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It’s almost time… Disney Parks Blog is hosting a #DisneyParksLIVE stream covering the out-of-this-world dedication ceremony of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge today, and you can watch right here at 8:20 p.m. PDT | 11:20 p.m. EDT
We’ve been covering all the exciting updates on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge all day, so be sure to check out some of our other stories to learn more about the newest addition to the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland on May 31 and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 29.
From the moment of his creation, Forky (voice of Tony Hale) experiences an existential crisis. As he tries to explain to Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) in Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 (in U.S. theaters June 24, 2019), “I am not a toy! I was made for soup, salad… and then the trash!” Because unlike Bonnie’s other toys—Buzz Lightyear (voice of Disney Legend Tim Allen), Jessie (voice of Joan Cusack), Rex (voice of Wallace Shawn), and Hamm (voice of John Ratzenberger), to name a few—Forky wasn’t manufactured. Bonnie crafted him during kindergarten orientation, and he instantly became her favorite toy—a fact not lost on Woody, who wants her to be happy.
The Toy Story films are built upon the idea that everything has a purpose, director Josh Cooley says: “A toy’s purpose is to be there for its child, and a cup’s purpose is to hold water. Being that he’s a spork, it’s like, ‘Soup, salad, chili. I’m single use.’ Now he has a whole new purpose.”
Because of Forky, Cooley adds, “Woody has a new purpose as well.”
To bring Forky to life onscreen, animator Claudio De Oliveira picked up sporks from his local pizza place and created different iterations to understand how each element—googly eyes, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, etc.—could be animated. “I would be trying to glue down an eye, and all of a sudden, the eye would turn and look at me,” he says. “Straight into my soul.” After involving his kids in the crafting process, De Oliveira realized, “Even though he’s so limited, we would be able to find ways to convey emotion and make him feel like he belongs in this world.”
De Oliveira says early access to Hale’s voice recordings helped artists figure out Forky, as they were all working with “very limited resources” at that point in the production. For example, De Oliveira recalls how Hale’s different line readings of the word “trash” were so imaginative they inspired artists to finesse Forky’s design. “He just reminded us that we could find a way to do it.”
In retrospect, producer Jonas Rivera says adding a character like Forky to the mix was a no-brainer. “One thing I remember kicking around was the idea of kids at Christmas. Sometimes my kids will open a toy and then play with the box more,” he says. “I thought, ‘If you were a toy, that would be the worst insult.’” Just as Woody was initially wary of Buzz in Toy Story, he adds, “There was something about it amplifying Woody feeling replaced by the dumbest thing.”
“And it’s the ‘toy truth’ of it, really,” Cooley says of Forky gaining sentience via Bonnie. “Our kids, they do make craft projects and they play with them, so they could be alive in this world.”
Keep checking D23 for all things Toy Story 4 before it hits theaters June 21!
Tickets for Toy Story 4 are on sale now via Fandango.
Without question, one of the most uplifting Disney-Pixar films in the last 10 years is 2009’s Up, which not only went on to become a Best Animated Feature Oscar winner, but one of only three animated films in Academy Award history to earn a Best Picture Oscar nomination (Walt Disney’s 1991 classic Beauty and the Beast was the first, while Disney-Pixar’s smash hit Toy Story 3 from 2010 was the third).
Up follows the emotional story of Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner), an elderly widower who attempts to fulfill his late wife Ellie’s dream to travel to the beautiful South American destination of Paradise Falls. Taking flight in his house kept afloat by helium-filled balloons, Carl soon discovers that a young Wilderness Explorer, Russell (Jordan Nagai), is an accidental stowaway on his front porch, but that’s not the only unusual turn the trip takes: They also encounter a lovable canine named Dug, whose thoughts are interpreted through a talking dog collar; an exotic bird that Russell names “Kevin”; and lastly, Carl’s long-lost boyhood hero, Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), who is not all that he seems.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Up on May 29 as D23 continues to celebrate its own 10th anniversary, here are 10 uplifting facts about the film, taken from interviews conducted in 2009 with co-writer/director Pete Docter, co-writer/co-director and the voice of Dug, Bob Peterson, and Ed Asner.
1. A simple drawing at Pixar sparked the idea for the film.
Trying to unwind from his years of work co-writing and directing Disney-Pixar’s smash hit Monsters, Inc., Docter said he spotted a simple image that was drawn at Pixar that mirrored his desire to escape from everyday life.
“We had a drawing of a house buoyed by balloons at the studio, and there was something that was rather poetic and intriguing about it,” Docter recalled. “We started asking ourselves, ‘Who’s in there and where are they going?’ So, then I drew a picture of these colorful, fun, happy balloons and this super-grouchy guy, and Bob Peterson and I sat in a room and developed it all.”
2. Carl would have needed a lot more balloons to lift his house off the ground.
Priding themselves on details and plausibility, Docter, Peterson and their Pixar crew went so far as to investigate out the number of helium-filled balloons it would take in real life to raise a full-sized house off the ground. While thousands of balloons were suggested to complete the task in Up, Docter learned it would realistically take more like 20-30 million of them.
“We work with scientists, so they approach things from a very logical standpoint. We needed to find out how much lift and loft each balloon has to figure it out,” Docter explained. “There’s a ton of research that goes into every detail. Even the artist who designed Carl’s house, Don Shank, consulted with an architect and learned how a house attaches to a foundation in modern day versus a house that would have been built a lot earlier. All the stuff is there in the movie. It’s all stylized, of course, but it starts with reality.”
3. Upwas a rare film in that it featured a geriatric hero.
Peterson said Up was a departure from most movies in that it featured a geriatric person as the hero of the movie, someone who could deliver the comedy instead of being used as a punchline.
“We talked about characters that had never been done, and truly an underrepresented group of people in society—and just movie characters in general—are old people,” Peterson said. “We knew that the character of Carl would be original, but it also supported a lot of emotional things that old people do. Old people are great comic characters because they’ve truly earned the right to say what they think. It’s funny even thinking about it.”
4. Asner completed the role wanting to be more like Carl.
Even though Asner acquired a fair amount of wisdom by the time worked on Up at age 79, he said there was so much to learn about life after completing the role.
“I love finding characters that, in the end, make me realize, ‘I wish I would have been more like him,’” Asner said. “When I think of Carl, I tend to think of an ideal man, not a grouch. I think of somebody who is wise beyond his years and is finer than most mortals and represents somebody we should all look up to and emulate.”
5. Carl’s character was shaped by classic Hollywood films.
Docter said it was important that Carl’s adventure included an emotional journey that changed the widower’s outlook on life.
“The interesting thing is that the film starts as anything but optimistic. Carl is this closed-off guy who is shutting the world out and trying to live in denial,” Docter said. “But by the end of the movie he’s reached out to all these different characters and has become a vital, alive person again, like Rick from Casablanca or Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. I love those sorts of uplifting stories.”
6. Asner said he was humbled after seeing the film for the first time.
While Asner knew it was an honor to be chosen to star in a Disney-Pixar film, the acclaimed actor admitted that he underestimated all the artistry it took to bring Up to life on the big screen.
“Well, frankly, during the year and a half that I worked on the film, it was highly inflating to my ego,” Asner said. “Then, when I went to see the first screening of the movie, it was a revelation. It punctured my balloon to see all the unbelievable art up there on screen that I only added a grace note to.”
7. Docter said Asner brought a perfect balance to Carl.
Asner’s work was as the curmudgeonly Carl came with a bit of a personal touch, Docter said.
“He’s such a perfect guy for the role. He does this great, grouchy curmudgeon character, but that also makes him likable,” Docter said. “He’s also kind of like that as a person. He’d come to the studio to record with us and say (mimicking Asner grumbling), ‘You again!’ But as he would leave, he would shake your hand warmly and say, ‘Thank you so much.’ You really got the sense that he loves what he’s doing.”
8. Docter said the success of Up hinged on the relatability of its characters.
Despite all of its visual wonders, Docter said from a story standpoint that Up’s characters needed to be relatable for the film to resonate with its audiences.
“They have problems that we see in our own lives and have a hole in their lives that prevents them from being a complete person,” Docter said. “Russell has an absentee father and Carl lost his wife. Those holes make for a richer character.”
Docter added that the relatability factor also applied to the dog characters in the film: “When we get to animation, we try to be as specific as we can. You’ve seen a lot of animated dogs, and most of them stand on two legs and talk, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But in our film, we tried to look at real dogs and be inspired as much as we could by what real dogs think about, how they move and how they act. We had a dog behaviorist come in and talk about individual dog behavior and group dog behavior, and all of that went into the movie. The more specific you can be, the more relatable they become.”
9. Peterson was proud to voice Dug, and not just because of the comedy he brings to the film.
While Dug and other canines in Carl Muntz’s dog pack seem to always have rodents on their minds (“Squirrel!” is frequently blurted out loud), Peterson said there’s much more to Dug’s character than his comedic interludes.
“The undying love that dogs give us—the unconditional love—is exactly what Carl needed in the story,” Peterson observed. “Carl is given a new family, effectively, with a new grandson in Russell and a dog with Dug, and it was up to him to connect with these new family members after his wife passed on. What sort of better gauntlet was there to put in front of him than a dog who immediately loves you for who you are? I just love dogs, and I feel honored to play them in their essence.”
10. Carl and Ellie’s ‘Married Life’ scene was inspired by silent home movies.
Docter said that he and Peterson initially designed Up’s classic “Married Life” scene with snippets of dialogue, but ultimately decided to go a “silent movie” route (accompanied by Michael Giacchino’s Oscar-winning score) after recalling the atmosphere of his parents’ home movies.
“I grew up in a time where our parents took a lot of Super 8 movies of us,” Docter said. “When you watch them, of course it’s without dialogue—just the whirring of the projector. There’s something almost more emotional about it without the sound. With Up, as an audience member you’re asked to contribute to the scene, and it comes to life in your own head.”
Twenty-five years ago today, the grandeur of the great Northwest arrived in Central Florida as Walt Disney World opened Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, an homage to the rustic splendor of Yellowstone National Park. Modeled on the historic Old Faithful Lodge circa 1904, Wilderness Lodge creates a sense of awe and nostalgia for turn-of-the-century national parks with towering pines, bubbling hot springs, soaring architecture, and nods to American craftsmanship. With so much detail involved in the design of this Disney masterpiece, D23 wanted to celebrate its silver anniversary by pointing out seven hidden gems that you may—or may not—have noticed.
1. Perhaps the most memorable part of any guest’s visit to Wilderness Lodge is that first, breathtaking step into the grand, six-story lobby. Two 55-foot-high totem poles stand guard at the entrance with four giant chandeliers overhead designed to resemble tepees. But what you might not realize is that the 82-foot-tall fireplace is a tribute to the strata of the Grand Canyon, with more than 100 colors and “fossilized” remains of prehistoric plant and animal life. Make sure to spend some time observing this “marvel of nature.” Of course, keen observers have also discovered a non-fossilized gem in the fireplace: a Hidden Mickey. See if you can find it for yourself!
2. But the fireplace isn’t the only “natural wonder” you’ll find in the lobby. There’s also a bubbling hot spring that flows outside into a stream where it eventually becomes a roaring waterfall that splashes down into the pool. But don’t stop there—follow the path behind the pool area out toward the lake, where you’ll find Fire Rock Geyser, a 120-foot geyser that erupts hourly from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
3. The gigantic “bundled” lobby pillars were inspired by the railroad piers on the great Columbia River. Even though they appear to be made from giant lumber trees, no live trees were used. The actual material is standing dead Lodge Pole Pine from Montana and Oregon. Native American legend says that these bundles “hold up the heavens.” Look up and you’ll notice that each pillar is topped with an animal carving.
4. The beautiful lobby floor—made up of Brazilian cherry, white oak, bird’s eye maple, and burl walnut wood—is specifically designed using Hopi “storm pattern” weaving.
5. The Boulder Ridge Villas area of the resort—part of Disney Vacation Club—were designed with early railroad hotels in mind. One of the highlights of this railroad theme can be found in the Carolwood Pacific Room (Where have we heard that name before?). It’s named after Walt Disney’s original backyard railroad and has two actual train cars donated by Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller, which were used by Walt in his backyard railroad at his Holmby Hills home on Carolwood Drive.
6. The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool Area, nestled within the Boulder Ridge Villas, is themed to resemble a repurposed rock quarry that has been long abandoned. But there’s something very unique—and familiar—about the area’s two pieces of vintage mining equipment: for many years, they were part of the former Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
7. When guests turn off of World Drive, en route to the Wilderness Lodge, and drive under the huge archway adorned with buffalos, they feel as if they are leaving Florida and entering the great Northwest. To reinforce that feeling, the road on which Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is located is called Timberland Drive, a tribute to Oregon’s famed 80-year-old Timberline Lodge. How’s that for detail?
Today, we’re celebrating a Pixar classic that captured our hearts and managed to make us cry for 10 minutes straight: Up! As part of the celebration for this high-flying film, we rounded up 10 Easter eggs related to the film: 8 that you can find while watching Up, plus three more to keep an eye out for in other Pixar films. Read on, take note, and get ready for your inevitable movie marathon:
Easter eggs during the film:
1. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear
Before he went to Sunnyside Daycare, we got a sneak peek of Lots-o’ as he was lying underneath the bed of a little girl, whose room we see when Carl’s house ascends into the air. That’s not the only Easter egg in her room, however. Next to her dresser, you can spot the familiar blue, yellow, and red Pixar ball.
2. Pizza Planet Truck
Pixar fans are familiar with this perpetually appearing pizza purveyor, and you can actually spot it twice in Up! The truck’s first appearance in the film happens when Carl’s house flies over the city—keep an eye on the traffic below for the truck on its delivery route! At the end of the film, you’ll see the Pizza Planet Truck parked just outside of Fenton’s Ice Cream shop. You’d need to stop for a snack, too, if your delivery route spanned across every single Pixar film!
3. John Ratzenberger
Often referred to as Pixar’s “good luck charm,” you might recognize John Ratzenberger’s voice from just about… well, everything! Starting with Hamm in in 1995’s Toy Story, Ratzenberger has voiced a character in every single Pixar film! If you listen closely, you might be able to spot his role in Up as Construction Foreman Tom near the beginning of the film.
4. Grape Soda
The “Ellie Badge” is now an iconic symbol of Up, but did you know that this Grape Soda bottlecap pin is also an Easter egg? The soda is the same brand as soda cans in an ad that appears in Toy Story! Super-secret fun fact: a Grape Soda bottlecap also appears in Toy Story 4—so watch closely when you see the latest film from that beloved series!
5. Love, Ellie
This Easter egg has a sweet family connection. Young Ellie is voiced by none other than Pete Docter’s daughter—who is named Elie! You can spot a shout-out to her inside the Adventure Book, as many of the drawings were created by Elie Docter herself.
6. The Pixar Ball Badge
Russel is on the quest for his final Wilderness Scouts badge—but the badges he already has are just as important. It’s easy to miss, but one of the badges on his sash features the Pixar Ball.
7. A113
Another staple of Pixar Easter eggs, A113 references a CalArts classroom that is significant to a lot of Pixar animators. The number is hidden throughout Pixar films, including as the number of the courtroom that Carl waits outside of.
Plus, Up Easter eggs in other Pixar films:
8. Toy Story 3
Before Carl made his balloon-powered trip to Paradise Falls, maybe he and Ellie made a few friends—like Andy and his family! Andy’s bulletin board features a postcard from Carl and Ellie themselves.
9. Ratatouille
The instant we laid eyes on Dug, we knew he was a loveable goof who couldn’t hurt a fly! But, Dug is a lot more intimidating in silhouette—just ask Remy! When Remy first arrives in Paris, he races through some humans’ houses, only to be startled by the shadow of a barking dog—who casts the familiar shape of Dug!
10. Toy Story 4
You might recall a doggone funny moment during Up when Muntz’s pack recreate the famous “Dogs Playing Poker” painting—but, did you know that moment ended up as a painting itself? In one of the posters for Toy Story 4, check the left-hand side… You might notice some familiar artwork of our card-playing furry friends.
Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Guy Ritchie, and Alan Menken took a #MagicCarpetTour around the world to celebrate the release of Aladdin on May 24. Missed a moment from their world travels? Don’t call on a Genie to grant your wish—we’ve got every magical moment from their trip around the globe right here!
Paris, France The first stop on the #MagicCarpetTour was the City of Light—where the cast attended a gala screening. Fans flocked in full force to see the cast on the purple carpet, which was decorated in Agrabah-inspired displays.
London, England On May 9, the cast visited London to attend the film’s European gala, stopping to grant some wishes for fans who hoped for some enchanting selfies.
Berlin, Germany The next stop on the #MagicCarpetTour was Berlin on May 12, where the cast participated in a photo shoot before attending the German Gala Screening of the film, complete with a giant magic lamp for decoration!
Jordan The next day, the cast returned to Jordan, where portions of the film were shot, to participate in a press conference and attend a VIP screening of the film.
Los Angeles, California Finally, it was time to roll out the magic carpet for Aladdin’s world premiere! The cast and crew dressed up in their royal best to celebrate the film in Hollywood at the El Capitan Theatre.
Be a part of Star Wars history next Wednesday night, and Disney Channel’s ZOMBIES 2 adds to its cast… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Mark Your Calendars for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Live Dedication Ceremony
Can you believe it? Feels like just yesterday when Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced the creation of a Star Wars-themed land at Disneyland Resort (and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort) at D23 Expo 2015… Now, we’re only a few days away from the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge mega-huge grand opening! To celebrate, our pals at the Disney Parks Blog have just announced that they’ll be hosting a very special #DisneyParksLIVE stream—presented by AT&T—covering the dedication ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, beginning at 8:20 p.m. PDT/11:20 p.m. EDT. (Trust us, East Coast friends; it’ll be worth staying up for!) Take a look at the live dedication’s brand-new teaser, above.
Don’t miss this truly historic moment! And while you’re waiting, why not revel a bit more in all things Star Wars by checking out D23’s Cool Things You Might Not Know About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Best be galactically well-prepared for your very first trip to Batuu…
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
Studios May 24, 2019 Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters June 21, 2019 Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters July 19, 2019 The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters 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 Television June 21, 2019 Final episodes of Andi Mack begin airing (8 p.m. EDT/PDT) Summer 2019 Descendants 3 premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW
Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES 2 Adds Werewolf Cast
Yes, you read that correctly… there are werewolves coming to Disney Channel, and they’re joining up with some zombie favorites! Actors Pearce Joza (Mech X-4), Chandler Kinney (Fox’s Lethal Weapon), and social media personality Ariel Martin (aka Baby Ariel) will join the cast of the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES 2 as teen werewolves Willa, Wyatt, and Wynter.
Reprising their fan-fave ZOMBIES roles for the film are Kylee Russell as Eliza, Trevor Tordjman as Bucky, Carla Jeffery as Bree, James Godfrey as Bonzo, and Kingston Foster as Zoey—along with previously announced stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim (last seen sashaying across the dance floor on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars).
ZOMBIES introduced Zed (Manheim), a zombie football player, and Addison (Donnelly), a human cheerleader, who united their respective communities in the town of Seabrook. Look for the sequel to pick up after last year’s groundbreaking semester at Seabrook High, as a new group of outsiders—mysterious werewolves—threaten the newfound unity… and cause a rift between Zed and Addison. Watch for ZOMBIES 2 to debut next year.
Latest Toy Story 4 Trailer Follows Forky’s Wild Adventures
It’s only a matter of weeks before we get reacquainted with Sheriff Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen), and Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts)—and meet reluctant new toy Forky (voice of Tony Hale) for the first time—in Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 4. Feast your eyes on the film’s latest trailer, above.
When Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy Forky declares himself “trash,” and definitely not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace his new life. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep. After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road contradict her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries… Look for Toy Story 4, directed by Josh Cooley (Riley’s First Date?), in a theater near you June 21.
Coming Soon to Disney Channel: Sofia Wylie Stars in Back of the Net
Here’s a goal to set for summer… don’t miss the latest project from Andi Mack’s Sofia Wylie! Back of the Net, an original movie that just premiered in Australian theaters, is coming to Disney Channel and DisneyNOW on Saturday, June 15, at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT.
Wylie stars as ace science student Cory Bailey, who excitedly sets out for Sydney to embark on a semester at sea aboard an advanced research vessel. But when she lands in Australia, she inadvertently boards the wrong bus, misses the boat, and winds up at—of all places—Harold Soccer Academy. Now, she’s stuck there for the summer… but despite her disinterest in soccer, and some serious thwarting by the camp’s mean girl, Cory applies her unique strengths in science to end her team’s losing streak.
Later this year, make sure to look for Wylie co-starring as Gina, a die-hard theater kid with several skeletons in her closet, on Disney+’s brand-new High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Discover a Kaleidoscope of Colors in the New Rainbow Disney Collection
In celebration of Pride month, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products recently unveiled their new Rainbow Disney Collection, available now through June 30. Check out the colorful selection of apparel and accessories right here at D23.com.
Breathtaking New Holiday Offerings Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
If you read News Briefs with any regularity, you know we’re big fans of the holidays—and we’ve been known to start planning our yearly merry-making several months in advance. So we’re positively bedecked-with-boughs-of-holly over this news from our friend at Walt Disney World Resort.
This year, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be offering up festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land… including a beautiful celebration of winter (created by an eclectic community of artisans) and a holiday gathering of winter animals on Discovery Island; a heartwarming new series of musical tales from the Tree of Life; a cheerful holiday version of Donald’s Dino-Bash at Dinoland, U.S.A.; authentically colorful presentations throughout the village of Harambe in Africa; some totally kitschy holiday décor inside Pandora – The World of Avatar; and much, much more.
Look for the holidays to blanket Disney’s Animal Kingdom with mirth and merriment beginning November 8.
Uma Vows Revenge in Latest Descendants 3 Trailer
“Their time is coming to an end… I promise you: Mal will fall.” So sayeth Uma (China Anne McClain), who’s back and ready for revenge in the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 3. Can the VKs and their Auradon cohorts stop her before it’s too late? Take a look at the movie’s latest teaser by clicking here.
True to his name, Duke Caboom arrives with a bang in Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4. Not literally, of course… but you’d be forgiven for assuming as much. After all, as Canada’s greatest stuntman, the ’70s-inspired posable action figure is a seasoned thrill-seeker, known for riding the state-of-the-art Caboom Cycle. Except there’s just one problem: He’s not that experienced.
You see, although he was designed as a daredevil, Duke was unable to perform his stunts as advertised. And, since his kid rejected him, Duke ended up collecting dust at an antiques mall—more specifically, inside a pinball machine—the game’s bright lights create a club-like hangout for all the toys.
Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum) lends his gravelly voice to the character, imbuing him with his unique personality. In his first meeting at Pixar’s headquarters in Emeryville, Calif., with director Josh Cooley, producer Jonas Rivera, and other members of the creative team, Reeves proved he was the only choice for the role. “He came here first just to meet with us before he even signed. We were down in the atrium and he was like, ‘What do you think he sounds like?’” Cooley, doing a spot-on imitation of Reeves’ voice, said when D23 visited Pixar’s headquarters in April. “He completely won me over—to the point where we were talking about the character and getting deeper, and he’s like, ‘What do you think drives him?’ At one point, he just got up on the table—imagine just sitting down there, eating lunch in front of everybody—and he got up and he goes, ‘Hoo! Ha!’ He’s doing poses and stuff, and I was like, ‘This is it! This is incredible!’”
“We always create the character first. Then, we see who’s the right actor for it,” Cooley added. “We went after Canadian actors, and he was the first one on our list. I’m so thrilled he said yes.”
Reeves’ casting may seem obvious now, but at the time, none of the filmmakers realized just how much he had in common with his character. “We didn’t know when we brought him here that he owned his own motorcycle company,” producer Mark Nielsen said. “His connection to motorcycles was not clear to us until we sat with him, and then we were like, ‘Whoa!’” Once they were aware of the association, producer Jonas Rivera said they even considered modeling the Caboom Cycle after one of Reeves’ models. But the actor put the brakes on that idea. “He was like, ‘No, no. The Caboom cycle is perfect,’” Rivera said. “He protected the Caboom Cycle!”
Toy Story 4 is Reeves’ first animated project in 13 years, and the actor relished bringing the character to life. “Every time we recorded with him, he just had the biggest smile on his face,” Cooley recalled to D23. “It was so much fun. I can’t speak enough about how awesome he is.” Rivera shared those sentiments, adding, “He is everything you’d hope Keanu Reeves would be.”
Keep checking D23 for all things Toy Story 4 before it hits theaters June 21!
D23 didn’t need to travel to Agrabah to learn all about The Walt Disney Studios’ live-action adventure Aladdin. In fact, the cast and crew rolled out the magic carpet here in Los Angeles Sunday, where co-stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Nasim Pedrad, and Navid Negahban joined director Guy Ritchie, composer and Disney Legend Alan Menken, and production designer Gemma Jackson for a Q&A before the movie flies into theaters May 24, 2019.
Prior to the global press conference, Menken delighted the audience with a marvelous musical medley featuring songs from Beauty and the Beast, Enchanted, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Tangled, and, of course, Aladdin.
Everyone who spoke mentioned how enchanting the experience was. “Disney magic is real,” Smith said. “This is my first Disney movie… and at the core of these stories is something that shocks the inner child in you. It forces it to come alive and smile and appreciate the moment.”
Here are nine things we learned from the Aladdin press conference:
1. Will Smith was nervous about playing such an iconic role. The late Robin Williams, who originated Smith’s role in the 1992 animated film, “didn’t leave a lot of room to add to the Genie,” the actor explained. “So, I started off fearful. But then when I got with the music, it started waking up that fun, childlike, silly part of me.” Everything clicked after Smith began retooling “Friend Like Me,” layering it over samples of The Honeydrippers’ “Impeach the President” and Erik B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul,” among other songs. “I started playing with the hip-hop flavor. The Genie was really born, in my mind, from the music.”
Menken was impressed. “I liken myself to an architect; I design a house that others are going to live in—and Will, man, you threw a heck of a party in that house!” he said with a laugh. “I just loved it! Once he did that, I went, ‘Back off and let him do what he does, because it’s so good!’”
2. Guy Ritchie made the movie for his children. Considering his oeuvre, Ritchie was an unlikely—if not inspired—choice to direct. “You’ll be surprised how familiar I am in this territory, considering I’ve got five kids, and the oldest one is 18,” he said. “By family demand, it was about time I made a movie that we could all watch together. Aladdin ticked the box in that he was a street hustler, and I was a familiar with that territory. And my wife is a big Disneyphile, so anything to do with Disney Princesses is high on her list. And frankly, I was just ready to do something in this world.” Massoud, who plays the titular street rat, is grateful Ritchie was leading the charge. “The beautiful thing Guy does on set is he creates a sense of family and community,” the actor said. “Everybody feels free to create… He allows us to play, and I think that’s something no one else could have done as well as Guy.”
Pedrad, who plays Dalia, agreed. “Guy is truly the least rigid filmmaker,” she added. “When I watch the film, so much of the joy onscreen came from his spontaneity and his comfort in finding something on the day, which I would imagine was a challenge for a movie of this scale.”
3. Diversity was at the forefront of the studio’s, cast and filmmakers’ minds. “I’m especially proud of the representation and the ethnically diverse casting that was put together for this. It’s not often you can go to a movie theater and see all people of color represented like this. It’s certainly something that I was missing in my childhood,” Massoud said. “I’m proud of the cast and the casting that Guy and Disney put together. I’m excited for little boys and girls to see people that look like them onscreen, man. That’s what I’m proud of.”
“I’m a ‘90s kid, so for me, Aladdin was like golden age Disney,” said Pedrad, echoing the sentiments of Massoud and the others onstage. “That film resonated with me as a child, because it was the first time I saw a Middle Eastern protagonist in a major motion picture.”
4. Guy Ritchie can’t mask his emotions. Smith joked that the director was always the first to burst into tears on set—prompting a slightly embarrassed Ritchie to say, “I have no idea where I got this reputation from!” Without missing a beat, Smith shot back, “You got it from crying on the set every time you saw a good performance!” Scott and Smith then revealed the cast even gave him a nickname: “Cry Ritchie.”
5. Princess Jasmine gets a new motivation. Suitors from all over the world have tried and failed to woo Princess Jasmine (Scott)—because, as everyone knows, she’s not a prize to be won. As a matter of fact, Jasmine believes she could reign over Agrabah by herself—if only her father would allow it. “It was a natural progression,” Scott said of giving Jasmine more agency. “The fact that she wants to become the leader, I just want people to walk out and go, ‘Oh, yeah! That makes sense, right? She should be the leader.’”
“It’s not this thing that’s been shoehorned in,” Scott added. “It just makes sense.”
Jasmine makes her point loud and clear through “Speechless,” a new tune from Menken and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Ritchie called it “the best song” in the movie and joked that directing that particular scene is how he earned his new nickname. The reason? Scott delivered a “spectacular” performance and earns her right to the throne. “It’s not really about gender as much as it is about an individual standing up for themselves during a pertinent time.”
6. Genie isn’t exactly what he seems. In certain scenes, Smith’s Genie appears in human form, so as not to raise any eyebrows in Agrabah. But when Genie appears in all his blue glory, audiences aren’t actually seeing Smith. “A lot of people don’t even recognize this, but the Genie is 100 percent CGI,” Smith revealed. “People look at it and they think it’s my face and my body blue. The Genie is 100 percent CGI! There is none of me in the Genie, right? The work was so good they don’t even get credit for it.”
That gave Smith freedom to try play around. “I could improv on set because I knew it wouldn’t be necessarily in the movie,” he explained. “We would do the first round of CGI work and then we could go again and re-work it.” After Ritchie finished his first cut of the film, they were able to make additional adjustments. “We got to the point where Guy was open and anybody could throw something in,” Smith said. “It became a fun thing on set to try to find that No. 1 answer.”
7. Nasim Pedrad and Naomi Scott became confidantes in real life. Whether they were holding each other’s hands or whispering jokes during the lively press conference, it was evident the actresses had forged a strong bond on the set of Aladdin. “We got to spend time together before we started filming, and there was an instant camaraderie and friendship,” Pedrad explained. “Hopefully, it translates into the dynamic of the characters.”
“She kills it in this movie,” Scott added. “I was laughing the whole time. I couldn’t keep it together! I think she brought more to the character than anyone could’ve imagined for this role.”
8. The dance numbers will light up the screen. Choreographer Jamal Sims and assistant choreographer Nicky Andersen were “incredible” teachers, the cast said. “Jamal is one of the best in the business,” Massoud said. “I grew up watching Step Up, which was the dance film of my generation, and Jamal choreographed that!”
One of Massoud’s favorite scenes occurs early in the movie, when Genie forces him to dance in an attempt to impress Jasmine. (Spoiler: It doesn’t work.) “Me and Guy had a fun time during that, because I had to learn that choreography in the beginning but then pretend like the Genie was manipulating me. We tried doing it with mime. Then Guy had this brilliant idea to actually attach these long puppeteering arms onto me and physically manipulate me,” Massoud recalled. “We had a lot of fun with that piece. It was definitely a fun part of the whole process.”
9. Gemma Jackson created a whole new world—literally—for the movie. “The most fun part of researching was just throwing up everything in the air, letting it settle, and thinking about the part of the world we wanted to explore for our kingdom and our land, and letting it all kind of gradually come together,” Jackson said. “And as the different demands of the film grew, the different parts of the set grew.” She couldn’t have done a better job, the cast said. “The ultimate compliment, from the actors’ point of view, is [to be] transported to the time and place,” Smith explained, “and that’s what happened when we walked on that set.”
Channel your inner Indiana Jones and go on a culinary adventure with these savory empanadas and effervescent beverage straight from Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World.
Satipo’s Empanadas
Makes 12–15
1/2 pound ground beef
1/4 cup diced onion
2 tablespoons diced green pepper
2 tablespoons diced red pepper
1 tablespoon diced jalapeno pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons water
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 medium russet potato, diced
2 tablespoons chopped green olives
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more, to taste
15 (four-inch) empanada wrappers
Oil, for frying
Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, until fully cooked. Drain excess grease from pan.
Add green pepper, red pepper, jalapeno, and garlic to ground beef. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes, until soft.
Stir in tomato paste, water, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano, cayenne, and potatoes, Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender.
Remove from heat and add olives and shredded cheese. Stir in salt, adding more if needed.
Allow beef mixture to cool for 30 minutes.
Place 1 heaping tablespoon of beef mixture in the center of each empanada wrapper.
Add a small amount of water to the outer rim of each wrapper and fold into a half moon shape. Crimp the edges with a fork.
Preheat oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350°F.
Fry empanadas for 5–6 minutes, turning, until golden brown.
Cook’s Note: Empanadas can be baked instead of fried. Preheat oven to 400°F and bake for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown.
Poisonless Dart
Serves 1
1 oz. simple syrup
1 ½ oz. lime juice
8 mint leaves
3 fresh squeezed limes
Soda water
Lime wheel, for garnish
Stir together ingredients in mixing glass. Add ice, shake, and pour into serving glass. Top with soda water.
Garnish with lime wheel.
This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. All recipes are the property of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., and may not be reproduced without express permission.
