This is the Way to a New The Mandalorian Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Disney+ Debuts New Trailer for The Mandalorian Season 3

Earlier this week, our pals at Lucasfilm dropped a brand-new trailer for the much-anticipated Season 3 of The Mandalorian, premiering on Disney+ this spring.

Old allies return and new enemies emerge during this next eight-episode run, as the New Republic grapples with leading the galaxy away from its dark history. (And yes, of course: Fan-favorite Grogu is back!) The series stars Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow, and Giancarlo Esposito. Directors for Season 3 include Rick Famuyiwa, Rachel Morrison, Lee Isaac Chung, Carl Weathers, Peter Ramsey, and Bryce Dallas Howard—and Disney Legend Jon Favreau is showrunner and head writer.

Look for Season 3 of The Mandalorian exclusively on the streaming service March 1.

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

Huzzah! We’ve made it to another (hopefully) relaxing weekend, with lots of quality viewing from around the worlds of Disney in store. In honor of this Sunday’s The Wonderful World of Disney presentation of Iron Man, we’ve assembled (get it?) four Marvel Studios films and series to get us in the mood. See which ones we chose…

A headshot of Jimmy Kimmel; he’s wearing a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. He has dark hair and a salt and pepper beard, and is standing against a white background.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Epic Primetime Episode

Back in 2003, George Clooney, Snoop Dogg, and Chris Martin of Coldplay were the very first guests on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!—and on January 26, those same three guests will be back for a special primetime episode (at 10 p.m. ET/PT) of the Emmy® Award-winning late-night show to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Following the special’s premiere, the episode will re-air in the show’s regular timeslot, at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! is already one of American television’s longest-running talk shows—and Kimmel’s recent contract extension will keep him on ABC through his 23rd season. “Twenty years. I can’t believe it either,” Kimmel recently said. “It makes absolutely no sense.”

The show broadcasts from the iconic El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. For more information—including how you can get tickets to see Kimmel and crew in person the next time you’re in SoCal—visit JimmyKimmelLive.com.

You’ll Definitely Want to Repeat These Lizzie McGuire Outfits…

It’s been over two decades since the premiere of the hit Disney Channel sitcom Lizzie McGuire—and time has absolutely not dulled our memory of some of Lizzie’s most iconic outfits. Despite, at one point, being egregiously called an “outfit repeater,” we’re pretty sure you’ll want a do-over with these eight particular outfits!

New Willow Documentary Special Coming to Disney+

With the season finale of Lucasfilm’s all-new action-adventure series Willow having just aired, Disney+ announced a premiere date for the debut of the original documentary special Willow: Behind the Magic. Featuring its breakout stars and returning legends, the documentary takes viewers behind the scenes for an in-depth look at the making of the hit original series.

The story of Willow began when an aspiring sorcerer, originally played in Disney Legend George Lucas’ 1988 fantasy-adventure film by Warwick Davis, is whisked away on a journey to protect the infant empress Elora Danan and vanquish the evil Queen Bavmorda from their world of Andowyne. Now, the story continues with Davis reprising his titular role as he leads an unlikely crew of heroes—which includes a now-grown Elora, who has just learned of her prodigious birthright—on a quest to protect Andowyne from an even larger foe than they had imagined possible.

Willow also stars Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, and Joanne Whalley.

Check Out These Artifacts from Disney100: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute

In a little less than a month, we’ll witness the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia—and in celebration, D23.com just unveiled 23 “Crown Jewels” from the Walt Disney Archives vault of treasures that will be on display when the exhibition opens. Take a gander at the incredibly cool items by clicking here.

See the Trailer for New Hulu Original Docuseries The 1619 Project

This week, Hulu released the official trailer for The 1619 Project, a six-part docuseries that expands upon “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine. The series premieres exclusively on Hulu starting next week.

The 1619 Project seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The episodes—“Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice”—are adapted from essays from the recently published book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.

The series, hosted and executive produced by Hannah-Jones, is a Lionsgate Production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films, and The New York Times. Look for it on the streaming service beginning Thursday, January 26.

ICYMI: Everything to Eat, See, and Do at the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

From now until February 20, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T will be celebrating visual, culinary, and performing arts—and delighting guests both young and young at heart with performances by Broadway’s best; incredible artwork; and delectable delights. Should you find yourself at Walt Disney World Resort, D23 has a rundown of everything to eat, see, and do at the festival right here; do check it out!

How the Cast of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Finds Their Voice

By Andie Hagemann

Clone Force 99 is back for another mission.

Lucasfilm Animation series Star Wars: The Bad Batch ushers in a new chapter of the Star Wars saga and follows the experimental clones of the Bad Batch as they find their way in a changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War.

Now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes launching weekly, Season 2 opens months after the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch continue their journey across the Empire after the fall of the Republic. They encounter friends and foes, both new and familiar, as they take on thrilling mercenary missions that will take them to unexpected and dangerous new places.

Bringing the complex characters to life on the screen is no easy feat, but voice actors Dee Bradley Baker and Michelle Ang relish the challenge.

“The trickiest part of voiceover is simply acting—it all gets down to acting well,” says Baker, who lends his voice to the Bad Batch, Clone Troopers, Captain Howzer, Captain Rex, Captain Wilco, Captain Grey, Commander Cody, Cut, and Gregor.

Baker adds, “To do it well and to enjoy it, it’s like being a session player in a jazz band. You’ve got to be ready for someone to throw the solo to you or take up the bass line and support, but to have that feeling of readiness to be able to contribute whatever needs to be added appropriately to the story that’s being told or the song that’s being sung.”

Ang, who voices Omega, an unaltered clone, uses the character’s physical traits and the “character’s essence” as a starting point when formulating the voice.

“It’s about placing myself in the world,” Ang shares, “and because the scripts are so full, it’s easy for me to imagine the scene playing out. The childlike wonder of experiencing something for the first time comes naturally when I bring my whole body and imagination to it—then my voice just follows.”

The creatives behind the magic of Star Wars: The Bad Batch animate the series to the voice actors’ performances. Therefore, the cast relies heavily on direction from supervising director and executive producer Brad Rau to execute the tone needed for the scene.

“Voice acting is a very collaborative variation of acting—uniquely so, because it’s not just what we’re performing, but it’s also done in collaboration with the team of artists and technicians who add their acting to our voice performance,” Baker says.

Ang adds, “I’m newer to voice acting, and thinking a lot about physicality is something that was quite different and required that extra layer of imagination when thinking about the physical environment and physical exertion [for Omega during a climb or even when speaking to Crosshair or Hunter].”

Baker has portrayed a lot of his Star Wars characters, especially the clones, for a long time, having worked on Tales of the Jedi, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and Star Wars: Rebels, to name a few, and he reveals how he organizes his Rolodex of voices.

“I usually associate the clones, who are closer in character to each other than the Bad Batch, with an adjective or two,” Baker says. “For Cody, the word that comes to my mind is ‘regal.’ There’s an authority that I try to feather into his performance to make him distinct from other clone brothers. If that’s not enough, then they probably have a reference that they can play back for me so I can find the tone and something specific to keep him delineated from the other characters.”

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

By Andie Hagemann

This weekend, we’re highlighting the man, the myth, the legend: Tony Stark! The marathon leads into The Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Iron Man on Sunday night. We have assembled here a list of four Marvel Studios films and series available to binge on Disney+.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 2, actor and Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. portrays Tony Stark/Iron Man. He sits in a packed courtroom and behind a tiny microphone. He wears a dark gray pinstripe suit, a tan button-down shirt, and a yellow and gray striped tie.

Iron Man 2—Available to Stream on Disney+
With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. Tony is reluctant to disclose the secrets behind his armored suit, fearing the information will fall into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Garry Shandling, and Disney Legend Jon Favreau (who also directs the film), to name a few.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3, a man wears a red, white, and blue suit of armor and walks next to a man holding an American flag.

Iron Man 3—Available to Stream on Disney+
Consumed with worry and insomnia since saving New York, Tony Stark (Downey) is more dependent on the suits that give him his Iron Man persona—so much so that every aspect of his life is affected, including his relationship with Pepper (Paltrow). After a malevolent rival known as the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) reduces his personal world to rubble, Tony must rely solely on instinct to avenge his losses and protect the people he loves.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War, actor and Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man sits at a wooden conference table and looks at actor Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America. Behind them are large TV screens displaying surveillance footage and clocks displaying various time zones.

Captain America: Civil War—Available to Stream on Disney+
After political pressure mounts to the creation of an accountability system for the Avengers, the team find themselves at an impasse. Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) believes Super Heroes should remain free to defend humanity sans government interference, while Tony Stark/Iron Man (Downey Jr.) supports oversight. As the debate escalates into an all-out feud, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) must pick a side. The star-studded cast includes Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman, Paul Rudd, Paul Bettany, Tom Holland, and Daniel Brühl, to name a few. 

In a scene from the animated Marvel Studios series What If..., Tony Stark shows Killmonger hologram designs for a super suit inside a large workroom.

What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?—Available to Stream on Disney+
Episode 6 of the hit series reimagines Tony Stark’s origin story. An American soldier called Killmonger (voiced by Michael B. Jordan) rescues Tony Stark (voiced by Mick Wingert) when his Humvee is attacked in Afghanistan. However, Tony’s safety comes at a price. Killmonger intends to use Tony’s elite technology and designs to conquer Wakanda. The episode includes the voices of Favreau, Boseman, Bettany, Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Leslie Bibb.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Iron Man, actor and Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. portrays Tony Stark/Iron Man and wears a black suit with white pinstripes, a white button-down shirt, a floral print tie, and dark-lensed sunglasses. He extends both arms out as he stands in a barren desert.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Iron Man—Sunday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and resourcefulness, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. Also starring are Paltrow, Gregg, Favreau, Bibb, Jeff Bridges, and Terrence Howard.

How I Met Your Father Cast Highlights Friendship in Season 2

By Andie Hagemann

They still don’t know what they’re doing in love and dating, but at least they have each other.

The long-awaited second season of Hulu Original series How I Met Your Father is back, and the cast and creatives are detailing what’s to come for Sophie (Hilary Duff) and her close-knit group of friends.

“This season, [Sophie] kind of becomes a sociopathic liar,” Duff said during the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour. “She’s so kind and pure at the same time, and it’s been really fun to expand on that. In the first season, we were leaning towards that, but I was really trying to find it.”

Duff added, “We know these characters. We feel a little bit more comfortable, and we get more room to play and find these little human bits in the roles. It feels easier to find and a little bit more secure this time around.”

While Season 2 boasts plenty of relationship breakups, makeups, hookups—and star-studded guests—Duff said How I Met Your Father also depicts a love story between best friends: Sophie and Valentina (Francia Raisa).

“The way that they lean on each other—they are in the thick of it together,” Duff said. “They are different, but they are the same. I think no one knows how to make each other laugh the way that these two do. We’re getting in lots of trouble together.”

Raisa added, “It’s mainly her getting us in trouble...and I’m saving the day.”

In between their adventures and misadventures this season, the dynamic duo shares “really beautiful moments,” as they each navigate their search for The One.

“I really love that in our friendship, whether we have ups and downs or she’s getting us into some trouble, we can keep it light,” Raisa said. “We really have a sisterhood [off the screen]. I call her my work wife. We’re supporting each other and have each other’s backs, and I think it’s a beautiful thing to show an audience.”

 In a scene from Hulu Original series How I Met Your Father, actors Christopher Lowell as Jesse and Suraj Sharma as Sid talk to each other with a wooden bar top in between them. Lowell wears a tan jacket. Sharma wears a red button-down shirt and a gray T-shirt. A red plastic cup is upside down on the table.

For Christopher Lowell and Suraj Sharma who portray Jesse and Sid, respectively, their on-screen friendship too has carried into reality amidst the series’ second season.

“When we met at the first table reading, I said, ‘Chris, you and I are going to be friends.’ Chris was like, ‘Okay, buddy.’ Slowly but surely, we’re good friends now,” Sharma shared with a laugh.

Lowell added, “We clicked fast. I mean, all of us did, truly.  It was a pretty quick, organic love fest.”

As with Sophie and Valentina, this season features more backstory of Jesse and Sid’s friendship—beyond lamenting about their dating and relationships woes. Lowell teased viewers will see plenty of roommate hijinks between Jesse and Sid. “It was a blast [to film],” Lowell said. “It’s so fun to work with [Sharma] and everybody else up here.”

Tien Tran, who portrays Ellen, Jesse’s sister, admires that the series continues to highlight healthier decisions when it comes to relationships and friendships in Season 2. “It’s very easy to take a toxic path for some of these decisions that our characters make, but I love that our show oftentimes takes a healthier, more mature [approach],” Tran said. “There’s so much humor in sitting and talking with each other through these difficult moments. I think it’s a good model for how relationships should be approached in real life.”

Watch Sophie’s love story (and friendships) play out in reserve when How I Met Your Father returns Tuesday, January 24.

8 Iconic Lizzie McGuire Looks That WE Would Outfit-Repeat

By Sarah Sterling

It’s the 22nd anniversary of Disney Channel’s coming-of-age teen comedy Lizzie McGuire! Beyond the memorable hijinks, hard-learned lessons, and quotable moments (can we get a “Sing to me, Paolo”?), Lizzie was particularly well-known for her unforgettable fashion. In honor of 22 totally awesome years, we’re counting down the Lizzie McGuire outfits that would turn us into outfit repeaters.

1. The Unicorn Sweater (“Picture Day” – Season 1, Episode 2)

In one of the earliest episodes of Lizzie McGuire, Lizzie’s parents insist that she wear a hand-made sweater from her Gammy McGuire for her school photo. The sweater is bright red with a quilted unicorn on front, adorned with frills and bows—definitely a piece that would put you at risk of becoming a social pariah! Even though Lizzie spends the entire episode trying to find an alternative before she shoots her photo, the unicorn sweater has gone down in history as one of Lizzie’s most memorable looks. This Lizzie fan would pay big money to own that sweater today!

Miranda and Lizzie standing side-by-side in a middle school hallway. Miranda has short brown hair and is wearing a bright orange sleeveless top and fuzzy bracelets. Lizzie has blonde hair and bangs and is wearing a bright red sweater with a quilted unicorn on it. ; Lizzie and Miranda in the school hallway, looking at each other. They are both dressed in vintage 1960s outfits. Lizzie has her hair half up in a bouffant and is wearing a patterned blue and green top with matching blue accessories. Miranda is wearing a bright orange dress with lots of gold and red beaded necklaces.

2. 1960s Lizzie (“Come Fly with Me” — Season 1, Episode 13)

After Gordo becomes obsessed with 1950s and ’60s “lounge culture” (think Frank Sinatra/Rat Pack-style), the entire school hops on the bandwagon, including Lizzie and Miranda. This episode features some seriously sophisticated ensembles including patterned pedal pushers, chiffon neck scarves, and lots of fedoras. Our favorite outfit has to be Lizzie’s green and blue get-up featuring a half bouffant hairstyle and floral embroidered tote bag—but any of her looks from this episode deserve a spot on this list.

3. It’s Not a Phase! (“Bad Girl McGuire” – Season 1, Episode 11)

Lizzie adopts an alternative punk style when she befriends her school’s resident troublemaker, Angel. While she’s busy faking doctor’s notes and buying nose rings, Lizzie sports some unique, grungy outfits. We especially love her “goth” debut of baggy jeans, mesh sleeves, a metal studded graphic tee, and messy ponytail. In the end, it really was just a phase, Mom.

Miranda, Gordo, and Lizzie are walking down the school hallway in a row, chatting. Miranda is wearing a graphic tank over a yellow long-sleeved top, with red pants. Gordo is wearing khakis and a yellow button up shirt over a white tee. Lizzie is dressed in her goth outfit of baggy jeans, mesh sleeves, a metal studded graphic tee, and messy ponytail.; Lizzie walks down the aisle in her backyard, looking down at the bouquet made of red and white roses in her hands. She is wearing a straight-hemmed, beaded dress with elbow-length satin gloves and a matching headband. Her blonde hair is longer in this photo, extending well past her shoulders.

4. Mrs. Ethan Craft? (“Clue-less” — Season 2, Episode 23)

Did we miss Ethan and Lizzie getting married?! Don’t worry, this Lizzie look was a part of a murder mystery party held at the McGuire household. All of Lizzie’s friends and family gather in incredible 1920s-inspired outfits and lucky Lizzie is assigned the role of bride to Ethan’s groom. Lizzie wears a straight-hemmed, beaded dress with elbow-length satin gloves and a matching headband. While this episode first teases romance for Lizzie and Ethan, fans will remember it best for its ending—where Gordo almost works up the courage to ask Lizzie on a date.

5. She’s Never Boa-ring (“Last Year’s Model” — Season 1, Episode 23)

After Lizzie walks the runway in the Teen Attitude magazine fashion show, the popular crowd at her school start showing interest in her—but it doesn’t stop there. Soon, Lizzie’s classmates start crowding for autographs, taking photos, and even Ethan Craft blushes when he sees her. To stop the madness, Lizzie implements “Operation Superstar Brat,” a scheme where she will act like a complete snob to show her friends how ridiculous it is for them to treat her differently. During her plan, Lizzie puts on a fabulous outfit consisting of a glamorous blue feather boa, hoop earrings, and an oversized matching blue headpiece. One of Lizzie’s more extravagant looks... and we are living for the Y2K aesthetic!

Lizzie is sitting in a yellow lounge chair looking up at her friends with an annoyed look on her face. She is wearing a large, fluffy blue feather boa and a matching floral hair clip. Her hair is done up in a fancy blow out and she has sunglasses sitting on the bridge of her nose, showing the annoyed look in her eyes.; Lizzie stands in front of Gordo and Miranda at their school lockers. They are admiring her outfit, which is a pair of light wash jeans and a white top with butterflies on it. Lizzie’s hair is wavy, and she has a thin headband on. Gordo is wearing a red zip-up jacket over more layered tees, and Miranda is wearing red plaid pants and a black tank top over a green long-sleeved shirt.

6. The $65 Jeans (“Best Dressed for Much Less” — Season 2, Episode 12)

Class superlatives are coming up and Lizzie wants to win “Best Dressed.” All she believes she needs to secure the award is a $65 pair of jeans—but her mom, Jo, is not on board. Instead, Jo suggests they go thrifting to find an equally trendy, more affordable option. Of course, Lizzie goes behind her mom’s back and borrows money from her friends to buy her coveted jeans. And, because it’s Lizzie, she immediately slips on the floor and a teacher spills slushie all over them! Still, her outfit was extremely cute before it got completely ruined. Her back-up bargain outfit was memorable, too—but those light wash jeans and perfectly 2002 butterfly top will forever be seared into our brains.

7. Lizzie Walks the Italian Runway (The Lizzie McGuire Movie)

This list would not be complete without a few choice moments from 2003’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie. In one of its most iconic scenes, Lizzie and Paolo visit Italian fashion designer Franca DiMontecatini to find a dress for Lizzie to wear to the International Music Video Awards. Strutting down the runway to a cover of RuPaul’s “Supermodel,” Lizzie tries on a dress adorned with glowing tube lights; a Marie Antoinette-inspired green piece; and a bodycon dress made of stringy black ribbon—but nothing, NOTHING will top the igloo dress! We don’t need to be going to the IMVAs; we would wear this dress anywhere. Just let us have it. Please.

zzie walks down a silver metal runway in an oversized, inflatable dress resembling an igloo. The dress is plastic and has a brick pattern on it in white and gray. The dress is topped with a large, inflated hood and there are inflated bell sleeves on her arms. She is smiling at suited men who line the runway as she walks by.; Animated Lizzie is wearing a blue graduation cap and gown and is staring down angrily at the dress she is wearing under her robes; it’s a blue peasant dress with a white frilly collar. Over a dozen duplicates of the dress are lined up behind her.

8. Outfit Repeater (The Lizzie McGuire Movie)

Finally, the outfit that inspired this list. An outfit that we don’t even get to see in The Lizzie McGuire Movie. The powder blue, puffy sleeved, kind-of-a-peasant-dress (but might just be a baggy disaster of questionable fiber content) that made Lizzie McGuire an outfit repeater! Even if we only get to see this dress in cartoon form, it will always be one of the most memorable Lizzie looks because it gave us one of the most quotable lines in The Lizzie McGuire Movie. “Lizzie McGuire, you are an outfit repeater!”

It's hard to believe it’s been 22 years since Lizzie McGuire first debuted on Disney Channel, especially since Lizzie has remained a style superstar ever since. With Y2K fashion popular again, we want to know which Lizzie outfit you would want in your wardrobe. Let us know on social media—and keep reading D23.com for more on your favorite Disney Channel shows!

23 Artifacts from Disney100: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute

The D23 Team

In celebration of the one-month countdown to the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition, we’ve unveiled 23 “Crown Jewels” from the Walt Disney Archives vault of treasures that will be on display when the exhibition opens February 18, 2023, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. From live-action to animation and Disney Parks to a galaxy far, far away, the 23 items showcase a taste of the wonderful world of stories that will highlight the legacy of The Walt Disney Company at the exhibition, such as:

  • Carousel Horse used by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins (1964)
  • Genie Maquette from Aladdin (1992)
  • Digital Painting from Frozen (2013)
  • Concept Drawing of Disneyland by artist Herb Ryman
  • First Order Stormtrooper Armor from Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

A full list of the artifacts can be found below.

Disney100: The Exhibition invites guests to step into their favorite Disney stories across ten galleries throughout a 15,000-square-foot exhibit space featuring innovative and immersive technology. The Walt Disney Archives spent the past five years curating a collection of more than 250 rarely seen original artworks, artifacts, costumes, props, and other memorabilia for the exhibition celebrating 100 years of The Walt Disney Company. The vast majority of objects are from the Walt Disney Archives, with a selection of artwork from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Imagineering Art Library, and Pixar Living Archives, as well as props and costumes on loan from Marvel Studios.

The full list of the 23 artifacts, revealed in advance of the February 18 world premiere at The Franklin Institute, includes:

  • Story Script Page from Steamboat Willie (1928)
  • Visual Development Art for Alice in Wonderland (1951), created by artist and Disney Legend Mary Blair*
  • Concept Drawing of Disneyland by artist and Disney Legend Herb Ryman, graphite on paper (1953)*
  • Nautilus Special Effects Filming Model for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
  • Engineer Mickey Mouse used by Walt Disney on Opening Day of Disneyland, 1955
  • Disneyland® Park Jungle Cruise Attraction Vehicle Model used by Walt Disney, “A Trip Through Adventureland/Water Birds” – Disneyland (TV, 1956)
  • Prop Storybook featured in Sleeping Beauty(1959)
  • Clean-up Animation for Sleeping Beauty (1959), created by artist and Disney Legend Marc Davis*
  • Carousel Horse from Mary Poppins (1964), used by Disney Legend Julie Andrews
  • Visual Development Art for The Little Mermaid (1989), created by artist and Disney Legend Glen Keane*
  • Genie Maquette for Aladdin (1992), created by artist Kent Melton
  • Spell Book from Hocus Pocus (1993), used by Disney Legend Bette Midler
  • Mater Maquette for Cars (2006), created by artist Jerome Ranft
  • East High School Yearbook from High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
  • Visual Development Art Digital Painting for The Princess and the Frog (2009), created by artist Sue Nichols
  • Visual Development Art Digital Painting for Frozen (2013), created by artist Julia Kalantarova
  • BB-8 Puppet used in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise ofSkywalker (2019)
  • Captain America Shield used in Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  • Lumière Production Model for Beauty and the Beast (2017)
  • First Order Stormtrooper Armor from Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), designed by Michael Kaplan and Glyn Dillon
  • Black Panther Costume from Black Panther (2018)
  • Cinderella Castle Model for Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort
  • Attraction Vehicle from Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland Park

*Reproduction of the original

Check out images of all 23 props in the gallery below!

Disney100: The Exhibition opens on February 18, 2023, and runs through August 27, 2023. Tickets are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. For information on purchasing tickets, please visit www.fi.edu.

Disney100: The Exhibition is created and curated by the Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions. The Franklin Institute is proud to present and play host to the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center. PECO, the Premier Corporate Partner of the Franklin Institute, is the Local Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition, and PNC is the Associate Sponsor.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in February 2023

By Zach Johnson

Disney+ just announced its slate for February, which includes several new and returning series, dozens of library additions, the streaming debut of a blockbuster movie, and more! On Wednesday, February 1, all episodes of The Chorus: Success, Here I Go will debut. Ten young artists reach the final round of auditions to join the Theater Company, where they must face their dreams, passions, fears, and uncertainties of the past, which may define their future. That same day, all episodes from Season 2 of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will debut, continuing to tell hilarious stories while highlighting culturally specific experiences of the Black community and addressing universal topics. New storylines include self-worth, interracial dating, and Juneteenth.

February 1 also marks the streaming debut of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which finds Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fighting to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, ruler of a hidden undersea nation, the action-adventure film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livinalli. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will join 16 other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies currently streaming in IMAX® Enhanced on Disney+, which gives subscribers more picture with an expanded aspect ratio for an immersive viewing experience at home.  Go behind the scenes of the film on Wednesday, February 8, when Marvel Studios’ Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuts. Watch the cast and crew take on the incredible challenge of following and remembering T’Challa, with a chapter befitting the late king. Through intimate behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, watch Shuri take on the mantel of Wakanda’s hero and face a new foe from the ocean’s depths in Namor. Then, on Wednesday, February 22, all episodes of Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever will premiere. Watch composer Ludwig Göransson and director Ryan Coogler collaborate with musicians and artists from across the globe, creating the music for one of the most anticipated sequels in modern movie history.

Want even more MCU content? Three new episodes of Marvel Studios Legends dedicated to heroes who will soon appear in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (opening in movie theaters on Friday, February 17) will debut on Friday, February 10.

That same day, Pixar Animation Studios will debut a new short, Dug Days: Carl’s Date. Carl Fredricksen reluctantly agrees to go on a date with a lady friend, but admittedly has no idea how dating works these days. So, the ever-helpful Dug steps in to calm his pre-date jitters and offer tried-and-true tips for making friends... if you’re a dog, that is!

Principal Eduardo Kramer, played by Julián Arango, in The Low Tone Club, wears a purple and black suit, a white shirt, a silver brooch, and a black bowtie. He is bald and has a goatee. He stands centerstage and has a microphone in his right hand.

All episodes from Season 1 of Mila in the Multiverse will begin streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, February 15. The series follows 16-year-old Mila (Laura Luz) as she travels through the multiverse in search of her mother, Elis (Malu Mader). During her adventures, she comes face to face with The Operators, a mysterious and dangerous group that wants to exterminate all universes. A week later, on Wednesday, February 22, all episodes of The Low Tone Club will debut. The series tells the story of unconventional music teacher Amaranto Molina (Carlos Vives). Every year, Principal Eduardo Kramer (Julián Arango) chooses five students, nicknamed The High Tones, to be part of the school’s prestigious Teen Band. Molina, however, is put in charge of The Low Tones—a group of students whose talents do not meet the school’s standards. With his disruptive methods, Mr. Molina and The Low Tones embark on a musical journey that helps heal wounds and inspires them to express their own unique talents.

Each week, stream a new episode of the Disney+ Original series National Treasure: Edge of History and Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Film and television titles joining the Disney+ library throughout February include Celebrity House Hunting (Season 1), Forged in Fire (Season 4), Life Below Zero (Season 19), Liz & Dick, Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship, and Tini: The New Life of Violetta, among many others.

All the titles coming to Disney+ in February are listed below:

Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, wears a periwinkle shirt and pants set with gray stitching. She is in a workshop and tinkering with wires on a table.

Wednesday, February 1
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Chorus: Success, Here I Go (Season 1 Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)
Dead End Express (Season 1)
Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Seasons 1–3)
National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 9: “A Meeting with Salazar”)
O Coro: Sucesso, Aqui Vou Eu (Season 1)
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Season 2 Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)
Puppy Dog Pals (Season 5, 3 Episodes)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 206: “Tribe”)

Friday, February 3
Clan of the Meerkats
Life Below Zero (Season 19)
Water and Power: A California Heist 

Wednesday, February 8
7 Toughest Days (Season 1)
Arranged (Season 1)
Celebrity House Hunting (Season 1)
Dance Moms (Seasons 1–2, 7)
Dance Moms: Miami (Season 1)
Forged in Fire: Knife or Death (Seasons 1–2)
Forged in Fire (Season 4)
Ghost Hunters (Seasons 1–2)
Hamster & Gretel (Season 1, 5 Episodes)
History’s Greatest Mysteries (Seasons 1–2)
Road Truckers (Season 11)
Man vs. Child: Chef Showdown (Season 2)
Marvel Studios’ Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Premiere)
Me & Mickey (Shorts) (Season 1, 7 Episodes)
National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 10: “Treasure Protectors”) (Finale)
The Owl House (S3, 1 episode)
The Proof Is Out There (Seasons 1–2)
Rescue Cam (Season 1)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 207: “The Clone Conspiracy,” Episode 208: “Truth and Consequences”)
Storage Wars: Barry’s Best Buys (Season 1)
Storage Wars: Miami (Season 1)
Storage Wars: New York (Seasons 1–2)
Storage Wars (Season 14)

Ant-Man wears a red, black, and silver suit with a helmet that resembles an ant’s head. He is underground and running with dozens of ants that are as big as he is.

Friday, February 10
42 to 1
The Christmas Consultant
Dug Days: Carl’s Date (Premiere)
Feliz Navidad
House of Darkness
Liz & Dick
Marvel Studios Legends (Episodes: “Ant-Man,” “Hank & Janet,” “Wasp”)
People Presents: Once Upon a Main Street
The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story
The Santa Con
Tommy
Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart
Turkey Hollow
Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter

Wednesday, February 15
Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (Season 3)
Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist (Season 1)
Mars (Season 1)
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Season 1, 6 Episodes)
Mila in the Multiverse (Season 1 Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 209: “The Crossing”)
SuperKitties (Season 1, 7 Episodes)

Captain Minnie, who wears a red jacket, a white hat, and white pants with red and gold stripes down the side, poses next to Captain Mickie, who wears a blue jacket, a white hat, and white pants. They stand on a dock in front of the Disney Wish, a massive cruise ship that showcases hundreds of staterooms, a smoke stack, and more.

Friday, February 17
Inside Airport Lost & Found
Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship

Wednesday, February 22
To Catch a Smuggler (Season 4)
The Low Tone Club (Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming )
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 210: “Retrieval”)
Ultimate Airport Dubai (Seasons 1–3)
Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever (Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)

Friday, February 24
Blow Your Mind
Tini: The New Life of Violetta

Tiana’s Palace Coming to Disneyland Park in 2023—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Dreams Do Come True in New Orleans: Tiana’s Palace Coming Soon to Disneyland Park

Yes, it’s true: French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park will soon be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace, our friends at the Disney Parks Blog announced earlier this week. Located on Orleans Street, the quick-service style restaurant will feature peach walls and green wrought-iron balconies, as well as opulent fixtures and appointments inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Princess and the Frog.

Tiana’s Palace will offer authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures. While not a character dining location, guests may indeed find Tiana in New Orleans Square! The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore lots of delectable seasonal flavors, and, of course, offer delicious New Orleans classics.

Walt Disney Imagineers are partnering with artists from The Princess and the Frog to bring this story to life at Disneyland Park—a fitting reunion, as animation artists were inspired by the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing the film’s restaurant.

To begin this exciting transformation, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed starting February 17. It will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside the popular Mint Julep Bar, with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later this year.

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

So what can you expect this lovely weekend in January, streaming to your favorite device from around the worlds of Disney? Why not get ready for The Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Finding Nemo this Sunday night by bingeing all manner of Pixar favorites? See what we recommend right here.

Jon Landau (left) and James Cameron (right) are seen bending down and leaning on a long red carpeted footstool above two boxes full of cement that are both labeled with signs reading “TCL Chinese Theatre.” A poster for “Avatar: The Way of Water” is seen behind them. Landau is wearing a print button-up shirt; Cameron is wearing a dark suit. Both are smiling and looking toward the camera.

James Cameron and Jon Landau Honored at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX® in Hollywood

With Avatar: The Way of Water delighting moviegoers around the world, its director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau were honored this week with a truly iconic celebration: a Handprints and Footprints Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX® in Hollywood! Among the attendees at the ceremony, during which Cameron and Landau put their handprints and footprints in cement in the legendary movie palace’s forecourt, were Avatar: The Way of Water cast members Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang.

This honor comes hot on the heels of the duo’s nomination by the Producers Guild of America (PGA) for producing Avatar: The Way of Water, the most successful worldwide release of 2022—and the seventh highest-grossing film of all time worldwide! The film has also been nominated for six Critics Choice awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and was nominated two Golden Globe® awards. Additionally, it’s been selected as one of the year’s top films by the AFI and National Board of Review.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water also stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Kate Winslet.

All the Winter TCA Press Tour News That’s Fit to Post…

This week, D23 has been lucky enough to attend the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour, finding out the latest and greatest about linear and streaming programs from across The Walt Disney Company. Find out what you can soon expect from ABC, Freeform, Disney Television Studios, Disney Branded Television, FX, and more by clicking here.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip and Dale, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy are all seen wearing their Spring Festival finest and standing in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit at Shanghai Disney Resort.

Shanghai Disney Resort Celebrates the Year of the Rabbit

Are you ready to hop into the Year of the Rabbit? Shanghai Disney Resort sure is, with a month-long lineup of special celebrations from now until Friday, February 10!

During these special festivities, guests are encouraged to bring family, friends, and loved ones for a fun and unique Spring Festival vacation. Not only can guests continue to enjoy the season-long Disney Winter Frostival, but they will also experience festive new décor, delightful entertainment, deliciously comforting food, and unique merchandise that all pay tribute to timeless Chinese traditions in signature Disney style.

Known as one of the Chinese zodiac’s most happy-go-lucky animals, the auspicious rabbit brings its fun spirit to every corner of the resort this Spring Festival. And to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, guests will be treated to a range of opportunities to encounter their favorite bunnies. Case in point: From Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia, Judy Hopps will join the Spring Festival celebrations!

As one of the park’s beloved rabbit characters, Judy will receive her very own mosaic among the 12 zodiac signs in the Garden of the Twelve Friends. Echoing the year’s optimism and her “try everything” attitude, the mosaic depicts Judy cheerfully heading to the metropolis of Zootopia by train as the landmark skyline awaits, brimming with adventure. Additionally, Judy will appear in the popular shows returning to Mickey Avenue this year, and guests will be able to catch her at selfie spots on Mickey Avenue, complete with a cheerful new overlay for the holidays that will make these photos a unique souvenir for the Year of the Rabbit.

Guests will also have the chance to be among the first to dine at Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights in Disneytown, scheduled to open in mid-January. Sure to charm its way onto every food lover’s list this winter, with its cozy dining environment and rich storytelling, Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights will serve up seasonally inspired Western cuisine with Asian touches.

For more information about Shanghai Disney Resort’s incredible Spring Festival celebrations, visit ShanghaiDisneyResort.com.

Don’t Miss the Latest Disney Parks Announcements!

It was a huge week for news from our pals over at Disney Parks—from an opening date for TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, to Park Hopper ticket updates at Disneyland Resort, and so much more. Take a gander at D23’s handy-dandy rundown of the announcements, and start planning those vacations!

In a promo image for Adventures by Disney’s 2024 River Cruise Itineraries, a family—a mom (left), a child (middle), and a dad (right)—are seen walking along the waterfront in a European city, laughing and smiling and holding hands. The mom wears a purple top and jeans; the child wears a dark sweater, yellow shirt, and patterned skirt; and the dad wears a gray sweater, purple shirt, and gray jeans. Majestic buildings and hills are seen in the background.

Adventures by Disney Announces 2024 River Cruise Itineraries

The good folks over at Adventures by Disney recently announced their return to three of Europe’s most iconic rivers for the 2024 travel season. With 22 river cruise departures planned, Adventures by Disney guests will once again experience the unparalleled beauty of European landscapes and vibrant culture with sailings on the Rhine River, the Danube River, and the Seine River. Each itinerary will offer Disney’s signature storytelling with the convenience of hassle-free travel and attention to detail provided by a team of Disney-trained Adventure Guides. Sounds pretty spectacular to us…

Headlining the 2024 lineup is the new Danube River Cruise: Magical Holidays departure, which marks the first time the guided group travel company will offer a themed river cruise voyage during the New Year’s holiday! Guests will sail on the Danube River in a beautifully designed river cruise ship; ring in the new year with a celebration and champagne toast; and explore famous and picturesque sites and landmarks across Germany, Austria, and Hungary.

Returning favorites also join the 2024 lineup, including the seasonal Oktoberfest and Christmas Markets river cruises and the popular Food and Wine sailings, featuring delectable meals, desserts, and beverages local to the region.

Bookings open to the public on January 20, 2023. More details can be found at AdventuresByDisney.com.

Disney Imagineers Connect with FIRST Robotics Teams for the 2023 Season

The 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition season recently kicked off for tens of thousands of students around the world. What’s FIRST, you may ask? It’s a community that brings students together and prepares them for the future through team-based robotics competitions and mentorship. A “sport for the mind,” FIRST combines the fun and thrill of competition with the mental dexterity of science and technology.

Several Walt Disney Imagineers will once again serve as mentors this year and are proud to continue to support the organization, as they have done since its inception more than 30 years ago. The teams and their mentors can be seen in action in the video above.

“So many of the things they do with FIRST translate directly to what we do here at WDI,” Imagineer Greg Johnson recently said. “And not just the technical skills, but the interpersonal and teamwork skills that have direct parallels to how we complete projects.”

Teams will begin by learning the parameters for this year’s competition and start brainstorming how to solve the challenge. They’ll build their robots over the course of about two months before entering a series of regional competitions. As teams advance through the regionals, their goal is to compete for the international FIRST Championship, set for April 19-22 in Houston, Texas. Keep your eyes peeled for more news from FIRST as the competitions continue…

ICYMI: Award Season Is Officially Underway!

Yes, it’s awards season once again… and earlier this week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded The Walt Disney Company nine Golden Globes®—more than any other entertainment company! In case you missed the ceremony, see the winners right here at D23.com. But that’s not all: Disney also just earned 19 nominations for the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®; check out the list here. And congrats to all!

Disney Branded Television Releases Official Trailer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

By Jessica Benda

Disney Branded Television today released the official trailer for the new animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) and her 10-ton T-Rex partner, Devil Dinosaur.

And you won’t have to wait much longer for the eagerly anticipated series. Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will premiere on Friday, February 10, on Disney Channel, with the first six episodes available on Disney+ on Wednesday, February 15.

Check out the official trailer here:

Disney Branded Television also released a new poster for the series, seen above.

After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into modern-day New York City, they team up as the Lower East Side’s new protectors. The series stars Diamond White as Lunella/Moon Girl; Fred Tatasciore as Devil Dinosaur; Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster. Guest-starring as Season 1 villains are Jennifer Hudson (Mane) and Daveed Diggs (Rat King).

Vibrant animation is backed by music from three-time Grammy® Award-winner Raphael Saadiq, available for pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music here. The soundtrack drops on February 10.

From Disney Television Animation, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is executive produced by Fishburne’s and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish, grown-ish) and Emmy Award®-winner Steve Loter (Kim Possible). Emmy Award-winner Rodney Clouden (Futurama) is supervising producer, Jeffrey M. Howard (Planes) and Emmy Award-winner Kate Kondell (The Pirate Fairy) are co-producers and story editors, and Pilar Flynn (Elena of Avalor) is producer.

Every Major Announcement from Disney at the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour

By Andie Hagemann

For four days, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is attending the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour to discover what the future of linear and streaming looks like for The Walt Disney Company. Read on to learn more about new series The Company You Keep, Will Trent, Not Dead Yet, The Watchful Eye, American Born Chinese, as well as returning programs Jeopardy! Masters, Claim to Fame, Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy, General Hospital, grown-ish, How I Met Your Father, The Bear, Dave, and many more!

ABC, Freeform, and Disney Television Studios presented on Wednesday, followed by FX on Thursday. Disney+, Disney Branded Television, and National Geographic, will present on Friday, while Hulu and Onyx Collective will present Saturday. Below is a chronological recap of the presentations. Keep checking back as more announcements are made.

ABC

ABC has picked up an elite-level iteration of Jeopardy! Masters, produced by Sony Pictures Television. Hosted by Ken Jennings, the primetime series will feature the six highest-ranked current Jeopardy! contestants—Matt Amodio, Sam Buttrey, Andrew He, James Holzhauer, Mattea Roach, and Amy Schneider—who will face off in a Champions League-style event to win the coveted title of Jeopardy! Masters Champion. The series is executive produced by Michael Davies.

Additionally, competition series Claim to Fame—hosted by Kevin and Frankie Jonas—along with fan-favorite game shows Celebrity Family Feud and Press Your Luck received new season pickups.

Dust off your dictionaries and grab that hairbrush microphone! Today, ABC announced Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong, the fifth installment of its successful Singalong franchise, with Emmy®-winning television host Ryan Seacrest, airing Wednesday, February 1, from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong will be available to stream the next day on Hulu and at a later date on Disney+. The special transports viewers back to school, where they’ll enjoy beloved Schoolhouse Rock hits that are as educational as they are catchy, all in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic series.

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong includes performances by Black Eyed Peas (“Three Is a Magic Number”), Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert (“Figure 8”), Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen (“I’m Just a Bill”), Julianne Hough (“Interplanet Janet”), The Muppets & Fortune Feimster (“Unpack Your Adjectives”), NE-YO (“Verb: That’s What’s Happening”), Raven Symoné and Kal Penn (“Interjections”), Retta (“Ready or Not, Here I Come”), Shaquille O’Neal and Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta (“Conjunction Junction”), and stars from Disney’s Broadway and touring productions (“A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing”).

The performance of “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing” highlights Disney’s Broadway stars Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Bonita Hamilton (The Lion King), Mduduzi Madela (The Lion King), Marcus M. Martin (Aladdin), Kara Lindsay (Newsies), and Charity Dawson (Hercules)

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong is produced by Done+Dusted in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include RJ Durell, Ashley Edens, Nick Florez, and Katy Mullan.

As one chapter closes, a new one opens: Grey Sloan Memorial celebrates Meredith Grey, portrayed by Disney Legend Ellen Pompeo, as she says farewell to Seattle, when Grey’s Anatomy returns Thursday, February 23, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

In the episode entitled “I’ll Follow the Sun,” it’s Meredith’s last day at Grey Sloan Memorial and the doctors plan a goodbye surprise, while Nick confronts her about the future of their relationship. Elsewhere, the interns compete to scrub in on Maggie and Winston's groundbreaking partial heart transplant procedure, and Richard asks Teddy an important question. “I’ll Follow the Sun” is written by Krista Vernoff and directed by Debbie Allen.

Grey’s Anatomy also stars Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt, Chris Carmack as Atticus “Link” Lincoln, Anthony Hill as Winston Ndugu, Alexis Floyd as Simone Griffith, Harry Shum Jr. as Benson “Blue” Kwan, Adelaide Kane as Jules Millin, Midori Francis as Mika Yasuda, Niko Terho as Lucas Adams, and Scott Speedman as Nick Marsh.

Grey’s Anatomy was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Krista Vernoff serves as showrunner and executive producer. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Meg Marinis, Zoanne Clack, Allen, and Pompeo are executive producers. The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios.

On the heels of its three wins at Tuesday night’s Golden Globe® Awards ceremony, ABC has renewed hit comedy series Abbott Elementary from Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television for a third season. It was announced today by Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals.

Season 2 is currently airing on ABC and available to stream the next day on Hulu. New episodes air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Abbott Elementary stars Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Emmy® Award winner Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.

Brunson created the series and also serves as executive producer alongside Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, of Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, and Randall Einhorn.

Steamy new drama The Company You Keep, starring Milo Ventimiglia and Catherine Haena Kim, debuts Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

A night of passion leads to love between con man Charlie (Ventimiglia) and undercover CIA officer Emma (Kim), who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the “family business” so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in hand—forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences. The series is based on the Korean Broadcasting System series My Fellow Citizens.

Watch a sneak peek below:

The Company You Keep also William Fichtner as Leo, Tim Chiou as David, Freda Foh Shen as Grace, James Saito as Joseph, Sarah Wayne Callies as Birdie, Felisha Terrell as Daphne, and Polly Draper as Fran.

Executive producers and co-showrunners are Julia Cohen and Phil Klemmer, Milo Ventimiglia and Russ Cundiff (DiVide Pictures), Jon M. Chu and Caitlin Foito (Electric Somewhere), and Todd Harthan and Lindsay Goffman (Gratitude Productions). Deanna Harris (DiVide Pictures) is a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, April 1, 2023. To honor the milestone, the network is set to present the cast and crew with a stage dedication on the Prospect Studios lot, permanently commemorating the show’s legacy.

The show will kick off its anniversary programming at the end of March with a special episode honoring the late Sonya Eddy, who played head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the series since 2006. Then, the beloved Nurses Ball—a fictional glamorous charity event complete with red-carpet fashion and musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles, all dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness—returns starting the week of April 3. This marks the first time the Nurses Ball has aired since 2020. The festivities will then continue as icons of Port Charles unite to stop a legendary threat from the past. ABC also announced Jane Elliot is set to reprise her role as the legendary Tracy Quartermaine in April.

General Hospital stars Genie Francis, Maurice Benard, Finola Hughes, Kristina Wagner, Nancy Lee Grahn, Rebecca Herbst, Kelly Monaco, Laura Wright, Kirsten Storms, Dominic Zamprogna, Maura West, Chad Duell, Roger Howarth, Donnell Turner, Michael Easton, Eden McCoy, Cynthia Watros, Katelyn MacMullen, Sofia Mattsson, Amanda Setton, Brook Kerr, Nicholas Chavez, Avery Kristen Pohl, Cameron Mathison, Charles Shaughnessy, Tajh Bellow, Tanisha Harper, Tabyana Ali, Robert Gossett, Josh Kelly, Gregory Harrison, and Evan Hofer.

General Hospital was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Frank Valentini serves as the executive producer and showrunner. Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor are co-head writers. The series is produced by ABC.

The cast and creatives of ABC’s Will Trent pose on the red carpet at the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour. 

Based on Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling book series of the same name, Will Trent follows Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), who was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI. Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Watch a sneak peek of next week’s episode, airing Tuesday, January 17:

Will Trent also stars Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner, Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, and Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood. Liz Heldens, Daniel Thomsen, Oly Obst, and Slaughter serve as executive producers; Rodríguez is a producer. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

Angela E. Gibbs, Rick Glassman, David Windsor (Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer), Gina Rodriguez (Executive Producer), Casey Johnson (Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer), Hannah Simone, Dean Holland (Executive Producer), Lauren Ash, and Josh Banday sit in chairs onstage during the 2023 Winter TCA Press Tour.

ABC’s newest addition to its comedy roster, Not Dead Yet starring and executive produced by Gina Rodriguez, makes its highly anticipated series debut with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, February 8,starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The series follows Nell Serrano (Rodriguez), a broke and newly single self-described disaster, working to restart the life and career she left behind five years ago. When she lands the only job she can find―writing obituaries―Nell starts getting life advice from some unlikely sources, the dead people whose lives she’s writing about. Joining previously announced Martin Mull as Nell’s ghostly visitors is a star-studded roster, including Ed Begley Jr., Mo Collins, Deborah S. Craig, Telma Hopkins, Don Lake, Rhea Perlman, Paula Pell, Tony Plana, Brittany Snow, and Julia Sweeney.

Not Dead Yet also stars Hannah Simone as Sam, Lauren Ash as Lexi, Rick Glassman as Edward, Josh Banday as Dennis, and Angela Gibbs as Cricket. Casey Johnson and David Windsor are creators and executive producers. Also executive producing is Dean Holland and Wonderland Sound and Vision’s McG, Mary Viola, and Corey Marsh. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

The key art for ABC’s A Million Little Things depicts the cast standing on a grassy hill and looking over their shoulder in front of a city skyline.

As Rome Howard says, “Life isn’t just about the moments; it’s about who you share them with.” And as the fifth and final season of the beloved ABC drama series A Million Little Things unfolds, viewers will watch through laughter and tears as the incredible journey reaches its conclusion. Along the way, viewers will explore the depths of friendship, love, and sorrow as we bid adieu to this special family of friends, once again proving that friendship really is a million little things. The celebratory farewell season of A Million Little Thingsbegins Wednesday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Below is a preview of the final season:

The series stars David Giuntoli as Eddie Saville, Romany Malco as Rome Howard, Allison Miller as Maggie Bloom, Christina Moses as Regina Howard, Grace Park as Katherine Kim, James Roday Rodriguez as Gary Mendez, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah Dixon, Tristan Byon as Theo Saville, Lizzy Greene as Sophie Dixon, and Chance Hurstfield as Danny Dixon.

DJ Nash is the creator and executive producer; Terrence Coli, Aaron Kaplan and Brian Morewitz are executive producers; Terrence Coli serves as the showrunner; ad Joanna Kerns serves as co-executive producer on the series from ABC Signature/Kapital Entertainment. ABC Signature is a part of Disney Television Studios.

Freeform

Freeform has picked up Love Trip: Paris, an unscripted dating show filmed entirely in Paris, to series. In Love Trip: Paris, four American girls—Caroline, Rose, Lacy, and Josielyn—unlucky in love in their own country, move into a penthouse in the middle of Paris to find a floor of French suitors waiting to date them. Is this love trip to Paris their one-way ticket to romance, or are they headed for heartbreak in another language? The series debuts Tuesday, February 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-episode premiere and will air weekly at 10 p.m. ET/PT thereafter.

Freeform shared a sneak peek at the new series:

Love Trip: Paris comes from FOX Alternative Entertainment and AH Production/Satisfaction Group, who originated the format, and is executive produced by Susan House. The show is narrated by Matt Rogers.

In a scene from Freeform series grown-ish, actor Marcus Scribner portrays Junior. Sitting on a wooden coffee table, he wears a colorful tie-dye shirt and blue sweatpants.

Freeform also shared that grown-ish has been picked up for Season 6. The series returns for the second half of its fifth season on Wednesday, January 18, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

grown-ish follows Andre Johnson Jr. (Marcus Scribner), aka Junior, as he finishes his first year at Cal U, transitioning from Zoey’s little brother to big man on campus. The series also stars Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Diggy Simmons, and Daniella Perkins. Kenya Barris, Zakiyyah Alexander, Courtney Lilly, Craig Doyle, Shahidi, Disney Legend Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, and Michael Petok serve as executive producers. grown-ish is produced by ABC Signature.

The cast from Freeform series The Watchful Eye pose in a promotional still.

Freeform released the trailer for the upcoming mystery The Watchful Eye, from Ryan Seacrest Productions. The series follows Elena Santos (Mariel Molino), a young woman with a complicated past, maneuvering her way into working as a live-in nanny for an affluent family in Manhattan. She quickly learns that everyone in the mysterious building has deadly secrets and ulterior motives. What they don’t know, however, is that Elena has some shocking secrets of her own.

The Watchful Eye is created by Julie Durk, who also serves as consultant. Emily Fox is showrunner and executive producer. Ryan Seacrest, Nina Wass, Andrea Shay, and Jeffrey Reiner serve as executive producers, with Reiner directing the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios. The Watchful Eye premieres Monday, January 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-episode premiere and will air weekly at 10 p.m. thereafter, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu. 

In a scene from Freeform series Good Trouble, actor Maia Mitchell portrays Callie Adams-Foster. She holds a gray coat over her arm, and wears a black, long-sleeved T-shirt and blue denim pants.

Good Trouble returns for a fifth season this spring, following the twenty-something residents of Los Angeles’ The Coterie. The roommates will face their toughest obstacles yet as they’re confronted with evolving relationship challenges and new career opportunities. Through highs and lows, romance and heartbreak, The Coterie crew will lean on each other while they navigate the next stage of adulthood. The series stars Cierra Ramirez, Tommy Martinez, Emma Hunton, Sherry Cola, Zuri Adele, Josh Pence, Bryan Craig, and Booboo Stewart. It is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Christine Sacani, Greg Gugliotta, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Cierra Ramirez. Johnson also serves as showrunner. Good Troublereturns to Freeform on Thursday, March 16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and the next day on Hulu, with fan-favorite Maia Mitchell returning to reprise her role as Callie Adams-Foster. 

A promotional image depicting the cast from Freeform series Single Drunk Female in front of an orange background

The second season of the critically acclaimed comedy Single Drunk Female will debut on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with the entire 10-episode second season available on Hulu and on-demand platforms the next day, April 13.

In Season 2, with a year and a half of sobriety under her belt, Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) finally feels like she has a life worth celebrating. However, she quickly learns that sometimes life has other plans for her. Sam must figure out how to effect change where she can, sit in her discomfort when she can’t, and maybe even enjoy the ride.

Single Drunk Female also stars Ally Sheedy, Sasha Compere, Lily Mae Harrington, Garrick Bernard, and Ian Gomez. Busy Philipps and Ricky Velez will recur as new people in Sam’s life, and Charlie Hall will once again recur as Sam’s ex, Joel. As previously announced, Molly Ringwald will guest star as Carol’s sister-in-law Alice. The series comes from 20th Television and is executive produced by Jenni Konner, Daisy Gardner, Simone Finch, John Riggi, Phil Traill, Nora Silver, and Leslye Headland.

The cast from Season 2 of Freeform series Cruel Summer pose in a promotional image. 

Cruel Summer, the highest-rated series in Freeform history, will return for its second season in Summer 2023. The anthology series features a brand-new cast and mystery. Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the next chapter of Cruel Summer follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella, and Megan’s best friend Luke; the love triangle that blossomed; and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

The series stars Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada, and Sean Blakemore; Paul Adelstein will recur. Cruel Summer comes from studio Entertainment One (eOne) and was created by Bert V. Royal. Elle Triedman serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Triedman, Bill Purple, Tia Napolitano, and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. The series is distributed internationally by eOne.

FX

The cast of FX series DAVE pose in front of a pink tour bus parked in the desert.

FX announced the premiere dates for several new and returning series coming in early 2023, including the next batch of documentary films under The New York Times Presents banner, the third season of the comedy series DAVE, and the docuseries Dear Mama.

These series join the previously announced premiere of the sixth and final season of Snowfall on Wednesday, February 22, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX, streaming the next day on Hulu.

The New York Times Presents: Sin Eater, a two-part documentary about infamous Hollywood P.I. Anthony Pellicano, premieres Friday, March 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT simultaneously on FX and Hulu with the two parts airing back-to-back. Comedy series DAVE from rapper and comedian Dave Burd, will premiere Wednesday, April 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX and stream the next day on Hulu.

FX’s The New York Times Presents: The Legacy of J Dilla, a documentary feature about prolific musician, producer, and visionary J Dilla, premieres Friday, April 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT simultaneously on FX and Hulu. The five-part docuseries Dear Mama, exploring the lives and legacies of mother and son Afeni and Tupac Shakur will debut Friday, April 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and be available the next day on Hulu.

Disney Branded Television

The Disney Original Movie Prom Pact, a heartwarming romantic comedy set during the emotion and excitement of high school prom season. It’s the height of prom season, and high school senior Mandy Yang (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend and fellow outsider Ben (Milo Manheim) are surrounded by over-the-top ‘80s-themed Promposals. However, Mandy keeps her eyes focused on a different goal: her lifelong dream of attending Harvard. When she finds out that she has put on the waitlist, she is determined to do whatever she can do to get herself accepted, even if that means asking for help from the one person she abhors—popular all-star jock Graham Lansing (Blake Draper), whose father is a powerful senator and Harvard alum. Once Mandy becomes Graham’s tutor, she begins to realize there’s more to him than she thought and perhaps something more to life than Harvard.

The film stars as Mandy, as Ben, newcomer Blake Draper as Graham, Monique Green as LaToya, Margaret Cho as Ms. Chen, Arica Himmel as Zenobia, Jason Sakaki as Charles, David S. Jung as Tom, and Wendi McLendon-Covey as Alyssa. Anya Adams directed Prom Pact and is also an executive producer along with Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Julie Bowen, and Rachael Field.

Disney Channel shared first look images at the upcoming movie below:

Prom Pact premieres Thursday, March 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+.

Debuting this spring, American Born Chinese, based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang is a genre-hopping action comedy that tells the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.

Below is a sneak peek at the upcoming series:

American Born Chinese also stars Michelle Yeoh, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Jim Liu, Ke Huy Quan, Sydney Taylor, and Daniel Wu.

Disney Channel also shared a first look at the new series The Crossover. Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel in-verse by Kwame Alexander, The Crossover, from Disney Branded Television, introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of his and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own.

Narrated by Daveed Diggs, the series stars Jalyn Hall as Filthy, Amir O’Neil as Jordan, Sabrina Revelle as Crystal, Derek Luke as Chuck, Skyla l’Lece as Alexis, Trevor Raine Bush as Vondie, and Deja Monique Cruz as Maya.

The animated children from the Disney Junior series Firebuds each stand on the roof of a first responder vehicle and raise an arm in the air. The vehicles, from left to right, are a blue police car, a red firetruck, and a blue and white ambulance, each with eyes in their windshields and smiles on their grills.

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, announced that Disney Junior has ordered second seasons of Firebuds, SuperKitties, and Pupstruction, during the Disney Branded Television presentation on Friday.

“Firebuds, SuperKitties, and Pupstruction all encompass what Disney Junior does best,” Davis said. “Each of these series embrace signature Disney qualities of imagination, adventure, and heart, with music you can sing along to and fun, energetic characters that embody positivity, optimism, and the power of teamwork.”

Disney+ has given the greenlight to the feature-length music docu-special Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman, in which Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville captures Dave Letterman on his first visit to Dublin to hang out with Bono and The Edge in their hometown, experience Dublin, and join the two U2 musicians for a concert performance unlike any they’ve done before. Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis made the announcement today, unveiling a first-look teaser of the docu-special.

“Bono and The Edge are the force behind one of the most prolific and influential acts in the history of rock and roll, and we are honored to bring this truly intimate look at their beginnings, friendship, and creative process to a global audience on Disney+,” said Davis.

Letterman added, “Recently, I won a radio contest. Winner gets to visit Dublin with Bono and The Edge (radio contest part not true, but I feel like a winner). They showed me around, introduced me to their musician friends, and performed some of their greatest songs in a small theater. It’s a great tour. Get in touch with them―I’m told there are still availabilities. I’m the luckiest man on the planet. (There are no availabilities.)”

Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman, from Disney Branded Television, is set to premiere globally on Disney+ on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, coinciding with the release of U2’s highly anticipated album Songs of Surrender―a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across the band’s catalog, re-recorded and reimagined.

Davis also announced that Dan Povenmire, co-creator and executive producer, has agreed to a new overall deal with Disney Branded Television that includes production of 40 all-new episodes of Phineas and Ferb, a second season renewal of the animated superhero series Hamster & Gretel, and the development of live-action projects.

“Dan is renowned for his ability to create universally beloved stories and characters with both heart and humor,” Davis said. “We couldn’t be happier to continue our collaboration with him and bring back the iconic Phineas and Ferb in a big way.”

Meredith Roberts, executive vice president, Animation, Disney Branded Television, added, “Dan is a true mastermind, and his brilliant brand of storytelling has always been infused with a kind-spirited and optimistic sense of humor which continues to strike a perfect chord with audiences the world over. On behalf of everyone at Disney Television Animation, we’re so pleased to continue our association with Dan and his inspiring creative team―visionary producers, writers, animators, song composers, and directors who have entertained and connected with generations of viewers.”

Povenmire wrote and co-wrote some 500 songs for Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy’s Law, and Hamster & Gretel, many of which have continued to trend on social media platforms.

“It has been the greatest pleasure of my career to see how an entire generation of kids and parents have embraced the characters and the humor of Phineas and Ferb,” Povenmire said. “I’m eagerly looking forward to diving back into the show for them and for a whole new generation.”

In a colorful poster for the animated television series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Lunella Lafayette, aka Moon Girl, wearing red goggles and a blue and yellow helmet, rides through the streets on New York’s Lower East Side atop Devil Dinosaur, a 10-ton T. Rex. The pair appear to be galloping at the camera, and Lunella is yelling Watch Me Shine. The logo for the show is at the top of the poster, while the logos for Disney Channel and Disney Plus are at the bottom, along with the debut dates for each: February 10 for Disney Channel and February 15 for Disney Plus.

On Friday, Disney Branded Television shared the official trailer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which premieres Friday, February 10, on Disney Channel and shortly thereafter on Disney+.

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) (voiced by Diamond White) and her 10-ton T-Rex partner, Devil Dinosaur (voiced by Fred Tatasciore). After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.

The series also includes the voices of Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster. Season 1’s star-studded guest cast includes Jennifer Hudson and Daveed Diggs as villains Mane and Rat King, respectively.

Fans can click here to pre-save the show’s music from executive music producer Raphael Saadiq. The soundtrack will be available on the date of the premiere.

National Geographic

Live onstage, National Geographic Content President Courteney Monroe announced two brand-new unscripted anthology franchises have been greenlit: One Day in America and a currently untitled franchise that will forensically explore the biggest natural disasters in recent history. The two anthology series exemplify National Geographic’s commitment to delve into contemporary history with unparalleled depth and complexity.

“These new documentary franchises exemplify our aim to be the brand of record for events that forever changed the shape of history,” Monroe said. “Weaving together never-before-seen archive and powerful first-person testimony, these powerful and riveting series will serve as the definitive stories of these momentous events.”  

The One Day in America franchise, from 72 Films, comes on the heels of the Emmy® Award-winning documentary series 9/11: One Day in America, a six-part series about the events of September 11, 2001, which used archive and first-person testimony from first responders and survivors.

The new series franchise greenlights include the following:

One Day in America

JFK: One Day in America (72 Films)

This is the story of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the president of the United States, told in real time by those who were there. The three-part series will capture how in November 1963, the American president was shot, a search ensued, a policeman was killed, and the assassin was then murdered. Using archive footage of the investigation, police radio recordings, live broadcasts, and footage from dozens of television crews, viewers will be fully immersed into the events as they unfold. New and archival interviews with eyewitnesses who were there will give a unique perspective on what really happened, their version of events, and how they think these experiences shaped them and the wider world. The series marks 60 years since the assassination of JFK, and they are the last surviving witnesses to these extraordinary events. The executive producers are David Glover, TJ Martin, and Dan Lindsay.

The Cult: One Day in Jonestown (72 Films)

The three-part series follows the story of the largest mass murder-suicide in America, told in real time by those who were there, and will capture how on November 18, 1978, over 900 people died during a mass suicide at a cult temple run by Jim Jones. Providing insight and context into this cult, discover how Jim Jones started a progressive society based on Marxist ideals, helping marginalized people who were excluded from society, and how his vision became marked by paranoia and fear, leading him to create a colony in the Guyanese jungle—all leading up to the final shocking order of mass suicide to his followers. The series taps into a staggering archive, including the Jonestown death tape, the 44-minute live audio that records the entirety of the fatal mass suicide, and the harrowing military footage of the soldiers sent to clear up.  The series will also feature an extensive collection of films by the Jonestown survivors themselves from the months leading up to the tragedy, allowing a rare look into Jones’ secretive cult.

The only voices viewers will hear are of those who were there on the day and can be seen in the archival footage. There will be archival interviews and first-hand testimony from witnesses giving a unique perspective on what really happened, their version of events, and how they think these experiences shaped them and the wider world. The executive producers are Glover, Martin, and Lindsay.

Natural Disaster Franchise

Tsunami (Working Title) (Blast Films)

On December 26, 2004, the world witnessed the worst-ever natural disaster: the Indian Ocean Tsunami. More than 230,000 people lost their lives, while 3 million people across 14 countries were caught up in the unfolding tragedy. Thousands clung to trees, buildings, and floating wreckage in a bid for survival. Many were rescued through acts of astonishing bravery carried out by strangers from all over the world―neighbors and friends, tourists and first responders. The four-part series will provide the most comprehensive and immersive minute-by-minute account of the tsunami’s seven-hour trail of destruction across two continents, 14 countries, and 5,000 miles. For the first time, the voices of those caught in the disaster will be combined with the never-before-seen footage to shine a light on the resilience, kindness, and bravery that human beings are capable of in the most extreme and difficult circumstances. The executive producers are Danny Horan, Tanya Winston, and Daniel Bogado. The series is set to premiere in 2024, timed to the 20th anniversary.

Katrina (Working Title) (Lightbox)

From Lightbox, the Oscar® and Emmy-winning producers behind LA92, this five-part premium series tells the definitive story of Katrina from a period of two decades of hindsight, with everything we can now see clearly for the first time. As such, the series will offer a layered and nuanced narrative that has not previously been possible. It will foreground the cataclysmic events of the weeks of the disaster in forensic detail while also contextualizing this narrative by pulling together the threads of seemingly unrelated events that played out years, and sometimes even decades, prior to the catastrophe that is vital in understanding not just how Katrina unfolded in the way it did, but why. Told from the perspectives of key characters―both people on the ground and those in positions of power―and hundreds of hours of visceral archival footage which will drive every aspect of our narrative, Katrina (working title) will show how the floodwaters of America’s worst natural disaster tore through not only the Gulf States but also the very fabric of society. In doing so, it will raise searing questions about race in America, many of which remain unanswered―yet still highly relevant―two decades later. Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn are the executive producers. The series is set to premiere in 2025, timed to the 20th anniversary.

Monroe also announced the greenlight of Underdogs, an unconventional natural history series that will tell the story of the heroic underdogs of the natural world―the good, the bad, and the frankly ugly. The 10-part series is co-produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and Wildstar Films.

The series was unveiled with a tongue-in-cheek teaser video narrated by Reynolds, during Nat Geo’s TCA session. Reynolds will narrate the entire 10-episode series, bringing his distinctive voice and humorous take to the natural world through a groundbreaking partnership that bakes humor into the storytelling from the ground up. From their hidden talents to their bold hygiene choices, unsavory courtship rituals, devious camouflage techniques and “tough love” parenting skills, Underdogs will celebrate and champion the unique and unpredictable behaviors of a little known and surprising cast of animal characters. These overlooked superstars come in all sizes, shapes, and smells. They’re the outcasts and the troublemakers, brash, unsophisticated, flatulent, incontinent, and often unhinged. But they’re also warriors, team players, and evil geniuses. They’re out there 24-7 giving it maximum effort, keeping the natural world in working order for all those showboating polar bears, sharks, and gorillas.

“Underdogs represents an entirely fresh take on the natural history genre that is sure to delight and inform audiences of all ages,” Monroe said. “With Ryan and Maximum Effort’s irreverent spirit and Wildstar’s award-winning expertise in wildlife storytelling, we have assembled the perfect team to tell the entertaining stories of nature’s unsung heroes with both humor and heart.”

Reynolds added, “I love nature series and I love making things my kids can actually watch. We’re already having a lot of fun trying to bring a new voice to animal docs. Wildstar has the expertise, experience, and cutting-edge film tech to help us chew up that healthy National Geographic budget. We’ll deliver a show that is entertaining, surprising and will do justice to animals usually stuck as supporting cast.”

In a surprise appearance at the Winter TCA Press Tour, executive producer and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron made the trip to Pasadena to join Monroe onstage.

During the Secrets of the Elephants panel, it was revealed that Natalie Portman will narrate the upcoming Earth Day series, premiering Friday, April 21. Then, Cameron shared new installments of his award-winning National Geographic Earth Day franchise series Secrets of with Secrets of the Bees and Secrets of the Penguins. Previously announced, next year’s special will be Secrets of the Octopus.

“On the Avatar films, we’re creating a fantasy view of nature but, thematically, underneath all that is this idea of the interconnectedness not only of nature itself but of us with nature, as inhabitants of nature,” Cameron said. “In the Secrets series, we try to forge an even more intimate and emotional connection with nature―to illuminate how these amazing creatures think, how they feel, how they communicate, how they function as complex societies and cultures.”

Monroe added, “With an over 135-year-old legacy in natural history content, we’re just as passionate about who’s telling our stories as the stories we tell. Whether it be our onscreen scientists in Secrets of the Elephants, our narrators like Natalie Portman, or our filmmakers like Jim Cameron, we have become a port-of-call for best in class talent who want to tell meaningful stories that inspire a deeper connection to our world. Our Secrets of franchise reinforces our commitment at National Geographic to remaining the leader in natural history storytelling.”

Cameron also shared a clip of his upcoming National Geographic special Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron. The special will air on Sunday, February 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT leading into Titanic’s remastered theatrical release on Friday, February 10. An update of Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron, the new documentary features the surprising story of how the long-lost ship was found, explores historical questions about how the Titanic sank, and digs into the debate about whether additional lifeboats on board would have saved more lives. In a new segment, Cameron adds a postscript to his fictional retelling of the tragedy. After hearing fans continue to insist Jack didn’t have to die that night, he gathers hypothermia experts and mounts tests to determine, once and for all, whether both Jack and Rose could have fit on the raft and survived.

Premiering this spring on National Geographic and Disney+, the limited series A Small Light tells the remarkable story of a 20-something secretary, Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who didn’t hesitate when her boss, Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber), asked her to hide him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. For the next two years, Miep; her husband, Jan (Joe Cole); and several other everyday heroes watched over the eight souls hiding in the secret annex. It was Miep who found Anne Frank’s diary and preserved it so that she and Otto could later share it with the world.

A new featurette (below) debuted during the series’ panel:

The series’ title comes from something Gies said late in her life: “I don’t like being called a hero, because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others. Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.”

A Small Light is produced by ABC Signature in partnership with Keshet Studios for National Geographic. Executive producers and writers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan serve as showrunners, and Susanna Fogel directs multiple episodes, including the pilot. The executive producers are Peter Traugott and Lisa Roos for Keshet Studios, Alon Shtruzman for Keshet International, and Avi Nir for Keshet Media Group.

National Geographic also shared premiere dates for the follow series: Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller(Season 2 now airing on National Geographic), Restaurants at the End of the World (debuting Tuesday, March 21, on National Geographic), Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper (debuting Saturday, June 17, on Nat Geo Wild), and Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins (debuting Sunday, July 9, on National Geographic). All these series will be available to stream on Disney+ at a later date. The National Geographic Documentary Films Fire of Love, Retrograde, The Territory, and The Flagmakers are all available on the streaming service now.

Disney Television Studios

How I Met Your Father stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran and executive producers Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Pamela Fryman participate in a Q&A on the set of the series.

On Wednesday, Disney Television Studios invited reporters to the set of the hit series How I Met Your Father for a Q&A with stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran and executive producers Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Pamela Fryman, where they teased what to expect in Season 2.

Watch the Season 2 trailer below:

Hulu

On Saturday, January 14, Hulu presented first looks at the upcoming original series History of the World, Part II; Up Here; Tiny Beautiful Things; and Saint X.

Actor Nick Kroll sits in a black leather chair onstage at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association panel for History of the World, Part II.

After waiting over 40 years, there is finally a sequel to the seminal Mel Brooks film History of the World Part I, with each episode of History of the World, Part II featuring a variety of sketches that take us through different periods of human history.

The series stars Mel Brooks, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, and Ike Barinholtz—as well as many more guest stars! Brooks also serves as a writer and executive producer on the series along with Kroll, Sykes, Barinholtz, and David Stassen. Kevin Salter, David Greenbaum, and Christie Smith are executive producers. Alice Mathias, Stassen, Kroll, and Lance Bangs directed the eight-episode season.

The first two episodes of History of the World, Part II premiere Monday, March 6, kicking off a four-night event with two new episodes launching each day.

In a scene from Up Here, actors Carlos Valdes as Miguel and Mae Whitman as Lindsay walk hand in hand down a path surrounded by evergreen trees.

Up Here follows the extraordinary story of one ordinary couple, Lindsay (Mae Whitman) and Miguel (Carlos Valdes), as they fall in love and discover that the single greatest obstacle to finding happiness together might just be themselves—and the treacherous world of memories, obsessions, fears, and fantasies that lives inside their heads.

The series also stars Katie Finneran, John Hodgman, Andréa Burns, Sophia Hammons, Emilia Suárez, and Scott Porter.

Up Here is written by Steven Levenson and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel with songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez writing original songs. Thomas Kail directs and executive produces the series alongside Levenson, Sanchez-Witzel, Anderson-Lopez, Lopez, and Jennifer Todd. 20th Television serves as the production company alongside Kail’s Old 320 Sycamore Productions.

All eight episodes will launch Friday, March 24, exclusively on Hulu.

Cheryl Strayed, Liz Tigelaar, Kathryn Hahn, and Quentin Plair sit in black leather chairs during a panel for Tiny Beautiful Things at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour.

Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things is about a woman—Clare (Kathryn Hahn)—who becomes a revered advice columnist when her own life is falling apart. When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny (Quentin Plair) is on its last leg. Her daughter, Rae, will barely talk to her. And her once-promising writing career is non-existent... so, when an old writing friend suggests she take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she’s the last person for the job. But after reluctantly agreeing, she realizes that she might just be completely qualified. As the letter writers force Clare to revisit her most pivotal moments, she excavates the beauty, struggle, and humor in her own life to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that it’s our stories that can ultimately save us, and maybe even bring us back home.

Liz Tigelaar serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer, alongside executive producers Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Lauren Neustadter, Stacey Silverman, Jayme Lemons, Strayed, and Hahn. The series is from ABC Signature and Hello Sunshine. 

All eight episodes of Tiny Beautiful Things will be available to stream Friday, April 7.

Adapted from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name, the series Saint X—told via multiple timelines—explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre as it explores how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth. 

The series stars Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Bre Francis, Kenlee Anaya Townsend, Betsy Brandt, and Michael Park.

Leila Gerstein wrote and will executive produce, with Dee Rees directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, and Jason Shrier for Dreamcrew Entertainment, Alexis Schaitkin, and Steve Pearlman. Saint X is a production of ABC Signature. 

The first three episodes launch Wednesday, April 26, with new episodes debuting weekly thereafter.

Onyx Collective

Onyx Collective continues to expand its slate of premium programming by creators of color and underrepresented voices. Below are the panels and announcements from the TCA sessions on Saturday, January 14.

In a scene from series UnPrisoned, actors Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo hug.

Original dramedy UnPrisoned, executive produced and starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, is set to premiere Friday, March 10, on Hulu, with all episodes streaming at once. From creator Tracy McMillan, the eight-episode series is produced by ABC Signature and will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.

Inspired by McMillan’s life, UnPrisoned is a half-hour dramedy about a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.

The highly anticipated six-part limited docuseries The 1619 Project, an expansion of “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine, paneled at the 2023 Winter TCA session. The series is set to premiere the first two episodes exclusively on Hulu on Thursday, January 26, with two episodes releasing weekly on Hulu subsequently, as previously announced.

The 1619 Project seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The episodes—“Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice”—are adapted from essays from the recently published book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.

The series, hosted and executive produced by Hannah-Jones, is a Lionsgate Production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films, and The New York Times. Also serving as executive producers are Roger Ross Williams, Caitlin Roper, Kathleen Lingo, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey. Shoshana Guy is the showrunner and executive producer.

Onyx Collective also announced the pilot pickup of 1266 (working title), a scripted comedy from 20th Television starring Gabourey Sidibe, as well as a straight-to-series order greenlight for the three-part docuseries Black Twitter (working title), directed by Prentice Penny.  Based on Jason Parham’s WIRED article “A People’s History of Black Twitter,” this three-part series charts the rise, the movements, the voices, and the memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.