Janelle Monáe Is Pawsitive You’ll Love the Music in Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp

By Zach Johnson

The Disney+ original movie Lady and the Tramp presented a unique opportunity for actress and recording artist Janelle Monáe: Not only would she get to voice Peg, the sassy and dynamic Lhasa Apso whom Lady befriends in the pound, but she would also get to perform an original song, “That’s Enough,” which is featured in the film’s closing credits.

Monáe is part of a voice cast that includes Tessa Thompson (Lady), Justin Theroux (Tramp), Sam Elliott (Trusty), Ashley Jensen (Jock), and Benedict Wong (Bull). The live-action cast includes Thomas Mann (Jim Dear), Kiersey Clemons (Darling), Yvette Nicole Brown (Aunt Sarah), Adrian Martinez (Elliott), F. Murray Abraham (Tony), and Arturo Castro (Joe). Lady and Tramp are played by dogs Rose and Monte, respectively.

For the role of Peg, director Charlie Bean, producer Brigham Taylor, and casting director Richard Hicks were looking for someone established in the music industry who also had real acting chops—and Monáe, who starred in the Oscar®-nominated film Hidden Figures, was one of few people who fit the bill. After being cast, she asked Roman GianArthur and Nate “Rocket” Wonder to write and produce “That’s Enough” for the movie. “When I listened to it, I was like, ‘This is an instant classic!” Monáe says. “They are part of my Wondaland Collective, and we have all been writing music for a pretty long time, so it was fun to go in and do something for a film that we all three love.”

Lady and the Tramp

In addition to writing, producing, and performing a new song for cats Devon and Rex (“What a Shame),” GianArthur and Wonder also produced “He’s a Tramp 2019,” a vivacious version of the song from the 1955 classic. “It’s an honor, obviously, to sing a song that Peggy Lee did—and she did it so well!” Monáe says. To do it justice, she studied her favorite jazz artists, including Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, and Judy Garland. The difference, Monáe says, is that “Peg has attitude… and I have attitude!”

Lady and the Tramp is set sometime between 1910 and 1915, paying homage to the turn-of-the-century period of the animated film. Monáe, an eight-time Grammy® Award nominee, hopes fans enjoy the new music, including the beautiful score by Joseph Trapenese: “I hope people feel all the fun we had when we were making these songs.”

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

The Owl House Conjures Up a Second Season— Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Disney Channel orders more magical fun from its latest animated series, and Jack London’s iconic novel gets a big-screen treatment starring Harrison Ford… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Disney Channel’s The Owl House Summons Second Season Ahead of Premiere 

Big news, animation fans! (Hey, that’s us!) Ahead of its big series premiere on Friday, January 10 (at 8:45 p.m. on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW), our friends at Disney Channel just revealed that The Owl House—their all-new fantasy-comedy created and executive-produced by Dana Terrace (DuckTales)—will get a second season! See the just-released trailer for the colorful series, above.

The Owl House follows Luz (voice of Sarah-Nicole Robles), a self-assured teenage girl who stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda (voice of Wendie Malick), and a tiny warrior, King (voice of Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls). Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice at the Owl House—and ultimately finds a new family in a very unlikely, but totally amazing, setting. Guest voices for Season 1 include the likes of Matthew Rhys (The Americans), Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home), Mae Whitman (Parenthood), Parvesh Cheena (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and Eden Riegel (All My Children).

Coinciding with the series premiere, the DisneyNOW app will debut an adventure game set in the supernatural world of The Owl House, where players can join Luz on her mission to become a witch by completing tasks, collecting relics, and playing mini-games. Plus, new shorts featuring Luz, Eda, and King will begin rolling out in the spring on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube—and an exclusive The Owl House t-shirt (designed by the series’ art director, Ricky Cometa), is currently available at Amazon.com/DisneyChannel, with additional designs debuting in January.

Jack London’s iconic novel gets a big-screen treatment starring Harrison Ford, and a new poster for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is revealed… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Harrison Ford Heeds The Call of the Wild in February 2020  

It’s based on a Jack London classic; it stars Harrison Ford; and it’s coming to the big screen early next year… 20th Century Fox’s The Call of the Wild vividly tells the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. (And that, as you’ll see, is where he meets John Thornton, as portrayed by Ford.) As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team—and later its leader—Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. Check out the brand-new trailer, above.

As a live-action/animation hybrid, The Call of the Wild uses some truly cutting-edge visual effects and animation technology to render the animals in the film as fully photorealistic, and emotionally authentic, characters. Directed by Chris Sanders and produced by Erwin Stoff—with a screenplay by Michael Green—the film also stars Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, and Colin Woodell. Look for it in a theater near you beginning February 21, 2020.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
November 20, 2019
Attend Disney’s Frozen 2 Red Carpet Premiere in Toronto.
November 23, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Up on the Lot
December 1, 2019
Disney’s Frozen 2 Enchanted Forest Experience at Saks—in New York City!
December 8, 2019
Light Up the Season with D23—2019
December 14, 2019
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Tom Nabbe
December 14, 2019
D23’s Merriest Mixer at Walt Disney World
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
August 29—November 23, 2019
2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
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
December 5, 2019
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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
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
Studios
November 22, 2019
Frozen 2 opens in U.S. theaters
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
November 28, 2019 (8–10 p.m. EST)
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration airs on ABC
December 13, 2019 (8-8:30 p.m. EST)
Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW
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

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

Colorful New Poster for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

This week, Disney fans around the world have been celebrating another trip ’round the sun for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse—and our pals at Walt Disney World Resort got in on the party by releasing a brand-new poster for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the attraction coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Take a gander at all the colorful (and underwater!) fun, above!

On Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, guests will step through the movie screen and join Mickey, Minnie, and friends like never before—bursting into a world where mouse rules apply… and y’know what that means? Anything can happen! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will transport folks into the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts—where they’re the star! Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ iconic Chinese Theatre will serve as the magic portal through which we’ll get to step from the human world directly into an unforgettable cartoon world.Stay tuned for more info about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway—including the debut of several more posters—in the coming weeks, and watch for the attraction to debut in spring 2020.

Freeform’s Turkey Drop Debuts This Weekend

Thanksgiving isn’t just a time for family gatherings replete with delicious food and plentiful naps (be honest; we know you get in some serious couch time, too!)… it’s also full of fun TV viewing, from big parades to adorable dog shows—and now, thanks to Freeform, a brand-new romantic comedy! If you haven’t already, do check out the trailer for Turkey Drop, above.

Debuting this Saturday, November 23, at 9 p.m. EST/PST, Freeform’s first Thanksgiving-themed feature stars Olivia Holt (Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger) as Lucy Jacobs, a small-town girl who’s just started her freshman year at a big-city university. When she returns home for Thanksgiving break, she suspects she’s about to get “turkey dropped”—dumped by her high school sweetheart—during their holiday visit. To avoid a Turkey Day travesty, Lucy gets out of her comfort zone, proving she’s not the same play-it-safe girl she was with her H.S. boyfriend. As she takes control of her own life and makes choices that put herself first, she learns to let go of what’s been holding her back, helping achieve what she really wants out of life. Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) costars as Lucy’s mother, Nancy—along with Ben Levine (Legacies) and Tyler Perez (LA’s Finest).

(By the way: In case you need something fun to watch while you’re basting your own sure-to-be-delicious bird, look for an encore airing of Turkey Drop on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, beginning at 11 a.m.)

Also From Freeform: Don’t Miss Wrap Battle, Premiering Next Week!

Well, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s soon to be “all holidays, all the time”—not that we’re complaining in the slightest. It’s legitimately the most wonderful time of the year! (Case in point: D23 Days of Christmas, and all its fun content and giveaways, kicks off in a little over a week.) And naturally, Freeform is getting in on the action too, with the debut of its brand-new competition series, Wrap Battle, next week. Watch the merrily magnificent trailer, above.

The three-week-long series follows nine contestants as they battle to become the ultimate wrapper—and take home the coveted grand prize, valued at $50,000. Wrap Battle will be hosted by comedian Sheryl Underwood (The Talk), with Carson Kressley (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Wanda Wen (founder of fine stationery and luxury paper brand Soolip) serving as judges. Celebrity guest judges include Tony® Award-winning Broadway producer Candy Spelling, Food Network star Sandra Lee, Sherry Cola (Good Trouble), Diggy Simmons (grown-ish), Lala Kent (Vanderpump Rules), and designer Sabrina Soto.

Get wrapped up in Wrap Battle beginning Monday, November 25, at 9 p.m. EST/PST on Freeform.

ICYMI: Gordo Will Return in Disney+’s Lizzie McGuire

As far as “TV best friends” go, there are few more supportive (and hilarious) as David “Gordo” Gordon—portrayed by actor Adam Lamberg—on Disney Channel’s fan-favorite series Lizzie McGuire. So we’re tickled pink to hear he’s returning to the upcoming Lizzie McGuire series on Disney+, once again featuring Hilary Duff as the (now grown-up) title character. Get all the scoop by clicking here!

Disney Festival of Holidays—Now Underway at DCA!

The Disneyland Resort is positively resplendent for the holidays, and will be through January 6… so, should you be making a trip there in these next few months—you have plenty of time to enjoy the mirth and merriment! And if you do visit, you positively must spend some time reveling in the Disney Festival of Holidays—showcasing the sights, sounds, and tastes of Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day (January 3–6) throughout Disney California Adventure park.

Inspired by the incredible cultural diversity of Southern California, Disney Festival of Holidays features contemporary music and dance performances, as well as a truly scrumptious array of holiday food and drink at the Festival Foods Marketplace. Wanna see some of it in action? Check out this new video, featured by our friends over at the Disney Parks Blog, above—and we’ll see ya there. (Pro tip: Come hungry!)

3 Hardest to Cast Super Hero Roles in Avengers: Endgame

By Jim Frye

Eleven years. 23 films. And Super Heroes (and villains) from every corner of the galaxy! The ever-expanding cast of characters—both super-powered and “mere mortal”—of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a powerhouse of talent and charisma that has forever changed the way we watch movies. At the center of that universe is Sarah Finn, the casting director who assembled the Avengers and all their counterparts, beginning all the way back with 2008’s Iron Man.

“Avengers: Endgame is the culmination of over a decade of my work,” says Finn. “The scope of the cast is something we haven’t seen before—it really is a historic moment in movie history. But lucky for me, I had many years to cast this film.”

She continues: “When we first started with Iron Man, Downey wasn’t known as an action star. That wasn’t necessarily an automatic ‘yes,’ but obviously there’s no one else who could have played Tony Stark. Thor had to be somebody completely believable as an Asgardian—which had an almost Shakespearian tone—and completely relatable on Earth. For Captain America, finding the right person like Chris Evans who could embody the moral compass but also have the acting range, the comedic chops, the humor, the heart, was so important.”

And even though filling each role is a heroic accomplishment in and of itself, three of the most difficult roles to cast were Star Lord, Peter Parker, and—surprisingly—Valkyrie.

Chris Pratt as Starlord

“Casting Chris Pratt for Star-Lord was famously difficult,” says Sarah. “James Gunn (director) has been very generous in giving me credit, because he didn’t feel Chris was right at all [at first]. We searched and searched, we did tests, and after several months I had approached Chris twice, but he didn’t see himself as the character. I finally convinced him to come in and audition and James said, ‘No, I don’t want to see him, he’s totally wrong.’ Coincidentally, Chris happened to come in while James was at the office, and I said, ‘Why don’t we just do this.’ So within 20 seconds of Chris speaking the words as the character, James turned to me and said, ‘We have our guy.’”

Filling the role of Spider-Man was just as difficult, if not more so. “It’s so often very nerve-wracking because I’m working closely with the director and Kevin Feige and the filmmakers—I understand what their vision is, and sometimes that doesn’t always mesh with what the audience’s expectations are,” says Sarah. “But with Tom Holland, I knew how beloved the character of Peter Parker was to people all around the world, and I knew there had already been two other versions in recent history. I knew that there was pressure that—if we were going to do it again—we had to do it very, very well.” Her gut instincts paid off—Tom Holland, and his portrayal of Spider-Man, have been embraced by fans the world over.

Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie

The third challenging role to nail was Valkyrie, as played by Tessa Thompson in Thor: Ragnarok. “There have been characters where we found it along the way, we found it as we were going through the casting process,” she says. “For Valkyrie, we knew we needed somebody incredibly talented, and bold, funny, relatable, and with a lot of humanity, because even though we’re talking about Super Heroes in a lot of these cases, I think what the audience really connects with is their common humanity. So Tessa is someone who knocked it out of the park. I’ve known her for a long time. I knew her comedy chops. I knew her dramatic side. I knew she was right for it, but she wasn’t as well known then. So, like some others, she was willing to fight for it. She was doing eight performances a week in a play in New York, and she got strep throat, but she still got on a plane and tested for the role and got the part!”

Sarah says that Marvel films work when the actors are enthusiastic and passionate about playing their characters. “In Phase One, I had no idea how broad Kevin’s vision was,” she says, “but as we went on, I became aware that these actors needed to have the broadest possible range. Humor is important, wit, intelligence, passion, commitment. We’ve been increasingly aware of what might be required of these actors for the future—we’re always looking for a great talent.”

“Gordo” Is Returning for Lizzie McGuire on Disney+

By Zach Johnson

This is what dreams are made of, Lizzie McGuire fans! Disney+ just announced that Adam Lamberg will reprise his fan-favorite role as David “Gordo” Gordon, a recurring character in the upcoming Disney+ series. Lamberg originated the role of Lizzie’s best friend in the Disney Channel series, where Gordo’s intelligence, creativity, and wry observations about middle school life made him a bit of an outcast—except to his BFFs.

“Gordo was an essential piece of the puzzle to what made the original Lizzie McGuire so authentic and beloved. I couldn’t imagine the series without him,” said Hilary Duff, star and executive producer of the highly anticipated Disney+ series. “I can’t wait for fans to see what he’s up to 15 years later and how he fits into Lizzie’s adult world.”

To celebrate the news, Disney+ shared a photo of Duff and Lamberg reunited on set. The new Lizzie McGuire story picks up as the titular character is just about to turn 30. She seemingly has it all­—her dream job as an assistant to a fancy New York City decorator, her dream guy, and a picturesque Brooklyn apartment—but things aren’t always as they seem. With a little help from her friends, her loving family, and her 13-year-old alter-ego in animated form, Lizzie navigates the ups and downs of adulthood.

Production on the series began earlier this month. As previously announced, original cast members Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine, and Jake Thomas will be reprising their roles as Jo McGuire, Sam McGuire, and Matt McGuire, respectively. Original Lizzie McGuire series creator Terri Minsky returns as showrunner and is an executive producer with Duff and Rachel Winter. Ranada Shepard is the co-executive producer.

News of Disney+’s Lizzie McGuire series was first announced at D23 Expo 2019.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

Get Disney Collectibles Like Never Before with Disney Collect!

By D23 Team

Update: D23 Exclusive Pack Content unlocks are here!

To celebrate the launch of the Disney Collect! by Topps app, D23 members can now redeem a an exclusive in-app pack that contains 23 digital collectibles including 5 limited-release D23 “Mickey & Pals” collectibles, 18 Mickey base set collectibles and an in-app currency boost of 23,000 coins!

Disney Collect! by Topps D23 Member Exclusive

This set is exclusive to D23 members and can be redeemed with membership credentials here.

More about Disney Collect! by Topps
Two brands synonymous with providing entertainment and delight to consumers around the world, Topps and Disney, collaborate once again to launch a brand-new digital collectibles app, Disney Collect! by Topps. The app transforms the classic Topps trading card experience into a virtual community where Disney fans around the world can come together to collect and trade their favorite characters, complete collector-based missions, and customize their profiles with favorite collectibles and character avatars.

Disney Collect App

Disney Collect!, available worldwide in the iTunes App Store and Google Play Stores, celebrates its launch with the release of a “Mickey and Friends” starter set, Toy Story 4 “Let’s Play” set, as well as Lion King Motion Sketch Cards (below).

The app also touts timely content releases like “Woodcut” – a Disney Frozen 2 inspired set releasing on Friday – just in time for the film’s premiere.

frozen 2 disney collect

Along with new starter sets, Disney Collect! by Topps will also release never-before digitized content supplied by the Disney Animation Research Library. The set features original animated sketches from each decade, spanning the last 90+ years, From Never Land and 17 Cherry Lane, to New Orleans and under the sea, these digital collectibles are keepsakes that every Disney fan should add to their collection. Here’s a first, D23 exclusive look at these brand-new collectibles!

Through the decades disney collect

D23 members can also expect to receive instructions on how to redeem a special D23 exclusive pack in the Disney Collect! app. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks!

Meet the Enchanting New Characters of Frozen 2

By Savannah Salazar

For the first time in forever, our favorite characters (and new ones too!) are coming back for a journey beyond Arendelle when Frozen 2 hits theaters on November 22. Picking up three years after Anna and Elsa reunited, the sisters—along with Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven—set off into the enchanted forest where they meet a plethora of new faces.

Before you venture into the unknown with Frozen 2, we wanted to give you a look at the newest characters of Arendelle, the enchanted forest and everywhere in between.

Queen Iduna

Queen Iduna
Queen Iduna—voiced by Frozen 2 newcomer Evan Rachel Wood—is back, but this time with secrets from the past. With young Elsa’s powers growing, Iduna wonders if her past holds some answers for Elsa’s future. Director Jennifer Lee said Wood’s voice was perfect for the role as Wood’s voice sounds as if she’s keeping something hidden at all times. Her singing voice also sits right between Kristen Bell (Anna) and Idina Menzel’s (Elsa) own singing voices, which is perfect for her beautiful lullaby “All is Found.”

King Agnarr

King Agnarr
Like Queen Iduna, Anna and Elsa’s father also returns—voiced by Alfred Molina. He tries his best to help Elsa as her powers grow, and his love for his daughters is infinite.

Destin Mattias

Lieutenant Destin Mattias
A loyal guard of Arendelle, Mattias has long protected the kingdom against its enemies, including the Northuldra, but becomes trapped in the enchanted forest by a magical mist for over 30 years. Voiced by Sterling K. Brown, director Chris Buck said Brown invested in his character, saying there is a lot of Sterling in Mattias.

Bruni

Bruni
Meet your cute new obsession—because he’s most definitely ours! Bruni is a curious salamander who meets Anna and Elsa during their journey. He also takes a liking to Elsa’s icy snowflakes because—wait for it—the cold never bothered him anyways. 

Honeymare, Ryder, Yelana

Yelana
As the leader of the Northuldra, Yelana is extremely wise and fiercely protective when it comes to her community. While weary of outsiders, if one shows an understanding of the forest and its inhabitants, Yelana is known to soften.

Ryder
You would think Kristoff was the only reindeer-loving man around, but Ryder is close to giving him a run for his money—or carrots? But as fun-loving and optimistic as Ryder is, he’s never left the enchanted forest and longs to venture into the world outside. 

Honeymaren
Part of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is peaceful and a free spirit and wants everyone in the enchanted forest to feel the same.

The Nokk

The Nokk
Pulling from Nordic folklore, the Frozen 2 filmmakers were able to create this beautiful character, a mythical water spirit that takes the form of a stallion. While gorgeous, this water spirit is a warrior set to guard the secrets of the forest and is dangerous to those not careful.

Gale wind

Gale
As full of personality as any other character in Frozen 2, the precocious wind spirit named Gale is quite a troublemaker. From tornados to slight gusts of wind, Gale isn’t always easily seen, but instead makes her presence known by interacting with the characters’ clothing or hair.

Earth Giants

Earth Giants
Also known as the earth spirits, these massive creatures are capable of incredible destruction and create a feeling of unease across the enchanted forest, but when they are asleep, they appear as rocky riverbanks.

Elsa and Olaf

Fire Spirit
A rambunctious fireball, the magical fire spirit zips around creating chaos in the forest in a matter of seconds. Its magical fire—which appears magenta and blue—doesn’t emit smoke, but it does emit heat. The level of heat is based on its emotions, from smaller, playful flames to angry, all-consuming fires that rage throughout the forest.

Must-Watch Mickey Mouse Movies and Shorts to Celebrate His Big Day!

By Jocelyn Buhlman

It’s Mickey Mouse’s big day, and there are tons of ways to celebrate—but might we recommend and movie marathon? To ring in the big celebration of Mickey’s birthday, we’ve rounded up some essential Mickey movies and shorts you can watch right now on Disney+. Check out our list below for our recommendations.

steamboat willie

Steamboat Willie (1928)
The first time we ever saw Mickey Mouse in a theatrical film, he was dressed as a deckhand and causing mischief to a certain Captain Pete. Besides being the public’s introduction to Mickey, this is also notable for being the first cartoon with synchronized sound!

the band concert

The Band Concert (1935)
The first time we saw Mickey animated in color, we were literally in for a whirlwind of visual delight during this concert run amok thanks to a cyclone. Besides being significant to Mickey’s animated history, this short is also notable for inspiring Silly Symphony Swings at Disney California Adventure.

Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
“I ain’t a scared of no ghosts!” claims Goofy, but we’re not so sure. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, known collectively as the “Ajax Ghost Exterminators,” are called on to get rid of some ghosts from a haunted house—but little do they know that the call was made by the ghosts themselves. Featuring silly scares and hilarious haunts, this film as a classic Halloween staple for Disney fans.

Society Dog Show (1939)
Mickey’s best pal Pluto is already a prizewinner in our hearts, but will he stand up to the competition at a real dog show? If you’ve got a dog in your life, you can relate to Mickey and Pluto’s silly adventures at the dog show—which manage to feature everything from perilous dangers to romantic rescues.

Fantasia (1940)
Possibly one of Mickey’s most iconic appearances ever, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence in Fantasia features Mickey as an ambitious aspiring magic-maker—but when he’s left to do magic on his own, he ends up in over his head. Mickey’s sorcerer outfit has become one of his most famous costumes ever, and the sequence itself went on to inspire Fantasmic! at Disney parks around the world.

fun and fancy free

Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are in for more fantastic hijinks in this retelling of the fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. During the “Mickey and the Beanstalk” sequence, join Mickey, Donald, and Goofy on a giant adventure to rescue a singing harp and restore happiness to Happy Valley.

mickey's christmas carol

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
This Disney-fied retelling of the Charles Dickens tale casts Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit against (who else?) Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge. Featuring a cast of Disney characters rarely seen all together, this Christmas story is beloved by Disney fans for touching our hearts and ringing in the holiday spirit.

the prince and the pauper

The Prince and The Pauper (1990)
We’re seeing double in this take on a classic fairy tale! Mickey plays both a spoiled prince and a struggling peasant who decide to switch lives—and hijinks ensue as they try to adapt to their new lives.

the three musketeers

The Three Musketeers (2004)
Our favorite trio of troublemakers take on the role of the Three Musketeers, faced with the dastardly plot of Peg-Leg Pete, who is determined to rid the kingdom of Princess Minnie in order to rule the kingdom himself. It’s up to the Musketeers to save the day—even if they get into some silly situations along the way.

roadster racers

Mickey and the Roadster Racers (2016)
Race towards fun adventures with Mickey and friends in this series following Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Daisy as they race through Hot Dog Hills and lend a helping hand to folks around town along the way.

mickey mouse

Mickey Mouse (2012)
This series of slapstick shorts takes Mickey on a variety of adventures and silly situations around the world. Full of visual gags, heroic moments, and familiar faces, these shorts keep fans laughing out loud at the antics of Mickey and his pals.

A Look at The Mandalorian‘s Out of This World Fan Event

By Savannah Salazar

On November 13, we set our course for a very special galactic fan event in Hollywood to celebrate Lucasfilm’s first-ever live-action series The Mandalorian! The red carpet—complete with the Mandalorian’s armor on display—brought the stars and filmmakers at full force for a premiere screening and Q&A.

The Mandalorian Premiere

Also, in attendance were fans—some even with their own Mandalorian armor—as they jumped at lightspeed for the chance to take photos and meet their favorite stars. When it comes to the fans’ response to the show, Carl Weathers (Greef Carga) told us it’s been meaningful. “You don’t always know you’re making something special, but I had a feeling about this and I feel like we’re very fortunate,” he said. “It’s kind of like the stars have to come together in the right way to form this constellation that people somehow take interest in, and it looks like people are taking interest in this.”

Gina Carano and Pedro Pascal

Gina Carano (Cara Dune) also stopped by to talk to us on the carpet and spoke about the bounty hunter himself. “Pedro [Pascal] is such an incredible Mandalorian. There’s so much mystery in the Mandalorian, which I think is what we absolutely love about bounty hunters.”

She went on to describe what it’s been like working with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. “Dave is so passionate and so smart. The other day he came to set and he was like, ‘You know, let me tell you a story…’ and it’s one of those situations where you can sit around the campfire and listen to him [forever]. He’s such a great storyteller and I’m really proud to know him,” she said. “And with Jon, I’ll never not be star struck.”

Ludwig Goransson

Composer Ludwig Göransson—whose score for Black Panther was nominated for an Academy Award®—also discussed working with Favreau. “He talked about his inspirations from samurai movies to spaghetti westerns and also about our mutual love for Star Wars. John Williams wrote the best film music there ever is, so there’s a lot of pressure to step into this universe. The only way I could do it was to write something completely different, and Jon was very supportive of that,” he said.

In fact, when it came to creating his own score for the galaxy far, far away, Göransson said he was inspired by Pascal’s character. “He has incredible armor, so I created a unique sound world, taking sounds that you’ve heard [before, such as] flutes and percussion, but then twist them around with modern technology and put a new spin to sound like something you’ve never heard before.”

Pascal, Carano, Weathers, and Werner

The Mandalorian directors

After walking the red carpet, the stars of The Mandalorian—Pascal, Carano, Weathers, and Werner Herzog—joined filmmakers Favreau, Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow, Göransson and the Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy for a Q&A, before screening three episodes of the Disney+ series.

See More from the Fan Event
Check out this gallery to see even more moments from the fan event! You can start streaming two episodes of The Mandalorian on Disney+ now! And for more Disney+ news, click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming. We have spoken.

H2O+ Releases New Thingamabobs as Part of a Collection for The Little Mermaid’s 30th Anniversary

By D23 Team

The fin-tastic H2O+ collection that debuted at D23 Expo 2019 is now available to add to your trove of whozits and whatzits galore! In celebration of The Little Mermaid’s 30th anniversary, this limited-edition 3-Step Hydration system features the little mermaid herself, Ariel. You can swim to Shopdisney.com to get your set, but until then, let’s go under the sea to look at this stuff because, well, isn’t it neat?

H2O+ Beauty Cleanser

Elements Keep It Fresh Face Cleanser by H2O+
Your collection wouldn’t be complete without this luxurious cleanser. Gently washing away dirt, oil, and makeup, it’s formulated with water lily extract to smooth and hydrate.

 H2O+ Hydrating

Oasis Hydrating Beauty Essence by H2O+
Rounding out the collection is this skin care product that softens, hydrates, and primes your skin after cleansing. Super-charge your routine with this prep step that helps maximize the benefits of all the products in the collection.

H2O+ Gel Moisturizer

Oasis Hydrating Treatment Water-Gel Moisturizer by H2O+
Powered by signature hydrating technology, this water-gel product moisturizes on contact, absorbs rapidly, and lasts all day, keeping you as fresh-faced as Ariel herself.

Go Inside Frozen 2 with New Podcast—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Hear directly from the filmmakers of Frozen 2, and stay tuned for some holiday fun from ABC and Disney Channel… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

ABC Audio Presents Brand-New Inside Frozen 2 Podcast

 Want to learn everything there is to know about the world of Arendelle in a fresh new way? Then make sure to tune into ABC Audio’s new podcast—Inside Frozen 2—debuting Wednesday, November 20 (just a few days before Frozen 2’s theatrical release)!

The six-part podcast series, produced in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios, takes listeners on a rare deep dive into the making of the sequel to Frozen, the biggest animated movie in box office history. Hosted by ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Good Morning America stalwart Ginger Zee, the series’ first episode features an interview with Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—the married duo who wrote all seven new original songs for Frozen 2 and won an Oscar® for Frozen’s iconic song “Let It Go.” In the series, the Lopezes will not only talk to Zee about their creative process (and the evolution of songs from conception to completion), but also give some intimate piano performances, previewing highly anticipated songs from Frozen 2 including “Into the Unknown.”

Later in the series, we’ll hear interviews with Frozen 2 directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Peter Del Vecho; score composer Christophe Beck; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ senior vice president of music Tom MacDougall; head of Frozen 2 animation Becky Bresee; “Elsa” supervising animator Wayne Unten; members of the voice cast; and more!

Inside Frozen 2 will be available for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and the ABC News app—with new episodes releasing every Wednesday, concluding on Christmas Day. And guess what? Video versions of each episode will also be available on ABC News Digital! So mark those calendars and join in on all the Frozen 2 fun…

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
November 14, 2019
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot
November 16, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Up at Walt Disney World
November 18, 2019
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Animation Studios
November 20, 2019
Attend Disney’s Frozen 2 Red Carpet Premiere in Toronto!
November 23, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Up on the Lot
December 8, 2019
Light Up the Season with D23—2019
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
August 29—November 23, 2019
2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
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 29—December 30, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
December 5, 2019
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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
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
Studios
November 22, 2019
Frozen 2 opens in U.S. theaters
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
November 16, 2019
Big City Greens Kicks Off Season Two on Disney Channel (9:30 a.m. EST/PST)

Disneyland

Make Merry with These New Holiday Specials from ABC and Disney Channel!

Speaking of ABC, they’re getting into the holiday spirit in a big way—and they’re teaming with our pals over at Disney Channel to make all our spirits bright… Beginning later this month, ABC and Disney Channel will transport the magic of Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line during the holidays to viewers with three incredible new specials featuring star-studded performances, merry entertainment, and so much more.

It all kicks off on ABC, on Thanksgiving night (Thursday, November 28, at 8 p.m. EST) with The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration; join Golden Globe®-nominated actor/singer Matthew Morrison, The Great American Baking Show’s Emma Bunton, and TV host Jesse Palmer as they present a two-hour prime-time special from in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort. This magical evening will feature musical performances from the likes of Sting, Pentatonix, Portugal. The Man, Ingrid Michealson, and more—all among a veritable flurry of Disney holiday entertainment! During the special, viewers will be treated to several Disney Parks sneak peeks, including a behind-the-scenes look at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance—opening in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on December 5 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on January 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park.

Then, on Friday, December 13, at 8 p.m. PST on Disney Channel and the DisneyNOW app, tune into Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World—featuring Morrison alongside co-hosts Megan Donnelly and Milo Manheim (ZOMBIES 2) as they present even more holiday fun… including a sneak peek at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios next year. And be sure not to miss Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, ABC’s annual fan-favorite special airing Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25, beginning at 10 a.m. EST/9 a.m. PST.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, all this holiday talk has us hankerin’ for a mug of hot cocoa…

United Airlines Unveils Amazing Star Wars-Themed Plane

Could it make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the coolest-looking planes currently flying the skies…

As first announced by our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, United Airlines just introduced a special Star Wars-themed Boeing 737-800 aircraft featuring a Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker-themed look and onboard experience. The new paint design captures the galactically grand atmosphere of the Star Wars universe, and features imagery of iconic Star Wars spacecrafts—including the X-wing and TIE fighter starships. The aircraft’s tail also displays different colored lightsabers against a black backdrop on each side, indicating both sides of the Force.

Passengers are greeted with classic Star Wars-themed music during the boarding process; watch an inflight safety demonstration video that features characters from the new film (so fun, right?!); and enjoy headrests with the emblems of the Resistance and First Order. Plus, commemorative pins will be distributed throughout December to celebrate the movie’s premiere. See what makes the plane so unique in the new video, above.

It’s truly an “out-of-this-world” journey… and if you’re flying United in the near future, perhaps you’ll be “recruited” onboard!

 Tree of Life Awakens for the Holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If you’ve been following along here at News Briefs, you’ve already heard that Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating the holidays in a big way—bigger than ever before in their two-decade-long history… And now, we have a look at what that means for the park’s incredible Tree of Life. Take a gander at what you can expect this season in the new clip, above.

The new Tree of Life awakenings are themed to several holiday-related stories and are colorful (and adorable) as can be. And some of the animals seen in the awakenings can also be observed around Discovery Island during the day, in the form of incredible new puppets created just for the occasion. So if you and your family should find yourselves at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the next few weeks, don’t miss your chance to see it all in person!

Freeform logo

Freeform Gets Romantic with New Valentine’s Day-Themed Movie

The holidays may still be on the horizon, but the new year will be here before we know it—which means Valentine’s Day isn’t far behind! (Time certainly flies, right?) And our pals over at Freeform just announced the start of production on a brand-new Valentine’s Day-themed romantic comedy film, to debut on the network in February…

The Thing About Harry (currently shooting in Chicago, and directed by Good Trouble and The Fosters creator Peter Paige) follows two high school enemies—uber-jock Harry (newcomer Niko Terho) and out-and-proud Sam (Grey’s Anatomy’s Jake Borelli)—who are forced to share a car ride to their Missouri hometown for a friend’s engagement party on Valentine’s Day. Things take a turn when Sam learns Harry has come out; stuck spending the night together in a roadside motel, Harry and Sam begin to develop a deep friendship—with neither admitting a potential romance may be brewing—leaving them wondering if one road trip could change the rest of their lives.

Rounding out the cast are Karamo Brown (Dancing with the Stars, Queer Eye) as Paul, an exceedingly well put-together (yet just a touch overbearing) gay man; Britt Baron (GLOW) as Stasia, Sam’s edgy and opinionated best friend; and director Paige himself as Casey, Sam’s warmhearted roommate.

Look for The Thing About Harry on Freeform this spring!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Epcot International Festival of the Arts Announces 2020 Schedule

Speaking of “fun things to look forward to next year,” Epcot just released some new info about its upcoming International Festival of the Arts—which will celebrate all things visual, culinary, and performing arts for a whopping 39 days, from January 17 to February 24, 2020. The event features visiting artists; an array of delicious foodie delights; and plenty of opportunities for guests to embrace their own inner artists.

The popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series will return to America Gardens Theatre with three daily performances, headlined by amazing Broadway stars who’ll reprise fan-fave songs from past turns in Disney’s award-winning Broadway shows. The show-stopping schedule—which includes several alums of the recent D23 Expo 2019 Disney on Broadway event—currently features:

  • 17, 20, 21, 24, and 25 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King)
  • 18, 19, 22, 23, and 25 – Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid, Freaky Friday) and Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins)
  • 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff, and Lee
  • 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 – Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan)
  • 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24 – Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
  • Additional January and February performances still to be announced.

But that’s not all: New for 2020 is the Le Cellier Brunch in the Canada pavilion, a leisurely prix fixe bounty each Saturday and Sunday in the relaxing Canadian chateau (reservations required)… And the festival will also feature photo ops aplenty; opportunities to watch our favorite artists in action; delicious eats and treats; your chance to grab your own paintbrush and add color to a wall mural along World Showcase Plaza; and so much more!

Ready to get artistic? Click here for more information, don your favorite painter’s smock, and we’ll see ya there!