It’s Music to Our Ears— Kermit the Frog Makes His Debut in Disney Mirrorverse

IMAGE 1

And that’s not all… keep reading for a D23 exclusive reveal of even more new characters arriving in the Mirrorverse this December. Their evolved Mirrorverse looks will amaze!

With a song in his heart and a banjo in his hands, Kermit meets his fellow Mirrorverse Guardians.

Join forces with another powerful new Guardian, Raya, to collect Concert Wristbands in game for Kermit’s Banjo Bonanza concert!

02_mirrorverse-exclusive-112222_1180w-600h

And now D23 Members have an exclusive first look at two all-new character evolutions coming to the Mirrorverse this December… the Beast and Olaf!

IMAGE 3

In the Mirrorverse, Stellar Magic has amplified the Beast’s protective spirit, helping him guard those who seek travel through his savage forests.

IMAGE 4

Despite his frosty exterior, Olaf is a warming presence for his friends and allies in the Mirrorverse. The evil Fractured forces on the other hand may end up on the business side of a perfectly pitched snowball!

These new Mirrorverse characters will be available for a limited time. Collect even more iconic Disney and Pixar characters like you’ve never seen them before, evolved in visually dynamic and surprising ways.

Download and play Disney Mirrorverse today!

On Sale Now: A Perfectly Enchanted Pin for D23 Gold Members!

By Peyton Liebler

Happily ever after is just in reach! Celebrate 15 years of magic and modern-day fairytales with Giselle by setting your sights on this D23-Exclusive pin inspired by the fan-favorite fairytale Enchanted!

For princess-to-be Giselle, life is a fairy tale—until she's banished from the animated land of Andalasia and thrust into the very unmagical, live-action world of modern-day Manhattan. When a cynical, no-nonsense divorce lawyer comes to her aid, little does he realize that this joyful, wide-eyed innocent is about to enchant him.

Enchanted-15-Pin-ShopDisney-(2000x2000)-Pin-with-Backer
BUY NOW

D23-Exclusive Enchanted 15th Anniversary Pin

It's been 15 years of happy working songs and true love's kiss, and we have a pin you won't want to miss! Our D23 Gold Member-exclusive pin commemorates the nearly two decades since the girl from Andalasia entered “a place where there are no happily ever afters.” This pin-on-pin design features Giselle standing in front of the fated fairytale castle from the billboard, where she literally dropped into the lives of her true prince charming and his charmed daughter. Implore your magic mirrors and secure this pin today.

You can follow the next chapter in the Enchanted story with the long-awaited sequel Disenchanted, now streaming on Disney+.

Our Enchanted 15th Anniversary pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, is available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on Tuesday, November 29.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $15.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices

A Wishful Aladdin 30th Anniversary Pin Set for D23 Gold Members!

Peyton Liebler

D23 Members, we don't think you quite realize what you’ve got here! So, why don't you just ruminate, while we illuminate the possibilities! Celebrate 30 years of wishful wonder and Agrabah adventures with this D23-Exclusive pin set...

Inspired by the classic tale, the film follows the titular hero—a charming street rat called Aladdin—as well as the determined Princess Jasmine and the hilarious Genie (voiced by the unforgettable Robin Williams) on a wondrous journey filled with action, laughter, and 1992 Academy Award®-winning music (Best Original Song and Best Original Score).

Aladdin pin set
BUY NOW

D23-Exclusive Aladdin 30th Anniversary Pin Set

You’ll want to use one of your wishes on this phenomenally cosmic pin set! This D23 Gold Member exclusive set is the best way to relive three decades of Aladdin’s adventures through the mystical land of Agrabah. It features four fan-favorite characters—including Jafar’s pernicious parrot Iago, Jasmine’s trusty tiger Raja, Aladdin’s mischievous monkey Abu, and of course the often imitated, never duplicated Genie of the lamp. (...You may applaud now.) Stay one jump ahead and grab this pin set now!

Our Aladdin 30th Anniversary pin set, offered in a limited edition of 1,500, is available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on Tuesday, November 22, at 7 a.m. PST.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These sets are sold for $19.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pin sets of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices

D23 Gold Members Can Chart a New Course with This Treasure Planet 20th Anniversary Pin!

By Peyton Liebler

D23 Gold Members, it’s time to take the helm and chart your own course! “Interstella-brate” 20 years of pirate-plundered perfection and treasured travels in Treasure Planet with this D23-Exclusive Pin!

In Treasure Planet, Robert Louis Stevenson's literary classic Treasure Island gets a futuristic twist with an amazing tale of a brave young man’s thrilling journey to new frontiers aboard a flying ship...

BUY NOW

D23-Exclusive Treasure Planet 20th Anniversary Pin
Embark on a quest for the fabled “loot of a thousand worlds” with this special pin: Our D23 Gold Member-exclusive is the most treasured way to mark 20 years of traversing the galaxy of adventure with Jim Hawkins and his colorful crew of intergalactic pirates. The pin features the crucial sphere containing the legendary map to Treasure Planet. Hoist the solar sales and journey into the unknown with this cosmic collector's pin!

Our Treasure Planet 20th Anniversary pin, offered in a limited edition of 800, is available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on Tuesday, November 22, at 7 a.m. PST.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $15.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

Two Jolly and Joyous Pins Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Muppet Christmas Carol!

By Peyton Liebler

D23 Gold Members, bestow the gift of Muppet mayhem—and the magic of the Holiday season—to the ones you love, and celebrate 30 years of The Muppet Christmas Carol and the same time... We have not one, but TWO festively fantastic Gold Member-exclusive pins available very soon!

The Muppets’ rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic tale puts a unique twist on that fateful Christmas Eve, when Scrooge (played by Sir Michael Caine) is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Together with kind, humble Bob Cratchit (played by Kermit the Frog) and his family, the Spirits open Scrooge's eyes—and his heart—to the true meaning of Christmas. Since its premiere in 1992, The Muppet Christmas Carol has delighted audiences around the globe for 30 years, acting as an iconic staple of the holiday season for families everywhere.

D23-Exclusive The Muppet Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary Commemorative Pin – Gonzo & Rizzo

It’s in the singing of a street corner choir; it’s going home and getting warm by the fire... we think you’ll agree this pin feels like Christmas! This D23 Gold Member-exclusive is the jolliest way to ring in the season of magic and celebrate three decades of a holiday classic, and features the beloved Dickensian Muppet narrators, Gonzo and Rizzo. Celebrate Christmases of the past, the present, and those yet to come with this pin now!

BUY NOW

D23-Exclusive The Muppet Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary Commemorative Pin – Kermit & Robin

‘Tis the season to be jolly and joyous with this adorable holiday pin! This D23 Gold Member exclusive is the merriest way to ring in the season of magic, and features Kermit the Frog in his role of Bob Cratchit and Robin as Tiny Tim. Revel the joy of the holidays, and memories of this Muppet yuletide classic, with this special pin!

Our The Muppet Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary pins—both offered in a limited edition of 1,000 for each pin style—are available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on Tuesday, November 22, at 7 a.m. PST.

BUY NOW

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $14.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of each style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices

Seize Your Moment with This D23 Gold Member Exclusive Coco 5th Anniversary Pin!

By Peyton Liebler

D23 Gold Members, take part in the celebration of family and music, and explore some Alebrije-enhanced awesomeness with this D23-Exclusive Pin—celebrating five years of Disney and Pixar’s Coco!

Coco is a vibrant tale of family, fun, and adventure, in which aspiring young musician named Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) embarks on an extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors. There, the charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael Garcia Bernal) becomes an unexpected friend who helps Miguel uncover the mysteries behind his family’s stories and traditions.

D23-Exclusive Coco 5th Anniversary Pin

Seize your moment with this D23 Gold Member-exclusive pin! This pin is the best way to commemorate five years of Disney and Pixar’s Coco and the perfect piece to celebrate Día de los Muertos all year long. Featuring Mama Imelda’s awe-inspiring Alebrije “Pepita,” the pin recollects the wondrous adventure Miguel and the Rivera family took together through the land of the dead. Don’t be un poco loco—grab this pin now!

Our Coco 5th Anniversary pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, is available to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney on Tuesday, November 22, at 7 a.m. PST.

BUY NOW

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $14.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in December 2022

By Zach Johnson

Disney+ has something for everyone this holiday season! The streamer just unveiled a new slate of titles coming in December, from new Originals to beloved films and series.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, an all-new animated movie based on the second book in Jeff Kinney’s book series, premieres Friday, December 2, and follows the riotous antics of angst-ridden, disaster prone middle school student Greg Heffley (voiced by Brady Noon). In it, Greg takes on one of his biggest challenges yet: surviving a weekend alone with Rodrick (voiced by Hunter Dillon) and following his growing list of rules. That same day, Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays will premiere on Disney+. The a cappella group Pentatonix is struggling to find inspiration for their annual holiday album—and the clock is ticking! To make matters worse, their well-intentioned but misguided manager mistakenly locks them in a magic mailroom. With a little Disney magic, they embark upon a whirlwind tour around the world, discovering holiday traditions and inspiration from Pentatonix fans. The journey leads the group to realize that the holidays offer people the perfect opportunity to discover how much we have in common—and that it really is a small world, after all!

On Thursday, December 8, Solo Amor Y Mil Canciones will premiere on Disney+. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Violetta’s release, Tini gets together with her former castmates to celebrate, giving her fans an intimate, unique, and unforgettable show. Plus, Tini, Jorge Blanco, Candelaria Molfese, and Mercedes Lambre give the audience a night to remember with brand-new versions of five of the hit series’ songs.

In an image from Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?, Idina Menzel stands center stage and sings into a handheld microphone. She is wearing a gold skirt, a black studded belt, a black crop top with gold sparkles, and gold jewelry.

The following night, Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? will debut. Disney Legend Idina Menzel’s many triumphs include Broadway roles in Rent and Wicked, as well as the voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen. Yet one dream goal has evaded her grasp: to headline a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City. Filmmaker Anne McCabe follows Menzel on a national tour over the course of 16 shows as she juggles the challenges of being a working mom with a grueling travel schedule, all preparing to finally realize her dream. Also debuting on Friday, December 9, is Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again! In the animated feature film, Nick Daley follows in his father’s footsteps as night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History—i.e., he knows what happens when the sun goes down! When the maniacal ruler Kahmunrah escapes, it’s up to Nick to save the museum once and for all.

National Treasure: Edge of History will premiere with two episodes on Wednesday, December 14. When an enigmatic stranger gives Jess Valenzuela (Lisette Olivera) a clue to a centuries-old treasure that might be connected to her late father, her life is turned upside down. Jess has a knack for solving puzzles, and her skills are put to the test as she and her friends follow a series of clues hidden in American artifacts and landmarks. Can Jess outsmart a black-market antiquities dealer (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in a race to find a lost treasure, ultimately unburying the truth about her family’s past?

For more than 90 years, Abbey Road Studios has been at the heart of the music industry. Fans journey every year to have their photo taken at the world-famous zebra crossing, and artists strive to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. In If These Walls Could Talk—premiering Friday, December 16—Mary McCartney guides us through nine decades to see and experience the creative magic that makes it the most famous and longest-running studio in the world. From classical to pop, film scores to hip-hop, the documentary explores the breadth, diversity, and ingenuity of Abbey Road. Also premiering that day is the live-action short Le Pupille, a tale of innocence, greed, and fantasy from writer and director Alice Rohrwacher and producer Alfonso Cuarón.

On Wednesday, December 28, Disney+ subscribers are invited to step into Casa Madrigal for an unprecedented concert spectacular as the original voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning Encanto reunites for Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl. Starring Stephanie Beatriz, Adassa, Carolina Gaitán, Jessica Darrow, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, and Olga Merediz, along with special guests including Carlos Vives, Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl transforms a historic venue into the world of the animated film that became a worldwide phenomenon. This live-to-film concert experience gives viewers a front-row seat to the extraordinary musical extravaganza celebrating the film’s world, characters, and songs.

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

Spiky-haired Rodrick stands behind Greg and gives him a noogie in a still from Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. He holds drumsticks in his other hand. Greg is laughing and hunched over. They are standing in a parking lot.

Friday, December 2
Akashinga: The Brave Ones
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Premiere)
Heroes of the Mediterranean
Patagonia Wings
Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays (Premiere)
The Territory 

Airk (Dempsey Bryk) stands against a brick wall. He wears a floral, sheer top; layered necklaces; and ornate rings.

Wednesday, December 7
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (Season 1, 5 Episodes)
Animal Fight Night (Seasons 1–6)
Beyond Magic with DMC (Season 1)
Botswana (Season 1)
Gigantosaurus (Season 3, 8 Episodes)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Episode 208 “A Two-Way Street”) (Season Finale)
Raven’s Home (Season 5, 2 Episodes)
The Santa Clauses (Episode 5: “Chapter Five: Across the Yule-Verse”)
Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 8)
The Villains of Valley View (Season 1, 1 Episode)
Willow (Episode 3)

Thursday, December 8
Solo Amor Y Mil Canciones (Premiere)

In a still from Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again, animated character Nick Daley patrols the museum. He is wearing a blue guard uniform and has keys affixed to his belt. He touches a T-rex skull that’s on display.

Friday, December 9
Area 51: The CIA’s Secret
CMA Country Christmas
Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? (Premiere)
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (Premiere)
Ocean’s Breath
Shark vs. Tuna
Retrograde

Jess Valenzuela (Lisette Olivera) examines a blue and gold orb in an image from National Treasure: Edge of History. She is wearing a striped tank top and a gold medallion.

Wednesday, December 14

Alaska’s Deadliest (Season 1)
Broken Karaoke (Shorts) (Season 1, 1 Episode)
Drain the Oceans (Season 5)
The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season 10)
National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 1: “I’m a Ghost”) (Episode 2: “The Treasure Map”) (2-Episode Premiere)
The Owl House (Season 3, 1 Episode)
Positive Energy (Season 1)
The Santa Clauses (Episode 6: “Chapter Six: A Christmas to Remember”)
Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 9)
Willow (Episode 4)

Thursday, December 15
A Very Backstreet Holiday

Nadya (Tina Fey) wears an olive green blazer with brass buttons, an olive green tie, and a khaki shirt in a still from Muppets Most Wanted. To her left is Constantine, who resembles Kermit the Frog, and wears a matching olive green jacket and hat. They are seated together at a desk.

Friday, December 16
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Heroes of the Long Road Home with Martha Raddatz
If These Walls Could Sing (Premiere)
Mafia Confidential
Muppets Most Wanted (Sing-Along Version)
Le Pupille (Premiere)
Where Oceans Collide

Wednesday, December 21
Ancient X Files (Season 2, 5 Episodes)
Born in Africa (Season 1)
Danger Decoded (Season 1)
The Flagmakers
Port Protection Alaska (Seasons 1–5)
National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 3: “Graceland Gambit”)
Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 10)
Willow (Episode 5)

Friday, December 23
From the Ashes
Jaguar Beach Battle
Little Giant

Wednesday, December 28
Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl (Premiere)
Generation X (Season 1)
National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 4: “Charlotte”)
Savage Kingdom (Seasons 1–4)
Street Genius (Seasons 1–2)
Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks Showdown (Season 1)
Willow (Episode 6)

Friday, December 30
Black Pharaohs: Sunken Treasures
Generation Youtube

Mickey Saves Christmas Continues a Beloved Holiday Special Tradition

By Bruce C. Steele

Live-action comedy classics. Star-studded variety programs. Beloved hand-drawn cartoons. Christmas entertainment comes in many forms… but there’s just something especially joyful about stop-motion-animated stories at the holidays. The history of these beloved shows—created by posing small puppets on scale-model sets—stretches back to television specials from the 1960s and runs through the genre’s pinnacle in 1993 with the Disney feature film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Now Mickey Mouse and friends have their own stop-motion special, Mickey Saves Christmas. The all-new, half-hour show debuts Sunday, November 27, at 7 p.m. ET/PT with a simulcast on ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD, followed by a streaming debut on Disney+ and Hulu on Monday, November 28.

Mickey Saves Christmas plugs right in to the stop-motion holiday tradition, with its storybook locations—a quaint village, a snowy forest, the North Pole, Santa’s workshop—and its Christmas Eve story line. When the lights on the roof of Mickey’s cabin go out just as Santa tries to land, a mishap leaves the jolly old elf with no toys for the children of Hot Dog Hill. So, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto all hop aboard Santa’s sleigh to get to the North Pole in time to make and wrap a new batch of gifts. With the elves having clocked out, it’s up to Mickey and friends to save Christmas.

The gang has never looked so distinctly dimensional. “There’s something magical to [stop-motion animation],” says David H. Brooks, the director of the special, animated at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, which has done stop-motion sequences for The Simpsons. It takes almost infinite patience for the animators to pose a puppet—sometimes a whole crowd of puppets—then move parts of that puppet a fraction of an inch, step back to let the camera capture one frame, then carefully move everything another fraction of an inch, for the next frame, and the next. Every minute of story takes many hundreds of frames, just as in 2D animation. But with stop-motion, there’s more than pencils, paper, ink, and paint. There’s also the fabrication of the puppets and the sets, the sewing of the tiny costumes, the careful planning of camera moves, and the real-world mechanics of figuring out how to make actual models of Santa and his reindeer appear to fly through the air or crash land on the rooftop runway above Mickey’s wintery cabin.

All that effort may be largely invisible in the perfected final product, “but I think one can appreciate how difficult it is just by looking at it,” Brooks says. “Like, ‘Wow, did they have to build all those little sets? And how did they get that [character] to do that? That’s the really fun thing: seeing the fingerprint of the artist, seeing the performance of the stop-motion puppet [created] through an animator’s hands. Stop-motion creates something invisible and magical and tangible that I don’t know that we can really put our fingers on.”

The Mickey puppet for Mickey Saves Christmas was just five or six inches tall—Goofy, nine or 10 inches—so viewers can just imagine how much care went into crafting all the tiny details that surround them, from the miniature Christmas tree ornaments to Mrs. Claus’ high-tech binoculars to the toy robot that Goofy builds in Santa’s workshop. “He turns the robot on, and it starts dancing and Goofy mimics it,” Brooks explains. “It’s such a silly little thing, but it’s the robot I wanted as a kid!”

Where there’s dancing, there has to be festive music, and Mickey Saves Christmas is full of fresh and catchy songs by composer Ben Zeadman and lyricist Laura Schein. “They really brought so much to this project,” Brooks says. “These are sing-along songs. You should have seen me singing along on the set, and singing through the halls of the studio, just repeating these songs over and over.”

“We can’t wait for audiences to see Mickey and his beloved friends celebrating the holidays together in this heartfelt and warm new special,” says Alyssa Sapire, senior vice president, Development, Series and Strategy, Disney Junior. “We hope it will become a yearly must-watch tradition for kids and families. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios has once again rung in the cheer with their beautiful stop-motion animation, and we’re delighted that so many different audiences will be able to watch Mickey Saves Christmas across a variety of platforms this holiday season.”

As with the best family holiday specials, Mickey Saves Christmas will appeal to the young and the young at heart. “We wanted to make sure this is something everybody can enjoy,” Brooks said. “It’s more than just a solo viewing experience. It should be a whole family enjoying it.” Grownups in particular should keep their eyes peeled for visual references to all those animated holiday shows from their own childhoods—including at least one Nightmare Before Christmas Easter egg.

Kids will no doubt gravitate not only to Mickey and friends—and the Clauses—but also to a couple adorable new characters, young reindeer named Jingle and Jolly. The little deer started with tiny roles, but the creative team quickly became so enamored of the duo that they got more and more screen time. “They’re going to be a thing,” Brooks says with a smile. “We can’t wait for the Jingle and Jolly spinoff!”

Mickey and the gang also get new looks, at one point donning elf costumes, which Brooks believes is a first. The story is all new, but the voices are not, as the main characters are voiced by their well-known counterparts. They include Bret Iwan as Mickey Mouse, Kaitlyn Robrock as Minnie Mouse, Disney Legend Bill Farmer as Goofy (and Pluto), and Disney Legend Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck. “Listening to these guys perform their characters so seamlessly gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling—like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re doing Mickey Mouse! This is the real deal!” Brooks says. “It’s just so authentic.”

It’s also a milestone—the longest stop-motion Mickey Mouse production to date. “And what a great way to do it,” Brooks says, “carrying on that holiday tradition. It’s a dream come true to be able to bring Mickey to life in stop-motion.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From a reimagining of a holiday classic to a brand-new special featuring a rag-tag group, this week is chock-full of spectacular content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices)! The next champion of Dancing with the Stars will be crowned LIVE Monday night on Disney+. Hit Disney+ series Andor will air its first two episodes across ABC, FX, Freeform, and Hulu beginning Wednesday. Assemble your friends and family for a Marvel Movie Marathon during Thanksgiving Day on FX. Two brand-new specials—The Hip Hop Nutcracker and The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special—both premiere Friday on Disney+.

In a scene from an episode of the Disney+ series Dancing with the Stars, TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and partner pro Mark Ballas perform a dance routine. Ballas wears a black button-down shirt and black pants with a red patterned vest and cummerbund. D’Amelio wears a black and red gown that matches Ballas’ vest and cummerbund. Ballas and D’Amelio stand with their outside arms extended upward. Bright spotlights shine on Ballas and D’Amelio and a screen in the background displays a galactic scene.

Dancing with the Stars—Monday, November 21, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+
The four remaining couples—Wayne Brady and pro Witney Carson, Charli D’Amelio and pro Mark Ballas, Shangela and pro Gleb Savchenko, and Gabby Windey and pro Val Chmerkovskiy—perform their final two routines in hopes of winning the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Each couple will perform a Redemption Dance and Freestyle. But that’s not all! Don’t miss dazzling numbers throughout the evening as eliminated couples return to the dance floor one last time. Last but not least, Jordin Sparks will perform her hit song “No Air” as Selma Blair and pro Sasha Farber reunite for a contemporary routine. Viewers can cast their vote during the livestream of the show in the U.S. and Canada via disneyplus.com/vote.

In a scene from the Disney+ series Andor, actor Diego Luna portrays Cassian Andor and stands in a vast field. He looks over his left shoulder and wears a tan, hooded jacket with black and red accents and white fur on the hood.

Andor—Wednesday, November 23, at 9–10:30 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, Thursday, November 24, at 9–10:30 p.m. ET/PT on FX, Friday, November 25, at 9–10:30 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform, and available from November 23–December 7 on Hulu
In celebration of the Andor finale on Disney+, and to help kick off the Thanksgiving holiday, the first two episodes of the series—“Kassa” and “That Would Be Me”—will debut across ABC, FX, Freeform, and Hulu. The series is set five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and focuses on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his journey toward becoming a rebel hero. While the rebellion forms against a ruthless Empire, the era is filled with danger, deception, and intrigue that will test the courage of a reluctant hero determined to make a difference.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp, actor Paul Rudd portrays Ant-Man and wears a red and black Super Hero suit with a silver helmet. Rudd sits on top a winged insect and flies through the sky. The blurred background depicts a metropolitan skyline with tall skyscrapers and large bridges.

Marvel’s Thanksgiving Movie Marathon—from 4:30 a.m. ET/PT on Thursday, November 24, to 4:30 a.m. ET/PT on Friday, November 25, on FX
Whether hanging with your given or chosen family, let the Super Heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe spend the Thanksgiving holiday with you and yours for an all-day movie marathon including Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Thor, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and Fantastic Four (2005). So, in between festivities with family and friends, curl up on the couch for the ultimate action-packed marathon!

In a scene from Disney’s The Hip Hop Nutcracker, performer Stephen “Twitch” Boss jumps off the candy bar in the Land of Sweets. He wears a red hat, black T-shirt, and black pants with red stripes down the legs. Around him, the other dancers pose and look up and Boss who is in mid-air. Lights and decorations that read “CANDY” adorn the background and candy bar.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker—Friday, November 25, on Disney+
RUN DMC’s Rev Run brings viewers along for a hip-hop reimagining of The Nutcracker ballet set in New York City. It’s the night of the annual New Year’s Eve Block Party and Mom (Allison Holker Boss) and Pop (Stephen “tWitch” Boss) aren’t getting along, which is bringing down Maria-Clara (Caché Melvin). To bring her parents back together, Maria-Clara embarks on a holiday adventure, finding help along the way from the magical toymaker, Drosselmeyer (Comfort Fedoke), and the Nutcracker (Du-Shant “Fik-shun” Stegall), whom she brings to life. The special also features iconic dancers Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tiler Peck, KidaTheGreat AKA Kida Burns, the Jabbawockeez as magical snowflakes, and more!

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special, actor Pom Klementieff portrays Mantis. She wears a green knit sweater, red headband with two tiny Christmas trees, and a necklace with red, white, and green pompom balls. Out of focus in the background are colorful Christmas-themed lights and people wearing Christmas-themed hats and sweaters.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special—Friday, November 25, on Disney+
This brand-new special follows the Guardians, who are determined to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt). So, they head to Earth in search of the perfect present. Directed by James Gunn, the special stars Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, the Old 97s, Michael Rooker, and Kevin Bacon.

Kevin Bacon Unwraps The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

By Zach Johnson

The Guardians of the Galaxy are now one degree of separation away from Kevin Bacon! The holly, jolly Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special premieres Friday, November 25, exclusively on Disney+, and not only does it feature our favorite ragtag group of heroes—Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Groot (Vin Diesel), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Kraglin (Sean Gunn)—but it introduces Bacon—the actor himself!—to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the Guardians are on a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, so they head to Earth in search of the perfect present. They find it in Bacon, “the great hero” from Footloose who taught “an entire city full of people with sticks up their butts that dancing is the greatest thing there is.” (Those are Quill’s words, not ours... although who are we to disagree with Star-Lord?!) So, before The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special premieres on Disney+, Bacon joined D23: The Official Disney Fan Club to open up about playing himself in the MCU.

D23: How did you first discover you were name-dropped in Guardians of the Galaxy?
Kevin Bacon (KB): I went to see the first Guardians—I believe it was opening weekend by myself in the afternoon—having no idea that I was mentioned. So, can you imagine what that feels like, sitting in a theater all alone when all of a sudden they’re talking about you! I’d been swept up in the movie, so it was really a mind-blowing, out of body experience. I called my wife and I said, ‘I’m going to take you to this Guardians of the Galaxy movie. First off, it’s hilarious. It’s great. Second off, I got a little surprise for you!

D23: When were you approached about appearing in the holiday special?
KB: After quite a few years—I think it might have even been after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2—[writer and director] James Gunn reached out and said he had an idea for a Christmas special and that I was in it. So, I said yes! I didn’t need any convincing to do it, believe me, because I know him. I know his sense of humor, obviously; I’ve seen his films and he’s directed me before. And then it took a few years for it to get off the ground, for various reasons. But when it came back around to me, I was so thrilled.

D23: You have a pretty physical role, too! How much running did you do?
KB: There was a lot of running—a lot of running! And it was funny, when we were shooting outside, there was a really strong attempt to keep it under wraps that I was actually in [the special]. We were in a neighborhood and we had to clear the street, basically, so that people wouldn’t see me and take a picture or tweet about it. They were able to keep it quiet for a long time. But yeah, I did a lot of running, I can tell you that! I’ve been asked about the challenges about filming, and I’ve done a lot of things that are very, very challenging. But this Christmas special was all fun—just nonstop fun!

D23: Your wife, Kyra Sedgwick, makes a voice cameo in the holiday special, too. How did that come about—and how does it feel to be bringing her into the MCU with you?KB: It was awesome. When we were filming the phone call, I told James, “I’m sure Kyra would love to do this.” Sure enough, he circled back about three weeks ago. I heard her in the other room doing her part, so it’s cool. It gives it a little taste of authenticity.