Every Magical Moment from Disney’s Remarkable 2019

December 26, 2019December 26, 2019

By Jim Frye

From mega-blockbuster films to major theme park expansions and the launch of a streaming service that has forever changed entertainment, The Walt Disney Company entered 2019 on a high note and is ending the year with a grand crescendo. In what will be remembered as a historic and pivotal year for Disney (and Disney fans!), 2019 saw the completion of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the launch of Disney+, and the conclusion of two major cinematic storylines—the 10-year Infinity Saga from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm’s nine-film Skywalker Saga. Here, D23 takes a look at some of the highlights from this unprecedented year at Disney:

January 22

Black Panther Becomes the First Marvel Studios Film Nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Picture
On January 22, Marvel Studios’ groundbreaking film Black Panther added another accolade to its impressive list of milestones, being named among the nominees for Best Picture at the 91st Oscars®, receiving seven nominations in all. Read more.

March 8

Captain Marvel Introduces a Powerful Super Hero Unlike Any We’ve Ever Seen Before
Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson as the title character—aka Carol Danvers—a key member of the intergalactic elite Kree military team Starforce. But after Carol finds herself back on Earth, she teams up with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to delve into questions about her past while working to head off an invasion of our planet by the notorious, shape-shifting Skrulls. Audiences loved Captain Marvel as much as we did: The film crossed the $1 billion mark globally on April 8, becoming the seventh release from Marvel Studios to reach this milestone. Read more.

March 20

The Walt Disney Company Completes its Acquisition of 21st Century Fox
On March 20, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. In honor of this historic day for our company, D23 took a look at the storied history of this legendary entertainment giant, which was rooted in the 20th Century Fox film studio, one that has specialized in creating cinema—and, later, television—that enters the collective imagination and is built on great stories and indelible characters. Read more.

April 11

Disney Spotlights Comprehensive Direct-to-Consumer Strategy at 2019 Investor Day
The Walt Disney Company’s highly anticipated Investor Day provided an extensive overview of Disney’s comprehensive direct-to-consumer strategy and included presentations on Hulu, Hotstar, ESPN+, and Disney+. New original titles announced during Investor Day included The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Marvel’s What If…? from Marvel Studios; Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 from Walt Disney Animation Studios; Forky Asks a Question and Lamp Life from Pixar Animation Studios; The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Magic of the Animal Kingdom from National Geographic; and The Phineas and Ferb Movie from Disney Television Animation. Additionally, Disney+ announced that all 30 seasons of The Simpsons would be available on the service on day one, as well as more than 7,500 television episodes and 500 films including blockbuster hits from 2019 and beyond. Read more.

April 12–14

Star Wars Celebration Chicago Brings Major Announcements and Cast Appearances
D23 was on the ground at Star Wars Celebration 2019 at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago all weekend, capturing the out-of-this world announcements, presentations, exhibits, and excitement. On Friday, director J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and the cast of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiered a new teaser trailer during the Episode IX panel. Then on Saturday, Josh Gad (Frozen, voice of Olaf) surprised fans by hosting the panel “Bringing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Life at Disney Parks,” previewing the new lands that were yet-to-open at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Later that day, Ashley Eckstein led the panel “SISTERS OF THE FORCE, A Celebration of Women and Star Wars.” Later that night, Ashley surprised the audience at a special D23 Gold Member-exclusive screening of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi at Chicago’s AMC River Walk 21! Sunday had a The Mandalorian panel, featuring Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, in addition to a Star Wars: The Clone Wars sneak peek. Read morel Read more.

April 26

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame Debuts, Goes on to Become the No. 1 Global Release of All Time
In its 13th weekend of release, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame overtook the global box office record that had been held by Avatar for the past 10 years. Avengers: Endgame shattered records when it opened on April 26 and became the fastest ever to reach $1 billion mark, doing so in just five days; and it crossed the $2 billion mark just 11 days after its release. Ahead of Avengers: Endgame’s opening, we talked to the film’s stars at the world premiere. We assembled some of their secrets spilled here.

May 14

Disney Showcases Unparalleled Storytelling Across its Portfolio of Brands at Combined Upfront Event
At the Disney 2019 Upfront Experience in New York City (where networks present new and returning shows to the advertising community), ABC, ABC News, ESPN, Freeform, FX Networks, and National Geographic announced their thrilling programming slates for the 2019–20 season. During the event, advertisers got their first looks at the networks’ upcoming slates, including ABC’s dramas Emergence and Stumptown and the comedy mixed-ish; three original series from Freeform, Motherland: Fort Salem, Party of Five and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay; Brain Games, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted and Genius: Aretha from National Geographic; FX’s Emmy®-winning series Fargo and two new series, Mrs. America and DEVS; and ESPN’s 10-part documentary series The Last Dance, which looks at the incredible story of Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls. Read more.

May 24

Disney’s Aladdin Flies Into Theaters
Disney’s Aladdin took us on an incredible magic carpet ride, telling the exciting tale of charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine, and the Genie who may be the key to their future in a thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of the animated classic. D23 traveled to Agrabah by way of the film’s global press conference. Find out what the cast and filmmakers had to say about the film here.

May 31 and August 29

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opens at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Guests began to live out their own Star Wars adventures in the largest single-themed land expansion in Disney Parks history, with the official opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park in California on May 31. An epic grand opening ceremony was held May 30 for the more than 14-acre land, which also opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida on August 29. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge features two main attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (now open in Florida; opening in January 2020 at Disneyland). Black Spire Outpost is home to a bustling marketplace, full of vendors showcasing their unique wares from across the galaxy. Read more.

June 21

Toy Story 4 Arrives in Theaters
The toys returned to the big screen with an all-new adventure in Toy Story 4. In the blockbuster film, which would become The Walt Disney Studios’ fifth billion-dollar release for 2019, Woody, Buzz, and the whole gang find themselves far from home, discovering new friends—and old ones—on an eye-opening road trip that takes them to unexpected places. Before the film’s debut, D23 visited Pixar’s headquarters in Emeryville, California, where director Josh Cooley and producers Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera hosted a Q&A to discuss all things Toy Story 4. Read more.

July 17

Favorite Series, Specials, and More Earn 116 Emmy® Nominations Across the Worlds of Disney
Walt Disney Television received 95 Primetime Emmy® Award nominations for 2019, with FX receiving 32, led by Fosse/Verdon and Pose; 15 nods were given to National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD; and Disney Channel received a nomination for the animated series Star Wars Resistance. Additionally, the streaming service Hulu received 20 nominations, while ESPN was recognized for its 30 for 30 series. Across all platforms, The Walt Disney Company received 116 nominations. When the awards were handed out on September 22, The Walt Disney Company received 22 Emmys, including four for Fosse/Verdon and seven for Free Solo (which swept every category in which it was nominated). Read more.

July 19

New Technology Helps Drive the Success of The Lion King
The audience just couldn’t wait to see King: Director Jon Favreau and his team blended the most advanced VR (virtual-reality) and live-action filmmaking techniques with photorealistic computer-generated animation to tell the timeless story of The Lion King in an all-new, innovative way. Read more.

July 23

Disney Produces Some of the Biggest Moments of San Diego Comic-Con 2019
The brands of Disney—Marvel, Lucasfilm, ABC, FX, Fox, Disney Channel, and National Geographic—produced some of the most exciting moments of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. The all-star Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel took place in the 6,500-seat Hall H, as ABC’s dramas Stumptown, The Rookie, and Emergence also hosted panels. Fans sang along with the DuckTales cast and laughed along with shows from FX and Fox, including Bob’s Burgers, Archer, What We Do in the Shadows, Family Guy, and The Orville. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige presided over the 90-minute extravaganza with special guests that included Angelina Jolie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, and Mahershala Ali. D23 had a special Gold Member-exclusive mixer celebrating the 80th anniversary of Marvel, and boogied the night away at a party in honor of the 40th anniversary of the multiplatinum Mickey Mouse Disco album. Earlier that day, D23 hosted “Mickey on Vinyl: D23 Celebrates the Mouse, the Music, and the Movement.” Read more.

August 2

Disney Channel’s Descendants 3 Premieres on Disney Channel
If the Descendants movies have taught us anything, it’s that no one is ever just one thing. Villains can be good, heroes can be bad, and it’s OK—normal, even!—to be a little bit of both. Disney Channel’s premiere telecast of Descendants 3, which aired Friday, August 2, drew cable TV’s highest ratings in more than two years among Kids 6–11, Tweens 9–14, Girls 6–11 and Girls 9–14. Ahead of the premiere, we talked to three of the film’s stars to find out what happens after the original Villain Kids Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Carlos (the late Cameron Boyce), and Jay (Booboo Stewart) return to the Isle of the Lost to recruit a new batch of villainous progeny to enroll at Auradon Prep. “A lot happens,” promised Anna Cathcart, who portrays Dizzy. “You definitely won’t be disappointed!” Read more.

August 23

Disney Legends Awards Ceremony Kicks Off Exciting D23 Expo 2019
The Walt Disney Company continued a 32-year tradition August 23, honoring 12 remarkable talents as Disney Legends in a special awards ceremony hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger at D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim, California. This year the award—the highest honor the Company can bestow—was presented to Christina Aguilera, Wing T. Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer, who were recognized for the significant impact they have made on the Disney legacy. The new Disney Legends take their place alongside iconic names such as Angela Lansbury, Marty Sklar, Dick Van Dyke, and Barbara Walters. Since the program was established in 1987, fewer than 300 people have received the Disney Legends Award. Check out the best moments from this fan-favorite tradition in our recap of the D23 Expo 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony.

August 23

Disney+ Announces Six New Titles, Showcases Upcoming Slate of Original Series and Films at D23 Expo 2019
Fans at D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim, California, were the first to learn of six new series in development for Disney+ and discover key details about the highly anticipated streaming service. The star-studded event featured in-person and video appearances from the stars of Disney+’s slate of originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, and included sneak peeks, trailer premieres, and exclusive news about the service and its upcoming projects. Fans enjoyed first looks at The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Lady and the Tramp, Noelle, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Encore!, and Forky Asks a Question. They were also the first to learn of an untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series in development from Lucasfilm that will star Ewan McGregor; the new live-action series Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk from Marvel Studios; and an all-new Lizzie McGuire series starring Hilary Duff. Read more.

August 24

Disney Presents Upcoming Live-Action and Animated Slate at D23 Expo 2019
The Walt Disney Studios—including studio leaders and filmmakers from Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Disney live action, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios—offered guests at D23 Expo 2019 a captivating look at Disney’s upcoming film slate. Alan Horn, co-chairman and chief creative officer, The Walt Disney Studios, was joined by Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Disney live action’s Sean Bailey, Pixar’s Pete Docter and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Jennifer Lee for the presentation at the Anaheim Convention Center, featuring never-before-seen footage and a host of stars from films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Marvel Studios’ The Eternals, Jungle Cruise, Onward, and Frozen 2. Read more.

August 25

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Reveals Next Generation of Immersive Storytelling in Disney Parks
At D23 Expo 2019, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek detailed ambitious plans in store for one of the most extraordinary periods of expansion in Disney history. Nearly 7,000 fans filled Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center to hear more about the multiyear transformation of Epcot underway at Walt Disney World Resort, the Avengers Campus coming to both Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris, and the new ship coming to Disney Cruise Line in 2022, along with other new offerings that invite guests to be front and center in their favorite stories. Read more.

September 29

The Disney Skyliner Opens at Walt Disney World
On September 29, the Disney Skyliner took flight across four resort hotels and two parks as a new addition to the complimentary transportation systems across the resort. Decorated with images of many beloved Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel characters, each gondola gives guests a unique, never-before-seen view of Walt Disney World. Read more.

October 1

Epcot Forever Dazzles
Bringing World Showcase Lagoon to life with an epic spectacle of fireworks, lighting, lasers, special effects kites, and more, Epcot Forever is set to the sounds of some of the most beloved songs from the park’s history including “Magic Journeys,” “Tomorrow’s Child,” and, of course, “One Little Spark.” Read more.

November 5

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! Celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Beloved Animated Classic
The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! honored the 30th anniversary of the beloved animated classic through a never-before-seen hybrid format that took viewers on a magical adventure under the sea. The star-studded cast included Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel; Queen Latifah as the menacing sea witch Ursula; John Stamos as an eccentric French cook, Chef Louis; Shaggy as Sebastian; Amber Riley as the emcee; and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric. Ahead of his splashy debut, Phillips talked to D23 about how he was preparing for this eagerly awaited live television event. Read more.

November 12

Disney+ Launches—And a New Era of Disney Entertainment Begins
Disney+, the highly anticipated streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, went live in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands, bringing together for the first time an unparalleled lineup of content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. At launch, the service featured nearly 500 films and 7,500 episodes of television from across the worlds of Disney, including an extensive collection of beloved library titles, as well as a robust slate of Disney+ originals. Click here to discover basically everything you can watch on Disney+.

November 22

Frozen 2 Melts Our Hearts
After the 2013 release of Frozen, directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck weren’t ready to leave Arendelle—and we weren’t either. On November 22, Frozen 2 opened in theaters, taking fans into the unknown and continuing the story of Anna and Elsa. “This is a journey Disney Animation doesn’t usually do. There’s never been a second musical to a feature,” Lee said, adding, “We just knew we couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.” Lee and Buck were joined by the film’s cast members Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff, as well as songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez at a press conference right before the film’s record-breaking opening weekend. Click here for nine stories worth melting for from the Frozen 2 team.

December 3

Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney+ Launch One Day at Disney
Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+, debuted a spectacular collaboration: One Day at Disney. The new 224-page coffee table book and documentary series—unveiled in August at D23 Expo 2019 by Ricky Strauss, president, Content & Marketing for Disney+, and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts—shines a dazzling light on the creative forces in front of the cameras and behind the scenes at The Walt Disney Company. Read more.

December 5

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Debuts at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
On December 5, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance debuted at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios—and it’s one of the most ambitious, advanced, and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering. On January 17, 2020, Star Wars: Rise of Resistance will open at Disneyland park in California. Read more.

December 20

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Hits Theaters and Serves as an Epic Conclusion to the 42-Year Skywalker Saga
After piloting Star Wars: The Force Awakens to galactic levels of success, director J.J. Abrams returned for the ninth and final film in Lucasfilm’s epic Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Ending the series in grand fashion, the film stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Billie Lourde, Keri Russell, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega, Billy Dee Williams, Joonas Suotamo, Disney Legend Mark Hamill, and features Disney Legend Carrie Fisher’s final onscreen appearance as General Leia Organa. Read more.

Celebrate Five Years of Into the Woods with 5 Facts

December 23, 2019December 23, 2019

By D23 Team

Witches. Heroes. Enchantments. Curses. Love. Loss. Disney fans know and love these better than most; they’ve embraced them from timeless classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs through contemporary fairy tales like Frozen. But five years ago, Disney opened up this magical world in new ways. For those unfamiliar with the musical, Into the Woods takes the traditional tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood and ties them together with a new story, that of a Baker and his Wife who wish to have a child but learn they have been cursed by “the witch next door.” To break the curse, the pair must gather four special objects within three days: a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, a slipper as pure as gold, and a cow as white as milk. Thus, the beloved stories begin to intertwine.

So, we’re celebrating the anniversary of the timeless tale with five fun facts about the making of Into the Woods.

1. Into the Woods was almost an animated film.
Book writer James Lapine’s Into the Woods was a huge success on Broadway, earning Tony Awards® for Best Score and Best Book. But for over 20 years, talk of a movie would come and go with various ideas in mind—including an animated version.

“I thought [an animated film] would have been perfect,” Lapine said. “But now that we’ve gotten a live-action, I’m thrilled there wasn’t one.” It was actually director Rob Marshall’s idea to bring the project to Disney, with producing partner John DeLuca. “It’s something that we always wanted to do,” Marshall, who also helmed the musical Chicago, as well as Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, said. “We were finishing up Pirates, and we had a wonderful time with Disney. We were thinking, What’s next? And we’d always wanted to do Into the Woods. I’ve always been such a huge fan of it and just thought it had such a powerful statement.”

2. Anna Kendrick thought she would be cast as Little Red.
Kendrick was surprised she was being considered to play the belle of the ball—literally. “I initially thought I would be auditioning for Little Red because normally Little Red is played by a grown woman, and I have a kind of belt-y voice.” Learning she’d be trying out for the role of Cinderella, she said, was “terrifying. I don’t think of myself as a sort of big-hearted ingénue. I think of myself as a weird, little girl.”

3. One song posed a big challenge for Meryl Streep.
Perhaps Streep’s biggest challenge was mastering a section of the film’s prologue sometimes known as the “Witch’s Rap,” during which the sorceress explains, through spoken rhyme, how the Baker and his house came to be cursed. The verbal intricacies of the rap would likely leave Kanye West tongue-tied.

“I learned it while walking through Richmond Park,” she explained. “The parks in England are unlike parks here. They’re real wild spaces and they’re kind of scary.” Streep would walk at the pace of the rap to learn the song, while listening to her iPod. “I can still remember every single word!” she said with a laugh. “That’s the problem when you do a musical, you can’t lose the music. But I never got sick of doing it. I mean, it’s just so much fun.”

4. Time stood still for Chris Pine during one particular scene.
Another song that had basically been sung to the audience in the stage production was “On the Steps of the Palace,” where Cinderella flees from the Prince’s castle for the third night in a row (following the Grimm Brothers’ version of the story, which sees the would-be princess attending a ball that lasts three nights).

For the film, time stops, giving Cinderella the opportunity to assess the situation, leaving Pine—in all his princely regalia—frozen at the top of the stairs. “I’m sure everyone assumes he would be CGI’d in the background, but the poor man had to stand there frozen for the entire two days we filmed,” Kendrick said. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to stand still for so long,” Pine added. “Thank God Anna has a beautiful voice.” “I was running around like a little rabbit on the steps,” Kendrick remembered, “so he was very, very accommodating.”

5. Emily Blunt, aka the baker’s wife, secretly had her own bun in the oven.
The costume department’s biggest challenge was likely the surprise Emily Blunt was carrying in her belly. “When we did rehearsals, I was being kind of careful,” recalled Blunt, who was in the first months of her pregnancy with baby Hazel, who was born in February of 2014. She did, however, let some of her co-stars and Marshall in on her happy secret—especially Pine, with whom she shares a dance. “By the time we shot, it was about two months later and I said to Chris Pine, ‘You need to add 15 pounds to what you felt before. When you dip me, you gotta get yourself in a deep lunge because there’s more weight coming down!’”

Disguising the pregnancy was a task for Marshall and the costumers to handle. James Corden, the Baker, would always be positioned in front of her belly, as well as placing Blunt’s apron higher and higher up. “I was hiding behind every tree in that wood!” Blunt said, giggling.

This article originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Winter 2014 issue of Disney twenty-three and was modified for D23.com.

Going Undercover with the Guys from Spies in Disguise

December 23, 2019December 20, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Before your family flocks to the local movie theater to see Spies in Disguise on Christmas Day, we chatted with directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane and voice actor Masi Oka about the inspiration behind the animated adventure from 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios. “Originally there was a short called Pigeon: Impossible by Louis Martell,” Quane said. “It had a simple, funny idea of a spy trying to have lunch and a pigeon getting in his way. We built off that idea and asked, ‘What would be more annoying than a pigeon interrupting a spy’s lunch? If the spy got turned into a pigeon.’”

For the last six years, Bruno and Quane have been shaping that idea into a feature-length film, which centers on two characters: spy Lance Sterling (voice of Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (voice of Tom Holland). “At its heart, this is a story about an odd couple who must save each other in order to save the world,” explained Quane. “For as much fun and action as it has, it also has a great, heartfelt message behind it.”

Smith was always at the top of the directors’ list to voice Lance. “We knew we had to have somebody who could stand up against characters like James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Ethan Hunt,” Bruno said. “We looked back to the heroes we had growing up, and Will Smith was one of them.” Smith agreed to a meeting, much to the delighted directors’ surprise. Soon afterward, he joined the Spies in Disguise cast. “I think it’s because of the message we had,” Bruno said. “We know this is the first time many kids are going to see a spy movie. We felt there was a responsibility to say something with that. In a world where everyone is fighting fire with fire, this movie is about people—despite their different philosophies—working together. I think Will was touched by that.”

“Lance is a guy who flies solo. He’s strong, he’s amazing, he’s capable… There’s no one better!” Quane added. “Turning him into a bird strips all of that away. He will eventually learn he’s stronger with the help of the other birds in the flock and Walter.”

The role of Walter required an actor who could be awkward and optimistic—someone like Holland. “It was really important to find someone who was funny, charming, and sincere,” Quane said, “and as soon as we heard Tom, we were like, ‘That is the guy!’”

“Walter is a guy who can come across as a little weird. He’s got big, crazy ideas. I mean, you watch him turn a man into a pigeon!” Quane said. “But weird is only weird until it isn’t. Weird is only weird ’til you go, ‘Wait a minute… That’s actually a great idea.”

Oka voices the dark web hacker Katsu Kimura, whom he described as the “middle boss.” Despite his criminal character’s “tough exterior,” Oka added, “He’s a teddy bear!” Rounding out the voice cast are Rashida Jones as Marcy Kappel, Ben Mendelsohn as Keller “Robohand” Killian, Reba McEntire as Joy “Joyless” Jenkins, Rachel Brosnahan as Wendy Beckett, Karen Gillan as Eyes, DJ Khaled as Ears, and Carla Jimenez as Geraldine. “We’re seriously lucky on this movie to get all of our first-choice casting for every character,” Quane said. “It’s a rare thing and we’re so excited to have all of them.”

After working on the Star Wars prequel trilogy at Industrial Light & Magic years ago, Oka approached this project with added appreciation for what it takes to make an animated film. “I love the idea of using computers to solve creative problems,” Oka said. “I have a respect for the process, as well as the ability to communicate and understand it. So, I can technically adjust my acting to make everything easier and better for the animators.”

“After seeing this film, I wish I could have done the stunts, but…” Oka said with a big laugh. “The spy stuff is fun! It’s escapism. It’s why we love watching films—to see the things you would never get to do in real life. I always enjoy these spy films. It’s fun for the whole family. Maybe kids will want to be spies one day… or pigeons! One of them!”

All jokes aside, the directors described the animated adventure as a “love letter” to the spy movie genre. “One thing I’m really proud of is that my sons will go into this movie wanting to be a Lance,” Bruno admitted, “but leave very proud to be a Walter Beckett.”

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cast Jumps at Lightspeed Around the World

December 20, 2019

By Savannah Salazar

An epic conclusion deserves an epic celebration. Recently, the cast and crew of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker traveled around the world in honor of the highly anticipated end to the Skywalker saga, so we’ve put together a collection of some out-of-this-galaxy moments from their travels. The force is strong with these The Rise of Skywalker photos.

Disneyland Resort, California
There’s nothing more fitting than kicking off a Star Wars tour around the world than at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort! On December 2, our favorite band of Resistance heroes, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, director J.J. Abrams, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, Anthony Daniels and Keri Russell, got a first look at the brand-new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction opening January 17—and open now at Walt Disney World Resort.

Los Angeles, California
Next, the cast joined filmmaker Ava DuVernay as she moderated a global press conference for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And, of course, D23 was there to recount all the stories from the press conference. To read more, click here you must.

São Paulo, Brazil
After spending time in California, the cast set their coordinates for São Paulo and Brazil’s Comic Con Experience 2019. On December 7, director J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac gave fans a sneak peek into the highly anticipated conclusion of the Skywalker Saga.

Tokyo, Japan
From one galactic gathering to another, Katherine Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, and Anthony Daniels—along with a few droids and stormtroopers—stopped by Roppongi Hills in Japan to greet fans for a special Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker fan event on December 11.

Los Angeles, California
And, at last the time had come… for the world premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! On December 16, the entire cast, along with stars from all over the galaxy, gathered on Hollywood Boulevard for the epic conclusion of the Skywalker saga. D23 also hit the blue carpet to bring you a recap of the night, which you can find here.

On to the next location! Now, it may not be the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, but the Star Wars cast sure knows how to fly in style.

London, England
And, like the Skywalker saga, all good things must come to an end. The stars came together for the European premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in London on December 18 for a dazzling celebration—complete with stormtroopers, droids, and even Darth Vader himself.

The Life and Times of Walt Disney—Across 23 Must-have Books

December 20, 2019December 20, 2019

By D23 Team

“There was little variety or adventure for a boy growing up in the American Midwest in the early years of the twentieth century. . . . For Walt Disney, though, the appeal of exploration was strong,” writes author and Disney historian Jeff Kurtti in his book Travels with Walt Disney. “As much as he loved (and would return to) his solid rural roots of boyhood, Walt heard from his very earliest days the siren call to roam.”

Have you ever decided to rearrange your bookshelf by a new theme? Meaning no disrespect to the time-honored Dewey Decimal Classification system, we sometimes crave a little more narrative flair to the stacking order of our books. So in getting ready for this holiday season, we’ve dusted off (and have gotten in some new!) Disney books that tell essential stories about the life and times of Walt Disney.

These volumes have been well-researched and written by entrainment historians, journalists, filmmakers, Imagineers, archivists, librarians, and Disney Legends spanning the decades—and our friends at Disney Editions have shared excerpts from each one to help paint a portrait of Walt, his company, and the amazing work that came from it.

We’ve broken our collection up into “chapters” for lighter reading. We’ll be releasing a chapter a week from now through December, so sit back and enjoy the show!

Chapter One: A Blank Sheet of Paper

Chapter Two: It Takes People

Chapter Three: Never Stand Still

Chapter Four: Enter the World of Disneyland

Chapter Five: Winds in The East

Chapter Six: End of an Era

From All of Us to All of You—23 Must-Have Books

From All of Us to All of You—23 Must-Have Books

December 20, 2019December 20, 2019

By D23 Team

Did you enjoy reading our online series The Life and Times of Walt Disney—Across 23 Must-Have Disney Books? Each book excerpt was just a small portion of all the gifts galore within each title. If you want the whole package, unwrap the books below!

We’ve ranked each one, to help you pair the right gift with the special Disney fans in your life (and don’t forget about yourself!).

Excerpt No. 1—A Kiss Goodnight
By Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman and Illustrated by Disney Legend Floyd Norman

BEST FOR DISNEY FAMILIES

Disney Legend Richard Sherman and Disney Legend Floyd Norman bring you a touching story about what inspired legendary songwriter Richard Sherman to write the song “A Kiss Goodnight” and tells how a young Walt Disney was enchanted by fireworks, keeping his promise to send all his guests home with a special “kiss goodnight.”

Excerpt No. 2—Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time
By Mark Salisbury and with a Foreword by Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont, as told to Mindy Johnson, and an Introduction by James Bobin

BEST IN FOUNDATIONAL DISNEY HISTORY—PART 1

Nearly 60 years after Lewis Carroll’s literary masterpiece Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published, a new filmmaker named Walt Disney created a silent film about a little girl named Alice and her adventures in Cartoonland. That led Disney down a rabbit hole to form the company that would go on to become synonymous with fairy tales and would bring to life further versions of the Alice story, such as the beloved 1951 animated film, the more-recent live-action versions, and several iconic Disney Park experiences. Delve behind-the-scenes of these whimsical worlds.

Excerpt No. 3—Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, Revised Special Edition
By David A. Bossert and with Contributions by David Gerstein, a Foreword by Bob Iger, and an Introduction by J.B. Kaufman

BEST IN FOUNDATIONAL DISNEY HISTORY—PART 2

David A. Bossert’s revised edition updates Oswald’s story, plus includes images from a newly discovered Oswald film, a foreword by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, and six collectible lithographs. Readers will find this engaging and accessible volume delivers an in-depth look at Walt’s first major animated success and the journey to reclaim the lost Disney films.

Excerpt No. 4—The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember
By Rebecca Cline and Steven B. Clark

BEST HISTORICAL DISNEY OVERVIEW

Prepare for an insider tour like no other! Abundantly illustrated with behind-the-scenes photographs and artwork from the Studio’s 90-plus years of productions, the deluxe history book celebrates Walt’s dream factory, which has always been and continues to be the heart of The Walt Disney Company.

Excerpt No. 5—Walt Disney Animation Studios—The Archive Series: Walt Disney’s Nine More Old Men—The Flipbooks
By Pete Docter and the staff of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library and with Illustrations by Disney Legend Ub Iwerks; Disney Legend Norman Ferguson; Disney Legend Hamilton Luske; Disney Legend Art Babbitt; Grim Natwick; Disney Legend Vladimir (Bill) Tytla; John Sibley; Hal King; and Disney Legend Fred Moore

BEST DISNEY ART COLLECTION—MULTIPLE ARTISTS

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Pete Docter worked closely with the Animation Research Library at Walt Disney Animation Studios to piece together a breathtaking collection of nine flipbooks from Disney’s early animators. Each features an iconic scene from an animated Disney short or feature in its original line-drawn form, having been selected from among a wide range of films for great movement and classic characters. A booklet by Docter detailing the incredible talents of these animators describes their enduring appeal, precise timing, and focused staging.

Excerpt No. 6—Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation
By Mindy Johnson and with a Foreword by June Foray

BEST IN DISNEY ANIMATION HISTORY

Meet the pioneering women who brought hand-rendered animated stories to vibrant, multicolored life at Disney. Extensively researched by film historian Mindy Johnson, this book features a multitude of newly discovered materials and never-before-seen images, redefining the collective history of animation.

Excerpt No. 7—Before Ever After: The Lost Lectures of Walt Disney’s Animation Studio
By Don Hahn and Tracey Miller-Zarneke

BEST IN DISNEY ANIMATION DISCUSSIONS

Discover the rare and previously unpublished lecture notes, photographs, and drawings which reflect the culture of learning that Walt Disney curated to raise the level of his artists in preparation for their first feature: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Walt hand-picked instructors from the renowned Chouinard Art Institute, screened films for study, and brought in talent that ranged from architect Frank Lloyd Wright to choreographer George Balanchine to humorist Alexander Woollcott to teach and inspire his team.

Excerpt No. 8—Pencils, Pens & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation
By Mindy Johnson and Illustrated by Lorelay Bové

BEST FOR DISNEY KIDS

Based on Mindy Johnson’s critically acclaimed Disney Editions title, Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation and brilliantly illustrated by animator Lorelay Bové, this middle-grade book is a fun and inspiring look at many of the amazing women who have worked at Disney Animation over the years.

Excerpt No. 9—The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation
By Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and with Contributions by Disney Legend Hamilton Luske; V Disney Legend ladimir (Bill) Tytla; Disney Legend Fred Moore; Fred Spencer; Disney Legend Norman Ferguson; and Disney Legend Art Babbitt

BEST IN DISNEY ANIMATION TECHNIQUES

The most complete book on the subject ever written, this is the fascinating inside story by two long-term Disney animators of the gradual perfecting of a relatively young and particularly American art from, which no other movie studio has ever been able to equal. The authors, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, worked not only with the legendary Walt Disney himself but also with other leading figures in the half-century of Disney films. Not to be mistaken for just a “how-to-do-it,” this voluminously illustrated volume (like the classic Disney films themselves) is definitely intended for everyone to enjoy.

Excerpt No. 10—Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World
By Jeff Kurtti

BEST DISNEY TRAVEL JOURNAL

Jeff Kurtti assembles seldom-seen and never-before-published photographs, along with eyewitness recollections and enlightening anecdotes, and arranges them into a one-of-a-kind “travel journal,” as if Walt Disney himself might have documented these exciting excursions in one special place.

Excerpt No. 11—The Art and Making of Dumbo
By Leah Gallo and with a Foreword by Tim Burton

BEST MAKING OF A DISNEY FILM

Author and longtime Tim Burton collaborator Leah Gallo, after first setting the stage with a thoughtful history on Disney’s 1941 animated classic, shares a detailed account of how Burton and his talented team reimagined Dumbo into a magical new film.

Excerpt No. 12—From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card
By Jeff Kurtti

BEST DISNEY HOLIDAY BOOK

Early in the history of The Walt Disney Studios, annual Christmas-themed greeting cards were created, their designs and illustrations by such legendary Disney artists as Tom Wood, Hank Porter, Bob Moore, Mary Blair, John Hench, and Paul Wenzel. Gift-wrapped and sparkling in the spirit of the season, Jeff Kurtti’s one-of-a-kind collection of familiar, festive, fun, and feeling holiday art shines a light on a remarkable body of work and the people who created it.

Excerpt No. 13—Walt Disney: An American Original
By Bob Thomas

BEST DISNEY BIOGRAPHY

After years of research, Bob Thomas—biographer of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and many other Hollywood legends—produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations.

Excerpt No. 14—Poster Art of the Disney Parks
By Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt and with an Introduction by Disney Legend Tony Baxter

BEST DISNEY PARK BOOK—MULTIPLE ATTRACTIONS

If you’re as obsessed with Disney Parks as we are, you’ll love this lush compendium of posters from Disney theme parks around the globe, featuring concept art and lively narratives about the development of the stunning posters! Disney Imagineers Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt give Disney fans an amazing inside look at the beautiful poster art we’ve come to know and love.

Excerpt No. 15—Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food
By Marcy Carriker Smothers with a Foreword by John Lasseter and an Afterword by Tom Fitzgereld

BEST IN DISNEY CULINARY ARTS

Embark on a culinary tour of Disneyland’s six distinct lands. Every attraction has a story, and so do many of the menu items. With food serving as the lens, Walt’s private and work life are explored and detailed in this book, which also includes recipes from his home, his studio, and his Magic Kingdom.

Excerpt No. 16—Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century
By Don Hahn

BEST DISNEY ESSAY COLLECTION—SINGLE AUTHOR

Packed with rarely seen Disney art and photography of the mid-20th century, this book by acclaimed film producer and director Don Hahn explores the unique modern style that Walt Disney and his artists contributed to this iconic era.

Excerpt No. 17—The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Classic
By Jason Surrell and with Forewords by Disney Legend Marty Sklar and Tom Fitzgerald

BEST DISNEY PARK BOOK—SINGLE ATTRACTION

Shiver as you explore early concept sketches, detailed architectural drawings, and stunning still photography that illustrates the Mansion’s evolution as it was designed and built at each Magic Kingdom park around the world—including Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Excerpt No. 18—Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks
By Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt and with a Preface by Disney Legend Bob Gurr, a Foreword by Bob Weis, and Illustrations by Disney Legend Marc Davis

BEST DISNEY ART COLLECTION—SINGLE ARTIST

Authors Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt have created a treasure trove for artists, students, and Disney collectors. Featuring Disney Legend Marc Davis’ groundbreaking work designing Walt Disney’s theme parks, this magnificent two-volume set includes more than 1,500 rare pieces from the Imagineering archives. Also, for the first time, Marc’s design theories and stories of working with Walt are featured in his own words as recorded during hours of interviews by Merritt.

Excerpt No. 19—Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders
By Jeff Kurtti and with a Foreword by Thomas Schumacher, an Introduction by Rob Marshall, and Contributions by Craig D. Barton; Brian Sibley; Paula Sigman Lowery; Jim Fanning; Cameron Mackintosh; Fox Carney; Gavin Lee; John Myhre; Marc Shaiman; and Greg Ehrbar

BEST DISNEY ESSAY COLLECTION—MULTIPLE AUTHORS

With enlightening observations and vivid visuals, renowned Disney historian Jeff Kurtti showcases the creative forces behind bringing Mary Poppins to life on page, screen, and stage, generation after generation. It is accompanied by informative text, essays, and observations by creative luminaries.

Excerpt No. 20—The Art and Flair of Mary Blair: An Appreciation
By John Canemaker and Illustrations by Disney Legend Mary Blair

BEST IN DISNEY CONTEMPORARY ARTS

For more than a dozen years, a soft spoken, unassuming woman dominated design at The Walt Disney Studios with a joyful creativity and exuberant color palette that stamped the look of many classic Disney animated features. Favorite theme park attractions, most notably the it’s a small world boat ride, were also among her designs. Now the story behind one of Walt’s favorite artists is celebrated in this delightful volume of whimsical art and insightful commentary. As a bonus for the whole family, also get the kids’ picture book version of Mary’s story, by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Brittney Lee, here.

Excerpt No. 21—Walt Disney’s Ultimate Inventor: The Genius of Ub Iwerks
By Disney Legend Don Iwerks and with a Foreword by Leonard Maltin

BEST IN DISNEY VISUAL EFFECTS

Gorgeous never-before-published photographs and fascinating personal memories celebrate the half-a-century career of Ub Iwerks, a self-taught animator, innovator, and all-around technical genius who directly collaborated with Walt Disney to create some of the most loved moments throughout film and theme parks.

Excerpt No. 22—Dream It! Do It! My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms
By Disney Legend Marty Sklar and with Introductions by Ray Bradbury and Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman

BEST DISNEY AUTOBIOGRAPHY—PART 1

Disney Legend Marty Sklar’s first memoir is an enlightening tale of Marty’s epic Disney journey. His talents propelled him forward into substantial responsibility, and he became Walt’s literary right-hand man. Over the next 40 years, Marty rose to become president and principal creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, devoted to creating, enhancing, and expanding Walt’s magical kingdoms.

Excerpt No. 23—Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams
By Disney Legend Marty Sklar and with a Preface by Bob Weis

BEST DISNEY AUTOBIOGRAPHY—PART 2

Disney Legend Marty Sklar’s final book is a collection of captivating and untold tales from his storied career. In his 54 years at Disney, Marty travelled the globe—creating Disney magic, committing his adventures to memory, and bringing them together in this fresh volume.

If you missed on our weekly sneak peaks, you can catch up on your reading here!

8 Most Memorable Moments of the Star Wars Saga So Far

December 20, 2019

By Tim Lammers

More than 42 years after writer/director George Lucas took us on his first momentous trip to a galaxy far, far away with the first film in his Star Wars saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is finally here. Each film—from the classic trilogy and prequel trilogy to episodes 7 and 8—has had its share of defining cinematic moments, which all told explains why Star Wars has been hailed by countless critics and moviegoers as one of the greatest sagas ever put on film.

So, as director J.J. Abrams and company prepare to release Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to the masses, here’s a look back at 8 of the most memorable moments of the Star Wars saga from episodes 1 through 8.

Episode I—The Phantom Menace: Blades of Glory
While the film introduced us to such legendary characters as the young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), it was the “Duel of the Fates” scene and its searing theme by composer John Williams where Darth Maul (Ray Park) made it clear that there was plenty of room for another iconic villain to roam the Star Wars landscape after Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. While Maul’s said duel with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon qualifies as the most memorable scene in the film, it was the moment when the horned Sith lord revealed his double-bladed lightsaber to his Jedi opponents that towers over all of the rest. Punctuated by high-energy, martial arts moves that left previous lightsaber battles far in its wake, the “Duel of the Fates” scene showed us that lightsaber duels in the Star Wars saga would never be the same again.

Episode II—Attack of the Clones: Fury of Fett
True, both the grown-up Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Amidala came of age and sowed the seeds of their relationship that would eventually bring us twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, but it was the trauma experienced by the child of another principal character in the film that helped develop the back story of the galaxy’s most-feared bounty hunter. The child was Boba Fett (Daniel Logan), whose father, Jango Fett (Temura Morrison), was cut down by Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) near the conclusion of the Battle of Geonosis—leading to the formative years of Boba Fett before his appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. And while Boba Fett’s story ended in Return of the Jedi, his appearance as both a child and adult culled enough fan fascination for Lucasfilm and Disney to explore “the way” of the mysterious band of warriors in the new Disney+ series The Mandalorian.

Episode III—Revenge of the Sith: Birth of Evil
The final film in the prequel trilogy concludes with the foundation being laid for Episodes 4, 5, and 6, beginning with Padme giving birth to twins Luke and Leia and how they were kept hidden from their fallen Jedi father; and subsequently, the fateful duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin on the fiery planet of Mustafar that left the Jedi apprentice burned, broken, and maimed—but rescued by Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). And while Anakin was dubbed “Darth Vader” by Palpatine earlier in the film, it wasn’t until his operatic transformation into a mask-wearing, heavy-breathing and electronically enhanced Sith Lord on an operating table that made the birth of evil complete, thus becoming the film’s defining moment.

Episode IV—A New Hope: The Force is with Us
When the first film in the classic Star Wars trilogy was released in 1977, Lucas introduced moviegoers to Tatooine farm boy Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who learns from reclusive Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness), the ways of the Force, “an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” Luke experienced just how powerful the Force was when Obi-Wan sacrificed himself in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse/voice of James Earl Jones) in order to help Luke, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) escape from the Death Star, but there was more: In the stunning conclusion of the film, Luke listened to the spirit of Obi-Wan and opted to trust his feelings and use the Force and turned off the targeting computer in his X-Wing Fighter. Taking a deep breath as he fired two proton torpedoes into a tiny exhaust port that set off a chain reaction to blow up the evil Empire’s planet-destroying Death Star, Luke once again hears Obi-Wan, telling him, “The Force will be with you … always.”

Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back: All in the Family
Jedi Knights have to get their powers from somewhere, and George Lucas explored that notion with one of the most shocking reveals in cinematic history in the third act of Episode V. After all, Luke was led by Obi-Wan to believe his father was killed by Darth Vader (he was, in the metaphorical sense—we just didn’t know it yet), so there was no reason for any audience member to suspect Darth Vader to tell Luke, “I am your father” as he invites him to join the Empire after battering his son in lightsaber duel in Cloud City. The moment added a whole new dimension to the story and suddenly changed the young Jedi’s perspective of the Sith lord. Running a close second for most memorable moment for Episode V: Han Solo and Princess Leia’s unexpected exchange before Han was encased in carbonite, where Leia proclaimed, “I love you,” to which the nerf-herding scoundrel replied, “I know.”

Episode VI—Return of the Jedi: Darth Vader’s Redemption
Although he lost his right hand to his father in a near-deadly lightsaber duel in Episode V, Luke knew that there was still good in Darth Vader and reluctantly went to battle with the Sith lord once again, but this time in front of Emperor Palpatine on the Death Star II. This time, however, Luke was the victor, but when he defied orders from Palpatine to destroy his father, the emperor tried to kill Luke—until he was thwarted by a broken and battered Vader, who tossed the Sith master to his apparent death in a bottomless chasm. Vader didn’t complete his redemption, though, until he requested his son to remove his helmet so he could look at him through Anakin Skywalker’s (Sebastian Shaw) eyes, confirming there was still good in him as he tells Luke, “You were right about me. Tell your sister, you were right.” Enhancing the moment was the thrilling shot of the spirits of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Yoda (voice of Frank Oz) appearing before Luke during the Rebels’ victory celebration on Endor.

Episode VII—The Force Awakens: Han Solo’s Demise
The long-awaited follow-up to Episode VI 36 years later introduced us to three new heroes in the Star Wars universe—Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac)—but also said goodbye to an old one. Even though Harrison Ford decades ago reportedly requested George Lucas kill off Han in the classic trilogy, his demise at the hand of his and Leia’s son—the former Ben Solo who turned to the dark side and became Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)—was shocking, nonetheless. As devastating as it was to see Han go, it was a necessary plot twist to demonstrate just how evil being inhabited by the dark side could be.

Episode VIII—The Last Jedi: Leia is Never Really Gone
While Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher both appear in the new Star Wars trilogy, the Skywalker siblings don’t actually have a scene together until the third act of Episode VIII during the Battle of Crait. While the Resistance is hunkered down in a former Rebel outpost, Luke, in holographic form, reunites with his sister to essentially say goodbye as he was preparing to exhaust his Jedi powers to defeat Kylo Ren. And while Luke’s line, “No one is ever really gone” is in response to Leia lamenting, “My son is gone” after she realizes Kylo Ren has consumed the essence of Ben Solo, the line became all the more poignant by the tragic loss of Fisher a year earlier. Proof positive that Leia is never really gone is Fisher’s powerful, final movie appearance in The Rise of Skywalker thanks to unused footage from The Last Jedi, cementing once and for all that the princess-turned-general is and will always be the heart of that galaxy far, far away.

Gaze Upon Onward’s Latest Magical Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

December 20, 2019December 20, 2019

By Courtney Potter

Disney and Pixar offer up another peek at Ian and Barley Lightfoot’s extraordinary adventures, and construction begins on the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disney Resort… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

**Adventure Awaits in Brand-New Onward Trailer and Posters**

The new decade is just over the horizon, and there’s so much Disney fun to look forward to! Here’s a perfect example: Onward, Disney and Pixar’s next animated adventure. And to help keep our whistles wet ’til its spring debut, they just this week released a brand-new trailer—as well as some colorful new character posters—for the film. Check out the clip, above!

Set in a suburban fantasy world, Onward introduces two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, respectively), who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.

Directed and produced by the team behind Monsters University—and also featuring the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Ian and Barley’s mom, Laurel Lightfoot; Octavia Spencer as Manticore; Mel Rodriguez as Officer Colt Bronco; Lena Waithe as Officer Specter; and Ali Wong as Officer Gore—the film opens in theaters on March 6.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
January 8, 2020
D23 Gold Member Mixer in Kapolei, Hawai’i
January 17, 2020
Get VIP Tickets to Disney’s Frozen The Hit Broadway Musical
January 31, 2020
Disney’s Aladdin the Hit Broadway Musical VIP Tickets
August 9, 2020
Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise Presented by D23
Parks
November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24;
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 2019
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom park
November 8—January 6, 2020
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
November 29—December 30, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
January 17, 2020
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disneyland park
January 17—February 9, 2020
Lunar New Year returns to Disney California Adventure park
January 17—February 24, 2020
Epcot International Festival of the Arts
February 28—April 21, 2020
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to the Disneyland Resort
March 4—June 1, 2020
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
March 4, 2020
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Studios
December 20, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in U.S. theaters
March 6, 2020
Onward opens in U.S. theaters
March 27, 2020
Mulan opens in U.S. theaters
May 29, 2020
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
December 25, 2019 (10 a.m.—12 p.m. EST, 9—11 a.m. CST/MST/PST; airtimes vary, check listings)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC
January 10, 2020 (8:45 p.m. ET)
The Owl House premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW
February 14, 2020 (8 p.m. EST/PST)
ZOMBIES 2 premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW
February 16, 2020 (8 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m CST)
American Idol returns to ABC
Disney+
December 20, 2o19
Togo premieres
December 20, 2019
Pick of the Litter premieres
January 17, 2020
Diary of a Future President premieres

**Constructions Begins For Zootopia-Themed Land at Shanghai Disney Resort**

Our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog recently announced a major milestone for Shanghai Disney Resort: Main construction on the all-new Zootopia-themed land has officially begun! The eighth themed land will be an immersive “mammal metropolis” that brings a variety of fan-favorite Zootopia citizens to life.

This thrilling expansion will allow guests to experience signature offerings like new Zootopia-themed merchandise, entertainment, and delicious cuisine. And that’s not all: The land will also feature a new major attraction!

See some of your favorite Disney pals meet up with Zootopia faves Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in the new video, above; looks like everyone’s getting into the “Try Everything” spirit! Watch this space for more breaking news on the land’s construction—as well as about Shanghai Disney Resort—in the coming months.

**Disney+’s Diary of a Future President Premieres January 17**

If you’ve been following along with D23’s Disney+ coverage, you know that there’s a ton of incredible content coming to the streaming service next year. One series we’re excited to see is Diary of a Future President (formerly titled Diary of a Female President)—and now we have an official premiere date: January 17!

Inspired by the childhood of series creator Ilana Peña (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)—and told from the narration of her diary—the show follows Elena (newcomer Tess Romero), a 12-year-old Cuban-American girl, as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and begins her journey to become the future president of the United States. Series producer Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), who also directs the first episode, will guest star as adult Elena, who (not-really-a-spoiler alert) has indeed become the Commander in Chief.

Make sure to add Diary of a Future President to your Disney+ queue next month! We certainly will…

Did You Catch This Sneak Peek at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?

It’s the first-ever ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and it’s set to open in just a few months’ time… In case you missed this special sneak peek at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (coming very soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and then to Disneyland park in 2022)—hosted by ZOMBIES 2 stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly—that aired during the recent Disney Channel Holiday Party @Walt Disney World special, we’ve got it for you, above!

The colorful state-of-the-art attraction will draw guests inside a Mickey cartoon for a fun-filled adventure where “Mouse rules apply”—and literally anything can happen. Keep your eyes trained on D23.com (see what we did there?!) for more Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway updates as they become available.

Epcot Reveals Garden Rocks Concert Series Schedule

The longest-running annual festival at Epcot, the International Flower & Garden Festival, is returning for its 27th year from March 4 through June 1. And that means weeks and weeks of super delicious food, fragrantly colorful displays, and the ever-popular Garden Rocks Concert Series… the schedule for which has just arrived! And it’s chock full of fantastic artists from all manner of genres. Ready to mark those calendars?

March 4–5 – Peabo Bryson NEW
March 13–16 – Simple Plan
March 17–19 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
March 20–23 – Mark Wills NEW to Garden Rocks
March 24–26 – The Spinners
March 27–28 – Sister Hazel
March 29–30 – The Pointer Sisters
March 31–April 2 – Former Journey Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
April 3–4 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
April 5–6 – Exposé
April 7–9 – Berlin
April 19–20 – Rick Springfield
April 24–27 – Plain White T’s
April 28–30 – Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles
May 1–2 – Don McLean NEW
May 5–7 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett NEW
May 8–9 – Thelma Houston NEW
May 10–11 – The Allman Betts Band NEW to Garden Rocks
May 12–14 – Air Supply
May 15–18 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 19–21 – Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot NEW to Garden Rocks
May 24–25 – Daughtry NEW
May 26–28 – Marshall Tucker Band
May 31–June 1 – Survivor

There are still more artists to be announced—so keep an eye out for further news as the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival gets closer… And don’t forget, come March 4, to be on the lookout for the brand-new Remy topiary—which will be unveiled during the Festival as the centerpiece of the Ratatouille Garden at the France pavilion. C’est magnifique!

Punch It! Meet the New Characters of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

By Savannah Salazar

When it comes to Star Wars, there’s a lot to love—from unforgettable moments and locations to beautiful music, and, of course, a roster of the most lovable characters in the galaxy. With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker coming to theaters soon, that list is about to grow, so we’ve put together a guide to the new characters in a galaxy far, far away.

Jannah
From the oceanic moon Kef Bir, Jannah is a new ally for the resistance. Wielding a bow and arrow, this freedom fighter is ready to lead a band of warriors against the forces of the First Order.

Zorii Bliss
Mysterious and masked, Zorii Bliss (played by Keri Russell) is a Scoundrel with connections to ace fighter pilot Poe Dameron. She roams the snowy planet of Kijimi, leading a band of Spice Runners.

D-O
Cobbled together in a droidsmith’s workshop, the impressionable droid becomes enamored with our favorite rolling droid, BB-8—because who isn’t?

Allegiant General Pryde
Mum’s the word on Richard E. Grant’s new character, but we do know that Pryde joins General Hux in the wake of Kylo Ren’s rise to Supreme Leader.

Knights of Ren
While seen briefly during Rey’s vision in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Knights of Ren have been notably absent. Now back for the final film, the masked warriors stand alongside Kylo Ren in mismatched garb carrying specialized weaponry.

First Order Jet Troopers
“They fly now?” “They fly now!” Finn and Poe yell to each other—seen in a clip for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker—during a zippy chase on the planet Pasaana between our heroes and the First Order’s latest stormtroopers: the jet troopers.

Sith Troopers
Along with the jet troopers come a crimson-colored group of soldiers to help the First Order push for galactic conquest. This elite squadron draws their inspiration from a dark and ancient legacy.

Babu Frik
A skilled droidsmith, Babu Frik works on the planet Kijimi and can help modify any droid. Sounds most impressive…

Klaud
Oh, Klaud. This odd creature mistakenly joins the Resistance but proves to be a welcome ally to the freedom fighters.

Billy Dee Williams Teases Lando’s Return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Everything you’ve heard about Lando Calrissian is true—just ask Billy Dee Williams, who reprises his role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The final episode of the seminal Skywalker Saga marks his first onscreen appearance as the character since 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. According to Williams, it was “a lot of fun” to pilot the Millennium Falcon once again. “I was really looking forward to it. I had a good time.”

Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, released in 2015, saw the return of fan-favorite characters like Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Disney Legend Carrie Fisher), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo) and—eventually—Luke Skywalker (Disney Legend Mark Hamill). For The Rise of Skywalker, Abrams couldn’t resist the charm of another charismatic character: Lando. “Working with JJ was really an extraordinary experience,” Williams says. “He’s a lot of fun, and he makes everything really very interesting. I had a lot of fun doing this movie.”

In the highly anticipated film, Lando shares scenes with newer characters, including Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). “They were great,” Williams says. “They’re great people and great actors.” To preserve the mystery surrounding the film, Williams is keeping things close to the vest. “I’m going to surprise the fans,” he says. “I’m not going to divulge anything—and if I do, I’ll get hit by lightning!”

Suotamo, who inherited his role from the late Mayhew, was slightly more forthcoming. Still, the actor was careful not to share any spoilers. “The only definitive thing I can say is fans will be excited, because it’s such a multifaceted story. Everything is coming together,” he teases. “The most important thing is that the gang is back together now; Chewie is there and everyone else is there, too. We’re going on a new adventure. We don’t know how this is going to turn out, but it’s going to be exciting for the whole ride.”

Being part of the Star Wars universe is a proof that “dreams can come true,” Suotamo adds. “You never know what life is going to offer to you. The Star Wars family is the best family in the world. We’re grateful to tell these stories and to have genius minds coming up with great turns of events for our characters. It’s exciting to be a part of that.”

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in U.S. theaters today.

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**Adventure Awaits in Brand-New Onward Trailer and Posters**

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

**Constructions Begins For Zootopia-Themed Land at Shanghai Disney Resort**

**Disney+’s Diary of a Future President Premieres January 17**