This past weekend, the House of Mouse invited devoted Disneyphiles to help celebrate its 10th annual D23 celebration. The entertainment giant has taken charge of some of the world’s biggest pop culture franchises in recent years, and D23 has now become a much sought after ticketed event, promising a swathe of big reveals for fans of all stripes, and this year was certainly no exception.
It was no surprise that front and centre at this year’s D23 was Disney’s forthcoming streaming platform Disney+. We’ve been talking about this one for months now, and last week we learned that we would be getting access to it here in Australia just one week after the US on November 19, and we now have a really good idea of what’s in store for us when it hits.
So, come on Mouseketeers! Let’s don those ears and have a look at what good ol’ Mickey has planned for his brand new streaming platform, with all the news to come out of D23:
All these favorites, and more, are coming to Disney+. Start streaming on November 12 in the US. pic.twitter.com/pHUpvh3dKZ
— Disney (@Disney) August 24, 2019
DISNEY
When Disney finally launches into the streaming market this November, it has absolutely no intention of doing it half-heartedly, and in addition to a mammoth collection of existing IP, it’s also got a treasure trove of new content planned and ready to go.
Ever since Maleficent, Disney Studios has been busily plugging away at making live-action adaptations of its animated classics, and its Disney+ launch plans see it continue this trend with a live-action iteration of the 1955 Lady and the Tramp.
Other key Disney announcements for the new platform include a new Lizzie Maguire movie, a new Monsters Inc. animated series dubbed Monsters at Work, a return from Kermit and his Muppet friends, and a very meta-scripted mockumentary series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Fineas and Pherb are also getting their own exclusive Disney+ outing in a new movie, Fineas and Pherb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe.
MARVEL
If you thought Marvel Studios revealed everything about the MCU’s Phase 4 during its massive San Diego Comic Con panel last month, you would be sorely mistaken. In addition to the five Disney+ MCU series we already knew about (Falcon and Winter Soldier, What If?…, Loki, WandaVision and Hawkeye), D23 saw the announcement of an additional three series in Phase 4, and each will introduce new characters into the MCU before they transition across to the big screen.
The first new show Marvel fans have to look forward to is the introduction of the young Kamala Khan, aka Ms Marvel. For those unfamiliar with the character, Kamala is a Pakistani-American teenager with shape-shifting abilities, which allow her to elongate her arms and legs. She named herself after her idol, Carol Danvers.
Next up is a series that die-hard comic fans have long been asking for, the introduction of Marc Spector aka Moon Knight. Once described as what would happen if Batman ever struggled with multiple personalities, Moon Knight was once a former US marine-turned-mercenary who is offered a second chance at life by the ancient Egyptian god Khonshu if he agrees to act as the deity’s earthly avatar.
The final MCU series we have to look forward to is the long rumoured She-Hulk. In the original comics, Jennifer Walters is a lawyer and the cousin of the original Hulk, Bruce Banner, who finds herself seriously injured. In a last-minute attempt to save her life, Bruce performs an emergency blood transfusion and imbues her with many of his own powers, including the ability to grow stronger when enraged and a lovely shade of green. It is expected that the Avengers’ Mark Ruffalo will return in some capacity for this new series as well.
STAR WARS
Another franchise looking to make a big splash on Disney+ is the Star Wars universe, and in addition to all the existing movies and animated series, November will see the official launch of the first-ever live-action Star Wars TV series, The Mandalorian. D23 saw the release of a delicious new trailer for the show, and confirmation of the show’s place in the official Star Wars timeline, following the events of Return of the Jedi when lawlessness reigns and the New Republic has not yet taken control of a fractured galaxy.
In addition to The Mandalorian, was an update on the as-yet-untitled Cassian Andor series with Rogue One stars Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk set to reprise their roles from the film. Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy revealed that production on the series is slated to commence early next year.
It’s happening!!! So glad to be back in business with you @alantudyk ¡Ahí les vamos! @starwars #disneyplus #d23expo pic.twitter.com/etaz7T3AXB
— diego luna (@diegoluna_) August 24, 2019
After being put on hold due to the original Disney buyout, the long-awaited Clone Wars season seven will also premiere on the Disney+ platform in February 2020, finally putting a close to many of the unfinished storylines left over from the show’s reduced sixth season.
Just announced at #D23Expo, the next season of The Clone Wars will premiere in February on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/Wuh08gVZaG
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 24, 2019
And probably most exciting of all, Kathleen Kennedy had another special announcement to make regarding Disney+, and finally brought Ewan McGregor out on stage at the end of the Lucasfilm section to thunderous applause. McGregor, whose performance of Obi-Wan Kenobi is considered by many to be the highlight of the prequel trilogy, is now officially confirmed to be returning to the role of the Jedi Master in a series that will be set roughly during the same time period as the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Hello there! Just announced at #D23Expo: Ewan McGregor will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new original series, coming to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/UfMXztiQ6b
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 24, 2019
All told, fans have quite a lot to look forward to when Disney enters the streaming wars, so all we really need to do now is get our couch ready for some heavy-duty binge fests starting this November.
