Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Production Has Begun on “Pete’s Dragon” Remake

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

Principal photography on Pete’s Dragon commenced this week in New Zealand. A re-imagining of the 1977 Disney classic, Pete’s Dragon will blend live action and CGI to tell the story of the special bond between an orphaned boy, Pete, and his best friend, Elliott, who just happens to be a dragon.

The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Grace, a park ranger who discovers the existence of Elliott; 10-year-old Oakes Fegley as Pete; Wes Bentley as Jack, a local mill owner; New Zealand native Karl Urban as Jack’s brother, Gavin; Oona Laurence as Natalie, the young girl who befriends Pete; and Oscar® winner Robert Redford as Grace’s father.

Pete’s Dragon is directed by David Lowery and produced by Jim Whitaker, with Barrie Osborne serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Lowery and Toby Halbrooks. WETA Digital, the visual effects company founded by filmmaker Peter Jackson based in New Zealand, will utilize the latest in digital effects to bring the dragon, Elliott, to life. The film is scheduled to be released in U.S. theaters in August, 2016.

“This is a story about how magic can enter one’s life and change the way they see the world. And I think David Lowery is the perfect director to bring this project to life,” says Whitaker.

The production begins shooting in and around Wellington before moving north to the Rotorua area, and will complete principal photography in the South Island communities of Tapanui and Invercargill.

Film New Zealand, the country’s national film office and sister agency Film Wellington assisted the Walt Disney Studios in assessing and confirming New Zealand for the production.

“New Zealand has long been a wonderful partner for film production. Wellington’s state-of-the-art facilities and filmmaker-friendly community, in particular, make it an ideal location to shoot and be based out of,” says Osborne.

Pete’s Dragon is set for theatrical release in August 2016.

VIDEO: New “Into The Woods” Trailer Released

WDWNT on November 25, 2014

Walt Disney Studios Motions Pictures has released a new trailer along with character images for the upcoming film Into The Woods, which releases in theaters December 25, 2014.

You can see the trailer after the character posters below:

Check out the trailer here:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Byk9Is3TjY]

WDWNT.com will have all Into The Woods news as it becomes available, keep checking back!

VIDEO: Disney’s “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” Trailer Now Available

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

The Walt Disney Studios today released the first trailer for the upcoming film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which will be released October 10, 2014.

Check out the trailer:

Based on the book written by Judith Viorst and published in 1972, Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is directed by Miguel Arteta from a screenplay by Rob Lieber. The film hits theaters nationwide Oct. 10, 2014.

Walt Disney Studios Releases 2014 Slate of Upcoming Films

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures today released their list of upcoming titles for 2014.

The films and their expected release dates are:

February 28, 2014 – The Wind Rises

March 14, 2014 – Need for Speed

March 21, 2014 – Muppets Most Wanted

April 4, 2014 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 18, 2014 – Bears

May 16, 2014 – Million Dollar Arm

May 30, 2014 – Maleficent

July 18, 2014 – Planes Fire & Rescue

August 1, 2014 – Guardians of the Galaxy

August 8, 2014 – The Hundred-Foot Journey
October 10, 2014 – Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

November 7, 2014 – Big Hero 6

November 21, 2014 – McFarland

December 25, 2014 – Into the Woods

Keep checking wdwnt.com for details on all these films as details become available

VIDEO: “Muppets Most Wanted” New Video “Across The Internet” Released

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

Walt Disney Studios today released a tongue-in-cheek trailer for Muppets Most Wanted the latest Muppet adventure that hits theaters March 21.

Watch fans across the internet ‘squee’ in excitement over Muppets Most Wanted below.

Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey, Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour where they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper.

Muppets Most Wanted, directed by James Bobin hits the big screen March 21, 2014.

Like The Muppets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Muppets
Follow The Muppets on Tumblr: http://themuppets.tumblr.com
Follow The Muppets on Twitter:@MuppetsStudio
Follow Miss Piggy on Twitter:@RealMissPiggy

WDWNT will have all your Muppets Most Wanted news and info as it becomes available.

Principal Photography Begins On Live-Action “Cinderella” Movie

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Cinderella, a timeless story dating back to 1697 and created by Charles Perrault, has taken one more step towards becoming a live-action Disney feature film. Principal photography on Walt Disney Pictures’ Cinderella began Monday, September 23, in London at Pinewood Studios.

The live-action feature film is being directed by Kenneth Branagh, and stars Lily James as Cinderella, Richard Madden as the Prince, Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera star as the stepsisters Anastasia and Drisella, respectively, Stellan Skarsgård and Nonso Anozie play the Arch Grand Duke and the Prince’s loyal friend, the Captain. Derek Jacobi portrays the King.

According to Director Kenneth Branagh, “It is impossible to think of Cinderella without thinking of Disney and the timeless images we’ve all grown up watching. And those classic moments are irresistible to a filmmaker. With Lily James we have found our perfect Cinderella. She combines knockout beauty with intelligence, with, fun and physical grace. Her Prince is being played by Richard Madden, a young actor with incredible power and charisma. He is funny, smart and sexy and a great match for Cinderella.”

The story will follow the traditional story of Cinderella familiar to fans of the Disney animated film.

Cinderella will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 13, 2015.

New “Thor: The Dark World” TV Spot Debuts During “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

A new TV trailer for Thor: The Dark World debuted Tuesday night, September 24, during the premiere of the new TV series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The film will be released on November 8, 2013, and is being distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Check it out below!

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos, but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. To defeat an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor sets upon his most dangerous and personal journey yet, forced into an alliance with the treacherous Loki to save not only his people and those he love, but our universe itself.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World is directed by Alan Taylor, and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book Journey into Mystery #83 in August, 1962.

Tag: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures