This D23-Exclusive Pin Set is Your Passport to Fantasy!

July 6, 2020August 27, 2020

By the D23 Team

Fill up your passport to fantasy, and celebrate the fantastic worlds of Disney—both real and imagined—with this pin set celebrating four of our favorite Disney destinations, created exclusively for D23 by artist Alex Riegert-Waters.

These D23 Gold and Gold Family Member-exclusive pins, inspired by vintage travel logos, celebrate the worlds of Mary Poppins, The Emperor’s New Groove, Monsters, Inc., and Zootopia, all housed in a collectible box celebrating the worlds of Disney!

This boxed four-pin set, a limited release*, is available exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family members at shopDisney right now! Buy it here!

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pin sets are $39.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum two (2) pin sets for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping & handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including but not limited to artwork, release dates, editions sizes and retail prices.

UPDATE: D23-Exclusive Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Meeko Pin

July 6, 2020July 23, 2020

By the D23 Team

This item is SOLD OUT. Be sure to check out our limited-edition pin set for D23 Fantastic Worlds.

Experience all the colors of the wind with this D23 Gold and Gold Family-exclusive limited-edition pin celebrating 25 years of Disney’s animated classic, Pocahontas. Taking a note from the film’s vivid colors, Meeko points the way for you to chart your own path and commemorate this milestone silver anniversary with this beautiful silver-finished pin gorgeously set on a postcard-inspired background. This pin, a limited edition of 1,750, will be available only as supplies last.*

Please note, that to purchase, you must be logged in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to your D23 Gold Membership.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pins are $18.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum one (1) pin for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping & handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including but not limited to artwork, release dates, editions sizes and retail prices.

Brand-New Look at Disney and Pixar’s Soul—Plus More in News Briefs

July 2, 2020July 2, 2020

By Courtney Potter

New Soul Sneak Peek Debuts During Essence Festival of Culture

“What is it that makes you, you?” During last weekend’s first installment of the amazing virtual 2020 Essence Festival of Culture, the folks behind Disney and Pixar’s Soul presented an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming film! Director Pete Docter, co-director and screenwriter Kemp Powers, and producer Dana Murray joined American anthropologist/educator Dr. Johnnetta Cole and globally renowned jazz pianist Jon Batiste for a virtual panel titled “Finding Soul”; both Dr. Cole and Batiste—who lent his expertise to the jazz music featured in Soul—serve as cultural consultants on the film. Check out the heartwarming clip, which features the song “Parting Ways” (written, produced, and performed by Cody ChesnuTT), above…

Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film Soul introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx)—a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before—a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks, and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions. Look for Soul in U.S. theaters beginning November 20.

And don’t forget: Essence Festival of Culture continues this weekend and will feature cast members from Hulu’s Bad Hair and Hamilton, launching this week on Disney+!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

If, like us, you reside here in the States, it’s a holiday weekend—which means ample opportunity to take in some fabulous Disney-related viewing via the TV or streaming device of your choice. Obviously, as we’ve been celebrating all week, there’s the big debut of Hamilton on Disney+… but don’t miss out on another fun Disney+ premiere: The Mighty Ducks! Read more about what to expect this weekend by clicking here.

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe Gets Disney+ Premiere Date

Speaking of Disney+, there’s some other big news from the streaming service this week—chiefly, that the sure-to-be-out-of-this-world animated movie Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, from the good folks over at Disney Television Animation, will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Friday, August 28. The soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, will also be available the same day!

Executive-produced by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creators/executive producers of the Emmy® Award-winning Phineas and Ferb series, Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe is an adventure story that tracks stepbrothers Phineas (voice of Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voice of David Errigo Jr.) as they set out across the galaxy to rescue their older sister, Candace (voice of Ashley Tisdale), who—after being abducted by aliens—finds utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers. Among those reprising their voice roles are Caroline Rhea as Linda, Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus, Povenmire as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, and Marsh as Major Monogram; in addition to Errigo as Ferb, newcomers to the cast include Ali Wong as Super Super Big Doctor, Wayne Brady as Stapler Fist, Diedrich Bader as Borthos, and Thomas Middleditch as Garnoz.

All four seasons of the original Phineas and Ferb, along with the Disney Channel Original Movie Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, are currently available to stream on Disney+. And beginning Tuesday, August 25, all episodes will be presented on Disney XD leading up to the highly anticipated movie’s Disney+ premiere. Mark your calendars!

Disney+ Joins Comic-Con@Home Lineup From July 23–26

More Disney+ “news you can use”: The streaming service just announced it’ll join the upcoming Comic-Con@Home—hosted by San Diego Comic-Con—with virtual panels for three of its upcoming original titles!

As part of the entirely virtual festival, Disney+ will feature the anthology docuseries Marvel’s 616, on Thursday, July 23, at 1 p.m. PT; the aforementioned Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe on Saturday, July 25, at 12 p.m. PT; and the service’s first scripted series from National Geographic, The Right Stuff, on Saturday, July 25, at 1 p.m. PT. These Disney+ panels—featuring a host of amazing creators, showrunners, and actors from all three projects—will join those previously announced from Walt Disney Television and Hulu…

Comic-Con@Home will be held on the same dates as the previously canceled Comic-Con, July 22 through 26, 2020, and online attendees can use the official #ComicConAtHome hashtag to be included in all the fabulous virtual activities!

Raven’s Home and BUNK’D Crossover: Get Ready for Summer Fun!

There’s some side-splitting summer shenanigans on the way from two of Disney Channel’s hit comedies! Raven’s Home and BUNK’D will be given the Disney Channel Crossovers treatment later this month with the hour-long Raven about BUNK’D—a camp-tastic special that blends the two shows into one fun-filled story! But that’s not all: Disney Channel’s newest anthem, “We Own the Summer” by none other than Dancing with the Stars alum and ZOMBIES’ own Milo Manheim, is featured in the episode.

As the story unfolds, Raven (Raven-Symoné), Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol), and their collective kidlets set out on a long road trip to Maine’s Camp Champion—but a GPS malfunction sends them off course to Camp Kikiwaka, a place with an uncertain future even for those who can catch a glimpse of said future. While Raven and Chelsea hunt for Maine lobster, the kids make arts and crafts and develop feats of engineering… and then set out to find the camp’s infamous “Snipe” in Moose Rump’s Forbidden Forest. The adventure also includes celebrity piglets, hidden tunnels, and a musical performance, as the newcomers get to know BUNK’D’s zany cast of characters.

Look for the Raven about BUNK’D episode on Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT—only on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.

Lucasfilm Announces The Mandalorian Publishing Program

Enjoy The Mandalorian? (Honestly, who doesn’t?) Looking for some terrifically exciting reading material, premiering just in time for the holidays? Then we’ve got news for you!

Fans of the acclaimed Disney+ series can soon go deeper into the world of The Mandalorian than ever before; as announced this week over at StarWars.com, a new publishing program dedicated to the series, featuring books and titles for fans of all ages. The series kicks off this fall, with releases planned through the winter and spring. Titles will include The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One) by Phil Szostak; The Mandalorian: Original Novel (adult novel, Del Rey) by Adam Christopher; The Mandalorian: Allies & Enemies—Level Two Reader (DLP) by Brooke Vitale; and several more. And in making the announcement, StarWars.com also shared a sneak peek at The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One), featuring a brand-new illustration by Lucasfilm’s Doug Chiang—seen above.

The Mandalorian-inspired comics are also coming from Marvel and IDW Publishing, and magazine, novelty, and coloring and activity titles are on the way from Titan, Studio Fun, Crayola, Thunder Bay Press, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Dreamtivity. Plus, younger readers can expect a Little Golden Book and a Screen Comix retelling of Season One.

Well, there’s some holiday shopping sorted… and it’s only July!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

July 2, 2020

By Zach Johnson

After coming down from your Hamilton high, stick around for two other fan-favorite films on Disney+ this weekend! The Mighty Ducks and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules will both make their debut on the streaming service Friday, arriving just as a new episode of the Disney+ Original Series Pixar in Real Life takes inspiration from the Oscar®-winning film Up. Also on Friday, tune in for a brand-new episode of Puppy Dog Pals on Disney Junior featuring two paw-some stories. And on Saturday, settle in for a mini-marathon on FX showcasing the first three films from Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Puppy Dog Pals—Friday, July 3, at 9 a.m. ET on Disney Junior
In “The Lab Four,” a performance by Bob’s favorite band, The Walruses, is unexpectedly canceled. Undeterred, Bingo (voice of Issac Ryan Brown) and Rolly (voice of Sam Lavagnino) make it their mission to ensure the show goes so they can raise the woof. Then, in “Feelin’ Antsy,” the pugs must find a way to remove the ants that have invaded Playcare.

The Mighty Ducks—Friday, July 3, on Disney+
The 1992 sports comedy will be available to stream this weekend! Sentenced to 500 hours of community service, trial lawyer Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) reluctantly agree to coach a ragtag team of pee wee hockey players who can’t skate, can’t score, and can’t win. Eventually, he realizes winning isn’t the most important thing and he’s able to lead the team—including Jesse Hall (Brandon Quintin Adams), Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson), Connie (Marguerite Moreau), and Tommy (Danny Tamberelli), to name a few—to compete in the state championship game.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules—Friday, July 3, on Disney+
The 2011 sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid will also be available to stream this weekend. Now that he’s in seventh grade, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) thinks he’s finally got life figured out… especially after he got rid of the “Cheese Touch” that made him a social outcast. But his big brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), is determined to cut him down to size and gets the perfect chance to do so when their mom (Rachael Harris) forces the brothers to bond.

Pixar in Real Life—Friday, July 3, on Disney+
This imaginative 12-episode series brings iconic characters and moments from Pixar films into the real world. Get carried away with the latest episode, “Up: Floating Balloon Cart,” when Carl asks real New Yorkers to watch his balloon cart and they receive an uplifting surprise.

MCU Mini Marathon—Saturday, July 4, on FX
The action-packed triple feature begins with Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World at 4:30 p.m. ET, starring Chris Hemsworth in the titular role. In this 2013 sequel, co-starring Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the crown prince of Asgard battles to save Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. Then, at 7 p.m. ET, Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. With his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, Tony—aka Iron Man—sets off on a solo mission to find those responsible, testing both his mettle and his relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Then, at 10 p.m. ET, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers will reckon with his past when Bucky Barnes—his presumed dead BFF—resurfaces in Captain America: The Winter Soldier!

Get Early Access to the July Limited-Edition Mickey

July 2, 2020July 6, 2020

The July Limited-Edition Tiki Disney Mickey Mouse Plush is SOLD OUT! Check back next month for the announcement of the next plush theme and the date and time for the sale launch on Amazon.

NOTE: Due to the strong response to these incredible plush, D23 and Amazon are making the following adjustments to the on-sale announcement for the upcoming months.

D23 Members will continue to be among the first to be notified about each month’s theme and have an opportunity to order the month’s design.
Each month D23 will provide Members with advance notice of the date the plush will be available for purchase on Amazon.com.
On Monday, July 6, at 9 a.m. PST,visit this page on D23.com for the link to purchase the Tiki Mickey Mouse plush.
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.
Please note extremely limited quantities of the plush will be available on Amazon.com.

Tiki Mickey Mouse
Commemorate the Year of the Mouse with this Limited-Edition Disney Tiki Mickey Mouse Plush. The seventh of twelve collectible large plush in the series, this exclusive Mickey Mouse celebrates the month of July. Mickey stands 16 inches tall and is made of twill and corduroy fabrics featuring a Hawaiian theme with embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes. Mickey 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 Tiki Mickey Mouse plush makes the perfect gift for Disney fans of all ages. Collect all twelve. Ages 3+

In 1934 Walt Disney made his first visit to Hawaii and asked a theater full of local children, “Would you like Mickey to come to Honolulu on a surf board? When I go back I will make a ‘Mickey’ on a surf board, as I have been on and off one since coming here, and know just how it feels.” Walt kept his promise and created the classic short “Hawaiian Holiday” (1937) where Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy all enjoy their own tropical vacation on a sunny Hawaiian beach, complete with surfing antics and hula dancing.

Special-Edition Tiki Mickey Mouse Plush celebrates the month of July.
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 twill and corduroy fabrics featuring a Hawaiian theme with embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes.
Collect all twelve.
Ages 3+

Continue to watch every month for a brand-new Mickey plush design announcement! For more Disney favorites, visit amazon.com/Disney for a full assortment of products.

The Musical Theater Fan’s Guide to Disney+

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020

By the D23 Team

“Curtain up! Light the lights!” Longtime readers of D23 may have caught on that we’re big fans of musical theater ’round these parts. (Especially the incredible shows created by our pals over at Disney Theatrical Group.) With Disney+ now delighting viewers around the world—and with the Broadway mega-hit Hamilton premiering on Friday, July 3—we thought it was high time to take a deep dive and find all the best musical theater-related content on the streaming service. And the great news? There’s a lot of it…

Herewith, a list of some of the most entertaining musical fun this side of Times Square. Thankfully, you don’t have to leave the comfy confines of your couch in order to enjoy. But we do suggest silencing your cell phones and unwrapping those hard candies before we begin, so as to not disturb your fellow patrons… And now, on with the show!

Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical (2017)
Disney Theatrical brought its high-energy musical Newsies—based on the 1992 film of the same name—first to movie screens around the country (via Fathom Events) in early 2017, and now to Disney+! Filmed live on stage at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, it features several members of the original Broadway cast—including Jeremy Jordan (Tangled: The Series, The CW’s Supergirl), reprising his Tony®-nominated role as newsboy leader Jack Kelly.

Encore!
One of the first series to premiere on Disney+, Encore! (executive produced by Frozen’s Princess Anna herself, Kristen Bell) reunites former castmates of a high school musical, tasking them with recreating their original performance. Each episode follows these unlikely groups of friends, who—with the help of Broadway’s best—might just pull off another applause-worthy performance. Perfect viewing for the all “theater kids,” both young and young-at-heart.

Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Barbra Streisand stars in this spirited film version of Jerry Herman’s Tony-winning musical, based on the Thornton Wilder play The Matchmaker. In 1890 New York, widowed matchmaker Dolly Levi (Streisand) is charged with finding a wife for grumpy “half-a-millionaire” Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau); hijinks and romance, as they usually do, ensue. Directed by Gene Kelly, the film also features an early screen appearance by future Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford.

Annie (1999)
First airing as an installment of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney, this version of the long-running musical written by Thomas Meehan, with music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, stars Alicia Morton as the titular orphan, whose new life with big-hearted billionaire Daddy Warbucks (Victor Garber) and his charming assistant Grace Ferrell (Audra McDonald) is almost thwarted by mean orphanage matron Miss Hannigan (Kathy Bates). Also featuring Broadway vets Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth.

The Sound of Music (1965)
This ’65 film of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s seminal musical—based on a true story—received five Oscars®, including Best Picture. Julie Andrews stars as Maria, a postulant in late ’30s Austria who is sent to the home of widower Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) to be governess to his seven precocious children. Eventually, Maria and Von Trapp fall in love and marry before being forced to flee with their family across the Alps towards freedom.

High School Musical (2006)
It’s true—this particular entrant began as a Disney Channel Original Movie, not as a stage production… but we couldn’t not include it, for obvious reasons! Directed by Disney Legend Kenny Ortega, High School Musical follows basketball star Troy (Zac Efron) and shy newcomer Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) as they sign up to star in East High’s upcoming musical—threating the school’s rigid social order. The couple ultimately inspires their friends to take a chance and fulfill their dreams.

Once Upon a Mattress (2005)
Another entry from ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney is this 2005 version of Broadway’s Once Upon a Mattress—itself a tuneful adaptation of the 1835 Hans Christian Andersen tale The Princess and the Pea. Tracey Ullman stars as Winnifred, a brash princess from the wetlands who hopes to prove herself worthy of marrying sad but sweet Prince Dauntless (Denis O’Hare). Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Winnifred on Broadway in 1959, costars as the conniving Queen Aggravain.

Hamilton (2020)
The latest in Disney+’s theatrically minded offerings, Hamilton was filmed live on stage at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016. Written by and starring multi-hyphenate Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show is based on the writings of “founding father” Alexander Hamilton—setting the early days of the United States of America to a modern score combining hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway. Look for it on Disney+ beginning July 3!

Hamilton Comes to Disney+ This Weekend—Here’s Everything You Need to Know

June 30, 2020July 1, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

“This is the best-rehearsed movie in the history of movies, as each performer has performed their role hundreds of times. No one has had this seat in the house… it is better than the best seat in the house,” says Lin-Manuel Miranda of the filmed version of Hamilton launching this Friday, July 3, on Disney+.

Unlike any musical that came before it, Hamilton captivated audiences and critics right from the start, becoming an 11-time Tony Award®, Grammy Award®, Olivier Award, and Pulitzer Prize winner in the months following its 2015 opening. Miranda wrote the book, music and lyrics, blending hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway to create a show that was so unique that it became a revolutionary moment in theater—a true cultural phenomenon. He also played the title role from Hamilton’s earliest days until July 9, 2016, and the film audiences will see this week was captured just a few weeks before Miranda’s departure from the production.

“There was something in the air and the cast knew it was coming to an end, so there was a kind of intensity and emotionality that were present in these performances that weren’t necessarily the same as it was when we first started doing the show,” Thomas Kail shares. Kail directed the Broadway production and also helms the filmed version, which transports the audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. Watch the special look, below, to get a sense of how the film is bringing fans right into the room where it happens.

Hamilton was filmed in June 2016, and it will give fans a sense of what it was like to experience the show from the audience, as well as on stage. “The shows that we did with an audience we did non-stop. The cameras were positioned in the house or on the stage and we just ran the shows as we always did,” Kail explains. He describes finding the movie during the editing process, striking a delicate balance between the ensemble’s choreography and intimate close-ups of the actors.

The film features the entire original cast: In addition to Miranda, Daveed Diggs stars as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Jonathan Groff as King George; Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton; and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton. Rounding out the ensemble are Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana DeBose, Hope Easterbrook, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Elizabeth Judd, Jon Rua, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart, and Ephraim Sykes.

Multiple cameras were used to film the actors on stage during performances of the production—including an overhead camera and a camera that was carefully hidden in a brick wall at the rear of the stage. On the day when the production filmed without an audience present, a Steadicam, crane and dolly were used to film 13 or 14 numbers (of the 46 that are included in the show).

There was no worry about edits needing to be made for story or time—so those new to Hamilton will experience the musical in its entirety. At the same time, because the movie was filmed on stage, there will be subtle variations in the film that will be new for fans who have had the original cast recording on continuous loop since their first listen. “It’s basically what it would have been like had you been watching Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre that weekend in June with a live audience,” details Alex Lacamoire, who oversaw music supervision and orchestrations for the film and the stage production. “There are a couple of moments that happen in the live performance that weren’t recorded on the cast album, and you’ll be able to see those moments in the film.”

Since its premiere, Hamilton has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education, and Miranda notes, “I think the show is different depending on where you are and when you see it. This is a show that premiered during the Obama administration, which is a very different White House than the one we have now. The words haven’t changed but the world has changed.”

Hamilton was fast-tracked to arrive on Disney+ during a time in which our country is facing much adversity and a time when theaters across the globe have done dark due to the global pandemic. “I’m incredibly grateful that the world will be able to see this,” Miranda says. “Theater is a communal artistic experience, and this film is a love letter to live theater.”

7 Times Lin-Manuel Miranda Joined the Worlds of Disney

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020

By the D23 Team

Can you feel it? The air is astoundingly abundant with anticipation… for in just a few days’ time, one of Broadway’s biggest-ever hits is coming to Disney+! Yes, the sure-to-be-stunning filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony® Award-winning Hamilton is debuting on the streaming service on Friday, July 3. (Are we already planning some light Hamilton cosplay to wear while we watch? Mmmmaybe.)

To mark such an auspicious occasion, we’ve decided to take a look at several other times Miranda—the celebrated actor/writer/composer; honestly, does the man ever sleep?!—has made his way into the worlds of Disney. Read on for more… and if you’re looking for Lin-linked items to add to a “Countdown to Hamilton” viewing calendar, there are some choice ideas on this list.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
We’re starting with a tuneful, twinkling jewel in the proverbial crown that is Miranda’s involvement with The Walt Disney Company—the eagerly awaited sequel to Walt Disney’s iconic 1964 Oscar® winner Mary Poppins. In the Rob Marshall-helmed film, Miranda portrays Jack, a street lamplighter in Depression-era London who helps his magical friend Mary (Emily Blunt) bring joy and wonder back to the Banks family.

Moana (2016)
As a songwriter, Miranda was nominated for an Academy Award for “How Far I’ll Go” from the hit animated adventure Moana—directed by the celebrated team of Ron Clements and John Musker. Miranda wrote or co-created several other songs for the film, which follows a headstrong teenage girl (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) determined to save her people; with the help of once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors… discovering her own identity in the process.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) / Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
These two Star Wars-related collabs might be “deep cuts,” unless you—like us, of course!—are mega-Miranda aficionados: Not only did he write a song for the Star Wars: The Force Awakens scene in Maz Kanata’s cantina (an homage to the Mos Eisley Cantina scene in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), but he also made an uncredited appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as a Resistance trooper. FYI: This is great trivia for your next cocktail party…

DuckTales
“Might solve a mystery, or re-write history”… It should come as no surprise that Miranda, a lifelong DuckTales devotee, would manage to find a way into Duckburg and voice a character on the popular Disney XD series. Since 2018, he’s portrayed Gizmoduck (aka Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera), a brilliant young scientist who becomes Duckburg’s No. 1 hero.

Modern Family
Despite his insanely busy schedule, Miranda pops up occasionally on network TV—including an episode of the recently concluded, long-running ABC series Modern Family. In a 2011 episode entitled “Good Cop Bad Dog,” Miranda plays Guillermo, a grocery store worker who tries to convince Jay (Ed O’Neill) to invest in his idea for a, shall we say, unique dog-training system.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
Miranda’s first feature film appearance within the worlds of Disney was a role in the 2012 fantastical dramedy The Odd Life of Timothy Green. The film follows hopeful parents Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) as they encounter a 10-year-old boy (CJ Adams) who claims to be their son. Miranda plays Reggie, a local botanist who tries to discern how—and why— the boy’s legs are covered with mysterious leaves.

Hamilton
We couldn’t wrap up this list without mentioning the most major of all Miranda content: his multi-award-winning musical Hamilton, premiering July 3 on Disney+. Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City in 2016—complete with the original Broadway cast—it’s sure to be an unforgettable event… combining the coolest elements of live theater, film, and streaming to bring a veritable cultural phenomenon right into our homes for a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic stage experience. Don’t miss it!

National Geographic’s Lost on Everest Takes Mystery to the Highest Heights

June 30, 2020July 1, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Mount Everest is the world’s highest peak, rising more than 29,000 feet above sea level. Every year, many attempt the perilous climb, creating a “traffic jam atop the world,” but only a relatively small number of brave and hearty climbers have reached the summit since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were celebrated as the first to reach this lofty goal.Lost on Everest—premiering on National Geographic Tuesday, June 30, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, and available through Video on Demand and TV Everywhere, beginning July 1—takes a closer look at the great explorers Andrew “Sandy” Irvine and George Mallory who took their own run at Everest, to try to determine if they were the first to summit the greatest mountain in the world. As one of exploration’s greatest mysteries, solving it would rewrite history.

lost on everest — Team members climb Mount Everest during the expedition featured in Lost on Everest. (National Geographic/Renan Ozturk)

Before their disappearance on June 8, 1924, Irvine and Mallory were last seen just 800 vertical feet from the summit, and Mallory’s body was later discovered during a 1999 expedition. Now, in Lost on Everest, National Geographic writer, climber, and adventurer Mark Synnott and National Geographic photographer, climber, and mountaineer Renan Ozturk are joined by an expert team of professional climbers to search for Irvine—and hopefully, in the process, discover the Kodak VPK camera that Mallory and Irvine would have used to chronicle their journey.

The camera wasn’t found with Mallory when his body was located, but given that he was the de facto leader of the 1924 expedition, it seems likely that Irvine would have been the photographer, to ensure that Mallory would be front and center in any triumphant photos that were taken. During a panel moderated by National Geographic Magazine Editor at Large Peter Gwin (who also hosts National Geographic’s Overheard podcast), Synnott revealed that technicians at Kodak believe that the high altitude and low temperatures at the top of Everest mean there is a strong possibility that Mallory and Irvine’s film could be salvageable.

“We know this thing is on the mountain somewhere,” Synnott said. Preeminent Everest historian Tom Holzel had used state-of-the-art computer software to determine GPS coordinates for where he believed Irvine’s body could be. Synnott explains, “At first, I kind of thought this is a great story. This is how I’m going to lure Peter into this and Renan and everyone else. But then I went and visited Holzel at his home in Connecticut and he took me through his theory step by step.” The theory was more than sound, Synnott emphasizes, adding, “Then our whole expedition became our quest to try to get to what we call ‘the Holzel spot,’ which turns out is at about 27,700 feet up in the Yellow Band [a distinct, sedimentary band of light-colored limestone with steep walls and edges that runs through the Himalaya] off the route.”

Given the inherent challenges that come from working at such high altitudes, Ozturk emphasized the need for a multitalented team of “superhumans” that could be interchangeable, given the strong chance that anyone attempting to reach the top of Everest might become too sick to continue. In fact, during their expedition, one cameraman developed blood clots in his lungs, while another climber suffered a minor stroke, forcing both off the mountain for emergency medical help.

In their quest, the National Geographic team also faced an overcrowded summit, along with punishing conditions that included freezing temperatures and hurricane-force winds that blew tents into the air and threw climbers off their feet, inches away from the side of the mountain. “We spent the night in fear and then woke up in the morning and you could look up at the upper mountain and it just looked like this black ‘death cloud,” Ozturk recalls. “Every 20 minutes or so another one of these mini-tornadoes would hit. A few people above us were retreating. At one point, they were lifted off their feet and thrown off the ropes… It was like a scene from some Hollywood movie.”

Ozturk’s determination to capture a rare and breathtaking 360-degree panorama photograph of Mount Everest that was featured in National Geographic magazine in 2019 also required a tremendous amount of creativity and innovation. The photographer utilized high-altitude drones, flying them above the mountain and taking a photo every 20 feet or so, so that these images could be stitched together digitally to create a single image with resolution so high it’s possible to zoom in on a single pebble. “The drones were our secret weapon, but we were also battling with them the whole time,” shares Ozturk, who had to work directly with the manufacturers to circumvent built-in restrictions as to the altitude and speed at which drones are allowed to operate. He had a very limited time to capture footage, before sub-freezing temperatures impacted the drones’ batteries, and he came “within inches” of losing a drone due the high winds.

“We were able to use this new technology to search for Sandy Irvine in a whole new modern way, rather than just boots on the ground like we had done in some of the previous expeditions,” Synnott says. The hour-long special will be presented commercial-free, and continues National Geographic’s long legacy of exploring and celebrating Everest—a legacy that dates back to 1933, when the magazine published a story about flying over the mountain for the first time, and also includes National Geographic’s inaugural television broadcast in 1965, featuring footage shot on Everest for the very first time.

Following Lost on Everest, Tuesday night’s programming event also marks the premiere of Expedition Everest (10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT), which follows a team of international scientists, climbers and storytellers as they conduct the most comprehensive, single scientific expedition in Mount Everest history. As part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet partnership, the one-hour special, narrated by Tate Donovan (MacGyver, The Man in the High Castle), captures trailblazing climate research that is critical to understanding changes facing the mountain and its glaciers and shines a light on the threats these changes pose to the communities that live downstream. The elite expedition team braved extreme conditions in conducting their research, which took them from the valleys that surround Everest and Everest Base Camp, all the way up to the “death zone” above 26,000 feet.

The world’s highest mountain also stands tall on the July issue of National Geographic magazine, a special, single-topic issue that includes stunning photography and weaves together the unique history of exploration and discovery on Mount Everest with new, cutting-edge science and storytelling. The issue is available now, both online and on newsstands. Visit NationalGeographic.com/mounteverest to learn more.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

June 29, 2020June 24, 2020

By Zach Johnson

What will you be watching this week? We plan to beat the heat this Tuesday, as National Geographic will present two specials centered on Mount Everest. Later in the week, Chris Harrison will make a tee-rific appearance on ABC’s Holey Moley II: The Sequel. We’ll round out the week with the premiere of the award-winning Broadway stage musical Hamilton and the addition of a modern favorite, Race to Witch Mountain, both streaming on Disney+!

Lost on Everest—Tuesday, June 30, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic
On June 8, 1924, at just 800 vertical feet from the summit of Mount Everest, British explorers George Leigh Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine were swallowed by a storm cloud and never seen again. This hourlong special trails the attempts to find both Irvine’s remains and the camera he is believed to have been carrying that day. With new intel on the location of Irvine’s body, a climbing team will set out to solve the 96-year-old mystery.

Expedition Everest—Tuesday, June 30, at 10 p.m. ET on National Geographic
Follow along as a team of international scientists, climbers, and storytellers ascend to the top of the world’s highest peak to conduct the most comprehensive single scientific expedition in Mount Everest history. The one-hour special captures trailblazing climate research that is critical to understanding environmental changes, including a herculean climb to the “death zone” at 26,000 feet to install the world’s highest-operating weather stations; the collection of the world’s tallest ice core; and completion of the highest-elevation helicopter-based lidar scan. The mission captures the drama the expedition team faces and reveals the high stakes they all face to uncover the secrets Mount Everest holds.

Holey Moley II: The Sequel—Thursday, July 2, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison will swing by the course for a special episode, “Love at First Stroke,” where contestants will compete for a romantic date in the final round on Double Dutch Courage. Eight single mini-golfers will see if they can hit it off while they tee off, hoping to fall in love before they fall into the icy water. Tricky ball placements on Hole No. 2 will lead to trick shot attempts, while a contestant’s near-perfect putt will be derailed on Uranus. Plus, the Holey Moley lifeguard will become one competitor’s knight in shining armor as he saves her from the soapy Putter Ducky water! Harrison will also teach sideline correspondent Jeannie Mai how to pick the perfect rose… all before the dramatic final putt!

Hamilton—Friday, July 3, on Disney+
Don’t throw away your shot to experience an unforgettable cinematic stage performance: the filmed version of the original Broadway production of Hamilton! Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton took the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre. Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016, the 11-time-Tony Award®-, Grammy Award®-, Olivier Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning stage musical also stars Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos, and Phillipa Soo.

Race to Witch Mountain—Friday, July 3, on Disney+
In the 2009 remake of Escape to Witch Mountain, Dwayne Johnson stars as Jack Bruno, a former mob getaway driver who now operates a taxicab. His life takes a turn when two aliens, disguised as teens (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig), suddenly appear in his backseat. In a race against government agents, an alien hunter, and time itself, he must help them find their spaceship so they can return home to save their planet… and ours! Directed by Andy Fickman, the movie also stars Carla Gugino, Ciarán Hinds, and Tom Scott.