We continue unbidden into the age of digital streaming dominance in the entertainment industry. CEOs and studio heads, therefore, feel the need to clamp down even more on their beloved bottom lines. To that end, many of the majors have focused on combining their various streaming services into one. Take WBD, for example, which recently (and without anyone else wanting it) merged their HBO Max and Discovery+ services into Max. Not to be outdone (never to be outdone), Disney CEO Bob Iger announced something new in May. Hulu—which Disney acquired in the Fox deal—will find its content combining with Disney+. A beta test of a combined Disney and Hulu app is here and, according to Deadline, a full rollout is coming in March 2024.

As far as costs, subscriptions to for the Hulu and Disney+ duo start at $10 a month, $2 more than the basic tier of Disney+. Subscribers will see a “Hulu” button alongside those for Marvel, Pixar, Disney, Star Wars, and National Geographic. The apps will still offer standalone services, though.

Disney CEO Bob Iger shared the following on a recent earnings call:

“We are basically putting it in beta so that we can prepare parents, largely, to basically implement parental controls, because you’ll be able to access Hulu programming on the same app… We found that where we bundle, we lower churn.”

We should note, in countries, such as the United Kingdom, where Hulu never existed, the content of both platforms was always on Disney+.

At a time when the future of art as entertainment, and the viability of working in the entertainment industry, remains uncertain, one of the few things we can count on is enormous companies looking to make it easier for them to make billions of dollars. Consolidating Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ under one app won’t change too much for you, the consumer. But potentially making everything like old terrestrial cable packages might.

Originally published on May 10, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Disney Lorcana isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Disney animation-themed trading card game from Ravensburger just saw the release of its second set, Rise of the Floodborn. Even though we know the gaming company is releasing new cards quarterly, it’s still hard to believe it’s already time to learn about Disney Lorcana‘s third set. Yet here we are. The third installment is called Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands. The 200+ card set introduces a new type of card, new Disney characters, Lorcana lore, and more.

I love the adventurous look of the Into the Inklands logo. The name is a clue to the new type of cards, too: location cards. These will feature Disney story settings and offer players special abilities and interactions. Settings include Motonui from Moana and the Jolly Roger from Peter Pan. Some locations give bonuses when characters visit them, while other location cards provide benefits just by being in play.

Additionally, Lorcana‘s third set will debut new in-game mini-stories and expand featured characters. This comes through narrative on the cards as stories unfold through quotes and descriptive text. Ravensburger says this will allow players to discover even more links between cards.

As for those new characters, Into the Inklands will have several. The installment brings Pluto, Perdita from 101 Dalmatians, Scrooge McDuck from DuckTales, Kit Cloudkicker from TaleSpin, and Jim Hawkins and the RLS Legacy crew from Treasure Planet. That’s a hefty dose of ’90s Disney nostalgia, and we’re here for it.

The Lorcana lore continues in Into the Inklands, too. A synopsis states:

The Disney Lorcana TCG set Into the Inklands continues the story of the Illumineers who were mysteriously transported to the realm of Lorcana (The First Chapter). After accidentally unleashing a flood of mixed ink (Rise of the Floodborn) that scattered precious lore throughout the realm, Illumineers are now tasked with finding the lore and returning it to the Hall of Lorcana. However, their quest may be more treacherous than they realize, as an ominous shadow storm has been spotted gathering at the edges of Lorcana, adding urgency and mystery to the path ahead.

The Into the Inklands release will include the following items:

• Amber and Emerald Starter Deck ($16.99)
• Sapphire and Ruby Starter Deck ($16.99)
• Booster packs ($5.99)
• Illumineers Trove ($49.99)
• Gift Set ($29.99)
• Play accessories: Card Sleeves, Deck Boxes, Card Portfolios, and Playmats

Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands will first release at local game stores on February 23, 2024. Mass market retailers will get the third set on March 8, 2024. Hopefully the inventory issues that have plagued Lorcana so far will smooth out with Into the Inklands.

The post DISNEY LORCANA’s Next Set, INTO THE INKLANDS, Adds New Card Type and DUCKTALES appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter is a new trading card game that gives us a fresh outlet to play with our favorite Disney characters and create epic crossovers. Would Maleficent and Cruella de Vil be friends or foes? Could Stitch endear himself to the likes of Captain Hook? And would Robin Hood and Elsa make a good team? Those are the six characters that make up the first set of Disney Lorcana trading cards. The game was announced at the D23 Expo, but it launched in August 2023, with new sets releasing four times a year. So far, the second set, Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn, has officially released. The second set of trading cards shows off more original Disney artwork than any other product, and from what we’ve seen so far, the cards are all beautiful. Additionally, for anyone in need, a reprint of Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter will also be released this December.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game, including details of its cards, app, rules, and more. You can also check out our review of Disney Lorcana for an in-depth look at the game from a player’s perspective.

Jump to: Disney Lorcana Cards // Disney Lorcana TCG Companion App // Disney Lorcana Story // Disney Lorcana Rules // Disney Lorcana Release Dates, Availability, and More

Disney Lorcana Character Cards

Disney Lorcana is a partnership with puzzle and game maker Ravensburger, who has lots of other great Disney content. Fans at last year’s D23 Expo were able to buy an exclusive first-edition pack of the cards. They also got their hands on an exclusive Mickey Mouse card called “Brave Little Tailor” that isn’t part of the set. The other characters have their own unique abilities. Captain Hook is listed as a forceful duelist and has a sword for a hand. Maleficent appears in her dragon form in the Disney Lorcana trading cards, while Cruella de Vil’s strongest quality is “miserable as usual.” I wonder how that presents itself in gameplay. There’s also Elsa the Snow Queen, Robin Hood, the unrivaled archer, and Stitch as a rock star.  Certainly an interesting lineup.

Click To View Gallery

More Disney Lorcana Cards: From Maleficent to Olaf

It seems like more or less every Disney character will find their way onto a Disney Lorcana card. Here are a few more looks at what’s to come. The “Dragon Fire” Lorcana card, for example, features Disney’s Maleficent in her dragon form, “breathing cursed green fire.” Use of this card will allow players to “banish [a] chosen character.”

We also glimpsed a new Disney Lorcana card that brings a cheerful face to the gaming table, Olaf. Warm hugs for all! Disney’s Jumba Jookiba and Princess Aurora joined the ranks of Disney Lorcana as well. And even accessories are coming onboard. A new type of card, an item card, features the “Magic Mirror.” Very mysterious.

Click To View Gallery

Recently, Nerdist went behind the scenes with Ravensburger creative director Shane Hartley, who shared more about how the game was conceived. And, of course, we got to see the magical art of four new Disney Lorcana cards.

Disney Lorcana Launches Trading Card Game Companion App

These cards are just a taste of what the full game will hold. Already, we’re a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount and artistry of all the Disney Lorcana cards that exist. But this trading card game wants keeping track of all its cards to be a breeze—and that includes both the ones you own and the ones you want. The official Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game Companion app is here to help all users keep magic high and chaos low.

A release shares:

The Disney Lorcana TCG Companion app features a complete card catalog, which can be used by players to keep track of cards in their collection as well as “wish list” cards they hope to add to their deck. TCG rookies and experts alike will also appreciate the app’s deckbuilding feature, which allows them to create and manage their own custom deck right from their phone. Other highlights of the app include easily accessible how-to-play information and videos, a lore points counter tool and the latest news updates from Disney Lorcana TCG.

The Disney Lorcna app is free to download and is available on the Google Play and Apple App Stores.

The TCG’s Story

Disney Lorcana recently released more about its lore. It’s official story shares:

Welcome to the Great Illuminary, the center of a magical realm called Lorcana… The Illuminary summoned you here because of your powerful imagination… Nearby, a unique tool catches your eye. It’s an inkcaster, and when you pick it up, it feels both exciting and familiar. Instinctively, you hold it high above the open book. Magical ink pulsing with energy flows through the mechanism and combines with the light from a story star on a page of the lorebook in front of you, creating an image of a Disney character. With the power of your inkcaster, the image rises off the page. This is a glimmer, a new version of the character that only exists in this world. As an Illumineer, you can create glimmers of characters and items to add to the lore of Lorcana—a treasure that must be preserved and protected at all costs. 

Soon, other Illumineers across the globe will be called to the aid of Lorcana. You’ll summon glimmers to quest with you as you search for missing lore in a race against time. Only together can you protect this wondrous realm from threats. 

Will you answer the call?

Disney Lorcana’s Rules

We finally have a better understanding of Disney Lorcana‘s rules and gameplay. According to a release, here’s how the trading card game works:

Players become “Illumineers” and wield magic ink to summon a team of Disney characters known as “glimmers,” who appear in both familiar and reimagined forms. In Disney Lorcana, players embark on a search for lost lore with their teams of glimmers. They’ll play characters, actions, and items from their hand and choose whether to “quest” for lore with their glimmers or challenge their opponents. The first player to collect 20 lore wins.

Additionally, Disney Lorcana‘s quick start rules note, “Disney Lorcana is a strategy card game where each player makes their own deck before the game starts, and the decks aren’t mixed together. You can play with one of the available ready-to-play decks, make changes to one of those decks, or build a deck that’s entirely your own! In a game like this, cards can allow you to do things that aren’t normally a part of every turn. If a card’s text ever contradicts the game rules, follow what the card says.”

That all sounds simple enough, but we have a feeling actually playing might get a bit more complicated. Thankfully, the game’s official website has a dedicated “How to Play” page with video guides to walk you through playing your most magical game. These will help you to understand how to generate ink, what different cards you can have in your deck, what abilities each has, and more. And hopefully, the game will leave you singing just a little bit.

Disney Lorcana‘s Release Date and More

Finally, all that Disney knowledge rattling around our brains will win us more than just trivia contests! Disney Lorcana launched “at local game stores” on August 18. And has now been released via mass retailers, as of September 1. To keep up with exceptionally high demand, more Disney Lorcana booster pack product will be sent to North American stores in October. Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter will also be reprinted and, according to Comicbook.com, will release on December 22, 2023 at 12 AM PT/3 AM ET on ShopDisney.com’s Disney Lorcana page.

The article shares that “It is expected to include most (if not all) of the products, including starter decks boosters, the gift set, and maybe even the The Illumneer’s Trove.” Meanwhile, certain products, such as Starter Decks and Booster, can be pre-ordered now at various retailers such as Hot Topic and BoxLunch.

Meanwhile, the second set of cards Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn released on November 17 in specialty/hobby stores and on December 1 for the mass market.

Country Availability and Language Options

The game originally released in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. And it comes in English, French, and German. But now, Disney Lorcana will also be released in an additional 10 countries: Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Mexico. This expansion will occur “with the release of the third set in early 2024.” The game will also come in Italian as of its third set release.

Decks and Other Merchandise

Players will be able to purchase starter decks of 60 cards in “two of the six ‘inks’ — Amber and Amethyst, Emerald and Ruby, or Steel and Sapphire.” These decks will come with two foil cards of the characters on their boxes and also include a booster pack (12 random cards, including one foil card and one card of varying rareness) and game tokens. More robust sets will also be available for purchase. Additionally, “themed playmats, card sleeves, deck boxes, and card portfolios featuring Disney Lorcana art will be available at launch.”

Ravensburger has many other licensed products from properties like Despicable Me and Minions. There are Star Wars puzzles and an Alien board game. Plus, some less obvious partnerships, like a card game for Taco Bell. 

Originally published on September 9, 2022. Original reporting by Melissa Miller.

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Recently, I was talking to someone about the magic of theme parks—specifically about how to share that magic with a cynical adult. He said it’s not about pointing out a ride’s elaborate facade or an incredible feat of engineering. I started to protest, “But these are all important parts of making a theme park special!” No, my friend insisted, it’s about the people. It’s about how those of us visiting a theme park react to and share experiences together and make memories. Whether you’re with a group or alone, it’s about how you interact with elements of the park, characters in the park, and the impressions all of it leaves behind.

This was at the front of my mind when Walt Disney World hosted Nerdist to experience holidays at the parks. I observed adults giggling in delight as fake snow “fell” from the sky. People sang along to a The Nightmare Before Christmas show with exuberance. Puppets from Animal Kingdom’s Merry Menagerie turned a group of grown-ups into excited kids. In moments loud and quiet, I noticed people making memories all around me. My friend was right. That’s what theme parks are about.

Of course, it’s easier to tap into wells of emotion during the holidays. This time of year tends to soften our hearts and awaken a childlike joy. As Walt Disney World ambassador Raevon Redding put it, “I’m normally happy nine times out of 10, so this time of year I’m really happy everyone’s happy—we’re all in unison. And I’m not all the way Buddy the Elf… but I’m close.”

It was hard not to feel a lightness of heart upon seeing the towering Christmas tree upon entering Magic Kingdom or getting up close and personal with Lucille the seal from the Merry Menagerie. That sweet puppet had so much life and personality I believed she was real. Festivities extend beyond the theme park gates too. Walking the trail of themed trees at Disney Springs buoyed my spirit on a blazing Florida day (the Haunted Mansion tree is everything). The smell of gingerbread fills a handful of Disney hotel lobbies thanks to giant confectionary constructions, including the Grand Floridian.

Inside the parks, two different parties fill the calendar for the holiday season: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights. The former is a long-time family favorite, the latter is a brand-new event geared towards adults. I attended Jollywood Nights on its first night and while the event has room to grow and improve, the two shows were stand-outs.

First up, What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along happens four times a night at the Hyperion Theatre. The show takes two performers on a dreamlike adventure through some of the movie’s best songs using creative props and storytelling. This delightful show really leans into the charm of curiosity and wonder. The more you sing along when the show invites it, the more fun you’ll have. And the best part: Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie both appear. The life-size Jack Skellington puppet normally appears at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. I was so excited to see the impeccable puppet get a holiday outing. It’s like seeing Jack from the film come to life, which means it’s kind of mind-blowing.

Oogie Boogie isn’t as intricate as Jack just because of the nature of the character. Jack Skellington is a spindly skeleton-like being; Oogie Boogie is more of a shapeless burlap sack. Still, the character moves on stage exactly like he does in stop-motion in the animated movie. It’s uncanny. The Sing-Along uses Oogie Boogie’s unraveling to excellent effect, too. I walked away from the show with a need to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas as soon as possible.

The second show, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, also takes place four times an evening during Disney Jollywood Nights. The Theater of the Stars performance is an old school variety-style show celebrating the holidays. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy cohost the event. And look, The Muppets are criminally underutilized in Disney Parks so I’m overjoyed to see them starring in this show. Miss Piggy remains the best diva ever, and her dialogue in this performance cements it. Kermit keeps it real, while Tiana, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse bring holiday cheer.

But the part of the show that caught me and my feelings unexpectedly was Belle. Remember Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas? The 1997 direct-to-video holiday film takes place within Beauty and the Beast and is a fun enough movie centered on a kind of bizarre plot about the villainous organ called Forte. But it does have a showstopper of a song: “As Long As There’s Christmas.” Belle sings this live during Disney Holidays in Hollywood. Maybe it was the late (for me) hour or maybe it’s because Belle is one of my favorite characters, but something about hearing this deep cut of a song and its earnest lyrics wrapped around my heart. It brought up warm and fuzzy memories of holidays past and hope for holidays to come.

Blowers above the theater sent snow falling onto the audience as the show ended, eliciting laughs and shrieks. The snow was soapy and manufactured. The feelings were not.

The post Holidays at Walt Disney World Bring Joy in the Form of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and THE MUPPETS appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney’s newest animated musical, Wish, is technically about a girl helped by a magical creature after learning her beloved sorcerer king is not so wonderful. But Wish is really about Disney writing itself a love letter. The film is overtly based on “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.” It’s also overstuffed with elements, like singing woodland creatures and a fairy tale framing, meant to pay homage to Golden Age Disney classics. And it’s structured like the studio’s Renaissance era movies while looking like an early 2000s release. It’s Disney-Inception. And none of it works.

All that self-adulation and referential storytelling detracts from a great idea, as does a woefully incomplete, subpar script. The result is a film with a major identity crisis made worse by subpar animation. If not for its clever premise and insightful themes, two leading stars, and some great songs it would be a total nightmare. Instead it’s merely a disappointing dream.

As someone who craves the return of shorter movies, it pains me to say the 92-minute long Wish desperately needs at least 15 more minutes. That way it could incorporate elements most good movies tend to have have, like meaningful characterization and plot development. Instead the film has too many shallow characters defined by a single trait, inexplicable plot points, and payoffs that come out of nowhere.

The script—which is actively unfunny the harder it tries to be humorous—is so incomplete that the more you think about it the worse it gets. The fantastic performances of stars Ariana DeBose (the young hero Asha) and Chris Pine (the villain King Magnifico) cover up many of Wish‘s flaws. As do some incredible songs. Wish has memorable numbers that are are more musically mature and intense than a lot of Disney fare. (Which is a pleasant surprise after a very standard opening number.) But not even DeBose and Pine can cover up some huge, obvious mistakes in the screenplay. The movie’s biggest emotional moments and some very important scenes, like the big ending, aren’t earned. More focus on incorporating basic storytelling elements would have been a huge improvement.

Unfortunately Wish isn’t interesting to look at, either. The animation style is not “retro” so much as it’s regressive. It seems to want to recreate the look of Disney film’s like Tangled and Bolt, but it looks like a cheap knockoff of those movies. What’s especially frustrating is that it occasionally employs other animation styles that look amazing. Wish has backgrounds that are truly gorgeous. A simple, stunning post-credits scene also shows what could have been. I wish we got to see the version of the movie with that animation instead.

The film isn’t a total disaster, though, even beyond its leads and songs. It’s premise is so good it covers up some of the movie’s many failings. Wish takes place in the magical kingdom of Rosas. People from all over the world come to live on the beautiful, peaceful island under King Magnifico’s protection. All he asks of them is when they move there or turn 18 they literally give him their heart’s most important wish via magic. The sorcerer then keeps their wish, which they don’t remember, as floating blue orbs. He not only keeps them safe, he grants one person their wish every month. All of which sounds great until Asha realizes why that’s horrible. That leads her to wish upon a star, which in turn brings the magical being called Star to Rosas.

Star’s arrival results in Magnifico going full villain. Only, his transformation doesn’t carry any heft. But nothing that happens in Wish does, since it’s main focus isn’t the story, but rather celebrating Disney. It’s somehow overly meta despite being total earnest. There’s no “winking” at the camera, at least not until the credits roll, and yet it’s so overtly about Disney it still feels meta. It’s too bad, because the rare times Wish does its own thing it’s a lot of fun. There are also a few moments where it seems like it might get weird and interesting, but then a talking bunny shows up and it feels trite. There’s a fine line between tribute and banal. Wish is not close to the line. It revels in being derivative.

The perils of the film’s Disney-ness is best exemplified in its title. If the movie only cared about telling the best story possible, Wish wouldn’t be Wish. It would be Dream, because that’s what it’s really about. This movie is about how the dreams we hold dearest in our heart shape us, both good and bad. It’s about how dreams can push us to greatness just as much as they can fill us with disappointment and regret. And it’s about the fact that who we entrust with helping make our dreams come true is just as important as what our dreams are.

That’s exactly the type of idea that should make for a great Disney animated movie. But the word “wish” does not have the same connotation as the word “dream.” One has a power the other does not. “A wish is a dream your heart makes” doesn’t sound as good as the original because it’s not. We send our wishes far away to the stars, but we keep our dreams in our hearts.

Too bad for us that long ago Jiminy Cricket didn’t sing “When You Dream Upon a Star.” It might have led to a much better movie now.

⭐ (2.5 of 5)

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and  Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post WISH Will Have You Wishing a Great Idea Got a Much Better Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

When Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter arrived over the summer, I followed the Ravensburger game inspired by Disney animation into the trading card rabbit hole. I learned about deck-building, the perils of booster packs and boxes (when I could track them down), and the value of buying single cards. I joined a weekly Lorcana league at a local game store and enjoyed seeing how quickly a community formed around the game. After a few months of perfecting my decks and preferred ink combinations with The First Chapter, it’s all changing with Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn. The second set’s starter decks bring additional features that, while friendly to beginners, bring depth and fresh challenges to the game.

Ravensburger sent Nerdist one of each starter deck for review purposes. The starter decks have 60 cards each and are designed for immediate play. Both feature different ink combinations than The First Chapter’s starter decks. Additionally, both decks include some cards from the first release. Though they might not have any of the set’s most powerful cards, the starter decks are a well-rounded representation of Rise of the Floodborn. Both have stunning art of Disney characters and hint at the mysterious flood of ink that transformed some of the characters.

Rise of the Floodborn Amethyst and Steel Starter Deck

Called the Might and Magic deck, the Rise of the Floodborn Amethyst and Steel Starter Deck is all about transformation. This deck features several Merlin and Madam Mim transformation cards from their wizard’s duel in The Sword in the Stone. Besides being excited to see the characters from the 1963 film, the Amethyst ink cards come with effects for when the characters enter play and when they leave play. This can mean gaining lore, drawing a card, peeking at the top card of your deck, or returning a card to your hand.

With the Steel ink, you have cards that represent the best of the ink’s traits. That means bodyguards, damage dealers, and solid lore values. The Amethyst cards in this deck thrive with Steel at their back. Though I’m already imagining some modifications I would make with Steel cards from The First Chapter.

A huge selling point of this deck is Resist. After several months playing The First Chapter, it’s going to take me a while to incorporate Resist and to remember its value. This new keyword brings the ability for a character to resist damage. We’ve seen all kinds of modifications to strength values, but not to damage. If you’re playing Lorcana for the first time with Floodborn, use this to your advantage. If you’ve been playing Lorcana, I’d get this deck just to practice using this ability. It has the potential to be a gamechanger.

Play this deck if you’re bold enough to banish your own cards or return them to your hand. (Reader: I am not bold enough. I want to hang on to my cards as long as possible and quest with them).

Rise of the Floodborn Sapphire and Amber Starter Deck

The Rise of the Floodborn Sapphire and Amber Starter Deck focuses on teamwork. It is, in fact, the Tactical Teamwork deck. That’s largely because of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Seven Dwarfs play off each other, lending Support and abilities triggered upon banishment. They can build up lore and get very quest-y very quickly. Additionally this deck brings in more items (perfect for Tamatoa item deck builders) and adds new faces like Winnie the Pooh and Judy Hopps.

While the Sapphire in this starter deck doesn’t load the inkwell as quickly as Sapphire cards in The First Chapter, it delivers on items and being ink fodder. It also helpfully brings in a character capable of challenging Evasive opponents for only two ink (Cruella de Vil, Fashionable Cruiser). Sapphire has intriguing items, too.

That said, Amber is what shines in this deck. I found myself inking Sapphire cards over and over to get Amber cards in play. I was initially skeptical about the sheer number of Seven Dwarfs cards, thinking I would get tired of seeing them, let alone playing them. They seem to rule the deck. But I quickly became a fan. Using the Seven Dwarfs to their full potential will take more finesse but even in a handful of games, they proved beneficial for challenging the opponent and also for questing. This deck’s features make it easy to get characters with high lore value out on the board and make your opponent go on the defensive. It can go from low lore to high lore quickly to make a comeback, too.

Play this deck if you like to rely on a quest-heavy strategy. (Hi, it’s me).

Overall, the Rise of the Floodborn starter decks complement the existing game’s meta while introducing new possibilities. It delivers on expanding Lorcana’s story while bringing fresh characters and gorgeous new art.

Disney Lorcana: The Rise of the Floodborn will release first at local game stores on November 17. Mass market retailers follow on December 1. Get more information at the official Lorcana website.

Featured Image: Ravensburger

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Disney Lorcana shifted the world of trading card games (TCGs) with its release in August. Ravensburger’s first TCG celebrates all things Disney animation with thoughtful cards and gorgeous art—not to mention Lorcana‘s overall story. That story is expanding with the game’s second release, Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn. The upcoming set of cards builds upon The First Chapter. It brings in characters from other stories, new items, and of course, more songs. Today, Nerdist can exclusively reveal five Rise of the Floodborn song cards: Painting the Roses Red, Go the Distance, You Can Fly!, Let the Storm Rage On, and Strength of a Raging Fire. Those of you who favor a “Steelsong” deck are going to be pleased.

Disney Lorcana co-designer and game design manager for Ravensburger North America Steve Warner tells Nerdist choosing the song is a combined effort between the narrative and game design teams. The narrative team writes the story and selects which franchises to highlight for each set. Then, the game design team selects which songs to include based on that information.

Warner explains, “We usually create song designs from either a ‘bottom-up’ or ‘top-down’ approach. ‘Bottom-up’ is when we start with a mechanic that we want to bring into the game and then find the best song name or lyric from those highlighted stories to name it. ‘Top-down’ is sort of the opposite, where the songs or lyrics inspire the mechanics and cards we create.”

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The biggest factor in deciding the part of the song to use or its ink color is asking if it makes sense. “I’m not just talking about the song, or the lyrics used to name the card, but also things like whether the scene of the movie or its overall mood matches the mechanic or how it fits into the current set,” Warner says. “We also consider things like what franchise the song is from and even if we’ve done other cards from that song.”

For Rise of the Floodborn specifically, Warner says the Strength of a Raging Fire song card was an ah-ha moment for them. “We were rewatching Mulan for research and the moment we saw the iconic training scene from ‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You,’ we knew exactly what we wanted the card to do.”

We can’t wait to play (and, let’s be real, sing) these new song cards when the second set arrives. Disney Lorcana: The Rise of the Floodborn will release first at local game stores on November 17. Mass market retailers follow on December 1. Get more information at the official website.

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Even after 50 years, the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction remains one of the best dark rides in theme park history, and is still a fan favorite. The first version opened at Disneyland in 1967, and since then, Disney has recreated it in all the other Disney parks around the globe. Now, it has been recreated again—this time in someone’s own home, with only120,000 LEGO bricks. The makers of this incredible LEGO build are brothers Joel and Jonathan Nueber, whose video they presented on the Beyond the Brick YouTube channel. And yes, this amazing LEGO build has real water. You can watch the full video right here:

The Nueber brothers mainly based their LEGO version of Pirates of the Caribbean on the one found in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The loading dock is similar to the one found there, which resembles an old Spanish Fort. The one at Disneyland has the name “Lafitte’s Landing,” named after the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte. But just about every famous scene found in the attraction found new life here in LEGO brick form. From the mysterious caverns with skeletal swashbucklers to the dreaded pirate ship The Wicked Wench. Yes, even the dog holding the key to the jail cell with the pirate prisoners is here.

After the video showing the complete ride-through, there’s a side-by-side comparison with the original Disney Parks ride. And you can see how they thought of just about every detail. We’d love to see the video timed to the original soundtrack of the attraction at some point. Although it’s a small thing, we kind of love that one of the passengers is an Imperial Stormtrooper. Maybe he’s a cast member who came over from the LEGO version of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Now, we dare someone to make that in LEGO brick form! No really, we think that would be amazing. This LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean proved anything is possible.

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Once upon a time, Snow White was Disney’s first full Disney princess movie. Incredibly, the animated Snow White first released in 1937. And now Snow White will re-release in 2025 as a live-action movie starring Rachel Zegler. Per Deadline, Disney recently moved the release date for the live-action princess movie from March 22, 2024 to March 21, 2025. That’s a year’s delay, but to tide us over, the studio also released our first look at Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the live-action Snow White movie. She’s accompanied by dwarves Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.

Disney live-action adaptations of animated movies have been kind of hit or miss. And so far, we’re not positive this one’s a hit. But we suppose we will wait and see a little bit more.

Joining Zegler in Disney’s live-action Snow White is Gal Gadot, who will play the Evil Queen. Tony Award winner Andrew Burnap will play a new male lead character. We guess just being a generic prince doesn’t cut it anymore. Behind the scenes is director Marc Webb who will oversee the script penned by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson. The live-action Snow White movie will include original songs.

I’ll be honest, of all Disney movies, Snow White is the one I remember the least. It’ll be interesting to see if the live-action adaptation of this classic will take the story in new directions. At the very least, the singing will likely be very good. We’re crossing our fingers for an excellent costume department as well.

As mentioned above, Snow White will now be released on March 21, 2025. Just don’t take any apples from strangers between now and then. No matter how nice they might seem.

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Disney’s animated villains are really good at using music to express how bad they are. From Ursula’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls” in The Little Mermaid to Gaston’s self-titled track in Beauty and the Beast, Disney evildoers prove again and again that, despite being horrible, they do know how to sing. Now the Mouse House has given us a preview of their next antagonistic number. It’s an early listen to a charming baddie’s big number sung by a charming Hollywood favorite. Disney has shared an early listen/look of Chris Pine performing its latest villain song “This Is the Thanks I Get?!” from Wish.

Anyone who watched the big screen adaptation of Into the Woods knows Chris Pine should be in way more musicals. Now his latest chance to show off his theatrical vocal chops will come in Disney’s Wish. He voices the seemingly benevolent King Magnifico, a dashing ruler who grants his subjects wishes.

As “This Is the Thanks I Get?!” shows, all the monarch asks for in return is a little gratitude. Well, that and total control over his mostly unsuspecting subjects who don’t realize he’s a power-hungry monster.

We both love and hate him already.

Disney also shared a behind-the-scenes video of Chris Pine recording the Wish song, written by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice.

In a press release screenwriter and executive producer Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios, also offered insight into the King and his big song. “He’s charismatic; he’s handsome—and he knows it—but I think he truly believes their wishes are safest in his hands,” she says. “So when [the film’s protagonist] Asha exposes the flaw in his philosophy, he feels under-appreciated and threatened.”

He’s not getting any sympathy from us! Neither King Magnifico nor Chris Pine. Not when both can believably sing, “I can’t help it if mirrors love my face.” That might be true, and it might sound good, but saying so in song is something only a villain would do.

Wish comes to theaters on November 22.

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We’re not absolutely positive what makes a haunt happy, but cocktails probably help. That means the ghosts aboard the Disney Treasure will be delighted because the cruise ship will feature the first-ever bar inspired by the Haunted Mansion. The beloved Disney Parks attraction has exactly the right vibe for a cozy bar with its spooky Victorian style. And from the looks of photos, the Haunted Mansion Parlor nails the atmosphere. We can’t wait to be some of the many foolish mortals who sit at this bar.

It’s been quite the year for the Haunted Mansion. The ride inspired a new film adaptation over the summer, and Hatbox Ghost is making his way to Walt Disney World. And now a Haunted Mansion bar! Disney Cruise Line shares that the Haunted Mansion Parlor focuses “on the story of a jovial captain who entered the ghostly realm after a disastrous dinner with his beloved fiancé.” Composer Shruti Kumar wrote a custom musical arrangement inspired by the ride to further set the mood. Walt Disney Imagineering is bringing the illusions to the party, too, with characters from Haunted Mansion rides around the globe haunting the bar.

We can see the iconic purple wallpaper around the Haunted Mansion bar. The space has a number of decor touches that look to be right from the ride. Then you have the three hitchhiking ghosts appearing in a window behind the bar. We wouldn’t be surprised to see other familiar ghouls show up there.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor will serve craft cocktails and sell souvenirs—a music box, a mantle clock, and a parlor mirror—and a sculpted mug. In other words, yes, we will leave one whole suitcase empty just for our Haunted Mansion bar haul. Flip through the gallery below to see them all.

Click To View Gallery

You can wrap your ghostly hands around these cocktails when the Disney Treasure sets sail in December 2024.

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Few things were as awesome in the ’90s as the animated Gargoyles. Disney’s attempt at a dark action series to rival Batman: The Animated Series was a dark fantasy epic with a mix of sorcery and science. It’s one of the coolest cartoons ever. And like everything cool in the ’90s, it spawned a video game. The 1995 Gargoyles game was late in the life of the Sega Genesis and as such was one of the best looking, most robust games on the platform.

Hot on the heels of news of a new live-action version, Disney Games has released Gargoyles Remastered, a gussied-up version of the beloved game. We received a review code for the game from Disney Games on the PlayStation 4. It’s never looked better, but it’s still just as hard and fast-paced as it was nearly three decades ago.

Disney Games and Empty Clip Studios have given the original game a very impressive facelift. As great as the Sega game was back in the day, the sprites were very dark and weren’t quite the look or the aesthetic of the cartoon. This version has remedied that. Goliath is a vibrant purple, the backgrounds truly pop, levels show tons of detail. They’ve also cleaned up the music and made a few quality of life changes—like a rewind function—but other than that, it’s still the same game, for better and worse.

Gargoyles spans five levels and puts players in control of Goliath, the leader of the titular creatures. The game roughly covers the story of the show’s five-part opening. The first two levels put Goliath against Viking invaders attacking the Scottish Castle Wyvern. After that the action heads to modern day NYC where Goliath fights robots on buildings, a speeding train, and in a laboratory. Eventually you get to square off against Xanatos and his Steel Clan robots, and finally evil gargoyle Demona. All of this serves a greater quest to destroy the Eye of Odin, which threatens all life.

The levels all require Goliath to climb walls, or smash through them, to fight enemies and avoid environmental hazards. Goliath can jump and double-jump (flap, because of wings), slash with claws, and flip enemies. The controls are straight forward. Easy to pick up but tough to master, the game’s primary challenge comes from platforming and puzzle solving. You have to figure out which walls to break to get health power-ups or to find the critical path. Sometimes you have to break a floor or grab a thing to open a secret passage. Like a lot of games of the era, the difficulty comes from timing and reflexes more than fighting.

And that’s what I mean when I say it’s the same game, for better or worse. When you’re firing on all cylinders, landing jumps, finding the right path, you can beat the game in less than 30 minutes. Unlike the original, this remaster offers several difficulty levels, giving Goliath more lives and taking less damage per hit. The rewind function is also clutch when you totally biff a jump or fall off a wall. These elements make for a more forgiving playthrough, but if you don’t vibe with the timing, it can be very frustrating. Sense memory for games like this needs to take over. Luckily it’s a short playthrough, but even on easy don’t expect to go in with your Elden Ring or Resident Evil 4 skills and fly through it.

Gargoyles Remastered is a beautiful update to a classic side-scroller. The art and music are superb, and for those who want the old-school experience, you can flip to the 16-bit visuals without even pausing. It’s a fun game that evokes the cartoon better than just about any game of the era. But definitely make sure you’re in a ’90s platforming state of mind or you’re likely to roar louder than Goliath.

Gargoyles Remastered is available for download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam beginning October 19, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Recently, Gargoyles was rumored as a feature film. But it now looks like we know what the plans are for Disney’s live-action take on the ’90s animated TV hit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gargoyles is being reinvented as a live-action Disney+ series by Gary Dauberman and James Wan’s Atomic Monster. The two previously collaborated on the Annabelle franchise. Dauberman not only wrote Annabelle: Creation, but he also directed Annabelle Comes Home. Recently, he wrote and directed the remake of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Dauberman will write, executive produce, and serve as the Disney+ Gargoyles series showrunner along with James Wan’s Atomic Monster.

Long before Disney+ existed, the original Gargoyles cartoon series ran for three seasons and 78 episodes, from 1994 to 1997. Despite seeming like a comic-book-based property, it was actually a totally original concept. Writer Michael Reaves spearheaded Gargoyles, along with future Young Justice showrunner Greg Weisman. It centered on a group of 10th-century gargoyles who were petrified in stone for 1,000 years. Eventually, they arrive in New York, perched atop some Manhattan skyscrapers. There, they finally awaken and become the defenders of the city. Actor Keith David played the lead Gargoyle Goliath. And a metric ton of Star Trek actors also lent their voices to the show.

Ever since the cartoon ended in ’97, Disney has attempted to revive Gargoyles in one format or another. The animated series’ original writers once wrote a script that translated the show’s first several episodes into live-action. In more recent years, even Jordan Peele came up with a Gargoyles script. Gargoyles makes sense for Disney+ to adapt as a series. It’s not Marvel or Star Wars, but it certainly appeals to a very similar demographic — those who grew up with the original cartoon on weekday afternoons. And with Dauberman and James Wan involved, we can expect something a little darker than the usual Disney+ fare.

We don’t know too much about the Gargoyles series yet, but Variety has shared the following logline:

Based on the cult classic Disney animated series, Goliath is the last of a heroic race of gargoyle warriors who once lived among mankind. Free from a centuries long curse that turned him into stone, Goliath struggles to solve the mystery of his past while watching over modern-day New York City alongside police detective Elisa Maza.

We can’t wait to see how this take on the original unfolds.

Originally published on October 16, 2023.

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I’m starting to think being Kris Kringle is not exactly a walk in the North Pole. Sure, there’s the adulation from millions and millions of kids around the world. And yes, St. Nick gets all the credit despite only really working one day a year while loyal servants toil the other 364. That’s all great. Obviously. But on the other mitten there’s always something! Sometimes you’re forced to find a spouse if you want to keep your job. Other times Jack Frost comes calling. And family, am I right? As if all of that isn’t enough, the trailer for season two of The Santa Clauses reveals that sometimes a Mad Santa will show up unexpectedly to reclaim his old job.

That doesn’t make the job of Santa sound very enticing, but it should make for a good season of the Disney+ series.

It’ll be yet another fraught holiday season in the North Pole this year, as Scott Calvin will once again need to deal with the strangely serious matter of succession. Here’s Disney+’s official synopsis for season two of The Santa Clauses:

The Calvin family is back in the North Pole as Scott continues his role as Santa Claus after retirement plans were thwarted when failing to find a worthy successor in season one. Now that Scott and his family have successfully saved Christmas, Scott turns his focus towards training his son Calvin to eventually take over the “family business” as Santa Claus.

As The Santa Clauses season two trailer reveals, Father Christmas will have bigger concerns than just training his nepo baby. The Mad Santa is coming and he seeks (sweet) revenge against the “fraud” who has his job. Not ideal for either Santa, but getting fired is better than losing your job because you fell off a roof and died.

Like I said, being Santa isn’t easy. Minus the part where you get to meet Tracy Morgan. That’s pretty awesome.

The Santa Clauses stars Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Devin Bright, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, and Eric Stonestreet as Magnus Antas, a.k.a. The Mad Santa. Season two premieres with two episodes at Disney+ on Wednesday, November 8.

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In October 1923, Walt and Roy Disney began the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios. A century later, those cartoons have blossomed into literally thousands of beloved animated characters, all known across the globe. To celebrate, Walt Disney Animation has created a special short film that unites 543 of those characters, called Once Upon a Studio. When it came to the voices for the 9-minute short, Disney wanted it to sound as authentic as possible. And that included Robin Williams’ iconic turn as the Genie in Aladdin. But how to create Williams’ voice without resorting to using dreaded A.I.? The answer lay in the Disney Vault.

According to Variety, there were many unused outtakes from Robin Williams’ recording sessions for Aladdin from the early ’90s that Disney could use, enough to incorporate the Genie into a scene for Once Upon a Studio. But Disney had to get permission from his estate to use them. Once Upon a Studio directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy approached the Williams estate and said, “This is what we hope to do. Eric [Goldberg], who originally animated the genie is on the show, and he’s going to be part of it. And it was wonderful to see that happen.” Luckily, the estate agreed, and Genie appears in all his glory, sounding just as he did in 1992.

It was never a sure thing that the Williams estate would say yes. Back in the ’90s, many “Talking Genie” Aladdin toys were recalled, as they used Robin Williams’ voice without his permission. He made it explicit that he didn’t want his voice used for any Aladdin-related merchandise, only the film. Because of this, Disney replaced him with The Simpsons‘ Dan Castellaneta for The Return of Jafar VHS movie. After an eventual public apology from Disney, Williams returned for 1996’s Aladdin and the King of Thieves. And Disney and Williams buried the hatchet. In any event, Robin Williams remains the Genie for this special project, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Once Upon a Studio debuted on ABC on October 15 and is available on Disney+ starting October 16.

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Disney fans of all ages know what can happen when you wish upon a star. But soon they’ll get to see what happens when you wish with Star, the cosmic being of energy at the heart of the Mouse House’s upcoming animated movie Wish. He’s far from the only notable member of the film. The trailer also serves as an introduction to Ariana DeBose’s Asha and Alan Tudyk’s talking goat Valentino. They’ll be joined by Hollywood royalty, Chris Pine‘s King Magnifico.

That might sound like a dream come true, but this is one Chris Pine character we’ll be wishing comes up short.

Seventeen is a tough enough age without having to save your entire community. But that’s exactly what Asha and her surprisingly deep-voiced goat pal will have to do for Rosas, “the kingdom of wishes.” That magical land off the Iberian Peninsula is the setting for Disney’s Wish.

Fortunately the two will have help from a very special being. Here’s the movie’s official synopsis from Disney:

In Wish, Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. 

Wish comes from directors Chris Buck (Frozen, Frozen 2) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon). It also features new songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice and a score by composer Dave Metzger. The musical-comedy comes to theaters this fall, on November 22, 2023.

Originally published on April 27, 2023.

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Walt Disney arrived in Los Angeles 100 years ago this year, and with his brother Roy, founded the “Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios.” From that seed, an empire of animated classics was born. As Walt was fond of saying, “It all started with a mouse.” But it quickly expanded beyond Mickey Mouse, and now includes a metric ton of beloved characters. To celebrate 100 years, Walt Disney Animation Studios has crafted a short film called Once Upon a Studio. In it, Mickey Mouse gathers hundreds of his fellow cartoon icons together for a group photo on the Disney lot. You can watch the first trailer for it right here.

This short will feature a mix of old and new Disney animated icons. Some were voiced by their original actors in new recordings, others using archival audio from classic films. Returning voice actors include Jodi Benson as The Little Mermaid’s Ariel, Paige O’Hara as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad from Frozen. Even Dwayne Johnson pops up as Maui from Moana. In terms of archival footage, you can hear Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan in the trailer. The film also uses archival audio of Sterling Holloway as Winnie the Pooh. Even Robin Williams as the Genie shows up, using unused recordings from Aladdin.

Ultimately, some 400 animated characters from a century of films appear in this short film. So it’ll invite repeat viewings to see just which characters made the final cut. They premiered Once Upon a Studio in June at the Annecy Film Festival, and it debuts on broadcast on October 15 on ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. It feels like this one will be a real treat for all true Disney animation fans.

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Since the AMPTP isn’t meaningfully negotiating with either the WGA or SAG, the Hollywood strikes continue. The longer the strikes go on—the WGA strike has lasted for over 130 days—the less TV series and other content networks and streaming services have. This could be why Disney+ and ESPN+ have come up with Toy Story Funday Football. The event is a real-time alternative presentation of an NFL game featuring the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. It will follow the action of a live football game, played at London’s Wembley Stadium, but turn the NFL gameplay into Toy Story-themed animation. It’s a lot to process, but this video spells it out.

Both NFL teams will transform into animated Toy Story-style characters and play in the setting of Andy’s room. The players’ moves in Andy’s room will replicate on-the-field gameplay from the stadium in real-time. The tracking technology uses the NFL’s Next Gen Stats player tracking data and Beyond Sports. On one hand, it’s an extension of existing technology NFL uses, and we see its appeal for bringing in younger viewers. On the other hand, this Toy Story football game is making animated versions of actual people, and in a world where AI-generated everything seems geared towards favoring AI to avoid spending as much money on humans, we’re not sure about this concept.

Toy Story characters may not be playing the NFL game itself, but some of them will be cheering on the sidelines. You’ll see Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, Bullseye, Bunny, Ducky, Forky, Green Aliens, Jesse, Rex, and Slinky Dog. A special halftime show will even feature Toy Story‘s Duke Caboom attempting a motorcycle jump. Who would dare to miss that?

Toy Story Funday Football streams on October 1 at 9:30 a.m. ET on Disney+ and ESPN+.

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Disney Lorcana debuted to huge success in August. Such huge success, in fact, getting hold of The First Chapter has been a challenge. Ravensburger recently announced it would be reprinting chapter one in 2024 to meet demand. That reprint will come after the game’s second set of 200 plus cards. And now we know more about that second set. Ravensburger has revealed details for what’s next for its Disney trading card game. Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn brings new characters, different starter decks, and the origin of the floodborn glimmers. Here’s how Disney Lorcana will expand.

What Are Disney Lorcana‘s Floodborn?

Glimmers with the floodborn trait are characters whom a mysterious flood of ink transformed. The same flood damaged the Great Illuminary. That caused the game’s six inks (Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Steel) to blend and release in a mixed-up, chaotic form. Ravensburger shared in a release, “When storyborn or dreamborn glimmers encountered this mixed ink, they surged with a power that changed them, transforming them into floodborn glimmers. As the magical ink poured out of the Illuminary, treasured lore went with it, including Disney’s King Triton’s powerful trident.”

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn New Characters and Cards

Click To View Gallery

Matching The First Chapter, Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn will have over 200 cards, all with brand-new artwork. We’ll see familiar characters in different ways, but this second Disney Lorcana set will also bring newcomers to the game. Winnie the Pooh and Tiana will both appear for the first time. Additionally, the set will include glimmers from The Jungle Book, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Great Mouse Detective, Pinocchio, Zootopia, and Raya and the Last Dragon.

All the new Disney Lorcana cards are playable with the first set. You can preview 13 of the cards above, and you may notice a different game ability: Resist. The Resist keyword indicates how much additional damage characters may be able to withstand. For example, Resist +2 on a character would mean any damage dealt to them is reduced by 2.

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn Starter Decks and Booster Packs

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn will include two starter decks featuring different combinations of inks from set one. The pairings this time are Amber and Sapphire and Amethyst and Steel. Starter decks will be priced at $16.99. Booster packs will cost $5.99.

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn Illumineer’s Trove and Playmats

The set will also feature a new Illumineer’s Trove and at least two new playmats, one featuring Winnie the Pooh and the other depicting the Beast. As a reminder, the Illumineer’s Trove includes collection storage box, two deck storage boxes, eight booster packs, 15 game tokens, and a player’s guide.

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn Release Date

Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn will release first at local game stores on November 17, followed by mass market retailers on December 1.

Disney Lorcana: Disney100 Edition

For the holidays, Ravensburger will release the Disney Lorcana: Disney100 Edition. Available at local game stores and mass retailers on December 1 for $49.99, the Disney100 Edition comes with six cards. The cards are from The First Chapter and Rise of the Floodborn but feature alternate artwork from Disney animators. Each card features an exclusive Disney100 frame design, a satin holographic foil finish, and a copy of the animator’s signature prominently displayed.

Artists featured include:

• Mickey Mouse – Friendly Face – Mark Henn
• Elsa – Gloves Off – Brittney Lee
• Genie – Powers Unleashed – Eric Goldberg
• Stitch – Abomination – Alex Kupershmidt
• Maleficent – Uninvited – Lorelay Bové
• Maui – Demigod – Bill Schwab

Each Disney100 Edition comes with four Rise of the Floodborn booster packs.

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2023 marks 100 years since Walt Disney and his brother Roy began the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. Needless to say, the entertainment world has never been the same since. Although the Walt Disney Company has produced all kinds of different forms of media, most will forever associate them mainly with animation. Now, as a way of celebrating a century of animated movies, Disney has announced the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection. It features 100 animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Pixar on Blu-ray. The box set packages all these movies together in a hardbound, self-standing three-volume set that unfolds into your own storybook. However, the retail cost of this Disney collection is not exactly a fairy tale.

What Does the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection Cost, and What Does it Include?

As part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, a limited number of these  Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection sets will be available for pre-order only on Walmart.com. This comprehensive Disney collection will go on sale beginning September 18, and each set will include a numbered certificate of authenticity. It’s a true collector’s item, and that means it comes with a true collector’s item price tag. Just how much will the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection cost? According to The Wrap, the collection will retail for $1,500. It’s enough for anyone to say “Holy Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”

But does this potential expense buy a Disney fan? Well, the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection set includes 100 animated titles on Blu-ray and digital codes for each movie. The Disney box set also features the original theatrical poster art for each Disney animated movie and comes with a collectible lithograph from Disney Animation’s all-new animated musical Wish, as well as a collectible crystal Mickey ears hat with exclusive Disney 100 engraving. As for which 100 films from the Disney library made it onto the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, the real question is, which ones didn’t? It seems every major animated Disney film is a part of this set, from 1937’s Snow White to this year’s Elemental. Below is the full list of films.

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Movies Included in the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection

1. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
2. Pinocchio (1940)
3. Fantasia (1940)
4. Dumbo (1941)
5. Bambi (1942)
6. Saludos Amigos (1943)
7. The Three Caballeros (1945)
8. Make Mine Music (1946)
9. Fun And Fancy Free (1947)
10. Melody Time (1948)
11. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
12. Cinderella (1950)
13. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
14. Peter Pan (1953)
15. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
16. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
17. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
18. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
19. The Jungle Book (1967)
20. The Aristocats (1970)
21. Robin Hood (1973)
22. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
23. The Rescuers (1977)
24. The Fox and The Hound (1981)
25. The Black Cauldron (1985)
26. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
27. Oliver & Company (1988)
28. The Little Mermaid (1989)
29. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
30. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
31. Aladdin (1992)
32. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
33. The Lion King (1994)
34. A Goofy Movie (1995)
35. Pocahontas (1995)
36. Toy Story (1995)
37. James and the Giant Peach (1996)
38. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
39. Hercules (1997)
40. Mulan (1998)
41. A Bug’s Life (1998)
42. Tarzan (1999)
43. Toy Story 2 (1999)
44. Fantasia/2000 (2000)
45. The Tigger Movie (2000)
46. Dinosaur (2000)
47. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
48. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
49. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
50. Return to Never Land (2002)
51. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
52. Treasure Planet (2002)
53. The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
54. Piglet’s Big Movie (2003)
55. Finding Nemo (2003)
56. Brother Bear (2003)
57. Home on the Range (2004)
58. The Incredibles (2004)
59. Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005)
60. Chicken Little (2005)
61. Cars (2006)
62. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
63. Ratatouille (2007)
64. Wall•E (2008)
65. Tinker Bell (2008)
66. Bolt (2008)
67. Up (2009)
68. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
69. Toy Story 3 (2010)
70. Tangled (2010)
71. Cars 2 (2011)
72. Winnie the Pooh (2011)
73. Brave (2012)
74. Frankenweenie (2012)
75. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
76. Monsters University (2013)
77. Planes (2013)
78. Frozen (2013)
79. Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)
80. Big Hero 6 (2014)
81. Inside Out (2015)
82. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
83. Zootopia (2016)
84. Finding Dory (2016)
85. Moana (2016)
86. Cars 3 (2017)
87. Coco (2017)
88. Incredibles 2 (2018)
89. Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
90. Toy Story 4 (2019)
91. Frozen 2 (2019)
92. Onward (2020)
93. Soul (2020)
94. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
95. Luca (2021)
96. Encanto (2021)
97. Turning Red (2022)
98. Lightyear (2022)
99. Strange World (2022)
100. Elemental (2023)

Movies You Won’t Find on this Disney Set

We should note that these are only Disney’s theatrically released (or originally intended for theatrical release) films. So, none of the straight-to-video sequels to Aladdin and Lion King you watched on VHS back in the day made it into this set. Given how Disney has doubled down on streaming only these past few years, it’s nice to see a recommitment to physical media from them lately. Because the truth is, physical media is really the only way you’ll ever really own a movie, folks. But as mentioned, this Disney collection will set you back. The price is a not-so-thrifty $1,500. But we imagine there are many Disney die-hards out there who will want this baby on their shelves, regardless of price.

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If you want to keep not seeing commercials, it’s going to cost you even more. Disney, the company that commands 28% of the media landscape, has announced it will raise its prices for ad-free tiers of both Disney+ and Hulu. Disney+ Plus Premium (ad-free) will go from $10.99 per month to $13.99 per month, an increase of just over 27%. Hulu’s ad-free offering will also raise its price $3, from $14.99 to $17.99, an increase of 20% per month. There will also be a bundle of Disney+ Premium and Hulu (No Ads) for $19.99. The yearly subscription model will also go up accordingly.

Additionally, Hulu’s Live TV packages will see increases as well, both the ad-free and ad-supported plans will increase by $7.00. Hulu’s Live TV with ads plan will go from costing $69.99/month to $76.99/month, and Hulu’s Live TV ad-free plan will increase from $82.99/month to $89.99/month. The Hulu and Disney+ subscription cost increases will come into play on October 12.

This all comes in addition to even more ad-supported tier options for international subscribers, including folks in Canada and Europe. The ad-supported tiers in the United States are currently $7.99 per month for each Disney+ and Hulu. A statement in the press release reads:

The strong momentum of our ad-supported plans in the U.S. demonstrates the importance of providing consumers with choice, flexibility and value,” said Joe Earley, President, Direct-to-Consumer, Disney Entertainment. “We are excited to expand that offering in more markets across the globe, including in Europe and Canada, and to launch a new premium duo bundle of ad-free Disney+ and Hulu this Fall, as we take steps toward making extensive Hulu content available via Disney+ later this year for Bundle subscribers.

As The Hollywood Reporter points out, this move is a bid by Disney to “bring its direct-to-consumer business to profitability.” This move comes at a particularly interesting time for big media corporations and their streaming services with regards to the striking WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. The lack of profit sharing and residuals from streaming content are at the forefront of the guilds’ complaints against the AMPTP, of which Disney is a member.

With its estimated 150 million subscribers as of September 2022, a $3 per month increase for premium subscribers could net as much as $450 million more per month. In 2022, Disney+ had a revenue of $7.4 billion, which contributed to Disney’s total revenue of $84.7 billion that year. And lest you fear, Disney has been losing money in 2023: Q1 2023 was the company’s largest on record, with $23.51 billion. Q2 tied for the second-highest ever, along with Q1 2022, at $21.82 billion. According to Reuters, Disney CEO Bob Iger’s new contract, which he signed in July, could net him five times his base salary in annual incentive bonus. His previous contract gave him $27 million per year in total compensation.

Why am I sharing all of these revenue and salary numbers? Well, it’s interesting to see just what “weak” box office means to a company like Disney. Disney, who still managed to bring in $55 billion in 2022 from media and entertainment. It may only be $3 extra dollars a month out of your pocket for Disney+ and Hulu each, but look where it’s going and know who is actually benefitting.

As mentioned, the new tiers and prices will take effect on October 12. The new Disney+ and Hulu ad-free bundle meanwhile arrived on September 6. Remember, both apps will merge in the fall as well, while the services will still remain separate.

Originally published on August 9, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Disney Parks opened Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in March 2022. It’s an immersive overnight experience that brings guests into the Star Wars galaxy. The two-night “cruise” aboard the Halcyon, a luxury liner, was an expensive outing, with prices for two starting at $4,800. In May 2023, Disney announced the closure of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, though the company didn’t specify why. It’s hard not to imagine the costs for both the company and the guests playing roles. And during Disney’s Q3 2023 earnings call, we learned just how much the closure will cost Disney.

In news we first saw at The Orange County Register, Disney will take a loss in the form of “accelerated depreciation” on the Star Wars hotel. Disney’s interim CFO Kevin Lansberry said, in not as many words, it will cost Disney $250 million to close Galactic Starcruiser. The hotel has been open for less than two years of operation. That loss contributes to less than stellar financial results from Walt Disney World and Disney theme parks overall for the quarter.

To put that number in an even starker light, Numlock breaks that down to a $2.5 million writeoff per room in Galactic Starcruiser. (It has 100 cabins.) Given the hit the company is taking to close the hotel, you have to wonder about Disney’s profit projections for it had it remained open.

The last Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser “voyage” departs on September 30. Disney has not yet said what they plan to do with the large and soon-to-be vacant building. Disney chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products Josh D’Amaro said in an interview “something will happen” with the building. It’s not possible for that statement to be more vague, but at least the building won’t sit empty forever. With its proximity to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, maybe they could still use it as a Star Wars experience.

The Disney earnings call also brought the announcement of increased pricing for Disney+ and Hulu.

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On an earnings call Wednesday afternoon, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced price increases for Disney+ and Hulu. The ad-free plans for each service will go up over 25% per month. And that’s not the only measure the company is planning to take to drive profit for Disney+. In news we first saw at IGN, the streamer will follow in Netflix’s footsteps. Disney will start cracking down on password sharing in 2024. Netflix’s own efforts from earlier this year brought the streaming service six million new subscribers, so it’s not a surprise to see Disney+ copying the move.

Iger said on the earnings call, “We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family. Later this year, we will begin to update our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies. And we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024.”

The CEO called it a priority while also stating he doesn’t know that it will meaningfully contribute to growth. To that point, Netflix has been established as a streaming service since 2007. Disney+, however, launched in 2019. The Disney service doesn’t have close to the same number of subscribers as Netflix. It doesn’t have as much to gain. But hey, maybe Disney+ is applying this tactic in order to gain more profit that they will then use to pay striking writers and actors fair residuals. After all, the streaming service wouldn’t exist without the content writers and actors create.

Netflix’s advance against password sharing started with notifications to existing customers. Eventually if a user outside of the household tried to log-in into a shared account, Netflix forced the option of creating a new account. Iger’s comments mentions Disney looking at the best options for paying subscribers to share that accounts, but we have a hunch the best one will be no sharing outside of a household.

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As a fan of spooky things, and also fun, I of course love the Disney Parks’ Haunted Mansion rides. I want to go on more of them. I hear the ones in Paris and Shanghai and Tokyo are really cool. For fans of these rides, specifically the Disneyland one, Justin Simien’s Haunted Mansion movie has plenty of “Oh hey, it’s that from the ride!” moments. Katie Dippold’s script offers a surprising amount of tragedy to go along with the ghosts, which surprised and delighted. There’s even quite a few scare moments that just stay on the family side of the line. And yet, they felt like it needed to mostly be a weird comedy, too. Some of it worked, some did not.

If you’re someone like my mother, you might have asked “Why would they make another Haunted Mansion movie?” To which I’d reply, “Well, the 2003 Eddie Murphy version was notoriously terrible and people still love the theme park ride.” And it seems like this is the raison d’etre. After years of toying with whether they’d give Guillermo del Toro the keys to the spookiest house in Disney’s neighborhood, the company instead decided to play it very, very safe and effectively just retread a lot of the same ground as the first movie. A family moves in, ghosts haunt them, they have to “find a way out” out of the situation.

The family in question is Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase Dillion) who buy and move into the Gracey Mansion in Louisiana when they find it for cheap on Zillow. Uh oh, it’s very haunted, so they need some help. The seemingly exorbitantly wealthy single mother then assembles a Dream Team of ghost hunters, including the priest Kent (Owen Wilson), psychic medium Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), and professorial haunted house expert Bruce (Danny DeVito). However, chief among them is physicist-turned-tour guide Ben (LaKeith Stanfield) who had invented a spectral energy camera, prior to a personal tragedy. They have to figure out why the ghosts are so aggressive, and why ghosts follow them home.

In addition to all of these people are some of the ride’s more famous ghosts. We have the psychic-in-a-crystal-ball Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis) who helps them, and the Hat-Box Ghost (Jared Leto) who is the movie’s main villain. Want your Black Widow husband killing ghost? She’s there. The portraits of the two guys killing each other in a duel? Here too. Long hallways, stretching rooms, hitchhiking ghosts, all in attendance. And some of them provide legitimately good scares, the likes of which I wasn’t expecting in a Disney movie.

I’d love to say the movie works all the time. Stanfield gives a remarkably grounded, touching performance as a man dealing with profound grief. All good ghost stories have to have an element of sadness, and this one doesn’t shy away from that. The ghosts are never played for laughs, either, which I think is incredibly smart. The Haunted Mansion ride is fun-spooky. It needs to keep that kind of “ooh!” For the most part, this movie does that. And we learn about the ghosts and their history and how to end this weird curse. The plot and emotion are all there.

However, the biggest issue is they hedged their bets by making it a studio comedy. Haddish, Wilson, and DeVito all have chops for days, and some of what they have to say and do is really funny. Especially Wilson, who has some legitimately funny moments. But did we need them? Did this movie need to be a comedy full of improvised or extended jokes? We also get a number of big-name cameos doing especially silly things. Honestly, it felt like Simien (who directed Bad Hair previously) and Dippold (who wrote 2016’s Ghostbusters) had battling sensibilities that ended up both coming out in the finished film. I know I’m a horror guy first and foremost and others’ mileage may vary, but it just felt unbalanced.

I also need to point out some truly bizarre product placement. Every movie has product placement, but because this movie takes place in an old house, it’s harder to have new products just sitting around. So at various points in the movie, one of the characters will say a store or business by name. I don’t know if I’ve ever noticed it to this degree. It happens at some truly inappropriate times and pulled me right out of the story.

Haunted Mansion is not a train wreck or anything. It’s enjoyable enough. Family horror was something I grew up with and I miss it. I don’t think Hocus Pocus 2 was good at all, and this is much, much better than that. I think it could have been very good if it had let some of the zanier comedy fall by the wayside and embrace the family drama and spooky thrills. Stanfield is doing some amazing work here and I think that alone needs recognition. But I think the movie is not funny enough to warrant so much attempted comedy, especially when the ghost elements work so well on their own. Let the grim, grinning ghosts socialize without lame attempts at comedy getting in the way.

Haunted Mansion ⭐ (3 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Disney Lorcana brings Disney animation to the world of trading card games. Perfect for fans of Disney’s animated films and trading card game beginners, Disney Lorcana is about to become your new personality. The cards are beautiful and collectible with abilities that bring Disney storytelling to the table in moments that will make you nod and say, “Yes, of course.” Gameplay flows quickly, making it all too easy to play just one more game. Nerdist spent some quality time with an early review copy of Disney Lorcana from Ravensburger. For context: I played the game with two players, I’m a huge fan of Disney animation, and while I play a lot of tabletop games, I’m not super experienced with trading card games (the only one I’ve played for any amount of time is Star Wars: Destiny).

What Is Disney Lorcana About?

In Disney Lorcana, the player is an Illumineer. Players must protect Lorcana by using magical ink to play glimmers. To win, players race to collect 20 lore. Questing for lore will win the game, but players can challenge their opponents along the way.

Is It Easy to Learn Disney Lorcana?

Despite needing to learn the above terminology, getting started with Lorcana is so quick and straightforward that it feels like a trick. I’m all too used to playing games that take 20-30 minutes to review the instructions for the first time and set up the board. With Disney Lorcana, we were ready to play in 15 minutes with only minimal fumbling through the first round of play. However, I wouldn’t call the first game (or even the first few) skillful. You play, learn, and refine as you go. Initially, I focused on gaining lore as quickly as possible—which is good, gathering 20 lore first is how you win—but I did so at the expense of paying attention to my opponent’s lore and cards in play.

Lorcana is a game about balance. Strategy comes with practice and getting to know your cards. The approach that works best for you will be subjective. After playing 10 times, I’m still figuring out the nuance of when to turn cards to ink and when to hang onto them and when to challenge and when to quest for lore.

What’s Disney Lorcana’s Replayability Like?

The more practice you get, the faster Lorcana games go. It’s easy to fit games into your schedule or to sit down for a best two out of three. And you’ll want to. I’ve played at least once every day for the past week, and I don’t see that changing. And once booster packs are out and I can build my own deck? Forget about it. The combination of gorgeous Disney art, honing my technique, and wanting to play as many of the cards as possible keeps me coming back again and again.

Which Disney Lorcana Starter Deck Is Best?

I gave mostly equal time to Lorcana’s three starter decks: Amber and Amethyst, Emerald and Ruby, and Sapphire and Steel. These decks come ready to play with different strengths. Amber and Amethyst “likes to quest early and often.” Emerald and Ruby “is especially good at delaying your opponents’ progress early on.” Sapphire and Steel “is great at quickly increasing the amount of ink in your inkwell.”

Those descriptions from the quick-start rules for each deck proved true. While I cannot tell you which Lorcana starter deck is best, because they’re weighted equally, if in different ways, and much depends on luck of the draw, I can tell you about the play styles and which I enjoyed the most. I am not taking into account which characters are in which deck; I would never be able to choose.

Amber and Amethyst has plenty of characters with a low ink cost. You can play characters quickly and start questing for lore early. Those low-cost characters are easy prey, but numbers matter, as does having options. This deck is my personal preference because I like getting cards into play as early as I can. You can defend with this deck, but it’s gentler than the other two.

If you are an aggressive and sneaky strategist, Emerald and Ruby is for you. This deck has strong cards in all categories, ideal for dealing damage to your opponents. This does not match my playstyle, however. I struggled anytime I tried the Emerald and Ruby deck, while my opponent flourished with it.

Sapphire and Steel has some sharp offensive cards too, but it’s with more brute force than Emerald and Ruby. Cards in different categories help you fill up your inkwell, which means you can put your more powerful characters into play. These high-cost characters can challenge repeatedly before other characters drain their willpower and banish them. Despite that, Sapphire and Steel feels like a kinder deck than Emerald and Ruby. It’s my second favorite since it occupies a middle ground between the other two decks.

I haven’t tried mixing and matching other combinations of two inks yet (you can have up to two ink colors in a deck).

Disney Lorcana’s Design

The first thing I did with my decks was look through every card because I needed to see the art. Some characters, items, and songs look right out of the animated films they come from. Other cards look from the world of the animated films but with some extra zhuzh. All the card illustrations are lovely. Ravensburger includes the artist’s name on each card so you can look up your favorites online. Each card’s mechanics complement the character, item, or action. I am consistently impressed with the thoughtfulness applied to Lorcana’s cards.

The only element I found lacking is the paper playmat that comes with the starter decks. This is what you use to place your cards and track your lore. It gets the job done. I understand it needs to fit in the starter deck packaging, but its nature meant I accidentally slid my lore tracker around. However, a d20 easily solves this, as does the Lorcana app (which was not live at the time of review).

Is Disney Lorcana Worth It?

If you are a trading card game fan and especially if you are a Disney animation fan, Disney Lorcana is absolutely worth it—especially with starter decks costing $16.99. It’s quick to set up, easy to learn the basics, and then continues to challenge you as you develop your skills.

The first set of over 200 cards, Disney Lorcana: The First Chapter, debuts August 18, 2023 at local game stores and Disney Parks. The game then arrives in mass retailers and on shopDisney on September 1.

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If you’ve been on the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney’s theme parks, you know what to expect. Mysteriously stretching portraits, ghosts galore, hot and cold running chills… some of us even know the opening greeting by heart. But if you’re an unsuspecting family moving into what you think is a lovely new home? Well, the presence of the supernatural would probably take you by surprise. The latest trailer for Disney’s Haunted Mansion movie shows just that scenario when Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) learns a vanilla-scented candle will not chase the ghosts away. And there are many, many ghosts.

So basically, Gabbie and her son move into their new haunted home and supernatural shenanigans greet them. She recruits help from a ragtag group who offer nothing but questionable advice and skills. These new faces blend in with our favorite characters from the ride. The trailer features plenty of the fan-favorite Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto), with his disturbingly removable ghost head. We get all kinds of creepy vibes from him. Plus, we see Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota in full floating head form. And yes, that is Winona Ryder that you see in the Haunted Mansion trailer.

Here’s the Haunted Mansion movie’s official synopsis:

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

We feel optimistic about the tone of the trailer. It seems to perfectly capture the “it’s scary, but it’s silly” vibes of the Haunted Mansion ride. Also? What a top-notch cast. The movie’s line-up includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto.

Haunted Mansion arrives in theaters on July 28.

Originally published on March 2, 2023.

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Back in the ’90s, the animated action-adventure series Gargoyles ruled weekday afternoon TV. Produced by Disney for the iconic Disney Afternoon block of shows, for years folks have wondered when the beloved series would get some kind of revival, reboot, or continuation. Well, according to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, director Kenneth Branagh has signed on to bring a Gargoyles movie to the big screen. Branagh has a long relationship with Disney prior to this. He directed the 2015 live-action Cinderella, and before that, the original Thor film in 2011.

Disney has not issued an official statement on the news. However, Nerdist reached out to a Disney spokesperson who shared there is no truth to the claims. Sorry, folks.

The original Gargoyles cartoon ran for three seasons and 78 episodes, from 1994 to 1997. Not based on any comic or game, but an original concept, Gargoyles was spearheaded by writer Michael Reaves and future Young Justice showrunner Greg Weisman. It centered on a group of 10th century Scottish gargoyles, naturally, who get petrified in stone for 1,000 years. Eventually, they find a home in the New York City skyscrapers, where they finally awaken and become the city’s protectors. Actor Keith David lent his memorable voice to the lead Gargoyle Goliath. Also, many Star Trek cast members, from The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and even Nichelle Nichols lent their voices to the show.

Disney did make other attempts over the years to revive Gargoyles. The show’s original writers once wrote a script adapting the show’s first five episodes. And in the last several years, even Jordan Peele came up with a Gargoyles script. Sadly, one that never got any traction. Whether this Branagh version ends up being true or not, we still would love to have a Gargoyles movie out in the world.

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Another day means more streaming news. We learned in early May that Disney+, which will combine with Hulu into a single app, would be removing certain streaming content from its platform. Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy announced this on an earnings call saying that the company is revising its costs and strategy. Removing streaming content is a move we recently saw Max (formerly HBO Max) make as a cost-cutting measure.

 “We are in the process of reviewing the content on our DTC [direct-to-consumer] services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” said McCarthy. “As a result, we will be removing certain content from our streaming platforms, and currently expect to take an impairment charge of approximately $1.5 to $1.8 billion. The charge, which will not be recorded in our segment results will primarily be recognized in the third quarter as we complete our review and remove the content.”

McCarthy also said the streaming service will produce lower volumes of content in the future.

As for what Disney is removing from Disney+ and Hulu, reference the list below.

9/11: One Day in America
America the Beautiful
Among the Stars
Artemis Fowl
Be Our Chef
Best in Dough
Best in Snow
Better Nate Than Ever
Big Shot
Bin Laden’s Hard Drive
Black Beauty
Buried Secrets of WWII
Cheaper by the Dozen remake
Clouds
Croc That Ate Jaws
Darby and the Dead
Diary of a Future President
Disney Fairy Tale Weddings
Dollface
Drug Lords: The Next Generation
Earth to Ned
Encore!
Everything’s Trash
Extreme Rescues
Flora & Ulysses
Foodtastic
Harmonious Live!
Hollywood Stargirl
It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer
Just Beyond
Keep This Between Us
Life Below Zero: Next Generation
Little Demon
Locked Up Abroad
Love in the Time of Corona
Maggie
Magic Camp
Marvel’s Project Hero
More Than Robots
Most Wanted Sharks
National Geographic Investigates: LSD and Psychedelics
North Korea: Inside the Mind of a Dictator
Own the Room
Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays
Pick the Litter
Pistol
Rogue Trip
Rosaline
Shop Class
Stargirl
Stuntman
The Armstrong Tapes
The Big Fib
The Come Up
The Deep End
The Hot Zone
The Making Of Willow
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The One and Only Ivan
The Premise
The Princess
The Quest
The Real Right Stuff
The Right Stuff
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Timmy Failure
To Catch A Smuggler Rome
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Turner & Hooch
Ultimate Survival WWII
Weird But True!
Willow
Wolfgang
Y: The Last Man

This content left Disney+ and Hulu on May 26. As of June 30, Disney+ removed even more content from its platform. Although the streamer did not indicate specific reasons for this latest removal. Among the titles included in this purge was a Mckenna Grace-starring sci-fi film, Crater. Crater, a Disney+ original movie, released on May 12. Disney+ removed it from the platform after only seven weeks.

Originally published on May 11, 2023.

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Ravensburger’s Disney Lorcana brings the world of Disney to the arena of trading card games. Featuring characters and items you know and love from your favorite Disney animated films, Lorcana takes players to familiar places in a new style. The game’s story unfolds in a unique setting. It positions players as Illumineers who must bring together elements from the Great Illuminary to protect Lorcana. This includes glimmers, new versions of Disney characters that exist only in this world. Blending decades of Disney nostalgia in this different framework takes a deft hand. The Lorcana creative team, all fans of Disney animation, has that awareness, as Nerdist learned when we went behind the scenes of Disney Lorcana‘s art.

“From the beginning we had a clear vision of a cohesive art style for the majority of our cards that we call ‘modern storybook.’ It’s an illustration style inspired by the work of some of our premier and featured artists in the first set,” Ravensburger creative director Shane Hartley tells Nerdist. “Since our glimmers come from Disney stories past and present, the illustrations needed to feel nostalgic but not old, familiar but original and exciting. The modern storybook style we developed has visible line work to align with animation as well as vibrant color washes that purposely break those lines, making each image come alive. It mixes the traditional hand drawn and painted attributes seen in fairy tale storybooks with new digital techniques.”

The modern storybook style establishes a distinct look for Lorcana‘s art, and additionally, design pillars feature in the designs—literally. They used pillars to tell part of the story. The booster packaging has a large pillar, or column, beside the character. Hartley notes those are ink columns from an inkcasting room inside the Great Illuminary. The character you see is a glimmer emerging from magic ink. “So, the pillars not only create a branding element to frame the characters on the packaging. They also provide a visual representation of how glimmers are created in Lorcana using magical ink,” Hartley explains.

Lorcana‘s many elements from packaging to cards to character design connect to make an expansive -wo.rld. For example, the “o” in the Lorcana logo, is the Illuminary’s silhouette. The outer ring shows how each of the six magical inks converge on a story star in the center. That reinforces the creation story of glimmers.

The magical inks play a key role in the game. As an Illumineer, players use an inkcaster to summon glimmers. Hartley says designing the six ink icons of Lorcana was a huge team effort. They began by gathering references and mood board visuals that evoked the traits reflected in each ink’s play style. “It’s important to note that in addition to each ink having its own personality and traits, they all include glimmers of both heroes and villains, so it’s not just a matter of good and evil,” Hartley says.

He calls Lorcana’s inks the building blocks, or periodic table, of the world. Hartley says, “It was important to create icons that looked like a family, ones that were unified in shape and visuals as well as working individually. They also needed to work in different combinations, since you can have two inks in a deck. Very early on we landed on using a hexagon as a container for the icon, with its six sides representing the game’s six inks. This also felt complementary to the game’s logo design, which we decided on first.”

Hartley shared in-depth information about each of the glimmer’s characteristics:

• Amber glimmers are purposeful, patient and dedicated.  They often work within their community, so the icon was inspired by knots and weaving to illustrate the strength found by working together. The whole is greater than the individual.
• Amethyst glimmers are incredibly powerful and use otherworldly powers and arcane abilities to achieve their goals. Amethyst was probably the first icon we did and were happy with, although it was also tricky. Our first iterations of this icon leant itself more to villains, which isn’t an accurate representation of the inks. It took some work to get to a version that looked good for heroes, too.
• Emerald glimmers are flexible and can easily adapt as things change. I think this icon took the longest to develop, as it was difficult to create a visual of something that felt like it was elegantly bobbing, weaving and diving—but in a flat 2D shape.
• Steel glimmers are strong and can be large, armored, or just plain powerful. The idea of a defensive fortress is something we had very quickly, but the refinement actually took a while, as we wanted to make sure it was also a symbol of strength and force.
• Ruby glimmers are daring; this is the ink of the speedsters, the brave and the risk-takers. We purposely created an asymmetrical design for this icon to show how these glimmers leap right into action.
• Sapphire represents glimmers who are intelligent, strategic and inventive; these are the thinkers, planners, and creators in Lorcana. This icon has elements of an eye and sacred geometry.

The inks connect to another important part of Lorcana: the Great Illuminary. The Great Illumnairy holds the inkcasting station. Concept artists tried several designs to create an aesthetic informed by magic and science that felt timeless. Hartley adds, “We wanted the Great Illuminary to feel almost like it was alive, or an autonomous machine.  The top is similar to a lightning rod and is designed to draw the story stars into it, pulling them through the top and down through the center before projecting them to the inkcasting stations. The gold and bronze outer shell of the magical sphere has openings and separations that mysteriously reveal the vast inner workings.”

The design team “powered” the Illuminary structure with flowing lines, or grooves. Those serve as the conduits for the power of the inks to travel throughout the Illuminary.

As Hartley mentions, creating the look of Lorcana was a collaborative effort. We can exclusively reveal four cards today from three of the artists who created card illustrations for the first set: Nicholas Kole, Koni, a.k.a. Amandine Girard, and Hedvig Häggman-Sund. All are fans of Disney, citing the films and characters as inspiration. Kole says, “I was a musical theater kid in high school; I have an encyclopedic Disney music library in my head. Any time I get a Disney Lorcana assignment I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll have that movie’s soundtrack stuck in my head until I move on to the next card. That emotional connection to the source material is pretty potent stuff; each illustration feels connected to a whole world of art and music and memories.”

Calling back to those memories can enhance the art, too. Koni mentioned working on her favorite characters takes her back to childhood and that makes the characters more alive. The creative process then becomes more personal.

Disney artists like Jin Kim, Cory Loftis and James Baxter inspire Häggman-Sund. Koni looks to the color work and atmospheres in films like Coco. She also calls out the overall creative process it takes to bring Disney films to life. Kole is a huge fan of Milt Kahl, Shiyoon Kim, Ami Thompson, and also Cory Loftis. Kole says, “They’re all incredible commanders of line and shape, but more than that, I can feel loads of heart and sincerity coming through their work and that’s what draws me to the artists I remember forever.”

Speaking to inspiration for Disney Lorcana‘s art, Hartley says, “For me and for the team, it’s important to stay true to the origins of the stories and the personalities of the characters but then expand upon that in new and exciting ways. The last thing we want to do is something that feels inauthentic for a character or their personality. We look at elements of a character’s story and iconic moments, their clothing, their regions, and even the cultural themes and time periods represented and explore how these characters might adapt or be reinvented in this new world. Just like the Illumineers in the game who are casting these glimmers, we’re creating new and familiar versions that feel true to the Lorcana realm and to join us on our quest.”

Disney Lorcana will be available at hobby stores and Disney Parks on August 18. It will be available at mass retail and shopDisney on September 1. Learn more at Ravensburger’s site.

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We first heard we could add Bambi to the list of Disney live-action movies in early 2020. The story of the little deer who lost his mama and made friends with the forest critters will get another chance at the big screen. And recently, the movie showed signs of new progress. According to Deadline, Oscar winner Sarah Polley is in talks to direct the latest Disney live-action film. The publication also notes that Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster wrote the latest version of the script. And additionally, the project would be a musical and would feature music by Kacey Musgraves.

The original Bambi was one of Walt Disney’s passion projects after the incredible success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But due to the outbreak of World War II in Europe, both Snow White follow-up films Bambi and Pinocchio lost money for the studio, with the entire European market now closed off to them. But nevertheless, Bambi garnered several Oscar nominations, and thanks to many re-releases and home video, became the classic we think of it as today.

Unlike later Disney animated films, Bambi is a relatively simple story. The actual original film is barely over an hour in length, coming in at just 70 minutes. So that means that this new version will have to have a very padded-out screenplay to make it closer to a traditional two-hour running time that most big movies have these days. I imagine we will see more of Bambi’s parents, and get way more screen time for scene-stealing characters like Thumper and Flower the skunk.

It could be that Bambi goes the same route as the recent Lady and the Tramp re-do, and the studio will release it straight to Disney+. Peter and Wendy, a live-action remake of Peter Pan, recently headed right to the streaming service. However, a live-action The Little Mermaid movie released in theaters.

Considering there are no humans seen in the original Bambi, this could wind up being another controversy similar to Disney’s remake of The Lion King, which was criticized for being an animated film posing as live-action. Unless we suddenly see the hunters who killed Bambi’s mom—who are largely off-screen characters anyway—I don’t see how this new iteration of Bambi will really be able to be considered “live-action.”

Regardless, the live-action remakes of classic animated Disney fare has been a major franchise for the studio, on par with Star Wars and Marvel. While they might run out of the original 2D animated classics to remake in the next few years, it’s only a matter of time before the Pixar films like Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. get the treatment. And with all the money that The Nightmare Before Christmas rakes in via merchandise, that one has got to be on the docket as well. Personally, I can’t wait for Hercules‘ live-action movie. That one doesn’t get nearly enough love, and could be perfect given the right casting.

This new Bambi live-action movie is still in early development, but perhaps we will hear more about it soon.

Originally published on January 24, 2020.

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Who is the leader of Uhh-Earth? Well, after a series of miscommunications, the universe thinks it’s Elio, who is definitely not a child. Definitely not. But he is definitely in for the adventure of his life after he ends up representing Earth in a galactic trial. We assume the fate of the planet is at stake. But since Elio is a Disney and Pixar movie, we also assume things will go alright for Earth and its newest ambassador. Take a look at the teaser trailer for Elio below.

Elio‘s animation already takes our breath away, and we’ve just seen a glimpse of it in this teaser trailer. We can tell we’re in for a delightful romp through this imagined universe. And we can’t wait to meet all of its fantastical creatures and out-of-this-world settings. Of course, we’d expect nothing less from a Disney and Pixar movie. The synopsis for Elio shares more about what we can expect from the story itself.

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie “Elio,” the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be. 

Although Elio is about to go on a coming-of-age adventure all on his own, we know home is where the heart is. And we can tell from the trailer that Elio and his mom have a bond like no other. One that no doubt can conquer even the hardest of alien hearts.

Elio releases in theaters on March 1, 2024. The Pixar movie features the “voices of America Ferrera as Elio’s mom, Olga; Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa; Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon; and Yonas Kibreab as the title character.” Elio, we recognize your true leadership of Uhh-Earth.

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It usually takes some time for an animated Disney film to get a live-action film adaptation. But according to the Mouse House, they’re bringing the beloved 2016 film Moana into live-action. This live-action Moana will even see one of its original stars producing and, potentially, starring. And yes, that star is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who played the part of demigod Maui in the original film. Johnson tweeted the official announcement of his return to the world of Moana, which you can watch right here:

The Walt Disney Company and Dwayne Johnson also released this statement on the new, live-action iteration of Moana:

I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.

Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated film, is also one of the producers. She shared on Instagram in May that she, however, would not be reprising the role of Moana. Cravalho said, “As an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength.”

The live-action Moana will arrive in theaters on June 27, 2025.

Originally published on April 3, 2023.

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We just met the characters of Elemental in a trailer for the upcoming Pixar film. And of course it will arrive in theaters with the traditional Pixar short that airs before the animation studio’s movies. This one is Carl’s Date. Starring Carl Fredricksen from Up, the short features Carl working up to going out on the town. He gets guidance from none other than Dug. The trailer promises extreme cuteness.

We already feel teary-eyed over this concept. Especially when you consider that Ed Asner recorded the dialogue for the short not long before he passed. He was able to reprise Up‘s grumpy-yet-soft Carl one last time. The synopsis for the short reads as follows:

…this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend—but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends—if you’re a dog.

Yeah, we have no doubt Dug has plenty of excellent advice.

Written and directed by Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, Carl’s Date will premiere with Elemental in theaters on June 16.

Originally published on March 28, 2023.

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The only thing scary about Disney’s 2003 attempt at turning its iconic hair-raising ride into a movie was how much everyone hated it. It wasn’t particularly funny or frightening for anyone of any age. Twenty years later, though, it seems like the Mouse House might have finally figured out it can do both with an adaptation. The first full trailer for Haunted Mansion has plenty of laughs, plenty of ghouls, and plenty of reason to believe this latest attempt at turning the Disney Parks attraction into a featured film will be spec(ter)tacular.

Is this movie going to scare some kids? Absolutely. We know because we expect some parts to scare us, too. There’s a reason this film is rated PG-13, whereas the 2003 adaptation The Haunted Mansion got a PG designation. But that’s a good thing! If you ever rode the attraction as a kid you were probably scared by some of it. Especially that opening waiting room with the moving pictures, which this Haunted Mansion trailer reveals will be one of many Easter eggs and reference to the ride.

What exactly is going on in this adaptation, though? Why would anyone go some place so haunted? Here’s the film’s brief official synopsis from Disney:

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

Directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People), the movie boasts a terrifyingly good cast. The movie stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost.

Will this prove to be the adaptation we’ve waited 20 years for? We’ll find out this summer when Haunted Mansion comes to theaters on July 28. But just based on this trailer alone we’re pretty sure it’ll be a lot better than the original. It will be really scary if it’s not.

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When it comes to Disney Princess stories, Ariel’s is quite baffling for the average land dweller. Why in the world would she want to leave her underwater land with fun fish and riches to come live among humans? Generally speaking, our world (and we, tbh) kind of suck. But Halle Bailey, a sweetheart and literal musical princess among us, can convince us to believe anything. That’s why we will be first in line to watch the upcoming live-action version of The Little Mermaid. For now, we can enjoy Halle Bailey’s full take on “Part of Your World,” performed at Disneyland, as well as an incredible trailer for The Little Mermaid.

It gives us goosebumps; truly this new version of “Part of Your World” brings us right into the heart of the story. And seeing the performance at Disneyland makes everything even sweeter. We love hearing this rendition, both familiar and novel. The full The Little Mermaid soundtrack releases on releases May 19.

For even more of Bailey’s incredible voice, you can also take a look at the heartfelt trailer that recently released. 

Like with “Part of Your World,” we all know this story well and recognize many beats here. However, there’s something truly magical about seeing it transpire with real people, especially Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy as Ariel and Ursula, respectively. In The Little Mermaid trailer, Ariel and her father, King Triton, find themselves at odds. Why? Well, she breaks a cardinal rule when she swims to the surface to help a drowning man. Of course, that guy isn’t just any regular dude. He’s Prince Eric, a man who is charming enough that he can woo a mermaid by simply looking her in the eyes. Now Ariel’s curiosity about humans and the above world is stronger, leading her to make a deal with Ursula. And, well, you know what happens next.

It’s truly magical (and, for me, tear-inducing) to hear Halle triumphantly sing that she will be part of that world one day. A perfect choice for Ariel, indeed. The Little Mermaid also stars Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby and Javier Bardem as King Triton.

The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26.

Originally published March 13, 2023.

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Disney villains need love too. In fact, if you asked most people, they would say the villains are the best part of any Disney movie. And this is exactly why we love this gorgeous new Villain Icon LEGO set so much. Some of the Disney villains themselves are, of course, literally present in LEGO Minifigure form. But the set takes a more conceptual approach to honoring Disney’s evil cabal.

Instead of a straightforward build, the villains recive a beautifully crafted and symbol-filled set. For instance, a pocket watch steps in to bring some of the devious Captain Hook’s menace to the table. The description of the Villian Icons build shares more about the Disney LEGO set, noting:

This detailed collectible set features 2 brick-built VHS cases referencing Disney’s Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty, a VHS ‘tape’ of The Little Mermaid, a book representing Beauty and the Beast, a Queen of Hearts playing card for Alice in Wonderland, a ‘poison’ apple for Snow White and a pocket watch representing Captain Hook from Peter Pan. The set also features several hidden features and functions and makes a nostalgic bookend on a shelf.

Of course, everything comes colored in the villains’ distinctive Disney colors. Hidden in the set, you’ll also find LEGO Minifigures for Disney’s Maleficent, the Evil Queen in Disguise from Snow White, Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, and Jafar Genie from Aladdin. We love them all already.

This evil and slightly nostalgic set is made up of 1,540 pieces. It costs $129.99, and you can pre-order it now. The LEGO Villain Icons build will ship out to Disney fans on June 1.

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In 2010, Alice in Wonderland exceeded expectations away by earning over a billion at the box office. Since then, Disney has dutifully churned out several live-action remakes in an effort to stimulate reliable box office success. However, with continually less-than-stellar reviews, it seems even Disney’s most cherished intellectual properties aren’t bulletproof. The studio’s latest reimagining, Peter Pan & Wendy, isn’t even given the grace of a theatrical release. Instead, it is coming straight into consumers’ homes on Disney+. Unfortunately, Peter Pan & Wendy is a middling, predictable attempt at reworking the Peter Pan story with a lack of visual flare and definitive sense of self. Jude Law’s unexpectedly empathetic Captain Hook attempts to rescue this film, but he can only do so much.

Starring Alexander Molony and Ever Gabo Anderson, Peter Pan & Wendy follows Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson), a strong-willed young woman reluctantly preparing to leave her beloved brothers John (Joshua Pickering) and Michael (Jacobi Jupe) behind. She’s heading off to boarding school at the behest of her parents (Molly Parker and Alan Tudyk). Wendy’s reluctance to grow up and embrace young adulthood is noticed by the mischievous Peter Pan (Alexander Molony). With the help of his pixie friend Tinker Bell (Yara Shahidi) he whisks Wendy and her brothers away for an adventure in his magical world of Neverland. 

From character beats to set pieces, the first half hour of Peter Pan & Wendy is virtually identical to the opening of the 1953 film. It sets up the same plot and themes of the original, except with the now-customary update in aesthetic trappings for “modern” audiences. For example, Wendy gets bloomers instead of a nightgown. Peter Pan & Wendy follows Alice in Wonderland in terms of putting the sword in the hands of its demure heroine. While that idea was a novelty and interesting subversion of expectations in 2010, it now feels like a uninspired approach to every women-led live-action Disney remake. Seeing it here feels tiresome and borderline condescending.

As it stands, Wendy Darling is already one of Disney’s most interesting, unique young heroines, especially considering the time in which she was written. Wendy’s dilemma of duty to her family and limits of her gender role and station in contrast with her desire to savor the joy of youth is a complicated, insightful story that continues to ring true with young women today. (Just look at Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, a current film with similar themes.)

This film doesn’t double down on the internal conflict that made Wendy so easy to love in the first place. Instead, she’s made to fit the cookie cutter mold of ‘empowered’, weapon-wielding live-action Disney. This interpretation of the character feels underbaked because of the aforementioned coherence to the original in the crucial first act. Because it follows the original film’s formula so strictly, this significant changes feels particularly unearned.

Peter Pan & Wendy departs from the original once we get to Neverland; however, these measures to update the story and bring something different to a younger generation of viewers feels too conservative, timid, and formulaic. Tiger Lilly also gets the action heroine treatment. She goes from damsel in distress to horseback-riding axe-wielding leader of the Lost Boys. Tiger Lilly is essentially the “muscle” of Peter Pan’s fight against the pirates. It’s good to see the film steer clear of the harmful portrayal of Indigenous characters from the original Peter Pan. But this update of the character on a thematic and narrative level again feels shallow. She simply goes from one stereotype to a marginally less offensive one. 

There is one meaningful change in Peter Pan & Wendy, though, that makes the film interesting: the increased screen time and character development of Captain Hook. It’s understandable that when making the jump to live-action, Disney would want to give the most emotional heavy lifting to a more experienced actor. And Jude Law is without question the film’s MVP. Taking some visual queues from Taika Waititi in Our Flag Means Death, Law’s Captain Hook is more of a long-haired sadboi than a flamboyant, maniacal caricature obsessed with a ticking crocodile.

Instead, Hook is a childhood friend of Peter Pan who left Neverland because he missed his mother. He returns as an adult and but his former best friend shuns him. This story development picks up on an interesting quirk of Peter Pan’s personality in the original film. He’s brash, self-centered, and not all that likable. The fact that Peter Pan & Wendy explores Peter as a morally gray character versus an infallible folk hero is worth celebrating.

Alexander Molony does an admirable job of holding his own when engaging in intense exchanges with Jude Law’s Hook. Together they deliver the film’s most affecting, emotional scenes. This is working despite some strange stylistic and directorial choices from David Lowery. His previous deft craft in films like The Green Knight is strangely absent.

The film feels choppily edited, especially in regards to music queues. Composer Daniel Hart’s sweeping, grandiose score full of Indigenous war cries behind Tiger Lilly and angelic chorals beneath Wendy is chopped and parsed among the sound design of Harry Potter-esque action sequences. 

There are rare glimpses of brilliance in Peter Pan & Wendy that hint at a bold take on this beloved story. Lowery’s reimagining of the journey to Neverland with a disorienting, portal-esque sequence is particularly memorable. The same goes for Hook and Peter’s final emotional reconciliation. But those moments are far too infrequent. And the rest of the film is so stale and shallow that it’s hard to truly call this something new.

Peter Pan & Wendy is currently streaming on Disney+.

Peter Pan & Wendy ⭐ (2.5 of 5)

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Get ready to welcome your favorite blue alien back to the screen. As we learned in 2018, Disney is making a live-action version of its 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch. The story follows the alien Stitch as he crashes on Earth and befriends Lilo, an orphan. It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh out loud before making you cry. This is why it’s perfect that Disney has hired Marcel the Shell with Shoes On director Dean Fleischer-Camp to helm the live-action Lilo & Stitch. The Hollywood Reporter shares the movie has also found its lead in newcomer Maia Kealoha. Kealoha will reportedly star as Lilo in the movie.

In addition, it seems Sydney Elizabeth Agudong has been cast as Nani, Courtney B. Vance has been cast as Cobra Bubbles, and Kaipot Dudoit will play David Kawena. A couple of new characters will also appear in the movie. Reports also indicate that Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis have also come aboard the film. Finally, it seems likely that Chris Sanders, the original voice of Stitch, will also return for the live-action movie.

Nerdist confirmed only the directorial news in an interview with Fleischer-Camp. Fleischer-Camp couldn’t share any further details about the upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, but he did confirm his involvement. He noted, “I’ve been pitching it on it for months. I love that movie so much. I will work my ass off to get it right and to make a great live-action movie out of it.”

Fleischer-Camp told me how much he loves Stitch’s line at the end of the movie, “This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It’s little, and broken, but still good.” He calls it, “One of the most profound, moving lines in the history of cinema.”

Earlier reports connected Jon M. Chu to the project, but the reports never panned out. We don’t have other details on the cast or crew for the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake yet except for the report on Lilo’s casting.

Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois wrote and directed the animated movie about six-year-old Lilo, her teenage sister Nani, and the blue alien Lilo named Stitch. We hope to see all of our favorite characters in the film. I especially can’t wait to see who they cast as Cobra Bubbles.

And if you’d like to see why Fleischer-Camp is the perfect choice for live-action Lilo & Stitch, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On hits theaters across the US on July 15.

Originally published on July 14, 2022.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Editor-in-Chief for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Jedi Mind, and more Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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A couple of years ago, artist Anastasia Ivanova wowed us with her fan art of MCU characters reimagined as iconic Disney villains. We couldn’t get enough of the art, and neither could the internet. This is why we were all so excited when Ivanova returned with round two of her stunning work. Vol. 2 of this fan art once again combines Disney and Marvel characters into the multiversal forms we need to see. Honestly, Disney and Marvel Studios should be taking notes (and getting ready to give credit where credit is due). This time around, the fan art set again features mostly MCU characters as Disney villains, but we feel Bruno counts as more of a hero. Let’s take a look at these amazing pieces of art which allow the worlds of the MCU and Disney to meet.

MCU Characters Become Disney Villains and More

Matt Murdock, a.k.a Daredevil, as the Queen of Hearts

First up in this Disney/Marvel fan art collection, we have Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock as The Red Queen/Queen of Hearts. We love this take on Daredevil’s red and gold MCU suit. It transforms into a regal suit of armor in all the best ways. Plus, Matt Murdock does have that royal swagger. And his red glasses are just the right color to suit the Queen of Hearts. Plus, we can all agree Matt Murdock is the ruler of our hearts, especially after his She-Hulk turn.

Moon Knight as Encanto‘s Bruno

Next, we get to see Oscar Isaac’s Steven Grant/Marc Spector/Moon Knight embody Encanto‘s fan-favorite character Bruno. We do not talk about Moon Knight, anyone? Except we’ll never stop talking about this Disney/MCU mashup art. Like Bruno, Marc Spector is haunted by powers beyond his understanding. We hope he’ll eventually be able to find true peace as Bruno does. But to learn more about that, we’ll need a Moon Knight season two. Then we can see what Khonshu and Jake Lockley have to say about it.

The MCU’s Baron Zemo as Disney’s Cruella de Vil

Baron Zemo is a bit of a prima donna, as we see in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. He likes the finer things in life, and he’s very good at playing puppet master. In this piece of fan art, the Marvel villain becomes perhaps more of a puppy master as he transforms into Disney’s Cruella de Vil. Honestly, Zemo should consider adopting this new Disney-fied look if he returns to the MCU. He already wears a fur collar on his coat. Lean in, Baron Zemo! Just leave any and all puppies alone.

The Grandmaster as Ursula

The Grandmaster as Ursula? We can get deep into this MCU Disney crossover art. Honestly, it feels like the Grandmaster would steal someone’s voice for fun and then mess around with them until they forever belong to him. He does that in Thor: Love and Thunder. The Grandmaster orchestrates Thor’s hair being cut, and that is basically like Ursula taking Ariel’s voice. Plus, we know the Grandmaster wouldn’t mind having all those extra limbs. They suit him.

The MCU’s Black Widow as Disney’s Prince Hans

Although the MCU’s Black Widow is not nearly as villainous as Disney’s dastardly Prince Hans from Frozen, we sure do love her look in this art. The Black Widow logo pin is absolutely genius, and NatasHans’ hair is a masterpiece. While Black Widow warms up throughout her time in the MCU, it is fair to say she is ice cold when the situation calls for it. She and Prince Hans definitely share that in common.

Marvel’s Loki as Disney’s Maleficent

Last, but certainly not least, this art collection brings us the MCU’s Loki as Disney’s Maleficent. We got to meet several Loki variants in Loki and might meet yet more in season two. But this is absolutely the one Loki we’d like to see join the MCU. Loki and Maleficent share a certain goth aura that this fanart perfectly captures. We could also opine they are both misunderstood villains of a sort. And although Loki might trade a raven for an alligator, he sure does love his horned headpieces.

Fingers Crossed for More Marvel/Disney Mashups to Come

Anastasia Ivanova’s second volume of MCU/Disney mashups were just as brilliant as the first. What a special treat for fans of both franchises. And although we don’t yet know if we’ll get a volume three, we can only hope. Maybe this time we’ll see a few more heroes become heroes. T’Challa as Prince Charming, anyone? How about Thor as Rapunzel? We’d honestly be happy with any more of this crossover. And hopefully, we’ll meet the MCU Disney realm sooner rather than later.

The post Disney/MCU Character Mashup Art Creates a Stunning Universe appeared first on Nerdist.

Going to Neverland never gets old. And that’s a good thing, because it’s time to go back with Peter Pan & Wendy. The live-action movie comes from director David Lowery (The Green Knight, Pete’s Dragon) and looks like a pretty faithful adaptation of the J.M. Barrie book—with an intriguing cast. Wendy Darling meets Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up. Then Wendy and her brothers head off with Peter and Tinker Bell to Neverland. Adventure ensues as the Darlings discover a world beyond their imagination. The first Peter Pan & Wendy trailer teases what’s ahead.

We hardly recognized Jude Law as Captain Hook. The cast also includes Alexander Molony as Peter, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, and Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily. All the characters you know and love in a new story. What’s not to love?!

The synopsis for the movie shares:

“Peter Pan & Wendy” introduces Wendy Darling, a young girl afraid to leave her childhood home behind, who meets Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up. Alongside her brothers and a tiny fairy, Tinker Bell, she travels with Peter to the magical world of Never Land. There, she encounters an evil pirate captain, Captain Hook, and embarks on a thrilling and dangerous adventure that will change her life forever. 

It seems growing up may be the greatest adventure of all. But we’ll have to wait and see what our titular duo decide to do in this iteration. We can see even more of the adventure in the film’s teaser trailer below.

In a statement, Lowery, who also co-wrote the movie, said:

In making Peter Pan & Wendy, we set out to craft a film that honors both the original J.M. Barrie text and Walt Disney’s animated adaptation; we wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart, and a grand yearning for adventure. Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen; I’m excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride, and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective.

Peter Pan & Wendy will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on April 28. We can’t wait to go back to Neverland once again.

Originally published on February 28, 2023.

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From toys and abstract feelings to bugs and cars, no studio does a better job of telling human stories with non-human characters like Pixar. Now the animation powerhouse is going to do that with fire, water, earth, and air. And the colorful first first trailer for Elemental shows what kind of classic Pixar story it’ll tell. It’s a real fish out of water story. Only, in this case, it’s a “fire hanging out with water” story.

No Pixar movie has ever looked more like a Pixar movie than Elemental does. To paraphrase Spinal Tap‘s Nigel Tufnel, “It’s like, how much more Pixar could this be? And the answer is none. None more Pixar.” That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Pixar is very good! The film’s official synopsis also promises a timeless tale that takes inspiration from around the world. All told with stunning visuals we’ve come to expect from Pixar, which we see in this Elemental trailer. From Disney:

Check out a brand-new trailer for Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, an all-new original feature film that transports moviegoers to an extraordinary place called Element City, where a host of elements live and work. The trailer showcases each element—air, earth, water and fire—and what sets them apart according to Ember, a quick-witted and fiery woman who’s always stayed close to home in Firetown. In Elemental, which opens in theaters on June 16, she finally ventures out of her comfort zone to explore this spectacular world born from the imaginations of Pixar’s filmmakers and specifically crafted for the big-screen experience. Element City is inspired by big cities around the globe and embraces theorized contributions from each elemental community—from giant pine-tree-like buildings and waterfall skyscrapers to a tornado-shaped arena called Cyclone Stadium.

The film stars Leah Lewis (Ember) and Mamoudou Athie (Wade). Joining them are Ronnie del Carmen as Ember’s soon-to-be retired dad, Bernie; Shila Ommi as Ember’s love-seeking mom, Cinder; Wendi McLendon-Covey as Wade’s stormy and Air-Ball-loving boss, Gale; Catherine O’Hara as Wade’s welcoming mom, Brook; Mason Wertheimer as Ember’s admiring earth neighbor, Clod; and Joe Pera as an overgrown city bureaucrat, Fern.

Elemental comes from director Peter Sohn, with a screenplay from John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh. The film blows into theaters this summer, June 16. It will also screen in 3D.

Of course, Disney should also offer 4D screenings, too. Splash some water on us. Blow some air through our hair. Let us feel heat from flames and earth under our feet. Now that would be a way to really up the feeling of experiencing Pixars most Pixar movie.

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Ev’rybody wants to be a cat! And now, per Variety, everyone will want to be a quasi-realistic, quasi-animated cat in Disney’s next cartoon remake, a live-action The Aristocats movie. Live-action reimaginings of Disney animated movies are all the rage these days. We’re very excited about the upcoming The Little Mermaid movie. Disney has even managed to pull off hybrid “live-action” movies that star largely animals like The Lion King and Dumbo. So we guess that paves the way for a live-action The Aristocats.

Of course, we’d prefer to see real living and breathing cats and animated humans, just for a change of pace. But that probably won’t happen. Variety reports the live-action The Aristocats will be a “blend of live action and CGI.” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will direct the movie.

It’s a bold move for Disney, though, considering we saw a similar style of movie-making in that famed hit, Cats. Although we can only hope our beloved family from The Aristocats won’t have humanoid faces… Or even just lifelike moving mouths. We don’t know how this one will go, but we definitely feel curious. Whether that’s a good or bad thing for cats remains to be seen.

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If you’re a hardcore Disney Parks fan, then you know that one of the perks of going to Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom is the ability to get a delicious, soft serve Dole Whip. Usually, they are sold in Adventureland, adjacent to the Enchanted Tiki Room. There’s nothing like seeking refuge in the Tiki Room on a hot summer day with a delicious and cool Pineapple Dole Whip treat. Until now, you could only get a Dole Whip in the Disney Parks and at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. But according to a report from Fortune, Dole Whip is coming to grocery store freezer aisles sometime in 2023.

Dole is whipping out (forgive us) some 11 new products, all revealed at Natural Products Expo West. These include products that include juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, Dole Good Crunch, Dole Wiggles Fruit Juice Gels, and The Secret Nature of Fruit Chews and Probiotic Sodas. But the one everyone is excited about, without a doubt, is the Dole Whip. Since it has only been available in the theme parks since 1984, tons of folks who don’t live in a state with a Disney park can finally see what the big deal is all about.

Of course, this means that the Disney Parks might replace the classic Dole Whip with something new. Or perhaps a flavor of Dole Whip that will only be available there. They will likely want something tasty you can get at Disneyland and Disney World, and only there. Exclusivity is the name of the game. Of course, churros are available everywhere, but no one makes them quite like Disney Parks do. So who knows. As for when the grocery store Dole Whips will become available, all we know is sometime this year. As for having your very own Tiki Room to go with it, you’re just going to have to get creative.

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A number of characters and moments have become quintessentially Disney over the years. And with Disney celebrating its 100th anniversary, that means the company has a whole vault of inspiration. LEGO pulled from the Disney’s history to choose movies and characters for their new Disney100 collection. The line-up features some adorable BrickHeadz, a Disney LEGO minifigure blind bag collection, and our favorite: the house from Up.

Carl and Ellie’s house from Pixar’s Up is iconic. The pastel-hued home combines coziness with quirkiness. We’d move into the Up house any day. Since that’s not possible though, we’ll happily build it instead. The LEGO Up house goes on sale on April 1 for $59.99. It has 598 pieces and comes with minifigs of Carl, Russell, and Dug. We’re daydreaming about a version that fits with our LEGO City buildings.

As for the newest batch of Disney LEGO minfigs, look how cute they are. With Baymax, Robin Hood, Stitch, and Tiana, it’s going to be tempting to buy a whole box to make sure you get every minifig. These blind bags go on sale on May 1 for $4.99 each.

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The latest teaser for Disney’s upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid movie doesn’t reveal too much more about the film than what we’ve already seen. But it does promise a wholly magical experience is awaiting us. The undersea world looks divine. And our new looks at Halle Bailey’s Ariel have our hearts beating fast.

The teaser does set up some iconic moments, though, like the “Kiss the Girl” sequence. We still don’t hear any new music from The Little Mermaid, but we do hear a new devious cackle lurking in the depths. This The Little Mermaid teaser gives us our first taste of Ursula, who will be played by Melissa McCarthy.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action movie is coming to theaters on May 26. we can’t wait for the full trailer to swim into our lives.

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Disney shocked the business world in November when it announced Bob Iger would return as CEO. Iger came back to replace Bob Chapek. And while many celebrated Iger’s return, things may look a little different after Iger’s first investor earnings call. In the 2023 earnings call for Q1 on Wednesday, the CEO shared news about upcoming mass layoffs. The Disney company will be letting go of 7,000 employees. Iger also announced, in a move that does not come close to offsetting that terrible news, sequels for three animated Disney franchises: Frozen, Toy Story, and Zootopia. The CEO mentioned an Avatar experience for Disneyland as well. We first saw this news at Variety.

The brutal layoffs come as a result of restructuring that will split the company into three divisions: Disney Entertainment; Parks, Experiences, and Products; and ESPN. Iger said on the call that the “structure is aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders and making them accountable for how their content performs financially.”

As for the new animated movies, Iger didn’t share details beyond the Disney sequels being in the works. Another Frozen sequel will bring the total number of feature-length Frozen stories to three. Meanwhile, Toy Story already has four installments. Zootopia received a series, but this would be its first sequel. A few actors such as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, Tim Allen, and the voice of Frozen‘s Olaf, Josh Gad, reacted to the news on Twitter. However, it remains unclear whether this counts as a confirmation of their characters’ continuing presence in the Disney sequels.

We also don’t have details about the Avatar experience for Disneyland. Iger promised them “very soon.” The park doesn’t have room for the full-blown Avatar-themed area that Walt Disney World has in Animal Kingdom. It’s more likely the experience would be part of the DisneylandForward expansion announced in early 2021.

More details to come as we learn them.

Originally published on February 8, 2023.

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After a 13-year wait, we may finally be heading back into the Grid. The long-awaited sequel to TRON: Legacy reportedly could go into production soon, after many reports about it over the years. According to Deadline, Disney is looking to land director Joachim Rønning to direct Tron 3, a.k.a Tron: Ares. Rønning has worked with the House of Mouse before, helming the Maleficent sequel, as well as the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film. If all goes well, it appears the film, Tron 3 will seemingly star Jared Leto and could start shooting in August in Vancouver. The current TRON: Ares script comes from screenwriter Jesse Wigutow.

The original TRON was a groundbreaking sci-fi film about the world inside a computer system called the Gird. The film used visual effects technology that was way ahead of its time. Disney put a lot of time and money into it, hoping it would be their Star Wars. But the movie never caught on in theaters and barely broke even. However, the tie-in video game was a huge hit, and the movie gained a cult following from years of television airing. As the decades rolled on, fan demand for a sequel grew and grew. Finally, in 2010, future Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski brought us TRON: Legacy.

The sequel, which came almost thirty years after the first film, performed decently in North America but wasn’t the blockbuster overseas that Disney hoped for. But the visuals, and the truly amazing score by Daft Punk, blew everyone away. So a sequel seemed inevitable. Especially as Disney promoted the TRON IP with two roller coasters in two different theme parks.

We don’t know who Jared Leto might play in this possible sequel or whether TRON: Legacy stars Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde will return in some form. If this isn’t a full-scale reboot, that is. We don’t even know what “Ares” means in terms of the world of TRON, although we’d assume it’s a sequel to the game within the film. Given TRON’s cult status, we’re surprised this isn’t a Disney+ series instead of a feature film. But with production on Tron 3 still a ways off, many things could change.

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Avengers fans, assemble at Disneyland Paris! A brand new evening show involving lighted drones and pyrotechnics will soon blaze across the night sky. But only for a limited time, running from January 28 to May 8, 2023. Based on the first-look illustrations below, the spectacle will include Captain America throwing his famous shield. Instead of vibranium, this heroic shield is made up of red, white, and blue drones. Doctor Strange also opens an inter-dimensional portal in the sky that is sure to impress onlookers. Other characters in the show include Shang-Chi, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and the Hulk. For those who can’t make it to Paris by May 8, hopefully, this Marvel drone show will extend its run and make its way to the other Disney Parks! 

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The drone show, called “Avengers: Power the Night,” takes place near the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride in the Walt Disney Studios Park. 500 drones will accompany Marvel projections that completely cover the tower’s massive façade. Lights and pyrotechnics round out the display, which is sure to wow the audience.

The sneak peek video below also shares some behind-the-scenes tidbits about creating Disney’s latest nighttime spectacular. Following Marvel’s penchant for secrecy, all the trials had to take place in the dead of night. The drone show will be accompanied by a superhero soundtrack that includes the iconic scores we’ve come to associate with our favorite Marvel characters.

Drones shows are becoming more and more popular. Pokémon recently celebrated Pikachu with a light show over Singapore. The Oakland A’s baseball team hosted one full of Star Wars favorites. And Paramount+ flew hundreds of drones over Sydney, Australia to show off everything from Star Trek to Top Gun. It’s no surprise that the Disney Parks are incorporating the new technology into the lineup of nighttime entertainment and bringing us some Marvel-ous fun. We can’t wait to see the new display!

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Disney is returning to Witch Mountain once again. A pilot based on the iconic sci-fi franchise has been greenlit for Disney+, starring Bryce Dallas Howard in the lead role. In addition to Howard, also joining the cast are Isabel Gravitt, Levi Miller, Bianca “b” Norwood, and Jackson Kelly. The original film spawned five different projects for Disney, starting way back in 1975.

You can read the official synopsis for the Witch Mountain Disney+ pilot below:

The series is “a modern reinvention of the cult classic that takes place in the shadow of “Witch Mountain,” following two teens that develop strange abilities and discover their sleepy suburb may not be as idyllic as it seems.”

The original Escape to Witch Mountain, based on the 1968 novel, focused on kids with special powers who discovered they had an alien lineage. The first film became a rare hit for the studio at a time when they were struggling with theatrical releases. A 1978 sequel followed, Return to Witch Mountain. Later, a made-for-TV third chapter, Beyond Witch Mountain, came along in 1982. In the ’90s, a remake was made, again for television. The last time there was a Witch Mountain project was back in 2009. This was when Disney made a theatrical legacy sequel, Race to Witch Mountain, which starred Dwayne the Rock Johnson. That version didn’t result in any more follow-ups.

In the Disney+ Witch Mountain pilot, Howard will play “Audrey.” According to a release, she is “Tia’s devoted and loving mother.  Her husband died from a mental illness, and she tries to reassure a fretful Tia that she shows no sign of following her father’s dark spiral. A warm mama bear type, but like everyone in this town, not everything is as it seems.” The other new roles include troubled teens with powers and more.

Interestingly, this version of Witch Mountain is only being greenlit as a pilot and not a straight-to-series order like most Disney+ projects these days. Especially those that are based on legacy content like Witch Mountain. It does feel like a no-brainer for Disney to continue this franchise in some form, though. It has teens with telekinetic powers, alien mysteries, and small towns hiding secrets. All of these things sound like perfect ingredients for a sci-fi series geared towards the YA crowd. No better place than on Disney+ for this franchise to thrive.

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Disney Parks announced in 2020 that they were reimagining Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. The new theme? The Princess and the Frog. The attraction is currently themed around Song of the South. You know, the deeply problematic and racist 1946 movie Disney will not even put on Disney+. And now, we know the name of the updated attraction: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will pick up after the ending of The Princess and The Frog film—right after the final kiss. Featuring some of the incredible music from the animated feature, the attraction will follow Princess Tiana and Louis as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance. Given that Splash Mountain is adjacent to New Orleans Square in Disneyland, this story goes hand-in-hand with the area. The voice of Princess Tiana, Anika Noni Rose, will reprise her role for the re-themed Splash Mountain attraction.

According to the Disney Parks Blog:

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by the beloved story and characters from the fan-favorite film. Picking up where the film left off, guests will join Princess Tiana, Naveen and jazz-loving alligator Louis on an adventure through the bayou as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration where everyone is welcome. Along the way, guests will encounter familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou to original music inspired by songs from the film as they are brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s story.

Disney Parks updated the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in 2017. The company removed the bride auction and give Redd the pirate a prominent role. The parks are making this much needed change to Splash Mountain.

Splash Mountain will officially close on January 23, 2023. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in late 2024.

Originally published June 25, 2020.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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