Dancing with the Stars Couples Tease Magical “Disney+ Night” Performances

By Zach Johnson

Streaming live on Monday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, the remaining 13 couples will perform dazzling routines to hit songs from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more. After D23: The Official Disney Fan Club revealed the songs and dance styles last week, we caught up with a few of the couples over the weekend as they rehearsed some of the show-stopping numbers featured in tonight’s episode. Read on for exclusive details on each routine, and don’t forget to vote during the livestream of the show in the U.S. and Canada by visiting disneyplus.com/vote. Fans in the U.S. can also vote via SMS/text (message and data rates may apply). As always, live viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores to determine which couples may face elimination.

Selma Blair and Sasha Farber
The couple will perform a Quickstep to “The Muppet Show Theme” from The Muppet Show. Farber teased, “Selma is doing things that I didn’t even know were possible!”

Witney Carson and Wayne Brady wear matching blue outfits in a promotional image for Dancing with the Stars.

Wayne Brady and pro Witney Carson
The couple will perform a Jazz routine to “Wait for It” from Hamilton. “It’s probably not your typical Disney dance,” Carson said. “It’s got a different spin, and we’re so excited to dance to it.” Brady has a connection to the musical, as he played the role of Aaron Burr in the Chicago Company of Hamilton. “We love the music and the story,” he said.

Charli D’Amelio and pro Mark Ballas
The couple will perform a Jazz routine to “‘The Simpsons’ Main Title Theme” from The Simpsons. “My hair will be tall!” said D’Amelio, who will dress up as Marge Simpson. Ballas, who will dress up as Homer Simpson, added, “We’ll be very yellow!” For this week’s routine, Ballas created “hard-hitting” choreography, saying, “This is go-time!” 

Daniel Durrant and Britt Stewart wear matching blue outfits in a promotional image for Dancing with the Stars.

Daniel Durant and pro Britt Stewart
The couple will perform a Quickstep to “Finally Free” from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. “It’s so nice to be in high school again,” Durant said. Because Stewart got her start as a dancer in the High School Musical film trilogy, “it feels very full circle,” she said. “I’m really excited about the story and the message we’re sharing this week, and knowing what this dance means to Daniel, it’s very exciting for us both.”

Shangela and pro Gleb Savchenko
The couple will perform a Charleston to “Dig a Little Deeper” from The Princess and the Frog. The song is performed by Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, and Shangela wants to make her “close friend” proud. “We’re hoping to honor her and really make her go, ‘Woo!’” Shangela said. “I’m going to have to leapfrog from the lower level to the top!”

Jordin Sparks and pro Brandon Armstrong
The couple will perform a Jazz routine to “Remember Me” from Coco. “It’s going to be very theatrical,” Sparks said. “It’s very lyrical. We are dancing to both versions of the song: the slow lullaby version, and the fast Jazz version. There’s a little twinkle for you!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From a fan-favorite theme night to a new twist on a classic romantic tale, this week is chock-full of exciting titles coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices). On Monday, it’s “Disney+ Night” on Dancing with the Stars, and the contestants are honoring beloved Disney songs (and more), exclusively on Disney+. A new episode of Abbott Elementary debuts Wednesday on ABC, the same day the entire second season of Big Shot launches on Disney+. On Thursday, Frankenweenie airs on Freeform, and 20th Century Studios’ Rosaline debuts Friday, exclusively on Hulu.

Hosts Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro stand while filming an episode of Dancing with the Stars. Banks wears a Minnie Mouse headband with a red and white polka dot bow. She wears a black leather jacket and red mini dress. She holds a black microphone in her right hand. Ribeiro has black Mickey Mouse ears on top of his head. He wears a blue suit with a dark blue button-down dress shirt.

Dancing with the Stars—Monday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+

Week four of the competition will be even more magical as the ballroom celebrates “Disney+ Night”! The 13 remaining couples will dazzle viewers with performances set to beloved songs from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more, including “One Way or Another” from Hocus Pocus 2, “Finally Free” from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and “Mr. Blue Sky” from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, to name a few. Plus, the pros dancers and troupe will kick off the night of magic with a performance to “Colombia, Mi Encanto” from Encanto!

From left to right, actor Janelle James wears a red jumpsuit and holds a brown clipboard in her hands. She looks down at a desk where actor Tyler James Williams is sitting. The desk is covered with flowers, a black commuter mug, papers, and a yellow plastic basket. Williams wears a dark purple button-down shirt and looks up at James.

Abbott Elementary—Wednesday, October 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) invites Janine (Quinta Brunson) over to her house to teach her how to cook, but Janine is focused on reuniting Melissa with her estranged sister (Lauren Weedman). Meanwhile, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) sends a disruptive student to the principal’s office but is dismayed to find out the kids enjoy spending the supposed disciplinary time with Ava (Janelle James).

From left to right, actors Cricket Wampler, Tiana Le, and Tisha Custodio stand side by side and fold their arms. They wear dark purple jerseys with white piping and “Sirens” spelled across the front and their respective number. The shorts have a logo on the lower right side.

Big Shot—Wednesday, October 12, on Disney+

Make some noise, because the Sirens are back on the hardwood! The highly anticipated second season is here with all episodes available for streaming at launch. Marvyn (John Stamos) sets his sights on getting his team on ESPN while also recruiting an unlikely player to add to the squad. Between losing assistant coach Holly Barrett (Jessalyn Gilsig) to a rival school, new friction amongst teammates, a sudden and unexpected proximity to boys, and off-the-court disasters, the Sirens have even more to prove.

An animated young boy wears a white coat and large black goggles. He stands next to a spinning wheel that has lightning spurting out and black and white accents.

Frankenweenie—Thursday, October 13, at 10:30 am. ET/PT on Freeform

The network’s “31 Nights of Halloween” continues with this animated retelling of a spooky classic. Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But when Sparky passes away, Victor’s science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski (Martin Landau) gives him an idea of how to jolt his beloved pal back to life. The experiment is successful, and all goes well until Victor’s fellow students steal his idea and use it to revive other dead animals.

From left to right, Kaitlyn Dever stands with her hands raised. She wears a white mask covering the top half of her face. She wears a red velvet dress with white puffy sleeves and gold embroidered accents. Actor Minnie Driver wears a white head scarf with a long-sleeved blue dress. She stands behind Dever and ties the mask onto her head.

Rosaline—Friday, October 14, on Hulu

The brand-new feature film from 20th Century Studios is a fresh twist on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, told from the perspective of Juliet’s cousin, Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever), who also happens to be a recent love interest of Romeo (Kyle Allen). When Romeo begins to pursue Juliet (Isabela Merced), Rosaline plots to win back her guy. The film—intended only for mature audiences—also stars Sean Teale, Minnie Driver, and Bradley Whitford.

How Marvel Studios Unleashes Its Monstrous Side in Werewolf by Night

By Zach Johnson

Over the years, Michael Giacchino has scored multiple movies for Marvel Studios, from 2016’s Doctor Strangeto this year’s Thor: Love and Thunder. But for his directorial debut, Giacchino wanted something less mystical, less cosmic, and far more macabre.

About four years ago, Giacchino was having a casual conversation with Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, when he mentioned that he was interested in directing. “I said I wanted to do Werewolf by Night, and he was like... ‘What?‘” Giacchino tells D23 with a laugh. “Most people would say, ‘Give me Spider-Man!’ But I was like, ‘No, I want the most obscure, weird thing you have—and as a kid, that was Werewolf by Night.”

Inspired by horror films of the 1930s and 1940s, the chilling Special Presentation Werewolf by Night—now streaming on Disney+—evokes a sense of dread in a new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The eerie tale follows a secret cabal of monster hunters who, on a dark and somber night, emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple to pay tribute to their late leader, Ulysses. However, they are soon thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—one that will bring them face to face with a dangerous monster. “It’s our first ever MCU special, so it had to be different,” explains Feige, who executive produces Werewolf by Night. “It’s a little darker, a little scarier, but still fun for fans.”

Actress Laura Donnelly, in character as Elsa Bloodstone, is trapped in a cage. She is grabbing the bars with both hands and screaming as a shadowy figure approaches.

“I think it’s genuinely, completely unique in the MCU,” Laura Donnelly, who plays monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, tells D23. “I don’t think anybody has seen anything like this in the Marvel Universe before, and I’m really, really excited to be a part of it.”

A nod to classic black-and-white monster films of yesteryear, Werewolf by Night originates from Marvel comics, where the character Jack Russell first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #2 in 1972; he starred in his own series of comic books later that year, and now Golden Globe® winner Gael García Bernal is bringing him to life onscreen. Enigmatically, he tells D23, “I think people will be very excited to see where this goes.”

Giacchino calls Werewolf by Night “a giant mashup love letter” to his favorite monster movies of yesteryear, telling D23, “My brother and I spent every Saturday watching Creature Double Feature; that was our church. I had such an affinity for those movies. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to make a new monster movie under the Marvel banner?’”

Indeed, Giacchino promises viewers are in for plenty of chills and thrills when they stream the MCU’s first Special Presentation. “Horror is all about what you don’t know and what you think is about to happen or what you think you see or what you think you hear. I am trying to use that for us as much as possible,” Giacchino explains, adding, “For me, some of the scariest things I saw as a kid watching old movies on Creature Double Feature were just the shadows. If you saw a shadow creep by a wall, whether it was a defined shadow of a particular creature or just an amorphous shape, that was always so much scarier than anything that you could literally show me on screen. And that’s what I kept thinking about. How do we do that? How do we embrace that idea?”

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Disney Channel’s Kiff Announces Stars—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Stars Announced for Nutty New Animated Comedy Kiff

Our friends at Disney Branded Television just announced that Kimiko Glenn and H Michael Croner will lend their voices to the brand-new animated buddy comedy series Kiff, slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel. Take a gander at the series’ new teaser trailer—recently revealed at New York Comic-Con—below!

Glenn will star in the title role of Kiff, an optimistic squirrel whose thirst for life takes her on countless adventures through her town, while Croner will co-star as her naive and lovable bestie, a bunny named Barry. Set in a world where animals and magical oddballs tackle day-to-day life alongside one another, the series follows Kiff and Barry as they navigate school, relationships, and their often-eccentric community.

The series comes from creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal. Inspired by the people and places Heavens and Smal experienced when they were growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, each half-hour episode—comprised of two 11-minute stories—will include a new original song.

Stay tuned for more Kiff-rific news as it becomes available.

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

Let’s see... what’s there to enjoy this lovely October weekend from around the worlds of Disney? There’s a brand-new episode of Raven’s Home on Disney Channel; Maleficent: Mistress of Evil on Freeform; an all-new episode of Celebrity Jeopardy (featuring Constance Wu, Jalen Rose, and Ike Barinholtz) on ABC; and more where that came from!

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—Brand-New Trailer Revealed

Earlier this week, the good folks over at Marvel Studios debuted their incredible new trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the action-packed feature film that ventures back to the kingdom of Wakanda—where a new threat emerges from a hidden undersea nation called Talokan.

Plus, fans can now purchase advance theater tickets for the film everywhere tickets are sold. Communities and organizations can arrange group bookings and theater buy-outs by visiting WakandaForeverTickets.com.

In the film, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight 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 as Namor, king of Talokan, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livinalli.

Directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveropens Friday, November 11, in theaters only.

In a promotional image for new Disney PhotoPass lenses on the Disneyland app, a woman is having her photo taken on a mobile device (with a yellow-colored case) at Disneyland. The image on the mobile device shows that the PhotoPass lens makes it look like she’s holding a bunch of Mickey Mouse balloons. The woman is wearing a blue Mickey Mouse t-shirt and jeans.

New Features Available—and Coming Soon—to the Disneyland App

The Disney Parks Blog recently highlighted some great “news you can use” about the Disneyland app... which, if you haven’t already downloaded and used on your most recent trip to the resort, you simply must the next time you visit! Here are some brand-new reasons why:

New Disney PhotoPass Lenses: The purchase of Disney Genie+ service now includes access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the Disneyland app*** – some of which are new and many unique to Disneyland Resort! First launched at Walt Disney World Resort in collaboration with Snap, these interactive moments immerse guests in Disney stories, creating magical park memories... New lenses include the adorable balloons seen above!

Car Locator: Coming later this month, the Disneyland app will help you remember where you parked your car! (Always a bit challenging after a long and memorable day at the resort, right?!) This complimentary feature, presented by State Farm, will use Location Services to find and save your parking info at the Mickey & Friends parking structure, Pixar Pals parking structure, Toy Story parking area, and Simba parking lot. It works best when you enable Location Services, Bluetooth, and Notifications on your mobile device—but even if you don’t have Location Services turned on, you can enter your parking details manually.

For more on all kinds of cool features available on the Disneyland app—including some you might not expect to find there!—check out the Disney Parks Blog.

The Hair Tales—Premiering October 22 on Hulu

Earlier this week, Disney’s Onyx Collective and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network jointly debuted the official series trailer for The Hair Tales, a dynamic celebration of Black women’s identity, beauty, culture, and humanity—uniquely expressed through the stories in their hair.

The docuseries features six diverse, phenomenal women—Issa Rae, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, CHIKA, Marsai Martin, Chlöe Bailey, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey—as they lay their intimate hair tales on the table with Disney Legend Tracee Ellis Ross. Surrounded by brilliant voices of academic and cultural leaders, gifted hairdressers, and extraordinary sisters, the series presents a collage of resilience, style, and purpose.

From executive producers Winfrey, Ross, and Michaela angela Davis, The Hair Tales debuts Saturday, October 22, on Hulu and at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN with the first two episodes.

Get Ready for Dancing with the Stars’ “Disney+ Night”

It’s always a fan favorite, and it’s sure to be even more memorable this time ’round: “Disney+ Night” is here on Dancing with the Stars, adding a whole new level of Disney fun to the long-running series... So, what should you expect? Check out our rundown of songs and dance styles—essentially, which couple will be doing what!—by clicking here, and don’t forget to tune in on Monday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, only on the streaming service!

A close-up of Walt Disney as he’s seen in the famous “Partners” statue at Disneyland Park. His arm is raised and he’s looking into the distance. Sleeping Beauty Castle can be seen in the background.

Guided Tours Return to Disneyland Resort

Here’s some more fun news from Disneyland Resort: Guided Tours have now returned! Starting this week, guests can book reservations for two exciting offerings:

The latest guided tour highlighting Walt Disney, “Walt’s Main Street Story,” uncovers hidden details, little-known facts, and other amazing trivia about Disneyland’s magnificent Main Street, U.S.A. The experience also includes a visit to Walt’s apartment; refreshments on the apartment patio; Disney PhotoPass photos of your party; and more. Meanwhile, “Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort” gives a glimpse into how the yuletide magic is created across both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort... The walking tour is accompanied by reserved viewing for A Christmas Fantasy Parade, delectable holiday treats, a ride on it’s a small world Holiday, and more.

Happy tour-ing!

ICYMI: Celebrating 40 Years of EPCOT

The official Opening Day anniversary has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating EPCOT’s incredible 40-year milestone! In case you missed it, check out our look at the park’s past, present, and future—courtesy of EPCOT notables, including one who’s been with the park since its inception—by clicking here.

Spellbinding Hocus Pocus Merchandise

It’s official: September 30 marked the wickedly wonderful return of the Sanderson Sisters in Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+! The Black Flame Candle has been lit once again, and now is your chance to celebrate with some spooky finds... You’ll want to get these bewitching items “one way or another”—and we’ve got you covered with a glorious round-up of what to add to your list!

(From left to right) One image of a lit black caldron candle that reads “I put a spell on you” in white text. Next to it is an image of two sweatshirts hung side by side; one is grey and shows the Sanderson Sisters flying through trees with the text “Tonight we fly” and “Broom Squad”; the other is purple and has a small image of the black flame candle.

BoxLunch
The Sanderson Sisters bring a cauldron’s worth of apparel, bags, and home goods to BoxLunch! In celebration of Hocus Pocus 2, the pop culture retailer has released this spook-tacular assortment, available in stores and online now. Featuring a Sanderson Sisters Cauldron Mini Backpack from Loungefly, BoxLunch’s Hocus Pocus collection spans multiple categories with products for all ages. Comfy sweaters, flannels, and beanies round out the apparel section, while a cardholder, cosmetic bag set, and the Loungefly mini backpack round out the bags and accessories section. Fans of the Disney movie can decorate their own space with candles, a mug, and more home décor from the collection.

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A black cat Funko Pop, with bright yellow eyes, sits on a spell book.

Funko
Coming Soon: Thackery Binx - Hocus Pocus Funko Exclusive

Something wicked is brewing! Coming this October, add a Funko exclusive Pop! Thackery Binx to your Hocus Pocus collection.

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(From left to right) Two Joffrey’s Coffee packages are sitting above smoke and the label shows an image of the Sanderson Sisters with the text “Sanderson Sisters Brew.” On the right, there is text that reads “Introducing (From the Movie) Disney Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters Brew.”

Joffrey’s
Make it another glorious morning with Joffrey’s newest caffeinated potion: the Disney Hocus Pocus – Sanderson Sisters Brew flavored coffee. Created to awaken all mortals, this bewitching blend features flavors of cinnamon apple and caramel.

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(From left to right) Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and Billy Butcherson dolls stand in front of a purple background with text that reads “Kidrobot x Disney Hocus Pocus” and “Hocus Pocus Collection”.

Kidrobot
Something sinister is brewing at Kidrobot… A full collection of supremely soft plushies to celebrate the premiere of Hocus Pocus 2!

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Loungefly

It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus... literally! Loungefly has everything from an exclusive Billy Butcherson cosplay collection to streetstyle-savvy apparel made for year ’round Disney style! The Loungefly collection of Hocus Pocus treats includes backpacks and wallets inspired by Dani’s iconic Halloween costume, a Black Flame Candle crossbody bag, a plush Binx crossbody bag, and much more. Plus, there’s a Stitch Shoppe by Loungefly collection that includes a dress with the cutest Binx-inspired collar and a convertible backpack of Emily Binx’s tombstone. Shop them HERE.

Offer: 15% off all Hocus Pocus items on Loungefly.com ! 10/6 through 10/20 at 11:59 p.m. PST Redeem by entering the promo code at checkout to any Hocus Pocus item.

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(From left to right) A purple and green sock with an image of Winifred Sanderson lays on top a green background; an orange and purple sock with an image of Sarah Sanderson lays on top of a purple background; a purple and red sock with an image of Mary Sanderson lays on top of a red background.

Rock ‘Em Socks
Bubble, bubble, your old socks are in trouble! The Sanderson Sisters are back and casting their latest spell on your feet.

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(From left to right) An orange box containing a silver broom necklace, a pair of silver earrings with a purple gemstone, a silver heart necklace with a purple gemstone, and a black block containing a Jack Skellington bowtie necklace. Above the items is white text that reads, “Exclusive 20% off RockLove Halloween Jewels with code: D23SPELLEBRATION2022. RockLove.com now thru October 9.”

RockLove
RockLove Jewelry is counting down to Halloween! All handcrafted, officially licensed sterling silver... take flight with the Sanderson Sisters-inspired Hocus Pocus collection; trick or treat wearing your favorite Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas character; and honor Día de Muertos with Pixar’s Coco themed calavera and cempasuchil! 

Offer: Take 20% off RockLove’s Halloween-themed jewelry with code D23SPELLEBRATION2022 until Sunday, October 9.

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

By Andie Hagemann

Strike up the band for these five fantastic titles coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend! On Friday, Raven pulls out all the stops for an important client on a brand-new episode of Raven’s Home, airing on Disney Channel, followed by the arrival of Drumline on Disney+ that same day. Prepare for a battle royal when Maleficent: Mistress of Evil airs Saturday on Freeform as part of the network’s “31 Nights of Halloween” event. And on Sunday night, don’t miss all new episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy and The Rookie, both airing on ABC.

From left to right, actor Emmy Liu-Wang stands behind a black desk and wears a white lab coat and goggles. On the desk are beakers with bright liquids. Actors Issac Ryan Brown and Felix Avitia stand at the edge of the desk. Brown wears a white, red, and blye sweater with a black T-shirt. Avitia wears a teal button-down shirt with pineapples wearing sunglasses. They look at a reporter covered in suds.

Raven’s Home—Friday, October 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel 

Raven (Raven-Symoné) receives the opportunity of lifetime to design a wedding gown for a very important client. With her reputation on the line, she’s pulling out all the stops to make the client’s dream dress happen. Meanwhile, Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) has a vision that Ivy (Emmy Liu Wang) is hindering her mom’s campaign.

From left to right, actors Leonard Roberts and Nick Cannon point one drum stick in each other’s face while their drums and bodies face one another. Roberts wears a gray, half-zipped, ribbed sweater, and black pants. Cannon wears a navy tracksuit with gray stripes down the arm, torso, and leg. Behind them are tables or recording equipment and abstract artwork painted on white walls.

Drumline—Friday, October 7, on Disney+ 

Devon Miles (Nick Cannon), a talented street drummer from Harlem, sets his sights on the high-stakes world of show-style marching bands. After enrolling in Atlanta A&T University, he quickly bumps heads with the new leader of the drum section and realizes that it takes more than talent to be the best. The film also stars Zoe Saldaña, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts, and Shay Roundtree.

Actor Angelina Jolie portrays Maleficent with a long, black sleeveless gown and black, horned headpiece. Attached to her body are enormous bird-like wings with two sharp horns on each side. Behind her are large, red smoke clouds in the sky.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil—Saturday, October 8, at 11:25 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform 

Upon the engagement of Aurora (Elle Fanning) and Prince Philip (Harris Dickinson), Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) travels to a grand old castle to meet Aurora’s future in-laws. The two families butt heads and Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) hatches a devious plan to destroy the land’s fairies. To thwart the plan, Maleficent teams up with a group of outcasts to battle the queen and her army. Sam Riley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville, and Imelda Staunton also star in the film.

Actor Constance Wu smiles and stands at a large podium with a glass top. She wears a white, cropped T-shirt and tan pants with a black pattern. She holds a buzzer in her right hand. Behind her is a bright blue backdrop.

Celebrity Jeopardy—Sunday, October 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC 

Hosted by Mayim Bialik, three more celebrities square off for bragging rights and donations for their selected charities. Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu, The Mindy Project’s Ike Barinholtz, and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose test their wits while battling for a spot in the semifinal round.

Actor Nathan Fillion smirks and sits in a wooden chair next to a long wooden desk. He wears a black cop uniform with two white chevrons embroidered on his right sleeve. His left arm rests on the top of the desk and his right arm rests on his right thigh. At the front of the room is an American flag along with a large wooden podium and a large chalkboard hanging on the wall. Two male officers stand on each side of the podium and look at Fillion.

The Rookie—Sunday, October 9, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC 

The student becomes the teacher in this week’s new episode. Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) is assigned his first rookie, Officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez). However, her unconventional approach to police work poses an unusual challenge for him.

Blending Fact with Fiction in 20th Century Studios’ Amsterdam

By Andie Hagemann

The idea for Amsterdam, from 20th Century Studios and New Regency, sprouted from humble beginnings over five years’ worth of diner chats between director and writer David O. Russell and actor and executive producer Christian Bale.

“A lot of eggs; a lot of coffee,” admits Bale.

Both men wanted to create original characters that they would want to hang out with and had never seen actors John David Washington or Margot Robbie-nor Bale himself-portray before.

“We started with a doctor-and we started to learn from history, the unusual circumstances of this doctor [Burt Berendsen, portrayed by Bale] and his two best friends,” Russell says. “We wanted to have three friends who were ‘fixers’ and could handle any situation, who went through something epic together; something that would be fun to follow and inspiring to follow, and also shine a light on some history that many people don’t know about.”

Over those five years, Russell and Bale welcomed others, including Robbie, to collaborate on the project at the diner. “It was fun to meet several times a week. As a writer, being [mostly] alone for 30 years of writing, it’s nice to be able to go talk to a friend or colleague or collaborator to grow it together,” adds Russell.

Robbie portrays Valerie Voze, a nurse and member of the trio-and much like her character, Robbie is a part of a trio of pals herself, whom she met coincidentally in Belgium years ago. “I think for all of us and all of our characters, you do end up infusing parts of yourself in there,” she explains. “I think that comes across in a very authentic way on camera. There are things drawn from history-maybe your own personal history or something bizarre that David said, and everyone rolled with in the moment, and it ends up on screen.”

In a still from the film Amsterdam, actor Christian Bale wears a brown suit with an olive bowtie and light pink button-down dress shirt. He leans in and smiles with his mouth closed. Actor Margot Robbie wears an orange ascot tied around her neck with a black overcoat; she's standing and looking at Bale. Actor John David Washington is looking at a person in front of him, off screen; he wears a black suit with an orange vest, red tie, and light pink colored button-down shirt.

As depicted in the film, Valerie creates art made from shrapnel-a hobby Robbie embraced herself during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I had a really long time to prep Valerie, maybe a little too long,” she says with a laugh. “I started making a lot of art, ‘Valerie’-kind of art, during lockdown-and it was getting very weird. I think at one point my husband walked in-I had bits of metal and fake blood as well as my Super 8 [camera] out, and a mask on, all this crazy stuff-and he said, ‘I think you’re taking this character too far; you need to calm down.’ I fell in love with her.”

However, her efforts weren’t in vain, as some of her Super 8 footage actually ended up in the film. “[Valerie] is based on the art of Meret Oppenheim, Hannah Hoch, even Georgia O’Keeffe, who broke all new ground-and [Margot] made [this footage] in her house,” Russell adds. “Chivo [Emmanuel Lubezki], the cinematographer and I, along with Linder Sterling-who made some of the art with Judy Becker, our production designer-said, ‘Wow, this is as good as it gets.’ And it’s in the movie.”

Washington, who portrays Harold Woodman, a lawyer, also delved into the research while filming. “I got obsessed with the Harlem Renaissance, Charles Houston-I read his book-and getting all this information about double victory, and what it was like for African Americans to fight for this country and what kind of freedoms that they had. They had more freedoms there in a lot of ways than they did in their own country,” he explains. “So different things, like that Amsterdam newspaper was started by Black men in Harlem-it’s things like that, which it may or may not make the film, but it’s something that is a touchstone.”

While the trio of best friends find themselves at the center of a coup d’état, Russell says the film, as with his previous works-The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy-is about “outsiders who find reasons to love life in spite of whatever it is they’re facing.”

Russell adds, “That’s what the notion of Amsterdam is: what do you love about life and each other that you live for?”

Amsterdam also stars Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldaña, Rami Malek, and Robert De Niro. Look for it to open exclusively in theaters Friday, October 7.

 

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your Disney Parks knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

What year did Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party debut at Walt Disney World Resort?

Correct! Wrong!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a specially ticketed event, debuted at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World as a one-night-only party on October 31, 1995. It has since expanded to multiple evenings, where guests can go trick-or-treating in the park and enjoy exclusive Halloween entertainment.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
You are the ultimate Disney fan!
Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!
Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!
Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Dancing with the Stars’ “Disney+ Night” Songs and Dance Styles Revealed

By Zach Johnson

Dancing with the Stars returns to Disney+ next week with a show-stopping episode, where 13 remaining couples will immerse themselves in the magic of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more for an unforgettable “Disney+ Night” of dazzling performances! The Mirrorball competition will stream live on Monday, October 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. (Episode replays on Disney+ will become available within the hour after the livestream.)

The pro dancers and troupe will kick off the first-ever “Disney+ Night” with a performance of “Colombia, Mi Encanto” from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar®-winning film Encanto. The evening will also include a bonus performance of “That’s How You Know” from Enchanted, featuring pro dancers Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov. “Try Everything” from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia will be highlighted in a troupe number in celebration of Disney’s upcoming 100th anniversary.

Shangela wears a gold fringe dress with a thigh-high slit. Her right arm is extended in the air, and she is holding onto Gleb Savchenko, who is to her left, with her left arm. Savchenko’s legs are spread wide, and his left arm is extended. He is wearing a partially unbuttoned white dress shirt, black pants, and an undone bow tie.

The couples (along with their dance styles and songs) are the following:

  • Joseph Baena and pro Daniella Karagach will perform a Charleston to “A Star Is Born” from Hercules
  • Selma Blair and pro Sasha Farber will perform a Quickstep to “The Muppet Show Theme” from The Muppet Show
  • Wayne Brady and pro Witney Carson will perform a Jazz routine to “Wait for It” from Hamilton
  • Sam Champion and pro Cheryl Burke will perform a Paso Doble to “The Greatest Show” from The Greatest Showman
  • Charli D’Amelio and pro Mark Ballas will perform a Jazz routine to “‘The Simpsons’ Main Title Theme” from The Simpsons
  • Heidi D’Amelio and pro Artem Chigvintsev will perform a Viennese Waltz to “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins
  • Jessie James Decker and pro Alan Bersten will perform a Jive to “One Way or Another” from Hocus Pocus 2
  • Trevor Donovan and pro Emma Slater will perform a Samba to “Life Is a Highway” from Cars
  • Daniel Durant and pro Britt Stewart will perform a Quickstep to “Finally Free” from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
  • Vinny Guadagnino and pro Koko Iwasaki will perform a Samba to “Il Gatto E La Volpe” from Luca
  • Shangela and pro Gleb Savchenko will perform a Charleston to “Dig a Little Deeper” from The Princess and the Frog
  • Jordin Sparks and pro Brandon Armstrong will perform a Jazz routine to “Remember Me” from Coco
  • Gabby Windey and pro Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a Quickstep to “Mr. Blue Sky” from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas hold a classic tango pose as they glide across the dance floor. D’Amelio is wearing a midriff-baring, bedazzled black top, a flowing floral skirt, and black and white dance shoes. She has a yellow and blue flower in her hair. Ballas is wearing a black dress shirt, black pants, and black and white dance shoes.

What will judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough say about the couple’s “Disney+ Night” performances? Tune in Monday to find out—and to see what fun hosts Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro have in store for everyone in the ballroom (and at home)! Fans will be able to vote during the livestream of the show in the U.S. and Canada by visiting disneyplus.com/vote. U.S. fans can also vote via SMS/text (message and data rates may apply). This season, live online voting is available in Canada. With each ensuing episode, live viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores to determine which couples may be in jeopardy of elimination.

Celebrate Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month with These Rising Stars

By Tori Hunt

Disney would be nothing without the wonderful talent that graces our screens. For Hispanic Latinx Heritage month, we want to celebrate a few of the many rising stars within the community that have already left their mark on Disney!

Scarlett Estevez is wearing a green turtleneck and black jeans. She is lying amongst red and white striped presents with her arms crossed. She has long dark brown hair.

Sarah Nicole Robles
Robles has made quite the impact in the world of animation, becoming the voices of Luz in The Owl House on Disney+ and Señora Ozma from the hit film Encanto. She has also worked on the Baymax! series on Disney+ as well as Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. You could say that everything she touches turns to gold!

Frankie Quinones is wearing a gray and black striped polo with four buttons. He is bald with a little facial hair. He stands against a green wall with art.

Frankie Quinones
Quinones is no stranger to the screen, but he is new to the Disney family, starring on Hulu’s The Fool. Playing the hilarious role of Luis, Quinones portrays an ex-gang member attempting to turn his life around in a rehabilitation program called Hugs Not Thugs. He also can be seen in Hulu’s What We Do in the Shadows as Miguel.

Chris Estrada looks into the distance as he wears a dark brown button-up shirt over a white t-shirt.

Chris Estrada
Alongside Quinones, Estrada also stars in Hulu’s This Fool, as Julio. Julio works to keep everyone on track—sometimes even forgetting to help himself. Estrada not only acts on the comedy show but also writes and produces several episodes, making his mark in the industry as a force to be reckoned with.

Sarah Nicole Robles is wearing a light-colored sweater and large over-the-ear headphones. She has curly black hair and grins at the camera inside of the recording studio.

Scarlett Estevez
Estevez is quickly becoming Disney Channel royalty, starring in the hit series Bunk’d and now as Ultra Violet inUltra Violet & Black Scorpion. Her Bunk’d character, Gwen Flores, has also been seen on two episodes of Raven’s Home. Safe to say, fans love her and her quirky characters!

Frankie A. Rodriguez stands against a wood-paneled wall with his right hand resting underneath his chin. He is wearing a purple, white, and blue floral patterned top and clear-frame eyeglasses.

Frankie A. Rodriguez
Rodriguez is best known for his role as Carlos in all three seasons of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. Not only is Rodriguez an incredible performer, but he also paves the way for LGBTQ+ visibility on screen, making him an inspiration to viewers. You can also find him in Hulu’s reboot of Will and Grace as Christopher.