Today during a Disney shareholder meeting, Bob Iger, announced the release date of “Star Wars: Episode VIII” will be May 26, 2017. He also confirmed that Rian Johnson (“Looper”) is set to director the next sequel in the new “Star Wars” trilogy.
Since every “Star Wars” movie has always been released in May, Disney and Lucafilm originally planned a May release date for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” They soon realized that there was not enough time for J J Abrams to adequately work and edit the final cut of the film to release it this May and the movie was pushed back to December 18, 2015. Having “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is a welcome return for fans and “Epidsode VIII” will actually be released 40 years and 1 day from the original release date of “Star Wars,” which was released on May 25, 1977.
Bob Iger wasnt done there. He also revealed the title for the first “Star Wars” spin off movie will be titled: “Star Wars: Rogue One.”
Rogue One is the title for the first film in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga. Rogue One will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla) and written by Oscar nominee Chris Weitz (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz). The first actress cast is Felicity Jones, who garnered an Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim for her performance in The Theory of Everything. The idea for the story of Rogue One came from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic.
Tonight, on WDWNT: The Radio show, MARCH MADNESS BEGINS! We will also discuss the news from the past two weeks including the expansions of Toy Story Midway Mania and Soarin’, and we invite you to join in the conversations as well.
Tonight is the start of the 64 attraction WDWNT March Madness Tournament! Join us for some great debates and win some great prizes from Theme Park Connection. Not only will we try to decide the greatest attraction at Walt Disney World, but you’ll get the chance to win some great prizes as you root for your attractions! Here’s how it all works:
There is a pre-tournament e-mail sign-up for the March Madness attraction tournament starting tonight (Thursday 3/12/15).
Send an email to contactnickl@gmail.com with your name, hometown and phone number.
The email must be sent in and received before 9PM ET on March 12, 2015.
We will in return send you an email with 4 attractions that will be yours in the tournament. The attractions will come from four categories and be assigned randomly. You will receive 1 attraction from the 1-4 seed category, 1 attraction from the 5-8 seed category, 1 attraction from the 9-12 seed category, and 1 attraction from the 13-16 seed category.
You will need to tune-in to WDWNT: The Radio Show from 9-10 ET on March 12th, but also again on March 19th from 8-10PM ET for the conclusion of the tournament in order to win.
The four attractions you will be assigned can win points for each victory they gain in the tournaments. The point distribution is as follows:
1st Round Win – 1 Point
2nd Round Win – 2 Points
“Swell Sixteen” Round Win – 3 Points
“Exciting Eight” Round Win – 4 Points
“Fantasmic Four” Round Win – 5 Points
Championship Round Win – 6 Points
The winner of each match is decided by the illustrious panel on the Radio Show. Each panelist counts for s single vote for an attraction. Majority rules on the 7 person panel and decides the winning attraction by vote count.
However, listeners who register to play along can change the outcome by calling in. A listener who is registered and playing in our contest may call in once during the run of the tournament and place a vote for an attraction that is worth 2 votes, more than any single panelist. The caller will be allowed to vote only on the match being deliberated at the time of their call-in.
The top 8 players in terms of points amassed throughout the tournament will receive prizes from Theme Park Connection! The top player will receive a grand prize package and be declared the WDWNT March Madness 2015 champion.
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Hosted by radio veterans and life-long Disney fans Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, the live radio talk show on AM 1520 WBZW in Orlando focuses on the latest news and current trending topics at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. WDW News Today: The Radio Show can also be streamed live at www.1520wbzw.com or on your TuneIn and iHeartRadio apps, just search for WBZW. WDW News Today the Radio Show debuted in August of 2013 as a 1 hour broadcast on Saturday evenings and has grown into a 2-hour program by popular demand.
To interact with the hosts during the show, listeners can call in at (407) 774-8255, tweet @WDWNT using #WDWNTRadio, or use the new LIVE chat that will be available at Listen.WDWNT.com.
The show begins at 8PM EDT Thursday night, don’t miss it!
A Japanese trailer for “Tomorrowland” was released and displays new footage that ties the movie to Walt Disney, Disneyland, and the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Unfortunately, the trailer was pulled this morning…
The trailer shows young Frank Walker (George Clooney’s character) discovering a secret entrance while on the ride, “it’s a small world” that apparently leads to the futuristic world of “Tomorrowland.” Two characters in this trailer reveal that Tomorrowland, found in Disneyland, is actually a cover for the real thing. They explain that geniuses like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Walt Disney worked together in order to change the world and create a real “Tomorrowland.”
Here are some images that I captured from the trailer showing lots of new footage, very familiar places and some memorabilia from a very famous movie:
In Disney’s riveting mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.
From Disney comes two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird’s riveting, mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney. Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.
Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Joseph Kosiniski, who directed “TRON: Legacy,” will be back to direct “TRON 3.” As reported yesterday, Disney is looking to start production of the third film in the “TRON” series in the fall of 2015 and Disney has attached Kosiniski to direct. Besides “TRON: Legacy,” Kosiniski is also known for directing “Oblivion,” which starred Tom Cruise.
“TRON 3” is expected to pick up where we last had seen Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and Quorra (Olivia Wilde) after they returned to the real world. Edward Dillinger, Jr. (Cillian Murphy) son of the character played by David Warner in the first “TRON” movie, has been teased by director, Joseph Kosiniski, as being the villain in “TRON 3.”
Walt Disney World Resort will kick off the “Coolest Summer Ever” with 24 hours of nonstop fun during a special event May 22-23 at the Magic Kingdom, hosted by Olaf, the summer-loving snowman from Disney’s blockbuster animated hit “Frozen.”
Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of family vacation time, and Walt Disney World Resort will launch into the season full force. The Magic Kingdom will be open 24 hours to guests from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., Friday May 22 to Saturday, May 23. Guests will be invited to come in costume to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, special event merchandise, plus food and beverage are on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort. The around-the-clock celebration features Disney character greetings, dance parties and surprises into the wee hours of the night.
The summer offerings at Walt Disney World will include the return of Frozen Summer Fun to Hollywood Studios, with the fireworks show, DJ dance party, and small parade re-joining the sing-along celebration. Frozen Summer Fun will be hosted June 17th through September 7th.
Disney also took this opportunity to announce the water park hopper ticket we have been talking about a rumor for some time now.
On the West Coast, Disneyland Resort will kick off the summer with a dynamic 24-hour event of its own, May 22-23, to launch the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Marking the 60th anniversary of the resort, the Diamond Celebration includes the premieres of three new nighttime spectaculars: “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, “Paint the Night” parade and “World of Color – Celebrate!”
The all-day/all-night revelry of the 24-hour party will include dancing and special character encounters at locations in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, along with enchanting Diamond décor throughout the resort and the exciting shows and attractions that bring guests back year after year.
Yes, you heard correctly, “TRON 3” has apparently been green lit by Disney and will begin filming in Vancouver this year.
According to VancityBuzz.com:
The sequel to 2010’s Tron: Legacy will be filmed in Vancouver beginning this fall.
According to Vancity Buzz entertainment contributor Lindsay Barker, Walt Disney Pictures has green lighted the third film in the Tron series. Filming is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2015.
The project has been in development since the success of the 2010 film, which raked in $400 million with a $170 million budget.
At this time, only Garrett Hedlund has been confirmed to return to the cast. In the previous film, Hedlund starred as Sam Flynn, the son of series original character Kevin Flynn (played by Jeff Bridges) who was stuck in the Grid’s digital world for two decades. The character Quorra, a skilled Grid warrior and confidante to Kevin, was portrayed by Olivia Wilde.
The Hollywood Reporter just announced that Tim Burton will be directing a live action version of the Disney classic animated feature, “Dumbo.”
In the latest move by the studio as it continues to make live-action versions of its animated classics, Disney has tapped the Big Eyes helmer, Tim Burton, to take on the tale of a baby circus elephant who is made fun of for his large ears, based on the iconic 1941 film.
As THR exclusively reported, Transformers franchise writer Ehren Kruger penned the script. The film will use a mix of CGI and live action to bring the classic elephant story to life and will add a unique family story that parallels Dumbo’s journey. Justin Springer, who worked on Tron: Legacy as well as Oblivion, is producing with Kruger.
Disney’s latest live-action makeover, Cinderella, starring Lily James, opens this weekend. The studio has had strong success with its live-action versions of classic tales, including Burton’s re-imagined Alice in Wonderland, which grossed a staggering $1.02 billion. And after Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic villainess, opened in May 2014, it went on to earn a stunning $758.4 million worldwide.
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen traveled far and wide this week, visiting Disney Springs, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Polynesian Village Resort, and the Magic Kingdom, taking plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us today:
Starting at Disney Springs, work continues on the area outside of the AMC
The Wonderground Gallery opened inside the Marketplace Co-Op recently
Also new at the Co-Op is The Sign Shop, selling soem brand new Disney-inspired signage
The finishing touches being placed on the rear facade of Raglan Road
The Boathouse is nearing completion
The facade of the Hangar restaurant is now being worked on
The new pier area and margarita bar in the Marketplace should be open soon
Moving over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the new volcano pool area is nearing completion
Cinderella merchandise has invaded the Emporium at the Magic Kingdom
Even with Cinderella’s Royal Table re-opened, work continues on the castle via the infamous crane
The Sorcerer’s Hat may be gone, but the foundation and such from it will still take a bit to remove
The tarps are down at what we expect to be the TCM sponsored photo-op at the end of the Great Movie Ride
Work has begun on the Toy Story Mania expansion we told you about last year
St. Patrick’s Day snacks have started appearing around the resort
Chris Evans Visits The Seattle Children’s Hospital Dressed As “Captain America”
Chris Evans, “Captain America” and Chris Pratt, “Starlord” had a bet during this year’s Superbowl that if the Seattle Seahawks won, Chris Evans would go visit the kids at The Seattle Childern’s Hospital dressed as Captain America and if the New England Patriots won, Chris Pratt would visit the kids over at Christopher’ Haven dressed as “Starlord” from “Guardians Of The Galaxy.” The Patriots won and Chris Pratt honored the bet by making his appearance at Christopher’s Haven a few weeks ago. Showing good sportsmanship and thinking of the children, Chris Evans recently appeared at The Seattle Children’s Hospital dressed as Captain America with his newest uniform from “Avengers: Age Of Ultron.” Chris Pratt also joined Evans to spread some much needed joy. Really great guys, the both of them.
Robert Downey Jr. Dressed As Tony Stark Delivers A Bionic Arm To A Young Fan
Just look at the look of shock on this kids face when he enters that room and sees Tony Stark! Really great stuff! Alex is a 7 year old boy who was born with a partially developed right arm. Alex is also a big Iron Man fan. With no cost to his family, Albert Manero created a bionic arm for young Alex and it was delivered by Tony Stark himself. Not only did Tony bring Alex’s bionic arm, but he also brought along Iron Man’s own gauntlet:
When I wrote the first story above, it made me wonder why Robert Downey Jr, being the most popular actor potraying a Marvel supehero, has never visited children in a hospital like Chris Evans and Chris Pratt, and they seem to do it very often. Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight”) has also gone out of his way many times to make children who are sick have one of the happiest days of their lives. So it definitely made me feel good to see Downey do this, especially the way he did it. Made me glad to Downey’s face when Alex told Downey he knew his name was Robert.
Hey Thor (Chris Hemsworth), I think it’s your turn.
New Trailer For Marvel’s “Daredevil”
Netfilix released a brand new trailer for their upcoming series, “Daredevil.”
It’s time to let the devil out. Marvel’s “Daredevil” is here to clean up the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Lawyer by day, street-level hero by night, Matt Murdock is on a mission to make his city a better place against an underground terror within the city. All episodes arrive only on Netflix, April 10th, 2015.
Fan Made Trailer Shows Off “Spider-Man” In “Avengers: Age Of Ultron”
Some people have so much talent that I cant even imagine coming close to having. Spider-Man fan and genius, Plainr of Neogaff, put together his own fan made mash-up of Spider-Man fighting side by side with The Avengers if he was in “Age Of Ultron.” Looks perfect!
Do You Want Your Own Life Size “Hulkbuster”? Got $21,000?
I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even get this in my door, but if you have a big place and a big door and a lot of money, this life size Hulkbuster statue, from “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” can be yours for the cost of $21,500.
Not to much of a shocker here but the Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Jeremy Renner will be reprise his role as Hawkeye in “Captain America: Civil War.” This movie “should” have a lot of superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Expect to hear a lot more names this month as “Civil War” will begin shooting next month.
From an adventurous balloon ride above the clouds to a monster-filled metropolis, Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Up”) has taken audiences to unique and imaginative places. In Disney•Pixar’s original movie “ Inside Out,” he will take us to the most extraordinary location of all—inside the mind.
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. “Inside Out” opens on June 19th, 2015.
