Disney News

Tag: movies

  • Catch a Sneak Peek of Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ at Disney Parks

    Catch a Sneak Peek of Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ at Disney Parks

    The opening of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, is just weeks away from and now guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure park have the exciting opportunity to experience a special sneak peek of the film.

    For a limited time, guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios are invited to the Walt Disney Presents theater to be a warrior and enjoy clips from the upcoming film. Guests visiting Disney California Adventure park can stop by Sunset Showcase Theater, where the sneak peek will be presented in 3D with stunning in-theater special effects. A unique display of costumes designed by Oscar nominee Paco Delgado and featured in the film will accompany the sneak peek in Sunset Showcase Theater.

    Prior to experiencing the sneak peek in the park, enjoy this exclusive glimpse at the film featuring never-before-seen footage. Check out the video below!

    From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audience across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

    Be sure to experience this adventure-packed sneak peek for a limited time through March 16 at Disney California Adventure park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and be sure to catch Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time” when it hits theaters on March 9.

  • “Kim Possible” Is Getting a Live-Action Movie

    “Kim Possible” Is Getting a Live-Action Movie

    So for those of you wondering “What’s the sitch” with Kim Possible, you be excited to learn that Disney Channel is making a live-action version of award-winning Disney Channel animated series.

    Disney announced Wednesday that casting has begun for the movie which is being penned by Kim Possible creators Mark McCorkle and Robert Schooley.

    For those who don’t know, Kim Possible is a cheerleader and she saves the world, even on school nights. With her sidekick, Ron Stoppable and his naked mole rat Rufus they go through normal teenage life while saving the world.

    The original series which ran for 87 episodes was launched in 2002.  In 2003 it was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding animated program and it also inspired two animated Disney Channel movies.

    “Mark and Bob created an enduring character and kids all over the world found a friend in her, an average girl who just happens to spend her off-school hours thwarting evil villains,” said Adam Bonnett, executive VP of original programming at Disney Channels Worldwide, in a statement. “Although Kim Possible ‘can do anything,’ kids and tweens found that this animated redhead was just like them. As we embark on the fun challenge of making Kim and Ron fully dimensional, I’m thrilled to be working again with Mark and Bob and to welcome the addition of a dynamic creative team—Josh, Zanne, Adam and Zach—into a world where anything is indeed possible.”

    It’s executive produced by McCorkle, Schooley, and Zanne Devine, and co-directed and co-produced by Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky.

    This comes as Disney’s film studio continues to find success with live-action adaptations of beloved animated classics, including last year’s Beauty and the Beast and the upcoming Mulan.

  • First Ant-Man and the Wasp Trailer Just Released By Marvel

    First Ant-Man and the Wasp Trailer Just Released By Marvel

    The first trailer for Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and the Wasp” has landed and we’ve got your first official look right here, True Believers! Check out the official trailer below and make sure to check out the film in theaters July 6!

    From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes “Ant Man and the Wasp,” a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

  • Disney’s ‘Sword in the Stone’ Live-Action Remake Finds Director

    Disney’s ‘Sword in the Stone’ Live-Action Remake Finds Director

    Continuing their strategy of reimagining animated classics into live-action movies, Disney is developing a Sword in the Stone movie and it looks like they may have found their director.  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is in talks with Disney to helm its live-action reimagining of the 1963 animated movie.

    The filmmakers credits include, directing 2002’s “Intacto” as his first full-length feature and the 2011 horror movie “Intruders”, but the native of Spain is perhaps best known for directing the zombie thriller “28 Weeks Later”.

    The Sword in the Stone remake has been in development since 2015.  Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman has been attached to write the script and Brigham Taylor will produce.

    The original animated version was based loosely on T.H. White’s novel of the same name, eventually becoming became part of the author’s multi-book King Arthur fantasy, “The Once and Future King.”

    The 1963 animated flic followed Arthur, a 12-year-old orphan, who became king after removing a sword from an anvil in London. The movie was a box office success and brought in $22 million after being made on a $3 million budget. This was the last animated Disney film to be released prior to Walt Disney’s death in 1966.

    Live-action remakes have been hugely successful for Disney. They’ve created live-action versions of its animated titles, including “Alice in Wonderland,”  “Maleficent,”  “Cinderella,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Disney is also set a live-action version of “Mulan” for November and has three live-action reimaginings set for 2019 with “Dumbo,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.”

  • Another Movie Illegally Filmed on Disney World Property

    Another Movie Illegally Filmed on Disney World Property

    Walt Disney World property was chosen as the shooting location for yet another independent film with out Disney’s consent. This time in a Film called The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head.

    This one based on the urban legend that Walt Disney was frozen after his death.  It’s a quirky comedy about the unlikely friendship between the frozen head of Walt and Peter, a Magic Kingdom Cast Member.

    Check out the trailer below.

    During his yearly dethaw to oversee the direction of his company and guard his creative legacy, Walt demands to be allowed up to see his final dream, Walt Disney World. When management scoffs, he recruits Peter to kidnap him for a day in the Magic Kingdom.

    This is not the first time guerrilla style film makers have hit Disney Parks. The low-budget independent movie called Escape From Tomorrow made headlines in 2013 as the first feature film to shoot at Walt Disney World without getting permission in advance.

    The feature film was primarily shot in the Orlando area, including on location at Walt Disney World. The movie was made without the knowledge or permission of the Walt Disney Company or family.

  • Disney Defends Darkening ‘Aladdin’ Extras Skin So They Could ‘Blend In’

    Disney Defends Darkening ‘Aladdin’ Extras Skin So They Could ‘Blend In’

    Disney has recently faced some harsh criticism over darkening the skin of some of the background extras in its upcoming Aladdin film.

    Based on a tale from The Arabian Nights, the film is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1992 animated hit. The Guy Ritchie film stars Egypt-born Canadian actor Mena Massoud as Aladdin, alongside Will Smith as the Genie.

    We just started shooting Aladdin and I wanted to intro you guys to our new family… Mena Massoud/Aladdin, Naomi Scott/Princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari/Jafar, and I’m over here gettin my Genie on. Here we go!

    Posted by Will Smith on Wednesday, September 6, 2017

    Disney said it brought in white actors to help fill the many background roles, stunt positions, dancers and “camel handlers” needed, according a report in the Sunday Times.

    Even with 400 of 500 background performers currently filming on Disney’s Aladdin are reportedly of Indian, Middle Eastern, African, Mediterranean or Asian descent, it’s the remaining 100 that have the British media outlets up in arms.

    Described as a stand in for one of the leads, the Times story quotes extra Kaushal Odedra as seeing as many as 20 “very fair skinned” actors lined up outside make-up tents “waiting to have their skin darkened.”

    Disney later released a statement which confirmed some actors were “made up to blend in” for crowd scenes, but only in a “handful of instances”.

    Disney defended their decision in a statement saying, “Great care was taken to put together one of the largest most diverse casts ever seen on screen.” The statements continues, “Diversity of our cast and background performers was a requirement and only in a handful of instances when it was a matter of specialty skills, safety and control (special effects rigs, stunt performers and handling of animals) were crew made up to blend in.”

    People across social media criticized Disney for the move, with some, including actor Kal Penn, labeling the company’s actions as “brownface.”

    Controversy surrounding the live-action Aladdin comes as nothing new to Disney. The production has previously sparked criticism over the casting the role of Princess Jasmine’s with British-Indian actress Naomi Scott and later they were also chastised for the introducing a new character into the story played by a white actor.

    While casting the film, the studio reportedly saw more than 2,000 actors in London, Abu Dhabi, India and Egypt. The company claimed to have trouble finding actors to fill the roles of Aladdin and Jasmine because they couldn’t easily find young actors with backgrounds in singing.

    Navid Negahban the actor who plays the sultan recently dismissed outcries that the film was being ‘whitewashed’.

    “It’s not whitewashing,” he told The Huffington Post. Aladdin needs variety like a garden, otherwise it’s going to be boring, he said. “You’re gonna go and see this beautiful garden with colorful flowers, and I just hope that you enjoy the journey.”

    “You will definitely love the film,” he added. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, the film has something for you to take away from it.”

    Aladdin is not due in theaters until May 24, 2019

     

  • Emily Blunt Goes for a Joy Ride in New ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Photo

    Emily Blunt Goes for a Joy Ride in New ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Photo

    A recently released new production photo from the upcoming sequel, Mary Poppins Returns, is practically perfect in every way. Just less than a year away from the film’s Christmas 2018 release date Mary Poppins fans are feeling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious about seeing the upcoming sequel.

    The production still, posted on Twitter, shows Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emily Blunt having fun while on a joyride with Georgie (Joel Dawson). Blunt takes on Julie Andrews’ renowned role as the magical nanny Poppins, with Miranda playing Poppins’ lamplighter friend, Jack.

    Taking place 25 years after the events of the original Mary Poppins film, Mary Poppins Returns follows the adult children Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer). The sequel is set in 1930s London, which is the time period of the original novels by P.L. Travers.

    Michael is living with his three children (Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson) and housekeeper Ellen (Julie Walters), in the house on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael has a personal loss, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) comes back into the lives of the Banks family. She is joined by a street lamplighter named Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), and an eccentric cousin named Topsy (Meryl Streep). Dick Van Dyke will also play a role in the film as Mr. Dawes Jr., the chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, which is now run by William Weatherall Wilkins (Colin Firth). Angela Lansbury is also in the cast as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins books. What an amazing cast!

    In March, Disney offered a first look at the anticipated musical, releasing a still of Blunt in character as Poppins standing outside the beloved Banks family home.
    Mary Poppins Returns

    Also starring in the sequel is Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Angela Lansbury. Directed by Rob Marshall the film and Marc Platt and John DeLuca are serving as producers. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have teamed up to compose original songs and an original score for the musical sequel.

    Mary Poppins Returns is set to hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2018.

  • Disney Releases 2018 Movie Schedule

    Disney Releases 2018 Movie Schedule

    The Walt Disney Studio has released their release calendar for the coming year’s biggest blockbusters, including three Marvel movies and a Star Wars film.

  • Disney Crosses $5 Billion Global Box Office as ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Hits $800 Million

    Disney Crosses $5 Billion Global Box Office as ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Hits $800 Million

    Disney is passing two big milestones. First, Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok” is expected to surpass $800 million worldwide at any moment. Second, and maybe even more importantly, with the help of Thor’s newest installment, Disney has pushed past the $5 billion mark at the 2017 worldwide box office for the third year in a row. Which makes it the second Marvel Cinematic Universe movie without Tony Stark in it to be able to do that, and of the 17 films in the MCU, it is the seventh to reach this milestone and the third to do so this year.

    “Thor” has now put Disney in the top spot globally. Universal is on the cusp of the $5-billion milestone itself with $4.97 billion worldwide ($1.6 billion domestic). Universal has one more film on its 2017 slate, “Pitch Perfect 3,” which will be released Dec. 22. But it’s pretty obvious which company will end up being the top earn for 2017, since it doesn’t count the 1 Billion Star Wars: The Last Jedi will is about to bring in. At the very least it’s bringing in a few hundred million in the final days of the year.

    The studio has surpassed this global box office milestone for the third year in a row, becoming the first and only studio to have reached this record three times according to Disney.

    Disney also noted that it’s responsible for four of the top nine highest-grossing films of the year, including “Beauty and the Beast” with $1.26 billion ($504 million domestic and $759.7 million international); Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” with $863.6 million worldwide; and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” with $794.8 million worldwide.

    Other major titles include Pixar’s “Cars 3” ($383.5 million global) and “Coco” ($178.9 million global) as well as two 2016 titles — Lucasfilm’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” with $309.3 million during 2017 and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” with $252 million during 2017.

  • EPCOT CELEBRATES THE DISNEY PIXAR FILM ‘COCO’

    EPCOT CELEBRATES THE DISNEY PIXAR FILM ‘COCO’

    At Epcot This holiday season, you will get a taste of the magic and music of Disney Pixar’s blockbuster film “Coco,” which is now playing in theaters.

    From now until Jan. 6, 2018, El Mariachi Coco de Santa Cecilia, a new musical group inspired by the film, will entertain you at the Mexico Pavilion. Named for the town of Santa Cecilia seen in the film, El Mariachi Coco de Santa Cecilia perform songs from the movie including the beautiful “Remember Me” and the heartwarming “The World Es Mi Familia.”

    The film “Coco” revolves around Miguel, who dreams of becoming an accomplished musician – despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events during the celebration of the Dia de Muertos. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

    Later this season, Mexico Folk Art Gallery, which currently houses a spectacular collection of “Dia De Muertos” artwork, also will feature an interactive exhibit and festive dioramas showcasing scenes from the film.

    In addition to this new musical experience, you can enjoy “Las Posadas,” featuring colorful dancers and performers from Mariachi Cobre celebrating the holiday customs of Mexico during the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.