H.E.R. and Josh Groban Talk Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration

By Zach Johnson

With ABC’s animated and live-action blended special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, fans will discover there may be something there that wasn’t there before. Airing tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT (and streaming Friday on Disney+), the two-hour presentation from The Wonderful World of Disney stars H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as The Beast, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Martin Short as Lumière, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, Leo Abelo Perry as Chip, Rizwan Manji as LeFou, and Jon Jon Briones as Maurice. Rita Moreno serves as the special’s narrator.

Josh Groban, wearing an all-black fairy tale look, stands center stage and sings his heart out.

“Who doesn’t want to be a Disney Princess?” H.E.R. says of playing one of Disney’s most beloved characters. “It’s really special to be a part of something like this, because it’s so collaborative. There are so many moving pieces and parts, and everybody is so fun to work with. It’s a special project unlike anything that anyone’s ever seen before.”

Groban says the special’s “hybrid” format is especially thrilling, saying, “I’m learning new things for the first time in a long time. I’m excited to be scared and challenged.”

Maurice (left) rests behind bars in a dimly lit cell. Belle (right) runs to his aid.

Directed and executive produced by Hamish Hamilton, the special honors the 30th anniversary of when Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards®.  To reimagine this tale as old as time, the producers hired production designer Julio Himede, lead choreographer Jamal Sims, and costume designer Marina Toybina, among other creative talents, to help the actors get into character on set.

“Working with everybody is a dream come true,” H.E.R. says. “Some of these people I never thought I’d have the opportunity to work with, like Josh, and David, and Shania. It’s amazing! We all come from such different worlds. Seeing the costumes and everything come together, I’m like, ‘Oh! It’s getting real. It’s getting real!” Groban feels the “same way,” saying, “Every day we’re seeing another element of [the show] start to blossom.”

Dancers dressed as a blue bird and a brown bird stare at each other. Behind them is a snow-covered fountain.

Of all the musical numbers, H.E.R. says “Beauty and the Beast” was “probably the most fun to work on,” explaining, “That was the first time [Josh and I] met in person, and we just went in, like, ‘OK, what are we going to do?’ And we had so much fun. But later, when we were rehearsing, I realized how much I love ‘Something There.’ It’s really, really special.”

Groban calls “Something There” a “turning point,” saying, “It’s the moment where Beast and Belle are kind of seeing things anew, looking at the environment they’re in, and getting some sunlight in their lives for the first time. Plus, The Beast is shaking his tailfeather with the little kiddie birds! It’s a really cute song.”

5 Things to Know About Avatar: The Way of Water

By Zach Johnson

In 2009, visionary filmmaker James Cameron invited audiences to experience a world unlike any other with his breathtaking, Academy Award®-winning epic Avatar. Now, fans are invited to embark on a brand-new cinematic journey when 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water opens in movie theaters on Friday, December 16.

In Avatar: The Way of Water, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña reprise their respective roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri, now loving parents doing whatever is required to keep their family safe. When unforeseen events displace them from their home, the Sullys travel across the vast reaches of the moon Pandora, ultimately seeking refuge from the Metkayina clan, who live in harmony with their surrounding oceans. There, they must learn to navigate not only the water world, but the clan’s dynamics.

Recently, Cameron (“Jim”), Worthington, and Saldaña joined producer Jon Landau and actors Steven Lang, Sigourney (“Sig”) Weaver, and Kate Winslet at a press conference to discuss the highly anticipated sequel. Highlights from their discussion are as follows:

A whale-like creature called a Tulkun splashes above the water’s surface at sunset. Behind the Tulkun in the distance is a large rock formation.

1. James Cameron hadn’t always envisioned writing and directing a sequel.
Although Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all-time, with more than $2.92 billion earned at the global box office, Cameron was only interested in continuing the Avatar story if he had a worthy story to tell. As it turns out, he has several more stories to tell, as Avatar: The Way of Water will be the first in a series of five films planned for release through 2028. According to Cameron, the prospect of doing even one sequel was “a lot to live up to,” but with an “amazing family of artists and troupe players,” he simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to return to the world of Pandora. “It’s a small group. We love each other and enjoy the process,” Cameron said. “Kate got to join that and feel that vibe as well. And that was a big incentive for me to come back and do this all again.”

“I think it’s important for a sequel to honor what the audience loved about the experience the first time, but also to get them off-balance—do things they don’t expect,” Cameron continued. “There are a lot of surprises in terms of where the story goes in this film that we’re not putting into the trailers and the TV spots and all that. You have to experience it. But it also goes a lot deeper, in terms of the heart and the emotions... I was inspired by the fact that both Zoe and Sam are parents, and I’m a parent of five. And so, we wanted to get into the family dynamics and the responsibilities of having kids, and also what that’s all like from the kids’ perspective.”

2. Sigourney Weaver returns to the franchise in a different role.
Weaver plays Kiri, the biological daughter of the avatar of Dr. Grace Augustine, the deceased character she played in Avatar. “Grace’s avatar was still alive; it has no mind of its own because it needed to be infused with Grace’s consciousness in order to move around and talk and so on,” Cameron explained. “But it turned out to be pregnant, a vessel for this little baby.” Because Jake and Grace had “a mother/son relationship” in Avatar, “He’s going to protect her child and raise her child as his own.”

Incredibly in tune with the forest’s flora and fauna, Kiri is different from her siblings Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), and Tuk (Trinity Jo-Bliss). “There’s something unknown about her, something enigmatic about her, and I think Sig walked a beautiful line of classic teenage awkwardness,” Cameron said. “And yet, as she comes into her power, as she comes into her strength, she’s not a warrior. She’s not somebody who would react in a situation like Neytiri would. She’ll react very differently. She’s not really that much of an alpha, really, until we see her manifesting her power.”

“All power to Jim; he wanted to create a complex character,” Weaver added. “There are wonderful things about her, but she also has some deficits. I loved that I had the opportunity to play someone I consider a real adolescent in most ways, and then she has these other bright spots that she’s learning about. I was very honored, too, and thrilled, excited, and terrified. Luckily, there was a long time to prepare. I went to high school classes so I could hear the pitch of [teens’] voices. There’s a big range of who an adolescent is between 12 and 15, and once I saw that, I was like, ‘Okay, I can let Kiri come out’—whoever that is, combined with who I was at 14. It was sort of a muddle.”

The blue-skinned, green-eyed “recom” of Colonel Miles Quaritch looks at a screen displaying a video message from the human version of Colonel Miles Quaritch.

3. Stephen Lang also returns as a new character... sort of.
Lang’s Colonel Miles Quaritch died in battle in Avatar, but the actor is back in the sequel as a “recom,” a specialized avatar that has been embedded with the memories of a human driver—in this case, Quaritch’s. “It was very exciting to come back,” Lang said. “I was just so honored to be able to deepen and expand on the vision that Jim had for this character. I think in the first film he’s very, very colorful; he’s got personality, he’s got some great qualities—but, essentially, he moves through like a mindless shark. But in this iteration of it, there’s the absolute magnificent irony of coming back as the very thing he has been trying to destroy and having to make the adjustment to that, to adapt to that. It was a total pleasure for me to continue to massage this character, and find the depth, and maybe some of the humanity in him.”

4. Kate Winslet was eager to reunite with Cameron.
Together, Cameron and Winslet made a splash when Titanic was released in 1997. Now, a quarter of a century later, they’re making waves again with Avatar: The Way of Water—a project so ambitious that Winslet couldn’t turn it down the role of Ronal, the tsahìk of the Metkayina clan. “With it being Jim, I expected the absolute best of everything,” Winslet said. “It’s precision, it’s thought through, it’s thorough, it’s meticulous. I think the thing that pulled me in most of all, above everything else, is the characters he’s created. Jim has always written—for women—characters who are not just strong but are leaders. They lead with their heart and with integrity. They stand in their truth. They own their power. They have physical power that is admirable. And to be part of that, to be included, it was just so flattering.”

Winslet credited Worthington and Saldaña for creating the “heartbeat” of the film. “It’s one thing for Jim to write it; it’s quite another to find it, to give it a life, a pulse, and real blood in those veins,” she said. “It’s really, really extraordinary to be around that. It’s not a performance. It’s not things they came up with on the day. It is a universe. It is a love. It is something that is palpable. You feel it. You step into that space—it’s an empty space—but it is absolutely loaded with truths and dynamics and pulses that they built. They built it, they shared it, and it’s honestly very special to have been part of it.” 

The blue-skinned, green-eyed Na’vi siblings Lo’ak (left) and Kiri (right) peer through green branches in the forest.

5. Avatar: The Way of Water is all about family.
According to Worthington, Jake’s journey always been about finding his place in the world and finding something worth fighting for—and marriage and fatherhood gave him a sense of purpose on Pandora. “In the first film, Jake says it in the voice-over, ‘Open your eyes,’” the actor said. “He’s opened his eyes to love: the love of culture, the love of the planet, the love of Neytiri. This film is the natural extension of that. They have a family. Now, it’s about the protection of that love, that world, and that culture.”

Quiz: Which Muppet Christmas Carol Character Are You?

By Courtney Potter

’Tis the season to be jolly and joyous... especially considering it’s the 30th anniversary of The Muppet Christmas Carol, the truly iconic (not to mention hilarious and heartfelt) holiday film starring Michael Caine and a host of Muppet favorites!

As devout fans of all things Muppet, we here at D23 have devised a quiz to uncover which The Muppet Christmas Carol character we’re most like. Of course, we can’t keep these kinds of rollicking results to ourselves—so take the quiz and find out who you most relate to. (There are so many great characters to choose from, by the way—but we picked six favorites for the purposes of this quiz.)

Make sure to check out The Muppet Christmas Carol now on Disney+, including the just-re-added song “When Love Is Gone,” now available as an extra feature!

Stream The Muppet Christmas Carol on Disney+

Favorite holiday feast?

Favorite Christmas carol?

Favorite holiday decoration?

What do you hope to find under the tree this year?

In general, what’s your favorite thing about the holiday season?

Quiz: Which Muppet Christmas Carol Character Are You?
Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit

In an image from The Muppet Christmas Carol, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit is standing in the snow while wearing a gray overcoat and red plaid pants, and holding a gray top hat in one hand. He’s also holding Robin as Tiny Tim—who’s wearing an orange hat and orange plaid pants and a coat—up on his right shoulder. Tiny Tim is holding a crutch in his right hand.

Steady, dependable, and above all, kind, there’s “room in your heart” for seeing the good in everyone—even someone as (initially) miserly as Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. You’re also particularly devoted to family, and will do everything you can to make sure they’re happy, especially at the holidays.
Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig

In an image from The Muppet Christmas Carol, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig is wearing a white wig and a pink coat with a striped pink and a white ascot.

The life of the party, you’ve always made sure your friends and family have a great time—especially during the holiday season! But there’s a method to your merry madness: You know how important it is to keep the spirit of the season in your heart all year through... and you’re also a bit of a matchmaker, to boot!
Gonzo as Charles Dickens

In an image from The Muppet Christmas Carol, Gonzo as Charles Dickens is wearing an orange-ish top hat, plaid pants, and a red overcoat, and is sitting in the snow, with Rizzo the Rat (wearing a black top hat) looking over his left shoulder.

You’re very observant and a more than a little quirky (we like that!), and you’re the one who always seems to know what’s going on with your group of friends. That curious spirit can sometimes get you into a bit of trouble, but you’re the adventurous sort, so you look forward to the experience!
Rizzo the Rat as Himself

You’re the proverbial “ride or die” of your friend group; sure, you might be a little suspicious of the circumstances, but why not give it a try? You’ve got a lot of street smarts to keep you safe, so expect a lot of amazing memories in the end. Just take our advice and steer clear of old timey streetlamps.
Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit

In an image from The Muppet Christmas Carol, from upper left to right, Gonzo as Charles Dickens, Robin as Tiny Tim, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit are standing in the snow near a holly-wrapped streetlamp; Gonzo is holding onto the lamp itself, and Robin is sitting on Kermit’s left shoulder. Miss Piggy is holding a book of Christmas carols. They are all dressed in Victorian holiday finery, including top hats, a bonnet for Miss Piggy, and scarves.

You’re definitely not afraid to speak your mind—and you’re also exceedingly supportive, wanting to make sure those closest to you are getting their due. You’re also dedicated to your family; there’s nothing you like more than making your home merry for all your kin.
The Ghost of Christmas Present

In an image from The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past—who has long red hair and a long red beard, and wearing a gold brocade robe—is seen on the left, with his arms outstretched around a group of puppet animals including a penguin. To his right, Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge (dressed in his sleeping gown and cap) looks on slightly confused. They are standing in the street; passersby can be seen in the background.

You’ve got a super friendly face, an outsized personality, and are positively replete with Christmas spirit—so, you’re usually the first person noticed at the party, even if there’s a chance you can only be seen by one person in particular. You’re also as helpful as can be, giving advice (when warranted) to those in need.

The Little Mermaid and Iron Man Added to National Film Registry

By Bruce Steele

Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) and Marvel Studios’ Iron Man (2008) are among the 25 films named today to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

“Films have become absolutely central to American culture by helping tell our national story for more than 125 years,” Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, said in a statement. “We are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage. We’re grateful to the entire film community for collaborating with the Library of Congress to ensure these films are preserved for the future.”

In 1989, The Little Mermaid kicked off Disney’s renaissance of animated musical films. In the title role as Ariel was Disney Legend Jodi Benson, a young Broadway actress who was encouraged to audition for the part by the film’s lyricist, Disney Legend Howard Ashman. Some 33 years later, Benson said she still performs Ariel’s big song, “Part of Your World,” every week.

“I’m thrilled and honored on behalf of my character and The Walt Disney Company for the Library selecting our very special film,” Benson said in an interview. The selection, she said, “is really amazing and such an honor.”

Watch Benson talking about The Little Mermaid in this video from the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry:

Iron Man, the story of the origin of wealthy inventor Tony Stark’s superhero persona, was released in 2008. It launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which now encompasses 30 feature films. Portrayed by Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr., Stark went on to appear in two direct Iron Man sequels and four Avengers films, as well as Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). The character’s saga ended in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Each year since 1989, the Library of Congress has named 25 films that it deems as “culturally, historically, or esthetically important” to its National Film Registry. Online nominations from the general public are part of the selection process, and the Library of Congress reported that 6,865 titles were submitted for consideration this year.

Twenty-two Disney films have previously been added to the Registry: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937) in 1989; Fantasia (1940) in 1990; Pinocchio (1940) in 1994; Steamboat Willie (1928) in 1998; Beauty and the Beast (1991) in 2002; Toy Story (1995) in 2005; Three Little Pigs (1933) in 2007; Disneyland Dream(1956) in 2009; Bambi (1942) in 2011; Mary Poppins (1964) in 2013; The Old Mill (1937) and The Story of Menstruation (1946) in 2015; The Lion King (1994), Rushmore (1998), and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) in 2016; Dumbo (1941) in 2017; Cinderella (1950) in 2018; Old Yeller (1957) and Sleeping Beauty (1959) in 2019; and Flowers and Trees (1932), Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), and WALL-E (2008) in 2021.

Discover 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water with Items Inspired by the New Film!

Avatar: The Way of Water officially releases in theaters this Friday, December 16—but we couldn’t wait to share some amazing items inspired by the film! Don a Spirit Jersey and bucket hat; cuddle a large Ilu plush; or make your own transformation with a makeup collection by NYX. Whatever you choose, we hope you enjoy this long-awaited film and the epic adventure of the beautiful world of Pandora.

NYX Avatar: The Way of Water Collection Set
Discover the world of Pandora and create stunning, out-of-this-world looks with the NYX Professional Makeup Avatar: The Way of Water Set—with vegan formulas and packaging created from recycled materials! The collection includes the Pandoran Paradise Palette, the Color Palette, the Na’vi Paint, the Biolume Highlighter Sticks, the Bioluminescent Lip Glosses, the Paper Lipsticks, and the Metkayina Mist. Shop the entire limited-edition collection here!

Avatar Spirit Jersey for Adults at shopDisney
Immerse yourself in the underwater world of Avatar: The Way of Water with this gorgeous Spirit Jersey. The stunning all-over print depicts breathtaking images inspired by the film. Dramatic details include the embossed movie icon on the front and the Avatar logo printed in big, bold embossed letters across the back.

Avatar: The Way of Water Bucket Hat at shopDisney
Great style meets epic adventure with this Avatar: The Way of Water bucket hat. The gorgeous allover print captures the undersea beauty of Pandora. Turn off the lights and glow-in-the-dark ink makes it look like streaks of sunlight in the water. The powerful look is made complete with an embossed Avatar logo on the front. Inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water, this cool hat folds easily so you can have it at the ready anytime you want to grab a little attention.

Cariuma: Avatar Underwater Canvas OCA LOW Shoe
Dive back into the world of Pandora with this limited-edition collaboration, inspired by the expansive Avatar world. Plunge into the depths of Pandora’s alien and beautiful oceans to experience underwater life with a glow-in-the-dark interpretation of unique plants found in the Pandoran ocean.

McFarlane Toys Avatar: The Way of Water Products
McFarlane Toys has developed a collection of creatures and figures from Avatar: The Way of Water in amazing detail. Bring home your own life-like remote-controlled Akula and it swims through the water with the highly realistic agile movement and control of a real shark. Another amazing creature native to Pandora is the Skimwing; fully articulated with an incredibly high level of detail, the Mega Skimwing can be posed to swim as seen in the film Avatar: The Way of Water. With his full battle gear, final-battle Jake Sully is ready to leap into action featuring 22 points of articulation, premium sculpt and deco, and collector stand, plus special blacklight-activated bioluminescence.

LEGO Metkayina Reef Home
Travel to the alien moon of Pandora! Join Neytiri, Kiri, Ronal, and Tonowari at the Metkayina village, located by Pandora’s ocean reefs and suspended from the massive Pandoran mangrove-like trees. Paddle the Metkayina canoe and explore the colorful coral; recreate your favorite movie moments, play out scenes, and create your own storylines with this beautiful LEGO® Avatar set.

The Art of Avatar: The Way of Water Book
Packed with hundreds of stunning images and written in collaboration with the filmmakers themselves, uncover the incredible creative and technical skill that went into the making of Avatar: The Way of Water.

Ilu Plush at shopDisney
Like the Na’vi of Pandora, your child will love having an Ilu of their very own. Best of all, these large and small plush, inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water, are cuddly, soft, warm, and just as loyal.

Skimwing Plush at shopDisney
Racing across the waters of Pandora, the brave and fiercely loyal Skimwings carry the Na’vi far and wide. Now your child can have their very own. Large or small, they’ll love to cuddle and hold a Skimwing plush inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water—and they’ll carry their imaginations to places they’ve always dreamed about.

Avatar: The Way of Water MagicBand 2 – Walt Disney World – Limited Edition at shopDisney
With MagicBand 2, and a simple tap to a touch point, you can redeem Lightning Lane selections, enter the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks (with valid admission and a theme park reservation), charge food and merchandise purchases to your room (to the payment card on file at your Disney Resort hotel room during your hotel stay), and more. This design is inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water and is a limited edition of 3,880.

Looking for more? Be sure to check out the full shopDisney collection inspired by Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, explore products from our collaborators and more! Check out Avatar: The Way of Water when it opens in theaters this Friday, December 16th.

D23 Gold Membership Card Selection

In 2023, D23 is offering the Ultimate Disney Fans the chance to celebrate the stories and characters they love most. And, for the first time ever, all new and renewing D23 Gold Members will have the opportunity to choose one of four unique membership card designs showcasing the worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Collector Set 2023 - Membership Card - Disney

Disney
For the Ultimate Disney Fans, our signature D23 Gold Member Card for 2023 showcases some of the most iconic characters: Tiana, Baymax, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Stitch, Tinker Bell, Mirabel Madrigal, Maleficent, and Mickey Mouse.

Collector Set 2023 - Membership Card - Pixar

Pixar
You’ve got a friend in D23 with these inspiring Pixar Pals: Joy, Buzz Lightyear, WALL-E, Miguel Rivera, Meilin Lee, Kevin, Remy, and Mike Wazowski!

Collector Set 2023 - Membership Card - Marvel

Marvel
Prepare to assemble with an epic set of heroes. D23 is excited to feature heroes (and villains!) from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain Marvel, Loki, Groot, Wasp, Iron Man, Thor, and Black Panther!

Collector Set 2023 - Membership Card - Star Wars

Star Wars
You are sure to be strong in the Force with this card in your grasp, featuring friends and foes from the outer rim and beyond: Rey Skywalker, BB-8, Darth Vader, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, and Grogu!

Not a D23 Gold Member? There's No Better Time to Join!

VIEW BENEFITS

Select your favorite design with these easy steps:

1. Visit https://account.d23.com/, log into your D23 account and navigate to “My Profile”

2. Select “Available Plans” then “Update Membership Card Design”

3. Choose your favorite design and click “Update Member Card”

Preferred card design must be made at least two (2) days before your D23 Gold Membership plan renewal date. Members who do not select a design by this deadline will receive the Disney-themed D23 Membership Card.

Replacement membership cards may be ordered for a fee by contacting D23 Guest Services.

Experience the Best of Disney in Your Daily Life as a D23 Member!

Membership Benefits

Gold Member Exclusive Tag
Membership Benefits Tile - 2024 Collector Set

Annual D23 Gold Member Collector Set

Conjure your very own Magic & Mystery Box featuring a Sorcerer Mickey Mouse Figurine*

Gold Member Exclusive Tag
Membership Benefits Tile - Exclusive Discounts

Exclusive Discounts & Offers

Access limited edition merch and year-round discounts and offers

Membership Benefits Tile - Special Events

Special Events

Attend fan-centric in-person and virtual events throughout the year

Gold Member Exclusive Tag
VIEW PLANS

*The 2024 D23 Gold Member Collector Set, consisting of the D23 membership card (“Card”), certificate (“Certificate”), Sorcerer Mickey Figurine (“Mickey Figurine”), one randomized Mystery Magical Character Figurine (“Mystery Figurine”), two randomized D23 Enchanted Object Pins (“Pins”), and D23 Deck of Destiny Playing Cards (“Cards”), will be available starting January 1, 2024, for new or renewing D23 Gold Members joining or renewing on either a D23 Gold Membership Individual Plan or D23 Gold Membership Duo Plan (sent to the Primary Member). Your D23 Gold Membership Card, D23 Gold Membership Certificate, and Magic & Mystery Box will ship within 3-6 weeks after enrollment or renewal. Limit one (1) D23 Gold Member Collector Set per membership plan. 

Hollywood Transforms into Pandora for the Avatar: The Way of Water Premiere

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Avatar dazzled the silver screen with incredible imagery and groundbreaking special effects in December 2009. More than a decade later, the heroes we first saw soar on Banshees through floating mountains have returned. Yesterday, Hollywood transformed into Pandora as the cast and crew of Avatar: The Way of Water walked the blue carpet to celebrate the new film.

The entrance to the Avatar: The Way of Water premiere, which has been decorated to look like the rainforest of Pandora, with glowing flowers hanging from the ceiling. There is a wall on the right side with “Avatar: The Way of Water premiere” printed on it.

Avatar: The Way of Water follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), who have made a life together on Pandora. Together, they have four children: Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), Tukirey (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver). Kiri is adopted—as you may have noticed, she's played by Weaver, taking on a new role as a teenage Na’vi.

Jake and Neytiri would do anything for their family—even traveling across Pandora to live alongside the Metkayina clan. This is very different from their rainforest home, as the Metkayina clan lives in harmony with the surrounding oceans.

A three-quarters view of Sam Worthington, standing in front of the Avatar: The Way of Water step and repeat

Since the first Avatar film debuted, a lot of things have changed for the cast and crew—for one, Worthington is now a father, just like his character!  “You get instincts when you become a dad that you just can’t control, like protection,” he explains of the similarities between his character and himself; “The movie is about protecting your family—about protecting what you love.” While he and Jake have a lot in common, he claims his kids are “crazier” than the four Sully kids.

Speaking of the Sully kids, Bliss stopped by to tell us about her character—Tukirey, or “Tuk” for short—and the relationship she has with Weaver’s character, Kiri. “Kiri is always there for Tuk, and Tuk’s always there for Kiri,” she tells us. As the youngest in the family, Kiri feels a lot of pressure. As Bliss puts it, “She feels underestimated, but she doesn’t underestimate herself. She wants to prove that she can do what the older kids do.”

Kiri herself is still an enigma to fans—all we know so far is that she’s the daughter of Dr. Grace Augustine, Weaver’s character from the original film. While her history is still a mystery, Bliss can confirm that Kiri is awesome… at least in the eyes of young Tuk. “I think she wants to be Kiri when she grows up,” Bliss says of Tuk.

Jamie Flatters stands in front of a blue backdrop with a sign for Avatar: The Way of Water on it.

Flatters, who plays the eldest Sully child, Neteyam, also has a bond with one of the other Sully kids—both in real life and in the film. Flatters was eager to track down Dalton while on the carpet, but he paused his quest to tell us a little about the two brothers: “He’s his only brother by blood,” Flatters explains, “I personally think Neteyam just loves him and wants to protect him.”

Also new to the Avatar franchise are the members of the Metkayina clan. Ronal (Kate Winslet) and Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) lead the clan, and have two children of their own, Tsireya (Baily Bass) and Aonung (Filip Geljo). We had a chance to chat with Bass about her experience as part of the Metkayina clan—and in playing Winslet’s daughter! Bass described the actress as a “mama bear” and said she was “a great role model.”

Bailey Bass stands in front of a sign for Avatar: The Way of Water with a hand on her hip.

As a member of a water-focused family, Bass had to appear as a natural in the water. She spent quite a while training, “to make sure when I play Tsireya I know what it’s like to be underwater.” She considered this training to be “such a gift to have as an actor.”

Water is very important to this film (it is literally in the title), which meant much of the Na’vi cast needed to be SCUBA certified and undergo thorough training to film their underwater scenes. Bliss described the experience as “the most fun parts of filming”—declaring that “we got to learn ‘the way of water’!”

Duane Evans Jr. poses in front of the Avatar: The Way of Water step and repeat.

Another thing the cast learned: ate Winslet has an impressive lung capacity, apparently! Duane Evans Jr., who plays Metkayina clan member Roxto, told us, “Kate could hold her breath for a long time—somewhere around nine minutes, something like that? She can hold her breath a long time!”

CJ Jones stands in front of a sign for Avatar: The Way of Water

When it came to scenes underwater, there was another challenge for the filmmakers: How do they Na’vi communicate with each other? Through sign language, of course! CJ Jones was tasked with the challenge of making a unique sign language for the Na’vi vocabulary. “To create signs is not easy, because you have to think about how to fit the Na’vi world,” he explained, “I had to really immerse myself and develop underwater communication, as well as on land.” Jones worked for two years to create over 300 signs for Na’vi sign language. “My goal is to have this become the 201st signed language in the world,” he signed.

Avatar: The Way of Water is the second in a planned five-film story, which wasn’t always the case. Producer John Landau explained, “This went from being one movie to being five movies. Jim [Cameron] went out and wrote 1,500 pages of notes. And when we broke down those notes, there was five stories to tell!”

We’re about to discover the next chapter in the Avatar story when Avatar: The Way of Water arrives in theaters December 16. Until then, you can dive into this gallery of photos from the film’s Hollywood premiere.

Meet the Characters of National Treasure: Edge of History

By Zach Johnson

The Disney+ Original series National Treasure: Edge of History premieres Wednesday, December 14, with two episodes. An expansion of the National Treasure film franchise, the story centers on Jess Valenzuela (Lisette Olivera), whose life is turned upside down after a mysterious stranger gives her a clue to a centuries-old treasure that might be connected to her long-dead father. 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. But can Jess outsmart a black-market antiquities dealer in a race to find history’s greatest lost treasure and unbury the truth about her family’s past?

Before the series debuts, allow the cast to introduce their characters:

Lisette Olivera poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Jess (Lisette Olivera)
Jess is a resourceful DREAMer who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s past and save a lost Pan-American treasure. “Jess is a bright young woman who’s living in Baton Rouge and at a standstill in her life after her mother passes away,” Olivera tells D23 of her “ambitious” character. “She discovers that her father has something to do with Pan-American treasure, so she decides to go on this treasure hunt, despite all the adversity and fear—and she rises to the occasion.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
“I play a semi-shady antiques dealer/black market trader who’s in search of a particular treasure and gets thrown into Jess’ world,” Zeta-Jones tells D23. “They have this kind of cat and mouse relationship. Who’s going to get this treasure first? Is the treasure real? Who’s good? Who’s bad? It’s a real romp.” And no one is having more fun than her: “When you play a so-called ‘baddie,’ it gives you the leeway to push it a bit more.”

Jake Austin Walker poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Liam (Jake Austin Walker)
The estranged grandson of former FBI Agent Peter Sadusky (Harvey Keitel), Liam is a struggling musician who wants to forge his own path. “Liam comes from a very long line of treasure hunters. He knows firsthand the damages that can come from that life,” Walker tells D23. “He wants nothing to do with it—until Jess convinces him otherwise.”

Jordan Rodrigues poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Ethan (Jordan Rodrigues)
“My character is the rule follower,” Rodrigues tells D23. “He is Jess’s best friend, so he’s very protective over her and doesn’t want her to get in trouble with the law. His objective, basically, is to keep her safe and protected at all times.” Ethan pines for Jess... but are his feelings unrequited? “There was an attraction from the beginning, a strong bond,” he says. “But they’re hesitant to see where things could potentially go.”

Zuri Reed poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Tasha (Zuri Reed)
“Tasha is a social media star!” Reed tells D23. “She runs a platform where she schools her audience on internet privacy and what it takes to keep the government out of your business. She thinks somebody is always listening. Because of that, she’s super anti-government, super anti-FBI. But it turns out she needs to tap into that to get to where they need to go. She’s forced to reevaluate some of her beliefs for the bigger picture, which is to help her best friend, Jess, and their other friends during this crazy journey.”

Antonio Cipriano poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Oren (Antonio Cipriano)

A sneakerhead and childhood friend of Jess, Ethan, and Tasha, Oren has a lot of energy. “Oren’s the cheerleader of the group,” Cipriano says. “He gets Jess excited after going through a traumatic experience, and he comes out the other side ready to go.” Audiences will also see Oren’s rollercoaster romance with Tasha play out. “They start off in rough waters, but throughout the show, Oren really tries to prove himself, and he does mature,” he tells D23. “They go through so much as a group and they get really close. There may be some rekindling, or there may not be. You’ll have to watch!”

Lyndon Smith poses for a National Treasure: Edge of History promotional photo.

Agent Ross (Lyndon Smith)
Smith describes her character as a “brilliant, brilliant FBI agent,” telling D23, “She was top of her class at Quantico, but she made a career mistake on her first big job and got kicked down to the Baton Rouge field office. She has to rebuild her professional reputation at the beginning of this season. And then in waltzes Jess and Tasha with this weird story about a treasure and a kidnaping, and she swats them out of there. What I find to be so interesting about her is that she has the emotional intelligence to take a step back and go, ‘I think I was wrong about this. I’m going to go on an adventure of my own to figure out what’s actually happening. Who’s friend? Who’s foe? Is there a treasure?’ She’s one step behind the gang and, eventually, turns into an ally for them.”

Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts Showcases a Treasure Trove

By Alison Stateman

Disney fans can glimpse stunning examples of 18th century French decorative art that inspired some of Disney’s most celebrated animated films and theme park elements through the exhibition Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, which opened on December 10, 2022, and will run through March 27, 2023.

The international traveling exhibition, organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Wallace Collection in London in association with The Huntington, showcases a treasure trove of approximately 50 works of European decorative art and design alongside seminal hand-drawn production artworks and works on paper from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering Collection, and The Walt Disney Family Museum.

The exhibit coincides with the upcoming 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company.

“I grew up in Southern California. Disney is all around us. It was sort of in the water, in the air, maybe even in our DNA in Southern California… so I feel like this show here in this place is really special,” Melinda McCurdy, The Huntington’s curator of British art and the exhibition’s venue curator, said at a press preview for the exhibit the day before it opened. “My hope is that the interest that people everywhere have in Disney will bring them to The Huntington—and if those people come away with a newfound appreciation for historical decorative arts, then this project has done its job. This is a doorway. It’s a way to bring two very different art forms together by having them speak to each other. It’s so special to be able to see our objects, which are on view in our galleries normally, in a whole new context, telling a whole new story.”

In bringing the two radically different forms of artistic work together, the show’s curators hope to deepen viewers’ appreciation and understanding of the sometimes-overlooked art forms of decorative arts and animation.

“What this exhibition does is that it brings together two forms of artistic expression that at first seem worlds apart,” said Wolf Burchard, curator for the exhibition at The Met and Associate Curator of Decorative Arts in that museum’s department of European sculpture and decorative arts. “On the one hand, you have hand-drawn animation made for a large, international audience, and on the other you have Rococo, decorative works of art that are made for a small European elite. Yet, when you bring those two worlds together, you will find that there are many areas of overlap in their artistic intuition and their workshop practices and the advances they each pushed in design and technology…. What we’re looking at here is really a journey of creativity, both in the 18th century and in the 20th century.”

A view of the interior of the exhibition Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts leading into the first two galleries featuring original artwork by Disney artists as seen from the entryway.

Photo Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens 

The show begins by exploring the origins of Walt Disney’s love of France, where he served as an ambulance driver immediately following World War I, and his early encounters with Europe and European art, including home movie footage of Walt, his brother Roy, and Roy’s wife Edna in Paris and exploring Versailles. Whimsical French and German Rococo porcelain figures are displayed alongside story sketches for The China Shop (1934), part of Disney’s “Silly Symphony” series of music-based cartoon shorts, that showcase the artistry of both and how Disney artists seem to have brought the inanimate to life in their early work.

Cinderella in front of a mirror, concept art for Cinderella (1950) by Mary Blair, from the 1940s. Courtesy of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. © Disney.

The section that follows focuses on the artistry of two early animated classics—Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959)—and includes gorgeous guache prints done by Disney Legend Mary Blair for Cinderella, medieval tapestry, artwork that Disney artists consulted for Sleeping Beauty, and newly restored pages from the Walt Disney Archives’ Sleeping Beauty prop book.

Rococo teapots with intricate designs and anthropormorphistic features are displayed in a gallery case in front of Disney animation art of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast at the exhibition Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts on view at The Huntington.

Photo Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens 

Beauty and the Beast (1991), which heralded a renaissance in Disney animation with its beloved cast of household objects come to life, takes center stage in subsequent galleries. Original artwork from the film, including the level-headed teapot Mrs. Potts, memorably voiced by the late Disney Legend Angela Lansbury, and charismatic candelabra Lumiere, are displayed alongside Rococo decorative porcelain—including anthropomorphistic teapots—and ornate candlesticks and grandfather clocks.

The audio guide for the exhibit includes an introduction by Lansbury, which Bouchard believes was her last recorded artistic work.

Pair of tower vases attributed to Etienne-Maurice Falconet and Sèvres Manufactory is seen in front of a print of concept art by Frank Armitage for Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, the castle in Disneyland Paris.

Photo Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens 

The pièce de résistance of the show features the first bird’s-eye view illustration drawn by Herbert Ryman under the guidance of Walt Disney over one weekend in the fall of 1953 as well as the only two known pairs of so-called tower vases made by Sèvres around 1762-63. It’s easy to see the parallels between the porcelain potpourri pots, designed to look like miniature fortified towers complete with high-shingled roofs and intricately painted brickwork detailing, and the representations of fairy tale castles found in Disney parks around the world.