Talk Like a Pirate Day with Pirates of the Caribbean

September 17, 2015August 23, 2016

“Avast there! It be too late to alter course, mateys!” International Talk Like a Pirate Day is upon us once again—which feels like the perfect time to reflect on one of Disney’s legendary movie franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean! The fifth installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, is already in production; helmed by Kon-Tiki’s Espen Sandberg and Joachim Ronning, the film will set sail into theaters in 2017. At the recent D23 EXPO 2015, Johnny Depp himself—resplendent in full Captain Jack Sparrow regalia—surprised the audience during the “Worlds, Galaxies, and Universes: Live Action at the Walt Disney Studios” panel. Johnny helped Walt Disney Pictures president of production Sean Bailey announce more casting for the film, including Orlando Bloom (returning as Will Turner), Geoffrey Rush (back as Captain Barbossa), and new-to-the-franchise Oscar^® winner Javier Bardem.

As for the film’s plot: Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea… including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas. The film also stars Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner), Brenton Thwaites (Maleficent), and Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone).

Get ye in a plunderin’ Talk Like a Pirate Day mood by taking a gander at 23 notable Pirates of the Caribbean quotes. “Aye, tales… there be a-plenty in this cursed place.“

Captain Jack: “This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!”

Norrington: “You are, without doubt, the worst pirate I’ve ever heard of.”
Captain Jack: “But you have heard of me.”

Will Turner: “This is either madness… or brilliance.”
Captain Jack: “It’s remarkable how often those two traits coincide.”

Captain Barbossa: “You best start believing in ghost stories, Miss Turner… you’re in one!”

Captain Jack: “Why is the rum gone?”
Elizabeth Swann: “One: because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels. Two: that signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire Royal Navy is out looking for me. Do you really think there is even the slightest chance they won’t see it?”
Captain Jack: “But why is the rum gone?”

Captain Jack: “Well! I’m actually feeling rather good about this. I think we all arrived at a very special place eh? Spiritually. Ecumenically. Grammatically.”

Elizabeth: “Bloody pirates!”

Elizabeth: “Parlay. I invoke the right of parlay. According to the Code of the brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew, you have to take me to your Captain…”

Captain Barbossa: “Strike your colors, ya bloomin’ cockroaches!”

Elizabeth: “There will come a time when you have a chance to do the right thing.”
Captain Jack: “I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.”

Captain Jack: “No. You want you to find this, because the finding of this finds you incapacitorially finding and or locating in your discovering the detecting of a way to save your dolly belle, ol’ what’s-her-face. Savvy?”

Captain Jack: “My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are troubled.”

Davey Jones: “Let no joyful voice be heard! Let no man look up at the sky with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake… the Krakken!”

Captain Barbossa: “The world used to be a bigger place.”
Captain Jack: “World’s still the same. There’s just less in it.”

Captain Jack: “Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!”

Captain Jack: “If we don’t have the key, we can’t open whatever we don’t have that it unlocks. So what purpose would be served in finding whatever need be unlocked, which we don’t have, without first having found the key what unlocks it?”

Will Turner: “Keep a weather eye on the horizon.”

Captain Jack: “Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names.”

Captain Jack: “NOBODY MOVE! I’ve dropped me brain.”

Blackbeard: “If I don’t kill a man every now and then, they forget who I am.”

Captain Jack: “You know the feeling you get when standing in a high place, the sudden urge to jump… I don’t have it.”

Angelica: “The lies I told you were not lies.”
Captain Jack: “You lied to me by telling the truth?”
Angelica: “Yes.”
Captain Jack: “That’s very good. May I use that?”

Captain Jack: “Clergyman, on the off chance that this does not go well for me, I would like it noted here and now that I am fully prepared to believe in whatever I must, so that I may be welcomed into that place where all the ‘goody-goodies’ get to go.”

Where We Left Off on Your Favorite ABC Shows

Our apologies to summer, but we’re pretty excited to be this close to fall. We love warm weather… We love the longer days… We love vacation… Who doesn’t? But frankly, we miss our favorite series! ABC’s fall season is gearing up, so we thought we’d give you the opportunity to read up on how some of your must-watch shows left off at the end of last season.

Castle—Returns Monday, September 21, 10 p.m. ET/PT

In the show’s seventh season finale, we learned precisely why Castle became a writer: As a teenager, he’d witnessed a murder—but no body was ever found and no one was ever reported as missing, so the authorities scoffed at his story. However, a similar case in the present day reminded Castle of this unsolved mystery. The gang eventually identified the girl Castle saw murdered, and they found the man they believe committed the crime. But while visiting the man’s psychiatrist, Castle recognized the voice. With Beckett’s help, Castle searched the psychiatrist’s barn and discovered a book full of his victims! A fight ensued, and Castle wound up held hostage—but he used Beckett’s gun to take the psychiatrist down for good. In the meantime, Beckett was offered the chance to run for state Senate—as well as the chance to become captain of her own precinct. As we catch back up with our favorite crime-fighting couple, they’re just starting to adjust to Beckett’s career change when a call from a mysterious stranger sets off a perilous chain of events. (It’s a two-part cliffhanger, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!)

Modern Family—Returns Wednesday, September 23, 9 p.m. ET/PT

Modern Family’s sixth season ended with some new beginnings… and some mixed signals. At the start of the season finale, Mitch and Cam were about to buy the apartment upstairs—but Mitch revealed that he’d been laid off a month earlier and hadn’t yet broken that news to Cam. Cam couldn’t help but suspect something was up, though he feared it was an affair. Mitch finally opened up, and the couple decided to move ahead with their plans for the new apartment. Meanwhile, Alex graduated from high school, leaving Claire trying to figure out a spectacular gift to give her daughter… who ultimately gave Claire a dream gift by asking her to accompany her on a post-graduation trip to Europe, for supporting her so much while she was in school. And in a true cliffhanger, Andy was feeling pressured to propose to Beth, despite his feelings for Haley; while Haley refrained from sharing her true feelings for Andy out of respect for his longtime relationship with Beth—a twist known only to Phil, who found out by way of face timing with both of them. When technical difficulties stopped Phil from speaking up, Andy and Haley bid a melancholy goodbye and parted ways. Did they find out before Andy popped the question? Tune in on Wednesday, September 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT to find out!

Nashville—Returns Wednesday, September 23, 10 p.m. ET/PT

The third season of Nashville truly left us hanging on the edge between life and death, as Deacon and his loved ones prepared for his risky liver transplant surgery. Deacon tried (unsuccessfully) to shake his premonition that something would go wrong during the operation, while Rayna did her best to get along with Deacon’s sister, Beverly, who is donating part of her liver to save him. Juliette and Avery’s relationship hit a seriously low note when Juliette—frustrated by issues with her career and new album—threw a snowglobe at Avery and their baby, Cadence, and then took on a new business manager, Jeff Fordham. A contrite Juliette later tried to persuade Avery that she could keep things professional with her ex, but Avery sadly realized that Juliette will always put her career ahead of her family and he asked her to leave them. After a tabloid revealed Will and Kevin’s relationship, Will’s first instinct was to cover it up… but after watching Kevin lie for him, Will realized he had to be true to himself and announced in front of a press conference—and his close-minded father—that he is gay. At the hospital, a frightened Deacon proposed to Rayna before his surgery. She refused to marry him in a hospital bed—officially, that is—but the two exchanged vows nonetheless. But as the episode ended, someone flatlined on the operating table—was it Deacon? Or was it Beverly? Rayna will come to terms with the aftermath of the surgery in the Nashville season premiere, which features special guest Steven Tyler, who duets with Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere).

Grey’s Anatomy—Returns Thursday, September 24, 8 p.m. ET/PT

Grey Sloan Memorial proved once again to be the site for so many big life moments on the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy. Meredith, still mourning the death of her husband, Derek, talked some sense into Richard and Catherine. After Richard promised to be Catherine’s “safe harbor,” the two were married in the hospital chapel. Meanwhile, April and Jackson’s marriage falls apart when she confesses that she feels like she’s “been called” to return to army surgery, and Jackson—who never felt like he had the opportunity to grieve for their late son—tells her he can’t be there for her when she comes back. Jo took the big step of buying a loft to share with Alex—all that she wants is for them to have a place of their own, and to give Meredith’s house back to her. Meredith gave Amelia some closure by sharing with her a voicemail message she’d gotten from Derek shortly before he died, describing the beauty of his last ferry ride. Later, at Richard and Catherine’s reception, Meredith, Amelia, and Maggie—who just learned that her parents are divorcing—shared a moment of sadness and friendship, and Meredith announced they had to “dance it out,” which they did. In the closing narration, Meredith stated, “…No matter how dark it gets, the sun’s gonna rise again.” And things seem to be looking sunnier in the season premiere, which has Meredith adjusting to new roommates at home, Bailey still gunning for the Chief of Surgery position at the hospital, and Jackson getting ready for April’s return to Seattle.

Scandal—Returns Thursday, September 24, 9 p.m. ET/PT

When last we ventured into D.C., Damascus Bainbridge—aka Command, aka Rowan, aka Papa Pope himself—threatened Mellie with blackmail if she didn’t get him a certain list of names. Meanwhile, Jake (and several others) confessed about their roles in B613 and Operation Remington to a grand jury. But after the initial hearing, every single juror was murdered—because of Mellie’s list! Olivia, hoping to take her father down, asked crazy Mama Pope for advice—which led Olivia to reveal B613 to the CIA. The plan, unfortunately, backfired; both Olivia and Jake were arrested, only to be released after signing a document denying B613’s existence. Quinn confronted poor guilt-ridden Huck about his role in the grand jury murders, and he, in turn, asked her to take Rowan down. Ultimately, Olivia had her father arrested for embezzlement from the Smithsonian, and she and Fitz passionately reunited on the White House balcony. So what’s in store this season? Well, we’ve only been given a glimpse into Episode 1, but from what we can gather: Olivia and Fitz are still in full-on “scandal” mode, and Cyrus, Mellie, and Huck are all dealing with the aftermath of helping Command. Serious #TGIT!

How to Get Away with Murder—Returns Thursday, September 24, 10 p.m. ET/PT

The first season of How to Get Away with Murder was a nail-biting doozy, and the season finale did not disappoint. Annalise forced the Keating Four to put Rebecca through a “show trial,” presenting evidence to convince her that Rebecca killed Lila. Uncooperative at first, Rebecca ultimately managed to convince Wes she wasn’t responsible, though she did find Lila’s body and hid with it in the water tank. Annalise found every statement unbelievable, and went into the basement to release Rebecca—but she’d already been set free. Later, Annalise reassured Wes that the “Sam-killed-Lila” theory is the only one that makes sense. Once Wes left, Annalise met Frank in the basement… and it’s revealed that Rebecca is dead! But that wasn’t the only shocking moment: In a flashback, we learned that Sam used blackmail to get Frank to murder Lila. Season 2 promises even more drama: The students are still reeling over Rebecca’s “disappearance,” with Annalise and Frank determined to find out who killed her.

Once Upon a Time—Returns Sunday, September 27, 8 p.m. ET/PT

The season finale of Once Upon a Time was totally backwards—literally, as The Author rewrote our characters’ stories for his own benefit, turning the villains into heroes and heroes into sadistic monsters (well, at least Snow White… It wasn’t pretty). Luckily Henry saved the day (and Emma and… pretty much everyone else). But when the gang returned to Storybrooke, joy was short-lasted. While Emma, Regina, James/Charming, Mary Margaret/Snow, and the core team tried to remove and isolate the “evil” that turns people into The Dark One, things, naturally, got a little out of control. The season’s final moments saw Emma saving Regina’s life by absorbing the bad juju and becoming The Dark One—and then totally vanishing from sight. Now it’s up to our heroes and villains to team up once again to find Emma and ensure she doesn’t go totally “Dark Swan.” They will also try to find a way to vanquish the darkness, created by a sorcerer named Merlin, once and for all by venturing to Camelot. We also have a pregnant Wicked Witch of the West to deal with. Oh, and some chick with red hair named Merida shows up. We can’t wait.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.—Returns Tuesday, September 29, 9 p.m. ET/PT

Where to begin?! The second season finale of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. packed a two-parter wallop. S.H.I.E.L.D. realized Jiaying’s ruse—but the people of Afterlife (including daughter Skye) fell for it, and fought alongside her. Ward tortured Bobbi for information about her undercover time at Hydra, and he set a trap to end with a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (likely Hunter) being killed in front of her. Instead, Bobbi took the bullet for Hunter, barely surviving—while Ward accidentally killed Palamas as she was disguised as May. After seeing Jiayang murder Raina, Skye finally turned her back on her mother. But the Inhumans took her prisoner and attacked the S.H.I.E.L.D. ship, planning to use artificial Terrigen crystals to reveal all Inhumans… and kill all humans. Skye warned Coulson of Jiaying’s plan, and Fitz killed Gordon, preventing him from unleashing Terrigen mist through the ship’s ventilation—though Coulson lost an arm in the process. Skye confronted dear ol’ Mom on a Quinjet, and an epic fight began—until Cal saved Skye’s life by killing Jiaying. Ultimately, S.H.I.E.L.D. wiped Cal’s memories; Skye joined a new S.H.I.E.L.D. team; May felt a break from S.H.I.E.L.D. was in order; and Ward planned to lead the remains of Hydra. But traces of the crystals still made their way around the world, and the Kree weapon absorbed Simmons! What’s next? Our intel points to Coulson and team discovering a new Inhuman, and Fitz going to extreme lengths to try and bring Simmons back.

New The Jungle Book Trailer—And More in News Briefs

Live-Action The Jungle Book Roars to Life with New Trailer

Reacquaint yourselves with Mowgli and his animal friends (and foes) in this brand-new teaser trailer (above) for Disney’s The Jungle Book—an epic live-action retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic animated film. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), The Jungle Book follows man-cub Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) as he realizes he’s no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba) promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Abandoning the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by panther Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley) and free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Scarlett Johansson, Christoper Walken, Lupita Nyong’o, and Giancarlo Esposito also lend their dulcet tones to the film.

The Jungle Book—which seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments to immerse audiences in a breathtakingly lush world—swings into theaters in 3-D on April 15, 2016!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
September 19-20
Never Had a Friend Like D23
September 26
The Art of Disney—Featuring 75 Years of Pinocchio
October 3
D23’s Sip & Stroll
November 6
VIP Studio Experience with Disney Legend Andreas Deja
November 7
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
Studios
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.

Parks
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 25, 28, 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015 at Disneyland
September 25-November 16
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
Television
September 22
The Muppets premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
September 26
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

@MinnieStyle Takes to the Instagram Runway

She’s a true style icon, and still turns heads in the worlds of beauty, fashion, and pop culture even after 70-plus years… Minnie Mouse has a signature style all her own, and Disney’s recently brought all things Minnie to Instagram with the launch of @MinnieStyle—a new account showcasing her ongoing fashion influence. @MinnieStyle will feature Minnie-inspired looks from the global fashion community; everyday fashion inspiration; couture and ready-to-wear designer collaborations; and celebrities, bloggers, and so much more!

Minnie’s iconic style—including polka dots, bows, and that legendary color palette—are also being celebrated this month with events at both New York and London fashion weeks. In NYC, Disney collaborated with Refinery29 and CONFETTISYSTEM to create a Minnie Mouse-inspired room for Refinery29’s interactive Fashion Week funhouse “29Rooms.” Later this month, Disney and the British Fashion Council will host the “Minnie: Style Icon” exhibition for London’s Fashion Week, curated with help from model and photographer Georgia May Jagger.

Keep an eye on the new @MinnieStyle Instgram account for fun news and images from these ever-so-fashionable events, and be sure to follow @DisneyD23 for even more Disney magic!

Frozen Front to Sweep into Disney California Adventure Park in 2016

Soon, you’ll have a whole new way to “Let It Go” at the Disneyland Resort! The story of Disney’s hugely popular animated film Frozen will come to life in an all-new theatrical production at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park in Summer 2016. The new musical show will immerse guests in the world of Frozen like never before, with all-new costumes and sets; amazing special effects; and eye-catching scenic transformations.

With Elsa, Anna, and Olaf set to frost over the Hyperion Theater stage, our favorite scoundrel-with-a-heart-of-gold, Aladdin, will make a final wish and set his beloved Genie free. The cast of the award-winning Disney’s Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular will take its final bow on January 10, 2016, after nearly 14,000 shows! So don’t worry: That means there’s still time to enjoy some Agrabah magic before we set sail for Arendelle…

Join the Republic with Star Wars “Smuggler’s Bounty” Subscription Box

Our pals over at StarWars.com have combined forces with Funko (makers of totally awesome collectible goodies) to create “Smuggler’s Bounty,” the only official Star Wars subscription box in the entire galaxy! For just $25 every other month, members will receive a box full of Star Wars-themed Funko items that focus on a different part of the Star Wars universe. The premiere box—themed, naturally, “The Force Awakens”—will ship this November and contain two exclusive Pop! vinyl bobbleheads from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Plus, it’ll feature a host of other surprises that’ll excite fans on both sides of the Force.

Boxes will ship every two months, and there are two member levels available: a monthly plan, and an annual plan that includes a mystery reward. Let the Dark Side win (just for a little while!) and sign up today at smugglersbounty.com for the debut box.

The World Will Know Her Name: Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix

After a doomed ending to a short stint as a superhero, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her life—and her career as a New York City detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities. You’ll meet Jessica, and learn all about Alias Investigations, when Season One of Marvel’s Jessica Jones (rated TV-MA) premieres on Netflix this fall! All 13 one-hour episodes will hit the streaming service (in territories where it’s available) on November 20, when the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. PT.

To celebrate the new show—which stars Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), David Tennant (Doctor Who), and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix trilogy)—Marvel’s released a special teaser trailer, above. Check it out, and stay tuned for more info about Jessica and her exploits as it becomes available…

Disney XD and Maker Studios Launch New Initiative

Ever wanted a chance to become Disney’s “next big thing”? You’re in luck: Disney XD and Maker Studios just joined forces on Disney XD by Maker, a new initiative to search for and develop the next generation of creators for DisneyXD.com, the WATCH Disney XD app, and original TV series pilots for Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world.

Disney XD by Maker will not only “incubate” cool content with Maker’s leading creators, but it’ll also use the Maker Offers platform to allow up-and-coming creators around the world to participate. Videos created through the initiative will be distributed through various YouTube channels, with the potential for Disney XD to distribute ’em across its own digital and traditional platforms—and the best of the best may even be developed further into actual television pilots for Disney XD!

Sound amazing? Are you over 18 years old? Perfect—then apply to be part of the initiative at makerstudios.com/DisneyXD. Good luck, creators!

Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates 10 Years

Hard to believe it’s been a full decade since Hong Kong Disneyland first threw open its doors to guests of all ages. Just last week, the resort celebrated this fabulous milestone by kicking off a gigantic “Happily Ever After” celebration. The year-long event is filled with exciting new entertainment and a brand-new Fantasyland experience.

A special ceremony (complete with spectacular fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle) recently heralded the Resort’s anniversary, and details of the “Happily Ever After” celebration were revealed: An all-new stage show, Mickey and the Wondrous Book, opens on November 17 at Disney’s Storybook Theater and includes some of Disney’s most beloved characters and stories. At night, guests will be dazzled by an enhanced Disney in the Stars Fireworks show featuring cutting-edge technology, lighting effects, and video projection. Plus, Fairy Tale Forest comes to Fantasyland in December, in which guests can walk through a winding, living storybook realm based on Disney fairy tales.

Happy anniversary, Hong Kong Disneyland! Here’s to many more!

Get Your Groove On with Guardians of the Galaxy Animated Series Soundtrack

We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to shake our collective groove thing to another Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack (Those first two compilations, released last year, were fantastic!). Thankfully, Marvel Music is readying the soundtrack to the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy animated series, and it’ll hit store shelves on October 16! “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Mix Vol. 1 (Music from the Animated Television Series)” is a collection of 12 songs featured in the show’s upcoming first season.

Tracks include hits such as Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” Thin Lizzy’s “Boys Are Back in Town,” and Peaches and Herb’s “Shake Your Groove Thing.” Might just be the perfect playlist for your upcoming Halloween party…

Marvel’s animated Guardians of the Galaxy series debuts with a special one-hour premiere featuring back-to-back episodes on Saturday, September 26 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Disney XD.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Bonham Carter

She’s played such iconic roles as the wicked Bellatrix Lestrange in the last four Harry Potter films and the delightful but demented Red Queen in Disney’s live-action version of Alice in Wonderland; yet Helena Bonham Carter proved this spring that she has the wherewithal to wield her wand and cast spells for the greater good, too, as the Fairy Godmother in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Cinderella.

Bonham Carter, who wowed critics and delighted fans in her small, but pivotal role as Cinderella’s (Lily James) mystical guide in the worldwide blockbuster hit, gave only one U.S. interview for the film, which just debuted on Disney Blu-ray and DVD, and journalist Tim Lammers conducted it on behalf of D23.

Tim Lammers: Given your past playing evil characters, were you surprised to be asked to play a character with such goodness as the Fairy Godmother?

Helena Bonham Carter: I was surprised not to be asked to be Cinderella, because I’m in some time-warp denial [laughs].

TL: Apart from the iconic title character, the Fairy Godmother is probably the most-talked about character from the classic animated version of Cinderella. Did you feel a bit of pressure to deliver something special?

HBC: It was really flattering and nice to be asked to play the role, but having said that, it was a quite a responsibility, and I was apprehensive about it. My first reaction was, ‘What great fun! This can’t be a losing situation,’ but on close inspection, I got somewhat freaked out. The Fairy Godmother is iconic as an idea—there’s no real image of her apart from the character in the animated version—there isn’t really an obvious image, and I didn’t want to replicate what’s in the film.

TL: And you’re actually playing two versions of the Fairy Godmother—first as the Beggar Lady and then the white-gowned fairy. I still can’t believe it was you masked under that Beggar Lady makeup.

HBC: That was hilarious. I loved doing that, as usual. I just love prosthetics. Sadly, it took me less long to become the character described in the script as ‘1,000 years old’ than it took to become the Fairy Godmother. It took me only four hours to age 1,000 years [laughs]. When the designers approached me and asked me, ‘What do you think you’re going to look like when you’re 80?’ I said, ‘Well, my mom’s around, so they took a face mask of her face. Having said that, mom doesn’t look 80, so they had to add wrinkles on top of the mask. It did look a bit bizarre, and God knows what some psychotherapist would say about me wearing my own mother’s face.

Read more of Helena Bonham Carter’s interview as well as quotes from Director Kenneth Branagh in the gallery below:

Cinderella and Prince in a ballroom scene

Our Dream Disney “Grandparents”

It’s been said that grandparents are “the best kind of grown-ups”—and we agree! They shower you with love, and they often offer pearls of wisdom gleaned from their years of life experience. (And if you’re really lucky, they also spoil you rotten with delicious baked goods and other fun treats.) They don’t have to be biologically related, either; some of the greatest mentors in life are older friends you can lean on in times of need. And that got us to thinking… What if grandma or grandpa was an actual Disney character? It might just be the best thing ever! So we’ve compiled a rundown of some of our dream Disney “grandparents,” both animated and live-action, including ones that are a little off the beaten track. See if your fantasy “Grams” and “Pawpaw” made the cut!

Click on the images below to see our thoughts:

After Happily Ever After with Goldie & Bear

It’s (another) tale as old as time: Goldilocks innocently wanders into the Three Bears’ cottage… eats their porridge… breaks Baby Bear’s chair(!)… She drifts off for a nap in Baby Bear’s bed, only to be awakened by the three ursine homeowners themselves—and runs into the forest, seemingly never to darken that doorstep again. But Goldie & Bear—and its executive producer/director Chris Gilligan—asks the question, “What happened after the fairy tale?” And the short answer is that they become the best of friends and go on to have adventures with other fairy-tale characters, some of whom we’ve seen before in Disney shorts or features and some that we’re seeing come to life for the first time in Disney animation.

Goldie & Bear debuts September 12 on WATCH Disney Junior, and each episode features two 11-minute stories that showcase this unlikely friendship via situations that kids ages 2–7 will be able to relate to, using humor and story beats that parents will find entertaining, too. “There’s definitely a wink in there,” Gilligan explains, adding that the series is intended to serve both kids and parents as a first exposure to—or a reminder of—these iconic tales. “This might kickstart them pulling the book of fairy tales off the shelf and rereading some of these, or perhaps even reading them for the first time.”

Gilligan was just 4 years old when he first felt compelled to become an animator, creating a first two-panel flip book. He later expanded to something a little more complex and longer-form: “My sister had these paperback novels and the paper was super thin,” he remembers. “I used to take them and I could draw on the back page and then flip the next page up. I ruined many of her books doing these flipbooks!”

It’s no surprise that Gilligan’s first series for Disney Junior would be based upon a fairy tale. “Pinocchio was the definitive film for me,” he says. “It’s that notion of bringing something inanimate to life that hooked me right there [on animation].” Christopher Finch’s book, The Art of Walt Disney, was another touchstone when he was 9 or 10. “This book came out and it was, like, $100—and that felt like $1 million to me. But the local library actually got it, and they had it on this central table on this lazy Susan—they moved the giant dictionary and put this thing there!—and forget it, they couldn’t get rid of me. I used to walk to the library and pore over this thing.”

Goldie & Bear’s CG animation is a mash-up of 2-D and 3-D that’s intended to evoke a storybook quality that’s immersive and makes a viewer feel like they’ve entered an illustration. For the series’ look, Gilligan was inspired by another childhood memory, of a View-Master toy. For Disney’s View-Master reels, Gilligan recalls, “They did these 3-D dioramas—they actually built little puppets and scenes from the movie, but in 3-D. They were beautifully lit and beautifully crafted. That’s the kind of aesthetic we were going for—mixed with 3-D technology and what’s working now.”

This is the first time that we’ve seen a Disney take on “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” But Gilligan is proud to point out that the story has a Disney pedigree that even predates The Walt Disney Company, going back to Walt’s earlier endeavor—Laugh-O-gram Studio. “Walt’s first animations were based on fairy tales. And among the first ones that he did was ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears,’ back in 1922.”

Disney’s fairy-tale legacy goes back farther than even its own “once upon a time…” And now, with Goldie & Bear, that legacy endures happily ever after.

The Wonderful World of Grandparents —Disney-style!

On Sunday, September 13, we’ll all be paying tribute to our parents’ parents in celebration of National Grandparents Day, so don’t forget to pay Grandma and Grandpa a visit, or pick up the phone and call—a text will not suffice! We asked Disney fans to think about what qualities their grandparents have that embody some of their favorite Disney characters, and they had some pretty great stories and details to share:

“My grandpa is like the Mad Hatter—crazy but sometimes makes sense. And my grandma is like Mary Poppins, Mrs. Potts, Widow Tweed in The Fox and the Hound, and the owner of the cats in The Aristocats.”
–Anna M.

“My grandma was Mrs. Potts, because she always served us hot tea and was as sweet as can be and full of wisdom.”
—Holly S.

“My grandparents are very much like Carl and Ellie from Up—simple, yet classic!”
—Jacqueline L.

“My grandparents are Mrs. Potts and Maurice! My grandma is sweet, she loves sweets, and she makes great food! She loves coffee and tea, and even through her cancer she has stayed strong and loving. She is the glue that holds our family love together! She sews amazing things, including every Halloween costume I’ve ever worn. My grandpa is Maurice! He always tinkers, repairs, rebuilds, and builds. He fixes cars, sharpens saws, builds doghouses, fixes VCRs and TVs… the list goes on! For 50 years (on September 25, 2015), they’ve been a dynamic duo of “Doing.” I love them dearly.”
—ZoAnn S.

“My grandparents are similar to Mary Poppins and Bert! They show their love for one another with their eyes. My grandma is always singing and genuinely happy. My grandpa has always been a hard-working man and the happiest man who makes funny faces, funny voices, and cheers you up when you’re down. My grandma is always shaking her head at my grandpa when he tells us something he isn’t supposed to, but he cheers her up in a heartbeat. She flips her frown right upside down because he always knows how to put a smile back on her face. And that is true love.”
—Jenny D.M.

“My grandmother is so much like Madame Adelaide Bonfamille—classy, proper, and loving.”
—Joseph M.

“My grandpa reminds me of Rafiki because he is a wise older gentleman who always reminds me of who I am and what I’m meant to do. My late grandma was the same way, but she was always a little more sassy in the way she’d say it. I’d say she was like Mama Odie. I love them both—I’ve needed a lot of “corrections” and to “dig a little deeper” in my life.”
—Paul M.

Disney Movies Anywhere Grows—And More in News Briefs

Disney Movies Anywhere: More Platforms, More Fun!

Looking to take some of your favorite Disney movies with you, wherever you go? Well, you’re in luck: Disney just announced some big news about Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), its cloud-based digital movie service. Movie lovers now have even more ways to buy and watch their favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars films, whether they’re comfy at home or busy and on-the-go!

Amazon Video joined DMA on Tuesday, September 8, making the service available on several Kindle Fire tablets as well as on Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices. Additionally, Microsoft Movies & TV now offers DMA, providing access via the new DMA app for Microsoft Xbox 360.

That’s not all: With the digital debut of Disney’s live-action hit Cinderella on Tuesday, September 15, DMA launches new apps for several Roku and Android TV devices. (DMA is already available through iTunes, Google Play, and Walmart’s VUDU.)There are a whopping 450 digital releases now available on Disney Movies Anywhere—why not give ’em a looksee? We’ve got our eye on an old fave: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

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

Tokyo Disney Resort to Debut New Hotel

Tokyo Disney Resort guests will soon have an exciting new place to stay and play! The Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is currently set to open in 2016 in the Shin-Urayasu area, just outside Tokyo Disney Resort.

Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel will become the fourth Disney hotel to operate in Japan, and its development is based on a brand-new concept: The designs will celebrate the magic and imagination of both Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park in the guest rooms, the lobby, and the courtyards. The hotel will offer a “casual resort” stay, with attractive accommodations and simplified facilities that’ll remind Guests of all their favorite Disney Park experiences and memories. Better start planning those trips to Tokyo now!

Halloween’s on the Horizon at Walt Disney World Resort

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, the next big day on the calendar is—of course—Halloween. And Walt Disney World Resort is gearing up for what’s sure to be its biggest, “bestest” Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ever, from September 15 through November 1!

We’ve already clued you in to Magic Kingdom Park’s brand-new “Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular” show, but there will be plenty of other fresh entertainment offerings throughout the park. And don’t forget your costumes! Trick-or-treating is encouraged, and you might even meet some of your favorite Disney characters—including all Seven Dwarfs (appearing in one place in Fantasyland), Jack and Sally from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the villainous Queen of Hearts!

Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog have a fantastic rundown of The 13 Reasons to Add Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to Your List for Fall. Don’t forget: It’s a separate-ticketed event (visit their website for more info). But we promise—it’s sure to spook, in the best way possible.

Go Behind the Tower at Tangled: The Musical

The good folks over at Disney Parks on YouTube have been giving us an unprecedented look at the upcoming Disney Cruise production Tangled: The Musical, and their latest video is as illuminating as a sky full of lanterns. The show, set to take the stage on the Disney Magic in November, is deep into rehearsals—and this new look behind the scenes introduces us to both director Gordon Greenberg and choreographer Connor Gallagher.

Watch as Gordon and Connor explain some of their ideas for the show and its dance numbers, and check out some exclusive, never-before-seen footage from inside a recent cast rehearsal. You’ll “see the light,” for sure!

“Ferrytale” Wishes Come True on New Dessert Cruise at Walt Disney World

It might just offer the most breathtaking view of the Magic Kingdom Park nighttime fireworks spectacular yet… and it’s now available to you! (Yes, you!) The new Ferrytale Wishes: A Fireworks Dessert Cruise takes Guests on a ferryboat cruise to an exclusive spot on Seven Seas Lagoon, where they’ll enjoy all manner of delicious desserts and drinks while taking in the totally dazzling scenery.

One hour before the “Wishes” Nighttime Spectacular, and offered select nights weekly, the iconic double-stack ferryboat will set sail laden with delectable sweets a-plenty, including “The Grand” key lime tart; pineapple upside-down cake from the chefs at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort; “Main Street” Mickey Balloon Tarts; no-sugar-added Florida mango panna cotta; and a tasty fruit and cheese spread. You can even toast the evening with specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in souvenir glow glasses!

It’s a sweet ending to the day, and it culminates with those “Wishes” overhead—the largest fireworks spectacular ever at Walt Disney World Resort. Tickets are limited, and cost $99 for ages 10 and up, or $69 for children ages 3 to 9. (If sailing on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very-Merry-Christmas Party nights, note that the fireworks display will be different.) For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/DINE or call 407-WDW-DINE. Here’s to smooth sailing, pals!

Ultron and the Avengers Arrive on Digital HD

The DVD and Blu-ray may not be hitting store shelves until October 8, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring your favorite superheroes home right this very minute. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is now available on Digital HD! Watch it wherever you go (even on a Quinjet) with Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), and look for a special bonus feature called “Connecting the Universe”—exclusively available on DMA.

In case you just can’t wait to get a peek, however, check out a clip from “Connecting the Universe,” above. You’ll feel like you’re inside a S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite office, guaranteed.

Just Around the Corner: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort

Sure, we recently celebrated Labor Day, and the weather is still pretty warm around the country—but that doesn’t mean we can’t get excited for the upcoming holiday season! (Especially since it means pumpkin flavors everywhere and the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.) So color us jingled with this news: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort returns November 13 through January 6, 2016. The “Merriest” Place on Earth will sparkle brighter than ever this year, as the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration continues to deck the halls with even more dazzle!

Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more info on all the treats, merchandise, and entertainment you can expect this holiday season…

Pickle and Peanut: Disney XD’s Quirky New Stars

The scene: a slightly eccentric, totally fictional suburb near Reno, Nevada. The protagonists: two small-town teenagers—who just happen to be an emotional brined vegetable and a freewheeling salty legume—as they embark on their last year of high school. Their goal: to cram in as much fun and adventure as possible before assuming the inevitable, seriously boring responsibilities of adulthood…

Don’t worry, we here at D23.com aren’t collectively having a strange (albeit highly entertaining) fever dream. We just described the premise of Disney XD’s newest animated series, Pickle and Peanut! The two underdogs (voiced by Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder and 22 Jump Street’s Johnny Pemberton, respectively) spend their free time working at their town’s Mjärt Mart grocery store while simultaneously dreaming up crazy plans to become anything but ordinary. (Have we mentioned they’re also rappers who can drop some super-sick beats?!) Created and executive-produced by Noah Z. Jones (Fish Hooks), and developed and executive-produced by Joel Trussell (Yo Gabba Gabba!), the show uses a whimsical mix of 2-D animation and live-action clips to add to its already-quirky nature.

“We definitely want the laughs, but it’s all built on top of that relationship between the two characters…”

Pickle and Peanut makes its big series debut on Disney XD on Monday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. However, if you’re eager to see what all the funny fuss is about (and trust us, you do), you can check out the premiere episode right now on WATCH Disney XD, Disney XD on Demand, and DisneyXD.com. (Bonus tip: Check out DisneyXD.com and Watch Disney XD for two lively new Pickle and Peanut games involving churning large vats of cheese and shooting customers with tasty “Spoonicorn” cereal.)

D23 was lucky enough to chat with Noah and Joel—the masterminds behind Pickle and Peanut—just as they were gearing up for the show’s launch. Read on for a behind-the-scenes look into what makes the show so unique!

D23: So how did the idea for this series first take shape?

Noah: I’d worked on Fish Hooks, and [Disney] said, “Do you have any more ideas? [laughs] And I’m like, “Yeah! Let me see what I can come up with.” I had these two characters, Pickle and Peanut, kind of sitting around—and you know, almost more than who they are, I knew what kind of show I wanted to work on. So, when they introduced me to Joel very early on, I realized we got along creatively—we had the same point of view, the same work ethic, and sense of humor. And so we wanted to construct the kind of world that allowed us to work on a show that was fun to work on… So that’s why it’s kind of “Lo-Fi”—everything is just a little grittier, a little more “indie-feeling” than other animated productions.

Joel: And by the time I came in, Noah had already established [the characters]… I liked the idea of having a show about a pickle and a peanut, too. But it was way more than that alone. It’s more about, well, these characters could be anything… It was just the vibe of the show, the relationship of these two characters together, just looking to have fun with each other. And sort of being in the time of their life, as teenagers, where you can be a little reckless and careless—and the consequences aren’t so bad. I remember being at that time of my life and having a really good time.

And I think Noah remembered that time too, so we were able to throw stories back and forth… It’s a great time in your life to make mistakes. You can try out new personas or interests; if you want to make a movie with your friends, it just takes an afternoon and like 20 bucks worth of whatever supplies you can throw together. We want that vibe to carry through the show—we don’t want it to feel overproduced or too “slick.”

D23: Can you talk a bit about your decision to use a combo of 2-D animation and live action?

Noah: Truly, we want to keep the audience on their toes [with] every aspect of the show—from the design, to the kind of jokes we’re telling. And visually, that’s why we really like the flavor that the live action stuff brings to the show. Because when we sprinkle it in, that’s a potent flavor. We like when the viewer thinks, “Wait, did I see what I just saw? What’s going on over there?” That’s the reaction we’re trying to get with that.

D23: What about those funny whispered “asides” throughout each episode? Are they scripted?

Noah: To be honest, when we initially did our storyboard for our pilot pitch, our drawings really weren’t that great. [laughs] Our drawings were a little bit scribbly, and a little haphazard, so sometimes we put text on the screen just to remind ourselves exactly what’s going on. Initially, I know there was a scene where Pickle and Peanut get punched into a giant display, and we’re like, “Oh, there’s some [whispers] ‘ACTION, action, action… ’ going on right here.” It would accentuate something, like us saying “This is [whispers] ‘DRAMATIC, dramatic, dramatic… ’. Those statements were just supposed to be, sort of a crutch for us during pitching. But everybody would laugh, so we thought, “What if we carried this on through each episode, just to see what happens?” It’s definitely resonated with a few people. And Joel is Mr. Whispers—all the whispers come from Joel.

Joel: Yep, sure enough…

D23: That’s hilarious! Did you guys have Jon Heder and Johnny Pemberton already in mind for the voices, or was their casting a “happy accident”?

Noah: From the very beginning, those were the two guys we wanted. They really embodied the characters really well, and they’re both really funny.

Joel: And they already knew each other, and had worked together before—so they had a rapport. We felt like those two actors kind of “live” in our space, comically. We wanted to reach out to them initially. We still looked at so many people, you know, just to make sure we had the right thing in mind, but everybody felt really good about what our initial instincts were.

D23: How long does it take to make a typical episode? What’s the process like?

Noah: It takes years! YEARS! [laughs] But seriously, it’s hard to say, start to finish. Like right now, we’re “at the mountaintop,” as we say—because we’re writing outlines for new shows, creating storyboards from those outlines, cutting things together, editing together “animatic” versions of the storyboards. As well as doing design; as well as finishing up the post-production on animation…

Joel: And shooting the live action stuff on top of all that.

Noah: Right! So at any point, we’re probably working on 10 different shows. I would say, from start to finish, for one episode, it probably takes what—like, four months?

Joel: Yeah, at least that. It’s tough to say.

Noah: We show up, we get pointed in a direction, and we just work until someone tells us to stop! [laughs]

D23: Do you have a favorite episode, so far?

Noah: I’m really proud of this first season… “Gramma Jail,” which is part of the first episode—I like that one a lot, because that was just Joel and me sitting in a cubicle, just trying to make each other laugh, you know? I feel like a lot of shows have a hard time finding their voice. We found our voice very early on, and it’s now about retaining that voice; retaining that tone and sense of humor. I think it works best when it’s us working with other people, just trying to make each other laugh.

Joel: “Gramma Jail” is a good one—I feel like just the title alone says so much. [laughs] But we have a lot of surprises in there, coming up in future episodes.

D23: Sounds great! All told, what do you hope audiences take away from this show?

Noah: One of the things I want audiences to take away is, I want that relationship, that friendship between Pickle and Peanut, to feel real and authentic and grounded. And that’s despite all of the chaos and weirdness that we surround them with. It almost doesn’t matter what the story or the plot is, or what’s going on around them; you just see these two guys and you know that they’re on the same wavelength. That relationship feels authentic to me, because those are the kinds of friendships I had at that age.

Joel: At the end of the day, it’s a comedy, right? So we definitely want the laughs, but it’s all built on top of that relationship between the two characters… It’s sort of their safety zone. They have each other, so they’re able to take these risks—because, no matter what they do, they’re gonna have their friendship as support.

Mark those calendars: Pickle and Peanut debuts on Disney XD this Monday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT! Check out a clip from the show, below:

T.G.I.F.F.—Thank God It’s Force Friday!

Force Friday is upon us!

Of course, we know it’s not Friday yet, but we’re opening the gateway to the weekend a little early this week. As all Star Wars and Disney fans know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise goes on sale at midnight on Friday, September 4… which simply means that we’re going to stay up a little past our bedtime on Thursday, September 3, to be among the first to get our hands on the newest toys, collectibles, gadgets, and more. But leading up to that, we were glued to our screens—computer, tablet, and mobile—watching the rolling 18-hour global live unboxing event that began in Sydney, Australia and continued on through Asia, Europe, Canada, and South and North America, leading up to retailers around the globe opening their doors at midnight on Friday.

Get a look at the unveiled merchandise below: