Phineas and Ferb and Ant-Man and the Wasp—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

The hit animated series debuts (in its entirety) on DisneyNOW, and a brand-new trailer for the next Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure makes its premiere… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

phineas and ferb

Best News Ever: Every Episode of Phineas and Ferb is on DisneyNOW

Pinin’ for some Phineas Flynn in your life? Yearnin’ for Ferb Fletcher? Hankerin’ for some Dr. Doofenshimrtz? If so, we’ve got some excellent news: Disney’s hit animated series Phineas and Ferb will be available in its entirety on the DisneyNOW app, beginning Wednesday, May 2! The first season will be available for all users, while the next three seasons will be available for verified users.

Don’t have DisneyNOW? Fret not! Disney XD will also air the entire Phineas and Ferb library—all 126 episodes; seven one-hour specials; and the hilarious, record-breaking Disney Channel Original Movie Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension—throughout the month of May. Episodes are now airing weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. (EDT/PDT)… at it all leads into a Phineas and Ferb Memorial Day weekend marathon from Friday, May 25, at 5 p.m. (EDT/PDT) through Monday, May 28, at 8:30 p.m. (EDT/PDT).

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 19, 2018
Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein
May 25, 2018
D23’s Return to Marceline
June 9, 2018
D23’s Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Experience in Florida
June 29, 2018
Lunch with Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
February 28–May 28, 2018
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
April 26, 2018
Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land opens at Shanghai Disneyland
May 25, 2018
Incredible Summer Begins at Walt Disney World Resort
May 27, 2018
Star Wars: Galactic Nights Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
June 23, 2018
Pixar Pier opens at Disney California Adventure
June 30, 2018
Toy Story Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
August 17, 24, 28, 31
September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Studios
May 25, 2018
Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters
June 15, 2018
Incredibles 2 opens in U.S. theaters
July 6, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in U.S. theaters opens in U.S. theaters
August 3, 2018
Disney’s Christopher Robin opens in U.S. theaters
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
Television
June 9, 2018
Big Hero 6 The Series Premieres on Disney Channel (9 a.m. ET/PT)

It Takes Two in New Ant-Man and the Wasp Trailer

Now that Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War is out and taking the world by storm, it’s time to look forward to the next adventure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp! To that end, we’re getting a closer look at the film, courtesy of its brand-new trailer, above.

Set in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, the film finds Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grappling with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. While trying to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) with an urgent new mission. Now, Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

Directed by Peyton Reed and co-starring Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Bobby Canavale, Judy Greer, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Randall Park, Laurence Fishburne, and Michelle Pfeiffer, Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp zooms into cineplexes on July 6.

frozen on broadway

Frozen on Broadway: Tony® Nominations and Cast Recording Release

Big news from the Big Apple! Disney Theatricals’ newest citizen of the Great White Way, Frozen, was just nominated for three Tony® Awards—including Best Musical. Additionally, Jennifer Lee received a nod for Best Book of a Musical, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre. Wanna tune in to see if they all take home the prize? Catch the 2018 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, from the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (And FYI: Frozen has also received Best Musical nods from the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle this season. Cool, right?)

But that’s not all: The Frozen Original Broadway Cast Recording from Walt Disney Records will be on sale digitally on Friday, May 11, at your favorite purveyor of digital music—and the physical album will be available beginning Friday, June 8, wherever music is sold. Produced by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Dave Metzger, and Chris Montan, the Cast Recording will feature an incredible 44-piece orchestra and—naturally—all the stars of the show, including Caissie Levy (Elsa) and Patti Murin (Anna). To learn more, visit FrozenTheMusical.com.

american idol disney night

Magical Disney Moments at ABC’s American Idol

Last Sunday, D23 had the distinct pleasure of attending the very first Disney Night for ABC’s American Idol—and what a magical evening it was! Favorite Disney songs, plenty of Disney characters, and even Katy Perry dressed as Snow White. Read up on what went down right here.

Go Behind the Scenes with New Becoming Solo Featurette

We’ve entered the merry month of May—which means Solo: A Star Wars Story is almost ready to rocket onto the big screen! And just this past weekend, the good folks at Lucasfilm provided a bit of appetite-whetting with a very cool new featurette, above.

Becoming Solo includes interviews with director Ron Howard, screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, and stars Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, and Emilia Clarke. Plus a whole lotta great clips from the film itself, natch.

Also starring Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany, Solo: A Star Wars Story debuts in theaters across the country on May 25.

rdma

2018 Radio Disney Music Awards—Check Out the Nominees

It’s the news music fans have been waiting for: the announcement of this year’s Radio Disney Music Awards nominees. The biggest names in pop and country music will go head-to-head on Friday, June 22, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with a special telecast of the show airing the following evening (Saturday, June 23). Read up on who’s nominated and how you can catch the show—on TV, streaming, or even in person!—here at D23.com.

mission force one

Disney Junior’s Mission Force One Just Premiered… in Space!

Yes, you read that headline correctly—Disney Junior’s Mission Force One, the latest chapter of acclaimed series Miles from Tomorrowland, celebrated the very first kids’ television premiere in space when their episode entitled “The Space Station Situation” debuted to astronauts on board the International Space Station last week.

The episode, which features an exact replica of the space station using NASA’s original designs, was also shown at a private screening event at the nonprofit Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA Johnson Space Center. Citizens of Earth will get to see the episode too, when “The Space Station Situation” makes its TV debut on Monday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Disney Junior and on the DisneyNOW app.

A who’s-who of space and science luminaries lent their voices for the episode, including NASA astronauts Scott Kelly, Jeanette Epps, and Yvonne Cagle; the European Space Agency’s astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti from Italy; Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko; NASA space station flight director Holly Ridings; and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Randii Wessen, Diana Trujillo, Bobak Ferdowsi, and Kevin Hand. Bill Nye (the “Science Guy”) recurs as Professor Rubicon, and the episode also features Grammy® Award-winning musician Bela Fleck. So break out the spacesuit and set those DVRs!

All the Magical Moments from American Idol’s Disney Night

Beth Deitchman

Disney fans are well aware of what can happen when you wish upon a star. Last night, American Idol’s 10 final competitors took the stage to sing some of the most beloved Disney songs of all time, and hopefully, move one step closer to making their dreams come true during the series’ first-ever Disney Night on ABC.

American Idol Disney Night

A very special “Fab Four” was on hand for the enchanting evening. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy—dressed in their most sparkly, Hollywood best—cheered on the American Idol singers, checked out the view from the judges’ table, and even took over the control booth at one point during the broadcast. The judges also added a little pixie dust to their attire, with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan representing the Seven Dwarfs by wearing buttons that named them as “Happy” and “Dopey,” respectively—while Katy Perry appeared to have raided Snow White’s closet (and perhaps borrowed a pair of glass slippers from Cinderella).

American Idol Disney Night

As they prepared for last night’s performances, the contestants had a mentor worth melting for. The group traveled to the Disneyland Resort on Tuesday, where Idina Menzel met them at 21 Royal in Disneyland park to share her expertise with the aspiring Idols and help them shape their performances. “I think each one of us took something away from that,” said Idol hopeful Maddie Poppie. “I changed the whole bridge of my song, based on what she told me, and I think [her mentoring] really made a difference.” The contestants’ visits to the Resort were made even more magical when each was surprised by a family member or friend, who joined them for a day to enjoy what was for many of the young performers a first visit to a Disney park.

American Idol Disney Night

Maddie Poppe showed off her ukulele skills as she kicked off Disney Night with a rendition of “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book, followed by Jurnee’s heartfelt performance of Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” which she said was influenced by the time she spent this week with her mother—who always inspires her to go farther as she pursues her dreams.

American Idol Disney Night

Cade Foehner reimagined “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid as an acoustic rock ballad, while Katy Perry referred to Ada Vox’s majestic version of “Circle of Life” from The Lion King as another example of how she keeps “dropping the mic” with every performance.

American Idol Disney Night

Michelle Sussett sang “Remember Me” in both English and Spanish, making for a truly unforgettable performance of Coco’s signature song. Michelle’s song choice was a nod to her family and friends back home in Venezuela, and Gabby Barrett was also thinking of someone special to her while she performed “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, a song that she and her sister, Gypsy, both loved to sing together when they were younger.

American Idol Disney Night

Michael J. Woodard showed his impressive range during his soulful performance of the title song from Beauty and the Beast, along with his ability to hold a note for a seemingly impossible length of time. He spent an unforgettable day at Disneyland alongside his grandmother, who surprised him on Main Street, U.S.A., by hiding under a massive bouquet of balloons.

Watching the Pixar Play Parade at Disneyland, Caleb Lee Hutchinson told Woody, Buzz, and the gang that he’s their biggest fan, and he honored those beloved characters when he performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story during the live broadcast. Catie Turner looked like a princess, in her pink ball gown with an elegant up-do, and she sang like one, too, choosing “Once Upon a Dream” from Sleeping Beauty for her Disney Night number. The week was a high point in Catie’s Idol journey. “My heart was full to a point that if I went home this week I would feel satisfied, because I had the best time with family, I had the best time with friends, and I got to go on rides and have Dole Whip—and I don’t have Dole Whip back home—so I was content,” she told us after the broadcast.

American Idol Disney Night

Dennis Lorenzo had never been to Disneyland until this week, and he had the bonus experience of enjoying the park with his young daughter, who was also visiting for the first time. Dennis sang “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King—a song that he explained takes him back to his own childhood and reminds him of his late father.

The judges seemed to enjoy Disney Night as much as the contestants did. “I’m a through-and-through Disney fanatic. I know all the songs, I was singing along. Some of them are written in my DNA,” Katy Perry said. “The ‘D’ in DNA stands for ‘Disney.’” Perry revealed that she’s been to every Disney park except for Disneyland Paris—but she has plans to remedy that as soon as she can.

Disney Night marked the first-ever coast-to-coast simul-vote, with the results of the voting revealed at the end of the evening. American Idol said goodbye to Michelle Sussett, Ada Vox, and Dennis Lorenzo, but the three were all smiles when we spoke with them after the show. “The fact that I’ve made it this far means success for me,” said Michelle, who says her Idol experience allowed her to find herself as an artist. “Every single day is a new opportunity to be better and improve yourself. You never stop learning. The learning process in the music industry and artistic world is infinite.”

The Complete List of 2018 RDMA Nominees Revealed

By Beth Deitchman

Talk about a Fri-YAY! Nominations for the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA) were revealed Friday evening during a special #FriYAYLive livestream hosted by Radio Disney’s Morgan and DJ Lela B, with a little help from special guests Jenna Ortega (Stuck in the Middle), singer-songwriter Carson Lueders, and social media influencer Sofie Dossi. Some of music’s biggest names will go head-to-head for music’s biggest night, as Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Selena Gomez are among this year’s contenders.

Winners will be announced Friday, June 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California. Tickets for the RDMA are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com/RDMA. D23 Members are invited to be part of the excitement and enjoy a 10-percent discount on tickets to this year’s event. Click here for more details.

A special telecast of the show, 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards, airs the following evening, Saturday, June 23 (8 p.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel, Radio Disney, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app, and Disney.com/RDMA.

Voting for the 2018 RDMA opens today across six voting platforms: Disney.com/RDMA, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app, Google Search Voting, and Radio Disney’s Facebook and Twitter. Here is the complete list of this year’s nominees:

“You Know You Love Them—Best Duo/Group (Presented By KRAFT® Macaroni and Cheese Shapes)”
BTS
Clean Bandit
Echosmith
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5

“The One—Best Artist”
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Meghan Trainor
Selena Gomez
Shawn Mendes
Taylor Swift

“The Bestest—Song of the Year”
“Havana”—Camila Cabello
“Look What You Made Me Do”—Taylor Swift
“The Middle”—Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
“There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”—Shawn Mendes
“Wolves”—Selena Gomez & Marshmello

“XOXO—Best Crush Song”
“I Like Me Better”—Lauv
“Ins and Outs”—Sofia Carson
“Perfect”—Ed Sheeran
“Legends”—Kelsea Ballerini
“Why”—Sabrina Carpenter

“#SQUADGOALS—Fiercest Fans”
BTS Army—BTS
Mellogang—Marshmello
Megatronz—Meghan Trainor
Selenators—Selena Gomez
Mendes Army—Shawn Mendes

“The Buzz—Breakout Artist of the Year”
Camila Cabello
Charlie Puth
Dua Lipa
Halsey
Julia Michaels
Marshmello

“The Freshest—Best New Artist”
Bebe Rexha
Cheat Codes
Hey Violet
Lauv
Why Don’t We

“So Happy—Best Song that Makes You Smile”
“DNA”—BTS
“I Miss Those Days”—Bleachers
“No Excuses”—Meghan Trainor
“One Foot”—Walk the Moon
“So Much More Than This”—Grace VanderWaal

“Doubletap—Favorite Social Music Artist”
Alex Aiono
Carson Lueders
Chloe x Halle
HRVY
Max & Harvey
Rudy Mancuso

“Stuck in Our Heads—Best Song To Lip Sync To”
“Look What You Made Me Do”—Taylor Swift
“New Rules”—Dua Lipa
“Sorry Not Sorry”—Demi Lovato
“These Girls”—Why Don’t We
“This Is Me”—Keala Settle

“When The Beat Drops!—Best Dance Track”
“Friends”—Justin Bieber & BloodPop
“Let Me Go”—Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso ft. Florida Georgia Line & watt
“Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)”—BTS
“The Middle”—Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
“Silence”— Marshmello f. Khalid

“Play It Again!—Radio Disney Country Favorite Song”
“Legends”—Kelsea Ballerini
“Meant to Be”—Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
“Take Back Home Girl”—Chris Lane & Tori Kelly
“Unforgettable”—Thomas Rhett
“You Broke Up With Me”—Walker Hayes

“The Bestest!—Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist”
Florida Georgia Line
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Bryan
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett

“The Freshest!—Radio Disney Country Best New Artist”
Carly Pearce
Devin Dawson
Jillian Jacqueline
Jordan Davis
LANCO

“Mashup!—Best Collaboration”
“Meant to Be”—Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
“No Promises”—Cheat Codes & Demi Lovato
“Mi Gente”—J Balvin & Willy William
“It Ain’t Me”—Kygo & Selena Gomez
“The Middle”—Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

Incredible Items that Celebrate Avengers: Infinity War

By Megan Deppe

Are you geared up for the release of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War? There are so many ways to show your Marvel spirit—you might even wear it right on your sleeve. We’ve pulled together a list of some great Infinity War merchandise that you will definitely not want to pass up. It’s time to save the world!

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

1. Iron Man Hero Vision Augmented Reality Experience Mask
You can see through Iron Man’s eyes and jump into an Avengers adventure with the Hero Vision mask! With 10 levels of play and an Infinity Stone of your own, there’s no telling what heroic adventures you’ll experience.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

2. Black Widow Stingers Playset
Prepare for your battle against Thanos with the Black Widow Stinger glove set. Fire darts from the light-up cuffs or slip them on to go undercover like Natasha. Either way, the world is safe in your hands.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

3. Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War: The Heroes’ Journey Book
After 10 years’ worth of stories, it’s amazing to see so many heroes team up to face the ultimate threat: Thanos. In Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War: The Heroes’ Journey book, you can discover how all of the characters’ paths led them to the Infinity War to come.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

4. Infinity War Lunch Tote
Even heroes have to eat! Assemble your favorite foods every day in the Infinity War lunch tote, complete with a graphic of your favorite Super Heroes, and head off to school or work in style.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

5. Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Raglan T-Shirt for Men
We’ve met a lot of super heroes over the first 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as we approach the most epic team-up ever, you should have some apparel that celebrates all of them! This T-Shirt features the profiles of 24 heroes, including Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Black Widow.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

6. Iron Spider Costume for Kids
Playtime soars to new heights when your little Avenger has a Spider-Man suit of his or her very own. They won’t need Spidey senses to enjoy the attached spider legs and the motion-activated web-slinging sound effects!

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

7. Star-Lord Element Blasters
You’ll have a blast firing darts to stop Thanos with these two element blasters that feature flashing lights and firing sound effects. Simply turn on your cassette player, pop in your favorite mixtape, and get ready to save the galaxy like Peter Quill.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

8. Thanos Rising Game
If you’re a Marvel fan and you’re looking for something new to play on game night, you can try out Thanos Rising, inspired by Avengers: Infinity War. Two to four players can assemble a team to protect the Earth against Thanos’ arrival—and hopefully keep the Infinity Stones from changing life as we know it.

Avengers: Infinity War merchandise

9. Infinity Gauntlet Fist
We certainly don’t wish for Thanos to have all of the Infinity Stones combined in the gauntlet, but do you think you could handle the weight of all the power in the galaxy? The Infinity Gauntlet Fist is yours to command, and this foam toy provides the ability to take over the world comfortably.

Disneyland After Dark Returns to a Galaxy Far, Far Away—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

A second Star Wars Nite at Disneyland park is announced, and Big Hero 6 The Series readies its premiere for June 9… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

news briefs 4/24

Disneyland After Dark Goes Galactic with Second Star Wars Celebration

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite is so very nice, they’re doing it twice! Yes—due to unprecedented demand for their now-sold-out event on May 3, Disneyland park is adding a second Star Wars Nite celebration on Wednesday, May 9… and tickets go on sale very soon!

Guests at this supremely cool after-hours event will once again have special access to celebrate everything galactic across Disneyland park. Folks are encouraged to come dressed in their fave Star Wars attire, and they’ll have access to exclusive entertainment (like a dance party and character encounters); amazing and immersive Star Wars-themed photo opportunities; a commemorative lanyard and event credential; special food and beverage offerings; and even unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass pics taken during the event.

Plus, this second Star Wars Nite will also include the opportunity to be among the first to purchase limited-quantity Solo: A Star Wars Story pins, an Acme Archives Limited artist showcase and signing, and a book signing for It’s Your Universe from Ashley Eckstein. Honestly, if you’re local to SoCal and you’re a Star Wars fan, this is an event you don’t want to miss! Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 1—visit the After Dark page at Disneyland.com for more info.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 29, 2018
D23 Attends “Disney Night” at American Idol
June 9, 2018
D23’s Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Experience in Florida
May 19, 2018
Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein
May 25, 2018
D23’s Return to Marceline
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
February 28–May 28, 2018
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
April 26, 2018
Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land opens at Shanghai Disneyland
May 25, 2018
Incredible Summer Begins at Walt Disney World Resort
May 27, 2018
Star Wars: Galactic Nights Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
June 23, 2018
Pixar Pier opens at Disney California Adventure
June 30, 2018
Toy Story Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
August 17, 24, 28, 31
September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Studios
April 27, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War opens in U.S. theaters
May 25, 2018
Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters
June 15, 2018
Incredibles 2 opens in U.S. theaters
July 6, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in U.S. theaters opens in U.S. theaters
August 3, 2018
Disney’s Christopher Robin opens in U.S. theaters
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
Television
April 30, 2018
Dancing with the Stars: Athletes Premieres on ABC (8–10 p.m. ET/PT)
May 2018
New episodes of DuckTales debut every Friday throughout the month
June 9, 2018
Big Hero 6 The Series Premieres on Disney Channel (9 a.m. ET/PT)

news briefs 4/24

Big Hero 6 The Series Premiere—This Summer on Disney Channel

It’s almost time to return to San Fransokyo and catch up with Hiro, Baymax, and all their pals. Big Hero 6 The Series will make its big debut on Disney Channel (as well as DisneyNOW and Disney Channel VOD platforms) with back-to-back episodes on Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10. Read up on what you can expect—and check out a teaser trailer with an adorable message from Baymax himself — here at D23.com.

Disneynature’s Penguins Debuts First Trailer

In celebration of this month’s Earth Day, Disneynature debuted the first trailer for its latest incredible feature. Penguins tells the story of Steve, an Adélie penguin who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner, and start a family. Unfortunately, none of it comes easily for him—especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his “happily ever after.” Check out the captivating clip, above.

The film is the eighth theatrical release for Disneynature since the label’s 2008 launch, and it continues a long-standing tradition of wildlife documentary filmmaking at Disney that dates back to Walt Disney and his True Life Adventure films, produced between 1948 and 1960. Best of all, Disneynature’s films help empower viewers to lend their own support to conservation efforts dedicated to the wildlife featured in the films.

Brought to you by the teams behind Disneynature’s Bears and Chimpanzee, Penguins is slated to open in theaters nationwide in time for Earth Day 2019.

news briefs 4/24

Eat to the Beat with Brand-New Musical Guests at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a truly delectable event, running for 10 weeks this fall—and as our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog just announced, some fantastic new-to-the-Fest artists will soon be taking to the “Eat to the Beat” concert series stage.

New to this year’s series are percussionist/singer Sheila E and ’80s Canadian rockers Glass Tiger, both appearing in September. In October, 98 Degrees (featuring brothers and Dancing with the Stars alums Nick and Drew Lachey) will also join the festival for a weekend, as will TV and film star Jim Belushi—who brings his R&B band The Sacred Hearts to “Eat to the Beat” for the first time.

They’ll be joined by other music favorites including ’80s pop chanteuse Tiffany (September 1–3); viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox (September 10–11); Australian soft-rock icons Air Supply (October 8–10); ’90s darlings Hanson (Halloween weekend, October 29–31); and dance music diva Taylor Dayne (November 3–4). And so many more!

It all kicks off on August 30… for more information, both about the “Eat to the Beat” concerts (FYI: More artists will be added to the roster in the coming weeks!) and the incredible Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in general, visit TasteEpcot.com.

news briefs 4/24

Bold New Character Posters for Solo: A Star Wars Story

We’re counting down the days—we’ll be in single digits before you know it—’til the debut of Solo: A Star Wars Story, the latest adventure from the Star Wars universe and a look at the origin of the galaxy’s most beloved scoundrel. Just recently, we’ve been given a looksee at the film’s new character posters, featuring Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as droid L3-37, and even Chewbacca.

Directed by Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story rockets into a theater near you on May 25.

news briefs 4/24

Disney Channel’s Descendants 3 Welcomes Back Fan Favorites

With production set to begin next month—and a premiere scheduled for 2019—Disney Channel’s Descendants 3 just made a super-fun casting announcement that’s sure to thrill fans of the first two installments: Sarah Jeffrey, who originated the role of prim and proper Audrey (daughter of Sleeping Beauty’s Princess Aurora), is set to once again play the role for the upcoming “trequel.”

Plus, two popular members of pirate Uma’s (China McClain) crew, Harry and Gil, are coming back—portrayed by actors Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair, respectively. These three performers will join Dove Cameron as Mal, Cameron Boyce as Carlos, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, and Mitchell Hope as King Ben for a return to Auradon and the world of the “villain kids,” or VKs.

And, good news: Descendants 3 will once again be directed by Emmy® and DGA Award winner Kenny Ortega. Stay tuned for more Descendants dish as it becomes available!

Adventures by Disney’s Incredible New Africa Trip

At D23’s recent celebration of all things Disney’s Animal Kingdom (chiefly, its fabulous 20th anniversary), guests were treated to a very special announcement: Adventures by Disney has created a unique, adult-exclusive safari to South Africa for November 2018… and coming along for the (Jeep) ride are special hosts Joe Rohde and Dr. Mark Penning! Get all the safari scoop—including a cool clip with Joe himself — here at D23.com.

news briefs 4/24

Downtown Disney District to Welcome Salt & Straw Ice Cream

Fans of ice cream, and visitors to Disneyland Resort, ready those spoons—we’ve got some exciting news to share. The newest scoop shop from ice cream innovators Salt & Straw (and their co-founders, cousins Kim and Tyler Malek) will open at Downtown Disney District later this year.

This family-run ice cream company, which started as a push-cart in Portland, Oregon, is known for its imaginative ice cream creations. Each flavor is handmade in small batches using only the best local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Special offerings will be available each season, showcasing co-founder and head ice cream maker Tyler’s passion for partnering with local farmers and artists.

Construction is due to begin soon, and our taste buds couldn’t possibly be more excited.

news briefs 4/24

ABC’s American Idol to Feature Historic “Simul-Voting” Coast to Coast

This… is American Idol making history! For the first time in the history of U.S. television, a reality-competition series will allow viewers to watch and vote from both coasts simultaneously. Cool, right?

For a three-week span, American Idol will be simulcast in all time zones across the country, starting this Sunday, April 29 (beginning at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT), on ABC. Viewers can vote for their faves by text, via AmericanIdol.com/vote, and on the American Idol app; results will be revealed at the end of each show in real time, across the country.

“We set out on a journey to find the best talent this nation has to offer,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey recently said. “As we head into the next phase of the American Idol competition, it only makes sense to let every viewer from coast to coast experience the magic of live television and have the ability to vote for America’s next superstar.” So get those texting fingers ready, and make sure to tune in!

Fun in the Sun with Disney Channel GO! Summer

Summer is just around the corner—which means vacations, cookouts, and (in the case of this summer) some totally nifty fan-centric programming and events from the good folks over at Disney Channel. Take a gander at what you can expect from the Disney Channel GO! Road Trip and Fan Fest right here.

Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land Opens to Guests at Shanghai Disneyland

By Beth Deitchman

Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land has officially begun to take guests to infinity and beyond at Shanghai Disney Resort. Shanghai Disneyland’s seventh land made its debut today, following a kinetic opening moment during an unforgettable grand opening ceremony. The new land marks the first major expansion at Shanghai Disney Resort since it opened in 2016.

Shanghai Disney Resort Toy Story Land

“We’re incredibly proud of the success of this one-of-a-kind, world-class destination, and we are thrilled to give our Chinese guests even more to explore and enjoy at the resort with the addition of a spectacular new land based on Pixar’s beloved Toy Story characters,” said Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger at today’s special event.

Shanghai Disney Resort Toy Story Land

Shanghai Disney Resort Toy Story Land

Guests become “honorary toys” when they walk through the immersive new land and feel as if they’ve shrunk down to the size of a toy. Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land features three new attractions: Slinky Dog Spin, which takes guests on a whirlwind adventure as the beloved Slinky chases his own tail; Rex’s Racer, a thrilling ride on a U-shaped track; and Woody’s Roundup, which swings guests around in their carts for a rip-roaring square dance. Meet and greet characters at the Meeting Post, and enjoy immersive shopping and dining experiences at Al’s Toy Barn and Toy Box Café.

Shanghai Disney Resort Toy Story Land

It’s a “Year of Pixar” at Disney Parks around the world. Pixar Fest is underway at the Disneyland Resort and continues through September 3; and the resort is also gearing up for the opening of Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park this summer. Walt Disney World debuts its own Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning June 30. Let’s hear it for the toys!

Get Ready for High-Flying Fun with the New Animated Series Star Wars Resistance

By Jocelyn Buhlman

It’s time to return to far, far away and a long time ago—a time that Star Wars fans have yet to see explored on the screen. Production has begun on Star Wars Resistance, the high-flying new animated series exploring the uncharted timeframe prior to Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Premiering this fall on Disney Channel in the U.S. and, thereafter, on Disney XD and around the world, the newest adventure series introduces viewers to a soon-to-be fan favorite new character.

 Star Wars fans, meet Kazuda Xiono—a young pilot recruited by the Resistance and tasked with a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order. Xiono will be joined by the adorable BB-8 and adventure alongside ace pilots and colorful new characters, and the new series will include appearances by fan favorites, including Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma, voiced by actors Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie, respectively.

Get ready for the fun Star Wars adventures we know and love, as show creator and renowned Lucasfilm Animation veteran Dave Filoni once again brings us an intergalactic story for all ages, following in the footsteps of his much-beloved previous animated shows, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

More veteran Star Wars storytellers join the crew along with some newcomers, including executive producers Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Justin Ridge (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), and Brandon Auman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); and art-director Amy Beth Christenson (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels).

The new series is close to Filoni’s heart. He explains, “The idea for Star Wars Resistance came out of my interest in World War II aircraft and fighter pilots. My grandfather was a pilot and my uncle flew and restored planes, so that’s been a big influence on me. There’s a long history of high-speed racing in Star Wars, and I think we’ve captured that sense of excitement in an anime-inspired style, which is something the entire team has been wanting to do for a long time.”

Marc Buhaj, senior vice president, Programming and general manager, Disney XD, says, “Our colleagues at Lucasfilm have created a compelling narrative for an untold moment in the Star Wars galaxy, and we are excited to partner with them again on this new original series. Star Wars Resistance will bring viewers across generations an engaging story with heart, humor, and both new and familiar characters.”

The voice cast also includes Christopher Sean (Days of Our Lives), Suzie McGrath (East Enders), Scott Lawrence (Legion), Myrna Velasco (Elena of Avalor), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Bobby Moynihan (DuckTales), Jim Rash (Community), and Rachel Butera (Tammy’s Tiny Tea Time).

 

7 Most-Memorable Moments from the Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

By Jim Frye

As movies go, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War is one of the biggest productions—in terms of scope and A-list actors—of all time. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, together with producer and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, have pulled off something truly extraordinary—combining the storylines and character arcs of 18 different films over 10 years into “the cinematic event of a lifetime.”

In anticipation of the April 27 opening, the film’s stars and directors have traveled to fan events around the globe, including Singapore, Tokyo, London, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Seoul, and Shanghai. It stands to reason, then, that the press conference to kick off the premiere week would be nothing short of spectacular—and it was.

Of course, because of the secrecy surrounding Infinity War (Sssh! No spoilers!), this large assembly of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) actors yielded few spoilers. But that didn’t matter, because half the fun was just seeing how each actor attempted to answer questions without giving away secrets. Did we learn much about the actual movie? Not really. But it was still one of the funniest, most enjoyable press conferences ever. Here are our seven favorite moments.

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

1. Jeff Goldblum as “Grand” Master of Ceremonies
Since Jeff Goldblum nearly stole the show in the recent Thor: Ragnorak as the Grandmaster, ruler of the planet Sakaar, it made sense Marvel would enlist his services at this week’s press conference. Showing his skills as a Master of Ceremonies, Goldblum kept the proceedings moving right along, along the way receiving a huge compliment from Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), who called him a “national treasure.”

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

2. Dropping the Curtain—The Grand Reveal
After Goldblum took the podium, regaling the audience about the sheer size of the cast in Avengers: Infinity War, he presided over the dramatic “unveiling” of the cast. With a rush of music and applause, the giant black drape dropped, revealing 21 cast members, plus Co-Directors Joe and Anthony Russo and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

3. Tom Hiddleston Surprised That He’s Still Around
“I’m astonished that I’m still here, as you may be,” said Hiddleston in response to a question. “Loki has fallen through a wormhole, and faked his own death, and I never expected to be playing this part for so long. The great privilege that I’ve had is working with every single person on this stage—and even with the gentleman moderator (Goldblum). They’re all great. Kevin Feige and the writers have created these characters with such precision, that what happens in the space between them is always unique.”

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

4. Chris Pratt Talks About Bass Fishing
When it came to avoiding spoilery questions, no one did it better than Chris Pratt. He was asked, “What’s it like for Star-Lord, Peter Quill, to be seeing Earthlings for the first time in 30 years?” Pratt’s answer: “That’s a good question, but it might be best for you to wait and see it, so I’m gonna talk about bass fishing. Everyone knows that April’s a big month for bass.” He went on to give a lesson in the correct lure to use, finishing with, “Fish slow. You have to fish it slow. Thank you.” And he was done.

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

5. Paul Bettany’s Best Memories As Vision
When Bettany was asked for his best on-set memories, he emphasized the need for secrecy by saying, “Well, snitches end up in ditches.” After the laughs died down, he continued, “And all the best memories are just unassailable. We’ve been making these movies for a really long time, and it’s been a unique experience as actors to keep getting to work with the same people again and again and again. We’ve all gone through real-life stuff together. People have gotten married, had children… real-life stuff has happened. I’ve never been on a set where people choose not to go back to their trailers, but rather they hang out on set and make fun of each other. Thank you, guys!”

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

6. Anthony Russo Was Asked If Agent Coulson Comes Back In Infinity War
In another attempt to ferret out spoilery nuggets from the filmmakers, a reporter asked Co-Director Anthony Russo if Agent Coulson would return. Russo answered in true Pratt form: “What can I say…other than talk about bass fishing?” To which Paul Bettany interjected: “Snitches end up in ditches.” But Russo was able to give some insight into which characters made sense to include in this film. “When we began developing this movie, we had a picture of every single character who’s been in the MCU and we hung them on the wall. We spent months and months talking about where we could go with each character. Everyone on this stage has had a very specific journey in the MCU to arrive at in this moment. It was a very long, creative process. It was one of the most fun, creative exercises I think I’ve ever been through.”

Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference

7. Chris Hemsworth’s Most Challenging Scene To Film
Everyone discovered Chris Hemsworth’s comedic chops in Thor: Ragnarok, and he kept up the comedy during this press event. When asked, “What was your most challenging scene to film?,” he answered, “It was all very difficult because of the directors and the people I had to work with. It was an awful experience.” But after the jokes, he said, “The first day was what you see in the trailers—Thor meeting the Guardians—and it felt kind of like my first day at school because they all knew each other, and I was the new kid. I had some weird butterflies floating around in my body, but they squeezed them out of me with a big group hug—and all the butterflies went floating out of my ears.”

Get ready, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War opens this Friday—and we can finally see what all the secrecy is about!

Booyah! The Live-Action Kim Possible Finds its Stars

By Beth Deitchman

Here’s the sitch: Disney Channel has just revealed the stars of the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible, a live-action comedy adventure based on the hit animated series of the same name. Sixteen-year-old Sadie Stanley will play Kim Possible—who challenges the social hierarchy of high school every day and also saves the world from power-hungry villains in her spare time. Stanley landed the role in her first-ever audition, and has since guest-starred on Game-Shakers. Sean Giambrone, who stars in the ABC comedy The Goldbergs, will play Kim’s BFF, Ron Stoppable.

kim possible

Judy Taylor, senior vice president, Casting and Talent Relations, Disney Channel, said, “Sadie delivers Kim’s confidence, smarts, and agility; most importantly, she’s an everyday girl with an extraordinary spirit.” She added, “Sean is such a magnetic actor; he always finds the right balance of physical comedy and heart. We’re excited for audiences to see Sadie and Sean bring these iconic roles to life.”

The original series creators, Emmy® winners Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley, are writing the script for the live-action Kim Possible, which promises to have all of the humor and heart that made the original series so beloved. See Mark and Bob in this casting announcement, featuring some familiar actors trying out for the roles of Kim and Ron, and call us, beep us, and page us—or at least follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!—as the series’ 2019 debut draws near.

The Avengers: Infinity War Premiere Celebrates 10 Epic Years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

By Jocelyn Buhlman

On Monday, we assembled along the purple carpet in Hollywood for the star-studded premiere of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War. The event was as large-scale as the movie it honors, taking place across three different theaters—the El Capitan Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, and the TCL Chinese Theatre—with almost the entire cast in attendance, dressed in their Hollywood best and excited to see the much-anticipated movie for the very first time! We got a close-up look at some of the amazing costumes and props featured on the purple carpet in celebration of the 10-year history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—including a certain D23 Easter egg from Captain America: Civil War!

We also caught up with some of the super cast on the purple carpet to talk about Marvel memories, Disney inspiration, and more:

Avengers: Infinity War premiere

Joe Russo’s Favorite Marvel Memory:
One half of the directorial duo reflected on his career with Marvel Studios: “A favorite Marvel Memory? Maybe it’s tonight. Because, honestly, we’ve had to be so secretive for the past two years, and nobody’s seen it—none of the cast has seen it, none of the crew has seen it. And tonight, we get to share it with everybody.”

Avengers: Infinity War premiere

Tom Hiddleston Reveals the Disney Villain that Inspired Loki:
Hiddleston cites a childhood favorite Disney villain that may have had an impact on his role as Loki: “Unconsciously, probably, Shere Khan, the tiger from the Jungle Book. This was not a deliberate thing, but the film had a huge impact on my childhood and on my imagination. George Saunders, who voices that character, seemed to be a villain who always was enjoying himself, and I try to enjoy myself as a villain.”

Avengers: Infinity War premiere

Sean Gunn’s Favorite Marvel Memory:
Sean’s favorite memory has a special family connection—his brother, James Gunn, directed Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: “I gotta say that working with my brother on the first [Guardians of the Galaxy] movie, and working with my brother all along—nothing can replace that. As amazing as it is to meet all these heroes that I’ve had growing up, nothing is better than working with someone I’ve loved and been with my whole life.”

Avengers: Infinity War premiere

Clark Gregg Reflects on 10 Years of Marvel:
Clark Gregg is one of the few to  been with the Marvel Cinematic Universe for all 10 years. He shared his memories from the very first red carpet: “The first red carpet of Iron Man, I think everyone was very nervous because Iron Man wasn’t a hugely popular character [at the time]— even though fans like me loved Iron Man! And I don’t know how anyone could have could have convinced themselves that we’d be here 10 years later, with 30 characters, at least, that people want to see interacting! It’s just a thrill. As a [one-time] 9-year-old geek, I’m dying to go watch it!”

Avengers: Infinity War premiere

Benedict Wong Reflects on the “Benedicts”:
We all know about Marvel’s famous collection of “Chrises,” but we wanted to know more about the “Benedicts.” When we asked Wong who was the better Benedict—himself or Cumberbatch—he was quick to answer: “I don’t like to really compare, but it’s got to be me, really. “  He laughs, and amends, “No—we both have our merits, I think. But as a duo, wow! That’s quite deadly.”

Besides catching up with the stars, we had a chance to share our latest issue of Disney twenty-three, a Summer Movie Spectacular featuring five movie-themed covers, including Avengers: Infinity War and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Check out some of the exclusive photos we got with the stars while on the purple carpet.