Everything Disney Live Action and Animation – Disney Investor Day 12/10/20
December 10, 2020 — Dozens of new series, films and TV were announced across all of Disney’s many Studios. Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Studios, Fox properties, ESPN and more.
Sean Bailey, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, unveiled exciting feature films and Disney+ Original movies in the works under the Disney banner. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee revealed everything happening at Walt Disney Animation Studios, including the studios’ first foray into animated series! So here is EVERYTHING DISNEY LIVE ACTION and ANIMATION. Let’s come back to this list a year from now and see what has changed!!
Disney Live Action
Disney+ Original Movies and Series
Safety
A drama inspired by the empowering story of former Clemson University football safety Ray McELrathBey, a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances, whose dedication and persistence help him to triumph over repeated adversities. “Marshall” director Reginald Hudlin helms the uplifting drama. (premieres December 11, 2020)
Hocus Pocus 2
Hocus Pocus 2, exclusively on Disney+, is the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween cult classic “Hocus Pocus.” Adam Shankman is set to direct.
Three Men and a Baby
Three Men and a Baby, a modern take on the hilarious ’80s comedy, will star Zac Efron and is slated for a 2022 release on Disney+.
The Keanon Lowe project
This film is inspired by the incredible real-life story of a high school coach who averted tragedy through compassion. Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia are on board as producers for the project through their Seven Bucks Productions.
Greek Freak
Greek Freak heads into production next year for Disney+. It is the remarkable story of NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family, who lifted themselves out of poverty as undocumented immigrants living in Greece. Ultimately, Giannis finds himself on the world stage.
The Chris Paul project
The Chris Paul project is a biographical film in development for Disney+ about NBA superstar Chris Paul. It follows Paul’s deeply moving story of family, legacy and destiny that helped make him who he is today.
Flora & Ulysses
Flora & Ulysses is a delightful comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award–winning book about 10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, who rescues a squirrel with unique superhero powers. Flora & Ulysses stars Matilda Lawler and is directed by Lena Khan (“The Tiger Hunter”). The film makes its debut on Disney+ February 19, 2021.
Cheaper by the Dozen
Cheaper by the Dozen, a reimagining of the hit comedy with “black-ish” producer Kenya Barris, will air on Disney+ in 2022. The story centers on a multiracial, blended family of 12, navigating a hectic home life while managing their family business. Gabrielle Union is set to star.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which has spawned a successful live-action film franchise from the popular books, comes to Disney+ in 2021 as an all-new animated film.
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, exclusively for Disney+, is a spin-off of the popular “Ice Age” franchise from 20th Century Studios. The story centers on three series favorites: the prankster possum brothers Crash and Eddie, and the swashbuckling titular weasel, Buck. Simon Pegg will be returning in the role of Buck. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild is slated for an early 2022 release.
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum comes to Disney+ with a new twist: this time it’s animated. Shawn Levy, who has helped shape the blockbuster franchise as director of the previous films, and is also helming 20th Century Studios’ upcoming “Free Guy,” is on board as a producer. Night at the Museum launches on Disney+ in 2021.
Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
This is a hybrid live-action-animated feature for Disney+, is in development. Akiva Schaffer (“Popstar”) directs, and John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are set to star in the title roles with Seth Rogen doing a cameo. Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers is slated for spring 2022.
Pinocchio
Coming to Disney+ in a compelling new live-action retelling that will leverage state-of-the
art CGI to bring Pinocchio to life. A living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy in a musical remake of the Disney animated classic. Robert Zemeckis directs and Tom Hanks stars.
Peter Pan & Wendy
Inspired by the Disney animated classic, this film has David Lowery (“Pete’s Dragon”) at the helm. A young girl rebels against “growing up” by going with her two brothers to a magical land ruled by an ageless boy obsessed with adventure who is locked in an ongoing battle with a pirate captain. The cast includes Jude Law as Captain Hook and Yara Shahidi (“black-ish,” “grown-ish”) in the role of Tinker Bell. The film will premiere on Disney+.
Disenchanted
A sequel to the hit film “Enchanted,” Disenchanted will stream exclusively on Disney+. Amy Adams returns as Giselle, who found her life flipped upside down when she fell out of her animated fantasy world and discovered herself stuck in real-life Manhattan.
Sister Act 3
Sister Act 3, the third film in the beloved “Sister Act” series, is in development. Whoopi Goldberg is on board to star and produce, with Tyler Perry also signed on as a producer on the project. Sister Act 3 will premiere on Disney+.
Feature Films
Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise takes audiences on a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film, which stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. Disney’s Jungle Cruise is slated for July 2021.
The Lion King live-action prequel
Barry Jenkins, director of the Oscar®-winning “Moonlight,” is set to helm the film. Hans Zimmer (whose long association with “The Lion King” goes back to the 1994 original), Pharrell Williams and Nicholas Britell will deliver the music.
The Little Mermaid
Rob Marshall helms this live-action take on the animated classic. In the title role is multitalented singer and actor Halle Bailey, alongside a talented cast that includes Awkwafina, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, with Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy. The film will feature the beloved Menken-Ashman songs from the animated original and some all-new music from Alan Menken and Lin- Manuel Miranda as well.
Cruella
Cruella dives into the rebellious early days of one of the most notorious—and notoriously fashionable— villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. Oscar® winner Emma Stone stars as Estella, aka Cruella, opposite Oscar winner Emma Thompson as the Baroness, the head of a prestigious fashion house who plucks Estella from obscurity as a burgeoning designer. It’s set against the backdrop of 1970s punk-rock London, and director Craig Gillespie delivers a unique take on this one-of-a-kind villain. Cruella is coming in 2021.
Disney Animation
Listed in Chronological Order of Release
Raya and the Last Dragon
Released on March 5, 2021, simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access, “Raya” travels to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well. Raya and the Last Dragon features the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya, a warrior whose wit is as sharp as her blade, and Awkwafina as magical, mythical, self-deprecating dragon named Sisu.
Newly revealed characters from the film include a street-savvy 10-year-old entrepreneur named Boun, the formidable giant Tong, and a thieving toddler Noi with her band of Ongis. The feature film is directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada and produced by Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho.
Encanto
Released in theaters November 24, 2021 – Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The film features all-new songs by Emmy®, GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first foray into animated series begins:
Baymax
Baymax, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first-ever animated series, takes place in the fantastical city of San Fransokyo and features fan favorite healthcare bot, Baymax. Created by Don Hall, the Oscar®-winning director of “Big Hero 6,” Baymax premieres on Disney+ in early 2022.
Zootopia+
Zootopia+ heads back to the fast-paced mammal metropolis of Zootopia in a short-form series directed
by Trent Correy and Josie Trinidad. Zootopia+ dives deeper into the lives of some of the feature film’s most intriguing characters, including Fru Fru, the newly married arctic shrew; Gazelle’s talented tiger dancers; and the sloth full of surprises, Flash. The short-form series debuts on Disney+ in Spring 2022.
Iwájú
An all-new original series coming to Disney+ in 2022. The series is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali and its founders Tolu Olowofoyeku, Ziki Nelson and Hamid Ibrahim. Iwájú, which roughly translates to “The Future” in the Yoruba language, is steeped in science fiction. The long-form series is set in Lagos, Nigeria, exploring deep themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo. Says director Ziki Nelson, “This show will combine Disney’s magic and animation expertise with Kugali’s fire and storytelling authenticity. Iwájú represents a personal childhood dream of mine to tell my story and that of my people.”
Tiana
Coming to Disney+ in 2023, “Tiana” is a long-form musical-comedy series featuring the extraordinary entrepreneur who’s now princess of the kingdom Maldonia. The all-new adventures explore both Maldonia and Tiana’s beloved hometown, New Orleans. Tiana is the first princess to have her own Walt Disney Animation Studios series.
Moana, The Series
Moana, The Series, coming to Disney+ in 2023, is a new long-form musical series that follows spirited voyager Moana as she ventures far beyond the reef. The studio is once again connecting with storytellers from the Pacific Islands to help tell the stories of wayfinding and other traditions brought to life for generations through oral storytelling.
We had to decompress all this information in a livestream that night with our Skywalkers.
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