FOR those unaware, D23 is Disney’s own event – taking place every two years – where they announce and promote their upcoming slate of shows and movies. Basically, it allows them to host their own equivalent of Comic-Con without any competition, just pure distilled Disney. This is also the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding, and the iconic fanfare reflects that. Major announcements in Marvel and Star Wars are expected soon.
Here are some of the highlights so far:
The Little Mermaid
Earning notoriety from some corners of the Internet for the casting choices, and other quarters from people tired of Disney’s trend of making uninteresting remakes of their animated classics, The Little Mermaid stars relative newcomer Halle Bailey (not to be confused with Halle Barry) in the iconic role of Ariel.
The brief trailer features shots of the ocean, lavishly re-created, with Ariel swimming and looking up above and wistfully wishing she was part of the human world, singing a few lines from Part of Your World.
It certainly sounds like the singing won’t be an issue for Bailey. Of course, for a movie this special effects heavy how will the other and weirder characters be handled, not to mention the talking fish. Either way, we’ll find out by the time The Little Mermaid hits theatres in May of next year.
Mufasa: The Lion King
First announced as a sequel in 2020, to the 2019 remake of the 1994 animated classic (that was a lot of numbers), the movie is now a prequel exploring the childhood of the noble Mufasa (memorably voiced by legend James Earl Jones) as he grows up with his brother Scar. The film will feature the voice of Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Exclusive footage was shown to the audience at D23, with Rafiki (John Kani) telling the story of Mufasa to young cubs, revealing that the lion was actually an orphaned cub who had to navigate the world alone until he rose to become the king of Pride Rock
As one of Disney’s most well known properties – the original made US$960 million (RM4.3 billion) worldwide and the remake made US$1 billion – it’s no surprise they are going back to that well. More interestingly, it is directed by Barry Jenkins, the beloved indie director behind 2016’s Moonlight which won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Inside Out 2
When it was released in 2015 (that can’t possibly be true), Inside Out was a massive hit and a critical success, winning best animated feature at the 2016 Oscars and receiving a nomination for original screenplay. Telling the story of Joy, an emotion inside the head of Riley, a teenager dealing with big changes in her life, the movie was intelligent and emotionally resonant.
Amy Poehler is returning as Joy, while Meg LeFauve, who co-wrote the original movie with Pete Docter and Josh Cooley, returns to write the script. The animated movie will feature new emotions and follow Riley as a teenager. It has a planned release date of Summer 2024.
Disenchanted
Set to release on Disney+ on November 24, the long-anticipated sequel to 2007’s Enchanted takes place after ‘happily ever after.’ Amy Adams returns as Giselle, an animated princess who gets transported to New York City, where she meets and falls in love with a lawyer – acting as a send-up and celebration of fairy tales.
Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Idina Menzel return, with Jayma Mays, Oscar Nuñez, Yvette Nicole Brown, Gabrielle Baldacchino and Maya Rudolph joining the cast.
Snow White
Disney’s Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, releasing 2024. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/UkAVXQq5Kb
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 9, 2022
In the works since 2016, Disney finally offered a first look at its live-action Snow White remake, starring Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) in the titular role and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) as the Evil Queen. It will feature original songs from the Oscar-winning La La Land duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
The story (does it really need to be said?), follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother. The 1937 animated classic is foundational to Disney as a company.
Hocus Pocus 2
In terms of long-awaited sequels, Hocus Pocus 2 has Disenchanted beat, with the original having come out in 1993 and the sequel coming out on Disney+ at the end of the month, on September 30.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are back as the three witch sisters from the 17th century, out for revenge against the world that imprisoned them. It’s up to three high-school students to stop them before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve. – The Vibes, September 10, 2022
