Hades Wreaks Havoc in the Descendants 3 Teaser Trailer

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Who’s the baddest of them all?

Look no further than the VKs—that’s villain kids, to the uninitiated—at the center of Disney Channel’s Descendants 3. The first teaser trailer for the “trequel” aired during the world premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible, giving fans their first look at what happened after Mal (Dove Cameron) saved the day and Uma (China Anne McClain) swam away at the end of 2017’s Descendants 2. This time, the VKs’ adventure begins when Mal, Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Evie (Sofia Carson), and Jay (Booboo Stewart) return to the Isle of the Lost to recruit a new crop of villainous offspring to join them at Auradon Prep. But after a barrier breach jeopardizes Auradon’s safety, Mal elects to permanently close the gates, fearing Uma and Hades (Cheyenne Jackson) will seek retribution. Despite Mal’s decision, a mysterious dark force threatens the people of Auradon—and it’s up to the VKs to save them before it’s too late.

New and returning actors to the third film in the Descendants franchise include Anna Cathcart as Dizzy; Christian Convery as Squeaky; Brenna D’Amico as Jane; Zachary Gibson as Doug; Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad; Mitchell Hope as King Ben; Sarah Jefferey as Audrey; Jadah Marie as Celia; Judith Maxie as Queen Leah; Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother; Dan Payne as Beast; Luke Roessler as Squirmy; Jamal Sims as Doctor Facilier; and Keegan Connor Tracy as Belle.

The film is directed by Kenny Ortega, who also serves as executive producer with Wendy Japhet, as well as Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon, writers of the trequel’s screenplay. Descendants 3 also brings back veteran costume designer Kara Saun, producer Shawn Williamson, and production designer Mark Hofeling.

Descendants 3 will premiere this summer on Disney Channel.

Meet the Cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

February 15, 2019November 8, 2019

By Zach Johnson

This is the start of something new, Wildcats.

Production is underway in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the highly anticipated and reimagined High School Musical: The Musical: The Series for Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming streaming service. Joining previously announced star Joshua Bassett (Stuck in the Middle) are cast members Olivia Rodrigo (Bizaardvark), Kate Reinders (Modern Family), Sofia Wylie (Andi Mack), Matt Cornett (Bella and the Bulldogs), Dara Reneé (Freaky Friday), Julia Lester (Mom), Frankie Rodriguez (Modern Family), Larry Saperstein (Fan Girl), and Mark St. Cyr (Doomsday).

The 10-episode series picks up nearly 15 years after the first movie aired, at the real-life location where it all began: East High. It follows a group of students as they rehearse for opening night of their school’s first production of High School Musical. Behind the scenes, show-mances develop; friendships are both forged and tested; rivalries rage; and lives are changed forever.

Brand-new songs and acoustic “rehearsal-room” reinterpretations of songs from the original High School Musical provide the soundtrack, with Zach Woodlee (Glee, Dumplin’) choreographing the numbers. The series is developed and executive produced by Tim Federle (Ferdinand) with showrunner and executive producer Oliver Goldstick (Pretty Little Liars); Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush, from the original High School Musical trilogy, are also executive producers. Tamra Davis (Empire, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) is directing the first three episodes.

“The challenge we handed the creative team was Herculean. How do you recapture the joy and the magic of the original High School Musical movie… and simultaneously reimagine it completely?” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. “That’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. And Tim and Oliver—and this amazingly talented and diverse cast and crew—have done exactly that!”

Here are the character breakdowns:

High school junior Ricky (Bassett) is a sarcastic yet charismatic skater who sets out to prove himself to his ex-girlfriend Nini—by auditioning to star opposite her in a musical.
Nini (Rodrigo) found her voice at summer theater camp—along with a new boyfriend. Fiercely loyal to her two moms, she’s a shining star—even if she doesn’t always think so.
Miss Jenn (Reinders) is a new drama teacher who believes musicals can save lives. She may experience imposter syndrome, but she’d do anything for her students.
A transfer student with a secret past, Gina (Wylie) is a theater veteran. Ambitious and entitled, she’s keen to show Miss Jenn she shouldn’t have been cast as an understudy.
Nini’s new love interest E.J. (Cornett) is the completely confident son of two corporate lawyers, who secretly feels the pressure of living up to his picture-perfect social media persona. As co-captain of the water polo team, senior class treasurer, and trust fund baby, E.J. is used to getting what he wants—like the lead in role in the school musical.
Kourtney (Reneé) is obsessed with makeup tutorials and feminism in equal measure. Nini’s ride-or-die BFF, Kourtney also works on the costume crew of High School Musical.
E.J.’s cousin Ashlyn (Lester) is an “old soul” who worships Sara Bareilles—so much that she secretly dreams of following in her idol’s footsteps to become a songwriter herself.
As captain of the color guard and student choreographer, Carlos (Rodriguez) thinks of Miss Jenn as a peer. In fact, he eats lunch in her office and has been drinking espresso since third grade. And of course, Carlos already has his Tony Awards® speech memorized.
Big Red (Saperstein) is the quintessential skater boy, always fuzzy and sleep-deprived. He’s weirdly devastated by Ricky and Nini’s split, as he’s been their third wheel forever.
East High’s somewhat stiff S.T.E.M. teacher Mr. Mazzara (St. Cyr) believes in preparing students for the future, which leads him to butt heads with the daydreaming Miss Jenn.

“We are truly excited about this extremely talented cast and the fresh and contemporary take on this globally beloved franchise,” said Agnes Chu, senior vice president of content, Disney+. “From the music and dance, to the characters and hilarious meta references, there is something here for fans of the originals, as well as people who are new to East High. It’s going to be an unforgettable viewing experience for Disney+ subscribers.”

Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, is set to launch in the U.S. later this year.

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

Living Life in the Fast Layne

February 15, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

From Susie, the Little Blue Coupe, and Herbie, the Love Bug, to Lightning McQueen, Disney cars have driven us to distraction in the best possible ways. But you’ve never quite met a Disney car like VIN before. This tech-enhanced talking car motors onto Disney Channel in the eight-part miniseries Fast Layne on Friday, February 15 (9:32 p.m. EST/PST), right after the premiere of the live-action Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible.

The miniseries centers around Layne, a super-organized middle schooler who plans her life down to the minute. There’s not a lot of room in Layne’s life for surprises, but when she and her free-spirited neighbor Zora discover a souped-up talking car named “VIN” parked beneath an abandoned shed in her backyard, she embarks on the ride of her life. VIN has some secrets hidden under his hood—and a pair of mysterious villains giving chase. Layne and Zora team up with Layne’s mechanically inclined classmate Cody to stay out in front of the bad guys while also trying to put the brakes on Layne’s cousin Mel and his determination to uncover their secret.

“This is definitely one of the shows where you want to keep watching and unravel the mystery,” says Sophie Pollono (The Young and the Restless), who plays the title character. “There are so many twists and turns.”

The plot goes in unexpected directions, much like Fast Layne’s leading vehicle. VIN jumps bridges and boasts a host of unexpected, high-tech features, but he endeared himself to the miniseries’ characters—and its stars—through his personality. The young cast could interact with VIN as a car—being very careful to keep his all-white interior clean—but they were also able to deliver their lines to an on-set actor who read VIN’s lines in real time. “When you’re working with an inanimate object, it’s challenging because you have to work off these emotions and make sure that they are genuine,” says Brandon Rossel (The Outsiders Club), who plays Cody. “So you really have to have someone that’s energetic like that on set and thankfully we had a reader like that at all times reading for VIN—and he was awesome. He was energetic all the time and he brought that energy out of all of us.”

“VIN was like a friend—a shiny, bright orange friend that we had to be very careful to not pull the seatbelts off of,” laughs Sofia Rosinsky (The Other Side of the Door), who plays Zora.

It’s no coincidence that the cast came to see VIN as more than just a ride. Alongside the high-speed action sequences, and the crazy lengths Layne and Zora go to in order to keep their four-wheeled friend hidden, are themes that resonated with the Fast Layne stars. Pollono hopes that young viewers will come away from the series with the reassurance that, “It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to have flaws. It’s OK to need help.”

As half of the unlikely duo comprised of the level-headed Layne and the more impulsive Zora, Rosinsky thinks it’s important to remember that friends can be very different from each other: “You don’t have to be the same or even like the same things, as long as you understand each other.”

Over the course of Fast Layne’s eight episodes, Layne might just find that she needs to rethink her schedule and cut down on the traffic in her daily life. Rossel observes, “In life it’s good to have some organization, but sometimes you’ve got to take life spontaneously.”

Or, as Winslow Fegley (Teachers), who plays curious cousin Mel puts it, “You’ve got to wing it.”

The adventures of Layne, Zora, Cody, Mel, and VIN are just revving up: Fast Layne moves into its regular timeslot on Sunday, February 17 (7 p.m. EST/PST). Catch the second installment this weekend, and hang on for an exciting ride!

Amazing Disney Movie Posters Designed by Cao Zheng Celebrate Chinese New Year

February 15, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Since February 5, we’ve been celebrating the year of the pig through fun at Disney parks—and now the fun is extending to some of the year’s most highly anticipated films. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, artist Cao Zheng has designed a stunning selection of posters for some of the upcoming Disney movies we can’t wait to see. Check out the gallery below to see designs for Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, and The Lion King.

Avengers: Endgame Poster Designed by Cao Zheng

Captain Marvel Poster Designed by Cao Zheng

The Lion King Poster Designed by Cao Zheng

The Walt Disney Archives Embarks on a New Adventure

February 15, 2019April 1, 2019

By Matt Moryc, The Walt Disney Archives

“Adventure is out there!” in the latest exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. The Archives’ Reading Room has been refreshed to include tropical imports, exotic antiquities, and mysterious discoveries collected from many beloved and daring Disney adventures.

Whether it be rum-loving pirates, whimsical tiki totems, or a chorus of singing birds in an enchanted South Seas locale, projects from throughout Disney’s rich history have produced countless tales of adventure that have endured and inspired audiences for almost a century.

Upon entering the Reading Room, guests are greeted by the famous Redhead Audio-Animatronics^® figure from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Just beyond her stand several mighty tiki gods who previously watched over the grounds of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World^® Resort. The gods are easily angered, so please be mindful of all your celebratin’!

The adventure continues into a nearby display case filled with 50 years’ worth of merchandise and treasures ranging from Adventureland to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar and beyond. Elsewhere in the room, various Disney Parks and Resorts locales are represented including Adventurers Club, Tower of Terror, Swiss Family Treehouse, and the original Club 33. The world of live-action comes to thrilling life by way of set decoration and props from The Island at the Top of the World and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Two very special items with ties to Walt Disney are also on display—a script for The Jungle Book (1967) with notes and comments inside from the master showman himself, and a model of a Jungle Cruise boat (the Congo Queen) which was used on-screen by Walt during a 1956 episode of the Disneyland television series.

Employees of The Walt Disney Company may visit the Walt Disney Archives Reading Room during regular weekday hours (9 a.m. — 5 p.m.), and D23 Gold and Gold Family Members can visit the Archives exclusively through The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23.

We recently toured the exhibit on our Facebook page. Check out the video below for the full tour, and view the photo gallery for a closer look at the exhibit.

A Fan Fave Returns to the Screen in the Live-Action Kim Possible

February 14, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Kim Possible has always been about friendship. Whether she was saving the world, or simply hanging with her friends at Bueno Nacho, Kim Possible always had Ron Stoppable—her BFF since preschool—by her side, and Ron’s furless friend Rufus, the Naked mole-rat, was always by his. This Friday, February 15 (8 p.m. EST/PST), Kim and Ron embark upon live-action adventures in a brand-new Disney Channel Original Movie, and we’re thrilled that the fan-favorite Rufus is back, too, brought to life through CGI and the incredible talents of Nancy Cartwright, who voiced the character in the original animated series. Rufus is once again a key member of Team Possible, alongside Kim (Sadie Stanley), Ron (Sean Giambrone), new friend Athena (Ciara Wilson), and tech whiz Wade (Issac Ryan Brown).

“I was hoping they would give me a call,” says Cartwright, who squeaked her first Rufus squeak back in 2002 when the animated Kim Possible premiered on Disney Channel. The accomplished voice actress took her rodent research seriously. She was fascinated to discover that Naked mole-rats are tunnel dwellers and social animals who live in large communities. They don’t do well out in the sunlight and, Cartwright laughs, “They’re kind of disgusting looking—they look like overcooked hot dogs.” Our friends at Disney Channel also put together a fun look at real-life Naked mole-rats in this video narrated by Giambrone, who plays Rufus’ protector and pal.

Cartwright has created a signature sound for Rufus that’s comprised of “efforts and grunts, and squirts, gurgles, and squeaks.” Rufus typically doesn’t have scripted lines for Cartwright to deliver, so she takes direction from the Naked mole-rat’s emotions in any given scene, which can range from über-excited to super-sad. Historically, however, we’ve heard Rufus utter a select group of Kim Possibly-important words, such as “boo-yah.”

It’s been a highlight for Cartwright, also known for her many roles on The Simpsons and as Chuckie Finster from Rugrats, to lend her voice to Rufus. When she meets fans and reveals herself to be the person behind the mole-rat, she shares, “I’m not sure who likes it more—them or me, because I love the effect [demonstrating the voice] has on people. And it’s kind of surprising that I’m like five feet tall, I’ve got children of my own, I’m a grandma, and these sounds come out of this little package here. I think it’s fun for everyone.”

The cast of the live-action Kim Possible had to wait to “meet” Rufus until the movie’s visual effects experts worked their movie magic. On set, explains Ciara Wilson, who plays Athena (the newest member of Team Possible), “We would just be looking at Sean’s shoulder, or have an eyeline on his hand or a little figurine that didn’t look that much like Rufus at all.” She was thrilled to finally see Rufus on screen in the DCOM. “I am super, super-impressed. He is adorably ugly, which is exactly what Rufus is.”

Giambrone was thrilled with the final on-screen result, and he expects fans to have a similar reaction. “The first time I saw him [on film] it was like true love,” he tells D23. “I knew that was exactly what he should look like and it just felt like I was reunited with a buddy, seeing the movie with Rufus in it.” He expects Rufus to continue to have a huge following among Kim Possible fans. Giambrone emphasizes, “He’s very charismatic!”

Tune in this Friday, February 15, on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW, to see Rufus meet Ron and Kim on-screen for the first time. It’ll be “boo-yahs” all around!

We’re Obsessed with the Totally ’90s Captain Marvel Website

February 14, 2019

By Jim Frye

Grab your inline skates, your flannels, and your Walkman radios and get ready to take a trip back to the ’90s of every Gen-Xer’s dream in Marvel Studios’ newest epic adventure Captain Marvel. Fans got their first ’90s-tastic taste with the initial trailer that showed Brie Larson’s title character crashing through the roof of a Blockbuster video store, and it just gets better from there!

“We kind of seized on the idea of setting it in the ’90s as a way to let the character carve out her own space in the cinematic universe and give her a lot of thematic weight and significance to the universe,” says Jonathan Scwhartz, executive producer. “It’s more or less this adventure that’s going to inspire a lot of what we see in the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe]. And then also just the idea of the ’90s as a period—which is something I don’t think we’ve been able to explore a lot. So being able to play in that sandbox is exciting.”

Included as part of that sandbox is the brand-new Captain Marvel website, which launched this past week with all the bells, whistles, and rainbow-colored titles and background graphics you’d expect from the once-burgeoning new technology called “the Internet” during the last decade of the 20th century.

A quick visit to the Captain Marvel site reveals all the terrible (but awesome) design styles of ’90s-era websites. For example, the “homepage” features amateurish cut-out photos, a spinning email symbol, small clip-art space ships that float up and down the page, and gray boxes with linked text such as “Info,” “Multimedia,” “Guestbook,” and “Play the Game.” Of course, let’s not forget the “Get Tickets” box, featuring the continuously spinning movie ticket graphics. Here are some pages from that site.

As you scroll (Skrull?) down the page, make sure to not miss the “Skrull or Human” game. Test your knowledge and see if you can tell the difference between ordinary human beings and the shape-shifting bad guys from outer space. Also, you’ll notice the lady from the train in the trailer—the one who Captain Marvel punched in the face. She keeps popping up all over the site. Click on her face and you’ll deliver another big punch. You’ll have fun exploring the galleries, trailers (framed inside old-school video players), three-dimensional motion titles, and a top-secret gif of Nick Fury petting the cat.

Click on down memory lane, and while you’re there, grab your tickets for Captain Marvel. She arrives March 8, 2019. But please—leave your pagers at home.

You Can’t Miss the Marvel and Disney Movie Sneak Peeks in the Spring 2019 Issue of Disney twenty-three

February 14, 2019April 27, 2019

By D23 Team

This March, Marvel Studios’ epic new adventure Captain Marvel flies into theaters, and Disney twenty-three was on set during production. This groundbreaking new movie explores the origin story of Carol Danvers, and stars Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson give us the behind-the-scenes details about making the film, plus the charming story of how they have become good friends. Can’t get enough of Captain Marvel? Every copy of Disney twenty-three, which is delivered to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will include an exclusive poster highlighting 10 amazing characters moviegoers will meet when the film opens in March.

The Marvel sneak peeks don’t stop there! Fans have been waiting with bated breath for any details on Avengers: Endgame, and D23 has the scoop from directors Anthony and Joe Russo themselves on what fans can expect in the follow-up to last year’s smash hit, Avengers: Infinity War. Marvel Studios’ executive vice president of production, Victoria Alonso, opens the doors to her impressive office. Author Lorraine Cink gives a preview of some of the 65 powerful women celebrated in her colorful and very funny new book, Marvel Powers of a Girl. And fans will shrink down to explore the new attraction Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!, a pulse-quickening adventure that will have the titular heroes—and guests at Hong Kong Disneyland—facing off against the powers of the wicked agents of Hydra.

Also this March, Tim Burton reimagines Dumbo with a dazzling, live-action tale that opens up the magical world of the animated classic in thrilling ways. In exclusive interviews, Burton and stars Colin Farrell and Danny DeVito reveal what it took to bring this enchanting tale to life—and we finally find out what happens after the title character’s famous first flight.

And in celebration of D23’s 10th anniversary, the back cover of the publication features a “10 FAN-tastic Years” patch, exclusively for D23 Gold Members.

Also included in the Spring issue of Disney twenty-three:

We get the sitch from the stars of Disney Channel’s Kim Possible live-action movie on accomplishing their Vancouver “bucket list” and celebrating the original animated series
A fond look back at Walt Disney World Resort’s Dumbo’s Circus Parade
Disneynature’s icebreaking new feature, Penguins, which follows a first-time father’s hilarious and heartfelt adventures
Raven-Symoné reflects on the totally stellar 20th anniversary of Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
An exploration of Walt Disney’s revolutionary Alice Comedies, which blended animation and live-action in innovative new ways
Every big Disney Parks announcement from D23’s Destination D event—from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news to a first look at the Disney Skyliner
Regular features including By the Numbers, Character Analysis, D Society, and Ask Dave

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in mid-February.

Don’t Miss These Enchanting New Trailers—Plus More in News Briefs

February 13, 2019

By Courtney Potter

Catch a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming Dumbo and Aladdin, and see the latest adorable short from Pixar Animation Studios… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

New Dumbo Trailer Delights and New Aladdin Trailer Mesmerizes…

There is a plethora of fantabulous Disney fun coming soon to a movie screen near you—including the much-anticipated, Tim Burton-helmed Dumbo, which soars into theaters next month. Just this past weekend, we were all gifted with another peek into little Dumbo’s world…

Here’s a bit more about what we can expect: Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback—attracting entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his new spectacular, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming aerial artist named Colette (Eva Green)—but eventually, Holt realizes that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is chock full of dark secrets.

Look for Dumbo to reach new heights this March 29!

Not to be outdone, the all-new live action retelling of Disney’s Aladdin—set to take flight this summer—revealed a brand-new trailer this past weekend as well… in which we get our first look at Will Smith as the azure-hued Genie. Also starring Mena Massoud as the charming street rat Aladdin; Naomi Scott as the courageous Princess Jasmine; and Marwan Kenzari as the evil vizier Jafar, Aladdin (directed by Guy Ritchie) will kick off its magic carpet ride on May 24.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
February 16, 2018
D23’s Happily Ever After Brunch
February 16, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty on the Lot
February 16, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty at Walt Disney World
March 7, 2018
Don’t Miss a Complimentary Advance Screening of Captain Marvel
March 10, 2018
D23’s 10-Year FAN-niversary Celebration at The Walt Disney Studios
March 11, 2018
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot
March 18, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
April 5, 2018
Lunch with a Disney Legend–Linda Larkin
April 6, 2018
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Lion King on Broadway
April 6, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – GOLD FAMILY EXCLUSIVE
April 15, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
May 6, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
January 18-February 25, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts
January 25-February 17, 2019
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure
March 1-April 23, 2019
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
March 6-June 3, 2019
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Summer 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort
Fall 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort

Studios
March 8, 2019
Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters
March 29, 2019
Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters
April 17, 2019
Penguins opens in U.S. theaters
April 26, 2019
Avengers: Endgame opens in U.S. theaters
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
August 9, 2019
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
February 15, 2019
Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:32 p.m. EST/PST)
February 24, 2019
The Oscars® airs on ABC (8–11 p.m. EST)
March 3, 2019
American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST)

Pixar’s Latest Animated Short is Ridiculously Adorable

There’s a new short out, created for Pixar Animation Studios’ cool SparkShorts program—and it’s sure to put a smile on your face! Directed by Brian Larsen and produced by David Lally, Smash and Grab tells the story of two über-cute robots who dream of escaping their exhausting day jobs. Check out the short, and get some behind-the-scenes scoop, right here at D23.com.

Flying High: Disney Skyliner Gondolas Complete First Test Run

The opportunity to take to the skies in order to travel from several Walt Disney World Resort hotels to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot grows ever closer… Just this week, the Disney Skyliner system hit another incredible milestone when the first gondolas completed a successful test run back and forth between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Walt Disney Imagineering associate project manager Steve Pratt recently told our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog that there’ll be more gondolas added soon—as well as “cycling” on the line—as teams continue testing and training. Congrats to everyone involved!

This state-of-the-art gondola system will begin transporting guests at the Walt Disney World Resort beginning later this fall.

A Delightful Deluge of Breaking Disney Channel News!

We can’t believe how much there is to look forward to from Disney Channel in the near future… First off, they’ve just announced that ZOMBIES 2—the highly anticipated sequel to 2018’s ZOMBIES—will begin production shortly. Stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will be reprising their roles as Addison and Zed, respectively, and the Disney Channel Original Movie will pick up as the couple—after a groundbreaking semester at Seabrook High—continues to steer both the school and their community toward unity. But the arrival of a group of mysterious werewolves threatens to shake up the newfound peace… and causes a rift in Zed and Addison’s budding romance. Look for more news on ZOMBIES 2 as it becomes available.

But that’s not all: The final season of Star vs. The Forces of Evil is set to kick off on Sunday, March 10, at 8 a.m. EST/PST on Disney Channel and Disney XD—and it’ll feature a host of celebrity guest stars, including Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker and Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez (Desus & Mero), and Danielle Fishel (Girl Meets World). Following the season premiere, new episodes will premiere on Sundays throughout the spring on Disney Channel.

Mark those calendars and get ready for some galactic and zombie-fied fun!

Marvel Rising – Young Storytellers Create Magic

Last year, the fine folks over at Marvel partnered with a nonprofit group called Young Storytellers to give middle school students the chance to write—with mentorship from a Disney employee—their very own stories based on Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors… and boy, were the results amazing! In the clip above, check out how Young Storyteller Corryn used Marvel fan-faves Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, Quake, and super villain Exile to explain the ins and outs of friendship.

Working with their Disney mentors, each Young Storyteller wrote a three- to five- page script using characters from Marvel Rising; narrated by actress Skai Jackson, the stories were then performed by a memorable cast of Marvel Rising and Marvel Animation voice actors, including Chloe Bennet, Roger Craig-Smith, Kathreen Khavari, Kamil McFadden, Melanie Minichino, and Milana Vayntrub.

The first episode, featuring Young Storyteller Ruby’s “America’s Backstory,” debuted online last week. Keep your eyes peeled for more new episodes, premiering each week for seven weeks—they’re sure to be just as entertaining!

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Expands to 54 Days

It’ll soon be one of our favorite times of the year… the time when Disney California Adventure park is positively replete with even more delicious food and beverage than normal! Yes, this spring, the ever-so-popular Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to the Disneyland Resort—and for this go ‘round, the festival runs for a whopping 54 days, from March 1 to April 23.

Guests of all ages can discover the beauty and celebrate the bounty of California with unforgettable cuisine, beverages, and entertainment during the event—which will feature 14 different Festival Marketplaces, each with a different menu inspired by fresh, California-grown ingredients. (Attendees may choose to purchase the Sip and Savor Pass to get the best value as they “taste” their way through those Festival Marketplaces and other participating locations.) Plus, the Backlot Stage in Hollywood Land will offer up culinary demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays—as well as fun for those smaller chefs in your life during the “Junior Chef” experience with Chef Goofy. And let’s not forget the Festival’s signature events, this year including an appearance by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Find out more about the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival—and make reservations for signature events—at Disneyland.com/FoodandWine.

Disney Cruise Line to Offer Special Three-Night Cruise This August

Searching for a quick cruise that still offers you all the incredible fun of Disney on the high seas? Then look no further than Disney Cruise Line’s August 2019 three-night cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy—which will be sailing out of Port Canaveral to both Castaway Cay and Nassau, Bahamas.

It’s the only three-night offering from DCL all year long… and it’s the perfect end-of-summer escape for you and your family and friends. The Disney Fantasy has several unique experiences not offered on any other DCL ship; it’s the only vessel in the entire fleet on which you can view the phenomenal Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular and Disney Wishes shows, as well as Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea celebration, while onboard. Plus, it’s the only vessel to feature an adults-only entertainment destination called Europa, which includes three exclusive venues: Ooh La La (for drinks and conversation), The Tube (to dance the night away), and the romantic La Piazza.

Do check out DisneyCruise.com to find out more about this incredible three-night Bahamian itinerary on the Disney Fantasy. Maybe we’ll see you onboard?

Captain Marvel’s Paw-Some Pal

February 13, 2019February 13, 2019

By Jim Frye

With just weeks to go before Marvel Studios’ next big-screen adventure, Captain Marvel, drops into theaters (and through the roof of a Blockbuster video store), there’s one purr-ticular character in the film that fans just can’t wait to meet—that adorable cat!

“We have an awesome cat in this movie named Goose,” says executive producer Jonathan Schwartz. The name “Goose” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the classic action flick Top Gun, which featured the fighter pilot buddies Maverick and Goose. And considering Captain Marvel features fighter pilot friends Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), the name fits perfectly.

The adorable orange tabby made his semi-stealth debut on the first poster for Captain Marvel, where, alongside Larson’s title character, eagle-eyed viewers were quick to point out his barely discernable tail and backside in the shadows. Next, Goose charmed a young Nick Fury at the “tail”-end of the second Captain Marvel trailer, causing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to kneel down and pet him, proclaiming, “Aren’t you just the cutest thing?!” And in a move that delighted viewers the world over, the fan-fave feline was honored with his very own character poster! (shown above)

THOSE DARN CATS
“Goose is played by a team of four cats who all have their own specialty,” says Schwartz. “There’s Reggie, there’s Archie, there’s Rizzo, and there’s Gonzo. They’re an A-team of cats who can all do one trick—because you can’t teach cats to do that much.”

Ain’t that the truth!

Schwartz continues, “I learned all about cats during the course of this movie. One of them is the face cat, a pretty cat—that’s Reggie. One of them is the holding cat, who only can be held. One of them is the nuzzling cat who will walk up to your leg and nuzzle it. And one of them is the cat who will paw you.”

He takes a pause (paws), then adds, “If you told me before this movie started that I would be auditioning cats, I would not have believed you.”

There’s one actor, though, who was excited about the cats—Gemma Chan, who plays Minn-Erva in the film. “I got to work with the cats!” she says, grinning from ear-to-ear. “I got to hold one of the cats (the ‘holding’ cat). They’re so well-trained—they’re amazing. There were actually two that I worked with. It was great—and I didn’t get scratched!”

Of course, in true Marvel fashion, there might be more to Goose than what meets the eye. Just ask Lashana Lynch. “It’s a cat, but a mysterious cat,” she says. “And although I don’t hold the cat, I’m around it a lot. The cat does things that we didn’t expect for it to do and it’s very surprising.”

To find out exactly what she means—and to meet, perhaps, the cutest new member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—we’ll have to wait until Captain Marvel lets the cat out of the bag on March 8.