Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are taking another run at the world of fairytales. They’re teaming up with their former Once Upon a Time writer Brigette Hales to launch a new fairytale TV series for ABC called Epic.
Epic is a romantic anthology series set in the fairytale universe of Disney. Taking place in a Disney-like Enchanted Forest, it will center on a whole new set of new heroes, villains, princes, princesses and all manner of magical beings.
While it will pay homage to the classic signposts we’re all familiar with from the stories we grew up with, Epic will endeavor to create a whole new batch of characters as it explores love in all its forms.
The news of Epic‘s development comes a couple of months after Disney decided not to move forward with Kitsis’ and Horowitz’s Muppets Live Another Day series, which had Frozen star Josh Gad attached. The duo will executive-produce Epic, which Hale will oversee as showrunner while they continue work on their Apple TV+ series, Amazing Stories.
Once Upon a Time was a big hit for ABC, and a large part of that was the show’s use of popular fairy tales which had already been adapted by Disney. The show lasted for seven seasons, ending in 2018.
Mark your calendars, Disney fans! This holiday season Disney Parks around the world bring the magic of the most wonderful time of the year to your living room with three magical Disney Holiday specials on ABC and Disney Channel.
This holiday season, ABC and Disney Channel will transport the magic of Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line during the holidays to viewers with three magical specials featuring star-studded performances, merry entertainment and more. During the specials, viewers will get exclusive looks at upcoming Disney Parks attractions, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opening soon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.
ABC officially kicks off the holidays with “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration,” THURSDAY, NOV. 28 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC; followed by “Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World,” premiering FRIDAY, DEC. 13 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app. As part of the annual tradition, the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” airs Christmas morning, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25 (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. EST, 9:00-11:00 a.m. CST/MST/PST; airtimes vary, check listings, on ABC and on the ABC app).
“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration”kicks off the holiday season Thursday, Nov. 28, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. EST, on ABC and on the ABC app. Join hosts artist Matthew Morrison, singer-songwriter and TV host Emma Bunton, and TV host Jesse Palmer as they present the two-hour prime-time special on Thanksgiving night from Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in California. This magical celebration will feature celebrity musical performances among a flurry of Disney holiday entertainment. During the prime-time special, viewers will be treated to several Disney Parks sneak peeks, including a behind-the-scenes look into Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opening in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park in California.
Musical performances include the following:
GRAMMY Award-winning icons Sting and Shaggy perform duets and solo numbers from Walt Disney World Resort, including a new festive reggae version of “Silent Night (Christmas is Coming).”
GRAMMY Award-winning rock band The Man performs “Happy Christmas” and “Merry Christmas Everybody” from Disneyland Resort.
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group Pentatonix will sing a cappella renditions of “Deck the Halls” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Singers Ingrid Michaelson and Andy Grammer perform an all-new original holiday song from Disneyland Resort.
International pop star Ally Brooke sings “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Singer-songwriter and TV host Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) performs “Santa Baby” from Walt Disney World Resort.
The Tony, Emmyand two-time Golden Globe-nominated artist Matthew Morrison performs a medley from Walt Disney World Resort of “When You Wish Upon A Star” from the upcoming album “Disney Dreamin’with Matthew Morrison” and the classic “Let it Snow.”
Acclaimed two-time Billboard Award-winning electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling pulls all the strings for “Carol of the Bells” from Walt Disney World Resort.
“Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World“ airs Friday, Dec. 13, from 8:00-8:30 p.m. EST/PST, on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app. Disney Channel’s “ZOMBIES 2” stars MegDonnellyand Milo Manheimwill co-host this holiday party with artist Matthew Morrison, treating fans to a magical holiday celebration featuring performances from Shaggy, Pentatonix and Disney Channel stars Issac Ryan Brown (“Raven’s Home“), Ruby Rose Turner (“Coop & Cami Ask the World”) and Kylie Cantrall (“Gabby Duran & The Unsittables”) broadcast from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and aboard the majestic Disney Fantasy – part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet. During the special, viewers will enjoy exclusive Disney Parks sneak peeks, including a first look at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in spring 2020 and Disneyland Park in California in the future. Viewers will also get an exclusive look at the Disney Channel Original Movie sequel “ZOMBIES 2,” premiering on Disney Channel in 2020. Additionally, “BUNK’D” stars Scarlett Estevezand Israel Johnson will host a special family segment highlighting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.
Musical performances include the following:
Disney Channel’s “ZOMBIES 2” star Meg Donnelly sings “Home for the Holidays” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Channel stars Issac Ryan Brown (”Raven’s Home”) and Ruby Rose Turner (”Coop & Cami Ask the World”) perform “12 Days of Christmas” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Channel’s “Gabby Duran & The Unsittables” star Kylie Cantrall performs “Santa Claus is Coming to Town“ aboard the Disney Fantasy.
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning Pentatonix performs an a cappella renditionof “Here Comes Santa Claus” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning reggae star Shaggy sings “Jamaican Drummer Boy” from Walt Disney World Resort.
“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” airsWednesday, Dec. 25, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. EST, 9:00-11:00 a.m. CST/MST/PST; airtimes vary, check listings, on ABC and on the ABC app. Disney’s annual Christmas celebration airs Christmas morning on ABC hosted by artist Matthew Morrison,singer-songwriter and TV host Emma Bunton,and TV host Jesse Palmer. Joining as co-hosts are ABC’s “black-ish” star Marsai Martin with Hollywood Records Artist and Disney’s “The Lion King” star JD McCrary, who voiced young Simba in the live-action film. Presented from Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in California, the show features the Christmas Day Parade down Main Street U.S.A., heartwarming stories and amazing celebrity performances. Among the exclusive Disney Parks sneak peeks planned for this special are Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in spring 2020 and Disneyland Park in California in the future, plus Avengers Campus coming to Disney California Adventure Park in California in 2020. Viewers will also get a special look at “the most magical flight on earth”: the newly opened Disney Skyliner gondola system, connecting Walt Disney World Resort guests to two Disney theme parks and four resorts, including the new Disney’s Riviera Resort, opening Dec. 16.
Musical performances include the following:
Seventeen-time GRAMMY Award-winning Sting performs “Soul Cake” off his platinum-selling album “If On A Winter’s Night…”from Walt Disney World Resort.
Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning reggae star Shaggy sings his new Caribbean-flavored original song “Christmas with Friends” from Walt Disney World Resort
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix performs “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from Walt Disney World Resort.
Singers Ingrid Michaelson and Grace Vander Waal sing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” from Disneyland Resort.
GRAMMY Award-winning rock band The Man performs “White Christmas” and “Feel it Still” from Disneyland Resort.
International pop star Ally Brooke performs “Christmas Through Your Eyes” from Walt Disney World Resort.
The cast of the new Disney+ original “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” performs a high-energy medley from Disneyland Resort.
The holiday specials are a collaboration by Disney Parks, ABC, Disney Channel and Endeavor Content.
Friday, During Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment’s panel at Disney’s D23 Expo, Marvel announced a new original preschool animated Spider-Man series for Disney Junior.
Marvel’s “Spidey and His Amazing Friends” marks the first full-length Marvel series for Disney Junior.
“Preschool kids already love Spidey, so they’ll be delighted to have Peter Parker thwipping across their screens in this new series” Cort Lane, SVP, Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment, said in the announcement of the new series.
In Marvel’s “Spidey and His Amazing Friends,” Peter Parker, who is used to working solo, must discover what it takes to become a truly amazing super hero: being a spider friend who works well with others. Together with his friends Miles Morales and Gwen AKA Ghost-Spider, they will team up with heroes such as Hulk, Black Panther and Ms. Marvel, to defeat evil foes and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day.
The new Disney Junior Spider-Man series is set to debut in 2021.
After years of speculation, Ewan McGregor officially announced that he will be reprising his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in an upcoming Disney+ series during an appearance at the end of Friday’s panel at the D23 Expo.
McGregor — who played the Jedi Knight in three “Star Wars” movies — appeared onstage with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy to confirm that he will be reprising the role, saying the scripts were written and that production will take place next year.
The studio took to Twitter right after the announcement to share the news as you can see in the post below:
“After secrets and fibs and not being able to talk about it, I am thrilled to bring out a beloved member of the star wars family…” Kennedy said as Ewan McGregor walked onstage.
Saturday, at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige officially announced the lineup of Marvel’s ‘Phase 4’ projects.
Marvel’s ‘Phase 4’ plans include 10 projects — five movies and five Disney Plus series created exclusively for Disney+, Disney’s upcoming streaming service launching in the U.S. on November 12.
Take a look at the entire lineup below:
The Eternals—in theaters on November 6, 2020
Chloé Zhao directs the feature, which introduces an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Eternals stars Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh and Don Lee.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier—coming to Disney+ in fall 2020
Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) most popular heroes—Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, and Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier—embark on a series of action-filled adventures as they fight together against evil after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) and Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier) reprise their roles in the new series.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings—in theaters on February 12, 2021
Kevin Feige announced the confirmed casting of Simu Liu in the title role of Shang-Chi. Destin Daniel Cretton directs, and the film also stars celebrated Chinese actor Tony Leung as the real Mandarin, and Awkwafina in a yet-to-be-disclosed role.
WandaVision—coming to Disney+ in spring 2021
Paul Bettany reprises the role of Vision and Elizabeth Olsen returns to her role of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. They will be joined by MCU newcomer Teyonah Parris, who will be playing the grown-up version of Monica Rambeau, who was introduced to audiences in Captain Marvel.
Loki—coming to Disney+ in spring 2021
Tom Hiddleston returns to his role of the mercurial Loki, the God of Mischief and fan-favorite villain.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness—in theaters on May 7, 2021
The second film in the Doctor Strange franchise will reunite director Scott Derrickson with Benedict Cumberbatch, who returns for the new installment. Elizabeth Olsen will also star, and WandaVision—the Disney+ series that’s also centered around Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch—will connect directly to the feature-film storyline.
What If…?—coming to Disney+ in summer 2021
What If…? marks the first animated series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and features stories that present alternate realities in the Marvel universe. Many actors from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe will reprise their roles, as voice talent; and Jeffrey Wright lends his voice to the popular character The Watcher in the new series.
Hawkeye—coming to Disney+ in fall 2021
In Hall H, Jeremy Renner revealed the previously undisclosed title of the Disney+ original series. Hawkeye will introduce fans to Kate Bishop, a character well-known in the Marvel comics, who will be an integral part of the new series.
Thor: Love and Thunder—in theaters November 5, 2021
In the fourth feature film in the Thor franchise, Jane Foster, played by Natlie Portman, will become the Mighty Thor, the Goddess of Thunder. Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Portman star, with Taika Waititi set to direct.
Black Widow—in theaters May 1, 2020
The first film of Phase Four stars Scarlett Johansson, who reprises her role of Natasha Romanoff, as well as MCU newcomers David Harbour, who plays Alexei aka The Red Guardian; Florence Pugh as Yelena; O-T Fagbenie as Mason and Rachel Weisz as Melina. Cate Shortland directs.
To conclude the presentation, Feige also surprised the enthusiastic Hall H crowd with the announcement that two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali will star in the new Marvel Studios feature film Blade.
To celebrate the release of Descendants 3, Disney World is hosting a DescenDANCE Party which will be rocking the Marketplace Stage at Disney Springs for a limited time July 26 – August 11, 2019.
At the Disney DescenDANCE Party, you can hit the dance floor to some wickedly good beats, snap and share great pics at a pair of cool photo ops, and catch on-screen shout-outs from some of the stars of the movie.
And if you can’t make it to Disney Springs for this limited run, fear not! The DescenDANCE Party fun will carry on, taking over the stage at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café as an added feature during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, offered select nights at Magic Kingdom Park starting August 16.
In “Descendants 3,” after a barrier breach threatens the safety of Auradon during the VKs’ departure off the Isle, Mal decides to permanently close the magical barrier, fearing Uma and Hades will do irreparable damage. But an unfathomable, unforeseen dark force threatens the people of Auradon, and it’s up to Mal and the VKs to save everyone in the kingdom before it’s too late.
You can catch “Descendants 3” on August 2 at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel!
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit may be getting his own series on, Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.
Disney hasn’t made an announcement about the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series, but writer Christopher Painter (SpongeBob SquarePants) seems to have confirmed the new project.
His online resume lists a new series called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in the “Animated Television” section. Painter lists himself as a writer on the series for “multiple episodes.”
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an anthropomorphic rabbit and animated cartoon character created by Walt Disney for cartoon animal films and distributed by Universal Studios in the 1920s and 1930s, serving as the Disney studio’s first animated character to feature in their own series. A total of 27 animated Oswald one-reelers were produced at Walt Disney Animation Studios (the Walt Disney Studio at the time).
In 1928, Charles Mintz took the rights of Oswald from Walt Disney and claimed Oswald as an official Universal Studios character. In November 1928, as a replacement to compete with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks created Mickey Mouse for the Walt Disney Studio.
It wasn’t until 2006 that The Walt Disney Company was able to re-acquired the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back from NBC Universal. ESPN’s parent company traded the contract of NFL play-by-play analyst Al Michaels to NBC Universal in exchange for various sports considerations and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Disney says its new streaming service, Disney+, will cost $6.99 per month when it launches in the U.S. on November 12.
Disney just announced, Springfield’s number one family will be making their way to Anaheim this August when The Simpsons comes to D23 Expo for the first time ever.
Now that the Disney/Fox merger is complete, the longest-running primetime scripted show in television history, The Simpsons, is now part of the family and will be headed to D23 Expo this year. They’ll be talking all about the upcoming season in a panel on Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m. in the D23 Expo Arena.
Creator Matt Groening, Executive Producer Al Jean, Executive Producer Matt Selman, Supervising Director Mike B. Anderson, and stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith will all be in attendance, and you can expect lots of surprises, including an exclusive Simpsons collectible item for everyone in attendance.
If you head over to the convention floor during D23 Expo 2019, you’ll have the opportunity to get close and personal with Bart, Lisa, and the rest of The Simpsons family. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll even get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Matt Groening and the rest of the panelists during a one-hour autograph signing session of an exclusive The Simpsons mini-poster right after the panel.
For fans of the long running series this is news that’ll make you say, “Ay caramba!,” and run all the way from Moe’s to D23 Expo 2019!
Disney has revealed a first look at Monsters at Work, the upcoming Disney+ animated show that will spin off Pixar’s Oscar-winning Monsters, Inc. into a new expanded series.
Monsters At Work stars Ben Feldman as a brand new character in the Monsters world, Tylor Tuskmon. And, of course, Monstropolis wouldn’t be the same without the original Monsters, Inc. voices Billy Crystal and John Goodman returning as Mike and Sulley.
The series picks up six months after the original movie’s story, with the Monsters, Inc. power plant now harvesting laughter (instead of screams) to fuel the city of Monstropolis. Tylor Tuskmon is an eager mechanic on the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team (MIFT) who dreams of working his way up to the factory “Laugh Floor” to become a jokester alongside his idols Mike and Sulley.
In addition to Mike and Sulley, other fan-favorite Monsters, Inc. characters will appear in the show as well! Including Celia, voiced by Jennifer Tilly, and Yeti, voiced by Pixar mainstay John Ratzenberger (who will also voice a new character, Bernard). Plus, Bob Peterson returns as Roz… as well as her twin sister Roze?!
On top of these classic characters, there are tons of new characters as well! Joining the cast of the new animated series is Kelly Marie Tran as Val Little, Tylor’s lifelong friend and confidante; Henry Winkler as Fritz, the scatterbrained boss; Lucas Neff as Duncan, an opportunistic plumber; Alanna Ubach as Cutter, the rule follower; Stephen Stanton as Smitty and Needleman, the bumbling custodial team, and Aisha Tyler as Tylor’s mom Millie Tuskmon.
The series is produced by Disney Television Animation, executive produced by Disney animation veteran Bobs Gannaway (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Planes: Fire & Rescue) with Ferrell Barron (Planes: Fire & Rescue) serving as producer.
Disney+ launches in the U.S. on November 12, 2019.
Disney+ has announced a reboot of its classic animated series Chip ‘n’ Dale is in production and set for release as a Disney+ original series.
The 39 seven minute episodes will feature the return of everyone’s favorite chipmunk troublemakers in non-verbal, classic comedy stylings.
Each of the 39 shorts will follow the ups and downs of the cutest chipmunks around living life in the big city. Combining a traditional style of animation with contemporary, comedic narratives, Chip ‘n’ Dale is directed by Jean Cayrol and produced by Marc du Pontavice.
The series is developed by Disney’s London-based animation team in collaboration with Xilam Animation in Paris.
Disney+ launches in the U.S. on November 12, 2019.
