Disney Concerts and D23 to Present “Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration”

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

Sunday, August 16,  D23 EXPO 2015 will feature the world premiere of Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration—a live concert performance featuring a 32-piece orchestra celebrating the Silly Symphony animated short films and their accompanying music, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin.

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Fans will delight in watching selected Silly Symphony shorts from Disney’s archives while the music is performed live in synchronization with the picture, presented using high-quality, newly restored digital film masters. The music will be performed as it would have been recorded during those historic days at the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue in the 1920s and ’30s.

This very special concert event will showcase the music of the Three Little Pigs, The Old Mill and many other classics. To ensure as many guests are able to see the concert as possible, two 70-minute presentations will take place on Sunday, August 16, one at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. in Stage 23.

For the first time ever, Disney Music Emporium, the online destination for collectible Disney music products, is creating a pop-up store on the show floor of D23 EXPO 2015. Over the three-day Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the Emporium will feature album signings by composers and Grammy®-winning Disney music producers.

Limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products, including Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels vinyl, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Master Score music sheet book, picture disc vinyl, plus lithographs and posters will also be available.

Additionally, visitors to the Disney Music Emporium will be able to pre-order the long-awaited The Silly Symphony Collection box set, featuring the complete restored soundtracks from all 75 Silly Symphony shorts from 1929–1939, with over eight hours of music on 16 vinyl LPs.

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For more information on The Silly Symphony Collection and Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration, please visit: http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/sillysymphonies.html

The Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection CDs, including The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, Pinocchio, and Disneyland, will be available in the Emporium. A limited quantity of lithographs for each title featuring the back cover artwork designed by Lorelay Bove (Visual Development Artist, Walt Disney Animation Studios) will be a gift with purchase. For more information on the Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection, please visit: http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/legacycollection.html

With the purchase of select music products at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing. For a list of album signings and artist appearances at the Pavilion, please visit: http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/signings.html

Keep checking WDWNT.com for upcoming D23 Expo 2015 news and info.

Disney To Release A Live Action Version Of “Night On Bald Mountain” From “Fantasia”

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is developing a live action version of the “Night On Bald Mountain” sequence from Disney’s classic animated film “Fantasia.”

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless will write the script for the project — which is in early development at the studio — based on the 1940’s animated film. The hot writing duo is also executive producing the film.

The “Night on Bald Mountain” section of Fantasia centered on a dark winged creature who raised spirits from the dead. They dance, fly through the air and enjoy an night of mayhem until they fade away as the night ends and the sun begins to rise. (Watch video below.)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLCuL-K39eQ]

Fantasia was comprised of eight animated segments that were set to pieces of classical music. Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky first created the music used in the “Night on Bald Mountain” section in 1867, and it was arranged by Leopold Stokowski for the film, introducing the now-well-known music to a much wider audience.

Sources say the live-action take will be similar to what Disney did with Maleficent, which starred Angelina Jolie as the iconic witch. Maleficent earned a spell-binding $758.4 million worldwide when it was released in May 2014.

Disney has been diving head first into its animated classics to remake them as live action versions. Following Maleficent, Cinderella was released earlier in 2015, and has earned a stellar $531.8 million worldwide. A live-action version of Beauty and the Beast will star Emma Watson; Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp are set to star in sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass for 2016; and the studio’s live-action The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau, will also be released in 2016. Disney is also working on live action versions of Mulan, Dumbo (Tim Burton will direct) and a Tinker Bell story starring Reese Witherspoon.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

“NBA Experience” Restaurant, Store, and Entertainment Experience Coming to Disney Springs

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

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Announced today, “The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort” is coming to Disney Springs.

The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort is going to be a one-of-a-kind destination featuring hands-on activities that put families and guests of all ages right in the middle of NBA game action. You’ll be able to explore inside the world of professional basketball with numerous interactive experiences and enjoy a restaurant and retail store.

No opening date has been given, but it will open by the completion of the Disney Springs project in 2016. No exact location for the experience has been provided either.

The concept is very similar to the long-standing NBA City location at CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort and rumors indicate that location will close before the opening of this new NBA experience at Walt Disney World.

RUMOR: Second “Star Wars Anthology” Film Will Focus On Han Solo And Boba Fett

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

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I had mentioned this all the way back in January that one of the new “Star Wars” spin off movies would focus on both Han Solo and Boba Fett, but recently this rumor has been heating up again and some possible new information has been revealed. It definitely makes sense to have two of the most popular characters in the Star Wars Universe to battle each other, or maybe even team up, in their own spin off.

From Schmoes Knows:

Though the first film in the series, Star Wars Anthology: Rouge One, doesn’t hit theaters until December of 2016, there’s already been speculation regarding the 2018 film, whose director spot was vacated by Josh Trank. Jeff Sneider of The Wrap recently reported that Boba Fett would be the focus of the film. However, an exclusive source has revealed some new info regarding the project.

Let’s classify this as a rumor to start as things are in motion quite a bit. But over and over again, my source is hearing the same thing: Han Solo and Boba Fett will be the focus of the second Star Wars Anthology film set for release in 2018. This is not a new rumor per se’, as Latino Review has previously reported the same rumor. What my source is stating is that it looks to be happening with some interesting additions.

The source reports that the conflict between Fett and Solo that was only hinted at in the original trilogy (and seen countless times in the Expanded Universe) will finally be onscreen in a film taking place between Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope. Additionally, it’s been mentioned that characters such as Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and Bossk will make appearances throughout the film.

Also, according to the source, Disney really wants to delve into the “hive of scum and villainy” that Star Wars has been known for. As Rouge One definitely seems to be playing off of the influences of War films (the Zero Dark Thirty/Saving Private Ryan of the Star Wars Universe) this Anthology film will explore the influence of Westerns and bounty hunter films. Though no director is attached following Trank’s departure, my source is saying that both Jon Faverau and Matthew Vaughn have been thought to be circling the project.

Source: Schmoes Knows

PHOTOS, REVIEW: PIXAR “Inside Out” Preview Opens at Epcot

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

Captain EO may still be gone, but guests at Epcot can now preview the first new PIXAR film in over 2 years, Inside Out. The roughly 15-minute preview opened to guests on Saturday, May 30th.

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Concept art adorns the walls in the first room of the queue

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You can’t see the outline of the Captain EO sign anymore…

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A special introduction from the filmmakers (sporting Captain EO buttons to assure guests it will return) is played in the pre-show room before guests enter the main theater

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While only a few minutes long, the preview is pretty spectacular. Not only are the clips enthralling and entertaining, but the in-theater effects (such as lighting and floor movement) are absolutely perfect. The entire crowd was clearly emotionally invested throughout the preview, crying and laughing along with the characters. At the end of the preview, thunderous applause rang out from the entire crowd. I have seen a fair amount of in-park movie previews in my time, and I can’t recall a crowd reaction like this EVER. If the rest of Inside Out is anything like this preview, I think we are in for an emotional roller-coaster ride that will be a Frozen-sized hit at the box office. We will have to wait and see when PIXAR’s Inside Out hits theaters in the U.S. June 19th (although the film is sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with 20 reviews in already).

PHOTOS BY JOSE CASTILLO

New Teaser Trailer And Poster Released For PIXAR’s “The Good Dinosaur”

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

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Disney/Pixar has just released a new trailer and poster for the upcoming movie. The Good Dinosaur.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lsIrASLD-Q]

“The Good Dinosaur” asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct?  Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.”The Good Dinosaur” asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

“The Good Dinosaur” opens on November 25, 2015.

Some Screen Captures:

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Wilderness Lodge To Add Waterside Log Cabins To Disney Vacation Club Offerings

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

Thanks to some permits recently filed, we know where Walt Disney World is next looking to expand the Disney Vacation Club offerings at the resort: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Yes, Wilderness Lodge already has Villas, but this will be something completely different…

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The paperwork shows 26 waterside units on Bay Lake which we presume to be themed to log cabins. The concept is very similar to the Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

There will also be new and remodeled dining and recreation areas, including pools.

While not yet officially announced by the Walt Disney Company, the permits are filed and are now public record. Work should begin soon on the project.

“TRON 3” Has Been Cancelled

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

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Due to the poor performance at the box office by “Tomorrowland,” Disney has decided to abandon the sequel to “TRON: Legacy”.

According to the Wrap:

The cancellation of “Tron 3” comes on the heels of “Tomorrowland” underperforming at the box office last weekend. Brad Bird’s original film cost Disney $180 million and grossed a disappointing $42.7 million over the four-day holiday weekend.

“Tron 3” had not been officially greenlit yet and after the relative failure of “Tomorrowland,” Disney executives may not have wanted to gamble and risk exposing the studio to another loss.

Instead, Disney will stick to what has worked lately such as live-action versions of its animated films including “Cinderella” and “Maleficent.” The studio has blockbusters such as “The Jungle Book,” “Beauty and the Beast” and an “Alice In Wonderland” sequel on the horizon.

Source: The Wrap

PHOTOS, VIDEO, REVIEW: The NEW Great Movie Ride Presented by Turner Classic Movies Premieres

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

With little-to-no-warning, the new version of “The Great Movie Ride presented by TCM” finally debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier today. In 26 years, this marks the largest changes to the ride (other than some minor additions to the finale montage on two occasions, the last being a decade ago).

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The Great Movie Ride marquee has been updated to include “Presented by TCM”, it was Coca-Cola many years ago

Outside, all signage was changed overnight to include Turner Classic Movies.

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The strange empty space under the attraction posters was finally filled by the TCM logo

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Here’s an up-close photo of the new Turned Classic Movies emblem

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The 2 displays on the exterior have received new signs for a TCM “Salute” to The Jungle Book and Mary Poppins

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New banners in the Chinese Theater courtyard

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The new TCM banners blend in well in the existing courtyard

Upon entering the queue, the interactive movie posters and displays we showed you a few weeks back are now running. The posters switch between a logo for the Great Movie Ride and movie posters that come to life with some animated element.

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The new interactive movie posters inside the queue switch between The Great Movie Ride attraction poster and movie posters from TCM. Each movie poster has a subtle moving element.

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New interactive displays accompany the props inside The Great Movie Ride queue

The pre-show is no longer a 20-minute loop of trailers, but now a 45-minute documentary that spans all of the movies and genres covered in the ride. What’s great here is that some of the trailers even remain in the pre-show, including The Searchers (“No you don’t Ethan. Ethan, no you don’t!”). As time rolls on, many of the older films in the attraction have been forgotten to time and the pre-show does a nice job filling guests in on lesser-known classics such as Footlight Parade or The Public Enemy. The new film does a nice job providing background information that may spark more of an interest in seeing these films, which for TCM is probably the purpose of sponsoring the ride. If you want to find many of these films, Turner Classic Movies is often the easiest place to go.

See the entire pre-show loop for yourself:

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The inside marquee on the ride was changed after 26 years to reflect the new sponsor and tagline

The only physical change to the ride that guests can see is the marquee in the loading area. No longer a “Journey into the Movies”, the Great Movie Ride is now “The Ultimate Celebration of Classic Movies”. There’s also now movie posters just under the marquee that feature the new ads for the ride.

Robert Osborne of TCM and the cast-member physically driving the vehicle are now both your hosts. Osborne provides about 60% of the spiel for the ride (pre-recorded of course), while the live cast member still becomes a part of the show and throws in some remarks here-or-there.

The finale montage of the ride is now in gorgeous high definition, and luckily almost every memorable clip and soundbite has returned, repackaged in a rather nice manner.

See the attraction with new audio spiels and the new finale film montage:

The photo-op at the exit of the attraction (which bloggers tried to convince everyone was a new stroller parking area) was also installed overnight. Guests can pretend that their handprints are being placed in front of the Chinese Theater, which really is a photo opportunity that someone should have come up with many years ago.

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The photo-op at the exit was unveiled as well

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You can take a photo as if your handprints are being placed outside of the theater!

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Overall, the changes are long overdue. While it is sad to lose the original pre-show, the clips do live on as the actual trailers for those films anyway. The finale montage was clearly handled with the utmost care as most every clip, line of dialogue, and musical note was brought back refreshed and in a seemingly more organized fashion grouped by genre (provided Disney or TCM had the rights to it). Yes, there is less live-spieling and more pre-recorded narration, but honestly, Great Movie Ride cast members have been forced to stick to the script word-for-word for at least 15 years now and the spiel was about as tired as could be. With the exception of losing the fantastic pre-recorded spiel about Alien and the spaceship Nostromo, this has to be seen as an improvement over the tired lines such as “the horror movie is my all-time favorite genre”, “no, it’s not George of the Jungle”, and “Can anyone tell me what movie this is?”. This long-overdue refreshing of the ride breathes new life and hopefully is just a taste of larger changes to come to the attraction at the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios moves forward.

6/1/15 Marvel News Mash-Up (New Look for Iron Man, FOX Franchises Being Erased, Ant-Man, ETC.)

WDWNT on June 5, 2015

“Iron Man” Promo Art From “Captain America: Civil War”

 

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Heroichollywood was able to get his hands on some leaked promo art of Iron Man from the upcoming movie, “Captain America: Civil War.” This looks very similar to the armor that was in “Age Of Ultron” but there are some slight differences. The chest plate that holds the arc reactor is different as is the helmet.

Source: Heroichollywood via Instagram

“X-Men” And “Fantastic Four” Characters Removed From Marvel’s “Secret Wars” Merchandise

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Well, it’s not all merchandise but this definitely raises a red flag. Marvel t-shirts being sold at Walmart show that the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters, whose movie rights are owned by Fox, are no longer seen as part of the group. This t-shirts display classic comic book covers from the series, “Secret Wars.” In the above image you can see that members of the X-Men and Fantastic Four are replaced with Thor, Dr. Strange, Black Panther, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Black Bolt (Inhumans). It’s interesting that She-Hulk is in both images because she could have easily been removed. Does this meant that Marvel has plans for She-Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or possibly part of a Netflix series?

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This above image shows another classic Secret Wars cover on a t-shirt but again all of the members of the Fantastic Four are removed. The She-Hulk is right next to the Thing and again could have easily been removed but she wasn’t. The Human Torch was removed but his flame still remains. In the left hand corner you can see the Thing being replaced with Wonder Man, Mr. Fantastic is just gone, Wolverine is replaced by Captain America and Storm is replaced by Hawkeye.

Source: Bleeding Cool

New “Ant-Man” Stills Released From Empire Magazine

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Empire Magazine’s latest issue highlights the upcoming movie, “Ant-Man.”

From Empire: Michael Douglas is super scientist Hank Pym, the man who creates the technology that powers the Ant-Man suit, while Evangeline Lilly is Hope Van Dyne, his estranged daughter. Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang is the thief who Pym takes under his wing to become the new, modern Ant-Man.

You can also see (under a magnifiying glass) Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross in his Yellowjacket suit, the villain of the piece. Cross is the former protege of Pym, and the man who has taken over his business and plans to use the Ant-Man tech for military purposes. The Yellowjacket suit is the super-slick version of the old-school Ant-Man outfit.

Empire also released three exclusive stills from “Ant-Man.”

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Source: Empire

Director Scott Derrickson Hints That The Character “Death” Will Make Her First Appearance In “Doctor Strange”

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Scott Derrickson, the director of the upcoming movie “Doctor Strange,” has confirmed that the character “Death” will make her first person in “Doctor Strange” before we see her in “Avengers: Infinity War.”

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So why is Death such a significant character? In the comic book series, Infinity Gauntlet, Mistress Death is upset that the balance between life and death has recently not been in her favor. Her solution is to give her ardent follower, Thanos, a chance at rebirth setting him forth with a mission of killing half the life in the universe. Thanos hopes that accomplishing this task given to him by Death that he will earn Death’s affection. He also battles some of Marvel’s greatest heroes as a way to impress Death.

Source: Scott Derrikson on Twitter

 Sideshow Collectible Corner

“Avengers: Age Of Ultron” Series 2 Collectible Set

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Following the introduction of the Hot Toys Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Cosbaby Series 1 and 1.5, Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys are happy to expand the series and present the new Avengers: Age of Ultron Cosbaby Series 2!

This series features Tony Stark’s new suit from the movie Iron Man Mark XLV, Ultron Prime, Ultron Mark I, War Machine Mark II, Black Widow and Vision! The collectible set of 7 includes a Tony Stark (Mark XLIII Armor Version) that is exclusive in the set! 

The “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” Series 2 Collectible Set is available for preorder exclusively through Sideshow Collectibles for the price of $99.99 and will ship in the 4th quarter of 2015.

Source: Sideshow Collectibles

That’s it for this time!