These Disney Academy Awards Aren’t Your Normal Oscars®

By Becky Cline

On Oscar® Sunday, February 26, Hollywood’s best and brightest will again gather at the Dolby Theatre for the 89th annual Academy Awards®. Disney is nominated in six categories, with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana and Zootopia both nominated for best Animated Feature Film—continuing the legacy of Walt Disney, who still holds the record for winning the most individual Academy Awards in history, with 32 to his credit, including many very special ones.

Walt holding two Academy Awards

Of course, the most well-known of Walt Disney’s “Oscars” is the Special Academy Award that was given to Walt Disney in 1939 to recognize the significance of his brilliant animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—“recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon.”  That very special award was presented to Walt Disney by Shirley Temple, and features a full-size Oscar statuette and seven “dwarf-sized” miniature versions that accompany it. But most people don’t realize that there are even smaller Oscars that have been given out.

Walt receiving an Academy Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Today, actors are nominated in each acting category, regardless of their age, but that wasn’t always so. In 1934, the Academy established the Academy Juvenile Award to recognize actors under the age of 18 for their “outstanding contributions to screen entertainment.” This Oscar statuette was as “pint-sized” as its recipients—standing only 7 inches tall (the full award is 13-1/2” high). Disney actor Bobby Driscoll was presented the award in 1950 for his performance in the Disney feature So Dear to My Heart (1949), as was Hayley Mills in 1960 for her tour de force performance as the title character in Pollyanna (1960).

And the Oscars actually get even smaller than that!

Each year, an Oscar winner is allowed to request a special 1-inch miniature 18-karat gold charm “Oscar” for each award that is won. The charms are one inch tall and are made by a Beverly Hills jeweler under exclusive license from the Academy. Each charm is engraved on the bottom with the name of the honoree, the film that it honors, and the year that the film was released.

Walt Disney holding his Oscar charm necklace

And as the record holder for Oscars… Walt Disney requested a lot of them. A photo taken in 1954 shows Walt holding up the 20 gold charms that he acquired from the Academy. His intention was to have them made into a necklace for his wife, Lillian, but when she told him she would prefer a bracelet, he had the ultimate Hollywood linked charm bracelet designed for her—a gift that she loved and proudly wore often. In her later years, Lilly gave the treasured bracelet to one of her granddaughters and today it can be seen on display at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

Gold Oscar charms requested by Walt Disney

But Walt was not the only Disney Oscar winner to make a special bracelet for his love. After winning an Academy Award for Special Visual Effects in Mary Poppins in 1965, Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw acquired one of the gold Oscar charms and created a very unique and outstandingly beautiful bracelet for his own beloved wife, Bobbie. He took the single charm and created a 7 1/4” long bracelet by adding seven hand-painted framed miniatures—all versions of subjects that he had previously painted over the years in “normal size.”

Peter Ellenshaw's Oscar charms

According to son Harrison Ellenshaw, who shared this photo with D23, the links feature [from L-R] a seascape (in Hawaii or California); The Sea Cloud (a clipper ship); County Kerry, Ireland; a desert scene with the San Jacinto Mountains in background; the Ring of Kerry in Ireland; the Skellig Islands, also in Ireland; and a desert pool.

Over the years, other unique awards have been presented to Walt and additional Disney luminaries. In 1932, Walt Disney was presented with his very first Academy Award, for the 1931–32 Cartoon Short Subject for Flowers and Trees, but that was also the year that he received his first Special Award from the Academy–an Oscar for the creation of Mickey Mouse. Others soon followed.

Walt receiving the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award

In 1942, Walt was given the very prestigious Irving Thalberg Memorial Award, which is occasionally awarded to “Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production.” Walt Disney was the youngest person ever to win it, and when legendary producer David O. Selznick presented the award to Walt, he was so overcome by the honor that he openly wept, saying, “I want to thank everybody here. This is a vote of confidence from the whole industry.” When Walt returned to his seat, Irving Thalberg’s widow, actress Norma Shearer, was so touched that she went over to Walt and gave him a little kiss.

In 1948, a special Honorary Award was given by the Academy to Disney actor James Baskett to honor his outstanding performance in Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South—for his “able and heartwarming characterization of Uncle Remus, friend and storyteller to the children of the world.”

And finally, there are the Special and Scientific/Technical Awards that have been given to the film wizards at The Walt Disney Company over the years. The first was given to Walt Disney Productions for the design and application to production of the Multiplane Camera in 1938, kicking off decades of amazing film technological achievements. The most recent are the two newest Disney Academy Awards given out just last week to Kiran Bhat, Michael Koperwas, Brian Cantwell, and Paige Warner for the design and development of the ILM facial performance-capture solving system and to Brian Whited for the design and development of the Meander drawing system at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

How Your Disney Cup of Coffee Can Help Peruvian Communities

By Nicole Nalty

Are you a fan of Joffrey’s Coffee? Your morning cup of joe at Disney theme parks just got sweeter thanks to a brand-new eco-friendly blend. Grown in Peru as part of Disney and Conservation International’s Alto Mayo forest project, this new high-quality, organic press-pot coffee will be available in select restaurants this month and will make its way to favorite table-service restaurants later this spring.

Joffrey's Coffee and Tea Company

Alto Mayo is a protected forest in Peru that spans 450,000 acres––that’s twice the size of New York City! Disney collaborated with Conservation International to train local farmers in Peru on sustainable farming methods, among other efforts to reduce deforestation. Because of this, there is less of a need to expand farming areas, which decreases deforestation (Plus, the coffee’s really good!).

Alto Mayo

Here’s where you can find this new blend at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts this month (P.S. Don’t forget your D23 Discount!):

Walt Disney World Resort

 

Disneyland Resort

Do You Know All of Walt Disney’s Record-Breaking 32 Academy Awards®?

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Walt Disney currently holds the world record for most Academy Awards® presented to any individual. As we enter Oscars® season, let’s take time to celebrate many of the unique awards Walt Disney has personally won for his groundbreaking work in film. And the Oscar® goes to…

Flowers and Trees

Flowers and Trees (Cartoon Short Subject, 1931–32)
This Silly Symphony cartoon was made in color at Walt Disney’s insistance, and the effort paid off—not only with this first-ever award for Best Cartoon Short Subject, but with the ground-breaking use of Technicolor, which would become an industry standard.

Special Award to Walt Disney for the creation of Mickey Mouse (1932)
It all started with a mouse, and the Academy was duly impressed with what one little mouse managed to begin. For creating our favorite leader of the club, Walt Disney received his first Oscar statue.

Three Little Pigs (Cartoon Short Subject, 1932–33)
This little cartoon became so famous that it often ranked higher on theater marquees than the full-length film it accompanied. The popularity of this film, along with its strongly defined characters and its instantly classic song, secured Walt an award for Best Cartoon Short Subject.

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Tortoise and the Hare (Cartoon Production, 1934)
The Disney-fied retelling of a classic Aesop fable earned Walt an award for producing another wonderful Silly Symphony.

Three Orphan Kittens (Cartoon Production, 1935)
Charming the hearts of viewers (and Academy voters!) everywhere, this tale of three castaway kittens once again granted Walt an award for Cartoon Production.

The Country Cousin

The Country Cousin (Cartoon Short Subject, 1936)
Walt won the award for Cartoon Short Subject for his Silly Symphony about a country mouse learning the perils of city mouse life.

The Old Mill

The Old Mill (Cartoon Short Subject, 1937)

An animated short so groundbreaking it garnered Walt two Academy Awards, The Old Mill was a dramatic Silly Symphony short that used the multiplane camera for the first time ever

Top Technical Award to Walt Disney Productions for the design and application to production of the Multi-Plane Camera (1937)
The multiplane camera first used in The Old Mill changed animation forever by allowing for more depth and detail in every scene. For his studio to pioneer such a groundbreaking technology, Walt was recognized with a Top Technical Award.

Ferdinand the Bull

Ferdinand the Bull (Cartoon Short Subject, 1938)

Sweet and gentle Ferdinand first appeared in this Academy Award-winning short and was even voiced by Walt Disney himself!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Special Award to Walt Disney for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1939)
The Academy famously awarded Walt with a very special award, featuring one regular-sized Oscar and seven smaller ones. This award was presented to him to recognize Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as “a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon.”

The Ugly Duckling (Cartoon Short Subject, 1939)
Walt’s take on this classic children’s tale (and the very last Silly Symphony) earned an Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short Subject, giving the groundbreaking Silly Symphony series the send-off it deserved.

Irving Thalberg Memorial Award to Walt Disney

Irving Thalberg Memorial Award to Walt Disney for “the most consistent high quality of production achievement by an individual producer” (1942)
The reason we list Walt’s record-breaking wins as “Academy Awards” and not “Oscars” is because not all of Walt’s awards are Oscar statuettes. Take this win, for instance: Walt did not receive an Oscar  statuette but instead a special award in the form of a bust of Irving Thalberg.

Special Technical Award for “outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia”
(1942)
Fantasia has inspired generations of animators and artists with its innovative combination of animation and symphonic music, so it’s only natural that Walt received a special award for his inspiring use of sound in this Disney classic.

Lend a Paw

Lend a Paw (Cartoon Short Subject, 1941)
Depicting Pluto in a moral crisis over a cuddly kitten, this short that is full of classic and charming Disney antics won Walt another award for Best Cartoon Short Subject.

Der Fuehrer’s Face (Best Cartoon Short Subject, 1942–43)
This famous political cartoon depicts Donald Duck enduring a nightmare about the horrors of Nazi Germany and won an Academy Award for its timely, topical content.

Seal Island

Seal Island (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1948)
Seal Island is not only significant for Walt’s Oscar win, but also for being the very first Disney True-Life Adventure film, kicking off a tradition of films which is still carried on today with the Disneynature series.

In Beaver Valley (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1950)
Walt’s foray into nature films continues its success with this win for a short film depicting the lives of beavers in their natural community.

Nature’s Half Acre (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1951)
Notable for the film’s use of time-lapse photography, this win for Walt tells the amazing story of intricate ecosystems in the “grass-roots” world of insects.

Water Birds (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1952)
Walt wins again with this insightful film on the lives of water birds, covering everything from survival adaptations and courtships to feeding habits.

The Living Desert

The Living Desert (Documentary Feature, 1953)

A landmark film in factual filmmaking, this documentary on how even somewhere as dry and arid as the desert can still be teeming with life earned Walt his first win for Documentary Feature. The Living Desert was also the first film to be released by Disney’s own Buena Vista Distribution.

Bear Country (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1953)
This tale of the American black bear not only won Walt another one of his record-breaking Academy Awards, but also helped inspire Disneyland attractions, such as the True-Life Adventures-inspired Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, which also featured sections themed to The Living Desert and Beaver Valley.

The Alaskan Eskimo (Documentary Short Subject, 1953)
Walt’s win with this film was both the first in his People and Places series and the first win in the category of Documentary Short Subject.

Toot, Whistle, Plunk, Boom

Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom (Cartoon Short Subject, 1953)
Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom is not just significant for being another of Walt’s wins, but also for being the first cartoon filmed in Cinemascope and featuring artist Eyvind Earle’s first work with Disney animation.

The Vanishing Prairie (Documentary Feature, 1954)
A team of 12 photographers helped make this story of buffalo, prairie dogs, and other critters become another winning True-Life Adventure film.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Achievement with Special Effects, 1954)
Jules Verne’s classic tale of undersea adventure was brought to spectacular life by The Walt Disney Studios, with special effects including a 50-foot-long hydraulic giant squid and a set for the submarine Nautilus that was later displayed at Disneyland. This whale of a tale won Walt a well-deserved Academy Award for special effects.

Men Against the Arctic (Documentary Short Subject, 1955)
Focusing on the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreakers in the Arctic, Walt won again with this entry in his People and Places series.

The Wetback Hound

The Wetback Hound (Live-Action Short Subject, 1957; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Larry Lansburgh, Producer)
This tale of a dog on the run not only won Walt an Academy Award, but also awards from the Southern California Motion Picture Council and the Berlin International Film Festival.

White Wilderness (Documentary Feature, 1958)
A dozen photographers spent three years in the Arctic to create this masterpiece that received another Best Documentary Feature award for Walt.

Grand Canyon (Live-Action Short Subject, 1958)
This beautiful film about the Grand Canyon not only gave Walt his 29th Academy Award, but also inspired the Grand Canyon diorama on The Disneyland Railroad.

Ama Girls (Documentary Short Subject, 1958; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Ben Sharpsteen, Producer)
Following the life of an “Ama Girl,” or a Japanese diving girl who searches the seas for a type of seaweed called “Heaven Grass,” this film emphasized her stamina and skill. Ama Girls won Walt his last Documentary Short Subject Academy Award.

The Horse with the Flying Tail (Documentary Feature, 1960; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Larry Lansburgh, Producer)
This heartwarming tale of Nautical, the star jumper of the U.S. Equestrian team, was originally made for television, but deemed good enough for theatrical release. It was so good, in fact, that Walt won his 31st Academy Award.

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Cartoon Short Subject, 1968; Walt Disney, Executive Producer)
This Disney classic was the last Oscar awarded to Walt specifically. He won posthumously for his work on this animated short about our favorite chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff.

Disney Oscar® Ballot Winners Revealed

In celebration of the Academy Awards®, airing this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, we asked you to fill out our very own Disney ballot. You voted—and the results are in! Read on to see which heroes, songs, and films were your favorites in 2016.

Captain America

Best Hero in a Starring Role

WINNER-Captain America/Steve Rogers—Captain America: Civil War
Iron Man/Tony Stark—Captain America: Civil War
Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange—Doctor Strange
Mowgli—The Jungle Book
Cassian Andor—Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Moana

Best Heroine in a Starring Role

Jyn Erso—Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
WINNER-Moana—Moana
Dory—Finding Dory
Judy Hopps—Zootopia
Alice Kingsleigh—Alice Through the Looking Glass

Moana

Original Song We Can’t Get Out of Our Heads

WINNER-“How Far I’ll Go”—Moana
“Try Everything”—Zootopia
“You’re Welcome”—Moana
“Something Wild”—Pete's Dragon
“Bare Necessities”—The Jungle Book

Moana

Most Heartfelt Film

Zootopia
Finding Dory
The BFG
Pete’s Dragon
WINNER-Moana
Queen of Katwe

Darth Vader

Most Thrilling Film

Captain America: Civil War
The Jungle Book
Doctor Strange
WINNER-Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Alice Through the Looking Glass
The Finest Hours

Academy Award Winner Dustin Lance Black Talks About Bringing When We Rise to ABC—and His Disney Favorites

By Jeffrey Epstein

When Dustin Lance Black was thinking about creating a miniseries based on the lives of real pioneers who were a part of the LGBT civil rights movement, he had only one network in mind: ABC. “Growing up in a conservative, Southern, military, Christian home, the network I was allowed to watch was ABC,” explains Black, who won an Academy Award® for writing 2009’s Milk. “ABC told family stories. When I heard ABC was willing to tell the story of my other family, my LGBT family, I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Black also penned the Clint Eastwood-directed J. Edgar, as well as the play 8, based on the Federal Proposition 8 trial, which starred George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Black took time to talk from his London home about his Disney favorites, Oscar speech advice, and bringing the epic tale of When We Rise, which premieres on ABC February 27, to the small screen.

When We Rise

When We Rise is an original story based on the lives of real people. How did you figure out who would be in the mix?
I had long wanted to do something more comprehensive with the LGBT movement after Milk. It took me about a year to figure out who I could depict and it was a difficult process. I wanted these people to have come from other social justice movements, because any social justice movement that only pays attention to its own needs is being shortsighted. I wanted them to come from the women’s, racial civil rights or peace movements. I also wanted them to have been activists for most of their lives so I could start depicting them as young people who could grow with the series’ 45-year arc. Last, but not least, I felt that it was important to finally tell an LGBT story that could be funny, dramatic, and emotional and, yes, political. And the characters didn’t have to die at the end, because I’ve made that movie before, and I wanted people to still be alive. That really narrowed things down.

You’ve worked with and have been friends with activist Cleve Jones, who is a character in the series. Was he a good jumping-off point for you?
I started meeting with people all over the country. When I got to San Francisco he was definitely the go-to guy to introduce me to more people. I didn’t know I would depict him until I was months into research and realized just how unique his story is. Most activists last three to six years. It’s not profitable or forgiving work. My mother had always called him the “gay Forrest Gump,” meaning he had been in every single major moment in the movement for LGBT equality and he always tried to do the right thing. So it eventually became clear he’d be one of the people I depicted.

When We Rise

Like Roots, When We Rise tracks central characters through civil and human right struggles over the course of several decades. Was that series at all an inspiration?
I will never, ever be so bold as to compare When We Rise to Roots. I remember how impactful Roots was for me. So if anybody cares to draw a parallel that’s the biggest compliment they could ever pay me. I will say it gave me courage. It gave me courage in two ways. One was to focus the series on the family relationships. And two, it gave me the courage to tell a story that spans decades, generations.

What are some of the differences between developing an eight-hour miniseries versus a two-hour feature?
A two-hour feature film is a like poem. You better know what it is you have to say. It better be incredibly distilled, because you don’t have much time to do it and do it right. In a miniseries you can go deeper, you can tell more. I wish I had another four hours, so I could’ve gone even deeper. But certainly to have been afforded eight was quite a gift.

Why is now the right time to tell these stories?
Even four years ago I was starting to talk about my frustration with how the LGBT movement had become myopic. It seemed like all we talked about was ourselves. The only thing we gave our time and energy to was our own causes. And we had forgotten that our great strength is in how we’ve collaborated with other social justice movements. You just have to look to Harvey Milk. He actually built those coalitions. That’s how he won. I asked ABC to keep the “We” in the title bigger than any other word, because that’s what makes us strong.

You gave an incredible and memorable speech when you won your Oscar in 2009. What advice would you give to potential winners when thinking about what they would say on the podium on February 26?
The advice I took was don’t go up there with a written list of names.  Nobody knows who the names are, nobody cares. There might be some you really need to say and want to say, go get through that quickly and then you’ve got to speak from the heart. People who make movies were making them from the heart, right? I think it’s an opportunity to share that passion.  And every movie, every role, has its story, so just figure out what the one-minute version of that is, and tell it when you get on that stage.

Pete's Dragon

Do you have a favorite Disney film?
Pete’s Dragon because it’s the first movie my mother ever took me to. Right before I lost my mom two years ago she thought it was important I see it again, so she got me a DVD of Pete’s Dragon.

780w-463h_022317_when-we-rise_5

Do you have a first or favorite Disney memory?
When I was in my early teens, my family moved back to California. It was a tough time for my family for a lot of reasons. And we saved up and we went down to Disneyland. Now it wasn’t my first time at Disneyland but I didn’t have clear memories of my first time there until I went on the rides. As I sat on it’s a small world, I remembered being there with my father and my mother at a far better time in our lives. When I went on the Peter Pan ride I remember sitting next to my father. I had no memories of my father, I thought. Yet there he was. And when I left, I left with all these memories of what a family could be again. I left with hope in my heart. And I think that’s part of what Disney gives: joy and hope. I was a little teen who desperately needed that.

Be Our Guest to a Sneak Peek of “Belle”—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Watch Emma Watson Sing “Belle” in New Beauty and the Beast Clip

“She really is a funny girl, that Belle!” The opening song from Beauty and the Beast, “Belle,” is truly iconic… perfectly introducing our main character (as well as her nemesis) while illustrating what makes her so special. And thanks to the good folks over at Walt Disney Pictures, we just got a sneak peek at the song—as interpreted in colorful live action by director Bill Condon and star Emma Watson!

The film also stars Dan Stevens as Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as LeFou, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Sir Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts. Thankfully, we only have a few more weeks of waiting before Beauty and the Beast waltzes its way into theaters around the country on March 17.

 

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
March 2, 2017
Be Our Guest at the Beauty and the Beast World Premiere
March 8, 2017
Exclusive D23 Beauty and the Beast Advanced Screening and Luncheon
April 7, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson
April 10, 2017
D23 Members Invited to “Eat Like Walt” at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
April 26, 2017
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Magic in Manhattan & More
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
March 17, 2017
Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters
April 21, 2017
Born in China opens in theaters
May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters
May 26, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
 opens in theaters
June 16, 2017
Cars 3 opens in theaters
November 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters
November 22, 2017
Coco opens in theaters
December 15, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters		 Parks
March 1–May 29, 2017
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
March 10–April 16, 2017
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
May 27, 2017
Pandora—The World of Avatar opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
May 27, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: BREAKOUT! opening at Disney California Adventure
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Television
February 26, 2017
The Oscars® are broadcast on ABC
March 10, 2017
Tangled Before Ever After premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. ET
March 24, 2017
Tangled: The Series premieres on Disney Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET

Rogue One

Bring Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Home Soon!

Whether you’ve lost count of how many times you’ve seen the blockbuster Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in theaters or you somehow missed a trip to your local multiplex after the film’s December release (as if!), we’ve got great news for you: You’ll be able to own the epic action-adventure thriller on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere beginning March 24, with a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand releases coming 10 days later on April 4. Of course, an epic like Rogue One demands equally epic bonus material—among the features (which may vary by retailer) are “A Rogue Idea,” in which Industrial Light & Magic’s John Knoll discusses how he came up with the movie’s concept; “Jyn: The Rebel,” a look at the film’s defiant and resourceful survivor, as played by Felicity Jones; and “The Princess & The Governor,” which shows fans what it took to bring the vibrant young princess of Star Wars: A New Hope (along with one of her iconic nemeses) back to the big screen.

SWCO 40th Anniversary Panel

Star Wars Celebration Orlando to Feature Amazing 40th Anniversary Panel!

Heading down to Florida for the epic upcoming Star Wars Celebration, April 13 through 16 at the Orange County Convention Center? Well, you’re in luck—because a very special panel will kick off the celebration, and it’s all to honor the saga’s huge 40th anniversary! The panel, hosted by Warwick Davis, will feature Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and discussions with some of the saga’s brightest stars, highlighting the impact of “the galaxy far, far, away” and the fandom that has propelled it for the last four decades. As is tradition, this marquee Celebration event will undoubtedly include a ton of thrilling, can’t-miss surprises.

So mark your Celebration calendars with a big red circle ‘round Thursday, April 13! Begin your weekend with the panel everyone (literally, everyone!) will be talking about…

Han Solo Cast Photo

Production Begins on Han Solo Star Wars Story Film

Speaking of Star Wars Celebration, one of the huge pieces of news to come out of the event last year was that actor Alden Ehrenreich (Joel & Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar!) would be portraying a young Han Solo in an as-yet-untitled film about the character’s origins. Now that the cast has been rounded out with luminaries like Donald Glover (Atlanta), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games trilogy), and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), we’re ridiculously excited to report that production has officially begun!

Pinewood Studios in London, as of February 20, is now chockablock with all things Han, including—as seen in the photo above—everyone’s favorite Wookiee, Chewbacca! The film, written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan and co-directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is slated for release on May 25, 2018.

Walt Disney Studios Logo

Live Action The Lion King Finds its Simba and Mufasa

So much Donald Glover news, so little time… yes, the man currently portraying young Lando in the Han Solo Star Wars Story is also involved in another ultra-cool, high-profile Disney project—namely, an upcoming retelling of the 1994 animated megahit The Lion King. Director Jon Favreau, who helmed 2016’s live-action/CGI Jungle Book, recently made the big casting announcement on Twitter; Glover will voice adult Simba in the film.

But that’s not all: Our collective prayers have been answered, and James Earl Jones himself will reprise his role as Simba’s father, Mufasa! Keep your eyes peeled and “be prepared” for further Lion King casting announcements—and information about the film itself—as they cross the Pride Lands…

Star Wars Force Friday

Star Wars Force Friday II Set for This September

Remember Force Friday—that massive, worldwide event in advance of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 that featured all manner of new toys, collectibles, books, and apparel? Brace yourselves… it’s happening again! Disney and Lucasfilm recently announced Star Wars Force Friday II, a global fan event celebrating the launch of new items inspired by the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The event’s products will go on sale beginning at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2017, with stores around the world opening for a weekend-long celebration of all things Star Wars!

Specific details of how fans can participate will be revealed as we get closer to the event—but the worldwide launch will utilize new technology (and lots of Star Wars mythology) to create a truly unique experience. Just like in 2015, products for The Last Jedi will be kept under wraps until Force Friday II to maintain the suspense! Besides introducing new characters from the movie in toy form, the line will also build on the success of nifty, cutting-edge tech products like Sphero’s amazing BB-8. Stay tuned in the coming months for more fun Force Friday II info.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Announces Brand-New Itineraries for Summer 2018

It’s never too early to start planning a summer vacation… even if it’s for Summer 2018. And to that end, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has some fantastic news: They’ve just revealed where their ships will be sailing, and it includes several amazing new itineraries.

For the very first time, DCL guests will visit destinations in Italy—including Milan and Genoa—during special sailings from Barcelona to Rome, giving you the chance to experience the rich culture and inspiring history of these two cities as bookend experiences in a single cruise. Additionally, DCL will take guests to Cork, Ireland, on their first-ever seven-night British Isles cruise… it’s a chance to connect with Ireland’s ancient past and visit historic sites like Blarney Castle (where you can kiss the legendary Blarney Stone!).

But wait, there’s more: The Disney Wonder is returning to Alaska for the Summer 2018 season, with a variety of itineraries departing from Vancouver, Canada, and including stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Tracy Arm Fjord. Plus, in June and July ’18, the Disney Dream will sail four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas, each with two stops at Castaway Cay! Twice the fun, twice the sun…

Bookings for these 2018 itineraries open to the public on Thursday, February 23. Check out DisneyCruiseLine.com for more details.

Who wants to be a millionaire

Whiz Kid Wows on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Do you remember being 12 years old? Do you think you could’ve competed on a TV game show? If you’re 12-year-old Josh Darrow of Virginia Beach, Virginia, you not only compete… you also win. Just last week, Josh finished his game play and walked away with a cool $100,000! The “whiz kid” looked at the $250,000 question, but didn’t know the answer—so, with no lifelines left, he decided not to risk his winnings with a guess. Such a smarty pants!

When host Chris Harrison asked Josh what this experience has meant to him, he replied, “It’s amazing. I’d first like to thank all of my teachers; they really supported me when I figured out I was going to be on the show. One particular teacher, my science teacher, Mrs. Campbell, actually helped me a lot. Thank you for your support.”

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is taped in front of a live audience at Bally’s Las Vegas, and is syndicated nationally by Disney|ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution.

Newsies

Get Your Theater Fix with The Official Disney on Broadway Podcast

Theater fans of the world, unite! (Especially if you’re a fan of Disney on Broadway—and seriously, who isn’t?) There’s a brand-new podcast to add to your mobile device of choice, and it’s all about what Disney brings to the Great White Way…

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) just released the first episode of The Official Disney on Broadway Podcast, a six-episode pilot series that includes interviews and behind-the-scenes stories of Disney’s most beloved titles and their journeys to Broadway and beyond. Hosted by Patrick Hinds (founder of Theater Podcast Productions and creator, producer, and host of the podcasts Broadway Backstory and Theater People), the series will debut a new episode for download every two weeks on iTunes.

Episode 1 tells the story behind the Broadway production of Newsies and the filming for its big recent Fathom Events theatrical release; hear from original cast members Kara Lindsay (Katherine), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie), Ben Fankhauser (Davey), the show’s director, Jeff Calhoun, and Disney Theatrical Productions President and Producer Thomas Schumacher! Upcoming episodes will include behind-the-curtain stories from Aladdin, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and DTP’s most recent hit, Freaky Friday.

Summer of Heroes at DCA

It’s a Summer of Heroes at Disney California Adventure—Beginning May 27

Get ready to be “hooked on a feeling” in a whole new way, when Disney California Adventure’s latest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT!, has its massively mind-blowing grand opening on May 27! This new adventure blasts you straight into the Guardians of the Galaxy universe for the very first time, alongside characters from the blockbuster films (remember, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 debuts in theaters May 5) and comics. Rocket Raccoon needs your help to bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, but stay alert… with a randomized ride experience, you’ll never know which adventure you’ll get! Look for all-new visual and audio effects, and tons of great music inspired by the popular film soundtracks.

But that’s not all: To coincide with Mission: BREAKOUT!’s opening, Disney California Adventure will bring you a Summer of Heroes—complete with Super Hero Encounters (meet Captain America, Black Widow, Spider-Man, and even Groot); an awesome Guardians of the Galaxy dance-off; an Avengers Training Initiative for young recruits; themed food and merchandise offerings; and so much more!

Sounds like the best summer vacation ever, right? Don’t miss out: #HeroUp with Summer of Heroes, May 27 through September 10.

Angela Lansbury Joins Mary Poppins Returns

By Jeffrey Epstein

In practically perfect news, Disney Legend Angela Lansbury has joined the cast of Mary Poppins Returns! The sequel to Walt Disney’s 1964 classic is currently filming at the Shepperton Studios in London and stars Emily Blunt (Into the Woods) as the title character. Lin-Manuel Miranda, an Oscar® nominee for penning Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” plays the role of optimistic street lamplighter Jack. Lansbury will play the role of Balloon Lady.

Lansbury is beloved to Disney fans for her iconic roles as the wonderfully witchy Ms. Eglantine Price in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and the enchanting Mrs. Potts in the animated Beauty and the Beast. The five-time Tony® Award winner and three time Academy Award® nominees was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1995.

Directed by Rob Marshall (Into the Woods), Mary Poppins Returns also stars Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as grown up Michael and Jane Banks, as well as Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters.

For more details on Mary Poppins Returns, flying into theaters Christmas Day, 2018, click here.

Disney’s Presidential Past: Connections to Commanders-in-Chief

By Courtney Potter and the D23 Team

Few people have made as indelible a mark on American life as Walt Disney. From creating the first full-length animated feature, to the state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics® figures we continue enjoy at Disney theme parks, and the astonishing innovation that flows from all parts of the Company to this very day… Walt truly had an impact on this country’s history. So it should come as no surprise that Walt enjoyed professional relationships with many U.S. Presidents—men whose lives are equally as woven into the nation’s landscape.

With help from our good pals at the Walt Disney Archives, D23 celebrates President’s Day with a look back at the storied relationship between Walt, the company he created, and commanders-in-chief over the last eight decades. It’s more than just a visit to a theme park or a letter of congratulations; as you’ll see, the Disney association for some presidents goes much deeper—and is much more fascinating…

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
According to the Archives, one of Walt’s earliest presidential associations was with FDR. In a January 1934 letter addressed to Walt, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt admits that the entire first family enjoys the antics of Mickey Mouse—and she calls the president one of Mickey’s “devotees.” Walt would later appear on a May 1939 radio broadcast with FDR to celebrate the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the first lady herself would visit the Walt Disney Studios in April 1941.

President Harry Truman at Disneyland

Harry Truman
Once Disneyland Park was open, then former President Harry Truman paid a visit in 1957, with his wife, Bess at his side.

President Eisenhower with Walt Disney

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Disney’s relationship to Eisenhower runs deeper than most… Asked by Eisenhower supporter (and renowned female aviator) Jacqueline Cochran to help with the 1952 campaign, the Disneys authorized studio volunteers to make an animated short in support of Ike. Created on donated time by several famed Disney animators (including Disney Legends Eric Larson and John Lounsbery), the We’ll Take Ike political cartoon premiered in the fall of ’52 and would be lauded for its effect on the outcome of the election. Take a look at a couple of story sketches from the project’s development …

Ike concept art

Ike concept art

After leaving the White House, Eisenhower and family visited Disneyland in 1961—and in 1963, he presented Walt with the George Washington Honor Medal of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, honoring patriotism and good citizenship, pictured above.

President Richard Nixon on the Mark Twain at Disneyland

Richard Nixon
Then-Vice President Richard Nixon visited Disneyland for the first time in 1955; in the above photograph, Nixon is seen waving to the camera from atop the Mark Twain Riverboat. Once Nixon was himself president, in 1969, he presented the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal to Walt’s widow, Lillian, at a special White House ceremony—saying at the time, “[Walt] was a great artist. He was a perfectionist. He was a great human being.”

John F. Kennedy at Disneyland

John F. Kennedy
Kennedy first visited Disneyland as a U.S. Senator in November 1959, after attending a meeting at the Disneyland Hotel. After his untimely assassination, he was honored with a moment of silence during the December 1963 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, and would be featured many years later in the “Golden Dream” film montage near the finale of The American Adventure at Epcot.

Lyndon B. Johnson presented Walt Disney with his Presidential Medal of Freedom

Lyndon B. Johnson
The 36th President presented Walt Disney with his Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. The award program said of Walt, “Artist and impresario, in the course of entertaining an age, he has created an American folklore.”

President Gerald Ford with Mickey Mouse

Gerald Ford
On September 22, 1978, Ford—who had just vacated the Oval Office—visited the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, where he participated in the filming of the Mickey’s 50 TV special celebrating Mickey Mouse’s golden birthday. And if you’d like a great piece of trivia for the next time you visit the Disney Studios in Burbank, his filming took place at around 10 a.m. inside the studio’s Stage 3.

President Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter
While Carter was in the White House, he spoke at the 26th World Congress of the International Chamber of Commerce, held at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 1978; in the picture above, Carter speaks from a flower-bedecked stage in front of Cinderella Castle. On February 19, 1980, Carter issued a presidential proclamation—requested by a joint resolution of the House of Representatives—honoring the memory of Walt Disney, and his creations that brought “laughter and love, joy and gladness” to the world.

Clarence Nash and President Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan
There’s much history between Reagan and Disney… so much so, a tribute was created for D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in 2012. In 1955, the then-actor was a co-host of ABC’s live coverage of the opening day festivities at Disneyland; starting a lifelong association between the future president and Disney parks. After Reagan was voted into the White House for a second term, Washington, D.C. was deemed too cold for traditional outdoor inaugural festivities—so in May 1985, the President’s Inaugural Bands Parade came to Epcot! It was a first for the Walt Disney World Resort, and one of the very few times an inaugural celebration was held outside of the nation’s capital. In the picture above, President Reagan presents Donald Duck voice actor Clarence Nash with an award for his years of volunteer service entertaining hospital patients. After leaving the Oval Office, one of Reagan’s first public events was a return to Disneyland—where he officiated its 35th anniversary celebration, proclaiming the park “one of America’s national treasures.”

President George H. W. Bush at Epcot

George H.W. Bush
President George H.W. Bush celebrated the first gathering of his Daily Points of Light award recipients—outstanding community volunteers from across the nation—at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot on September 30, 1991 (pictured above). The event was part of the huge 20th-anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort. (Later, Bush’s son, President George W. Bush, would honor The Walt Disney Company itself as a Daily Point of Light in 2004.)

President Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton
A few weeks before taking the oath of office, the 42nd president spoke (pictured above) at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the premiere of Disney Channel’s The Ernest Green Story, a TV movie chronicling the “Little Rock Nine” and their quest to integrate American schools, starring Morris Chestnut, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

President George W. Bush

George W. Bush
The pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey is a time-honored tradition in the White House. Once the second President Bush pardoned “Flyer” (pictured above) and his cohort “Fryer” on November 22, 2006, they were then flown to Disneyland park to serve as honorary grand marshals for that year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

President Barak Obama at Magic Kingdom

Barack Obama
In January 2012, during a notable speech held right in the middle of the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A, President Obama noted that Disney theme parks “represent that quintessentially American spirit.” Later that same year, Obama visited Walt Disney World once again for the annual conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Donald Trump
As for the newest Oval Office occupant, he once appeared on Disney Channel’s all-new Mickey Mouse Club in a “Guest Day” segment during the show’s first season in 1989. The segment was called “A Day with Donald Trump.”

Disney’s Newest Musical Freaky Friday Will Make Your Heart Sing

By Beth Deitchman

It’s the “grandmother of all body-switching stories,” declares director Christopher Ashley of Freaky Friday, the beloved novel that chronicles a chaotic and dramatic Friday in which a mother and daughter wake up magically trapped in each other’s body and have to spend the day literally walking in the other person’s shoes. But make no mistake—this new musical, which recently opened at the La Jolla Playhouse (following a Fall 2016 East Coast run at the Signature Theatre in Virginia), is a brand-new, contemporary take on the iconic tale.

Like the 1976 and 2003 feature adaptations (as well as the 1995 ABC television movie), the musical Freaky Friday is based on Mary Rodgers’ 1972 novel. The new production, which was developed by Disney Theatrical Productions for licensing, boasts a book by acclaimed TV writer Bridget Carpenter (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights) and music by Pulitzer Prize and Tony® Award-winning duo Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal, If/Then).

Freaky Friday musical

Freaky Friday has long been a passion project for Ashley, who also serves as Artistic Director for La Jolla Playhouse; he first directed an adaptation of Rodgers’ novel for children’s theater when he was 21. “It was the first show I ever directed,” he says. “I always loved how at the center of the original book, in this contentious relationship between mother and daughter, was that simultaneous wish, ‘I wish that you could understand what it is I go through every day.’” Ashley always felt the story was ripe for exploring on the stage. “I think this idea of being inside of someone’s head and understanding what it’s like inside their reality, musicals do really beautifully,” he opines.

The body-switching twist hinges upon magic, which in the new production happens by way of a pair of mystical hourglasses—a symbolic choice, Ashley explains. “We’re very playful with time. We’ll be in real time, and then the music will shift and some character will freeze and we’ll be in someone’s head and everything will go to half time,” Ashley says, “but the center of the magic is really in the acting.” There are two main characters in the story: mom Katherine and her daughter, Ellie, who are played by Heidi Blickenstaff and Emma Hunton, respectively—who also seamlessly play Ellie and Katherine following the switch. Sounds a little confusing, but according to Ashley, “Watching those two souls get swapped back and forth, you always know whose soul you’re looking at—even if the bodies are changing—because the acting is so specific and so bravura.”

Pulling off this theatrical feat requires incredible collaboration and incredible trust, Blickenstaff and Hunton tell D23… along with a little bit of dramatic larceny. “As actresses, we have done nothing but steal from each other. You can’t do this without doing that,” Blickenstaff laughs. From the earliest days of rehearsals, the two have leaned on each other; they’ve discussed how each character should walk, how they should move, how they should deliver lines. “Fundamentally I am very much like Katherine, the mother, and Emma is very much like Ellie, the daughter,” Blickenstaff says, “but we also have the other living inside us, which is interesting. For me, playing Ellie for 90 percent of the show is incredibly liberating, because Katherine [and I] are very Type-A, and Emma is incredibly the opposite. She’s a little bit like a lovable tornado—very much like Ellie.”

Freaky Friday musical

“In a show like this, where you have to live every day, all day, in such extraordinary circumstances, you have to have someone there to help bring you back down to reality,” Hunton explains. “There’s a gorgeous intro with all these horns and strings, and it’s very Disney and it’s very Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey,” she says, “and I have to go out there alone for, like, five seconds before Heidi joins me and that’s scary. [During previews] I looked at her and said, ‘You know when you get to the top of a roller coaster and you want to back out all of a sudden?’ and Heidi just said, ‘It’s OK—I’ve got you.’”

The story and the music are so emotional that not only do both actresses feel like they’ve been on a roller coaster throughout each performance, director Chris Ashley has picked up on it as well, they confess. “We get notes all the time not to cry as much as we do,” Hunton shares, and Blickenstaff states unequivocally that is impossible. “I want [Chris] to get up there and try to get through it! It’s a cry-fest—it’s a love/cry-fest,” she laughs.

The heartfelt emotion is due in no small part to the music. “Tom is so tuneful and Brian writes lyrics with such wit and heart. They created a score that comfortably lives in the very contemporary teenage high school world and can also capture the world of the mother on the day before her wedding—her whole work life and emotional life,” Ashley says.

Blickenstaff and Hunton have both appeared in productions of Next to Normal, and love the challenges and opportunities that come with singing the female roles Kitt and Yorkey are so adept at writing for. Blickenstaff is amused by friends who thought it was “cute” that she was cast in Freaky Friday. “This is the hardest role I’ve ever played in my life, and I’ve played Diana in Next to Normal!” she tells them, and adds, “It’s vocally a feat, but emotionally it’s something, too. It’s a journey.”

Freaky Friday musical

Veteran TV writer Bridget Carpenter, who wrote the musical’s book, is best known for the series Parenthood and Friday Night Lights. “She just has a monster skill set and talent for telling contemporary stories about parents and their kids, and what’s funny and what’s true,” Ashley stresses.

Freaky Friday marks the third Disney Theatrical production to be staged at La Jolla Playhouse, which hosted the U.S. premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 2014, as well as a “Page to Stage” workshop of Peter and the Starcatcher before its Tony-winning Broadway run. Ashley says, “Disney is the Cadillac of producing partners, and [Disney Theatrical Productions President] Tom Schumacher is one of the very few people who, when you go into a meeting about a play, you walk out with a whole new understanding about your story and how to tell it.”

The stars are also longtime fans of Disney storytelling. “Disney has always been part of my life,” Hunton says, from watching her VHS copy of Beauty and the Beast four times back to back, to crying at the opening score of Hunchback during its La Jolla engagement. Blickenstaff has played Ursula on Broadway in The Little Mermaid—and performed at D23 Expo in 2013—and recalls, “When I was a kid I was obsessed with two things: all things Broadway and all things Disney. And when I was lucky enough to marry my Disney love with my Broadway love, I really felt like I had won the lottery.”

Freaky Friday’s engagement at La Jolla Playhouse has been extended through March 19, 2017. Give a listen now to the song “No More Fear” to hear Emma Hunton (singing as Ellie… singing as Katherine!), and join us this Sunday, February 19, for D23 Member Night at Freaky Friday.

Guess Who’s Coming to Star Wars Celebration?—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Star Wars Celebration to Welcome Kathleen Kennedy and Rian Johnson

Huge news from a galaxy far, far away! Some very special guests will be appearing onstage at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, coming up this April… namely, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson! We’ve been told there’ll be a ton of big surprises—and other special guests on that can’t-miss Last Jedi panel on Friday, April 14—to keep the excitement (not to mention speculation!) bubbling throughout the weekend.

Kathleen and Rian join the already-announced Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)—who’ll all be signing in the Star Wars Celebration Autograph Hall.

Heading down to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center for all the Star Wars fun? Visit StarWarsCelebration.com for tickets—and check back as we get closer to the event for guest updates, queuing info, and wristband details.

022415_news-briefs-February-24-2015-feat-2

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
February 19, 2017
D23 Member Night at Freaky Friday at La Jolla Playhouse
March 8, 2017
Exclusive D23 Beauty and the Beast Advanced Screening and Luncheon
April 10, 2017
D23 Members Invited to “Eat Like Walt” at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
February 16, 18 and 22, 2017
Newsies in select movie theaters
March 17, 2017
Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters
April 21, 2017
Born in China opens in theaters
May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters
May 26, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
 opens in theaters
June 16, 2017
Cars 3 opens in theaters
November 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters
November 22, 2017
Coco opens in theaters
December 15, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters		 Parks
January 13–February 20, 2017
Epcot International Festival of the Arts
March 10–April 16, 2017
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
May 27
Pandora—The World of Avatar opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Television
February 26, 2017
The Oscars® are broadcast on ABC
March 10, 2017
Tangled Before Ever After premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. ET
March 24, 2017
Tangled: The Series premieres on Disney Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET

Tangled: The Series

Tangled: The Series Renewed for Season 2

Fabulous news for our favorite flaxen-haired heroine: Disney Channel’s Tangled: The Series—which doesn’t premiere ‘til March 24 (at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT)—has just been renewed for a second season! (Yep, already. Cool, right?!) A production of Disney Television Animation, Tangled: The Series is based on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit feature film Tangled, and its premiere will be preceded by the tune-filled Tangled Before Ever After, a Disney Channel Original Movie premiering Friday, March 10, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

For the uninitiated, Tangled: The Series reunites Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, who reprise their roles as Rapunzel and Eugene (formerly known as Flynn Rider), as well as the music team of Disney Legend and Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. The story takes place between the events of the 2010 feature film and the start of the 2012 short film Tangled Ever After.

As if the series’ early renewal wasn’t exciting enough, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will premiere a line of role-play products, dolls, and playsets inspired by the show at New York Toy Fair this Saturday, February 18; look for those, and all sorts of other Tangled: The Series goodies (including print and e-book titles), in stores soon.

The Muppets Take On the Hollywood Bowl—This Fall!

If you’ve been reading our D23 News Briefs for a while, you know that we are huge, mega, die-hard fans of all things Muppet. And folks, we have a doozy of an announcement today, courtesy of one Miss Piggy—fashionista extraordinaire and purveyor of all things “moi”… The Muppets will be performing, for three big nights, this September at the legendary Hollywood Bowl!

Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Piggy, Pepe the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and Uncle Deadly, all live and in person? A set from the phantasmagorical Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem? Plus a massive fireworks finale each night? Sign us up post haste!

Check out the brand-new clip, featuring Piggy and Deadly breaking the big news, above. And mark those calendars! Season subscriber tickets for 2017 at the Bowl are now on sale, with single-show tickets to come soon… look for more information in the months ahead.

Lin Manuel Miranda

Mary Poppins Returns—Now in Production Across the Pond!

Late last week, we received some terrifically exciting news from merry ol’ England: Production has officially begun on Mary Poppins Returns, the all-new sequel to Disney’s 1964 classic! The film, directed and produced by Rob Marshall (Chicago) with songs by Hairspray’s Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, stars Emily Blunt (Into the Woods) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway’s Hamilton, Moana)—and it’s scheduled for release on December 25, 2018.

With a screenplay by David Magee (Life of Pi) based on the Mary Poppins stories by P.L. Travers—and set in 1930s Depression-era London (the time period of Travers’ original novels)—Mary Poppins Returns reintroduces us to the now-adult Jane (Emily Mortimer, Hugo) and Michael Banks (Ben Winshaw, Spectre). Michael, his three young children (Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson), and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), are living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic Mary Poppins (Blunt) reenters the lives of the Banks family, and—along with a cheerful streetlamp lighter named Jack (Miranda)—uses her truly unique skills to help the family find wonder and joy once again.

Plus, look for appearances by Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) as bank manager William Weatherall Wilkins; Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) as eccentric cousin Topsy; and everyone’s favorite chimney sweep, Dick Van Dyke, as Mr. Dawes Jr.—the chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank.

Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available… it may just fly in on the “winds from the east”!

Moana

Moana Performance Set for the Academy Awards

As you know, Disney is nominated for several Oscars® at the upcoming Academy Awards®—hosted by the imitable Jimmy Kimmel and airing later this month on ABC. And speaking of Lin-Manuel Miranda, we have some more great news: he and Auli’i Cravalho will be performing “How Far I’ll Go” from their animated hit Moana, nominated for Best Original Song, during the telecast!

Lin and Auli’i will join a star-studded performance roster that includes Justin Timberlake, Sting, and John Legend.

The 89th Annual Academy Awards will air live on Oscar Sunday, February 26, from the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in the heart of Tinseltown. The fun begins at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST… don’t miss it!

Elena of Avalor

Disney Channel’s Elena of Avalor Renewed for Third Season

Hark, fans of Disney’s über-popular new princess, and take heed! Disney Channel has ordered a third season of its hit series Elena of Avalor, about an awesomely brave and adventurous teenager who rules her kingdom as crown princess. The beloved series also inspired a line of fabulous dolls from Disney Store and Hasbro that recently reached a very cool milestone: 1 million sold! And to that end, several new toys—including a Palace of Avalor playset from Hasbro, and dolls and role-play items from Jakks Pacific—will make their big debut at New York Toy Fair this coming weekend.

Created and executive produced by Emmy® Award winner Craig Gerber, Elena of Avalor features the voice talents of Aimee Carrero, Jenna Ortega, Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Carlos Alazraqui—and tons of guest stars including Justina Machado, Constance Marie, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Begins Production

Looking for a totally tantalizing peek into what’s to come from the Marvel Universe? Take a gander at this new behind-the-scenes teaser for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, the next Avengers film and the culmination of a decade of Marvel adventure!

For the first time, we’ve got concrete confirmation that our fave antiheroes, the Guardians of the Galaxy, will be joining the Avengers in their quest to vanquish Thanos—the biggest and baddest Marvel villain on the scene! Hear from executive producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo—as well as cast members Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), and Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man). The war will wage on Summer 2018…

The Bachelorette

ABC’s Newest Bachelorette Announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live

The cat’s outta the proverbial bag: Rachel Lindsay, a fan-favorite contestant on this season of ABC’s juggernaut The Bachelor, will be the new Bachelorette! The surprise announcement was made this past Monday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live by Jimmy and The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison.

Just weeks ago, Rachel’s laid-back southern charm (and her smile!) landed her Bachelor Nick Viall’s first impression rose. From then on, the jury’s been “in”—and Bachelor Nation (i.e. devoted Bachelor fans) has been fully unanimous in its support of the 31-year-old attorney from Dallas, Texas.

Rachel’s quest for love begins in just a few months’ time, when the newest season of The Bachelorette debuts on Monday, May 22, at 9 p.m. EST, only on ABC.

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings

Freeform to Debut Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings Special

Disney weddings come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: magic! And now, Freeform cordially invites you to a brand-new 90-minute special celebrating that Disney nuptial wizardry.

Airing this spring, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the enchanted weddings and one-of-a-kind engagements that take place at Disney Destinations across the world, including Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts and onboard Disney Cruise Lines. From fashion and products to world-class entertainment and décor, viewers will get a glimpse of the modern-day fairy tale that the Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings brand has been creating for a whopping 25 years.

Make sure to “RSVP” once a premiere date is announced!