming response. Enjoy!

There it is—classic Walt. A man who loved kids, had a wonderfully warm sense of humor…and never missed an opportunity to promote his latest ventures!

Two New Posters and a Teaser Debut for The New Mutants, Which Premieres in Theaters August 28

August 18, 2020

By Jim Frye

Get ready for a completely different kind of super hero movie!

Today, Disney released brand-new posters and a teaser video to get audiences ready for The New Mutants, which opens in theaters August 28, 2020. The posters are for Dolby Cinema and Cinemark XD. The first poster reads, “Discover it in Dolby Cinema,” while the Cinemark XD poster says, “Power this big can’t be contained.” You can watch the teaser video, which introduces each of the new characters in just 60 seconds, here:

In the film, four teenage mutants are held in an isolated psychiatric hospital for monitoring—Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton) and Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga). Keeping a watchful eye over them is Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga), who believes the mutants are dangerous to both themselves and to society. The arrival of newcomer Danielle “Dani” Moonstar (Blu Hunt) signals the beginning of strange occurrences, hallucinations, and an eventual battle for their lives.

The New Mutants, from 20th Century Studios in association with Marvel Entertainment, is an original horror thriller inspired by a spin-off of Marvel’s X-Men comic series. It has a darker, scarier tinge than most super hero films. Each of the five main characters has suffered some sort of trauma, and writer/director Josh Boone wanted to be sure the young characters were different from those personified onscreen in previous X-Men films, all released by 20th Century Studios.

“Although we incorporate similar themes from the comics, this is very much its own unique story,” says Boone. “Though there are references to the X-Men, and our characters know who the X-Men are, this a stand-alone world where if you took these characters and tried to place them in another X-Men movie, they would seem like outsiders.”

When the story begins, the five protagonists are fragile and confused kids, and by the end of the film they have all become the New Mutants. “The New Mutants is very much a coming-of-age story about young adults accepting what’s happened in their pasts so they can move forward into the future,” says producer Karen Rosenfelt (the Twilight saga). “We all have a history and past that we have to move beyond, and within this story we wanted to embrace that narrative that provides a strong emotional spine.”

The young mutants at the heart of this story are trying to come to grips with their emerging mutant abilities while at the same time taking on real issues that all teenagers face, but they’re able to deal with their issues and problems together. “We wanted it to be a horror story, one that relayed the true horrors of being a teenager in search of themselves,” says Boone. “Horror movies are a great escape, because you can go to the movie theaters and deal with all the anxiety you don’t want to think about when you are lying in bed at night staring up at the ceiling. It’s like a healthy way to go through all that.”

The New Mutants opens in theaters Friday, August 28, 2020. Advance tickets are available now.

Here are the two new posters:

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in September 2020

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020

By Zach Johnson

From Muppets to mutants, Disney+ has something for everyone in September. The fun begins September 4 with Disney’s Mulan. With Premier Access, available for $29.99 on disneyplus.com and select platforms, fans can watch the epic adventure before it’s available to all Disney+ subscribers. That same day, Disney+ will debut 10 episodes of its first original talk show, Earth to Ned, produced by The Jim Henson Company and Marwar Junction Productions, in addition to releasing the season finales of the original series Muppets Now and Pixar in Real Life. Two weeks later, on September 18, all 10 episodes of the original docu-series Becoming will debut simultaneously. From executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter, it will tell the origin stories of 10 athletes, entertainers, and musicians.

September 25 will bring fans the premiere of the original series Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as the movie Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, starring Skylar Astin and Peyton Elizabeth Lee. Throughout the month, some of our favorite film and TV titles—including Bend It Like Beckham, Christopher Robin, D2: The Mighty Ducks, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Muppet Babies (Season 2), Never Been Kissed, Sydney to the Max (Season 2), The Wolverine, Violetta (Season 3), and Wicked Tuna (Season 9)—will join the Disney+ library.

All of the film and television titles coming to Disney+ in September are listed below:

Friday, September 4
Ancient China from Above (Season 1)
D2: The Mighty Ducks
D3: The Mighty Ducks
Never Been Kissed
Strange Magic
Trick or Treat
The Wolverine
Mulan
Earth to Ned (Series Premiere) (Episodes 101–110)
One Day at Disney (Episode 140—“Alice Taylor: Studiolab”)
Muppets Now (Episode 106—“Socialized”) (Season Finale)
Pixar in Real Life (Episode 111—“Coco: Abuelita Says No Music”) (Season Finale)
Weird But True! (Episode 304—“Germs”)

Friday, September 11
Christopher Robin
One Day at Disney (Episode 141—“Amanda Lauder: Chef Chocolatier”)
Weird But True! (Episode 305—“Photography”)

Friday, September 18
Bend It Like Beckham
Coop & Cami Ask the World (Season 2)
Europe from Above (Season 1)
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Kingdom of the Mummies (Season 1)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Season 4)
Notre Dame: Race Against the Inferno
Once Upon a Time (Seasons 1–7)
Soy Luna (Seasons 2–3)
Violetta (Season 3)
Wicked Tuna (Season 9)
Becoming (Series Premiere) (Episodes 101–110)
One Day at Disney (Episode 142—“Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko: Veterinarian”)
Weird But True! (Episode 306—“Trains”)

Friday, September 25
Fancy Nancy: Fancy It Yourself (Season 2)
The Giant Robber Crab
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (Season 2)
Muppet Babies (Season 2)
Oceans
Port Protection: Alaska (Season 3)
Sydney to the Max (Season 2)
Wild Central America (Season 1)
X–Ray Earth (Season 1)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Series Premiere)
Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (Movie Premiere)
One Day at Disney (Episode 143—“Ashley Girdich: R&D Imagineer Manager”)
Weird But True! (Episode 307—“Venomous Animals”)