By Courtney Potter
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Opening October 1 at EPCOT
How’s this for some delectable news: During this week’s virtual annual meeting of shareholders of The Walt Disney Company, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced the grand opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT will be—drum roll, please—October 1, 2021! Yes, it’s finally time to join lovable Remy on some very big adventures, just in time for the kickoff of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” honoring Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary later this year…
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure invites guests into the flavorful world of Disney and Pixar’s Oscar®-winning film Ratatouille, where they’ll feel as if they’ve shrunk down to the size of Chef Remy and find themselves scurrying through Gusteau’s famous restaurant. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is located a newly expanded area of EPCOT’s France pavilion, where the real is made fantastic in a reimagining of Paris inspired by the film.
But that’s not all: Also debuting October 1 in this section of the pavilion will be a delightful new restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it! Look for more news on Walt Disney World Resort’s sure-to-be-incredible 50th anniversary celebrations in the coming months.
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend
It could be said that we’re all losing one hour of precious viewing time when Daylight Saving starts this weekend—but don’t despair! You’ll still be able to fit in plenty of fun from around the worlds of Disney… including the season finale of Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney Channel and two new episodes of Marvel Studios: Legends on Disney+. And why not check out Stargirl on the streaming service to celebrate its one-year premiere-versary? There’s more where that came from, so mark your calendars. (And don’t forget to “spring forward” any analog clocks you might have around the house!)
black-ish’s Marsai Martin to Produce Comedy Pilot for Disney Channel
Here’s something great to look forward to… Disney Channel just gave a pilot order to SATURDAYS, a single-camera comedy—following a young girl and her competitive roller skating crew—from 16-year-old Marsai Martin (ABC’s black-ish) and Nicole Dow through Martin’s production company, Genius Entertainment, and executive producer Norman Vance Jr. (Roll Bounce, Girlfriends). The pilot was written by Vance and will be directed by Charles Stone III (Drumline, black-ish).
Danielle Jalade (Yes Day) has been cast in the lead role of Paris Johnson, a 13-year-old girl who has spent most of her life roller skating. Omar Gooding (Family Time) and Golden Brooks (Girlfriends) will play Paris’ parents, Cal and Deb, and Jermaine Harris (The Map of Tiny Perfect Things) will portray her older brother and aspiring D.J., London. Daria Johns (Nappily Ever After) and newcomer Samantha A. Smith have also been cast as Paris’ best friends and skating partners, Simone and Roxy, respectively. Plus, Grammy®-nominated hip-hop artist Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker will appear in a recurring role as roller rink owner Duchess.
Lace up your skates and keep those eyes peeled for more news on SATURDAYS as it becomes available.
Production Begins on Disney Junior’s Eureka!
It’s the story of a young inventor who’s way ahead of her time… with lots of music and fun, to boot!
Production is now underway on Disney Junior’s Eureka!, an animated tune-filled series about an inspiring, creative young girl living in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls. Ruth Righi (Disney Channel’s Sydney to the Max) stars as the voice of the title character, Eureka—with Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and Lil Rel Howery (Free Guy) as her parents, Roxy and Rollo, and Goldsberry’s Hamilton cohort Javier Muñoz as her teacher, Ohm.
Utilizing totally cool out-of-the-box thinking, Eureka designs inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era. With the help of her supportive parents, teacher, best friends—Pepper (voice of Kai Zen, Amphibia) and Barry (voice of Devin Trey Campbell, Broadway’s Kinky Boots)—and beloved pet mammoth Murphy (voice of Fred Tatasciore, Big Hero 6 The Series), Eureka is learning to embrace that she is not ordinary… she’s extraordinary. Christiana “Chee” McGuigan, a science educator who has worked at the California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, serves as the series’ science education consultant.
Emmy® Award winner Norton Virgien (Doc McStuffins) and award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Niamh Sharkey (Henry Hugglemonster) are the series’ creators and executive producers. Look for Eureka! to premiere later this year. We can’t wait!
New Trailer for National Geographic’s Secrets of the Whales, Coming to Disney+
Earth Day is just around the corner—and to that end, our pals at Disney+ just debuted the trailer for a brand-new documentary series from National Geographic: Secrets of the Whales.
The four-part series will plunge viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to reveal the mysterious and beautiful world of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals (a personal fave), and sperm whales. Featuring the expansive knowledge and skill of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, Secrets of the Whales uncovers extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures—revealing life and love from the whales’ perspective. Filmed over three years in a whopping 24 global locations, viewers will learn that whales are far more complex and more like humans than ever imagined. This is a personal story that very few are lucky enough to witness… until now.
Executive produced by Oscar®-winning filmmaker and conservationist James Cameron and narrated by actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver, Secrets of the Whales will be available to stream exclusively on Earth Day (Thursday, April 22) on Disney+.
Imagineer Xiao Qing Chen Designs Raya Artwork for Downtown Disney
If you find yourself visiting Disneyland Resort soon, keep a look out for a beautiful new addition to the surroundings. In celebration of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon, guests at the Downtown Disney District can now snap a pic in front of a new art installation inspired by the film. The artwork was designed by Imagineer Xiao Qing Chen, who was born and raised in Malaysia.
“The idea started with my hope for a world where we choose to celebrate differences. As long as we see unfamiliar people as outsiders, we will always live in indifference. This piece is about mutual respect and acceptance,” she recently told our pals at Disney Parks Blog. “I love seeing how Raya, Sisu, and the crew come together from different lands for a common quest. With all of their differences, each brings their own unique strength to the table. They choose to be vulnerable with one another, offering support and trust when needed during challenging times.”
Don’t forget—you can now see Raya and the Last Dragon in U.S. theaters, or streaming on Disney+ with Premier Access. (Additional fee required.)
ICYMI: New Podcast Inspired by DuckTales Premiering Later This Month
We’re big fans of podcasts ’round these parts—you listen to our amazing D23 Inside Disney podcast, right?!—so color us tickled pink regarding the announcement of a brand-new podcast inspired by the fan-favorite, critically acclaimed animated series DuckTales! Yes, This Duckburg Life is set to premiere on Monday, March 29, and it sounds like it’s gonna be quacking good time…
