10 Times Disney Legend Steve Martin Joined the Worlds of Disney

August 8, 2023

By Courtney Potter

Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building is returning Tuesday, August 8, for its third season—and it’s sure to be a doozy! Charles (Disney Legend Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) find themselves investigating a murder behind the scenes of a Broadway show—that just so happens to be directed by Oliver himself! Hollywood action star Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) is the show’s big star, making his Broadway debut… which is cut short by his rather untimely death. Aided by co-star Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), the trio embarks on their toughest case yet—all while Oliver desperately attempts to put his show back together.

With so many shenanigans on the horizon, we figured this was the perfect time to look at some of the other memorable—and often totally hilarious—times that Martin has joined the worlds of Disney… and there’s been quite a few! Fire up that favorite streaming device and enjoy a marathon of fun before reuniting with those prized podcasters on their next mystery. (With the exception of Only Murders…, all these titles are available on Disney+.)

The Muppet Show (Season 2 Episode 8) (1977)
In this episode of the beloved series, Kermit (voiced by Disney Legend Jim Henson) cancels the show in order to audition new acts. Guest star Martin, then known primarily as a stand-up comic, is initially angry—but he still goes on to perform for the cast. Meanwhile, Fozzie (voiced by Frank Oz) worries that Kermit plans to hire replacements, especially after the audition of a new canine comedian, Baskerville the Hound.

The Muppet Movie (1979)
Keeping in the Muppets vein, Martin makes a cameo appearance in their big-screen debut—which follows the troupe as they wind their way to Hollywood in hopes of landing a talent contract, all while evading the dastardly Doc Hopper (Charles Durning). Martin portrays a very annoyed waiter at a restaurant visited by Kermit and Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz).

Father of the Bride (1991)
Martin stars in this film as George Banks (no relation to the overworked father in Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins), a befuddled dad who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed fiancé Bryan (George Newbern). Based on the 1950 film starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, this version also features Diane Keaton and Martin’s future Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short.

Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
In the sequel to the ’91 film, George and wife Nina (Keaton) are ready to be empty nesters—with Annie (Williams-Paisley) now married for several years and their younger son Matty (Kieran Culkin) also out of the house. But shenanigans ensue when the family discovers not only is Annie pregnant… but surprisingly, Nina is too! Is George ready to be a grandparent and the dad to a newborn at the same time?

The Simpsons (Season 9 Episode 22 “Trash of the Titans”) (1998)
Homer’s (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) misbehavior gets the family’s garbage collection cut off—so Marge (voiced by Julie Kavner) writes an apology to the garbagemen on Homer’s behalf. Angered at Marge’s decision, Homer decides to take on sanitation commissioner Ray Patterson (voiced by guest star Martin) in an upcoming election—and wins his seat with a campaign that, naturally, promises a lot more than it can deliver…

Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Seven new musical selections, and one returning favorite, are featured in this contemporary update of Disney’s animated classic. A new generation of Walt Disney Animation Studios animators blended traditional animation with modern techniques—creating a whole new take on the glorious 1940 masterpiece. Martin helps (hilariously) introduce the film, as well as acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman. We especially enjoy the film’s George Gershwin/“Rhapsody in Blue” segment.

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Inspired by the semi-autobiographical book by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, which also inspired the original 1950 film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, Cheaper by the Dozen stars Martin and Bonnie Hunt as Tom and Kate Baker, middle-aged parents to a family of 12 children. When both parents decide to pursue more demanding jobs—he as a football coach at his alma mater; she as an author—they discover that big families and big careers don’t easily mix.

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
Two years after the events of the first film, Tom feels like his large family is starting to go their separate ways—so he persuades them to take one last big summer vacation at Lake Winnetka together… only it turns into a huge competition with the overachieving clan of Tom’s biggest rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy).

The Big Year (2011)
In birding, a “Big Year” is seeing or hearing as many different species of birds as possible in a calendar year. In this 2011 film, based on the nonfiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik, three men pursue the Birder of the Year title: Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), who’s seen a record 732 in a past “Big Year”; Stu Preissler (Martin), a successful CEO who’s ready to retire; and computer programmer Brad Harris (Jack Black), who narrates the story. They travel the continent, following migration patterns—and adventures, no doubt, ensue.

Only Murders in the Building (2021-)
The first two seasons of the critically acclaimed Hulu series (created by Martin and John Hoffman) are available for streaming… and highly recommended. Three strangers (Martin, Short, and Gomez) find that they share an obsession with true crime—and also suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one! When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. But perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.

20 Years of Freaky Friday: Body-Swap Watchlist

August 7, 2023August 7, 2023

By Emily Hewitt

Disney’s Freaky Friday starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan premiered in theaters on August 6, 2003… which means it just celebrated its big 20th anniversary! The Walt Disney Company has released a plethora of films both before and after this hilarious body-swap comedy, in which characters come to understand each other better by walking (at least) a mile in each other’s shoes. D23 is taking a look down body-switch lane, with similarly themed films and TV show episodes:

Films

Freaky Friday (2003)
This is a body-swap film that continues to take pop-culture by storm 20 years later (with the film’s music honored by a just-released, limited-edition D23 Member-exclusive pin). The film focuses on overworked mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and angsty daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan). After Tess and Anna each open a magical fortune cookie, an earthquake occurs—shaking up the film.

The next morning, Anna sees that she’s now inside Tess’s “crypt keeper” (her words!) body, and Tess sees that she’s in Anna’s youthful body, topped off with grungy maroon nail polish. Now it is a race against time—with Tess’s wedding in just a few days—to switch back. During the mix-up, Anna learns how much her brother admires her and how happy Tess’s fiancé makes her, while Tess learns how mean Anna’s ex-best friend really is… and how to really rock ‘n’ roll on stage!

Wish Upon a Star (1996)
Staying in the “family body-swap” realm, Wish Upon a Star is a story of opposite sisters who come to understand each other better while simultaneously ruining each other’s reputations. Alexia (Katherine Heigl) is a popular 18-year-old who could care less about school, while her 15-year-old sister Hayley (Danielle Harris) is shy, studious, and happens to be in love with Alexia’s jock boyfriend Kyle.

When both sisters wish upon a shooting star to become each other, their dreams come true! Although clearly different, the sisters use their talents to help each other. Hayley, in Alexia’s body, proves to Alexia’s teachers that she isn’t an “airhead” after all; meanwhile, Alexia, in Hayley’s body, proves that it isn’t that far-fetched for Hayley to land a boy.

The Shaggy Dog (2006)
In The Shaggy Dog, Dave (Tim Allen) is a deputy district attorney who is prosecuting his daughter’s professor for firebombing the pharmaceutical company he claims is experimenting on animals. Indeed, the geneticists at this company have stolen a 300-year-old Bearded Collie and realize that its genetic sequence affects people when injected with it. One day, Dave’s daughter Carly (Zena Grey) finds the dog and names him Shaggy. However, Shaggy bites Dave—which triggers him to start acting like a dog, and eventually completely turn into a Bearded Collie.

TV Series

Wizards of Waverly Place Season 1 Episode 20
Of course, the most magic-filled show on Disney Channel has to have a body-swap episode! After Jerry (David DeLuise) teaches daughter Alex (Selena Gomez) how to magically body-swap people, she practices the spell on him. Before switching back, she tries to go on a shopping spree with his wallet—but he stops her at the register. Upon returning to her family’s sub-sandwich shop, all switched back, Alex’s mom Theresa (Maria Canals Barrera) announces that she’s busy planning Alex’s quinceañera. Not wanting a “girly” pink party in her honor, Alex switches places with Theresa so she can have the quinceañera she never got to experience when she was Alex’s age.

Raven’s Home Season 2, Episode 16
A Halloween and body-swap episode in one? Count us in! In this episode of Raven’s Home, titled “Switch-or-Treat,” both Raven (Raven-Symoñe) and her son Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) have similar visions of themselves screaming. They lock hands after explaining the visions to each other, and suddenly switch bodies! It’s too little, too late when Great Aunt Maureen (Debbie Allen) comes in to warn them about how psychics switch places if they touch on Halloween. Then, Nia’s (Navia Robinson) psychic boyfriend Miles (Faly Rakotohavana) visits the house—and upon shaking Aunt Maureen’s hand, they switch places.

Now, Booker must give a presentation as Raven—and Great Aunt Maureen must go, as Miles, to the Halloween carnival to meet Nia’s friends for the first time.

“Freaky Freakend”
In 2013, Disney Channel had a whole weekend dedicated to body-swap episodes, called “Freaky Freakend,” with eight different shows featuring a body-swap. Freak up your week by watching all of them:

Shake It Up Season 3 Episode 14
In an episode entitled “Switch It Up,” Tinka (Caroline Sunshine) accidentally makes Flynn (Davis Cleveland) and CeCe (Bella Thorne) switch places via one of her grandma’s curses. CeCe must teach Flynn how to dance for her on “Shake It Up Chicago!” and CeCe must learn the tuba for Flynn’s audition.

A.N.T. Farm Season 2 Episode 20
In this episode, called “idANTity crisis,” Principal Skidmore (Mindy Sterling) uses a frozen yogurt machine to extract all the A.N.T.s personalities. Upon catching this, Chyna (China Anne McClain) hooks herself up to the machine and she, Olive (Sierra McCormick), Fletcher (Jake Short), and Violet (Claire Engler) all eat the frozen yogurt… making them switch bodies.

Jessie Season 2 Episode 13
In “To Be Me or Not To Be Me,” Ravi (Karan Brar) is delivered a bell which he claims to be magical. Several people switch bodies while they are holding the bell and arguing—including Jessie (Debby Ryan) and Zuri (Skai Jackson); Emma (Peyton List) and Luke (Cameron Boyce); and Ravi and Bertram (Kevin Chamberlin). Zuri must cooperate during Jessie’s first big performance until they are able to swap back.

Austin & Ally Season 2 Episode 12
In an episode entitled “Freaky Friends & Fan Fiction,” a magical typewriter is stolen from Austin (Ross Lynch), Ally (Laura Marano), Trish (Raini Rodriguez), and Dez (Calum Worthy)—and the thief uses it to swap their bodies. It’s a race against time before Austin’s career is ruined by not being able to dance!

Dog With a Blog Season 1 Episode 12
In “Freaky Fido,” characters don’t actually switch bodies through magic—they do it on screen! Avery (Genevieve Hannelius) makes a film about body-swapping for her school; Stan the talking dog (voiced by Stephen Full) comes in handy as the film focuses on Stan and Tyler (Blake Michael) swapping places… meaning Stan would hypothetically be able to talk through Tyler’s body.

Phineas and Ferb Season 4 Episode 9
Another summer adventure is in the works in this episode, called “Mind Share,” when Phineas (voiced by Vincent Martella) and his friends build a mind sharing device and are tricked into swapping brains with criminals in an alien prison.

Gravity Falls Season 1 Episode 16
In “Carpet Diem,” Dipper (voiced by Jason Ritter) and Mabel (voiced by Kristen Schaal) fight over a room that Dipper finds in the Mystery Shack. When they touch hands while standing on the room’s magical carpet, they swap bodies—and use it as an opportunity to ruin each other’s reputations with Grunkle Stan (voiced by Alex Hirsch).

Inside the Showstopping Final Season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

August 7, 2023August 3, 2023

By Zach Johnson

A round of applause for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series!

As Disney Branded Television previously announced, the award-winning series will end after four seasons on Wednesday, August 9. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—which helped launch Disney+ in 2019 alongside The Imagineering Story, Lady and the Tramp, and The Mandalorian—has become a global phenomenon that catapulted the careers of Joshua Bassett (Ricky), Sofia Wylie (Gina), Dara Reneé (Kourtney), Julia Lester (Ashlyn), Frankie Rodriguez (Carlos), Matt Cornett (EJ), and Olivia Rodrigo (Nini). But no matter how brightly their stars burn, they will “always have high school,” as the song goes.

“I always dreamed that I’d get a chance to see them explore their own dreams, explode onto the scene, and reach outside of the halls of East High,” series creator and executive producer Tim Federle said in June. “What I didn’t expect is for it to happen so fast. It’s so gratifying, and I am so proud of them. They’ve stayed really humble, so I’m a proud papa.”

Wylie, who previously starred in the Disney Channel series Andi Mack, confessed it felt “bittersweet” to say goodbye to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, especially considering how much Gina has matured since she first transferred to East High and struggled to make friends. “There’s been so much growth and change since Season 1, and that’s been wonderful to see,” Wylie said. “But also, it’s just sad to see this come to an end.”

Not only have the characters changed, but so have the very actors who played them. “An insane amount of things have happened in the last four years,” said Bassett, who has written several original songs for the series. “We’re completely different people. It’s crazy and beautiful that we have this time capsule of a show that I’ll one day—maybe—watch!”

Season 4 is especially “epic,” according to Rodriguez—and not just because it features the highly anticipated returns of High School Musical franchise veterans Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed, and Kaycee Stroh, who play both themselves and their respective characters as cameras roll on the movie High School Musical 4: The Reunion. “I always felt the OGs would add so much value, wit, and warmth,” Federle said, “but my hunch was that the only way that we could become a long-running series would be to invest in new generation Wildcats for a new generation of viewers. Four seasons later, I’ve been lucky enough to see that come true. I always wanted the OGs back, but at the end of the day, it’s this new generation of Wildcats who are driving these stories.”

With several of the Wildcats preparing to graduate in Season 4, saying goodbye was not only inevitable—it was imperative. “When I wrote the pilot years ago, I did not have the exact plot mechanisms of the finale in mind. I’ve sort of known since Season 1 what some of the configurations of the romantic pairings would be—and some will surprise people, I think,” Federle said. “We really ended this season intentionally and with big, happy hearts.”

The Ultimate Lindsay Lohan Watchlist

August 4, 2023

By Emily Hewitt

Happy Freaky Friday! Or rather, the Friday before Freaky Friday’s anniversary! Sunday, August 6 marks 20 years since the release of the charming film about a mother, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and daughter, played by Lindsay Lohan, who switch bodies and come to understand each other better. Lohan captivated audiences years before and after Freaky Friday was released, cementing her as an icon among Disney viewers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Thus, D23 is celebrating this weekend with a nostalgic Lindsay Lohan watchlist.

1. Freaky Friday (2003)
Obviously, this is a must-watch. The classic comedy centers around Anna, an angsty teenager, played by Lohan, who is juxtaposed with Tess, Anna’s properly mannered mother, played by Curtis, which naturally makes for drama—and great comedy!—when they switch bodies. Playing both a rebellious teen daughter and overworked middle-aged mother shows the immense talent that Lohan and Curtis share. (The movie was a reimagining of the original 1976 Disney film with Jodie Foster as the daughter and Barbara Harris as her mom.)

The film showcases not only Lohan’s acting talents, but also her singing ability. The songs—such as “Ultimate” and “Take Me Away”—are nostalgic bops that are the soundtrack of youth for the Freaky Friday generation. (The film’s music is honored by a new, limited-edition D23-Member-exclusive pin just released.)

Even 20 years later, Lohan’s character, Anna, is still in the pop-culture zeitgeist with the soundbite “What? I’m ready” taking over TikTok. Her aughts style has even come back around, with her epic red-and-black, three-quarter-sleeve shirt being all the rage for younger Gen Z. Stream this classic comedy on Disney+ to hear the epic anthems and see the grunge styles that dominated screens in the early 2000s.

2. The Parent Trap (1998)
Long before Lohan switched bodies with Curtis in Freaky Friday, the two characters she plays in The Parent Trap switched lives. Playing one character who is a posh Londoner, named Annie, and another who is an edgy Californian, named Hallie, allowed Lohan to show her acting range at just 11 years old.

This film is the classic tale of twins who are separated as babies, only to reunite later in life—a story first told in the Disney classic 1961 film of the same name, starring Disney Legend Hayley Mills. Just as in the original, the twins are separated upon their parents’ divorce. In the 1998 rendition, winemaker dad Nick Parker, played by Dennis Quaid, lives with Hallie at his vineyard in Napa, California, while fashion designer mom Elizabeth James, played by Natasha Richardson, lives with Annie in Knightsbridge, a district of London, England.

The girls meet at summer camp and realize they are long-lost twins while sharing their mutual love for Oreos with peanut butter. They decide to switch places—after Annie teaches Hallie her signature handshake and Hallie pierces Annie’s ears—and spend the rest of the film trying to bring their parents back together, despite their dad’s recent engagement to soon-to-be evil stepmother Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix).

Although Lohan didn’t sing in this film—other than a snippet of “Let’s Get Together,” written for the 1961 film by Robert and Richard Sherman—the soundtrack is filled with classic songs such “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles and “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole. Get the peanut butter and Oreos out to stream this heartfelt film on Disney+.

3. Life Size (2000)
After stealing a book of spells to bring her mother back to life, tomboy football player Casey, played by Lohan, has her worst nightmare come true when a doll, a gift from her father’s co-worker, comes to life rather than her dead mother.

Now Eve, the life-size doll, played by Tyra Banks, must learn how to dress herself, cook, work a real job, and experience sadness for the first time. Although a doll, Eve doesn’t let the trials and tribulations dull who she is, as she breaks out in song at a corporate event and buys a wardrobe fit for a doll with a plethora of rhinestones and accessories for every look.

Despite Casey’s doubts, Eve proves to be just what everyone in the real world needs. She teaches Casey confidence and consoles her about her mother, gives the nerdy secretary at Casey’s dad’s office a 180-degree makeover so her office crush notices her, and brings Casey and her dad closer together.

Be sure to watch this life-sized film—and, most importantly, don’t forget to “shine bright, shine far, don’t be shy, be a star” just as Eve sings in the film.

4. Get a Clue (2002)
Those who live for high school gossip will soak up every part of this teen mystery. After Lexy Gold, played by Lohan, publishes a piece about the romance between two of her teachers, one of her teachers goes missing. Lexy must pair up with her three friends to solve the mystery via detective journalism.

Although her love of luxury goods seems like a useless perk of her family’s wealth, it ultimately helps Lexy solve the mystery from clues such as an overly dressed detective and a rare diamond broach.

The teen sleuths use an abundance of hidden cameras, sound-magnifying earpieces, and spyglasses that will remind people of their youthful spy days. If you haven’t already watched this film, “get a clue” and track it down on Disney+.

5. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
After Mary Elizabeth “Lola” Cep, played by Lohan, moves to a New Jersey suburb from the Big Apple, she continues her dream of becoming a Broadway star and lands the lead role in her high school’s musical over rich mean girl Carla, played by Megan Fox.

Upon hearing the news that her favorite band, Sidarthur, are breaking up, Lola and her goody-goody best friend, Ella, go to New York City to see the band’s last concert. After a concert ticket mishap, they happen to run into the drunken lead singer, Stu Wolff (Adam Garcia), at a diner. They revive his declining life and later prove to Carla that they are indeed friends with the rock ’n’ roll icon.

This film introduced David Bowie music to Millennials and Gen Z with Lohan’s epic performance of “Changes” in her school’s musical, and it continues to allow people to dream of coincidentally meeting their favorite pop star. Thus it is an absolute must-see on Disney+.

6. Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
A beat-up Volkswagen Beetle, destined for the dump, isn’t what it seems to be in Herbie: Fully Loaded. Maggie, played by Lohan, is a recent college graduate—and as a graduation present, her dad (Michael Keaton) buys her this wreck of a car. If fact, though, it’s the magical Herbie—inroduced in Disney’s hit 1968 film The Love Bug—and it has a mind of its own! Herbie encourages Maggie, who comes from a racing family, to race a NASCAR champion, Trip (Matt Dillon). After getting her heart set on winning Trip’s shiny car in a race, Maggie instead loses Herbie to him and realizes just how much Herbie means to her.

The bond between a racer and their car is brought to light in this sports comedy. Stream it on Disney+ to see how much charm one car can have.

7. Just My Luck (2006)
A spin on the classic saying, Just My Luck follows Ashley Albright (Lohan), the luckiest girl in the world, who has taxis stop for her just seconds after lifting her hand and happens to get a dress belonging to Sarah Jessica Parker mixed up with her dry cleaning. In contrast, Jake Hardin, played by Chris Pine, is the unluckiest person in the world and the manager of an unsuccessful rock band, McFly. After Ashley and Jake kiss on the dance floor at a masquerade ball, their luck is switched. Ashley must now learn how to deal with inconveniences, while Jake’s success for McFly and himself comes fast and easy.

A romantic and comedic story ensues that leads Ashley to question what the cost is of her longstanding good luck. It would be just your luck to watch this film on Disney+ in celebration of Lohan’s epic career.

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

August 3, 2023

By Courtney Potter

Welcome to August! Whether you’re still in the throes of summer vacation or picking the perfect outfit for the first day of school (can you believe it’s back-to-school for some folks already?!), the worlds of Disney are ready to entertain this weekend… and the choices are top drawer. Look for the season premiere of an acclaimed FX series; a truly galactic Disney+ debut; the network premiere of a certain Marvel super fan; and so much more! Read on for what to expect:

FX’s Reservation Dogs—Season 3 premiere now streaming on Hulu
The critically acclaimed series is back for its third season, with the first two episodes now streaming. As we catch back up with the Rez Dogs, they find themselves stranded in California and must figure out their way back home… After making it to Okern, Elora (Devery Jacobs) considers the idea of college; Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) comes across a conspiracy theorist named Maximus (Graham Greene); Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) grows more invested in healing her community; and Cheese (Lane Factor)… well, he still lives with his grandmother who’s not his grandmother. Meanwhile, the aunties, uncles, and elders explore their pasts and try to heal old wounds. All told, Season 3 is full of road trips, bathroom wisdom, unexpected fathers, boarding schools, Bigfoot, rumors, revenge, and healing.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3—now streaming on Disney+
The Marvel Studios film officially comes to the streaming service! 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 Rocket’s (voiced by Bradley Cooper) turbulent past. 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 quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them. Also starring Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff, and featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova.

The Croods: Family Tree—Season 7 now streaming on Hulu
The Croods and the Bettermans return with more misadventures on the farm, with hair-raising consequences for Grug (voiced by Kiff VandenHeuvel) when he overindulges in the experimental hair growth formula concocted by Phil (voiced by Matthew Waterson); meanwhile, Dawn (voiced by Abby Trott) wrestles with critiquing her mother’s beloved beetball recipe. Plus, when Eep (voiced by Ally Dixon) finds herself competing in an Alphafight (a tournament where animals fight to determine the dominant species), she must choose between making her kooky family proud or disrupting the balance of the croodimal kingdom forever!

Ms. Marvel—Saturday, August 5, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The Disney+ series makes its network debut, as the first three episodes air this Saturday, August 5! (Why not get prepared a bit early for this fall’s The Marvels, eh?) The series introduces Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City. An avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, Kamala is a Super Hero megafan with an oversized imagination—particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel. Yet Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home… that is, until she gets superpowers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life gets better with superpowers, right?

BUNK’D—Sunday, August 6, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Back for another exciting summer at the sometimes struggling Camp Kikiwaka in rural Maine are its enthusiastic camp owner/director Lou (Miranda May) and several returning counselors and campers—all ready to tackle new and hilarious adventures! They also welcome witty and charming Parker Preston (Trevor Tordjman), who arrives to stake his 15 percent claim to the camp and brings his own over-the-top ideas… that don’t necessarily mesh with Lou’s. In tonight’s episode “Meat Cute,” camper Destiny (Mallory James Mahoney) and Parker try to open a restaurant.

Surf’s Up, Pedals Down! Lilo & Stitch Racers Make Waves in Disney Speedstorm

August 1, 2023

Those alien spacecraft over the racetrack are a sure sign that the Lilo & Stitch racing season has landed in Disney Speedstorm. Seven exciting new Racers join the roster this month, with updates including an all-new environment of tracks with lush jungles, splashy beaches, and some out-of-this-world twists ‘n turns!

Race as Stitch, Lilo, Angel, Jumba, and Captain Gantu, each with their own unique racing style and abilities. Call in some galactic air-support as Captain Gantu and zap your racing rivals off the track. Or, if you’re more suited to a day at the beach, race as Lilo and literally surf your way to first place by turning your kart into a surfboard. For those looking for a more chaotic racing style, it’s Stitch FTW, with the ability to blast a volley of laser beams to stun challengers in all directions.

Daisy and Minnie are racing on a city street. Daisy is in the lead, smiling, while Minnie is barely hanging onto her steering wheel and nearly flying out of her car. They both are surrounded by green, shield-like domes that are encircled with digital-looking bows.

Stitch and Angel are racing on an animated racetrack, Stitch passing Angel by an extremely narrow margin—almost hitting her car. Behind them to the right, Lilo and Gantu are both racing in their own cars.

Jumba and Gantu are neck and neck in a race on a sandy racetrack. Gantu throws his hands up in frustration, digital-looking blue squares swarming around him.

Ever wonder what it takes to bring thrilling new Racers and environments to Disney Speedstorm? Winslow Caliwag, Disney Games Producer on Disney Speedstorm, has the inside track on hidden details across the Lilo & Stitch racing season. “Lilo & Stitch holds a very special spot in Disney fans’ hearts, so we made sure to include tons of callouts and special nuggets for them to enjoy,” says Caliwag. “Besides the exclusive Kart Liveries, like the design based on the ‘Space Adventure’ coin-operated ride from the animated film, there are plenty of winks and nods that sharp-eyed fans will spot while racing.” Caliwag adds, “Even the numbers on the Lilo & Stitch racing suits themselves carry special meaning; the 626 for Stitch is an easy one, but Gantu’s number 47 may take even the biggest fan a moment to puzzle out!” Once you hit the track with Stitch, Angel, and the rest of the racers, that level of detail is speedily made clear.

Gantu stands to the right of his race car, which is colored black and red to match his racing suit. He is smiling, his fists pumped in excitement, one foot balanced on the wheel of his car.

Play Disney Speedstorm today on PC and Consoles with the purchase of a Founder’s Pack during Early Access for exciting exclusives while still available. See you at the finish line!

Watch These Disney+ Series Before Summer Ends

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023

By The D23 Team

Disney+ contains a multitude of series we know you’ll love to watch, and summer is the perfect time to binge them all! Before school starts and summer fun ends, make sure you’re caught up on some of the fun series Disney+ has to offer… Whether you’re prepping for upcoming movies and series or on the hunt for some hidden gems, there’s something for every Disney fan. So grab your popcorn and get ready for a massive marathon of must-watch shows:

Ms. Marvel
With The Marvels’ theatrical debut just around the corner, make yourself familiar with one-third of the titular characters: Ms. Marvel! This groundbreaking series follows Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a young Pakistani American girl from Jersey City, navigating the complexities of adolescence while learning to embrace her unique abilities. With a mix of superhero action and relatable young-adulthood storytelling, Ms. Marvel will inspire anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a Marvel hero.

American Born Chinese
Based on the award-winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese follows the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), a typical high schooler just trying to fit in. His world is changed when he meets Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), the son of the legendary Monkey King. A mysterious prophecy ties Jin and Wei-Chen together, leading to unexpected action—and comedy! The series is perfect for anyone in their “coming-of-age” era or anyone just wants to see some awesome kung fu battles.

The Muppets Mayhem
Can you picture this? Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem have been rocking out for years, but their extremely groovy career is missing one major milestone… Recording their first album! Join Dr. Teeth, Janice, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, and Animal for a whirlwind musical journey filled with groovy tunes, outlandish gigs, and unpredictable shenanigans. You’ll be dancing along and tapping your feet to their catchy beats in no time!

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
Fans of animation need to check out this anthology series featuring 10 all-new animated short films! Inspired by Africa’s diverse histories and culture, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire showcases sci-fi stories from a new generation of creators, taking you on adventures you’ve never experienced before. Each episode features a different art style and story, providing a treasure trove of awesome animated content you can’t miss.

Star Wars Visions
Star Wars Visions brings the galaxy to life like you’ve never seen before. This groundbreaking anthology features two seasons of animated short films from around the world. Each episode tells a unique and imaginative story within the Star Wars universe, offering fresh perspectives and breathtaking visuals that will leave you in awe. This series is certain wow fans of Star Wars and animation alike.

Loki
Now that the trailer for Loki season 2 is out, we can’t stop thinking about timeline-hopping mayhem and our favorite god of mischief. Whether it’s your third rewatch or your first time watching, now is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the first season before season 2’s October 6 debut. This fan-favorite Marvel series follows the misadventures of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after his time-bending shenanigans in of Avengers: Endgame. Besides bringing the MCU into the multiverse, Loki is a must-watch for anyone who has loved the character since he first started troublemaking in the original Thor film.

DOWNLOADABLE: Celebrate Disney100 with This Adventurous Coloring Page

August 1, 2023July 31, 2023

By the D23 Team

Summer is the perfect time for your next adventure—but are you in need of some exploration inspiration? We’ve got the perfect coloring page for you! Download this exclusive printable page titled “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” from Disney Publishing’s new Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder book. Explore your creativity with this must-have adult coloring book that offers a fun and familiar look at everything Disney—past, present, and future.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Development art by Shane Enoch for “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” gallery poster from Disney100: The Exhibition, 2023. From Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives (Disney Editions, 2023).

Justin Simien: From Disney Parks Cast Member to Haunted Mansion Director

July 28, 2023

Frightful delights await in Walt Disney Pictures’ Haunted Mansion, now in theaters.

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction of the same name, Haunted Mansion follows a mother and son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. The film is directed by Justin Simien, who developed a deep appreciation for the attraction as a student at Chapman University in the early 2000s. “In college, I was a ride host for the Grizzly River Run attraction,” Simien recalls. “It was amazing to do that in film school, because it was like I got another education in cinema.”

That’s because Simien would spend his downtime mingling with the 999 happy haunts of New Orleans Square, marveling at the physical reactions certain beats in the story would elicit. Even then, he knew there was an “inherently cinematic” quality to the attraction: “I remember experiencing Haunted Mansion back in the day and thinking, ‘What is this? How do I do this in a movie? How do I make a person feel this way?’ Anything is possible in a movie, and I would think about it a lot. But I didn’t have an answer to that until this movie.”

(In fact, Simien had been mystified by the Haunted Mansion attraction ever since a family vacation to Walt Disney World Resort, when “a hitchhiking ghost in a mirror appeared to be riding with me out the exit,” he recalls. “At 8, I figured it was a trick, but I couldn’t work out how. For years I wondered if that ghost was still hitchhiking with me in the real world.”)

To preserve the attraction’s charm onscreen, filmmakers used practical effects whenever possible. “People use the term ‘smoke and mirrors,’ and the attraction literally uses smoke and mirrors—the Pepper’s Ghost effect—to make you believe in ghosts,” Simien says. “It is classic Disney in that way: ‘This is not possible, and yet, it’s right in front of my own eyes and it has a physicality to it that I can’t explain.’ When you see the ghosts waltzing in the dining room, you know they’re not really there, but they’re somewhere; they’re physical. That kind of ‘how did they do that?’ quality was essential for me to take into this movie.”

While Haunted Mansion features state-of-the-art digital effects, Simien notes, “It was important to me that the film never felt like it took place in a digital void. There should always be a sense of wonder as to how the effect was achieved. To this end, we built practical sets, including giant Mansion interiors in both normal and ‘ghost realm’ colors, which allowed us to explore these different spaces in real time with our cast rather than relying upon VFX. There were tracks under the set to move chairs being ‘dragged by ghosts’ as well as people holding filaments and puppeteering the many mysteriously floating objects around the house. Most of the ghosts were filmed practically with people in costumes and prosthetics, often hanging from wires, before being enhanced digitally to ensure the cast could truly interact with each other whether playing the living or dead.”

As the film opens in theaters, Simien is thinking a lot about his evolution from cast member to director. “It’s surreal. It’s an honor. It’s a responsibility,” he says. “Sometimes as an artist, you encounter work and you just know in your bones how to do it. The point of view was already in me. My family is from Louisiana, and I’ve always been obsessed with the attraction. It feels really kismet and weird to direct this, and I probably won’t be able to fully articulate what it’s been like for some time until this is over. I am still very much in it.”

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse Concludes by Returning to Mickey’s Roots with “Steamboat Silly”

July 28, 2023

Mickey Mouse has lived many lives over his nearly 100 years. He’s been a sorcerer, composer of silly symphonies, and cultural icon. However, in “Steamboat Silly—the final short of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—the most famous mouse in the world returns to his roots.

The short—now streaming on Disney+—starts harmlessly enough. Mickey and his friends Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Minnie sit down to enjoy some of Mickey’s home movies. That includes the one that started it all: 1928’s Steamboat Willie. However, soon Mickey finds himself overrun by hundreds of his monochrome character from the original short, resulting in a madcap adventure.

Paul Rudish—the executive producer and supervising director of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—pointed out that a madcap Mickey is vital to this final short, and to the history of the character himself.

“Our goal was to bring him back to the new audiences,” Rudish said. He added that the short’s silly nature harkens back to the original Mickey Mouse cartoons of the ’20s and ’30s thanks to their surrealism, physical comedy, and pantomime acting.

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—which started in 2013 as simply Mickey Mouse shorts—updated Mickey for a new generation using some of the character’s initial rough edges. He’s still the lovable company mascot that he’s been for decades, but now with a little extra spice as the zany scamp he was from the start.

“I wanted to return to that flavor of Mickey and that vibe, but not replicate them,” Rudish said. “We didn’t want to go, ‘Look, here’s a 1930s cartoon.’ We wanted to take the sensibilities of those things but then put that through the lens of a team of modern artists.”

“Steamboat Silly” balances the past and present of Mickey while also maintaining the comedy—and sometimes even avant-garde essence—of Rudish’s shorts. For example, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse crew not only drew inspiration from the early days of Mickey in terms of look and feel for “Steamboat Silly,” but also in terms of its sound. This included a technique from the 1920s in which the tempo of the short’s music and action syncs up—a term that is still known as “Mickey Mousing” in Hollywood.

“There’s a portion in the middle, a very action-packed set piece that takes up maybe the middle third of the cartoon, which in particular is at a very, very high tempo, which was used a lot in cartoons in the ’20s and ’30s,” said Christopher Willis, the shorts’ composer. Willis mentioned that a lot of the cartoons from the early days of animation took popular songs and sped them up. He tried to replicate that for this final short.

“I wanted a tempo so high that I wasn’t sure at first if the band would be able to play that quickly,” he said.

“Steamboat Silly” is not just a celebration of Mickey, however. It’s a celebration of Disney as the company commemorates its 100th anniversary. The short is chock full of Disney easter eggs from 1929’s The Skeleton Dance, 1941’s Dumbo, and 1955’s The Mickey Mouse Club.

But Mickey has been beloved ever since he stepped foot on that steamboat in 1928. What made this latest version so popular?

“Our Mickey is a bit flawed,” Rudish said. “I think people responded to that. They root for the cheerful optimist, but it’s not always an easy road.”

Also, Mickey still represents “the ongoing message of if you’ve got big dreams and you really try hard, you can make them come true,” according to Rudish.

“Mickey has always been an icon of that idea,” he said. “It’s inspirational.”