An eagerly anticipated part of this years D23 Expo revolves around the soon-to-launch Disney+ streaming service and the content in development which will be coming to the new platform for its launch in November 2019 and over the coming years.
The first ever D23 presentation for the new streaming service certainly did not disappoint fans across multiple eras and genres of content and Disney certainly looks to be lining themselves up for some successful new shows to draw in new customers.
Here is the lowdown of what was announced during the presentation:
Disney Content
Kevin Mayer, Chairman of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment started off the presentation, and was later joined by Gary Marsh, Disney Channel President & Chief Creative officer who previewed some of the new Disney channel content coming to Disney+.
Lizzie McGuire Sequel Series
Hillary Duff took to the stage to confirm she will return in her iconic Disney Channel role as Lizzie McGuire for a new sequel series. McGuire now aged 30 and working as a decorators apprentice will commentate on modern-day life as a ‘millenial’ living as a resident of New York. The original shows creator Terri Minsky also returns to take the reigns as well as the animated version of Lizzie appearing throughout the show. Release date to be announced.
Muppets Now
The Muppets will be starring in a new unscripted short-form series called Muppets Now and a teaser-trailer was shown featuring Kermit. The series is planned for a 2020 launch.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Announcing a 10-episode scripted series set at the real-life East High (the location of the original film) following a group of students counting down to the opening night of their schools first production of High School Musical. The new trailer was was shown:
Lady & The Tramp
The doggy stars of the film appeared on stage for the premiere of the first trailer from the film. Considered as a timeless re-telling of the 1955 classic animation.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
A new series from the National Geographic channel, Jeff Goldblum appeared to preview the first trailer for the series delving into the world seen through his fascinating mind!
Encore!
Kristen Bell (Frozen, Forgetting sarah marshall) was on stage to debut the trailer for Encore! bringing former high-school musical castmates together and back onstage for musical-theatre reunion performance.
Forky Asks A Question
Tony Hale – the voice of Forky from Toy Story 4 returns as ‘Forky’ in the new series from Pixar Animation studios in a 10-episode series.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made
Based on the best-selling book series by Pastis, featuring Timmy Failure who runs his own detective agency with the help of his polar-bear. Coming in early 2020
Togo
Based on a true story set in 1925, an uplifting adventure in the Alaskan Tundra starring Willem Dafoe launching in early December 2019
Noelle
Holiday comedy Starring Anna Kendrick as Santa’s Daughter who finds herself having to save the holidays with the help of her brother (Bill Hader)
Diary of a Female President
Family Comedy series Following a 12-year-old Cuban-American girl’s journey through middle school on a path to becoming the President of the United States. Premieres January 2020
Stargirl
A coming-of-age film based on the New York Times best-selling young adult novel. Launching in early 2020.
Monsters At Work
A Brand new series from Disney Television Animation inspired by the Monsters Inc Movies, returns fans to city of Monstropolis to meet a cast of new monsters and with some special cameos of Mike & Sulley (voiced by Billy Crystal & John Goodman). The series takes place after Monstropolis switches to laugh-power. Launching in
Marvel Content
Kevin Feige took centre stage to show how Disney intend to integrate and expand the MCU across the Disney+ streaming platform.
What If…?
Debuting the first footage for its new animated series, it was confirmed that almost the entire cast of the MCU will lend their voices to this new show. Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) appeared on stage following the trailer. The Series imagines the ‘what ifs’ had the events of the movies turned out differently and branched into infinite realities. Series will debut in 2021.
Loki
Tom Hiddleston appeared in a video message expressing his gratitude at being able to extend his time as the fan-favourite villain of Loki into a new series. The shows lead writer and director were on stage to discuss the show.
Falcon & The Winter Soldier
Set to the timeline period after the Avengers: Endgame Movie, the series shows the teaming up of the two MCU characters, additionally Kevin Feige revealed that Emily VanCamp will return as Sharon Carter, and the addition of John Walker character from marvel comics will also appear.
WandaVision
With a tone change and interspersing cuts of The Dick Van Dyke show and Avengers: Infinity War, this new show will be part classic sitcom, part MCU spectacular. The series set to begin shooting shortly with Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen reprising their roles from the MCU movies, Kat Dennings (Two Broke Girls etc.) will reprise her role as Darcy Lewis and Randall Park will reprise his role as Jimmy Woo from Ant Man and the Wasp. The Series will premiere in 2021.
Future Marvel Shows – Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk & Moon Knight
Marvel confirmed three new shows also coming to Disney+ platform alongside the other announced shows. With Ms. Marvel following the character Kamala Khan, She-Hulk following Lawyer Jennifer Walters and Moon Knight following the character of Marc Spector, a Mercenary who was left for Dead. Release dates were not announced.
Star Wars Content
Perhaps the most anticipated portion of the announcements here, there was considerable expectations from the rumour-mill around what was to come as Kathleen Kennedy took to the stage.
Star Wars; The Clone Wars
The Emmy-award winning animated series will join Disney+ in February 2020, debuting 12 new episodes with a return of classic characters to the screen.
The Mandalorian
Dave Filoni & brand new Disney Legend Jon Favreau appeared on stage to introduce ‘The Mandolorian’. In this first live-action Star Wars series following the turbulent travels of a gunfighter in the post-empire, pre first-order existence.
New ‘Rogue One’ linked Lucasfilm Live-action Series
The characters of Cassian Andor & K-2SO from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will return in a second live-action series from Lucasfilm to Disney+. Although currently in development, Diego Luna & Alan Tudyk will reprise their roles in this prequel series set before the events of ‘A New Hope’
New Untitled Lucasfilm Live-action Series
The crowd all got to their feet with rapturous applause as Kathleen Kennedy welcomed Ewan McGregor to the stage to formally announce his return to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in an untitled series from Lucasfilm
We Hope you are all excited at the news coming from D23 Expo so far and much more still to come from the Behind the scenes Movies Presentation, and then the most anticipated slot for the theme parks!
Stay Tuned for more & Thanks for reading!
The Watsons
(Photos Courtesy of D23 official, & Trailers Courtesy of Disney)