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Well, well. In honor of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil flying into theaters this Friday, we pay homage to one of the more iconic Maleficent moments. We’ve all been dazzled by the magic of Disney films but even more by the soirées and celebrations throughout. In fact, in the words of Maleficent, a Disney party is “quite a glittering assemblage.” But like the Mistress of Evil, we, too, would love to have received an invitation to any of these Disney parties…
The Prince’s Ball in Cinderella Nothing is more glamorous than a ball. The gowns! The décor! The handsome prince! It’s a royal celebration that couldn’t be more perfect, and we’re as green as Drizella’s dress that we weren’t there.
The New Year’s Eve Party in High School Musical Normally, being forced onstage to sing karaoke with a complete stranger during New Year’s Eve is the last thing we want to do, but in High School Musical, the awkward situation turns into a night to remember. Plus, we’ll never turn down a duet with Troy Bolton!
Roar Omega Roar Party in Monsters University Bust out your dance shoes, groove your scary feet and get ready to party like a Scarer because being invited to Roar Omega Roar Party is a sign of a scary good time; well, unless you’re Oozma Kappa—but they even have a good time for most of the event! Even on a school night, this awesome party is the place to be.
The Unbirthday Party in Alice in Wonderland The Mad Hatter and March Hare always know how to throw a party. Delightful songs, tasty treats, and a nice cup of tea are a grand way to celebrate any occasion.
The Halloween Party in Hocus Pocus Oh, Halloween. There’s nothing like an eventful costume party to put you in a spooktacular mood. Add the Sanderson sisters, and it’s truly a spellbinding party where you’ll dance ‘til you drop, literally. Now, this is totally Maleficent’s kind of party.
Fozziwig’s Annual Christmas Party in The Muppet Christmas Carol Onto another festive party—Fozziwig’s! The holidays are host to beary fun soirées and Fozziwig’s is no exception. With a buffet catered by the Swedish Chef and live music by Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, this Christmas party is not to be missed.
And Last But Not Least… Aurora’s Christening inSleeping Beauty At not even a day old, Aurora already had one of the most stunning parties around. A whole day in honor of the princess brought the entire kingdom to the castle to celebrate with songs and enchanting presents. It’s a ravishing party, well, up until Maleficent puts a curse on the baby-of-honor, but we’re not judging.
It’s the spookiest time of the year, with D23’s Mostly Ghostly Halloween and the 70th anniversary of the Disney classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in our midst. We’ve tested your knowledge on classic Disney Halloween shorts and wicked villains, but how well do you know this haunting tale of the Headless Horseman and the ever-superstitious Ichabod Crane? Will you lose your head or are you a master at Sleepy Hollow trivia? Find out below! Make sure to scroll down for the answers!
1. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is paired with which tale?
A) Pecos Bill
B) The Wind in the Willows
C) Fun and Fancy Free
D) So Dear to My Heart
2.The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is narrated by whom?
A) Walt Disney
B) Basil Rathbone
C) Bing Crosby
D) Jack Kinney
3. The character Ichabod Crane was largely animated by which Disney animator?
A) Frank Thomas
B) Ollie Johnston
C) Ward Kimball
D) Marc Davis
4. Which character is not from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?
A) Brom Bones
B) Angus MacBadger
C) Baltus Van Tassel
D) Tilda
5. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad was originally named…?
A) Ichabod and Mr. Toad
B) The Winds and the Hollow
C) Ichabod and Mr. Toad’s Fabulous Adventures
D) Two Fabulous Characters
6. The Headless Horseman is a Disney villain who has appeared on horseback. Which of these villains has NOT been seen riding a horse?
A) Gaston
B) Sir Kay
C) Bill Sykes
D) Minister of Justice Frollo
7. Walt Disney personally visited which area in New York to research forThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow?
A) Tarrytown
B) Syracuse
C) New York City
D) Rochester
8. When animating Katrina, animators used which character from Make Mine Music for reference?
A) Alice Bluebonnet from Johnny Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet
B) Dinah Shore from Two Silhouettes
C) Andy Russell from Without You
D) Grace Martin from The Martins and the Coys
9. Brom Bones’ horse in the film is named…?
A) Ghost
B) Daredevil
C) Gunpowder
D) Dynamo
Correct Answers:
1. B) The Wind in the Willows The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was originally intended to be a full-length feature prior to World War II, but the cost of the film post-war became too high. The story was later turned into a short film and packaged with Mr. Toad’s The Wind in the Willows.
2. C) Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby also recorded a song for the film called “The Headless Horseman,” which featured his four sons—Gary, Lindsay, and twins Phillip and Dennis.
3. A) Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas was one of the Nine Old Men and worked on many memorable films such as Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
4. B) Angus MacBadger
Angus MacBadger is one of Mr. Toad’s companions.
5. D) Two Fabulous Characters Two Fabulous Characters was the name of the feature film during the early stages of production until someone suggested it may not attract as many people to the cinema.
6. C) Bill Sykes
With more than 70 animated features from Disney and Pixar, only a small group of villains have appeared on horseback, including Gaston, Jafar, and Shan-Yu.
7. A) Tarrytown
Walt Disney worked very closely on this film, even visiting the Tarrytown region on the Hudson River, as well as researching colonial music to make sure everything was as accurate as can be.
8. D) Grace Martin from The Martins and the Coys
Animators modeled Katrina after Grace Martin from The Martins and the Coys sequence in Make Mine Music. Both Katrina and Grace also bear a resemblance to Slue Foot Sue in Pecos Bill.
9. C) Gunpowder
Brom Bones’ horse in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad bears a resemblance to The Headless Horseman’s ghostly steed.
If you got…
0-1/9
Your knowledge on this particular story is a frightful sight, but how about taking the quiz again?
2-3/9
Beware! Your knowledge is, well, a little bare. But, no fear! You’re almost there.
4-5/9
No need to lose your head. You’re halfway there! Take the quiz again to see how you fare.
6-7/9
We’re quite impressed! You’re still a few answers away from a perfect score, but just a heads up, you can take this quiz again to see if have what it takes!
8-9/9
How spectacular! Looks like we have a Sleepy Hollow aficionado in our midst.
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt go on a not-so-little expedition, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series gets a sneak-peek simulcast… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
It’s Here: Jungle Cruise Debuts its Brand-New, First-Look Trailer!
It was a truly glorious morning, for we were gifted with the very first official trailer for Disney’s Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt! For a first (or perhaps 81st) viewing, click on the clip above…
Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Jungle Cruise is an adventure-filled, Amazon-jungle expedition starring Johnson as a charismatic riverboat captain and Blunt as a determined explorer on a research mission. The film also stars Edgar Ramirez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra; produced by John Davis, John Fox, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, and Beau Flynn; and executive produced by Doug Merrifield, Jungle Cruise sails into U.S. theaters on July 24, 2020.
Save the Date! Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
Studios October 18, 2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in U.S. theaters 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 October 1-31, 2019 Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween November 5, 2019 ABC airs The Wonderful Word of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! (8—10 p.m. EST) November 8, 2019 High School Musical: The Series airs on ABC, Disney Channel, and Freeform (8 p.m. EST) November 8, 2019 The Rocketeer premieres on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT), Disney Junior (5 p.m. EDT), and DisneyNOW November 16, 2019 Big City Greens Kicks Off Season Two on Disney Channel (9:30 a.m. EST/PST)
Sneak Peek at Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
In just a matter of weeks, we’ll get to meet the newest crop of Wildcats when Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series debuts… Hear from the show’s cast and producers about what’s in store—for original High School Musical fans and new viewers alike—in the brand-new sneak peek, above.
But that’s not all: If you were hoping to see an episode of the show a little early, those prayers have been answered! On Friday, November 8, at 8 p.m. EST, our pals over at ABC, Freeform, and Disney Channel will air a special telecast of the series’ premiere episode. Mark those calendars, because trust us—you do not want to miss the tuneful, heartfelt hilarity.
Starring a multitalented cast, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series follows a group of drama students and faculty members at East High, the Utah high school where the original High School Musical was filmed. Over the course of 10 episodes, these characters count down from auditions to opening night of their school’s first-ever production of High School Musical: The Musical. Budding romances bloom, faltering friendships flare up, and harsh rivalries explode as the group experiences the truly transformative power that only high school theater can provide.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premieres on Disney+ when the streaming services launches November 12!
Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer Announces Premiere Date
If you read D23.com with any regularity, you know we have a soft spot for Disney’s 1991 action-adventure The Rocketeer. (Read up on star Billy Campbell’s memories from the making of the film right here.) So it should come as no surprise that we’re ridiculously excited for Disney Junior’s new animated series based on the fan-favorite film. And as of this week, we have a premiere date!
The Rocketeer—a brand-new, comedic adventure series—follows a young girl named Kit Secord, who takes to the skies to protect her community after becoming the surprise recipient of a rocket-pack that gives her the incredible ability to fly… and it’ll debut on Friday, November 8, on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT), Disney Junior (5 p.m. EDT), and DisneyNOW. Inspired by Dave Stevens’ beloved superhero comic books, and the Walt Disney Pictures feature film, the series features the voices of Kitana Turnbull (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Kit, and Kathy Najimy (Hocus Pocus) and original Rocketeer star Campbell as her parents, Sareena and Dave Secord.
Set in the idyllic small town of Hughesville, each episode of The Rocketeer is made up of two 11-minute stories that follow Kit as she embarks on a high-flying adventure to help save her community and its residents from (suitably hilarious) trouble. As with most superheroes, Kit has a team to help her pull off her heroic adventures and keep her identity hidden from the masses. Her best friend Tesh (voice of Callan Farris, Gabby Duran & the Unsittables) serves as Ground Control when Kit takes to the skies, and is also the inventor of the hi-tech gadgets and upgrades for her rocket-pack… and her grandfather, Ambrose Secord (voice of Frank Welker), works at the Hughesville Airport and serves as her mechanic. Upcoming guest stars include Marlo Thomas (That Girl), Annie Potts (Toy Story 4), D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place), Phylicia Rashad (Disney and Pixar’s upcoming Soul), and many more.
Don’t miss your chance to meet Kit this November!
A New Onward Trailer, and it’s Chris Pratt- & Tom Holland-Approved!
We wholeheartedly enjoy Chris Pratt and Tom Holland; honestly, we’d watch them reading a deli menu if it came down to it. Luckily, it hasn’t; not only can we look forward to them starring together in Disney and Pixar’s Onward, but we were also—just this week—gifted with a hilarious video of the pair watching the latest Onward trailer for the very first time. See their reaction (and check out the trailer, if you haven’t already) by clicking here.
New Pixar-Themed Alaska Airlines Plane Goes to Friendship and Beyond
Taking to the skies is getting a whole lot friendlier… In tribute to Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park, Alaska Airlines just revealed a special-edition plane appropriately named “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort”! Take a gander at the plane’s colorful makeover—featuring Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the friendly green Aliens—in the new clip, above.
This is the sixth specially painted plane from Alaska Airlines over the last 20 years, and it gives guests the opportunity to enjoy some Disney fun even before they arrive at the parks! The inaugural flight departed earlier this week from Seattle—with a stop in San Francisco for a special gate ceremony, and then on to its arrival in Orange County. The aircraft’s design was a collaboration between Alaska Airlines, Disneyland Resort, and Pixar Animation Studios, and it’s now flying throughout Alaska’s route network.
And here are some fun facts: The exterior of the plane required more than 2,800 work hours, and took 24 days to complete—using 50 gallons of paint in 44 primary colors and custom shades. Perhaps you’ll be joined by Woody and friends on your next Alaska flight!
The Owl House: Announcements from New York Comic-Con!
There’s a highly anticipated new animated series coming soon to Disney Channel… and now we know when to officially expect the fun! At last week’s massive New York Comic-Con, stars of The Owl House—Wendie Malick (voice of Eda), Sarah-Nicole Robles (voice of Luz), and Alex Hirsch (voice of King)—were joined by creator/executive producer Dana Terrace and art director Ricky Cometa for a free-wheeling panel… at which they not only debuted a special first-look clip from the series (see above!), but also announced its premiere date: January 2020!
The Owl House follows Luz, a self-assured teenage girl, as she stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm—where she befriends rebellious witch Eda and tiny warrior King. 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 an unlikely setting. Season one guest stars are set to include Matthew Rhys, Isabella Rossellini, Mae Whitman, Tati Gabrielle, and Bumper Robinson. Look for The Owl House on both Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.
Freeform’s Kickoff to Christmas Begins November 1
It’s true—we haven’t yet enjoyed the chills and thrills of Halloween. But in our estimation, it’s never too early to start planning for some holiday fun. And our good pals over at Freeform are commencing said holiday fun—in a big way—when Kickoff to Christmas begins Friday, November 1!
This year’s Kickoff programming event includes two new Freeform originals: Turkey Drop, a brand-new Thanksgiving-themed movie (debuting Saturday, November 23, at 9 p.m. EST/PST) starring Olivia Holt from Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, and Wrap Battle—a holiday gift-wrapping competition series, premiering Monday, November 25, at 9 p.m. EST/PST, hosted by comedian Sheryl Underwood (The Talk) and featuring Carson Kressley (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Wanda Wen (founder of fine stationary and luxury paper brand Soolip) as judges.
But that’s not all: Kickoff to Christmas will also include fan-favorite movies such as Frozen, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, The BFG, and so much more. Check out the full schedule by clicking here.
ICYMI: Joachim Rønning Talks Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
The further adventures of Disney’s iconic antihero begin October 18, when Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in theaters… and to celebrate, director Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) recently gave D23 an inside look at his filmmaking process. Find out what went into creating an epic adventure for the big screen by clicking here.
“Very Very Minnie!” Coming to Tokyo Disneyland This January
Should you find yourself jetting off to Japan for a vacay early next year, you’ll be very excited—especially if you’re a fan of Minnie Mouse (and obviously, who isn’t?)—to learn of some brand-new fun in store this spring at Tokyo Disney Resort.
From January 10 to March 19, 2020, Tokyo Disneyland park will feature “Very Very Minnie!”—a brand-new event featuring special entertainment, merchandise, and menu items all themed to that world-renowned style icon herself, Minnie Mouse! Showbase, the theater in Tomorrowland, will showcase It’s Very Minnie!; in this brand-new musical revue, Minnie and all her Disney pals will be dressed in adorable costumes—and they’ll not only perform a new song created especially for this show, but also a cavalcade of favorite Disney tunes. Meanwhile, Very Minnie Remix—a mini parade featuring both new music and nostalgic nods to past park entertainment—will delight guests all along the parade route. If you’re feeling hungry, make sure to check out the special Minnie-themed menu at the Eastside Café, or the exclusive tapioca drink inspired by Minnie’s signature polka dot dress… and don’t forget all the Minnie-themed decoration that’ll be highlighted throughout the park!
“Very Very Minnie!” will also help usher in Tokyo Disneyland’s newest character greeting area, Minnie’s Style Studio—the very first Disney character greeting location featuring the “leading lady” herself, as well as her magical fashion creations! The Style Studio dots start to rock, proverbially speaking, in April 2020
Gabby Duran might not be exactly what Disney fans think of when they conjure images of a “practically perfect” caregiver. Sure, she’s eager to serve up a spoonful of sugar… it just might come in the form of a box of super-sweet cereal or an extra-large bottle of soda. But when Gabby makes her debut this week, fans will surely understand why she holds the title “Best Babysitter in the Galaxy.” A new kind of adventure in babysitting begins this Friday, October 11, on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app with the series premiere of Gabby Duran & the Unsittables (9 p.m. EDT/ PDT).
The hilarious new live-action series centers on 13-year-old Gabby, as she adjusts to a new city and a new school. Her TV journalist mom and overachieving little sister are quick to rack up new successes, while Gabby, on the other hand, is still figuring out where she belongs. “She’s navigating this world of adolescence, which is kind of an alien terrain in and of itself,” explains Mike Alber, who, with Gabe Snyder, executive produces the series alongside Joe Nussbaum. And while Gabby might not have found her place, Alber emphasizes that she’s far from lost. “It’s less a show about trying to fit in and more about Gabby trying to be part of this world without changing who she is. That was really important to us,” he says. The über-confident teen remains unflappable in every situation, making it no wonder that she finds herself tasked with babysitting a very important group of extraterrestrial children who are here on earth, living incognito with their families.
After meeting her, Alber and Snyder knew “immediately” that multitalented actress and musician Kylie Cantrall was the only person who could play Gabby. “So much of the show comes right from Kylie,” Snyder says. “As soon as she came in, she had this whole great ’90s hip hop vibe to her. In our original version of the pilot, the character was a little bit more of a hot mess—and then Kylie came in and was just so fun and cool.”
Already a YouTube sensation at 14, Cantrall has interviewed musicians such as Pentatonix, Matty B., and Jordyn Jones and she’s released numerous music videos—including her most recent video, “Feeling Some Kinda Way,” which was released through the Disney Channel Voices initiative. Cantrall felt an instant connection to the character and finds her extremely relatable. “The cool thing about Gabby Duran is that is that she’s not perfect. She messes up a lot of the time. She doesn’t exactly know what she’s going to do,” she shares. “I think that tells people it’s OK—you can be your own hero.”
And sometimes, Gabby isn’t simply trying to save herself; the fate of the galaxy just might be in her hands as she keeps a watchful eye on a wide variety of extraterrestrial children. Alber and Snyder, who began writing together while they were in high school in western Michigan, are longtime science fiction fans who infuse Gabby Duran & the Unsittables with some “classic alien tropes” that have been given a fresh twist with the help of both special effects and creative makeup and costumes. “On one hand, you’ll have aliens with [characteristics such as] pointy ears or a nose ridge, and on the other end are completely CGI, visual effects-based aliens. We wanted to balance that out,” Alber says.
“When I’m shooting it, I’m usually talking to a piece of green tape or a green screen,” says Cantrall, who always looks forward to seeing the final result after all of the special effects have been added. “You really get that alien-human connection that I didn’t have on set.”
We posed the question to Cantrall, are there any Disney characters who she might consider “unsittable”? “Maybe Genie from Aladdin,” she muses. “He just seems like, oh my gosh, you can’t really tame him. He’s just going to do his own thing no matter what.” But as Gabby takes on her first babysitting assignment in the series premiere, a shape-shifting alien named Jeremy, it’s clear that the character will face any challenge—most likely even a shape-shifting genie—with confidence and humor.
Ahead of its debut, Disney Channel announced this week that Gabby Duran & the Unsittables has already been picked up for a second season. Fans can look forward to more “alien hijinks” but, more important, themes and scenarios anyone can connect with. As Snyder points out, “The premise of the show really allows us to tell classic coming-of-age stories that are going to be really relatable to fans—but maybe do it in ways that they haven’t seen before.”
Look around and you might just find a little magic in the new trailer for Disney and Pixar’s Onward. Set in a suburban fantasy world populated with a myriad of mythical creatures, the animated adventure movie centers on two teenage brothers, Ian Lightfoot (voice of Tom Holland) and Barley Lightfoot (voice of Chris Pratt). Together, the elf siblings embark on an astonishing quest—in a van named Guinevere—to see if there is still some magic left in the world. Emmy® Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer round out the cast.
If the new look at Onward has gotten you so excited about the upcoming film that you’re feeling the need to watch the trailer again, you’re in good company. Pixar gave stars Holland and Pratt a sneak peek and they were as captivated by it as we are (and seemed especially charmed by their first look at the Lightfoots’ family “dog”).
Watch the trailer (above), then watch Holland and Pratt’s reaction to the new footage (below):
Pixar Animation Studios’ original feature film is directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae, the team behind Monsters University. Onward will open in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2020.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is no fairy tale, in the words of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Queen Ingrith… but it is a worthy sequel to Maleficent, a film that grossed over $750 million worldwide after its May 2014 release. The main cast is back, starring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Elle Fanning as Aurora and Sam Riley as Diaval. In addition to Pfeiffer, newcomers to the franchise include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Conall and Ed Skrein as Borra.
Recently, the aforementioned actors joined co-star Harris Dickinson (Prince Philip) and director Joachim Rønning at the film’s global press conference in Beverly Hills, where they enchanted us with stories from the set and shared their personal connections to the next chapter in this captivating story. “As a filmmaker, it was important for me to make something original and to take Maleficent to the next level,” said Rønning, who was fresh off directing another sequel, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, when he signed on to helm Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. All the while, Rønning never lost sight of “what’s important to the fans.”
The sequel picks up several years after the events of the first film and continues to explore the complex relationship between Maleficent and Aurora. After Prince Philip proposes to her, Aurora—now Queen of the Moors—hopes to unite their neighboring kingdoms once and for all. It’s a noble ambition—one complicated by the fact that Maleficent disapproves of their impending union. (Queen Ingrith seemingly does, too, although she would never tell the couple.) Following a tense dinner between the two families, Aurora and Maleficent spend some time apart, giving them both a chance to discover who they are without each other—and, ultimately, where they are meant to be.
Jolie was particularly proud to revisit her role. “I’ve been through different things in my life, and I was so happy to feel strong again and to have some fun,” she said. “I adore being her. There’s just something about her. I’m very proud to be associated with her.” For that reason, she was excited to discover what makes Maleficent… Maleficent. “We’re not here just to exist,” Jolie said. “You have to know what you stand for, what you’re willing to fight for—even die for. And if you live that way, then whatever pain comes with it, whatever sacrifice comes with it, you embrace it, and it actually fills you with purpose.”
Before you flock to your local movie theater to see the film—faster than Maleficent or Diaval can flap their wings!—enjoy these five stories from the global press conference:
1. Family dynamics are more complicated than ever. “I think Maleficent questions whether she’s good enough to be a mother—and whether she is her mother,” said Jolie, whose character raised Aurora (albeit in the shadows). “We go through this period in the middle of the film where everybody is really focusing on their differences.” But, along the way, “There’s a real push to say, ‘This is now how it should be; this is not how to live. Diversity makes us stronger. There is a better way forward. We have to come together.’”
2. Heroes and villains aren’t so easily defined. “What I loved is that [the first film] played in this gray area. It talked about good versus evil,” Pfeiffer said, “and that all of us have a little bit of everything in us.” Aurora is the “strongest and wisest” of them all, Pfeiffer argued, since she leads with love no matter the circumstance. “My character is really brilliant and diabolical, but I wouldn’t consider her terribly wise… Without getting too cerebral about the whole thing, nobody behaves that way unless they’re incredibly damaged on some level. She just doesn’t wear it on her sleeve, I guess. And in some ways, what she resorts to is really, truly, at the end of the day, out of a very deep fear.”
3. Aurora isn’t the only one who warms Maleficent’s heart. “We’ve become sort of surrogate parents to Aurora,” Riley said of his and Jolie’s characters. “Diaval is one of the only ones who is brave enough to contradict Maleficent and some of her behaviors, or suggest a means of being more polite… We had a lot of fun playing this sort of thing.”
4. Hair and makeup were key in telling the story visually. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick created distinct looks for the three women at the heart of the story. Her department included agers, buyers, cutters, dyers, jewelry makers, prop designers and textiles artists, and her team was responsible for dressing nearly 600 extras as villagers. Meanwhile, hair and makeup designer Paul Gooch oversaw a department of 44 artists. In addition to doing hair and makeup for the principal and supporting cast, he and his team got hundreds of extras camera‐ready. (Jolie’s look was conceptualized by her personal makeup artist, Toni G., who also worked on the first film.) “The first makeup test I did was 10 and a half hours; we got it down to about four and a half hours by the end,” Skrein said. “Going through that every morning—that process of putting on the cheekbones, the ears, the skin, the claws, finishing with the contact lenses—you’ve gone through a complete physical transformation. You are physically informed by that.” The only issue, he recalled, is he had to “be a little bit careful with locking horns” during action scenes. Laughing, Jolie reminded him, “Your horns almost got me that one time!”
5. Empowerment is a major theme. “Maleficent is disapproving of Prince Philip, but we know love wins,” Fanning said. “Aurora stands up to Maleficent, which is a such a strong moment in the film; I think it might be shocking for fans to see that, because Aurora is taking charge of her own life—but with kindness.” Similarly, Prince Philip has to convince his parents that uniting two seemingly different kingdoms is not only right—it’s the only way forward. “It’s difficult when you’re going up against your own parents,” Dickinson said. “That’s something he struggles with continuously.” Aurora is his chosen family, and his loyalties lie with her: “He strives for change and just tries to support her.”
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in theaters October 18, 2019.
Get ready to explore a whole new world with Gameloft and Disney’s Disney Princess Majestic Quest, featuring Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine! The all-new Match 3 puzzle game lets you journey throughout the three realms of each Disney Princess as they try to rebuild after a magical gem storm leaves their kingdoms in royal ruin. Piece together clues and test your puzzle skills to solve the mystery, one match at a time.
Halloween time is in full swing, and in both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, there is frightful fun to be had no matter where you go! The parks and hotels are filled with Halloween treats and so is Disney Springs in Florida and the Downtown Disney District in California!
From special dining experiences such as WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs—a limited-time celebration running through November 4—to plenty of shopping, Halloween-themed entertainment and boo-tiful décor, there’s something for everyone at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney this season.
Fang-tastic Treats Kick off the autumn season with WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs featuring a new host of seasonally inspired eats! Celebrate your favorite fall flavors with everything from harvest tacos and pumpkin desserts to hard ciders and autumn-inspired cocktails. Over at Downtown Disney are even more delightful treats with specialty eats at six food locations. From Sprinkles’ pumpkin cupcakes and their seasonal Boo Box—filled with an assortment of spooky good cupcakes—to Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes’ Halloween CrazyShake and bewitching themed caramel apples at Marceline’s Confectionery. It’s all too ghoul to resist!
Spellbinding Shopping If you’re looking for a splash of spooky home décor and apparel, be sure to check out the World of Disney at both Disney Springs and Downtown Disney. Plus, don’t miss the frightfully fun selection of costumes and accessories for Halloween and get your newly purchased ghostly goodies personalized at Disney’s Days of Christmas and Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Disney Springs.
Spooktacular Experiences Looking for eerie entertainment? The Zombie Drum Corps is returning to Disney Springs on October 18-31. Plus, snap a group photo in front of Halloween-inspired backdrops at the Disney PhotoPass® Studio, located at the Marketplace.
In the Downtown Disney District, look out for the Halloween planters featuring over 2,500 pumpkins and 1,900 gourds—quite the picturesque backdrop. And, on Wednesday and Friday nights, check out the hauntingly entertaining ScareOLers all throughout October for a good scare-ol.
It’s not unusual to hear Joachim Rønning ask, “What’s next?”
After continuing the adventures of Jack Sparrow in Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ 2017 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Rønning was approached to direct Maleficent’s next chapter. The Disney villain’s origin story had cast a spell on audiences in 2014, when Angelina Jolie played her in the live-action film, and Rønning jumped at the chance to explore the character’s past, present, and future. “This is my second sequel,” Rønning recently confirmed to D23. “I really love working with Disney!”
Feeling inspired, Rønning began by assembling an accomplished creative team to help bring his vision to life. Key players included director of photography Henry Braham; production designer Patrick Tatopoulos; costume designer Ellen Mirojnick; composer Geoff Zanelli; film editors Laura Jennings and Craig Wood; visual effects supervisor Gary Brozenich; makeup designer Paul Gooch; special makeup effects designer David White; and stunt coordinators Simon Crane and Jo McLaren; among others. Jolie had already signed on to star in and produce the film with Duncan Henderson and Joe Roth, and actors Elle Fanning and Sam Riley signed on to reprise their roles as Aurora and Diaval, respectively. Executive producer Linda Woolverton also returned as a co-screenwriter; together, with co‐screenwriters Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman‐Blue, they crafted a screenplay that picks up several years after the events of the first movie.
“I was interested in some sort of an origin story for Maleficent discovering she’s not the only one—the only Dark Fey,” Rønning said. “And all of that made the universe bigger.” It helped that Jolie “is very hands on when we work on the scripts,” he added. In fact, he admitted the scriptwriting process “never stopped” on set. “That’s what I’m doing when we break for lunch on set; I continue working on the script and running it by her. Our days started in the makeup trailer, where she’d sit for a couple hours getting her horns and her cheekbones and all that done. And I was there with her; it’s where we worked.”
Rønning wanted to “take it to the next level,” which is why he turned to Michelle Pfeiffer, who was cast to play Prince Philip’s mother, the cunning Queen Ingrith. Early on, the Queen of Ulstead devises an evil plan to divide humans and fairies forever. Pfeiffer was “at the very top of my [casting] list,” Rønning said, as she’s “one of the few who can go up against Maleficent… or Angelina, for that matter!” To his delight, Pfeiffer delivered—and then some! “I just felt so lucky to have her there every day on set,” he said. “Those days are the best days, you know? When you have Michelle Pfeiffer, Angelina Jolie, and Elle Fanning battling it out in front of your camera, you really do feel so privileged.”
Principal photography took place at the iconic Pinewood Studios outside London in the summer of 2018. Most sets were built practically on six soundstages and on the studio’s backlot, which were enhanced with visual effects in post-production. A week was also spent filming on locations in and around the U.K., including Syon House Lake, Burnham Beeches, and Windsor Great Park. “There are always going to be a lot of effects shots…. but we always prefer shooting elements and set pieces,” Rønning explained. “Things that are huge parts of the story, we wanted that on camera as much as possible.”
The Dark Fey nest where Maleficent connects with her clan—led by Conall (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Borra (Ed Skrein)—is the perfect example of a practical set supplemented by visual effects. “The Dark Fey nest is so vast and so big; there is no way you can build that,” Rønning said. “You build elements, then you put the characters in there—it’s like a little igloo—and the rest is on the computer. The process took a year to plan. We stood on set with the actors, and we’d already built it on the computer, so they could look at the monitor and look around, and then they could ‘see’ what they’re looking at.”
Rønning also estimated he spent about nine months working with two editors on the climactic 20-minute battle scene at Queen Ingrith’s castle. “In order to map it out, you plan for a year. You draw it, you have models, you have miniatures, you have 3-D models in the computer. You sit with the screenwriters to be as structured as you can… and then you begin editing and just throw it all out the window!” Rønning said with a laugh. “Then you discover it again, and you start putting it together again. It’s probably the most difficult thing you can edit—and probably what we spent the most time editing.”
With a production as big as this, no detail is too big or too small—down to the vibrant hue of Maleficent’s lipstick. “We spent hours and hours talking about the shade of red,” Rønning said. “Nothing is left to chance here. It’s all about planning, planning, planning.” Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in theaters October 18, 2019.
We can’t think of anyone better to help us commemorate all things All Hallows’ Eve then some of our favorite Disney Villains—including the magnificent Maleficent, who is winging her way back onto screens around the globe this week in Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. How well do you know the protector of the moors and all her Villain kin? Take our quiz and find out! For more Mostly Ghostly trivia, check out our week one quiz. Make sure to scroll down to see the answers, and to see what kind of villainous trouble lies in your bones!
1. Which Disney animator was the artistic force behind Maleficent in 1959’s Sleeping Beauty?
A) Milt Kahl
B) Ollie Johnston
C) Marc Davis
D) Frank Thomas
2. Maleficent’s voice actress also helped bring the character to life as a live-action reference model. Who was she?
A) Eleanor Audley
B) Mary Costa
C) Verna Felton
D) Barbara Jo Allen
3. Speaking of Maleficent’s voice actress, what other Disney Villain did she portray?
A) Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
B) Lady Tremaine in Cinderella C) Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland
D) Madam Mim in The Sword and the Stone
4. What item inspired Maleficent’s iconic, darkly mysterious look?
A) A statue seen in a French cathedral
B) A vase found in the ruins of Pompeii
C) A painting from a Czechoslovakian art book
D) A costume from a children’s stage play in 1900s London
5. Once Maleficent transforms into the fire-breathing Dragon, how does Prince Phillip finally thwart her?
A) With a magical potion created by Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather
B) By imprisoning it in the castle dungeon
C) With an iron bolt—fired from a scorpion—to the eye
D) With the Shield of Virtue and the Sword of Truth
6. What 1940s movie star inspired the look for Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent, beginning with the 2014 film and continuing with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil?
A) Talullah Bankhead
B) Marlene Dietrich
C) Rita Hayworth
D) Hedy Lamarr
7. Which one of Maleficent’s fellow villains was partially inspired by a character named Brom Bones in Disney’s 1949 short The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?
A) Gaston from Beauty and the Beast
B) Captain Hook from Peter Pan
C) Scar from The Lion King
D) Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
8. An actor already known for many Halloween-adjacent film roles helped director Wilfred “Jaxon” Jackson and animator Vladimir “Bill” Tytla with some live-action reference for Chernabog—the menacing winged devil in 1940’s Fantasia. Who was he?
A) Boris Karloff
B) Lon Chaney
C) Bela Lugosi
D) Vincent Price
9. Who’s the only performer to appear on stage, in one of Disney Theatrical’s hit Broadway musicals, as the Disney Villain they first gave voice to in an animated film?
A) Pat Carroll as Ursula in The Little Mermaid
B) Jonathan Freeman as Jafar in Aladdin
C) Richard White as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
D) Santino Fontana as Hans in Frozen
10. Actor Brian Blessed not only voiced the villainous hunter Clayton in 1999’s Tarzan, but he also provide what for the film?
A) A hardbound copy of Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes
B) The voice of Tantor the elephant
C) An idea for one of Phil Collins’ songs in the film
D) Tarzan’s quintessential yell
Correct Answers:
1. C) Marc Davis
2. A) Eleanor Audley
3. B) Lady Tremaine in Cinderella
4. C) A painting from a Czechoslovakian art book
5. D) With the Shield of Virtue and the Sword of Truth
6. B) Marlene Dietrich
7. A) Gaston from Beauty and the Beast
8. C) Bela Lugosi
9. B) Jonathan Freeman as Jafar in Aladdin 10. D) Tarzan’s quintessential yell
If you got…
0-2/10 “Oh dear, what an awkward situation.” Your Disney Villain knowledge may need a bit of improvement, but this quiz could stump ravens and royalty alike! Why not give it another go?
3-4/10 You’re almost halfway there! Don’t let “the years roll by” before you give our quiz one more try…
5-6/10 Nice work; your answers prove to be “quite a glittering assemblage”… but our guess is that with another try, you’ll become a villainous victor!
7-8/10 “Why so melancholy?” You’re tantalizingly close to being a Disney Villain virtuoso! You’ll be flying alongside Maleficent and all the magical creatures of the moors in no time.
9-10/10
“A most gratifying day”—we’re impressed! Your knowledge of Maleficent, and all her fellow Disney Villains, is frighteningly good!
