Entertainment & Media – Page 80

8/19/15 Marvel News Mash-Up (Fantastic Four, Civil War, Star Wars, Etc.) np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

Fantastic-Four

Fox’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot Gets Universally Panned By Critics And Bombs At The Box Office

Fox’s “Fantastic Four” reboot opened in theaters on August 7th and even before it did, several websites and reviewers decided to break the review embargo that Fox had set for the day of release. “Fantastic Four” has the lowest rating for a superhero movie currently on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 9%. The movie was expected to be at the number one spot for the weekend and gross around $45 million dollars. But once the negative reviews started flooding in, it affected the box office gross of the movie and it came in at #2 behind “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation” and grossed around $26 million dollars domestically and it appears now that the foreign box office is not going to save the movie either.

So what happened? I wanted to point out that I haven’t seen the movie but have read several reviews and spoilers for the film. There was a part of me that did not want to go see it with hopes that the rights would go back to Marvel and Disney but if it did receive favorable reviews, I would have seen it at some point. Director Josh Trank is putting the blame on Fox for studio interference and Fox is blaming Trank for his erratic behavior and not wanting to film re-shoots for the film. More than likely, it is a combination of both but I have been following this disaster since it was first announced and I clearly blame Trank. I think the big problem is that Trank didn’t know the subject matter and wanted incorporate his own spin on the story. One problem is that the Fantastic Four is considered Marvel’s “First Family” and it sounds like there is no real family dynamic in this movie. In the movie, Sue is the adopted sister of Johnny Storm but it appears that their relationship is barely addressed. In the comics, Johnny is portrayed as being wild and Sue is the big sister that is always there to bring him down to Earth but also defend him. Reed had a relationship with Sue and eventually they marry. And Ben has always been portrayed as a brother to Reed and eventually the uncle to Reed and Sue’s children. Another problem is you could tell from the very first trailer that they were going dark with the movie. It works for Batman and it works for X-Men but not the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four should show light hearted fun and be family friendly. I actually enjoyed the first two Fantastic Four movies that Fox did and they fell into that category of being light hearted and fun. Another problem is that they got Dr. Doom wrong again. Dr. Doom is considered by some to be comic books’ greatest villain but for some reason Fox just doesn’t understand the character. Darth Vader was partly inspired by Dr. Doom and Doom should be more like Darth Vader in the movies: a ruthless leader, dark, intimidating, powerful, someone who is seen walking and creating fear with every step. That should be Dr. Doom. In the end, the strayed to far away from what the comic book was and Trank decided to make his own dark and dismal movie and just add the names of the characters of the Fantastic Four to his vision but barely any movie goers found his vision enjoyable.

What’s Next For The Fantastic Four?

Fantastic Four 2 was scheduled to be released in 2017 and directed by Josh Trank. I’m pretty sure that is not going to happen now regardless of what Fox says. Most fans would love to see the Fantastic Four movie rights go back to Marvel but what is the likelihood of that happening? Here are some possibilities and things to consider:

The Fantastic Four has to be shelved for several years – With Fantastic Four doing horribly at the box office and being panned by the critics it has made them less marketable and valuable for whoever will own them in the future. They may have to be shelved for several years.
Fox needs to make a Fantastic Four movie every 7 years or else the rights will go back to Marvel – The last Fantastic Four movie was “Fantastic Four: The Rise Of The Silver Surfer” and came out in 2007. 7 years later Fox had to start working on a Fantastic Four movie and that is how we got the latest reboot. How likely is this? It happened with Daredevil. The first Daredevil movie was made in 2003 and a new Daredevil movie was to go into production in 2010 but Fox had no confidence in the movie and decided to scrap the movie and just let the rights go back to Marvel.
Fox does not sell the rights back to Disney/Marvel – Both Disney and Marvel have a bad relationship with Fox. Marvel has openly spoke out against the way Fox has gone with their superheroes in Fox’s movies and Fox has responded by saying they do not need or want Marvel’s help with the franchises that they acquired from Marvel. Disney purchased Lucasfilm and that was Fox’s bread and butter since they distributed all of the Star Wars films. I can understand Fox being upset with that more than anything else because most people associated Fox with Star Wars and now it will be Disney. I am sure that Disney has tried to acquire the Fantastic Four from Fox in the past and Fox is just not budging. The franchise is not really profitable for Fox and Disney still owns the merchandising rights
The failure of the Fantastic Four reboot somewhat helps Disney and Marvel with acquiring the rights back from Fox – As I mentioned, the Fantastic Four is less valuable now after the failure of the movie. How much worth does the Fantastic Four have to Fox? Not much. They may scrape a small profit after the release of the movie to home video but most people that saw the movie despite the negative reviews will probably not want to spend money on the sequel. Also Disney/Marvel own the rights to merchandising and that is a big piece of the pie. There are no toys out there for the movie and Marvel cancelled the Fantastic Four comic book series because Disney/Marvel did not want to promote the movie. If Fox holds onto the movie rights to the Fantastic Four it is because of the bad blood between Fox and Disney/Marvel. Another problem is that even if Disney does acquire the rights, the Fantastic Four is more than likely tainted in the public eye. Does Disney want to acquire a franchise that will not make them money? I doubt it but I think the one thing Disney/Marvel needs is villains: Dr. Doom, Galactus and Skrulls. We could also see a Thing vs Hulk fight in a movie and all comic book fans would love to see that.
Fox and Disney/Marvel can come up with a similar deal to the Marvel and Sony Spider-Man deal – Fox is doing great with The X-Men and Wolverine movies but they are lost when it comes to the Fantastic Four. They need help from Marvel. Marvel has shown that has a great track record with their movies because they understand their characters. Sony realized that they were having difficulty with the public adapting to their version of Spider-Man and a mutually beneficial deal was made where Marvel would help Sony with the Spider-Man films and Marvel could use Spider-Man in there movies like “Civil War” and “Infinity War”. Fox is aware of this deal and they could be open to a deal where they still retain the rights of the Fantastic Four movies but also have some of Marvel’s characters show up in a Fantastic Four movie and having the Fantastic Four in an Avengers movie would help promote their property. It was just revealed that Fox is currently in negotiations with Marvel with bringing some of the X-Men to their own TV series. Fox is all for it but they do not have the rights for a TV series, which means they need Marvel to sign off on it. That could open the door to some sort of deal with the Fantastic Four coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Fantastic Four is a great superhero team and one of my favorite comics growing up. Can a great Fantastic Four movie be made? Yes and one has actually been made and it’s called “The Incredibles”. “The Incredibles” movie was basically the Fantastic Four and my favorite Pixar movie. Get a great director, great writers and just get that family dynamic right and you will have a fantastic “Fantastic Four” movie.

“Spider-Man” May Have A Larger Role Than Expected In “Captain America: Civil War”

Recent rumors have hit the internet that Spider-Man’s role in “Civil War” would be very small and just a cameo. But now according to BMD.com, Spider-Man’s role will be much more than a cameo and he will have a battle with someone well known in the MCU.

From BMD.com

It’s important here to know that Tom Holland shooting his bit isn’t the same as Spider-Man shooting his bit. Spider-Man has been on that set for a while, played by stunt men. All you need Tom Holland for is any Peter Parker scenes, because otherwise he can come into a local recording studio and loop Spidey’s dialogue at any point between now and release. Basically if Spidey’s mask is off you need Tom Holland, but every other scene happens without him.

How many scenes will Spider-Man be in? I don’t know the exact number, but sources have recently made it clear to me that there’s more Spider-Man in this movie than I expected. Spider-Man doesn’t just swing by and say hi – he gets his hands dirty in this Civil War. He fights. And his fight scene might be the one that really gets fandom excited – not because of how top tier the face-off will be, but because of how profoundly dorky and unlike any other big screen superhero fight it will be.

So for the record: Peter Parker will have a cameo, while Spider-Man will have a few scenes and at least one fight that will be jockeying for a spot on the best superhero battles ever list.

Source: Birthdeathmovies.com

Possible Sides Revealed For “Captain American: Civil War”

The big question that most fans want to know is who will be on Captain America’s side and who will be on Iron Man’s side during “Captain America: Civil War”?

According to Heroic Hollywood the teams will be:

Team Captain America:

1) Captain America
2) Hawkeye
3) Falcon
4) Scarlet Witch
5) Ant-Man
6) The Winter Soldier

Team Iron Man:

1) Iron Man
2) The Vision
3) Spider-Man
4) Black Widow
5) War Machine

These teams actually seem really good to me but Black Widow on Iron Man’s side? In the movies and the comic books, she has shown a lot of loyalty to Captain America so it’s hard to believe that she would be against him. But she could be on Iron Man’s team as a double agent? Black Panther is still unaccounted for and it is possible that we may see still other characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe show up on one of the teams.

Source: Heroic Hollywood

First Look At Marvel’s “Star Wars: Shattered Empire”

Marvel released a few panels and synopsis for the upcoming comic book, “Star Wars: Shattered Empire #1″. This series takes place right after the events of “Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi”.

From Marvel:

Charge headlong into a new era of Star Wars comics as the first Marvel series to take place after “Return of the Jedi” kicks off this September! Today, Marvel is proud to present your first look at JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS – SHATTERED EMPIRE #1 – a brand-new series from the critically acclaimed creative team of Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto. High above the forest moon of Endor, the Rebel Alliance makes their desperate last stand against the might of the Empire. Though they are successful in the destruction of the second Death Star, the Empire is far from beaten. Now, follow Shara Bey, an A-Wing pilot in the Rebel Fleet in the days following the Battle of Endor. Though their super weapon has been destroyed, Shara will discover that just how dangerous and unpredictable a shattered Empire can be! Don’t miss the explosive first issue as Marvel takes a deeper look into a part of the Star Wars universe yet unexplored in JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS – SHATTERED EMPIRE #1 comes to comic shops on September 2!

Source: Marvel

Sideshow Collectibles Corner:

“Spider-Man Symbiote Costume”

Spider-Man has had a lot of costumes throughout the years and the black symbiote costume has always been by far my favorite.

When Peter Parker’s classic red and blue costume is damaged, he unknowingly uses a Symbiote creature to reconstruct it, causing the alien form to morph with his body. As a living, thinking entity, the Symbiote bonds with Spider-Man, increasing his powers to create the high-flying, butt-kicking superhero seen in this fantastic gravity-defying sculpted figure. The Symbiote clings to every muscle of the web-slinging hero in his jet-black suit, physically displaying the intense connection between alien and human as he leaps into action, careening over a falling beam, just inches from the deadly explosion below!

The perfect representation of a harrowing and exciting chapter in the Spider-Man legacy, this meticulously sculpted statue is certain to make your Spidey-Senses tingle!

The “Spider-Man” Symbiote Costume premium figure is available for pre-order exclusively through Sideshow Collectibles at a price of $469.99 and will ship in the third quarter of 2016.

Source: Sideshow Collectibles

That’s it for this week!

D23 Expo 2015: Star Wars: Episode IX Will Be Directed By Jurassic World Director, Colin Trevorrow np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

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Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set for release in 2019.

While production won’t begin for a few years, Trevorrow is heading to Lucasfilm this year to begin working with artists and his fellow Star Wars directors. “Colin is someone I’ve been interested in working with ever since I saw ‘Safety Not Guaranteed,’” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “The power of that film paired with the enormous success of ‘Jurassic World’ speaks volumes about his abilities both as a storyteller and skilled filmmaker. We are thrilled to have such an incredible talent as Colin join our family and step into the Star Wars universe.”

Trevorrow states, “This is not a job or an assignment. It is a seat at a campfire, surrounded by an extraordinary group of storytellers, filmmakers, artists and craftspeople. We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had—a mythology to call their own. We will do this by channeling something George Lucas instilled in all of us: boundless creativity, pure invention and hope.”

Star Wars: Episode IX will conclude the third trilogy of Star Wars movies that begins with Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18, 2015.

D23 Expo 2015: A Look At The ”Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Exclusive Poster By Drew Struzan np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

A definite perk to being in the audience during the Lucasfilm/Star Wars presentation is everyone walked away with an exclusive movie poster for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” created by legendary artist Drew Struzman. Struzman has created classic movie posters for some epic films including “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones” and “Back To The Future”.

Here are some of Drew Struzman’s most memorable movie posters:

Disney Interactive Showcases Upcoming Line-up At D23 Expo 2015; Includes Magic Kingdom Game, Kingdom Hearts III, Etc. np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

Co-Stars of Star Wars™ The Force Awakens John Boyega, Daisy Ridley Surprised Guest On Stage And Gave Away Their Disney Infinity Character Figures To Audience Members

Limited Edition Star Wars™ PlayStation®4 Hardware Bundles Unveiled

New Products and Updates From Across Disney Interactive’s Games Slate Announced

During a presentation at the D23 Expo 2015, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media revealed new details about some of the biggest products in the interactive entertainment industry including Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, Playmation and KINGDOM HEARTS III plus two new limited edition Star Wars™ PlayStation®4 hardware bundles.

“We have the most exciting slate of upcoming game titles in our history, and we’re also focused on new platforms and technologies that enable us to develop experiences we would never have dreamed possible just a few years ago,” said Jimmy Pitaro, co-chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and president of Disney Interactive.

Highlights from today’s presentation include:

On November 17, fans will be able to purchase two very special limited-edition Darth Vader-inspired PlayStation®4 Star Wars bundles: Star Wars: Battlefront and Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars. The bundles include a fully customized PS4™ featuring an image of Darth Vader, a controller inspired by Darth Vader’s suit and more. For full information for the Limited-Edition PlayStation®4 Hardware Bundles visit http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/08/16/star-wars-ps4-bundles.

John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, co-stars of Star Wars™ The Force Awakens, surprised guests on stage and gave away their character figures, Finn and Rey, for the upcoming Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Play Set based on the film.

Other character reveals also included Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia, Spot from Disney•Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur and a limited edition set of Light FX Star Wars™ character figures that light up when placed onto the Disney Infinity Exciting new Disney Infinity integrations with Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line® were also unveiled.

Guests who attended the Hall D23 received a special Kingdom Hearts Mickey Costume Power Disc that unlocks a one-of-a-kind costume of King Mickey, Keyblade Master and King of Disney Castle for Disney Infinity’s Mickey Mouse character and a classic Mickey Mouse figure

Coming this Fall, Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Gamma Gear – inspired by the 7-foot Hulk – lets you smash into battle using motion-sensing technology putting you in the Avengers action. Slip your hands into the Gamma Gear and use the motion-based controls to smash your way through missions and stomp through battlegrounds with different Hulk moves like Ground Slam, Thunder Clap, and other combos.

- Square Enix and Disney Interactive revealed that Baymax and other beloved characters of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning film Big Hero 6 will make their debut in the ever-expanding narrative of KINGDOM HEARTS III.

Disney Interactive announced Disney Magic Kingdoms, a new mobile game being created with Gameloft that lets players build the Disney theme park of their dreams by recreating and placing iconic attractions such as Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, California Screamin’ and many more in a fun animated landscape.

D23 Expo 2015: Walt Disney Studios Releases Movie Posters For ”Alice Through The Looking Glass”

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

Walt Disney Studios has released the first two movie posters for the upcoming sequel to “Alice In Wonderland” called “Alice Through The Looking Glass”. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” hits theaters May 27, 2016.

D23 Expo 2015: Disney Showcases Live Action Slate np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

STARS AND FILMMAKERS OF UPCOMING DISNEY, MARVEL STUDIOS AND LUCASFILM MOVIES FEATURED AT TODAY’S LIVE ACTION EVENT

Disney, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm presented their live action film slates this morning at the D23 EXPO 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. The presentations, which revealed exclusive news and details about the upcoming live action films, were aided by live and video appearances from talent and filmmakers. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn hosted the highly anticipated biennial event.

“It’s quite something to be able to have Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm all on the same stage, and it’s tremendously gratifying to unveil our upcoming projects to our most dedicated fans first,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “We always have an incredible time at the D23 EXPO.”

After welcoming the crowd to D23 EXPO 2015, Horn introduced Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, and Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, to present overviews of the Marvel Studios and Disney live action slates. Later Horn returned to the stage to present the Lucasfilm film slate to the enthusiastic audience.

A recap of the presentation follows:

Kevin Feige led off with a glimpse into the world of Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” featuring a video greeting by Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars as the title character, followed by a pre-production piece that offered fans a taste of the look and feel of the upcoming film, opening in U.S. theaters on October 26, 2016.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” marched into D23 EXPO with an introduction by its producer, Kevin Feige. To the delight of the audience, Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie showed up on stage to help Feige show never-seen-before footage from the movie. Before the footage rolled, Feige revealed that there was a special “Easter egg” for fans to find: it was aptly a nod to D23 EXPO.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.

The movie stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, Tom Holland, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl. Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” is directed by Anthony & Joe Russo and produced by Kevin Feige. Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee serve as executive producers and the screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in the U.S. on May 6, 2016.

Sean Bailey took the stage to introduce the first film in the Disney live-action lineup, “The Finest Hours,” which is based on the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. Chris Pine, who plays Bernie Webber, the captain of the rescue boat, joined Bailey on stage to give fans a peak at the heroic action-thriller.

Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, the film, which is directed by Craig Gillespie and also stars Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz and Eric Bana, transports audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully-immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale.

“The Finest Hours” is produced by Jim Whitaker and Dorothy Aufiero and Doug Merrifield is the executive producer. The film is based on the book by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman and the screenplay is by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson. “The Finest Hours” storms into U.S. theaters on January 29, 2016.

THE JUNGLE BOOK – WILD WORLD — Man-cub Mowgli (voice of Neel Sethi), who’s been raised by a family of wolves, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by a panther-turned-mentor Bagheera. Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and featuring state-of the-art technology that immerses audiences in the lush world like never before, Disney’s “The Jungle Book” hits theaters in stunning 3D and IMAX 3D on April 15, 2016. ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

After an introduction by Sean Bailey, Jon Favreau, director of Disney’s upcoming “The Jungle Book,” welcomed to the stage newcomer Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of candidates to play man-cub Mowgli; plus Oscar® winners Ben Kingsley, who helps bring panther-turned-mentor Bagheera to life, and Lupita Nyong’o, who lends her voice to the protective mother wolf Raksha. Favreau treated fans to a sneak peek of footage from the film, and each guest received a copy of the dramatic teaser poster following the presentation. The all-new, live-action epic adventure showcases Mowgli’s journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known.

Based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s 1967 animated classic, the film features state-of the-art technology that immerses audiences in the lush world like never before. “The Jungle Book” also features the voices of Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Walken. Jon Favreau and Brigham Taylor produce and the screenplay is by Justin Marks. “The Jungle Book” hits theaters in stunning 3D and IMAX 3D on April 15, 2016.

Bailey welcomed Mia Wasikowska to the stage, where she thrilled fans with a preview of the all-new spectacular adventure, “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories. Director James Bobin brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen in 2010 with “Alice in Wonderland,” in which Alice (Wasikowska) returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. The film, which once again features Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall, introduces several new characters as well: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father, and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.

Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd, and Tim Burton produce and John G. Scotti is the executive producer. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton. Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” opens in U.S. theaters on May 27, 2016.

In addition to attending the film’s presentation in Hall D23 at the Convention Center, fans had the opportunity to transform themselves into their favorite characters from Underland with an interactive experience, Travel Through the Looking Glass. By means of a first-to-market face-tracking application, D23 EXPO participants entering one of four photo booths located on the show floor were able to become the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Rabbit or the Cheshire Cat with full digital-makeup and cinematic 3D objects seamlessly—and instantly—applied to their reflections, and in real time. They were then emailed a 10-second video and still image, which they could share on their favorite social media platforms.

Bryce Dallas Howard joined Bailey on stage to talk about her starring role in “Pete’s Dragon,” a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film. The heartwarming adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon, “Pete’s Dragon” is directed by David Lowery, produced by Jim Whitaker, and executive-produced by Barrie Osborne, and also stars Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Robert Redford. “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

Bailey, with the help of Lupita Nyong’o, introduced the crowd to the upcoming film “Queen of Katwe,” which is based on the inspirational true story of a girl from the poverty-stricken slums of rural Uganda who dreams of becoming a champion chess player. Directed by Mira Nair from a screenplay by William Wheeler based on the book by Tim Crothers, “Queen of Katwe” stars Nyong’o, David Oyelowo and newcomer Medina Nalwanga.

Bailey next presented “Beauty and the Beast,” including a musical greeting from stars Emma Watson, Josh Gad and Luke Evans—sent from the London set where they are currently filming. The live-action musical, a retelling of the studio’s animated classic, stars Watson, Dan Stevens, Evans, Gad, Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald and newcomer Nathan Mack. The film is directed by Bill Condon. Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards® (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the animated classic, provides the score, which will include new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Tim Rice, as well as several new songs. “Beauty and the Beast” will be released in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017.

A surprise visit by Johnny Depp, who showed up on stage completely decked out as Captain Jack Sparrow, brought down the house and thrilled fans at Sean Bailey’s presentation of the next exciting film in the “Pirates of the Caribbean “ franchise, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.

The film is directed by Espen Sandberg & Joachim Rønning and stars Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kevin R. McNally, Kaya Scodelario, Golshifteh Farahani, Stephen Graham, David Wenham and Geoffrey Rush. Jerry Bruckheimer is the producer and Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Joe Caracciolo, Jr. and Brigham Taylor serve as executive producers. Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” releases in U.S. theaters on July 7, 2017.

Alan Horn took the stage again to present the Lucasfilm slate and timeline to the D23 EXPO fans. Horn told the audience that there were only 124 days to the release of Episode VII, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” on December 18, 2015 and added that there have been record-breaking trailer views and fantastic fan response. Touching on “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” Horn reminded the audience that Rian Johnson will be directing the film slated for release on May 26, 2017. Then in a surprise announcement, Horn informed everyone that Colin Trevorrow (“Jurassic World”) has signed on to direct “Star Wars: Episode IX,” which is scheduled for release in 2019.

Moving on to the new Star Wars stories series, Horn touched on the “Untitled Han Solo” stand-alone film, slated for release on May 25, 2018 by reminding everyone that it will be directed by Christopher Miller & Phil Lord, with Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon Kasdan writing the screenplay.

Horn then took the audience by surprise, announcing the cast for “Rogue One,” the first of the standalone Star Wars stories to hit the big screen, which has commenced principal photography. Gareth Edwards (“Godzilla,” “Monsters”) is directing “Rogue One,” which tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.

The filmmakers have assembled a stellar cast, including Felicity Jones, nominated for an Academy Award® for her leading role in “The Theory of Everything”; Diego Luna, who was featured in 2008’s Oscar®-winning “Milk” and the critically acclaimed “Killing Them Softly”; Ben Mendelsohn, recently nominated for an Emmy® for his leading role in “Bloodline” and co-starring in the upcoming “Mississippi Grind”; Donnie Yen, Hong Kong action star and martial artist who starred in “Ip Man” and “Blade II”; Jiang Wen, who co-wrote, produced , directed and starred in the award-winning “Let the Bullets Fly” and “Devils on the Doorstep”; Forest Whitaker, recently featured in the critically-acclaimed Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and winner of an Academy Award® for his leading role in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland; Mads Mikkelsen, who starred in “The Hunt” and was the memorable villain from 2006’s “Casino Royale”; Alan Tudyk, who plays a performance-capture character in “Rogue One,” stars in the soon-to-be-released “Con Man” series and “Trumbo,” which releases this November; and Riz Ahmed, who was recently featured in “Nightcrawler” and starred in the BAFTA-winning film “Four Lions.”

The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and is slated for a December 16, 2016 release.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ended the live-action presentation with a bang as J.J. Abrams introduced stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and Lupita Nyong’o. The crowd cheered when John Boyega announced that everyone there would get a Drew Struzan D23 EXPO commemorative poster to take home. Then, in a bringing-down-the house surprise moment, Harrison Ford, who is reprising his role as Han Solo, joined Abrams on stage to wild applause.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” releases in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2015.

D23 Expo 2015: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - New Info Revealed And First Cast Photo np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

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Lucasfilm announced today that their first film in the new standalone Star Wars stories series, “Rogue One,” has begun principal photography. Gareth Edwards (“Godzilla,” “Monsters”) is directing “Rogue One,” which tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star. The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and is slated for a December 16, 2016 release.

Star Wars: Rogue One..L to R: Actors Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna, Felicity Jones, Jiang Wen and Donnie Yen..Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley..©Lucasfilm 2016

The filmmakers have assembled a stellar cast, including Felicity Jones, nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in “The Theory of Everything”; Diego Luna, who was featured in 2008’s Oscar-winning “Milk” and the critically acclaimed “Killing Them Softly”; Ben Mendelsohn, recently nominated for an Emmy for his leading role in “Bloodline” and co-starring in the upcoming “Mississippi Grind”; Donnie Yen, Hong Kong action star and martial artist who starred in “Ip Man” and “Blade II”; Jiang Wen, who co-wrote, produced , directed and starred in the award-winning “Let the Bullets Fly” and “Devils on the Doorstep”; Forest Whitaker, recently featured in the critically-acclaimed Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and winner of an Academy Award® for his leading role in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland; Mads Mikkelsen, who starred in “The Hunt” and was the memorable villain from 2006’s “Casino Royale”; Alan Tudyk, who plays a performance-capture character in “Rogue One,” stars in the soon-to-be-released “Con Man” series and “Trumbo,” which releases this November; and Riz Ahmed, who was recently featured in “Nightcrawler” and starred in the BAFTA-winning film “Four Lions.”

“‘Rogue One’ takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe,” says Kathleen Kennedy. “It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential Star Wars feel that fans have come to know. Gareth is such an innovative director and I’m so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he’s selected for ‘Rogue One.’”

Veteran ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll, who shares a long history with the Star Wars movies, dating back to the mid-1990s, originated the idea for the movie. Allison Shearmur (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “Cinderella”), John Knoll, Simon Emanuel (“The Dark Knight Rises,” “Fast & Furious 6”) and Jason McGatlin (“Tintin,” “War of the Worlds”) are executive producers. Kiri Hart and John Swartz (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) are co-producers.

To create the lived-in, realistic feel of “Rogue One,” Edwards chose Greig Fraser (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Foxcatcher”) to be his director of photography and Neil Corbould (“Black Hawk Down,” “Gladiator,” “Saving Private Ryan”) to be his special effects supervisor. Star Wars and Lucasfilm veteran Doug Chiang (“Star Wars: Episodes I-II,” “Forrest Gump”) and Neil Lamont (supervising art director for the “Harry Potter” series, “Edge of Tomorrow”) will be the production designers. Additional crew members will include stunt coordinator Rob Inch (“World War Z,” Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”), creature effects supervisor Neal Scanlan (“Prometheus”) and co-costume designers Dave Crossman (costume supervisor for the “Harry Potter” series, “Saving Private Ryan”) and Glyn Dillon (costume concept artist for “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “Jupiter Ascending”).

Photos: Pixar And Walt Disney Animation Studios Presentation np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Composer Randy Newman of TOY STORY 1, 2 and 3 and director John Lasseter of TOY STORY 4 (C) took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Randy Newman; John Lasseter; Will McCormack; Rashida Jones; Galyn Susman; Josh Cooley

JOHN LASSETER WELCOMES FILMMAKERS, VOICE TALENT TO D23 EXPO 2015 STAGE TO REVEAL EXCITING NEW DETAILS ABOUT UPCOMING SLATE FROM WALT DISNEY AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS

Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios introduced D23 EXPO 2015 fans to an array of new stories and characters—from a lost dinosaur to a master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish. The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dwayne Johnson, Randy Newman and Ty Burrell, among others.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, led the presentations, calling on a host of filmmakers from both studios to introduce the upcoming slate of films. “We really have an unbelievable range of movies in production at our studios right now,” said Lasseter. “The stories are dynamic, fresh and so much fun; the characters new and old are so appealing. I’m excited to share some of our long-held secrets for the first time at the D23 EXPO.”

Following are the films presented on behalf of both studios.

RILEY’S FIRST DATE?

Pixar Animation Studios heads back inside the mind with an all-new short. “Riley’s First Date?” made its world premiere this afternoon at D23 EXPO. Director Josh Cooley, along with “Inside Out” filmmakers Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and Jonas Rivera (“Up”), introduced the short, which revisits Riley, now 12. “‘Riley’s First Date?’ ventures into the minds of Riley’s parents when a mysterious boy shows up at the front door,” said Cooley. “Having a daughter myself, it was a lot of fun to mine my own feelings to show this emotional time in a parent’s life.”

The short will be included as a bonus feature in the digital HD & Blu-ray releases of Disney·Pixar’s “Inside Out,” which will be available digitally Oct. 13 and on Blu-ray Nov. 3, 2015.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

Anticipation for Disney·Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” was amplified when director Peter Sohn and producer Denise Ream shared breathtaking sequences with fans, including never-before-seen footage of a trio of T-Rexes in action.

In theaters on Nov. 25, 2015, the film introduces audiences to Arlo, a sheltered Apatosaurus who finds himself far from home, and Spot, Arlo’s unlikely human friend. “Arlo and Spot journey through a world that has been greatly inspired by the American Northwest,” said Sohn. “It is epic in scope, soul-enriching and simultaneously beautiful and treacherous. In this world, we meet up with a very special family of T-Rexes, who help Arlo find a way through his personal fears and ultimately teach Arlo what he’s truly made of.”

ZOOTOPIA

International superstar Shakira is lending her Grammy®-winning voice to Gazelle, the biggest pop star in Zootopia, D23 EXPO fans learned via a taped message from Shakira today. Ginnifer Goodwin (ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” “Something Borrowed,” “Walk the Line”), the voice of the film’s rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps, saluted fans alongside directors Byron Howard (“Tangled”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph”), and producer Clark Spencer (“Wreck-It Ralph”). Hilarious new scenes from the film were unveiled, plus a tease of the all-new original song, “Try Everything,” written by singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate, and performed by Shakira.

Said Howard, “For the role of Gazelle, Zootopia’s most beloved superstar, there was only one person on our wish list: Shakira. Luckily for us, she said yes. Her immense talent and charm bring Gazelle and her song, ‘Try Everything,’ to life.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia” opens nationwide March 4, 2016.

FINDING DORY

Ellen DeGeneres (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show”), the voice of everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, took a dip with D23 EXPO attendees this afternoon, celebrating Disney·Pixar’s upcoming film “Finding Dory.” Joining DeGeneres on stage this afternoon were Ed O’Neill (“Modern Family”), who lends his voice to Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”), the voice of Bailey, a misguided beluga whale; and Kaitlin Olson (“Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), who voices Destiny, a kind-hearted whale shark. Oscar®-winning director Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”), co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”) offered details about the all-new story, which reunites Dory with friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Said Stanton, “In ‘Finding Dory,’ we can expect to address the one emotionally open-ended issue that remained from the first movie: Where is Dory’s family, and will this overly-optimistic fish with short-term memory loss ever be able to find them again? Her issue has also given us the opportunity to travel to very different locations, on land and sea, and meet a variety of new sea creatures that expand the world of Nemo, Marlin and Dory.”

Also featuring the voices of Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton, Disney·Pixar’s “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

MOANA

Dwayne Johnson (“San Andreas,” “Furious 7,” HBO’s “Ballers”), who lends his voice to the mighty demi-god Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana,” hit the stage at D23 EXPO this afternoon. Renowned directors John Musker and Ron Clements (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Aladdin”), and producer Osnat Shurer (Oscar®-nominated Pixar shorts “One Man Band,” “Boundin’”) shared dazzling early test footage and revealed plans for the film’s inspired music and the extraordinary team behind it. Tony®-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway’s hottest new hit “Hamilton,” Tony-winning “In the Heights”), Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina (“Speed”, “Tarzan” “The Lion King”) and Opetaia Foa’i (founder and lead singer of the world music award-winning band Te Vaka) blend their diverse and dynamic talents to help tell the tale of a spirited teenager who sets out to prove herself a master wayfinder.

“Our research took us deep into the South Pacific,” said Clements. “The wonderful people we met there, their rich history and traditions, and their fantastic music changed us forever.”

“We can’t wait to bring those experiences to ‘Moana,’” added Musker. “We are incredibly lucky to be able to work with three amazing artists who are the absolute best at what they do. The sounds they create will be something we’ve never heard before—but it’ll feel like it’s been part of this world forever.”

Foa’i and his band Te Vaka capped the presentation with a show-stopping performance illustrating the magic of the movie’s music. “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.

TOY STORY 20^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Pixar Animation Studios marks the 20^th Anniversary of “Toy Story” this year. Said Lasseter, “All the characters from ‘Toy Story’—especially Woody and Buzz—are so close to us. They seem more like family members than just creations. Not only do we dearly love the characters, but we also love the world of ‘Toy Story’—the world where toys come to life when people are not in the room has always been rich with many story possibilities.”

Lasseter, who’s one of Pixar’s three founders, celebrated 20 years since “Toy Story” transformed the animation industry and the art of storytelling. He welcomed to the stage iconic two-time Oscar®-winning songwriter and longtime Pixar collaborator Randy Newman, whose Pixar credits include “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars.”

Also joining in the celebration were “Toy Story 4” co-director Josh Cooley (“Cars 2,” “Ratatouille”) and producer Galyn Susman (“Toy Story OF TERROR!”). Screenwriters Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (“Celeste & Jesse Forever”) joined Buzz, Woody and Bo Peep for the celebration. “I’m very proud of our films,” said Lasseter. “When we made the first three ‘Toy Story’ films, we didn’t realize what we had done was to change the genre of each of the films’ story. For ‘Toy Story 4,’ we are doing a type of story we have not done before: a love story. It’s a story about a relationship between Woody and Bo Peep. ”

“Toy Story 4,” which will be directed by Lasseter and produced by Susman, is slated for release on June 16, 2017.

GIGANTIC

Things are looking up at Walt Disney Animation Studios – way up. “Gigantic,” Disney’s unique take on “Jack and the Beanstalk,” will feature music from Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who greeted D23 EXPO fans in signature style—in song—alongside director Nathan Greno (“Tangled”) and producer Dorothy McKim (“Get A Horse!”).

“I always wanted to be part of the Disney legacy,” said Greno. “I loved those classic stories brought to life—‘Snow White’ or ‘Cinderella’—in a way that made those films the definitive version for generations. I want to carry on that tradition by bringing ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ to modern audiences. We’re taking parts of the story we all remember and adding twists and turns, emotion and humor.”

Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, Disney’s “Gigantic” follows adventure-seeker Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home. But he doesn’t account for her super-sized personality—and who knew giants were so down to earth? “Gigantic” hits theaters in 2018.

COCO

Director Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”) and producer Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”) revealed the title of their upcoming film: Disney·Pixar’s “Coco” is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion.

“As artists and filmmakers, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the striking visuals of Dia de los Muertos,” said Unkrich and Anderson. “But it was the celebration’s core themes of family, remembrance and connection across generations that resonated within and truly inspired us. Dia de los Muertos is as singular as the Mexican culture, while at the same time completely universal in its message.

“In our story,” they continued, “the celebration of Dia de los Muertos serves as the perfect backdrop for our main character to ask where he comes from, what his place is within his family, and how families stay woven together across time through the simple act of remembrance.”

EXPO SHOW FLOOR/PANELS/PRESENTATIONS:

Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios teamed up to create a show-floor experience at D23 EXPO. Fans are enjoying live demonstrations, presentations and autograph signings with top filmmakers. They can also check out John Lasseter’s film-themed Hawaiian shirts in a special exhibit, plus Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Eric Goldberg, who first worked on “Aladdin,” is sharing his collection of more than 100 caricatured creations.

Following are the event panels.

In Conversation with the Filmmakers and the Emotions Behind “Inside Out” (Pixar Animation Studios) – Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rivera and the voice of Sadness, Phyllis Smith, shared the inside story of the making of Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” this morning.
Welcome to “Zootopia”(Walt Disney Animation Studios) – Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer and artists from the studio will introduce rookie rabbit-officer Judy Hopps, con-artist fox Nick Wilde and a host of dynamic animal characters to D23 EXPO-goers tomorrow afternoon.
Pixar Secrets Revealed!Hear the Stories They Didn’t Want You to Know! (Pixar Animation Studios) – Pixar senior development executive Mary Coleman will welcome storytellers behind some of Pixar’s most successful films tomorrow afternoon to talk about the twists and turns of crafting a narrative.
“Toy Story”:20 Years Later, the Original Crew Looks Back (Pixar Animation Studios) – Members of the original crew from 1995’s “Toy Story” will celebrate the 20^thanniversary of the film tomorrow afternoon, sharing stories of the challenges they faced along the way.
“Aladdin” – The Making of a Classic(Walt Disney Animation Studios) – Tomorrow evening, directors John Musker and Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn, the speaking voice of Jasmine, Linda Larkin, and the two actors who voiced Aladdin, Scott Weinger and Brad Kane, will share stories behind the Disney classic.
The Shorts of Walt Disney Animation Studios: from “Paperman” to “Prep & Landing,” “Feast” to “Frozen Fever” (Walt Disney Animation Studios) – Filmmakers behind the studio’s recent shorts come together Sunday morning to discuss Disney’s first medium for storytelling: the animated short.
“Frozen” FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration! (Walt Disney Animation Studios) – Sunday afternoon, Chris Montan, president, Walt Disney Music, and the Oscar^®-winning songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez will take fans on a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey through the world of “Frozen.”
The Tunes Behind the Toons: Screening/Q&A – Fans can check out this short-form documentary Sunday evening, celebrating the power of music in animation. A star-studded Q&A will follow the screening.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Robert Iger (L) and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** John Lasseter; Robert Iger

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Directors John Musker (L) and Ron Clements of MOANA took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** John Musker; Ron Clements

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Producer Osnat Shurer, actor Dwayne Johnson, singer/songwriter Opetaia Foa’i, Directors John Musker and Ron Clements of MOANA took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Osnat Shurer; Dwayne Johnson; Opetaia Foa’i; John Musker; Ron Clements

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Actor Dwayne Johnson of MOANA took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Dwayne Johnson

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Actor Dwayne Johnson (L) and Producer Osnat Shurer of MOANA took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Dwayne Johnson; Osnat Shurer

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Director Byron Howard, actress Ginnifer Goodwin and director Rich Moore of ZOOTOPIA took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Ginnifer Goodwin; Byron Howard; Rich Moore

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Director of INSIDE OUT Pete Docter, Producer of INSIDE OUT Jonas Rivera and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Pete Docter; Jonas Rivera; John Lasseter

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Director Peter Sohn of THE GOOD DINOSAUR took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Peter Sohn

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Director Peter Sohn (L) and producer Denise Ream (R) of THE GOOD DINOSAUR with Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter (C) took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** John Lasseter; Peter Sohn; Denise Ream

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Actors Ed O’Neill, Ty Burrell, Kaitlin Olson and Ellen DeGeneres of FINDING DORY took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Ellen DeGeneres; Ed O’Neill; Ty Burrell; Kaitlin Olson

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Director Nathan Greno, producer Dorothy McKim and songwriters Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez of GIGANTIC took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Kristen Anderson-Lopez; Bobby Lopez; Nathan Greno; Dorothy McKim

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Actress Ellen DeGeneres of FINDING DORY (L) and The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Robert Iger took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Ellen DeGeneres; Robert Iger

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios Alan Horn took part today in “Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films” presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Alan Horn

D23 Expo 2015: Shakira Shakes Up Zootopia

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

International superstar Shakira is lending her Grammy-winning voice to Gazelle, the biggest pop star in Zootopia, D23 EXPO fans learned via a taped message from Shakira today. Ginnifer Goodwin (ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” “Something Borrowed,” “Walk the Line”), the voice of the film’s rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps, saluted fans alongside directors Byron Howard (“Tangled”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph”), and producer Clark Spencer (“Wreck-It Ralph”). Hilarious new scenes from the film were unveiled, plus a tease of the all-new original song, “Try Everything,” written by singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate, and performed by Shakira. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia” opens nationwide March 4, 2016.

Pixar’s “Inside Out” Coming To Blu-Ray On November 3rd; Video: Preview Of ”Riley’s First Date” np

WDWNT on August 3, 2015

Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced that “Inside Out” will be available for purchase on Blu-ray 3D, a Blu-ray Combo Pack and On-Demand on November 3rd. The movie will also be available a few weeks early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on October 13th. The set will contain the animated short “LAVA” and also a brand new short called, “Riley’s First Date” as well as a bunch of Special Features.

Here is the video announcing “Inside Out” coming to home video plus a preview of “Riley’s First Date”:

[sc name=”YouTube Embed 800w” id=”zW5JkDQE5po” ]

And here is a complete list of the Special Features:

Special features available in the Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Riley’s First Date? (In-Home Exclusive Animated Short Film) – Riley, now 12, is hanging out at home with her parents in San Francisco when potential trouble comes knocking: a boy shows up at the door. Can Mom and Dad’s emotions handle “Riley’s First Date?”
LAVA (Theatrical Short Film) – Inspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, LAVA is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.
Story of the Story – Director Pete Docter talks about the evolution of Inside Out, from the ideas and memories that inspired the story through the hurdles, explorations and experiences that helped shape it into the film it is today.
Paths to Pixar: The Women of Inside Out – Inside Out filmmakers, from voice actors to animators to production crew, talk about their paths, their goals, the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Mixed Emotions – Inside Out’s filmmakers talk about how they decided which emotions to focus on in the story and how they went about creating each one’s distinct personality and visual identity
Mapping the Mind – Inside Out’s artists take you through the years-long process of designing and creating a world everyone knows, but no one has ever seen – the human mind.
Our Dads, the Filmmakers – Elie Docter (daughter of director, Pete Docter) and Grace Giacchino (daughter of composer, Michael Giacchino) bring you behind the scenes for an inside look at the making of the film.
Into the Unknown: The Sound of Inside Out – What is the sound of a memory forming? Sound designer Ren Klyce describes the challenges – and the unique solutions – involved in creating the aural world of Inside Out.
The Misunderstood Art of Animation Film Editing – Learn more about the crucial role of an animation film editor, who helps take the story from its earliest, most exploratory versions, to the final, polished film you see onscreen.
Deleted Scenes
Mind Candy – A montage of toolkit and interstitials produced for Inside Out.
Inside Out Trailers – A collection of domestic and international trailers made for Inside Out.

Source: JoBlo

Category: Entertainment & Media

8/19/15 Marvel News Mash-Up (Fantastic Four, Civil War, Star Wars, Etc.) np

Fox’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot Gets Universally Panned By Critics And Bombs At The Box Office

What’s Next For The Fantastic Four?

“Spider-Man” May Have A Larger Role Than Expected In “Captain America: Civil War”

Possible Sides Revealed For “Captain American: Civil War”

First Look At Marvel’s “Star Wars: Shattered Empire”

Sideshow Collectibles Corner:

“Spider-Man Symbiote Costume”

D23 Expo 2015: Star Wars: Episode IX Will Be Directed By Jurassic World Director, Colin Trevorrow np

D23 Expo 2015: A Look At The ”Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Exclusive Poster By Drew Struzan np

Disney Interactive Showcases Upcoming Line-up At D23 Expo 2015; Includes Magic Kingdom Game, Kingdom Hearts III, Etc. np

D23 Expo 2015: Walt Disney Studios Releases Movie Posters For ”Alice Through The Looking Glass”

D23 Expo 2015: Disney Showcases Live Action Slate np

D23 Expo 2015: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - New Info Revealed And First Cast Photo np

Photos: Pixar And Walt Disney Animation Studios Presentation np

D23 Expo 2015: Shakira Shakes Up Zootopia

Pixar’s “Inside Out” Coming To Blu-Ray On November 3rd; Video: Preview Of ”Riley’s First Date” np

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