Tag: disney

Disney Publishing Worldwide Authors Providing Free eBooks

Disney Publishing Worldwide authors are joining forces to provide a free eBook, drawing workshops and online videos sharing their favorite excerpts.

For all the young adult fiction fans asking, ‘What might have happened if Anna and Elsa never knew each other?’, we have a free download of Conceal, Don’t Feel: A Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita, available from March 30 through April 4 via Apple Books, Google Play, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

As the future Queen of Arendelle, Princess Elsa’s life is full of expectation and responsibility—not to mention, questions. What type of ruler will she be? When will she have to pick a suitor? Elsa as she answers all these questions and more. Check back here to see how you can enjoy more Disney Books for free in the coming weeks.

Emmy Award–winning writer and New York Times best-selling Disney Hyperion author, Mo Willems invites you to join him in the studio for virtual lunchtime doodling sessions, weekdays at 1pm ET/10am PT. Recent videos include a DIY board game and lessons on fun drawings to make for a birthday celebration. To draw along live, visit the Kennedy Center website and to binge the entire series, head to the Kennedy Center YouTube channel.

Already downloaded Conceal, Don’t Feel, and crave more? Don’t miss Twisted Tales on @DisneyBooks Instagram. Authors Liz Braswell, Elizabeth Lim, and Jen Calonita will share passages from several Twisted Talesbooks – the series that dives into alternate “what-if” scenarios inspired by familiar animated Disney films.

March 31, 2020
New Disney Online Program is the Perfect Resource During School Closures

Schools around the country have closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and teachers are searching for ways to virtually enrich education and Walt Disney Imagineering’s partnership with Khan Academy could be the perfect online program for students.

‘Imagineering in a Box’ is a free online program that brings together the diverse talents of Disney Imagineers around the world for a one-of-a-kind learning experience and is part of Disney’s commitment to helping today’s youth create the future they imagine.

The series offers 32 videos in which Imagineers share how they use a wide range of skills – from story development and conceptual design, to math, physics and engineering – to create immersive experiences. The online curriculum aims to ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, and encourage innovation in the minds of students and teachers alike, while creating fun and engaging opportunities to explore new concepts.

Modules range from a tutorial on engineering software, to an interactive exercise where learners are encouraged to gather items around them and create something new. The program’s hands-on components will allow students to relate new concepts to real-world examples to bring treasured Disney stories to life. Each activity is designed to be scalable, allowing individuals to learn on their own or in a classroom setting.

Click here to get started!

March 20, 2020
Rosario Dawson Cast as Ahsoka Tano in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2

The Mandalorian‘s second season will feature Rosario Dawson as a live-action Ahsoka Tano!

The “Briarpatch” star has been cast in the guest starring role of Ahsoka Tano, Variety has confirmed.

Tano is Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice and one of the central characters in the popular animated “Star Wars” series. This will mark the character’s first live-action appearance, after being voiced by Ashley Eckstein on all seven seasons of “Clone Wars,” the final season of which is currently airing on Disney Plus.

Season 2 of “The Mandalorian” is slated to drop on Disney Plus this Fall, after showrunner and creator Jon Favreau confirmed that a second season was on the way late last year. Favreau also previously revealed that Carl Weathers, who plays Greef Carga in the series, is set to direct an episode of its sophomore season.

The series is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, following the travails of Mando (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic. Season 1 ended with Mando flying off in search of Baby Yoda’s home planet. Precisely how Dawson’s Tano fits into the equation will be interesting to see, especially given all the events that take place between the end of the Clone Wars and the fall of the Empire.

“The Mandalorian” is the first “Star Wars” series to air on Disney Plus, and the Mouse House also has two others series from a Galaxy far, far away in the works, namely a Cassian Andor series starring Diego Luna reprising his role from “Rogue One,” and an Obi-Wan Kenobi series with Ewan McGregor reprising the iconic role.

The series is executive produced by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson. Karen Gilchrist serves as co-executive producer. Directors on season 1 included Filoni, Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, and Deborah Chow, who has been tapped to direct the Obi-Wan series as well.

March 20, 2020
Disney Pixar’s ‘Onward’ Coming to Disney+ Earlier Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

Disney’s latest Pixar feature “Onward” will be arriving to the at-home market earlier than expected due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Walt Disney Studios announced today that Disney and Pixar’s Onward will be available to buy digitally and on Movies Anywhere beginning today at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST and on Disney+ on April 3 in the U.S.

The film premiered in theaters on March 6 and earned rave reviews from audiences, including a 95% Verified Audience Score on RottenTomatoes. With cinemas currently impacted by closures due to the global health crisis, Disney will offer the film ahead of schedule to purchase on digital platforms in the U.S. beginning today at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST for $19.99.

“While we’re looking forward to audiences enjoying our films on the big screen again soon, given the current circumstances, we are pleased to release this fun, adventurous film to digital platforms early for audiences to enjoy from the comfort of their homes,” said Dan Scanlon (Director, Onward) and Kori Rae (Producer, Onward).

In Onward, teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) get an unexpected opportunity to spend one more day with their late dad, embarking on an extraordinary quest aboard Barley’s epic van Guinevere. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. But when the boys’ fearless mom Laurel (voice of Julia Louis-Dreyfus) realizes her sons are missing, she teams up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion, former warrior—aka The Manticore (voice of Octavia Spencer)—and heads off to find them. Perilous curses aside, this one magical day could mean more than any of them ever dreamed.

March 20, 2020
Disney & Edy’s Release Ice Cream Flavors Inspired By Pixar Movies

Edy’s is partnering up with Disney’s Pixar to release four new ice cream flavors that celebrate Pixar’s classic animated hits “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles” and “Monsters, Inc.”

The limited-edition flavors can be found at participating stores (such as Publix and Meijer) now, but they won’t be around forever, so don’t miss your chance to enjoy these yummy additions to the Edy’s family.

First, there is Coral Reef Orange and Cream, which pays homage to “Finding Nemo.” The light orange and vanilla sherbet include the sweet addition of little chocolate fishes.

Then, there’s Cookies and Scream, a yummy cookies n’ cream combo that is a nod to “Monsters, Inc.” It’s made with light vanilla ice cream, chocolate cookie pieces, a fudge swirl and little Mike and Sully chocolate pieces.

And then there’s Jack-Jack Cookie Crumble, which is a combo of light chocolate and vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate cookie pieces and little chocolate masks (to mimic the superhero masks worn by the characters in “The Incredibles”).

Last but not least is Edy’s new Chocolate Peanut Butter Toy Chest. Made with light chocolate ice cream and a peanut butter swirl, the dessert is made even more decadent thanks to chocolate “Toy Story” pieces that are filled with peanut butter.

March 16, 2020
Disney to Close Resorts and All Retail Stores Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Walt Disney World will close all of its hotels in Florida due to growing concern over the new coronavirus, the company announced early Monday.

In a tweet, the company said the hotels would not close until 5 p.m. on Friday to give guests time to arrange other accommodations.

The company also said all Disney stores nationwide will close on Tuesday, including in Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, and Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California. To help contain the spread of the disease, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens closed on Sunday night for at least two weeks. Take a look at the tweet below:

pic.twitter.com/TipGC5y36o
— Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) March 16, 2020

The move was announced as cases of COVID-19 increased to more than 130 cases in Florida on Sunday. On Friday, officials had said there were more than 60 cases and by Saturday, about 100. Three people have died from the novel coronavirus in Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday evening announced that a drive-thru testing facility would soon open at a hospital in South Florida’s Broward County, the hardest-hit county from the coronavirus, as the state seeks to boost testing capacity.

DeSantis said Florida should brace for even more infections and he again urged residents — particularly younger people on spring break — to exercise caution and refrain from gathering in crowds.

March 16, 2020
‘Beauty and the Beast’ Prequel Series With Josh Gad, Luke Evans in the works at Disney+

No one’s got a swell cleft in his chin like Gaston and no one gets a new tv series like Gaston either. That’s right! A new Beauty & The Beast prequel series to the 2017 Disney live-action feature film, with stars Josh Gad and Luke Evans set to reprise their roles, could be coming to Disney+.

Streaming service Disney+ is teaming with Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz as well as stars Josh Gad and Luke Evans for a Beauty and the Beast prequel limited series to the 2017 feature film in which the latter pair starred.

The untitled limited series will be a six-episode musical event, with composer Alan Menken in talks to return as well. Sources say the project, which is currently in the early development stage, will take place well before the events of the film and also expand the Beauty and the Beast universe. No other stars from the film — like Emma Watson and Dan Stevens — are currently attached, though sources say there is a possibility that they could pop in for a guest spot.

The 2017 Beauty and the Beast film, directed by Bill Condon, grossed more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Kevin Kline also starred.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.

March 7, 2020
BREAKING: . Bob Iger Stepping Down as Disney CEO Effective Immediately

Disney CEO Bob Iger, who steered the company through successful purchases of Star Wars, Marvel and Fox’s entertainment businesses, is stepping down immediately, the company said in a surprise announcement Tuesday.

The Walt Disney Co. named as his replacement Bob Chapek, most recently chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

Iger will remain executive chairman through the end of his contract Dec. 31, 2021.

Iger said it was an “optimal time” for him to step down following Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s entertainment assets and the launch of Disney Plus streaming service in November.

Iger became chief executive of the home of Mickey Mouse in 2005 after a shareholder revolt by Roy E. Disney led to the ouster of longtime chief Michael Eisner. Iger steered Disney through successful acquisitions of Lucasfilms, Marvel, Pixar and other brands that became big moneymakers for Disney.

He was the No. 2 highest paid CEO in 2018, as calculated by The Associated Press and Equilar, an executive data firm. He earned $65.6 million. The top earner was Discovery’s David Zaslav who earned $129.5 million.

Susan Arnold, the independent lead director of the Disney board said succession planning had been ongoing for several years.

Chapek is only the seventh CEO in Disney history.

Chapek was head of the parks, experiences and products division since it was created in 2018. Before that he was chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 2015. Before that, he was president of the Disney Consumer Products segment from 2011 to 2015.

February 25, 2020
First Look: Disney and Pixar’s ‘Onward’ Character Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Parks

In Disney and Pixar’s original adventure, “Onward,” teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot embark on an extraordinary quest after being given the chance to spend one more day with their late father and soon, they’ll be making another epic journey to see you at their new meet and greet!

On March 5, Ian and Barley will make their Disney Parks debut as part of the Disneyland After Dark: Pixar Nite special event, and beginning the next day – the same day “Onward” hits theaters – you’ll be able to meet them daily at Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park. Soon, the elf brothers will also make their way to Hong Kong Disneyland, to meet guests and then join in the fun with the return of the Pixar Water Play Street Party!

Set in a suburban fantasy world, “Onward” introduces us to Ian Lightfoot, a 16-year-old elf who yearns for the father he lost before he was born. Ian is sweet and determined with the best of intentions, but his lack of confidence and nervous energy trips him up more often than not. Ian is convinced that if only he had his father’s guidance, his life wouldn’t be so complicated and messy.

Ian’s older brother Barley Lightfoot is a big, boisterous 19-year-old elf who loves magic and immerses himself in fantasy role-playing games. He’s a free spirit who may be slightly more passionate about the past than the present. When their late father inadvertently sends Barley and Ian on an epic quest together – one highlighted by mystery and magic – Barley fires up his beloved and mostly dependable van Guinevere and never looks back.

Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” releases in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2020, so make plans to see the movie and then head to Disney Parks to say “Hail, fellows!” to Ian and Barley! Before you go, be sure to check out the latest products inspired by the film, available now at shopDisney.com and at Disney Parks around the world.

February 18, 2020
‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Zootopia 3’ Reportedly in the Works at Disney

Disney is planning on returning to the metropolis of Zootopia for more adventures with two sequels reportedly in the works.

Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister – who voiced fennec fox Finnick in the animation – has claimed that the movie, which won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars in 2017, is set to become a trilogy with Walt Disney’s Animated Studios reportedly throwing millions at the franchise.

Lister spoke at a fan event in Ontario, Canada, recently, where he claimed: “I can tell you for sure I’m doing another ‘Zootopia’ with Disney. We doing three of them.”

Lister continued, “We are the biggest film that Disney is producing. The last one was 240 million. This one I’m hearing will be 300 million. That’s what they spent on the budget, not the advertising. But the movie made 2.6 billion, with merchandising and the box office.”

The first movie was directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore and raked in over a billion dollars at the box office.

The original movie reimagines a world in which humans have never existed, and starred Jason Bateman as friendly fox Nick Wilde and ‘Once Upon A Time’ actress Ginnifer Goodwin as Lieutenant Judy Hopps.

The all-star cast also featured the likes of Shakira, Idris Elba, Kristen Bell and Octavia Spencer.

A Zootopia land was recently announced for the Shanghai Disneyland in China, proving that the much-loved animation is still popular.

February 17, 2020