It’s No Mystery Why Disney Fans Will Love Mira, Royal Detective

By Beth Deitchman

When fans meet Disney Junior’s newest hero, Mira, she is being fitted for the traditional uniform worn by all of the royal detectives who have held the title before her. A nearby portrait gallery confirms that all of Jalpur’s previous royal detectives have been men, all many decades Mira’s senior. The palace tailor observes, “This is the first time I’ve fitted a royal detective who’s so…”

“Small?” questions Mira.

“And mighty!” the palace tailor emphasizes. The brave and resourceful Mira is more than up for the task of solving mysteries throughout her kingdom of Jalpur. She’s a very different kind of royal detective for her kingdom, and the new animated series Mira, Royal Detective—premiering Friday, March 20, at 11 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Junior—brings to Disney Junior a whole new world, a vibrant land that’s inspired by the diverse cultures and customs of India.

Joe D’Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming, and general manager, Disney Junior, recalls that the idea for Mira, Royal Detective sprang from a “water cooler conversation” about great detectives from literature and entertainment, which inspired the team to develop their own young sleuth. D’Ambrosia shares that Becca Topol, who now serves as the series’ story editor, came in and pitched a story about a young girl who is essentially the smartest person in her town, driven to help her community by solving mysteries. “That was the jumping-off point for Mira, Royal Detective,” he says. “And as we worked through development, we decided to make Mira South Asian, to celebrate all of the vibrant customs and cultures of India.”

Mira, Royal Detective

Each episode features two 11-minute stories in which Mira, with help from her friend Prince Neel, her creative cousin Priya, and her adorably comic mongoose sidekicks Mikku and Chikku, embark on mystery-solving adventures around Jalpur. In addition to clever mysteries that viewers of all ages will enjoy trying to solve along with Mira, the stories feature authentic food, fashion, language, and art inspired by South Asian culture. To ensure that Mira, Royal Detective is culturally authentic to the region that inspires it, Disney Junior is working with IW Group’s Shagorika Ghosh Perkins, who serves as the series’ cultural consultant and consulting producer.  Diane Ikemiyashiro, vice president, Current Series, Disney Junior says, “She looks at everything from a springboard idea for an episode all the way to the very end of animation.” Ghosh Perkins advises on everything from customs and cuisine to the names of characters featured in the show.

Jalpur is a fairytale land rich with such elements of Disney magic as flying rickshaws and dancing mongooses, but first and foremost, Disney Junior wanted to be authentic to the region that inspired it. In working with Ghosh Perkins, the creative team looked to India’s northwest region for a few specific elements. Jalpur’s clock tower is reminiscent of many of the central towers found in Rajasthan, and as they envisioned Jalpur as a port city, the team found it helpful to look at the lakes of Udaipur. The incredibly detailed backgrounds are layered with iconic images that tap into South Asian culture. “We took a lot of care working with our consultants and our designers to make sure we got it right,” D’Ambrosia emphasizes.

That drive for authenticity extends to Mira, Royal Detective’s music and dance sequences. Music producer Deepak Ramapriyan (Basmati Blues) serves as a consultant, and Amritha Vaz (Miss India America) is composer. Most episodes feature a spectacular dance sequence created in partnership with Bollywood dancer and choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan (So You Think You Can Dance). Ikemiyashiro explains, “It was really important to find someone who understands that what we’re trying to do with the show is to portray our characters in a fun, accessible way, with the movement in the dance based on real choreography from Indian culture. Nakul was the perfect match for us because he lives and breathes it.”

Mahajan shares that he was moved to tears in his first meeting with executive producer Sascha Paladino, as he heard the story the Mira, Royal Detective team was committed to tell and viewed the stunning concept art. “I was so taken aback by seeing this beautiful representation of my culture, something I didn’t have when I was growing up in America,” he says. “And to know how powerful this series can be, for not just South Asians but children all over. I had to be part of it.”

Mira, Royal Detective

The voice cast for Mira, Royal Detective is comprised of an incredibly talented group of actors, almost all of whom are of South Asian descent. “We really felt strongly that the voice talent should be a reflection of what we’re seeing on screen,” Ikemiyashiro stresses. Leela Ladnier stars as the voice of Mira, with Freida Pinto as Queen Shanti; Hannah Simone as a young commoner named Pinky; Jameela Jamil as Mira’s Auntie Pushpa; Kal Penn and Utkarsh Ambudkar as mongooses Mikku and Chikku, respectively; and Aasif Mandvi as Mira’s father, Sahil. The cast also includes Aparna Nancherla as Mira’s cousin Meena, Roshni Edwards as Mira’s cousin Priya, Kamran Lucas as Prince Neel, Karan Brar as Prince Veer, Karan Soni as Manjeet, Maulik Pancholy as Ranjeet, Sarita Choudhury as Great-Aunt Rupa, Sarayu Blue as the palace tailor, and Parvesh Cheena and Sonal Shah as bandits, Manish and Poonam, respectively. The cast recently gathered for a special screening on the Burbank Studio lot and talked about how meaningful it is for them to be part of this series:

In a Disney Junior first, Mira, Royal Detective will launch in India concurrently with its debut in the U.S. The series will premiere in the U.S. on Friday, March 20 (11 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and 7 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Junior), with Disney Channel India premiering a sneak-peek that same day, followed by the series premiere on Sunday, March 22. “Our partners at Disney Channel India have been instrumental and helped guide us in terms of costumes, foods, and other customs that we have in the show; and they were so excited when they saw the first couple of episodes that we decided we would premiere it together,” D’Ambrosia says. “Having them launch day and date with ours in the same weekend will make it a worldwide celebration.” Following its premiere in the U.S. and India, the series will roll out worldwide in an estimated 160 countries on Disney Channel and Disney Junior platforms globally.

While the world of Mira, Royal Detective takes inspiration from South Asia, its message and its smart, empathetic protagonist are universal. What sets Mira apart from other Disney Junior heroes, D’Ambrosia believes, is her special gift of observation, which enables her to see things from a different perspective. “We feel and we hope that she’ll inspire young kids all around the globe to utilize their critical thinking and problem-solving skills and actively engage and help in their community,” he says.

Or, as Mira herself puts it, “If I can’t help my friends and family, what good is being Royal Detective?”

Matthew Morrison Talks New Album of Disney Classics

By Max Lark

Longtime Disney fan Matthew Morrison, who played the role of Will Schuester on the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning series Glee and most recently appeared on FX’s American Horror Story: 1984, has teamed up with Disney Music Group to release a marvelous album of Disney classics, called Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison, out now.

Morrison, who has recorded albums with an impressive guest list of artists, including Sting, Sir Elton John, and Smokey Robinson, says that “his goal was to deliver an album that reconnects us all to the magic of youth. Every note, every word I sang was for my son, Revel James.”

D23 caught up with Morrison recently to talk about the new record and what makes Disney songs so special and timeless.

D23: What makes a great Disney song?
Matthew Morrison (MM): I think it’s the visual aspect along with the amazing music tied together. The songs are told in such a beautiful visual way. You get so invested in them and really connect them to a specific moment. They work on so many levels. It’s the heart and emotion in them that make them so special.

D23: There are so many timeless Disney songs; was it hard to come up with the 10 songs on the album?
MM: That was the hardest part of the process for me. Disney gave me access to the complete catalogue. And I wanted to do some older stuff from my childhood; so I have a mashup of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “Bare Necessities,” and another song I love, “When You Wish Upon a Star.” But I also wanted to do some classic songs from the Disney animation renaissance era, including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and Hercules; so I added some songs from that era that I absolutely love, that were really a part of my childhood—“Go the Distance” is a big one [and the first single].

Matthew Morrison

D23: How would you describe the music on your album.
MM: Eclectic. It was absolutely the most fun I ever had making an album. And I say that because I’ve done a pop album, an album of standards, and those are all linear and you kind of have to stay in that lane. But with Disney, you can go anywhere. The voices you make, the characterizations you make… each song is totally different from the next. And for me as an artist to play in that world and just explore and have fun and be so wild with it… it was the most fun I ever had in my entire life in a recording studio. The possibilities were endless.

D23: Why did you want to make an album of Disney music at this point in your career?
MM: Disney music is timeless. It’s been around forever. Our grandparents knew it, our parents know it, we know it, our children, our grandchildren… there is something so special about that. I feel like in the world today, where everything is so transactional—you listen to something, and then you’re on to the next right away—I wanted to partner with Disney, so I could make music and put my stamp on it, but that people will come back to and re-listen to for years to come. For me as an artist I wanted to share that experience with Disney—a company synonymous with timeless music.

D23: What are some of your favorite songs on the album?
MM: “You’ll Be In My heart” is definitely one. It’s a song that really makes you think of Phil Collins when you hear it. But my goal was to make it sound fresh and different. It’s the sentiment of that song that really touches me now that I’m a father. Love has a whole new meaning for me now. Lyrics like “I will protect you from all around you, I will be here, don’t you cry.” I sob when I sing that song sometimes. It’s just so beautifully written. It’s definitely one of my favorites. I also like “A Whole New World.” It’s usually done in 4/4 time, but I put it in a completely different time signature. So it sounds different. I also got to do it with my friend Shoshana Bean, who is an incredible recording artist [also appeared in Broadway productions Hairspray, Wicked, and Waitress]. It’s the ultimate romantic Disney song—and one I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. And to actually get to do it with a great friend of mine and put it on my album was very special.

D23: When did you become a huge Disney fan?
MM: I first really got into Disney during my high school years. Some buddies of mine and I had Annual Passes and we would go to Disneyland. We called ourselves “The Lost Boys”! We totally bought into that Disney message of freedom of imagination, and we got to run around and be free and wild. But at the same time it was so innocent and such clean fun. Disney for me is something that stands for core values and having a great time—and just pure imagination.

Matthew Morrison

D23: How does your son like the record?
MM: Well, I broke the album down to five and five—five lullabies and five, like, dance parties. I sing my son to sleep every night, and we wake up every morning with a dance party. That was the vibe I wanted to put on the album. There is something for everyone on this album, and in particular my son! When we wake up and have our dance parties, he wants to hear the drums, the bass, and just really get into the rhythm and groove of the song. “A Friend Like Me” from Aladdin is one he really gets into. He has a one-arm fist pump he does when he dances. It’s hilarious. You can visualize it, right?

D23: Were there a lot of songs you wanted to record but just didn’t have the room for them?
MM: So many. I hope I get to do another record of Disney songs. And a third one! They are so much fun to sing and there’s so much more to sing.

D23: How do you hope audiences will react to the album?
MM: For me the big takeaway is I hope it connects people to their families. These are songs that are so special, and hearing them in a different light, with a new take, you can open up your own imagination and create your own worlds to these songs… to get invested in a new way—and maybe sing along to them with someone special.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

Zach Johnson

There’s a whole universe to explore—and thanks to The Walt Disney Company, you don’t even have to leave home to do it! This week, you can uncover the vastness of time and the immensity of space in National Geographic’s Cosmos: Possible Worlds. You’re also invited to discover the magic that happens when the most creative minds in entertainment work together to create attractions, movies, parades, and more! Mark your calendars, because we’ve rounded up five programs you should watch this week:

Cosmos

Cosmos: Possible Worlds—Monday, March 16, at 9 p.m. on National Geographic
The 13-episode season continues to chart humanity’s past, present, and future, taking viewers to previously uncharted territories and turning complex themes of science and exploration into a mind-blowing adventure beyond the realms of the imagination. The third episode, “Lost City of Life,” tells the story behind the man who found the first clues to life’s beginnings on Earth, while the fourth episode, “Vavilov,” tells the story of Nikolai Vavilov, who risked his life for a discovery that changed the history of science; both air tonight, starting at 9 p.m. ET. Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the series incorporates state-of-the-art VFX, stylized animation, dramatic reenactments, and more.

Motherland: Fort Salem

Motherland: Fort Salem—Wednesday, March 18, at 9 p.m. on Freeform
What if 300 years ago witches cut a deal with the U.S. government to fight for their country? From creator and executive producer Eliot Laurence, the series follows three young women from basic training in combat magic into early deployment at Fort Salem. Premiering this week, the 10-episode, one-hour drama series stars Taylor Hickson as Raelle, Jessica Sutton as Tally, Ashley Nicole Williams as Abigail, Amalia Holm as Scylla, and Demetria McKinney as Anacostia, with Lyne Renee as General Sarah Alder.

Mira, Royal Detective

Mira, Royal Detective—Friday, March 20, at 7 p.m. on Disney Junior
Set in the magical Indian-inspired land of Jalpur, the animated series introduces a brave and resourceful girl named Mira, a commoner whom the queen has appointed to the role of royal detective. Each episode features two 11-minute stories that celebrate the cultures and customs of India, as well as at least one original song and dance number. The series, which has already been ordered for a second season, features the voice talents of Leela Ladnier, Freida Pinto, Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Hannah Simone, Jameela Jamil, Aparna Nancherla, Aasif Mandvi, Karan Soni, Maulik Pancholy, Sarayu Blue, Sarita Choudhury, Roshni Edwards, Kamran Lucas, Karan Brar, Parvesh Cheena, and Sonal Shah. Guest stars include Kunal Nayyar, Danny Pudi, Iqbal Theba, Sunita Mani, Karen David, Rizwan Manji, Hari Kondabolu, Nardeep Khurmi, Aarti Sequeira, Avantika Vandanapu, Julian Zane, Brian George, Sakina Jaffrey, and Madhur Jaffrey.

Shark Tank

Shark Tank—Friday, March 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
Friends from Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona, introduce the Sharks to the future with their stylish and affordable mobile real estate concept. Then, an immigrant from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, now based in Boston, Massachusetts, showcases what she thinks is the ideal alternative snack to popcorn—a tasty treat with Indian roots. An entrepreneur from New York City offers a sustainable, portable solution to powering small tech devices. Finally, an entrepreneur from Virginia Beach, Virginia, shows the Sharks he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve while he pitches a new way to ensure safety while using tools.

Disney Insider

Disney Insider—Friday, March 20, on Disney+
Lights, camera, magic! Go behind the scenes of The Walt Disney Company—from making a feature film like Onward to hosting a runDisney race—in the new original series. Disney Insider premieres March 20, with new episodes debuting every Friday.

Making Magic at the Stargirl World Premiere

By Courtney Potter

An unassuming high schooler named Leo meets a free-spirited new student with an unusual name—and an unconventional celebration of kindness and individuality ensues… that’s the story at the heart of Stargirl, Disney+’s colorful, music-filled new film premiering Friday, March 13, on the streaming service. And at Tuesday’s world premiere, Stargirl herself, Grace VanderWaal, joined castmates including Graham Verchere, Darby Stanchfield, Shelby Simmons, and Giancarlo Esposito—as well as director/screenwriter Julia Hart, executive producer/screenwriter Jordan Horowitz, and author Jerry Spinelli (who wrote the New York Times best-selling young adult novel on which the film is based—for a red carpet fit for the AP history books.

Essential to the success of the film is Stargirl herself—and Hart knew she’d found her the minute she met VanderWaal; “I knew that Grace was my Stargirl because she is everyone’s Stargirl,” she joyfully explains. “But she’s also really different from Stargirl, and I think it was fun for her to dig into the intricate ways in which she and Stargirl are different. But man oh man, she’s Stargirl!” And for a film about today’s teenagers, it was important for Hart—a former teacher—to make sure she was telling a truly genuine story…  “The world is such a complicated place,” Hart admits, “and the most important thing to me was to get to tell a story about young people that portrayed them in a positive, authentic light… I have so much love for teenagers, and I’ve spent a lot of time with them over the years, and it was so fun and wonderful to get to make this movie with all these amazing kids.”

Stargirl Premiere

For Hart’s fellow screenwriter, executive producer Horowitz—also Hart’s real-life husband!—getting involved with this project was a no-brainer: “Julia read the book,” he explains, “and it felt like a movie that could be about the things that we prioritize in our work, which are kindness and compassion [and] loving yourself… we have two young boys, and we try to put the ideas of this book and of the movies that we make into their lives. And there’s no better way to do that, and to demonstrate that we’re serious about it, then to tell stories about it.”

The special nature of the film wasn’t lost on its exuberant young cast, some of whom had to learn brand-new skills for their roles. Says Juliocesar Chavez, who plays Leo’s Mica High School marching bandmate Alan, “I had to learn to read the bass drum music sheet, and learn how to play,” he excitedly explains. “It was a fun experience, and now I know how to play the bass drum!” Meanwhile, Shelby Simmons—an actress known for her roles on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack and BUNK’D, and who appears in Stargirl as antagonist Hillary—it’s important for audiences to know Hillary isn’t all bad. “She is not a bully! She’s not a ‘mean girl,’” Simmons admits. “She’s deeper than that. She has a reason for being here and she’s actually a really great human being.”

Author (and executive producer) Jerry Spinelli is excited for Disney+ audiences to see the story from his best-selling 2000 novel come to life on screen—especially with its cadre of incredible talent. “As soon as I heard that Grace was in the ballgame [to get the role], I was rooting for her,” says Spinelli. “I thought she had the right look, the right personality, and it turns out that she can act!” (VanderWaal is a singer/songwriter known for her star-making appearance on America’s Got Talent.) And as for Verchere, who portrays Leo? “Graham’s just how I pictured Leo,” he admits.

That dynamic duo—VanderWaal and Verchere—cannot wait for audiences to see the film… certain scenes in particular. “The musical scenes were really fun to film,” says Verchere, “and I think they’re good!” VanderWaal agrees, even with a bit of trepidation:  “The musical scenes are what I’m most scared about,” she laughingly admits, adding “[And] I think the final scenes at the very, very end, are kind of the best scenes in the entire movie… I’m most excited for people to see the end.” (No spoilers, don’t worry!)

Darby Stanchfield (ABC’s Scandal) costars in Stargirl as Leo’s mother, Gloria—and she anticipates the film’s approachable message resonating with both young and young-at heart: “I hope everybody, whether they’re a child or an adult, take away the message to really have the courage to be themselves—and not worry about fitting in. It’s overrated, fitting in. It really is!” Giancarlo Esposito, currently starring in the Disney+ phenomenon The Mandalorian, appears in Stargirl as Archie—Leo’s mentor of sorts… and adding to Stanchfield’s take, he explains, “This film allows folks the opportunity, if they choose, to embrace the wonder of their dreams. And to ask their parents [and] other friends, ‘Support me. Support me because this is my dream, and I need to be support to know that I can do it.’ And I’m here to tell you, you can. Because [as a kid] I was told I couldn’t, and here I am in front of you today.”

Disney+’s Stargirl –with all its music, magic, and heart—begins streaming on March 13. Take a peek at a few more photos from the premiere, below:

What’s in a Name? – Renié Conley, Costumer to the Stars – Part One

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

“Walt realized that a visit to an amusement park could be like a theatrical experience—in a word, a show.”  — Disney Legend John Hench

No part of the Disneyland “show” was overlooked while preparing to open in the months leading up to July 17, 1955. When Walt and his staff set out to create their new entertainment enterprise, they knew the finished product required nothing less than the highest level of detail, from window trimmings to Cast Member costumes, all perfectly in sync from the very moment Guests walked through the turnstiles.

The beautifully detailed (and fluidly effortless) costume concepts highlighted here help illustrate the rich attention to detail sought after from Walt’s early Imagineers, including one very talented costume designer. The park’s earliest wardrobe concepts were drafted by legendary costumer Renié Conley, who utilized her keen eye and accomplished motion picture experience to design functional, yet thematically appropriate, garments that helped promulgate the immersive concept of “show” Walt and his staff were after.

Conley (who, like several notable Disney artists over the years, had attended the Chouinard Art Institute) also designed motion picture costumes for a slew of Academy Award®-nominated titles, including The Big Fisherman (1959) and Cleopatra (1963)––a film which she won an Oscar® for in 1964. Conley’s lasting Disney legacy can still be found at the park, too––a window above the Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. bears her name—an honor bestowed to only a select few who have helped bring the “show” of Disneyland to magical life.

Check back next week for Costumer to the Stars – Part Two!

Frozen Fans, Unite! Frozen 2 Will Debut On Disney+ Three Months Early, Beginning Sunday, March 15

By The D23 Team

Calling all Frozen fans! We have exciting news for you—and your future movie nights. Disney has announced that Frozen 2 will be available three months ahead of schedule on Disney+ in the U.S. beginning Sunday, March 15, surprising families with some fun and joy during this challenging period.

“Frozen 2 has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant during this time, and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device,” said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

Internationally, Frozen 2 will be available on Disney+ in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, March 17.  In the U.S., the film will initially be available in high definition, with Ultra HD video playback available to all subscribers on Tuesday, March 17.

The No. 1 animated movie of all time, Frozen 2 follows Elsa, together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, on a remarkable and inspiring journey into the unknown to discover the source of her magical powers and save the kingdom of Arendelle. From Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Academy Award®-winning team of directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho, and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Frozen 2 features the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.

Frozen 2 joins Disney+’s lineup of blockbuster movies, original content, and classic library titles from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more.

Incredible New Trailers for Soul, Black Widow, and Jungle Cruise—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

See the latest trailers from around the worlds of Disney, and mark your calendars for a cool new Beatles documentary from director Peter Jackson… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Magical New Soul Trailer Takes Us to the “Great Before”

Arriving in theaters later this summer, Disney and Pixar’s Soul whet our proverbial appetites with a brand-new trailer that just premiered this week on ABC’s Good Morning America… take a look at the hilarious, heartfelt clip, above.

Soul follows 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 going 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.

Also featuring the voices of Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, and Daveed Diggs, Soul is directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers, and produced by Oscar® nominee Dana Murray. Grammy®-nominated musician Jon Batiste will be writing original jazz music for the film, while Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, from Nine Inch Nails, wrote an original score that drifts between the real and soul worlds…

Look for Soul in U.S. theaters beginning June 19.

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 2020
A Goofy Movie 25th—On the Open Roadshow
August 9, 2020
Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise Presented by D23
Parks
February 28—April 21, 2020
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to Disneyland Resort
March 4—June 1, 2020
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
Summer 2020
Avengers Campus opening at Disney California Adventure
Studios
March 27, 2020
Mulan opens in U.S. theaters
May 1, 2020
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow opens in U.S. theaters
May 29, 2020
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
March 20, 2020
Mira, Royal Detective premieres on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT/PDT) and on Disney Junior (7 p.m. EDT/PDT)
Disney+
March 13, 2020
Stargirl premieres
March 27, 2020
Be Our Chef premieres

The Excitement is Palpable in New Black Widow Trailer

Speaking of incredible new trailers, this week was an embarrassment of riches: We were also gifted with a final early look at Marvel Studios’ Black Widow before the film’s debut in less than two months. If you haven’t already reveled in the adventure, take a peek above.

In this action-packed blockbuster, Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow) confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must face her past as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow; joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are Florence Pugh as Yelena, David Harbour as Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz as Melina.

Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, Black Widow—the first film in Phase Four of the MCU—opens in theaters May 1.

A Wild New Jungle Cruise Trailer Sails Into (Virtual) Port

When we said a lot of cool stuff was released this week, we weren’t kidding! The Walt Disney Studios just released a brand-new trailer for Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. See the clip, above…

Intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt) must travel from London to the jungle—and she enlists the questionable services of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Johnson) to guide her downriver on La Quila, his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily, it seems, is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities, possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Along the way, however, the unlikely duo encounters dangers and supernatural forces a-plenty, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes grow higher, putting Frank and Lily’s fate—and mankind’s—in jeopardy.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra—and costarring Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti—Jungle Cruise sails into theaters on July 24.

Beatles

The Walt Disney Studios to Release New Documentary The Beatles: Get Back

Beatles fans (hey, that’s us), take heed: There is a sure-to-be-memorable new documentary coming about the Fab Four, helmed by none other than acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson. Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger made the big announcement at the Company’s recent annual meeting of shareholders.

The Beatles: Get Back will showcase the warmth, camaraderie, and humor of the making of the legendary band’s studio album, Let It Be, and their final live concert as a group—the iconic rooftop performance on London’s Savile Row. The Beatles: Get Back will be released by The Walt Disney Studios in the United States and Canada on September 4, 2020, with additional details and dates for the film’s global release to follow.

“Working on this project has been a joyous discovery,” Jackson recently explained. “I’ve been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays, and creates masterpieces.” We can’t wait to see the finished product!

Descendants Dance Party

Descendants Remix Dance Party Coming to Disney Channel March 20

Are you a Descendants fan? (Who isn’t?!) And are you ready to rock? Look no further than the just-announced Disney Channel special Descendants Remix Dance Party: A Disney Channel Music Event, celebrating all things Descendants music and magic.

Hosted by Cheyenne Jackson as Hades from Descendants 3, this half-hour, high-energy dance party will feature memorable musical performances of reimagined hits from the fan-fave Descendants movies by multi-talented Disney Channel stars including Sofia Wylie and Dara Reneé from Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Kylie Cantrall from Gabby Duran & The Unsittables. (FYI: Five-year-old rapping sensation ZaZa will make a special appearance during Cantrall’s performance!)

Executive produced by the Emmy® Award-winning choreography duo NappyTabs (So You Think You Can Dance), Descendants Remix Dance Party premieres on Friday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. EDT/PDT. Don’t miss it!

Spider-Man

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom Returning for Season Three Next Month

Are your spidey senses tingling? Here’s why: Season three of the web-slinging Emmy® Award-nominated Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom debuts with a one-hour special on Sunday, April 19, at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT on  Disney XD and DisneyNOW.

The six one-hour specials feature appearances by favorite Marvel characters including Captain Marvel, Groot, Doctor Strange, and Star-Lord! This new season follows Spider-Man as he is pushed to his breaking point after Venom summons an earth-shattering threat from its home planet.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom stars Robbie Daymond as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Ben Pronsky as Venom, Fred Tatasciore as Max Modell, Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales, Melanie Minichino as Anya Corazon/Spider-Girl, Laura Bailey as Gwen Stacy/Ghost-Spider, Scott Menville as Grady Scraps, Max Mittelman as Harry Osborn/Hobgoblin, Yuri Lowenthal as Curt Connors, and Nancy Linari as Aunt May.

Guest voices for season three include Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) as Head Administrator, Sofia Wylie (Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) as Ironheart/Riri Williams, and Disney Channel’s ZOMBIES 2 stars Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell, and Carla Jeffery as Symbiote Sisters Scream, Scorn, and Mania, respectively. Plus, Felicia Day (The Guild) joins the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom cast as Mary Jane Watson, who makes her debut appearance in the new season.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

By Savannah Salazar

When it comes to your favorite TV shows and movies to stream, this weekend is full of exciting new content from Disney+, Disney Channel, and more. So, cuddle up on your couch, pop some popcorn, and get streaming because we’ve rounded up five things to watch this week!

Stargirl

Stargirl on Disney+—Streaming now
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, Stargirl is a heartfelt coming-of-age story adapted by Kristin Hahn and Jordan Horowitz & Julia Hart, who also directs. Reeling from the loss of his dad, young high schooler Leo Borlock wanders through life until he unexpectedly meets Stargirl Caraway, played by Grace VanderWaal.

Secrets at the Zoo

Secrets of the Zoo on National Geographic—Sunday, March 15, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NatGeoWild
Returning this Sunday, National Geographic is taking viewers into one of the largest zoos in the United States: Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Experience compelling stories and behind-the-scenes adventures as Secrets of the Zoo explores what visitors can’t experience. Learn more about the many animals and the workers who care for them in this riveting series.

American Idol

American Idol on ABC—Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m. ET
Auditions are almost over! This Sunday, catch the final episode of auditions before Hollywood Week kicks off the following Monday. The competition gets tighter as talented hopefuls sing for music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The Clone Wars on Disney+—Streaming now
As if willed by the Force, The Clone Wars is back and in full swing! With new episodes premiering every Friday, fans have the chance to treat themselves by watching the final season on Disney+ and we couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re a Padawan or Jedi Master of the series, get ready to binge all the epic action, fan-favorite characters and beautiful stories of The Clone Wars.

Just Roll with It

Just Roll with It on Disney Channel— Sunday, March 15, at 8:45 p.m. EDT/PDT
The unpredictable series returns this Sunday with even more wacky adventures and laugh-out-loud moments from the Bennett-Blatt family. A seamless blend of family sit-com with improvisational comedy, Just Roll with It gives its studio audience the chance to vote on the outcome of certain scenes. The cast has no idea what comes next, but well, they just roll with it!

The World Premiere of Mulan Celebrates a Timeless Tale

By Zach Johnson

China’s greatest warrior brought honor to us all Monday at the world premiere of Mulan. All eyes were on Yifei Liu, who stars as Hua Mulan in the live-action adventure from The Walt Disney Studios, as she arrived on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Chinese actress was joined by director Niki Caro, co-stars Jet Li and Donnie Yen, and Disney Legends Christina Aguilera and Ming-Na Wen at the premiere.

The new film draws inspiration from both the 1998 animated classic and the centuries-old narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.” According to Caro, “This story has always been ripe for retelling. It’s been relevant for 1,300 years, but never more relevant than now. And in 2020, the opportunity to reimagine it for a global audience is truly exciting.”

Mulan premiere

According to screenwriter Rick Jaffa, “For Mulan to become truly empowered, she has to be true to who she really is.” To that end, screenwriter Amanda Silver said, “It’s a female empowerment story, of course, which is very timely for today—but it really does transcend that. Anybody, male or female, can learn that lesson. Be true to who you are.”

More than 1,000 actresses had tried out for the lead role before Caro discovered Liu three years ago. “I put her through the most punishing audition any actress has ever been put through,” the director said with a laugh. “Having flown from Beijing to Los Angeles, and not having slept for two days, that young woman never flamed out! She never gave up. She never asked to stop. I knew in the end that we’d found our warrior.”

Even before the cameras rolled, Liu and her co-stars spent months preparing to play soldiers in the Imperial Army. “It was pretty intense. We would train for five to seven hours a day, five days a week, for four months—and that was before filming,” said Yoson An, who plays Chen Honghui. “We would train after filming, too. We would film for 12 hours, then train for two hours after that. We’d eat, sleep, repeat until it was over.”

Mulan premiere

Jimmy Wong, who plays Ling, said they learned everything from how to ride horses to how to do stunts. “We worked together with every single person in the cast,” he said. “We needed it! You need that inspiration and your friends around to say, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ Because there were a lot of times when you’d think, ‘I’m tapping out.’ But when everyone is still going, you’re like, ‘If they don’t stop, I’m not going to stop, either.’”

Time and again, the cast and crew commended Caro for creating such a collaborative environment on set. “Big props to Niki Caro for being such a fantastic director with such a strong vision,” Wong said. First assistant Liz Tan added, “On Niki’s sets, we always have fun. We take the work seriously—and we honor the work—but we had a lot of fun.”

The film’s cast and crew all said great care went into bringing the story of Mulan to life. As Yen, who plays a new character, Commander Tung, told us, “What better way to present the richness and beauty of Chinese culture than by having Disney behind it?”

Before Mulan opens in U.S. theaters March 27, enjoy more photos from the premiere:

9 Movies on Disney+ That Will Make You Feel all the Feels

By Max Lark

We all have them. Movies that we remember for the way they tugged at our emotions—or even turned us into Kleenex-clutching blubbering messes. Here’s a list of just some of the films you can watch on Disney+ that will give you the feels—and you may shed a few tears, as well.

Free Solo

Free Solo
Watching Alex Honnold ascend, without a rope, the 3,000-foot treacherous face of the world’s most famous rock, El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—even when you know he made it—is a sensation akin to what one might feel if he or she were to ski downhill with a blindfold. You’re just waiting for the gut-punch of disaster that will happen at any moment. In a film where the stakes are perfection or death, no viewer can emerge emotionally unscathed. You’d be forgiven for shedding tears over Honnold’s peerless accomplishment—which is at once a moving celebration of the triumph of the human spirit against all odds and probably the greatest athletic feat in history.

Camp Rock

Camp Rock
By the time aspiring singer Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) begins to belt out “This is Me,” and established—and brash—rock star Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) realizes hers is the voice he overheard and has been searching for, those of us with a weakness for on-the-cusp-of-adulthood sentimentality in movies are beginning to tear up. When Shane joins her on stage to help close out this gloriously self-affirming song, we’ve lost the battle and give in to happy tears. Shot by world-class cinematographer Dean Cundey, Camp Rock is a movie that looks as good as it sounds and moves us.

Frank and Ollie

Frank and Ollie
A buddy-buddy movie par excellence, Frank and Ollie, is a revealing look at two of the most talented animators in Disney history—Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—who worked alongside each other five days a week and lived next door to each other in La Canada Flintridge, California. The film traces a four-decades-long friendship and collaborative partnership—one that began when they both attended Stanford University—and there’s something about seeing the passage of years, the enduring friendship, the mutual admiration, and the withering effects of time that make this tender documentary Shakespearean in what it says about the human condition: No one lives forever, but if you’re lucky, your work will, and friendships that last a lifetime may be worth more than anything.

WALL-E

WALL•E
One could argue that the entire first act of director Andrew Stanton’s magisterial WALL•E is a portrait of sadness, with our adorable, decidedly non-hipster robot left alone on Earth, still plugging away at his job compacting trash for no one in particular. Though the Star Wars-inspired WALL•E ends on a high note, Stanton brilliantly brings the movie back “Down to Earth” with an end-credits sequence of astonishing beauty, propelled by the emotionally charged song of that name by legendary English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It’s a tender sequence in which image and song are such perfect complements, you have to decide whether to watch or listen.

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks
So many heartbreaking threads are woven throughout this 2013 story about the making of Mary Poppins that one is hard-pressed to remember exactly which poignant scene moves mountains of emotion most. There’s the story of P.L. Travers’ beloved doomed father, who passes away when the author-to-become was just 7 years old. There’s the growing relationship between Travers (Emma Thompson), and her limousine driver, Ralph (Paul Giamatti), who eventually reveals to her the story of his daughter, who is an invalid. But our favorite scene is when Travers, Mary Poppins screenwriter Don DaGradi and composers Richard and Robert Sherman, played by Bradley Whitford, Jason Schwartzman, and B.J. Novak, respectively, break into the uplifting ode “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” that the heartstrings receive the most serious plucking. “I have a heart the size of a peanut,” Whitford once told us. “And even I cry when I watch that scene.”

Queen of Katwe

Queen of Katwe
“In chess,” says one of the characters who teaches 10-year-old Phiona how to play chess, “the small one can become the big one.” It’s a message that will change Phiona’s life forever; Phiona discovers she has a unique skill for the game, one that will take her from the hardscrabble streets of Katwa, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, all the way to the Chess Olympiad in Russia. Her journey to the top of the chess world is fraught with heartbreaking challenges outsiders must always confront, and by the time the film ends, viewers learn, along with Phiona, the heartbreaking lesson that you can emerge victorious even if you don’t win. Adding to the poignance of the film is the recent news that Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who played Gloria in the film, passed away at age 15 after a four-year battle against brain cancer.

Eight Below

Eight Below
Who doesn’t love a movie about man’s best friend? So when you have a movie about eight of them, you know you’re in for an emotional journey that’s going to take you through a valley of tears at some point. Ostensibly an action-adventure story starring Paul Walker as a guide at an Antarctica research base who takes a professor to Mount Melbourne in search of a rare meteorite, this movie is really all about Maya, Old Jack, Shorty, Dewey, Truman, Shadow, Buck, and Max—the eight sled dogs that take the two men to Mount Melbourne. Eventually a storm strikes the base camp, causing an immediate evacuation—and the dogs have to be left behind. What happens next is, by turns, emotional, inspiring, and heartbreaking—and a reminder that man isn’t the only creature who can defy the odds.

Up

UP
Ok, we all know about the famous sequence in which the entire life of our protagonists, Ellie and Carl Fredricksen, is played out in the first 10 minutes or so of this fan-favorite film. It’s one of the most exquisitely conceived scenes in the history of animation. But another favorite sequence of ours is toward the end of the movie when Carl awards Russell with the Ellie (grape soda) Badge. With composer Michael Giacchino’s tremblingly tender piano as backdrop, Carl says the line that gets us every time: “Russell, for assisting the elderly and for performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to award you with the highest honor I can bestow—the ‘Ellie’ badge.” Rarely has coming full circle in a storyline felt this earned and transcendent.

Bambi

Bambi
“Fellas, this stuff is pure gold,” Walt Disney told animators as they labored through an exceedingly slow production schedule for Bambi. He was right. The gorgeous and unforgettable evocation of the forest and the nuanced and delicately drawn characters work their considerable magic on us. By the time of the scene—the one where Bambi loses his mother to the hunters—we are emotional wrecks. However, the movie ends in an uplift that gives us the strength to venture back into that forest again and again, and Bambi remains one of the most charming animated films of all time.