A Recipe from the Delicious Disney Vault: Ronto Roasters’ Batuuan Ronto Wrap

For those times when you want to let a droid do the cooking—but don’t have a Podracer to get to Black Spire Outpost—you can make Batuuan Ronto Wraps at home. Soon you’ll be eating like a citizen of Batuu!

Celebrate Star Wars Day with this instantly iconic dish from Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, now featured in The Official Disney Parks Cookbook: 101 Magical Recipes from the Delicious Disney Vault by Pam Brandon & the Disney Chefs.

SERVES 8

Ingredients:

ROASTED PORK SHOULDER
2 pounds pork butt
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons coarse salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

RONTO WRAP SLAW
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
2½ tablespoons sambal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup matchstick carrots
3 cups shredded cabbage

PEPPERCORN SAUCE
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground sumac
½ tablespoon coarse salt
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
⅛ teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns

GRILLED OR TOASTED PITA BREAD
1 tablespoon canola oil
8 pita flatbreads

GRILLED SAUSAGES
8 (4-ounce) smoked sausages

Steps:

FOR ROASTED PORK SHOULDER

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Pat pork dry with paper towel. Rub with canola oil and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Place seasoned pork butt on the rack of a roasting pan and cook for 3 hours, until pork is 160°F.
  3. Cool for at least 15 minutes, then carve to ⅛-inch-thick slices.

FOR RONTO WRAP SLAW

  1. Combine apple cider vinegar, sambal, sugar, canola oil, dried parsley, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add matchstick carrots and shredded cabbage and toss until combined.
  3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

FOR PEPPERCORN SAUCE

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

FOR GRILLED OR TOASTED PITA BREAD

  1. Preheat grill or sauté pan over medium heat. Brush pan or grill with oil.
  2. Toast bread for 1 minute on each side, until golden brown. Keep warm until ready to serve.

FOR GRILLED SAUSAGES

  1. Preheat grill pan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Grill sausages for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once, until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  2. Add reserved pork slices to pan and cook until golden brown on both sides.
  3. Keep warm until ready to serve.

TO SERVE

Place 2 slices of pork roast on each piece of pita bread. Place one grilled sausage on top. Top each wrap with ½ cup of Ronto Wrap Slaw and drizzle with Peppercorn Sauce.

Always use caution when handling sharp objects and hot contents.
Please supervise children who are helping or nearby.
This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens; the flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version.

Darkness Descends Series Maleficent Doll

Commemorating 100 years of Disney comes the first in a brand-new series from Mattel Creations. This special collector-edition Maleficent doll has been captured in the midst of her transformation from fiendish fairy to fire-breathing dragon, exclusive to Mattel Creations.

In the years since the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty was released, Maleficent has become one of the most wickedly loved Disney Villains. With majestic dragon wings and green flames engulfing her scaly black and purple gown, Prince Philip would do well to heed her warning—Maleficent will not go down without a fiery fight.

The design team set out to create the most spellbinding version of Maleficent ever seen. Every intricate detail captures her fearsomely evil essence.

The Disney Collector Darkness Descends SeriesTM Maleficent Doll released April 28, 2023, at 9 a.m. PT. Learn more here!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Cast and Filmmakers Celebrate Film’s Global Premieres

By Andie Hagemann

Ahead of the long-awaited return of the ragtag group of heroes, the cast and filmmakers of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, celebrated the film’s premiere with star-studded events in Seoul, South Korea, and at Disneyland Paris. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, May 5.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of the turbulent past of Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper). Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life—a mission that, if not completed successfully, could lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

The film also stars Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova. James Gunn directed the film and wrote the screenplay. Kevin Feige serves as a producer with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Sara Smith, and Simon Hatt serving as executive producers.

The global celebration kicked off on Tuesday, April 18, as Gunn, Pratt, Gillan, and Klementieff greeted enthusiastic fans at both the Pop-Up Zone and Red Carpet Fan Event in Seoul.

“Thank you all for your support,” Klementieff told fans. “We wouldn’t be here without you. We love you. Mantis loves you.”

The stars then ventured to Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris on Saturday, April 22, for the European Gala. Gunn, Pratt, Gillan, Klementieff, Saldaña, and Diesel met Guardians fans and posed by the Quinjet.

Check out more photos from the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 global premieres in the gallery below.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

This week there is something for every member of the family to enjoy. The first two episodes of A Small Light air Monday on National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD. On Wednesday, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All premieres on Disney+, and the series finale of The Goldbergs airs that night on ABC. The first two episodes of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures launch across Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD on Thursday. Then, close out the week by binging Season 2 of Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi debuting Friday on Hulu.

In a scene from A Small Light, Bel Powley as Miep Gies and Liev Schreiber as Otto Frank walk down a cobblestone street in Amsterdam.

A Small Light—Monday, May 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD
Based on an inspiring true story, the all-new limited series follows Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who was a carefree and opinionated young woman, when her boss Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis during World War II. Without hesitation, Miep agreed. For the next two years, she and her daring and devoted husband, Jan (Joe Cole), with several other everyday heroes, watched over the Frank, van Pels, and Pfeffer families hiding in the secret annex in Amsterdam. While some stood by, Miep stood up. The series includes Amira Casar as Edith Frank, Billie Boullet as Anne Frank, Ashley Brooke as Margot Frank, Andy Nyman as Hermann van Pels, Caroline Catz as Auguste van Pels, Rudi Goodman as Peter van Pels, and Noah Taylor as Dr. Fritz Pfeffer, all of whom hid in the annex with the Frank family. The first two episodes will debut back-to-back and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+. Discover more about the series here.

In a scene from Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, musician Ed Sheeran sits on a wooden cabinet and pulls his wife Cheryl in for a hug.

Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All—Wednesday, May 3, on Disney+
For the first time ever, global superstar Ed Sheeran grants viewers a glimpse into his private life as he explores the universal themes that inspire his music. The four-part original series follows Ed after he learns life-changing news and reveals his hardships and triumphs during the most challenging period of his life. Watch exclusive footage behind his iconic hits, personal archive moments with his friends and family, epic stadium performances, and so much more. All episodes are available to binge at launch.

In a scene from The Goldbergs, actor Sean Giambrone plays Adam Goldberg and holds a video camera and stands next to actor Isabella Gomez as Carmen.

The Goldbergs—Wednesday, May 3, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The series finale is here, and we’re not crying, you’re crying! When Adam (Sean Giambrone) takes Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) to her high school reunion, à la the fan-favorite film Back to the Future, he tries to end a reality where she winds up with the wrong man. Meanwhile, Barry (Troy Gentile) and Joanne (Beth Triffon) make a surprising decision to prove the seriousness of their relationship. Binge the entire series on Hulu.

In a scene from Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Master Yoda talks to Jedi younglings, Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs, and their friends Nash Durango and RJ-83 on planet Tenoo.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures—Thursday, May 4, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD
Set during The High Republic era, the all-new animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Not just one but two episodes will launch on May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day. In the first episode, the Jedi younglings—Kai (voiced by Jamaal Avery, Jr.), Lys (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld), and Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker)—go on their first adventure, and then Master Yoda (voiced by Piotr Michael) gives the younglings a mission. Then in the second episode, the Jedi pals help Nash (voiced by Emma Berman) with her race and find a long-lost Jedi ship. Episodes are also available to stream on Disney+.

In a scene from Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, host Padma Lakshmi eats Nigerian food with actor Yvonne Orji.

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi—Friday, May 5, on Hulu
In Season 2, award-winning cookbook author and host Padma Lakshmi takes viewers on a culinary adventure across American soil, exploring the rich and diverse communities who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. Over borscht, cornbread, pasteles, and more, Padma uncovers the relationship between our food, our humanity, and our history—ultimately uncovering stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American. All episodes are available to stream at launch.

Celebrating One Last Ride at the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Premiere

By Zach Johnson

It’s (almost) time to face the music...

Following promotional stops in Seoul and Paris, the Bowie landed in Hollywood Thursday for the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The cast and creative team, along with special guests from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond, walked the purple carpet to celebrate the action-adventure before it opens in theaters on Friday, May 5. Stars Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Debicki, Daniela Melchior, Michael Rosenbaum, Will Poulter, Chukwudi Iwuji, Maria Bakalova, Miriam Shor, Nico Santos, Judy Greer, Linda Cardellini, Benjamin Byron Davis, Asim Chaudhry, Kai Zen, and others were joined filmmakers James Gunn and Kevin Feige.

As Marvel.com livestreamed the event, cosplayers dressed as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Mantis, Yondu, and others cheered as each star showed up. D23: The Official Disney Fan Club was live on the scene, where cast members including Fillion (Master Karja), Bakalova (Cosmo), and Chaudhry (Teefs) opened up about their roles in the highly anticipated film—some for the very first time!

For Fillion, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marks his second official time in the franchise. “I was in the first Guardians as a blue alien. Little known fact: I was actually in the second Guardians and got cut out. In the third Guardians, I’m back again as another character,” he said. “I’ve played a couple characters in the MCU—just don’t play close attention! Sometimes I get cut out. I got cut out of Deadpool. Listen, that happens in the movie industry. What’s important is that they keep bringing you back.”

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fillion plays Master Orgosentry Karja—a role that required quite an elaborate costume. “It’s about 70 lbs., I think, all told; it’s pretty heavy,” he told D23. “But you can’t complain, because you’re complaining to Karen Gillan who spent four to seven hours in prosthetic makeup before she started working, and she’s going to spend several hours getting it out before she comes back to do it again. You’ve gotta consider your audience before you complain about these things!”

Will Poulter, Maria Bakalova, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, and Chukwudi Iwuji pose onstage at the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 World Premiere at the Dolby Theatre.

Meanwhile, not only did Bakalova voice Cosmo, but she got to play the space dog. “I got the chance to work with a mo-cap suit, and work with James and be on set, and work with the rest of the cast and all of these talented, exceptional people—good human beings,” she said. “Everything, from the first to the last day, has been the best!”

Shor and Santos, who play Recorder Vim and Recorder Theel, respectively, leaned on each other as MCU newcomers. Calling Santos the “Tweedle Dee to my Tweedle Dum,” Shor said, “It’s overwhelming. [It’s nice] to have someone to share all this with.” Schor added that while Iwuji’s The High Evolutionary “is no small villain,” it was fun to also play a pair of baddies: “There’s something delicious about that.” Santos agreed, saying, “They’re really the best characters, because we’re obviously not evil in real life.”

Among the first MCU stars to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 were Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt, Dominque Thorne, Xochitl Gomez, David Dastmalchian, Meng’er Zhang, Emma Caulfield, Ronny Chieng, Saagar Shaikh, Tara Strong, and Seth Green. Praising the director, Rooker said, “My buddy, his movies—I’m here for him. I’m here for all the other actors. We’re going to have a fun time. The movie’s going to be great.”

Before the movie opens nationwide, enjoy more photos from the world premiere:

How National Geographic’s A Small Light Illuminates the Remarkable Story of an Everyday Hero

By Andie Hagemann

Miep Gies once said, “Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.”

National Geographic’s new limited series A Small Light, premiering Monday, May 1, shares the incredible story of Miep Gies, who like countless others risked everything to help those targeted by the Nazis during World War II, casting a small light in the darkest of times.

Miep, portrayed by Bel Powley, was a carefree and opinionated young woman when her boss Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis. Without hesitation, Miep agreed. For the next two years, she and her daring and devoted husband, Jan (Joe Cole), along with several other ordinary heroes, watched over the Frank, van Pels, and Pfeffer families hiding in the secret annex above Otto’s business in Amsterdam.

“I found the character of Miep to be incredibly relatable as a young woman,” says Powley. “She was a normal girl, who loved dancing, going out with her friends, and talking about how handsome she found her husband. She was a frivolous, fiercely independent young woman, before she found herself in extreme circumstances.”

Miep Gies played by Bel Powley and Tess played by Eleanor Tomlinson attend a party in A Small Light.

Told with a modern sensibility, A Small Light differs from other historical narratives by depicting life’s more “ordinary” moments amidst tragedy. Audiences will witness Miep and Jan’s marriage as well as her relationships with her friends and family. “They’re people who have rich emotional experiences… that aren’t just about the highest-stakes things that are happening, but about their relationships with each other,” says Susanna Fogel, who serves as an executive producer and director.

“Miep is a person who makes jokes, and then she’s put in this incredibly serious situation,” she says. “But there’s still room for her to connect to the world in a way that feels contemporary in that she’s not relating in a self‑serious historical dry way. She’s someone you can relate to and see yourself in.”

Schreiber shares, “What I thought Bel and Joe did so beautifully was the human pieces, the things that are fun to watch [like their married life]. The person who is kind of flaky actually ends up keeping the Franks alive for two years, and we see that relationship [develop] over the years.”

A project nearly six years in the making, creators, showrunners, writers, and executive producers Joan Rater and Tony Phalen delved into every piece of information they could find on the Franks and Miep and Jan Gies. Their quest even led them to enlist the services of a Dutch researcher and translator to comb through Miep’s many interviews over the years. Rater and Phalen also dug into the history of the Dutch resistance to accurately capture life outside the annex.

Miep’s unwavering courage led Rater and Phalen to investigate the “why” behind helping friends and strangers alike. “She right away said ‘yes’ and kept saying ‘yes’ every day for two years,” says Rater. “We wanted to pose the question, ‘What would you do?’

“There are a lot of things that we explore in the series,” she continues, “[Miep] was an immigrant, and she understood what it was like to be an immigrant in Amsterdam—that’s why she bonded so deeply and instantly with Otto.”

Miep Gies, played by Bel Powley, Otto Frank played by Liev Schreiber, and Jan Gies played by Joe Cole, look up at Otto’s old apartment in A Small Light.

A Small Light was filmed on location in both Amsterdam and Prague. Because the annex itself is now a museum—the Anne Frank House— the production design team was tasked with rebuilding the location on a soundstage in Prague. “Our production designer was maniacal in his desire for it to be exact,” recalls Phelan. “We made it a little tiny bit bigger for the ease of the cameras, but for the most part, it was pretty accurate for both the annex and the Opekta office.”

To capture exterior shots of the Opekta building, and its surrounding area, the crew found a building on the canal that resembled the building circa the 1940s. However, little CGI was needed to replicate Amsterdam during the occupation.

“The other thing we were very conscious of is that during this time in Amsterdam people saw themselves as living in the modern world, in the 20th century, with vacuum cleaners, mixers, appliances, and all of that,” he continues. “This was not that long ago—the apartments that they lived in and the places that they spent their lives are very similar to ours.”

A Small Light also stars Amira Casar as Edith Frank, Billie Boullet as Anne Frank, Ashley Brooke as Margot Frank, Andy Nyman as Hermann van Pels, Caroline Catz as Auguste van Pels, Rudi Goodman as Peter van Pels, and Noah Taylor as Dr. Fritz Pfeffer. Eleanor Tomlinson, Sally Messham, Ian McElhinney, Nicholas Burns, Liza Sadovy, Laurie Kynaston, and Sebastian Armesto round out the cast.

The series will launch with simultaneous broadcast of the first two episodes on National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD. The first episode will have an encore airing Saturday, May 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform. Two episodes will premiere every Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic and will be available the next day on Disney+, Hulu, and on the Nat Geo TV and ABC apps.

Photos of Peter Pan & Wendy Premieres Fly in from London and New York

By Jessica Benda

Before audiences venture to Never Land, fly to London and New York with these Peter Pan & Wendy premiere photos!

The cast and filmmakers from Disney’s epic movie event stopped in London Thursday at the Curzon Mayfair for the film’s premiere, then later headed to New York’s South Street Seaport Museum Tuesday for a special screening. The pixie dust is evident in the photos, which show off the talent behind and in front of the camera.

The live-action reimagining of the J.M. Barrie novel and the 1953 animated classic debuts Friday, April 28, exclusively on Disney+.

Turn up the Volume on your Paw-some Mix with this Guardians of the Galaxy Pin!

By Peyton Liebler

We’re hooked on the fluffy feeling we get from this amazing new pin! Ramp up your excitement for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with this D23-exclusive cosmic trinket. This pin is an amazing find for anyone in your found family—and a great way to let them know you’re on their team fur-ever. It’s also a pretty great way to launch your joy out to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, even on the days that you’re feeling a little “ruff.” (We’ll stop hounding you with the dog-gone puppy puns now... )

This pin is inspired by the upcoming interstellar installment, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If their mission isn’t completely successful, it could potentially lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

D23 Cosmo Pin Backer Card(4x5)_mockup
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D23-Exclusive Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 Cosmo Pin
Crank up the tunes and defend the galaxy with this special D23 Gold Member-exclusive pin! It’s a great way to celebrate the highly anticipated release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The pin features the latest and greatest member of the Guardians team, Cosmo—the adorable Canine Cosmonaut. Gear up for the Guardians and grab this pin now!

Our D23-Exclusive Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 Cosmo Pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,250, is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PST on shopDisney, Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

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*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $18.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this 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

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

By Andie Hagemann

Before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 launches in U.S. theaters on Friday, May 5, enjoy this marvelous slate of Marvel content to reacquaint yourself with the ragtag group of heroes. From a battle with Ronan and a quest to find the perfect Christmas present, to mischievous adventures with young Groot, we present five Guardians-related titles to binge on Disney+…

In a scene from Guardians of the Galaxy, actors Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, and Dave Bautista stand in a doorway with Rocket, a raccoon, and Groot, a tree-like humanoid as they all wear yellow jumpsuits.

Guardians of the Galaxy—Available to Stream on Disney+
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade Ronan, Peter is forced to enlist help from a crew of misfits—Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last desperate stand, with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. The film also stars Karen Gillan as Nebula, John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey, Glenn Close as Commander Rael, Benicio del Toro as The Collector, and Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer.

In a scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, actors Pom Klementieff, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, and Dave Bautista stand around actor and Disney Legend Kurt Russell. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2—Available to Stream on Disney+
The Guardians—Peter Quill (Pratt), Gamora (Saldaña), Drax (Bautista), Rocket (voiced by Cooper), and Baby Groot (voiced by Diesel)—help Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), the head of the Sovereign race, protect some valuable batteries. However, when Rocket steals some, the Sovereign drones attack their ship. The Guardians are saved by a man who identifies himself as Ego (Disney Legend Kurt Russell)… and happens to be Peter’s father. Meanwhile, Ayesha hires Ravager Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his crew to find and capture the Guardians. But old foes become new allies, and characters from the classic comics come to the heroes’ aid. 

In a scene from The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, actors Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff stand in front of a crowd. Klementieff wears a strand of colorful lights and a green, Christmas-themed sweater.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special—Available to Stream on Disney+
On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter (Pratt), the Guardians head to earth in search of the perfect present. The Marvel Studios Special Presentation also stars Bautista, Gillan, and Klementieff, and features the voices of Diesel as Groot and Cooper as Rocket. The special also stars Sean Gunn and The Old 97’s, with Rooker and Kevin Bacon. Yes, that Kevin Bacon! 

In a scene from Guardians of the Galaxy, an animated space ship steered by the Guardians soars through the galaxy. 

Guardians of the Galaxy (TV Series)—Available to Stream on Disney+
In the animated TV series, the Guardians of the Galaxy find a mystical treasure map to a powerful weapon. Their quest brings them back to Earth—along with the deadliest forces in the universe! The talented voice cast includes Will Friedle, Vanessa Marshall, Kevin Michael Richardson, David Sobolov, Isaac C. Singleton Jr., Cree Summer, and James Arnold Taylor. All three seasons of the action-packed series are available to binge on the streaming service. 

In a scene from I Am Groot, Groot, a tree-like humanoid sits in a mud pit with cucumbers over his eyes.

I Am Groot—Available to Stream on Disney+
There’s no guarding the galaxy from this mischievous toddler! The adorable Baby Groot (voiced by Diesel) takes center stage in his very own series. Follow Groot as he explores the glory days of growing up, branching out, and getting into plenty of trouble. From painting a family portrait to enjoying a spa day, and everything in between, don’t miss this delightful collection of shorts.

The Universe of Powered-Up Animal Pals in the MCU

By Peyton Liebler

One thing is certain: the world needs heroes. But, arguably more importantly, those heroes need a few cute and cuddly compatriots to round out their epic tales of crimefighting and saving the universe... or multiverse, depending on who you ask. After a long day of fighting ancient Egyptian deities or journeying through a void at the end of time, sometimes you just wanna kick back and enjoy some quality playtime with your favorite furry, scaly, and insectoid pals.

D23 is proud to share with you the ultimate guide to the expansive multiverse of creatures that are the pals and/or pets to our most beloved heroes and villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While some possess some truly amazing abilities, others are just truly super friends to the members of the MCU. There is something they all share: they’re adorable beyond all belief.

Cosmo the Space Dog, a yellow lab in a CCCP space suit, looks at something offscreen. She is standing on a metal grate covered in dirt, and a metal structure stands behind her.

Cosmo the Space Dog (Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3)
After appearing briefly during Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) as a captured cosmonaut in The Collector’s fortress on Knowhere, Cosmo has made a few more appearances in the MCU that have had tails wagging around the galaxy. This includes a special residency in the queue of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park. And we’re especially excited to see Cosmo again, after her appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022), where it was revealed that the interplanetary pooch has telepathic abilities. Cosmo was an invaluable asset to the Guardians of the Galaxy in their latest installment, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, where she proved in the final battle against the High Evolutionary that she was a very good dog!

Wanda Maximoff, dressed and styled like a ’90s sitcom mother, puts her arms around her children, Tommy and Billy. Wanda is sitting in between both boys on a yellow couch, and Billy is looking directly at her with his dog, Sparky, in his arms.

Sparky (WandaVision)
Alas, we all know the tragic fate Sparky suffered at the hands of the villainous Agatha Harkness in WandaVision (2021), but that’s not to say Sparky wasn’t the most loyal and caring pet for Billy and Tommy Maximoff. Sparky served as a valuable lesson for the boys—both responsibility and helping them mature in their grieving process. Though Sparky may no longer be with us, he was an honored member of the Westview community, and gave Tommy and Billy something to share and to love. We also are well-aware WandaVision made you cry enough, so we’ll move onto our next special pet...

Morris, a furry and faceless creature with four legs and wings, lies on the ground in a poster for Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings

Morris (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
You might be asking yourself, what even is Morris? He seems to be a little furball with four wings and no eyes, right? Sounds like something you could only find in the mythical land of Ta Lo. Morris guides Shang-Chi, Xialing, Katy, and the bumbling Trevor Slattery through the compound of the Ten Rings and all the way to the secret entrance of Ta Lo. Interestingly, the design for Morris is actually based off a Chinese Deity called a Hundun, known as a God of Chaos. While Morris may not be the most chaotic of creatures, he’s a huge help to saving Ta Lo and helping the gang accomplish their mission. We’re just glad you can see him, too!

Steven Grant stares into a goldfish tank, which is mostly empty except for the large goldfish swimming directly in front of him.

Gus the Goldfish (Moon Knight)
Amid epic battles in the pyramids of Egypt and psychologically mind-bending interactions, a golden pet sits amongst the central plot of Moon Knight (2022). Steven Grant (aka Marc Spector, aka Jake Lockley, aka Moon Knight... TBD on any more akas) cares for a peaceful pet goldfish who has one fin. Gus faced his fair share of danger, mysteriously being placed in a blender before he was saved. Nevertheless, Gus evaded the blades of the puree mode and was a faithful friend to Steven, sometimes being his only friend. If there’s anything we know, it’s that the best of friends come with fins! They also will fully support you as you return from a treacherous sailing across the field of reeds in the afterlife with a hippo goddess named Taweret. All in a day’s work!

Lucky, a one-eyed golden retriever, sits in front of a line of icy snow on the street.

Lucky the Pizza Dog (Hawkeye)
One of Lucky’s biggest flexes is that he was saved by THE Kate Bishop from the mean streets of New York City. Apart from that impressive encounter, Lucky is a sweet stray that joins Kate and Clint Barton on a wild holiday ride—evading the Tracksuit Mafia and uncovering sinister secrets of the city along the way. Lucky gets into the action, attacking members of the Tracksuit Mafia, and then receiving some stellar slices of pizza for dinner. Lucky then gets one of the best Christmas gifts of all: being adopted by Clint and his family, joining the legendary lineage of Hawkeye. Could you imagine being the pet of an Avenger and being fed Pizza all day? He really is just that lucky.

Alligator Loki, an alligator wearing Loki’s golden horn helmet, sits in a dirty plastic pool.

Alligator Loki (Loki)
It’s up for debate if this rambunctious reptilian is actually a pet; he’s more of a member in a ragtag group of Loki Variants sent to the void at the end of time. Yep, in case you haven’t thought about it, there could be an alligator variant of YOU in the infinite multiverse. But what Alligator Loki does is the same thing that all Loki’s are the best at: surviving. After being pruned by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and sent to the void at the end of time, Alligator Loki bands together with other Gods of Mischief and figures out a way to live in the harsh climate of the void. He even chomps off the hand of President Loki upon a massive display of “self” betrayal amongst the Loki variants in their bowling alley hideout. Talk about “giving a hand” to a truly applause-worthy alligator.

Fenris, a large black wolf with green eyes, bares her teeth at something offscreen while a storm brews behind her.

Fenris (Thor: Ragnarok)
When the Goddess of Death, Hela, makes her bombastic return to Asgard, you might remember one of the most epic things she did was awaken an army of undead Asgardian soldiers and her monstrous black wolf, Fenris. While Fenris was entirely menacing, she’s also the only Pet who fought the Incredible Hulk! Fenris was integral to Hela’s plan to retake Asgard. Though she was villainous through the very end, she was a good pet and faithful to her owner. And who can blame her? It’s literally Cate Blanchett. We’d help to conquer Asgard and the nine realms, too, if she was the one who asked us.

Ant-Man, wearing his full armor and shrunken down, looks over his shoulder while he rides on the back of an ant.

The Ants (Ant-Man, Ant-Man and The Wasp, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania)
Oh yeah, ANTS! This isn’t just about one critter, but a countless army of insect heroes that serve Ant-Man and The Wasp. Some have received some “ant-tastic” names like Marie Ant-oinette, Ulysses S. Gr-Ant, Ant-onio Banderas... the list goes on. But as Hank Pym teaches Scott in Ant-Man (2015), it’s about THE ANTS! If it weren’t for them, Ant-Man and The Wasp would still be stuck on the wrong side of some gi-ant problems, totally unable to escape. And don't forget that a quantum-based colony of these not-so-little Ants went up against Kang the Conqueror, and came out on top! We'll bet that really bugged him! (The puns just keep coming when there's Pym Particles involved!) Whether they're conducting electricity, forming superstructures, or being irreplaceable tools of espionage, these crawlies are anything but creepy—they’re astonishing!

Goose, an orange tabby cat, sits on top of the control panel inside a plane’s cockpit. The image is framed so you can mostly just see Goose, who is looking off camera to the right.

Goose the Flerken (Captain Marvel, The Marvels)
If there’s any pet that’s as powerful as they are cute, it’s Goose. Her former owner, Wendy Lawson aka Mar-Vell, rescued Goose and brought her to the Joint Dark Energy Facility where she worked on Project PEGASUS. During the events of Captain Marvel (2019), Goose joined Carol Danvers and Nick Fury on a dangerous mission between both sides of the Kree-Skrull War. It was shockingly revealed that Goose was not the adorable feline friend she appeared to be, but rather a Flerken—a highly dangerous creature with huge tentacles that deploy from its mouth and an endless appetite to match. This appetite even led to Goose consuming the Tesseract, making her the only pet to eat an infinity stone. Goose is also the reason that Fury wears an eyepatch, scratching him and permanently blinding that eye. An im-purrr-essive resume, if we do say so ourselves.

And the Flerken fun doesn't stop there, as Goose makes her triumphant return in The Marvels, joined by her adorable baby "Flerkittens". If you thought just one of these cosmic kitties causes quite the chaos, wait until you discover what happens when there's countless! Let's just say, this "Flerkitten" appearance is sure to leave you with the most marvelous of memories...

Those a just a few of our favorite critters of the MCU. It’s easy to know who man’s best friend is, but now you might know a bit more about Super Hero’s best friend. Keep in mind, it’s not the powers that make the pet, but the care and dedication they have for the powered-up people who love them right back. And the next time you’re with your own pet at home, we suggest looking into if any of them are hiding any shockingly fantastic abilities. You never really know if your cat might just be a flerken in disguise...