Disney Celebrates “The Power of Joy” at the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™

Disney is returning to the largest annual gathering of people in the country—ESSENCE Festival of CultureTM—from Thursday, June 29, through Monday, July 3. From can’t-miss presentations to highly anticipated special performances, Disney fans are in store for an abundance of magical moments fueled by “The Power of Joy” and the many ways Black joy reflects itself at Disney and the communities it touches.

Join the celebration on Hulu, the official streaming destination for ESSENCE Fest Primetime. Catch exclusive virtual-only content and highlights from daytime experiences and the epic live performances from the likes of Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more. ESSENCE Fest Primetime will livestream on Hulu Friday, June 30, through Sunday, July 2, from 7–11:59 p.m. CT.

“Disney is proud to return to the ESSENCE Festival of Culture as a major sponsor and showcase the magic happening across our brands,” said Jill Estorino, president and managing director of Disney Parks International. “Through culture-defining storytelling, unforgettable experiences, and more, we are inviting everyone to experience first-hand ‘The Power of Joy’ and the many ways creativity, innovation, and contributions from Black culture are reflected across Disney.”

Offerings at this year’s festival include:

  • Studio Showcase – Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien and cast members LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, and Rosario Dawson will kick off the festival with an influencer brunch, events, and panels with special looks at the new Disney+ series Star Wars: Ahsoka and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming musical feature Wish, starring Ariana DeBose.
  • Disney’s “Came to Play” Booth – The world of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will be brought to life in a booth experience with surprise character appearances, fun photo opportunities, giveaways, and an immersive shopping experience featuring the latest products and books from Black licensees and authors. Follow Disney Ambassadors Raevon Redding and Mark Everett King Jr.  in real time on Instagram at @disneylandambassador and @wdw.ambassador.
  • ESSENCE Stage – ESSENCE stage activations include a special fashion show celebrating 100 years of Disney and inspired by 50 years of hip-hop on Friday, June 30. Throughout the weekend, Disney will host panels featuring Disney creators and collaborators from across the company.
  • ESSENCE Film Festival – Disney leaders, filmmakers, and talent from shows, movies, documentaries, and podcasts across the company will take part in the ESSENCE Film Festival through a plethora of panels and screenings.
  • Black Authors Showcase – The Black Storytelling panel and book signing will be moderated by the executive editor of Andscape Books, Aliya King, and feature authors R.K. Russell (The Yards Between Us) and Marisa Moore (The Plant Love Kitchen). It will also include a celebration of Black authors, including ABC News’ Deborah Roberts (Lessons Learned and Cherished) and Tre’vell Anderson (We See Each Other) on a panel hosted by Disney Publishing Worldwide and Andscape Books.
  • Executive Panels – Disney will host a series of curated conversations and panels featuring executives sharing their personal and professional insights as leaders and role models at Disney, as well as the power of sisterhood in the workplace, supporting supplier diversity, and investing in Black businesses and communities.

In addition to the Hulu coverage, stay connected with daily updates from ABC News and Owned Television Stations, including:

  • Live broadcasts by ABC News’ Janai Norman, co-anchor of Good Morning America
  • Live moderated panels and reporting by New York’s WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News anchor Sade Baderinwa andLos Angeles’ ABC7anchor Rachel Brown
  • An exclusive preview of the new Our America series “In the Black,” focusing on financial empowerment with actress Phylicia Rashad, hosted by ABC Owned Television Stations, in partnership with Microsoft Philanthropy

Visit partners.disney.com/essence-festival and follow on all social platforms with #DisneyxEssence for the latest updates and happenings.

Exclusive Q&A: Cooking Confidential With Secret Chef’s David Chang

By Courtney Potter

Every great cooking competition pits contestants against a panel of renowned judges who decide their fate. But often, a panel can be swayed by the appeals of competitors. What if, for the first time ever, that playing field was leveled?

That’s exactly the idea behind Hulu’s newest competition series, Secret Chef. From executive producer and chef David Chang, it’s a radical twist on a cooking competition—as 10 chefs anonymously rank each other’s food through a series of blind tastings. With their true identities concealed, everything will be hidden, except the one thing that matters most … the food! The series debuts on the streaming service beginning Thursday, June 29.

Recently, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club had the exclusive opportunity to chat with Chang about how the idea for the show came about; how the series is chock full of unexpected moments; what he hopes both the contestants and audience take away from the experience; and so much more. Read on for more…

D23: Thanks for chatting with us, David! What excited you most about the idea for this show—giving the chefs aliases and having them rank each other’s food anonymously?
Chef David Chang (DC): It’s a fresh way of doing a food show—but a food show that wasn’t just about the food. The game theory or game strategy elements to me were very exciting, because it took away the element of contestants trying to get rid of the best cook or eliminate the worst cook.

D23: Was the concept your idea? If it was your idea, how did it come about? Did something specific inspire you?
DC: It was my idea, and I think there were several members of the team who were thinking about doing it too. I thought, let’s do something that’s never been done. I feel like the judges table and having a judge is an unnecessary element. You don’t always need to have someone hovering over you because I think it changes the flow. I think the best critic is yourself. The audience wants to root for the person who is aware enough and is critical of themselves in an honest fashion. Those types of individuals who can do that make compelling television.

D23: You’ve taken a novel approach to cooking shows in the past, with Ugly Delicious, The Next Thing You Eat, and Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. How do you see Secret Chef “fitting in” with those series, so to speak?
DC: We try to take an angle that hasn’t really happened before. For me, I was trying to change the idea that the winner of the show has to be the very best. Anybody can make delicious food—and I wanted to create a show in which a variety of skill levels were competing against each other. If you saw everybody in the same room, you would know immediately who the novice was and strategize how to eliminate them as soon as possible. Doing it anonymously changes the design of a show, so someone who might not be good but can still make delicious food or cook to a level to get to the next round changes the strategy. Simultaneously, you have really good cooks who have to hide how good of a cook they are and you can’t do that on any other show. Removing the judges and doing it blind changes the strategy, to the point where the only way to describe it is to watch the show.

D23: What was it like watching the contestants acclimate to the hidden-identity aspect of the competition? Did it play out how you imagined? Did anything surprise you about that?
DC: No … it was totally crazy! In the control room, I wish we were filming our reactions because there were constantly things happening that were not expected. It was crazy and I was so shocked. From the first episode to the last, nothing I thought that was going to happen in my mind, happened. I will give you an example: Earlier in the season, we tested a lot of ideas that I’ve had or other producers had in a kitchen. In a professional kitchen, a great partner is someone who can intuitively understand what the next move is just like in a basketball game or football game. In theory, you can write this out but don’t always know how it’s going to play out—so we wanted to do it where each person was partnered but they didn’t know what was in store for them.

The first person wrote a recipe out and was told to make sure they can execute it. They only had 15 minutes to get it started, and they had to leave without contacting their partner. That moment—when you walk into a situation where you have no idea what’s going on—happens in a professional kitchen, but it’s not something I have ever seen at home or on a television program. Being able to work on that idea and give it a shot, and recreate that moment where sauce is boiling over and the oven has a chicken in it—to be able to do that was exciting. To see how it all unfolded was one of the coolest things I have ever been part of because it was way better than anything I could have ever imagined, in terms of the outcome.

D23: Did you have a hand in creating the challenges? Is there one that you couldn’t wait to see the contestants take on?
DC: The two challenges I am thinking of are the TV dinner challenge (where contestants had to recreate a classic TV dinner) because that was difficult to get through. Also, the finale (where the final two chefs had to create a three-course meal with categories chosen by previously eliminated contestants) because structuring that episode was a lot of work and a full team effort. I was watching the finale challenge thinking they should definitely not do dessert and have them do something else, but it doesn’t happen the way you think it’s going to happen. I thought, “Oh wow, that was a surprise.” Those two are the ones I was looking forward to figuring out what those mechanisms would be for the cooks.

D23: Do you have a favorite moment from the making of the series? Something particularly memorable or unexpected?
DC: There are so many. Without revealing too much, I think the ending where people didn’t know who everyone was per se, and not knowing how that reaction was going to be. And seeing the winning reaction, that genuine excitement is something you can’t recreate. Being in that room and to see the emotion happen live is a life changing moment, and being part of that was very cool.

D23: As Secret Chef was shot, what did you hope the contestants would take away from the experience?
DC: I hope the contestants realize they were part of something super special—and this is something that will hopefully continue for many more seasons. They laid down the foundation for what will be a show that everyone will want to watch and continue to watch. Hopefully they can come back again. If they do, it would be interesting to see how you do this when people have a better idea of the game theory and strategy.

D23: …And what do you hope audiences take away from watching the series?
DC: I hope this is a show that everyone can watch. Now that I have kids, it is a show that kids can watch, college students can watch, and grandparents can watch. The show is fun and entertaining and will surprise you because it is not formulaic in the way you expect. At the end of the day, it’s a fun and interesting game show. We were trying to do a food show in a different way, and not just be different to be different—but different to be better.

Setting Up the Adventure of a Lifetime for Indiana Jones

By Zach Johnson

If adventure has a name, it’s Indiana Jones.

In Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, in theaters Friday, June 30, the whip-smart archaeologist returns for another thrilling, globe-trotting adventure—his last, in fact. It’s 1969, and Indy (Academy Award® nominee Harrison Ford) is at a crossroads. After teaching at New York’s Hunter College for more than a decade, he is now ready to retire and live a quieter life… alone. His plans change, however, when his estranged goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Emmy® Award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge) turns up one day seeking a rare artifact that her father had entrusted to Indy years earlier: the Archimedes Dial, which is rumored to hold the power to find fissures in time. A skilled con artist, she then steals the Dial and plans to sell it to the highest bidder—which, of course, spurs Indy into action.

Naturally, he’s in for quite a ride—one that has arguably been a lifetime in the making. “Harrison loves this character as much as the audience, and he didn’t want to see it end,” says Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, who, along with Frank Marshall, has produced every installment in the wildly popular movie franchise. “He kept asking, ‘Is there another story?’”

Not only would there be another story to tell, but there would be another storyteller, with James Mangold taking the director’s reins from Steven Spielberg, who now serves as an executive producer. “There are a lot of aspects of Jim Mangold’s filmmaking skill that I admire,” Ford says. “But as a storyteller, he’s got a particular perception, born of his own experience—an understanding. His ambition is consistent with the ambition that we’ve had all the way through this series of films: To create large-scale entertainment with a kind of wry humor and an emotional reality that engages the audience.”

Calling Mangold “an exceptional filmmaker,” Kennedy adds, “The minute Jim’s name came up, Harrison was already 100 percent on board. That meant a lot to me. It meant a lot to Steven. It meant a lot to Frank.”

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) crosses a bridge.

Spielberg knew Mangold would do the story justice. “He was a director who shared my sensibilities about editing, pacing, character development, balancing scenes,” explains Spielberg, who also directed Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). “I thought, ‘If I don’t do another Indiana Jones movie, James Mangold should.’”

Ford, Kennedy, and Marshall agreed—and so, they reached out to Mangold, a longtime fan. For Mangold, seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark on opening day in 1981 was an experience he had never forgotten—and he knew the character’s story wasn’t quite done. “Indiana Jones is a character that always surprises us. He can be selfish, he can be empathic, he can be brave, he can be a coward. And Harrison holds all these contradictory elements together,” he says. “Indiana Jones is not a Greek hero on Mount Olympus; he’s a very human character. I think all his eccentricities and anxieties and neuroses and foibles are part of his appeal. But he does have a superpower, and it’s that he’s incredibly lucky.”

Indy will need all the luck he can get as he tries to retrieve the Dial and keep it out of the hands of Dr. Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelson), a former Nazi now working as a physicist in the U.S. space program, whose horrifying scheme could change the course of world history.

Helena (Phoebe-Waller Bridge) and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) stand outside a tourist sales booth.

Of course, in 1969, no one believes in heroes like Indiana Jones anymore—perhaps not even Indy himself. And so, as Jez and John-Henry Butterworth drafted the story, along with David Koepp and Mangold, they doubled down on the idea of telling the story of a hero at sunset. “The obvious challenge is that you’re returning to a genre without re-casting,” Jez says. “You’ve got the same actor who was playing this in his 30s playing it in his late 70s. I think that what had been perceived perhaps as a disadvantage was all the advantage. You had to absolutely run with the idea that what happens toward the end of people’s stories [can be just as fascinating] as what happens at the beginning of them. It started to feel authentic, and it gained a reality that was playable. If you embrace the opportunity, all sorts of storytelling doors open up.”

This notion inspired Ford, who calls it “very bold, very exciting, very courageous” storytelling. “We haven’t avoided the fact that Indy has aged 40 years over the period we’ve been telling his story; we’ve embraced it,” he explains. “We faced the challenges he faced, and we’ve brought a real humanity and warmth to the story.”

“The Indiana Jones we meet in 1969 is the result of the experience that we’ve had with him throughout the other films,” Ford continues. “This is what happens when you’re a broken- down archaeologist/professor, you’re frustrated in your career, it’s your last day on the job before retirement, and you maybe occasionally have a drink in the middle of the day. He’s dispirited, he’s cynical, and he’s hurt, but the circumstances that are about to befall him lead to a great adventure in which there is a degree of redemption—and renewal, as well.”

QUIZ: Finish the Lyrics to These Howard Ashman Songs

By Emily Hewitt

Disney Legend Howard Ashman wrote some of the most iconic song lyrics featured in Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. In honor of Pride Month, we’re remembering Ashman—a member of the LGBTQ+ community who sadly passed in 1991, before the completion of Beauty and the Beast—with a quiz spotlighting some of his most iconic songs. Let’s see how well you remember these magical Ashman lyrics!

“Certain as the sun, rising in the east. Tale as old as time, _____________, Beauty and the Beast.”

Correct! Wrong!

“You got some power in your corner now; some heavy ammunition in your camp. You got some ________________, and how! All you gotta do is rub that lamp...”

Correct! Wrong!

“There you see her, sitting there across the ______. She don’t got a lot to say, but there’s something about her...”

Correct! Wrong!

“The _______ is always greener, in somebody else’s lake; you dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake.”

Correct! Wrong!

“Come on and lift your glass, you’ve won your own free pass to be our guest— ________________________________”

Correct! Wrong!

“When the wind's from the east and the sun's from the west and the sand in the ________ is right, come on down, stop on by, hop a carpet and fly”

Correct! Wrong!

“There’s no man in town as admired as you—you’re everyone’s favorite guy. Everyone’s __________________________...”

Correct! Wrong!

“Dazed and distracted, can’t you tell? Never part of any crowd, ‘cause her ______________________...”

Correct! Wrong!

“Oh, come be the first on your block to meet his eye. Make way, here he comes, __________________________—you’re gonna love this guy!”

Correct! Wrong!

“Yes, I’ve had the odd complaint, ___________________________ to those poor unfortunate souls.”

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the Lyrics to These Howard Ashman Songs
You “poor unfortunate soul(s).” Howard Ashman’s songs might seem like “a whole new world” to you... Listen to a few more of his soundtracks and come back to take the quiz again!
Keep “flipping your fins” through Howard Ashman’s songs—you gave it your best thingamabob, but you might need to splash up on your knowledge.
Great try! “Be our guest” to give the quiz another shot after reviewing Howard Ashman’s songs.
Amazing job! You are almost part of Howard Ashman’s world, so to speak... you just need to join Belle in reading a little bit of his lyrics.
Fantastic! We are “awed and inspired”! Everyone could use a friend like you when it comes to acing this Howard Ashman lyrics quiz.

Your Guide to Adventure: Inspired by Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

By Jennifer Chalifoux

A new adventure begins again as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny makes its way to theaters. Coming this Friday, June 30, the latest installment welcomes back Indiana Jones for yet another epic tale.

Ahead of its release, we have some of our most popular Indiana Jones-inspired products to share with you—so good, they belong in a museum—plus exciting excursions, and so much more.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES

A brown leather jacket against a white background. The jacket is unzipped so that the inside lining—a tan map—can be seen.

Indiana Jones Vintage Cowhide Leather Jacket by U.S. Wings
“X never, ever, marks the spot.” Or does it? The Indiana Jones Vintage Cowhide Leather Jacket by U.S. Wings is the perfect navigation tool to lead you to secret treasures—with a specially designed globe-trotting map and written biography from Dr. Henry Jones, Jr., decorating the interior lining. See the full collection here.

  • Did You Know: U.S. Wings has provided jackets for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since opening day in 1989?

A brown satchel-style bag against a white background. Printed on the top flap of the bag is “Property of Dr. H. Jones, Jr.” along with a “CAUTION” stamp.

Indiana Jones Adventure Bag by U.S. Wings
Need something to store your valuables in while exploring the unknown? The Indiana Jones Adventure Bag by U.S. Wings is rugged in style, just like Indy’s—but big enough to hold your treasures, whether they be an ancient idol or a 10-inch tablet. The bag is even stamped with a special, personal touch: “Property of Dr. H. Jones, Jr.”

A brown fedora, similar to the style Harrison Ford wears in the Indiana Jones films.

Belloq by Dorfman Milano
Every explorer’s wardrobe requires the most classic Indy-inspired accessory of all: an adventure hat. The stylish, crushable, water-repellent, wool felt Belloq is the perfect hat to suit your needs for the ultimate adventure—wherever that may take you!

A tan, button-down shirt with hand-illustrated art depicting classic scenes from the film Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, including imagery of Indiana Jones using his whip and running from a boulder.

Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired Shirt by Reyn Spooner
The Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired print’s hand-illustrated vignettes portray some of Indy’s most memorable moments, all on a breezy Hawaiian-style shirt. This exceptional design features many icons of the franchise including the boulder scene and… snakes! It’s available in multiple fits including the classic buttonfront, tailored buttonfront, and youth classic buttonfront.

Three crewneck sweatshirts depicting vintage poster-style artwork for three Indiana Jones films. The first shirt is burnt orange, featuring the idol from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark along with the film’s title in white text. The next shirt is dark brown and features a skull from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, along with the film title in white text. The final shirt is golden yellow, with the Holy Grail from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, along with the film title in brown text.

Indiana Jones Crew Necks by Heroes & Villains
Your closet will be full of adventure with not one, not two, but three new Indiana Jones crew neck sweatshirt designs inspired by Indy’s classic stories. This Heroes & Villains collection includes the Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Modern Fleece, the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Modern Fleece, and the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Modern Fleece. Plus, the short-sleeve Indiana Jones Welcome to Cairo Natural Tee and Indiana JonesIcons of Adventure Since 1935 Long Sleeve Tee.

A backpack and zip wallet both featuring an illustration of the scene of Indiana Jones running from the boulder from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The backpack also features a charm on the zipper that is illustrated to look like the golden idol from earlier in the film’s opening sequence.

 

The Indiana Jones Mini Backpack and Zip Around Wallet by Loungefly
Store your most valuable coins and tokens in the Indiana Jones Mini Backpack with Coin Purse by Loungefly. This accessory—and its matching Indiana Jones Zip Around Wallet—highlights the infamous boulder scene, when Indy runs from a large rolling bolder while tightly clutching the Golden Idol.

A t-shirt featuring an illustration of a khaki button-down shirt that is unbuttoned to reveal a white shirt with the Indiana Jones films logo on it. A fedora, toy knife, and toy whip are set against a white background next to an open brown pouch that has fake coins and jewels spilling out of it.

The Indiana Jones Collection for Kids by Disney
Kids will surely want to dress like Indiana Jones for all their upcoming adventures! The Faux Button-Down T-Shirt will be a favorite for any young explorer, perfectly paired with the toy Role-Play Accessory Set—which includes a bag with five gems and five coins, a foam machete, play whip, and fedora! Both items are available at Disney Parks and on shopDisney.

TOYS & GAMES

Action figures of Indiana Jones and Helena Shaw as they appear in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Both figures are against a background styled like a vintage map.

Indiana Jones The Adventure Series by Hasbro
After celebrating the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, you can relive your favorite moments from the new film with Hasbro’s The Adventure Series Indiana Jones (Dial of Destiny) and The Adventure Series Helena Shaw (Dial of Destiny) action figures. Complete your collection with even more Indiana Jones-inspired action figures from Hasbro Pulse.

Left: A Funko Pop! Vinyl figure depicting the opening sequence of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arkwhere Indy runs away from a boulder. Middle: A Funko Pop! Vinyl figure depicting Indiana Jones in his classic outfit and fedora. Right: A board game titled Indiana Jones: Sands of Adventure. The box art features the film series’ logo along with an illustration of golden cobras, Indiana Jones himself, and Marian Ravenwood.

Indiana Jones-inspired Collectibles and Games by Funko
Decorate your living or workspace with Funko’s new Indiana Jones-inspired collectibles. The lineup features the unforgettable Movie Moment: Indiana Jones Boulder Scene collectible, and adorable Pop! Indiana Jones bobblehead. The fun continues with four new Indiana Jones-inspired games by Funko Games, including Indiana Jones: Sands of Adventure (ages 8 and up).

Three LEGO sets inspired by Indiana Jones films: The first features the boulder chase sequence from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark; the second scene features the airplane chase from later in the film; the final set depicts Indy and Marian trapped inside a lost tomb with snakes and Anubis statues.

 

Indiana Jones Building Sets by the LEGO Group
Collectors can build their own scenes from the classic films with LEGO’s new Indiana Jones Temple of the Golden Idol, Indiana Jones Fighter Plane Chase, and Indiana Jones Escape from the Lost Tomb building sets.

  • Did You Know: These are the LEGO Group’s first Indiana Jones-themed building sets to be released in more than 10 years!

A box for an Indiana Jones puzzle set. The box art features all four finished puzzles, which feature posters for four Indiana Jones films: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Indiana Jones 4-Pack Puzzle Set by Disney
Find fortune and glory as you complete the quest of assembling four amazing Indiana Jones puzzles. Each paying homage to the franchise’s movie posters, the four 500-pieces puzzles feature designs from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Each puzzle is 25×14 inches. You can find this puzzle set at Disney Parks and on shopDisney.

ADVENTURES & EXPEDITIONS

Now that you have all the necessary accessories, it’s time to live your own adventure and go on expeditions around the world!

A group of travelers walk across a bridge inside a dark cavern filled with rocks and greenery.

Check out the ways you can travel with National Geographic Expeditions and meet archaeologists and educators (aka National Geographic Experts) who explore the world with you on these action-packed trips…

A tour guide talks with a family while standing in front of a mountain scape.

Or bring the family and embark on the adventure-of-a-lifetime with Adventures by Disney. Check out their lineup of Land Adventures that are sure to have you and your family packing your bags!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is in theaters June 30.

Celebrate Disney Music Emporium Day on June 24!

By The D23 Team

Over the past century, The Walt Disney Company has stood at the forefront of innovation in storytelling… Beloved tales that span across generations of fans, illuminating the stories that make up our rich history. Many of these stories would not shine as brightly were it not for the iconic music that’s comprised some of the greatest soundtracks of our lifetimes. Disney Music Emporium is celebrating these stories, and how fans like you have cherished them—and elevated them to unfathomable heights.

Saturday, June 24, marks Disney Music Emporium Day—chock full of special offers and products, curated for you to tune into the magic of music and the stories you love most. D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is here with the ultimate guide to Disney Music Emporium Day, showcasing the exclusive products and offers available for fans during this “sound-sational” celebration!

One of the biggest parts of this celebration is 30% off any and all products sitewide, only on June 24! Visit Disney Music Emporium now to find out more about these stellar products!

New to Disney Music Emporium – Arriving June 24

  • Gravity Falls
  • Marvel Studios’ Werewolf by Night 
  • Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder
  • Marvel Studios’ LOKI – Season 1
  • Disney 100
  • Zendaya
  • Miley Cyrus: The Climb
  • Miley Cyrus: Time of Our Lives
  • Lightyear

Hot New Titles – Brand-new magical tracks for your listening pleasure

  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on vinyl and CD (pre-order)
  • Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on vinyl and cassette (cassette is a pre-order)
  • The Electric Mayhem on vinyl
  • The Little Mermaid [Live-Action] on vinyl

Back in Stock – Fan-favorite products returning to Disney Music Emporium

  • Best of Hannah Montana on vinyl
  • High School Musical on vinyl
  • Up Die-Cut on vinyl

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – D23 Gold Member Exclusive Cosmo Cassette and Pin Bundle

D23 Gold Member Exclusive Cosmo Cassette + Pin Bundle, featuring Cosmo.
D23 Gold Members can pre-order an exclusive bundle featuring a collectible cassette and our D23 Gold Member Exclusive pin spotlighting Cosmo, the telepathic canine cosmonaut from Guardians of the Galaxy! The cassette features the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, inside a case also featuring Cosmo. These two items are expected to ship to purchasers by July 26, 2023. You can also collect the whole set of cassettes, with a variant featuring Drax as well!

This bundle is limited quantity, so make sure to log into the Disney account attached to your D23 Gold Membership and visit this same article to access the exclusive link to purchase below.

ACCESS EXCLUSIVE OFFER >

New D23 Pins, Geared Up for Adventure!

By Peyton Liebler

Whether your destiny is trotting the globe on the hunt for legendary treasures or blasting off to a luxury starship nestled in the distant cosmos, D23 has you covered with two new pins worthy of any adventures that await. In celebration of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and the 15th anniversary of WALL-E, check out two new D23 Gold Member Exclusive Pins—designed for the adventurer in all of us.

D23-Exclusive Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Pin
Discover the secrets of your destiny with this adventurous pin! This D23 Gold Member exclusive pin is an intrepid way to celebrate the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny! It depicts the famed archaeologist, Prof. Henry Jones Jr., set against the background of the Dial of Destiny! Just like Indy, this amazing pin is sure to point you in the direction of only the boldest trails, leading you on the adventure of a lifetime.

Our D23-Exclusive Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PT on shopDisney, Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The D23 Member exclusive pin honoring the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is depicted. The pin consists of silhouette of the head and hat of Indiana Jones, with an airplane superimposed on it. Behind Indy’s head is an orange and yellow circle representing the sun.

D23-Exclusive WALL-E 15th Anniversary Pin
Don’t just survive, LIVE by procuring this interstellar pin! This D23 Gold Member exclusive pin is a cosmic way to celebrate 15 years of Disney and Pixar’s WALL-E! It depicts WALL-E and EVE “defining dancing” with a fire-extinguisher-fueled swing around the Axiom! It’s an incredible find for anyone wanting to celebrate the love and hope these two romantic robots share.

Our D23-Exclusive WALL-E 15th Anniversary Pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PT on shopDisney, Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The D23 Member exclusive pin commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Wall-E is depicted. The pin depicts the characters EVE and WALL-E dancing in space. Behind them is a silhouette of the Axios spaceship and behind that is a star field.
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Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with a Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Both pins are sold separately for $19.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of either style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

Meet the Characters of Disney and Pixar’s Elemental

By Bruce C. Steele

Like the Fire couple Bernie and Cinder at the beginning of Disney and Pixar’s new film, Elemental, we all arrive in Element City not knowing who anyone is.

For those who haven’t yet seen this colorful, funny, and touching adventure, we’re here to make some introductions. Meet some of the many memorable characters of Elemental:

In this theatrical poster for Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Ember, a Fire person (voiced by Leah Lewis), in the front left, and Wade, a Water person (voiced by Mamoudou Athey), in the front right, sit in the front row of a theater with many characters from Elemental behind and around them. Included in the crowd, directly behind Ember and Wade, are Ember’s parents, Bernie and Cinder (voiced by Ronnie Del Carmen and Shila Ommi, respectively). Everyone is smiling and wearing 3-D glasses; Ember and Wade are eating theater snacks.

Bernie and Cinder
In search of a new and better life for their family—Cinder is expecting a baby—the Fire couple have taken a boat from the familiar surroundings of faraway Fireland to the daunting metropolis of Element City. The film follows their difficult early days, then picks up with the couple’s child, Ember, as she grows up in and around her parents’ neighborhood market, Fireplace. We’ll learn more about why and how Bernie and Cinder (voiced by Ronnie del Carmen and Shila Ommi, respectively) left Fireland later, but early on what matters is what great parents they are to Ember—having uprooted themselves so she would have more opportunities.

The couple was inspired in part by director Peter Sohn’s parents, who emigrated from Korea to the Bronx, in New York City, where Sohn was born. “That was the emotional hook for me, that my parents had come here from another place, a foreign place, to make a better life for [me and my brother],” Sohn said. “And it’s something that I grew up not really understanding until I became an adult, when I really began to appreciate that. So it was all tied to my personal experience.”

In this image from Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Ember, a Fire person (voiced by Leah Lewis), pilots a scooter through the streets of Fire Town, which has an orange headlight and is coming toward the camera. Ember is smiling and wearing dark goggles. Fireworks light up the street behind her.

Ember
A neighborhood shop is all about dealing with customers’ needs, as well as their moods and missteps—which is a challenge for hot-headed Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis). After years of apprenticing with her father, and occasional scorching outbursts of temper, Ember gets the chance to run the shop on her own for one important day. She just needs to keep her cool.

Performing the emotional roller coaster that is Ember was sometimes a challenge for Lewis. “A lot of the stuff mirrored real-life emotions or things that I have gone through,” she said. “There were certain times when I disagreed with how explosive she was, but I was also like, ‘She’s on a journey here. She has to start somewhere, then go somewhere else.’ There were times when I was getting very vulnerable, and Peter would turn the lights down low and just be like, ‘Just take a second.’ Because I also think he understood, when you’re bringing your real-life experience into something, it can be very tender work.”

In this image from Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Wade, a Water person (voiced by Mamoudou Athey), on the right, and Ember, a Fire person (voiced by Leah Lewis), of the left, stand at a railing in the middle of a seating area for a stadium. Behind them, Air people and a few Water people fill the seats, evidently watching a sports competition that is out of frame.

Wade
Water guy and Element City building inspector Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie) splashes into Ember’s life on that very important day in Fireplace—and brings a number of urgent problems with him. In many ways, he’s the opposite of Ember: cool-headed, quick to (gushing) tears, and a strict follower of the rules. They both have a lot to learn from one another.

Athie was in tune with Wade as soon as he dove into the script. Before he even had the part, he said, “I spoke with Pete and I was like, ‘I know who this guy is so well.’ Wade is very intentionally simple, like, ‘I'm going to live my life like this.’ And [like him,] I try to find simplicity in my life—the world is complicated enough.” Also like Wade, Athie added, he asks himself constantly, “What is the best version of me? I think Wade is better at it, but I certainly try.” Athie credited Sohn and the screenwriters for making Wade such a clear character: “When something is well-written and defined, all you have to do is follow the blueprint in front of you and fill it in.”

In this image from Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Ember, a Fire person (voiced by Leah Lewis), on the left, and Wade, a Water person (voiced by Mamoudou Athey), on the right, sit in a VOP box in a stadium. They share the box with Gale (voiced by Wendi McLendon-Covey), who is an Air person that resembles a big, purple storm cloud, looming over Ember and Wade. Surrounding their box seats are regular stadium seats filled with fans watching a sports event with enthusiasm.

Gale
In addition to Fire and Water people, Element City is populated by Air people, who resemble (mostly) friendly clouds, and Earth people, whimsical figures who sprout various vegetation. The Air people are big supporters of the Windbreakers, their local sports team of Air Ball athletes who compete at Cyclone Stadium. And that’s where we meet Gale (voiced by Wendi McLendon-Covey), a high-ranking city employee from whom Amber and Wade are seeking help.

Gale is a loud, towering thunderhead of an Air woman who knows how things are supposed to work and seems determined to rain on the parade of anyone who disagrees with her. “There’s a great moment in the film where we meet Gale and there’s some friction between Ember and Gail,” said animation supervisor Mike Venturini. “Gale’s a big storm cloud, and there’s lightning shooting off of her when she gets angry.” For the animation crew, he added, “Visually, it was really fun to figure that out. How does an Air character puff up when they get upset?”

In this theatrical poster for Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Clod (voiced by Mason Wertheimer), an Earth person, pops into the frame from the left. He has green grass for hair, a green nose, and a leafy shirt. He’s waving with his left arm, and a purple flower grows out of his armpit.

Clod
Representing the Earth people of Element City is Clod (voiced by Mason Wertheimer), a boy who likes to hang out near Fireplace, hoping to run into Ember, the “older woman” he has a crush on. “I absolutely love Clod,” Sohn said. “He’s 10 or 11 and always asking Ember out on a date. He’s going through puberty, and he’s like, ‘Look what I can grow.’ And he lifts up his arm and he’s got this little flower armpit hair that he's so proud of.”

In this image from Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, Wade, a Water person (voiced by Mamoudou Athey), on the left, and Ember, a Fire person (voiced by Leah Lewis), in the center, stand talking to Brook (voiced by Catherine O’Hara), who is Wade’s mother. They’re standing in the hallway of Brook’s family condo in front of a metal door that resembles the hatches on a submarine. It’s the entrance to the condo and is surrounded by a wall tiled in blue-and-green stones.

Brook
In one scene, Wade takes Ember to meet his family in their beautiful penthouse-pool apartment in an Element City skyscraper with an intimidating doorman. Wade’s brother’s family is there, including children named Marco and Polo, as is Wade’s mom, Brook (voiced by Catherine O’Hara), an elegant and friendly Water woman who’s also a successful architect. She does her best to accommodate—and not extinguish—the Fire woman her son has brought home. A minor accident during the visit turns into an important point in Ember’s journey, and Brook’s inclination to encourage the younger characters also plays a role.

In real life, Athie got to bring his own parents to Pixar Animation Studios to meet Sohn and the team and screen the film before it opened in theaters. “It was really cool to have my parents there, meet everybody at Pixar, and watch the movie [together].” Athie said. “This is their favorite movie of mine by a long shot.”

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5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Courtney Potter

Well, we’ve made it to the official start of summer—and while there are so many fun activities to take us out of doors, why not plan to spend at least part of this upcoming weekend with your favorite streaming device and some quality entertainment from around the worlds of Disney? We’ve got a brand-new series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe; the hip-hop stylings of a 12-year-old mathematical genius; a certain extremely popular chef and his crew; and so much more. Scroll on for a smattering of what to expect…

In an image from Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, from left to right, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) sit next to each other inside a warmly lit room. They have concerned looks on their faces. Maria is wearing a dark V-neck T-shirt; Nick is wearing a dark red sweater turtleneck and a black beanie; he is not wearing his usual eyepatch.

Secret Invasion—premiere episode now streaming on Disney+
In Marvel Studios’ new, original live-action series Secret Invasion, set in the present-day Marvel Cinematic Universe, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and the Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn)—who has made a life for himself on Earth—and together they race against time to thwart the imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity. D23 recently attended the series’ virtual press conference—read up on how the whole exciting show came together by clicking here…

In an image from National Geographic’s Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper, host Christian Cooper is standing in the Salton Sea, a vital stop for migrating birds. Behind him is a dead tree with nests that used to be homes to Great Blue Herons.

Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper—new series now streaming on Disney+
After premiering first on Nat Geo WILD last weekend, this brand-new series—perfect for the whole family—comes to Disney+. Life-long birder Christian Cooper takes us into the wild, wonderful, and unpredictable world of… you guessed it: birds! Whether navigating volcanic terrain in Hawaii for elusive honeycreepers; trekking into rainforests in Puerto Rico for parrots; or scaling a bridge in Manhattan for a peregrine falcon, Cooper does whatever it takes to learn about these extraordinary, feathered creatures and show us the remarkable world in the sky above.

In an image from FX’s The Bear, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) is standing in his restaurant’s kitchen. He’s leaning over a counter and writing out a menu on the top of a pizza box. His arms are covered with tattoos and he wears an apron. Behind him are various ovens and burners, with pots and pans strewn about.

FX’s The Bear—Season 2 now streaming on Hulu
The new season of FX’s critically acclaimed series—recommended for mature audiences only—follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Golden Globe® winner Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they work to transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot. As they strip the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertakes transformational journeys of their own—each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future.

In an image from the Disney+ original movie World’s Best, Prem (Manny Magnus) is seen performing with his father (Utkarsh Ambudkar); they’re both wearing black and white graphic button-down shirts, and are standing behind a microphone on a mic stand. The room is relatively dark, but you can see a crowd of people surrounding them, and light is shining on everyone’s faces from below. A neon sign that says “Wild” is seen on the wall behind them.

World’s Best—premieres Friday, June 23, on Disney+
This all-new hip-hop musical comedy adventure follows 12-year-old mathematics genius Prem Patel (Manny Magnus) as he navigates the tumultuous hardships of adolescence… and if that weren’t enough, he discovers his recently deceased father (Utkarsh Ambudkar) was a famous rapper, and immediately sets out to pursue a career for himself as a rap superstar. His actions may appear reckless, and the quickest way for him to lose everything—but Prem, empowered by imaginative hip-hop music-fueled fantasies where he performs with his father, is determined to find out if hip-hop truly is in his DNA. As his father always used to say, “The world’s best never rest!” Ambudkar—known for (among many other things) his work with the hip-hop improv comedy group Freestyle Love Supreme—co-wrote and co-executive produces the film, and also co-wrote the film’s original songs.

In an image from Disney Channel’s Hamster and Gretel, Bailey (voiced by Priah Ferguson) and Gretel (voiced by Meli Povenmire) are sitting on the branch of a large tree. They’re both smiling. Bailey is wearing glasses, a yellow sweater, and green pants; Gretel is wearing a turquoise top and orange shorts.

Hamster and Gretel—Saturday, June 24, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The episode’s two stories include: “Let’s Sea What You’ve Got,” in which Gretel (voiced by Meli Povenmire) and Bailey (voiced by Priah Ferguson) experiment with Gretel’s powers at the beach; and “Churro’s Day Out,” where Churro the dog has a day out while the family gets a portrait done. Listen also for the vocal stylings of Beck Bennett as Hamster, Joey King as Fred, Michael Cimino as Kevin, and Matt Jones as Dave.

Meet the Characters of Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion

By Emily Hewitt

It’s hard to know who’s friend or foe when the alien Skrulls are wearing their human “shells.” Deceit goes both ways, though, when a faction of Skrulls comes to believe that Nick Fury, the man who promised to find them a new home planet, has let them down in the new Disney+ Original series from Marvel Studios, Secret Invasion.

“I felt that the Skrulls could be used as a metaphor for the current state of the world,” executive producer Jonathan Schwartz says, “and the spread of disinformation and lack of trust.”

The live-action series unfolds in the present-day Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), several decades after the events of Captain Marvel. Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, leaves the space station of the intergalactic agency S.A.B.E.R. and returns to Earth, where he learns that a rebel Skrull group is plotting to abolish the human race to claim the planet for themselves.

As we get ready to dive into this espionage thriller, let’s introduce many of the characters we’ll meet along the way.

 

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)
When Fury comes back from S.A.B.E.R. to investigate the Skrull invasion, he knows he hasn’t followed through on his promise to find the alien race a new home. “He’s been sort of incognito and up there on S.A.B.E.R. for years, and it’s so long since he’s been in touch with people,” Jackson says. “He’s ghosted a lot of people, and so when they call him, he’s not coming back down to Earth super willingly.”

In place of his trademark black leather coat and eye patch, Fury now wears a tweed coat and wool sweater with his scarred eye visible. This new appearance reflects his vulnerability and exhaustion from decades of continually fighting—to the point that he doesn’t really know who he is anymore. Viewers will also see how his mistakes affect the people around him.

“The thing that excites me about Secret Invasion is that you get to see another side of Fury—a more human and grounded side of what you would imagine Nick Fury to be at this point of his life, where all of these things that he has experienced have caught up with him,” says Cobie Smulders, who plays S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill.

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, the Skrull Talos, played by Ben Mendelsohn, is in his human form, wearing a collared denim shirt and black coat. He has a worried look on his face.

Talos (Ben Mendelsohn)
Talos, the Skrull warrior we first met in Captain Marvel, is back and grappling with what it means to be a leader while at odds with those closest to him, including Fury. “His most powerful working relationship is gone,” Mendelsohn says. “Nick Fury’s gone. He doesn’t have the alliance and the advantage of having Fury on the ground with him on Earth.”

Talos is still searching for a place where the Skrulls can survive—a task that gets more complicated when his daughter, G’iah, is put in danger.

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, Maria Hill, played by Cobie Smulders, sits beside Fury in a house, both staring off into the distance.

Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders)
Maria Hill, the decorated spy who’s always loyal to Fury, joins the fight against the Skrulls’ invasion. Just as she always has, she will continue taking risks to defend other people. Hill was first seen alongside Fury on the big screen in The Avengers (2012) and played a vital role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). The Maria Hill character seen in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) was revealed as a Skrull imposter!

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, Agent Everett Ross, played by Martin Freeman, stands in a dim lit room with a red light across half his face. He is wearing a gray hat and a dark green wool sweater.

Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman)
CIA Agent Everett Ross—a major player in both Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever(2022)—receives information about the impending Skrull invasion. With the information from Agent Prescod (Richard Dormer), Ross determines that Fury must return from the S.A.B.E.R. space station to help deal with the threat.

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, G’iah, played by Emilia Clarke, is standing in a dark cave with her face illuminated. She is wearing a pink and gray striped shirt and a deep pink jacket.

G’iah (Emilia Clarke)
We briefly met G’iah as Talos’ young daughter in Captain Marvel, but she is now a fierce and pragmatic Skrull warrior. Her relationship with her father “is incredibly complicated,” Clarke says.

“You get to see a domestic side to both Talos and Fury that you haven’t seen up until this point,” Clarke adds. “You get to see them at home, for want of a better word, in a very extreme situation, obviously. And G’iah is a part of that for Talos. And the world’s best dad award probably isn’t going to him. He’s raised a fighter, and the relationship that they have is built around her proving herself.”

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, Sonya Falsworth, played by Olivia Colman, is holding a syringe with a needle attached to it. She is wearing a burgundy coat and black shirt.  

Sonya Falsworth (Olivia Colman)
Fury meets his match when Sonya Falsworth joins the MCU. She’s a seasoned MI-6 agent who will protect England at any cost. With a tea-offering demeanor, she doesn’t come across as the deadliest of opponents. She believes all Skrulls are bad and has been tracking Gravik and the rebels for some time.

“Sonya is an old friend of Nick Fury, and they respect each other,” Colman says. “Even though they like each other, they still don’t entirely trust each other. They’ve got a long history.”

Colman performs the part with a humor and lightness that contrasts with Fury’s and Talos’ drama and intensity, according to director Ali Selim.

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, Colonel James Rhodes, played by Don Cheadle, is sitting across a table from Fury and wearing a blue blazer, maroon tie, and blue shirt while holding a glass.

Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle)
Colonel James Rhodes, introduced in the Iron Man movies and most recently seen in the Disney+ Original series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), is back and has to make some tough decisions when he learns of the impending Skrull invasion.

In a scene from the Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion, Gravik, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, is shouting in his Skrull form, meaning he is green with large pointy ears.  

Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir)
Gravik, a new face in the MCU, is the mastermind behind the Skrull’s mission to take over Earth. He believes the promise of a new home for the Skrulls has gone unfulfilled for too long. Believing Fury will never come through, Gravik takes it upon himself to make things right.

Stream Secret Invasion on Disney+