Nearly ten years after ‘Zootopia’, it is time to catch up with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde and see what they have been up to. Surprisingly, ‘Zootopia 2’ is set almost immediately after the events of the first film, making it a seamless transition. For those who have not revisited it in a while, the opening moments remind us of everything that happened in a way that is equal parts entertaining and informative.
The question everyone always asks themselves when it comes to sequels is “is this story worth telling?”. Thankfully, the answer to that when it comes to ‘Zootopia 2’ is yes.
Because this story takes place so close to the one that was being told in ‘Zootopia‘, there isn’t a lot of catching up that has to be done with the characters. This is a major plus when it comes to ‘Zootopia 2’ because it allows viewers to fall right back into this world without any questions or concerns.
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are now partners on the polic force, but considering that they have not had a lot of time working together, there are some growing pains. This is not only believable, it makes perfect sense as they still do not know each other very well.
Judy and Nick are great at solving mysteries together, that is something that was established in the first movie. Pretty early on a new mystery drops into their laps, and even though it means they need to go on the run, they decide to take it on. Snakes have not been seen in Zootopia for years, and for good reason, everyone is scared of them. However, when Gary De’Snake shows up asking for help, Judy senses he truly needs it.
This sends them on a high stakes, action packed adventure filled with numerous quirky new characters and a whole lot of animal puns that is sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Because of this, they visit a lot of new places in Zootopia we have not seen yet, and directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard do a great job of keeping eveything on track and blending well together. What could have easily felt muddled and too much, is not.
Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin solidified themselves as the perfect choices for this unlikely duo in the first film, and they once again nail their performances this time around. All of the returning cast bring their A-game again, showing fans why they fell in love with these characters in the first place.
The real standout, however, is Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake. He has deserved everything that he has gotten in the last several years as he made his way back into the acting world, and he was the right choice to play this misunderstood character. Kids (and parents) are sure to love Gary just as much as they love Ke, and for good reason. He is the heart of this story, and hopefully this is not the last time that we will see him.
‘Zootopia 2’ is just as fun as the first movie. It features a catchy new song, ‘Zoo’, sung by Gazelle (Shakira) of course. It delivers heart as well as humor, something that Disney Animation does extremely well.
Stay through the credits because in true Disney fashion, there is a tease for a possible third movie that will leave viewers excited and eagerly anticipating more from their beloved Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps.
‘Zootopia 2’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.
‘Zootopia 2’ opens in theaters on November 26th.
What is the plot of ‘Zootopia 2’?
In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2,” detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.
2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
Disney has confirmed ‘The Simpsons Movie’ sequel will arrive in 2027.
The studio offered no other details.
This new movie has been in development for a few years.
Despite the series’ enduring lifespan –– ‘The Simpsons’ premiered its 37th season this past year, having debuted all the way back in 1989 –– 2027 seems less like striking while the iron is hot and more waiting until it is practically ice cold to the touch in terms of following up the show’s cinematic debut, ‘The Simpsons Movie‘.
Still, that’s not bothering Disney, which has scheduled a July 2027 release (20 years on from the first, in fact), for what is currently without a formal title.
2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The 2007 entry saw the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.
It also introduced the world to Spider-Pig, AKA Plopper.
What will happen in the new movie?
2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Disney and the ‘Simpsons’ team are staying quiet about the story in the new movie, but we can figure it’ll feature more silly adventures for the titular family and the wider world of Springfield.
“The first ‘Simpsons Movie’ almost killed us. We didn’t have a B-team waiting to do ‘The Simpsons Movie,’ so the same people who wrote, animated, voiced and did the music for ‘The Simpsons’ TV show also did the movie. That was in 2007. We’re almost recovered, almost.”
When will ‘The Simpsons Movie’ sequel be in theaters?
Per Disney’s announcement, the new movie is scheduled to take over the spot previously filled by an untitled Marvel movie: July 23rd, 2027 (was the Marvel movie ‘Blade’? Enquiring minds want to know and also sigh).
Right now the main competition is a Warners animated musical called ‘Bad Fairies’. Will one blink and shift dates? Watch this space…
2007’s ‘The Simpsons Movie’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
Disney brought several movies to its CinemaCon 2025 presentation.
The likes of ‘Tron: Ares,’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and more were showcased.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ also showed footage, alongside Pixar’s Elio, Freakier Friday and the new, live-action/CG ‘Lilo & Stitch
While it is still looking to rebuild its fortunes, Disney can at least look back on 2024 as one with several big hits, especially ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
But it will have to prove that this year’s slate can match past successes. Luckily, the Mouse House has more strings to its bow than even the likes of Universal or Warner Bros., and heavy hitters including Pixar, Marvel and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ series primed and ready with new entries, plus the return of ‘Tron’ to the grid… er, cinemas.
Following the usual stuff about sponsors and theater owners (got to play to the crowd!), the Disney presentation signaled the end of CinemaCon’s studio events and began with the traditional sizzle reel of upcoming movies, framed in amusing fashion by having ‘Lilo & Stitch’s titular blue troublemaker wander through the rest of the slate.
Getting the presentation off to its formal stage start was Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
He was joined by Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution at the studio to unveil the typically packed schedule of movies the studio will have across the rest of the year, and to extol the fact that Disney movies are Disney movies are typically in theaters an average of three weeks longer than any other studio.
2025’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Photo: Walt Disney Pictures.
The latest animated-to-live-action conversion project faces additional pressure following ‘Snow White’s poor showing at the box office this past month. With Disney bosses pushing pause on a planned ‘Tangled’ live-action movie, ‘Lilo’ will need to perform in order to keep that particular strand of the company’s strategy alive beyond ‘Moana,’ due next year.
Some fresh, sneak peek footage from the new movie was screened for the crowd, featuring Stitch on a trip with Lilo and family; they go to a restaurant where the little blue alien causes the requisite chaos even as Lilo tries to teach him to behave. Some of what was shown has already popped up in the trailer, including Stitch squirting her with a soda gun.
(L to R) Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan were ushered on stage to promote this sequel to the 2003 original, which moves the story forward and features even more body-switching chaos than last time as Curtis’ Tess and Lindsay’s Anna Coleman switch places with their teenage daughter/granddaughter.
Curtis and Lohan cued up a look at some brand new footage from the movie, which according to the duo has been playing well with test audiences.
Curtis says that the film was…
“Made to be seen on a big screen.”
The scene played showed Tess and Anna trying to win back Anna’s boyfriend –– but in different bodies.
‘Freakier Friday’ brings body swap chaos to theaters on August 8th.
(L to R) Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
The studio went all out with a light show to promote the third ‘Tron’ movie, and also brought Jeff Bridges and new franchise face Jared Leto to the stage.
Bridges said,
“To be back on the grid was incredible, and working with Jared… It was a great time.”
For his part, Leto said he was obsessed and this was everything he wanted from a movie. It took him to a world he had never seen before.
Leto described his character, Ares:
“An advanced program that crosses over to real world to fulfill his directive.”
After confirmation of Nine Inch Nails doing the music for the new movie, we got a look at some new footage.
What was screened was a look at Ares riding his bike in the real world, with Bridges’ Kevin Flynn narrating. We also see him ask Ares, “Are you ready? Because there is no coming back…”
‘Tron: Ares’ departs the grid for our world on October 10th.
With ‘The Amateur’ due on screens next week, its chunk of the presentation was minimal, limited to a full version of the scene in the pool we glimpse in the trailer, but show full-length here. It was followed by the trailer.
‘The Amateur,’ as mentioned, will find a way into theaters on April 11th.
Elle Fanning at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Disney.
The new ‘Predator’ movie from ‘Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg immediately looked interesting, since the Predator creature is more of a protagonist in this one, and it takes place on a new planet where he’s been exiled and must fight his way back.
Star (no, not as the Predator!) Elle Fanning arrived on stage to confirm that this movie breaks new ground in the ‘Predator’ universe. She also said something unprecedented happens. Her character is not being chased, she teams up with Predator and you see him in new light.
She cued up the first trailer for the new movie, which sees the Predator battling a giant, nearly invincible beast with Fanning’s help.
‘Predator: Badlands’ stalks into cinemas on November 7th.
Strong, for the record, plays Jon Landau, Springsteen’s manager and producer. He said he sees the role as Lewis to Springsteen’s Clark.
White, meanwhile, explains that the movie charts Springsteen’s teenage years to around 1982.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere.’ Photo: 20th Century Studios.
We got a first look at the trailer for the new movie, which is directed by Scott Cooper. The footage wraps up showing Springsteen in concert performing ‘Born to Run.’
‘Deliver Me from Nowhere’ has yet to announce when it’ll be delivered to theaters.
(L to R) Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
James L. Brooks’ new comedy drama stars Emma Mackey as an idealistic young politician who juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor (Albert Brooks).
She co-stars with Jamie Lee Curtis, and the latter returned to the stage alongside Mackey for the presentation.
Brooks, meanwhile, received the Cinema Vérité Award on stage and called for more movies to have a 35-day window in theaters.
Director James L. Brooks receives the Cinema Vérité Award at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
He also had a great quote about previewing movies with audiences:
“A woman came up to me and said the loveliest words: ‘they’re crying in the ladies toilet.’ Compare that to data.”
After Brooks’ emotional speech, we got a first look at the movie itself. The scene that played took place in a bar, where Curtis’ character takes Ella to meet her father, Woody Harrelson. They haven’t spoken in years after he dated her friend.
That was followed the trailer.
‘Ella McCay’ will be in cinemas on September 19th.
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From there, it was time to look at team Searchlight’s output, following a victory lap for the awards success of ‘A Real Pain’ and ‘A Complete Unknown.’ The studio arm’s new offering is…
Unlike the 1989 version, this Jay Roach-directed sees Cumberbatch and Colman as a successful chef and her businessman husband whose lives start to fall apart when he’s fired.
Things go from bad to worse, and as we saw in the trailer that played, it gets to the point where she has him at gunpoint.
‘The Roses’ fights for its place in theaters on August 29th.
Talking of guns, we moved on to one of the studio’s biggest… Marvel!
First up was the next movie from the prolific superhero franchise.
(L To R) David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
The ‘Thunderbolts*’ portion of the show kicked off with a funny bit about the cast being MIA –– Wyatt Russell appeared to have lost a lot of cash in the casino with co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus hoping the movie makes money so they can pay his debts!
The scene featured the Thunderbolts driving through New York as Harbour’s Red Guardian tries to bond with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). The team has to fight their way through bad guys to Avengers tower.
(L To R) Hannah John-Kamen, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Wyatt Russell in ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
We got an extended look at the Avengers Tower scene where Louis-Dreyfus gathers the gang –– after having sent them to kill each other and being frustrated that they teamed up.
There was also a very brief look at the introduction of Sentry (Lewis Pullman). And following that? A sizzle reel of scenes from the movie, which appears to be full of chaotic fun.
‘Thunderbolts*’ heads to cinemas on May 2nd. Less than a month for this one, folks!
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That was followed by Marvel boss Kevin Feige, currently in the UK on the set of ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ (which is “days away from the start of production”) confirming the appearance of the original X-Men team in the new movie.
We also got our first look at Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, who cautions that planet Earth is “marked for death.” Kirby’s Sue Storm says they’ll “fight the threat as a family”.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ flies into theaters on July 25th.
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To switch tracks (but still be galactic rather than Galactus), it was the turn of the animation arm(s).
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Pixar’s latest finds a young lad dreaming of being abducted by aliens.
Zoe Saldaña, who plays the title character’s Aunt Olga, arrived on stage to talk about the new ‘toon.
A scene from the movie was shown in 3D, showing Elio brought on board an alien spaceship that is more like a living planet via a tractor beam, where he meets the vessel’s AI. He’s been recruited to join the universe’s smartest creatures to work together as a collective… But have they made a mistake? Elio meets and bonds with a young alien creature.
‘Elio’ heads into space (and theaters) on June 20th.
Ke Huy Quan introduces ‘Zootopia 2’ at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Thanksgiving sees the return of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), the mismatched buddy duo of rabbit police officer and crafty fox. This time around, they’re on an undercover mission to stop a murderous reptile (Ke Huy Quan’s Gary).
In a video introduction, we got Bateman changing the show’s title to “ZinemaCon” and there are animal jokes about theaters –– AMZ, Pandango, Fur D X, followed by giving other Disney movies critter-like makeovers (‘Thundercolts,’ ‘Sealio,’ ‘The Fantastic Fur.’)
‘Zootopia 2’. Photo: Disney.
Quan arrived on stage to discuss the sequel and his role as Gary the snake. And that Judy and Nick go to a therapy animal (played by ‘Abbot Elementary’s Quinta Brunson) to sort their strained friendship –– which we saw in a scene from the movie. That was followed by a scene of Nick and Judy at Marsh resort trying to track down Gary.
‘Zootopia 2’ goes wild in theaters on November 26th.
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
James Cameron appeared via video from New Zealand, where he’s still at work on the latest ‘Avatar’ outing. He was sorry he isn’t there in person, but he did tell the crowd he’d sent some footage.
He promised “increased emotional heart and soul,” and that the Sully family will be put through the wringer (again) as they face the Ash People. We’ll also meet the Wind Traders.
Saldaña (who has been part of the franchise since the 2009 original) returned to the stage to introduce the footage.
Zoe Saldaña at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
We saw Jake and wife Neytiri (Saldaña) flying a dragon creature to Wind Traders’ ship where Miles “Spider” Socorro (Jack Champion), the son of Miles Quaritch, lives now.
That preceded a reel of other scenes, including Jake telling Neytiri they can’t live in hate, humans attacked the Na’vi, a shot of the whale-like creatures we met in ‘The Way of Water,’ the return of Stephen Lang’s Quaritch and Varang, the Na’vi leader of the volcano-dwelling Ash People threatening Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), the daughter of Dr. Grace Augustine’s Na’vi avatar who was adopted by the Sully family.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ welcomes us back to Pandora on December 19th.
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And that’s all, folks!
(L To R) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, and Hannah John-Kamen at the Disney presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Disney.
Directed by Jason Hand, Dana Ledeoux Miller, and David Derrick Jr., the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Moana’ is ready to sail into theaters on November 27, 2024. Auli’i Cravahol and Dwayne Johnson return to voice Moana and Maui once again as they dive into a brand new adventure.
‘Moana 2’ takes the audience on a brand new adventure as Moana and her crew venture into uncharted waters. While the new characters bring some excitement to the sequel, the movie truly shines when Moana and Maui are on screen together, which doesn’t come until later on in the film. The friendship and chemistry between the tattooed demi-god and Wayfinder is truly the glue and heartbeat of the film.
The animation is gorgeous and seems to be even more colorful than the first. It should also mentioned that the representation of the Pacific Islanders is even more so highlighted in this. ‘Moana 2’ starts strong but loses its pacing in the second act. However, the third act brings the excitement right back, with quite a few heartfelt and emotional moments.
The movie opens with Moana exploring an unknown island, searching for any traces of life, past or present. With her trusty, but not exactly helpful, animal sidekicks Pua and Heihei by her side, Moana stumbles upon a partially broken pottery with a motif depicting people next to a mountain – eluding that there are other inhabited islands out there.
As Moana sails home with her new discovery, she’s welcomed back by her village with open arms. This is where the film introduces Moana’s little sister Simea. Though there is a pretty large age gap between Moana and Simea, the two have an extremely close-knit relationship.
That evening, Moana is to receive her title as Chief, but the ceremony is interrupted by a powerful lightning that nearly strikes Moana, sending her a vision from her ancestor, Matai Vasa. She sees her ancestors looking for Motufetu – the island that was depicted on the pottery she found. The vision also shows Moana what will happen if she fails to find Motufetu, her own island will meet its demise.
The vision also tells Moana that Motufetu once had channels that connected people across the ocean, but the Storm God Nalo wanted more power and put a curse upon the island, therefore separating the people of the ocean. To break the curse, Moana must travel beyond the waters that she knows and find Motufetu.
In the meantime, Maui is seen standing in front of a purple portal, as he mentions that the powerful Storm God Nalo has started something sinister. Maui is interrupted by Matangi – a mysterious figure who is shrouded in shadow and bats. Turns out that Matangi works for Storm God Nola and will do anything to prevent Maui or anyone else from reaching Motufetu to break Nalo’s curse.
From there, the adventure kicks off as Moana and her crew – Kele, Moni, and Loto, sail across the ocean in search of Motufetu. On the way, they encounter several ferocious sea monsters and the fearsome Kakamora. The stakes feel even higher for Moana this time around as the film explores the close relationship between Moana and Simea. The little sister has a hard time seeing Moana leave, not knowing when she’ll return. Moana shows Simea that they are always connected by the ocean, no matter how far apart they may be.
As for Moana and her crew, while they prove to be helpful in the journey to Motufetu, there is little emotional attachment to these characters. Moni seems to be the most highlighted out of the group as he is a self-proclaimed Maui superfan, which became a hilarious running gag throughout the movie. Kele has a bit of a character arc as he sheds a little of his initial grumpy persona towards the end. Loto, as brilliant of an engineer as she was, was not given more to do other than making improvements on their boat.
The same can be said about the villain, who has incredible character design and animation (and a really awesome song) but falls flat. Matangi is initially presented as a dangerous and powerful adversary to Maui and Moana but is barely used to her full potential.
The film was at its strongest when Moana and Maui shared the screen during an action-filled third act. Despite showing the close connection between Moana and Simea earlier, it is really the friendship between Moana and Maui that’ll give you a lump in your throat.
‘Moana 2’ is a fun sequel and has gorgeous animation. It clearly shows Moana’s growth since the last movie. She is comfortable in her skin and is on her way to becoming a capable leader to her people. This new adventure puts difficult challenges before her that’ll make her question her abilities but will also see her find her footing in unfamiliar situations. The movie has a strong first and third act but loses steam in the second act due to little character development between Moana and her crew, and it felt like there were pieces of story or scenes missing.
How Do the Songs of ‘Moana 2’ Compare To the First?
(L to R) Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow. Photo: Walt Disney Animation.
Songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are tapped to pen new songs for ‘Moana 2’, with composers Opetaia Foa‘i and Mark Mancina also returning. Songs like ‘Beyond’ and “Get Lost” were the two most memorable, with “Can I Get A Chee Hoo” and “We’re Back” being a close second. As much as the new songs have the flavor from the first film, it doesn’t quite capture the magic that was created by Lin Manuel-Miranda.
A fun sequel to the 2016 film. It’s great to see Moana’s story continue and to see the representation of the Pacific Islanders’ culture on screen. The film starts off strong by building up the anticipation for the journey to Motufetu. However, it loses its footing in the second act, and aside from the excitement of seeing the army of Kakamora and the sea monsters, it felt much to be desired. Moni, Kele, and Loto’s characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and at times, it felt like too much was cut out of a scene to meet the 1 hour and 40 minutes run time.
The movie does regain momentum in the final act, where Moana and Maui share the most screen time. The friendship and chemistry between the two is unmatched. This movie is a great way to continue Moana’s journey. It shows there are more stories to be told and places to explore. With that said, make sure you stay all the way through the credits for an extra surprise.
‘Moana 2’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Moana 2’?
Following the 2016 movie, ‘Moana 2’ will reunite audiences worldwide with Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) as she embarks on an all-new adventure with a new crew of seafarers. After Moana receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she sets out on an expansive journey to the far seas of Oceania – exploring dangerous and uncharted waters..
(L to R) Director James Cameron, Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington at D23 2024 presenting ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. Photo: Disney.
D23 2024 finished off its first day on Friday, August 9th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California with a presentation showcasing the upcoming Disney movies and TV shows.
The presentation included upcoming film and television projects from Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and kicked off with Walt Disney Animation.
Bob Iger at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
But first, CEO of the Walt Disney Company Bob Iger took to the stage to address the arena full of fans. It was Iger’s first D23 in five years and he told the audience how much he missed them.
“There is nothing more that we love then surprising you and filling your heart with love. The world needs to be entertained more than ever before, and we take that seriously. We have a lot to be proud of and more to look forward to.”
Actress Ginnifer Goodwin took to the stage to show footage from her upcoming sequel, ‘Zootopia 2’. She also announced that Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan is joining the cast as a snake named Gary.
“Now, reptiles have a shady past, and Gary could send the crew on a whole new mission.”
‘Zootopia 2’ is scheduled for release on November 26, 2025.
Jennifer Lee presenting at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Next, CEO of Walt Disney Animation Studios Jennifer Lee announced that the long-awaited third installment of the ‘Frozen’ franchise will be release in 2027.
“Coming out of ‘Frozen II’ we still have some questions.”
She also revealed concept art from the new movie, which featured Elsa and Anna on horseback with Olaf riding along.
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Pixar Animation Studios
‘Dream Productions’
‘Dream Productions’. Photo: Disney.
CCO of Pixar Pete Doctor began by thanking the audience for their support of the box office hit ‘Inside Out 2’.
“I want to thank all of you for going to theaters and making ‘Inside Out 2’ the number one animated movie of all time.”
He also announced a new Disney+ series set in the world on ‘Inside Out’ called ‘Dream Productions’. The series is set between the original film and the sequel and Doctor screened footage for the audience.
Doctor also announced another Disney+ series called ‘Win or Lose‘, and the new movie ‘Hoppers’, which stars Bobby Moynihan and newly announced villain, Jon Hamm.
Next, Doctor introduced the fifth installment in the ‘Toy Story’ franchise and had this to say:
“We are excited for Jesse, Woody and what all the gang will do next.”
Doctor then introduced the director and writer of the movie, Pixar-regular Andrew Stanton. Stanton revealed that the villain of the new movie will be technology.
“Toys’ jobs are harder when the toys go up against what kids are obsessed with today, technology. This time around its toys vs. tech.”
(L to R) Zoe Saldaña and Yonas Kibreab at D23 2024 presenting ‘Elio’. Photo: Disney.
Zoe Saldaña was on hand to present her upcoming movie, ‘Elio’ and show footage from the film. The new movie follows an eleven-year-old boy named Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) who accidentally becomes the intergalactic Ambassador of planet Earth after being beamed up to the Communiverse by aliens for making contact.
The actress had this to say about the movie:
“I felt a real connection to the character. It felt authentic. I can’t wait for you all to see it.”
‘Elio’ is scheduled for release on June 13th, 2025.
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‘Incredibles 3’
Pete Doctor presenting ‘Incredibles 3’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Finally, Doctor announced the long-awaited third installment of the ‘Incredibles’ franchise entitled ‘Incredibles 3’.
“Brad Bird is developing it now. We think the film is special and hope you enjoy it.”
Jude Law presenting ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Actor Jude Law presented the first trailer from the upcoming Disney+ series, which will be release this December. The series is told from the perspective of a group of kids who get lost in the vastness of space and are trying to find their way home.
Law addressed the fans and expressed his joy to be part of the project:
“I’m thrilled to share with you ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’. It means a great deal for me to be part of the ‘Star Wars’ family’.
You can watch the trailer below, which reveals Law’s character is a Jedi.
(L to R) Dave Filoni, Chief Creative Officer, Lucasfilm and Jon Favreau appears at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Director Jon Favreau and producer Dave Filoni surprised the crowd by presenting some exclusive footage from the upcoming feature film version of the Disney+ show. The footage featured the main characters on a new adventure, as well as ‘Star Wars’ familiars like At-Ats, snowtroopers and surprisingly, Babu Frick from the recent ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’.
Favreau had this to say about the movie:
“We are getting an opportunity to bring these characters to the big screen.”
Filoni added:
“We’re all excited to have ‘Star Wars’ back on the big screen.”
Favreau mentioned that they just started filming a few weeks ago. The movie is scheduled to release in 2026.
(L to R) Anthony Mackie and Kevin Feige presenting ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and actor Anthony Mackie presented footage from ‘Captain America: Brave New World,’ but it was the same footage shown a few weeks ago at San Diego Comic-Con.
The footage included a meeting between President Ross (Harrison Ford) and Sam Wilson (Mackie), where Ross asks Wilson to form a new Avengers team. Another scene reveals that the Celestial left behind after the events of ‘Eternals’ is made of Adamantium, the same metal that made Wolverine’s claws. The footage also reveals Giancarlo Esposito’s villain Sidewinder and ends with Ford’s Ross becoming the Red Hulk on the White House lawn in front of the press.
Mackie had this to say about playing the iconic role:
‘The shield is very heavy. It’s an amazing honor.’
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ opens in theaters on February 14th, 2025.
With the film currently shooting, the cast was unable to appear but sent a video that features actor Joseph Quinn in his superhero costume.
Again, the footage shown was the same from Comic-Con, but features the Fantastic Car, the team in their astronaut suits, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) teaching a science class on television, Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) in Thing form on a dating show, and a final scene of villain Galactus (Ralph Ineson) looking in on the Baxter Building where H.E.R.B.I.E. is vacuuming the living room.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is scheduled for release on July 25th, 2025.
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‘Ironheart’
The cast of ‘Ironheart’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
“I have been having the best time playing Riri and I can’t wait for you to see the series”.
The footage reveals that Riri is expelled from MIT following the events of ‘Wakanda Forever’ and makes an uneasy alliance with Ramos’ villain, The Hood.
“We’re channeling the essence of the original series but forging a new path.”
The footage sees the return of the Punisher and Bullseye, our first look at the White Tiger, and a confrontation between Matt Murdock and the Kingpin that reveals he knows who the Daredevil really is.
The series will premiere on Disney+ March, 2025 and Cox revealed that they’ll begin shooting season 2 soon.
The group revealed the new trailer from the show, which you can watch below. The trailer shows Agatha trying to put her coven back together, and it also gives us our first glimpse of Audrey Plaza in the series.
‘Agatha All Along’ will premiere on Disney + September 18th.
(L to R) Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler presenting ‘Snow White’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot appeared to introduce the new trailer for the upcoming live-action remake, as well as screen an extended scene featuring the iconic ‘Whistle While You Work.’
Zegler said this about the making the movie:
“It’s been an honor of a lifetime. It’s been the most incredible experience, and I can’t wait to share it with you.”
Gadot added:
“It was lots of fun to do something different than I’ve ever done before. It was delicious and fun.”
The cast of ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ at D23 2024. Photo: Disney.
Award winning director Barry Jenkins was on hand to present the new trailer for the live action ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’, which is a prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 movie. Jenkins announced that Lin-Manual Miranda will write the music, as well as the return of Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Pumbaa and Timon, respectively, who all appeared to greet the crowd.
You can watch the new trailer below, and the film is scheduled for release on December 20th.
Bridges, who starred in the original, had this to say about his return:
“I’m Just a small part of this”.
Lee explained that she plays Eve Kim, a programmer that helped create Ares, who’s now come into our world. The footage shows Leto’s Ares in the real world, and our first look at Bridges as Kevin Flynn.
Leto said this about his character’s motives:
“He’s a program looking to make the real world his, permanently”.
Finally, it was announced that Nine Inch Nails will provide the music for the movie, which will be released on October 10th, 2025.
(L to R) Director James Cameron, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña at D23 2024 presenting ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. Photo: Disney.
Oscar-winning director James Cameron revealed that the official title of ‘Avatar 3’ is ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. He also brought actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña on to the stage before showing concept art from the upcoming film. However, Cameron told the crowd it was too early to show footage.
Cameron had this to say about the new movie:
“It’s an insane adventure, and feast for eyes, but has high stakes. There are new characters that you will love, and love to hate. You’ll see more of Pandora than you ever seen before. The new film is not what you expect but what you want.”
Worthington added:
“We have been hard at work getting it done.”
Saldaña finished by thanking the fans for their support:
“We want to personally thank you for your support.”
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is scheduled for release on December 19th, 2025.
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D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Presented by Visa. Photo: The Walt Disney Company.
‘Inside Out 2’ is the first movie of 2024 to hit a billion.
It’s the highest-grossing movie of the year to date.
The movie is the sequel to the 2015 original.
The good feelings just keeping rolling for Disney/Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’, which continues to do well at both the domestic and international box office.
After 19 days of release, the animated sequel has grossed $469.3 million in North America and $545.5 million internationally for a worldwide total of $1.015 billion.
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How has ‘Inside Out 2’ performed at the box office?
The new Pixar sequel smashed expectations (Disney was projecting closer to $90 million), with $155 million in its first weekend, the highest opening since ‘Barbie’ last summer (Greta Gerwig’s movie opened to $162 million).
Without adjusting for inflation, that marks the second-highest domestic opening for an animated movie (behind the company’s ‘Incredibles 2’ in 2018) and put it far beyond the first ‘Inside Out’, which opened to $90 million.
Garnering good scores from critics and audiences, the new movie also did well overseas, taking in $140 million, enough to surpass ‘Frozen II’ ($135 million and yes, another Disney effort) as the biggest overseas animated opening of all time. And talking of the ‘Frozen’ sequel, ‘Inside Out 2’ has also surpassed it as the fastest animated movie to hit the billion mark.
It has also overtaken ‘Dune: Part Two’ as the biggest-grossing release of 2024.
The movie follows up from the original by revisiting the emotions in Riley’s (Kensington Tallman) head. We’re back with Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Tony Hale, replacing Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Liza Lapira, replacing Mindy Kaling), who have gotten into a good groove guiding and reacting to the life of their tween charge.
But they’re rudely awakened one night by the Puberty alarm, and even more disturbed by a work crew arriving to demolish the control center, preparing to rebuild it to accommodate some new emotions, including Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Envy (Ayo Edebiri) and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
Soon, the new emotions are taking over running Riley’s life as she deals with new challenges and concerns, while the original crew are left bottled up in the back of her mind. Can they make their way back to figure out how to balance things out?
Where next for the summer movie season?
‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
This past weekend also saw prequel ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ open strong. While it didn’t dethrone the Pixar behemoth, it still took in $53 million domestically and $98 million globally in its box office debut.
‘Despicable Me 4’ lands on the key Independence Day holiday this year and given the reliable cash-earning power of that animated franchise, all eyes are on that to finally replace ‘Inside Out 2’ atop the domestic box office chart.
There is also ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’, which has been tracking very strong and should open well.
(Left) Auli’i Cravalho as Jos Clearly on Prime Video’s ‘The Power.’ Credit: Katie Yu/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios. (Right) Auli’i Cravalho as the voice of Moana in ‘Moana.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
Preview:
Voice actor Auli’i Cravalho is returning for the ‘Moana’ sequel.
Disney had planned a TV series but has turned that into the new movie.
The film will be released around Thanksgiving.
Disney has clearly shown how far they’ll go to keep the ‘Moana’ raft sailing. And with both the live-action remake in development and an animated sequel on the way, the company is certainly committed to that idea.
And now the young star of the 2016 hit, actor Auli’i Cravalho, has confirmed that she’ll return to voice the title character again, alongside Dwayne Johnson, who lent his vocal tones to trickster demi-god Maui.
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What’s happening with the ‘Moana’ sequel?
(L to R) Auli’i Cravalho as the voice of Moana and Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Maui in ‘Moana.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
The sequel movie has had an interesting route to screens –– because it didn’t start out as a movie at all.
A follow-up to ‘Moana’ was being produced as a series, but then Disney boss Bog Iger announced in a recent shareholder call that development of the show was turning out so well that it was being converted into a theatrical sequel to the seafaring adventure.
Johnson is confirmed to be making a deal to voice Maui again, and Cravalho hit Instagram to reveal that she’s back too.
Dave Derrick Jr. is directing the sequel, with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, and returning ‘Moana’ duo Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina (though there is no sign of Lin-Manuel Miranda working on this one.)
Only a basic storyline has been released for this one: “After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”
What of the live-action take on the original movie?
Dwayne Johnson announces live-action ‘Moana.’ Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.
As has become the company’s fashion, Disney is giving the original ‘Moana’ the live-action treatment.
‘Hamilton’ director Thomas Kail is directing the film, with Johnson aboard to play Maui and producer.
Cravalho, who was most recently seen on screen (and stealing scenes) in the ‘Mean Girls’ musical movie, is not playing Moana in this movie. Instead, she’s taking an executive producer role.
Here’s what she said about the decision:
“As an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, to honor our incredible Pacific peoples cultures and communities that help inspire her story. And I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representations to come. Mahalo.”
When will the ‘Moana’ sequel be in theaters?
‘Moana 2’ (or whatever they end up calling it) is scheduled for release on November 27th, the regular Disney Thanksgiving slot.
The live-action version, meanwhile, is currently set for June 27th, 2025.
Auli’i Cravalho as the voice of Moana in ‘Moana.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
Jennifer Lee, CCO, Disney Animation Studios, speaks onstage at the Long Lead Press Day & In-Person Presentation for ‘Wish’ at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California on September 21, 2023. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.
Preview:
Jennifer Lee talks about writing and crafting an original fairy tale versus adapting from an existing story and what it is like not to have to stay within the guidelines of a story
The future of Disney animation and what the next generation of artists can bring
Lee hints at more stories to be told with Elsa and Anna, “ I’m proud of where they’re gonna go next.”
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Jennifer Lee, about writing and crafting an original fairy tale, the many iterations of the character Star, the future of Disney animation, and the possibilities the new generation of artists can bring.
Moviefone: To begin with, you’ve worked on many Disney animated films including ‘Frozen,’ ‘Frozen II,’ and ‘Zootopia,’ just to name a few. Can you talk about writing an original story with ‘Wish,’ versus adapting an existing tale and being able to write without having to stay within the guidelines of an existing story?
Jennifer Lee: You know, I will say it’s something I almost forgot in a moment because we’ve gotten so steeped in this story for a long time. As a fairy tale, but recognizing, we were creating one from scratch. At first, that was very scary. Because it is like you can do anything, but what is the thing to do? I think what was so wonderful about it was getting to make discoveries that I think we may not have been able to make. I believe in a limited palette at times for focus. But I think in this case, I look at the character of Star, and Star went through many iterations. At one point talked, at one point could turn into a human, at one point, you know, into other things and, to have the freedom to recognize what we said. But hope and possibility don’t talk. They just are there for you. Why would Star speak? It’s millions of years old, it’s evolved beyond language, like we would just take these things that were so freeing, that led us to have really fun discoveries. There was nothing like, “Oh, but people are gonna expect us because in the story it’s that” and I think that that is huge that we can do that. But in many ways, what’s interesting is, and Peter Del Vecho has talked about this, is a moment where the story starts to tell you what it means, and it almost takes on a life of its own. So what’s funny for me is the ‘Wish’ story now, it’s like it’s always been. It’s like, that’s not how we got there but eventually, it starts to just land in a way that you’re bringing to life something that actually already exists. That’s a weird thing that I think only in animation I have ever experienced.
MF: As Chief Creative Officer and as you celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary, where do you see the future of Disney animation going?
JL: Well, I think in a very fun way, what I’m seeing is the new generation, and in a really great way, especially with this last decade, I’ve been there watching a whole new team of artists, especially the way animation in the world is in a great place. People are really connecting with it. I feel very lucky to be a part of it. We always say when the animation is doing well, that’s good for all the artists, and so it’s creating new opportunities. I think the new voices of animation are exciting, and they’re daring. I see now for a lot of us who have been doing this for a while or have had the chance to experience our films beyond the world. We have a responsibility now to that new generation because there’s tons of talent. But we can experience it together. I think we’ll find that “Where’s the new voices going?” It’ll be up to them. So right now, I’m loving being in this role because I get to work with them, get to have lunches with the story team – multiple teams, but with the story crew, and we just talked about story. We talk about comedy, and it’s just all about creating that connection in our legacy that’s always been, which is building that next generation. But I think when I came in, I felt like that I was not that young, but I was new. I felt like that receiver as a new generation. You know, almost 13 years later, I feel like that shift where I can see it more clearly. It’s a really fun and ambitious time.
(L to R) Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) in Walt Disney Pictures’ ‘Frozen.’
MF: Finally, speaking of the future of Disney animation, will there be more stories for Anna and Elsa from ‘Frozen’?
JL: All I’d say, as Bob Iger himself mentioned we are in development on more ‘Frozen’. That’s all I can say. Because there is more story to tell. I love these women, and I think I’m proud of where they’re gonna go next.
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What Is The Plot Of ‘Wish’?
Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, the story introduces Asha (Ariana DeBose), an optimist with a sharp wit who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, her plea is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
(L to R) Idina Menzel as Elsa and Kristen Bell as Anna in ‘Frozen.’ Photo: Disney.
Preview:
Disney boss Bob Iger visited ‘Good Morning America’.
He revealed that two ‘Frozen’ stories are in development – the third and fourth.
The plots are a mystery for now.
Disney clearly still has warm feelings towards the residents of the magical land of Arendelle. Which is hardly surprising, since the first ‘Frozen’ made $1.3 billion at the box office and the sequel earned $1.4 billion.
And that’s before the huge amount of merchandise that has been sold, including books, toys and soundtracks. The likes of ‘Let it Go’ and ‘Into the Unknown’ have become reliable earworms and Disney is looking to build entire lands dedicated to the films in theme parks (Hong Kong Disneyland’s is opening in a few days).
So, no one was particularly surprised when company CEO Bob Iger hit morning show ‘Good Morning America’ to reveal that a fourth film is tentatively in the works.
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What did Bob Iger say about ‘Frozen IV’?
(L to R) Jennifer Garner, Robert Iger, and Oprah Winfrey at the Save the Children’s Centennial Awards. Photo courtesy of The Walt Disney Company.
Here’s what Iger said on ‘GMA’:
“‘Frozen III’ is in the works, and there might be a ‘Frozen IV’ in the works too. But I don’t have much to say about those films right now. [Director] Jennifer Lee, who created the original ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen 2,’ is hard at work with her team at Disney animation on not one but actually two stories.”
And given that this comes from the boss of the whole company, you’ve got to consider it a good source.
The news was also seemingly confirmed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who alongside writing partner/husband Robert Lopez, was responsible for the monster hit songs from the first two movies.
(Very) loosely inspired by the fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen II’ introduced the world to sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).
The royal pair lose their parents at an early age (Disney up to its usual storytelling tricks) and Elsa also has magical snow powers she initially wants to suppress. But when she’s forced to assume the throne, the pressure leads her to unleash her abilities, plunging Arendelle into deep winter.
Anna has to try and get through to her, forging an alliance with ice-cutting mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and chatty snowman Olaf (Josh Gad), while also fending off the attentions of the scheming Hans (Santino Fontana).
It all ends well, but in the sequel, Elsa is confronting a new mystery –– a call to a wooded area of the land where fresh secrets are revealed.
The story for either of the potential two new movies has yet to be revealed though Disney has released a podcast called ‘Forces of Nature’ that continues the adventures after the events of ‘Frozen II’.
‘Wish,’ the latest entry from Walt Disney Studios features a fantasy musical adventure that captures the feeling of classic Disney animation and a fresh new story on the importance of staying true to yourself and the power of wishes. The movie will be released in theaters on November 22nd.
Initial Thoughts
Right off the bat, the audience will recognize the animation style inspired by Disney classics such as ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ ‘Pinocchio,’ and ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.’ The blending of 3D animation and 2D hand-drawn watercolor is something we haven’t seen before in Disney animation and gives the film a vintage look.
The story explores the importance of wishes, how even a simple wish can inspire one’s path in life, and what happens when that is taken away. Complete with catchy songs by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice that’ll get you tapping your toes and captivating performances from Ariana DeBose as Asha and Chris Pine as King Magnifico.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones, Peter Del Vecho, SVP, Feature Film Production, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Fawn Veerasunthorn and Chris Buck speak for “Wish” at the Long Lead Press Day In-Person Presentation for ‘Wish’ at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California on September 21, 2023. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.
‘Wish’ is co-directed by Chris Buck (‘Frozen II’) and Fawn Veerasunthron (‘Raya and the Last Dragon’), with screenplay written by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore. The movie will take you down the road of nostalgia with the opening of the film pans in on a storybook, just as movies such as ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,’ ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ and ‘Pinocchio’ did.
After a quick exposition of King Magnifico’s past, we understand why he began studying magic to become a sorcerer and how the Kingdom of Rosas came to be – located in the Mediterranean Sea and a travel destination for all. It is also the place where anyone over the age of 18 can give their wish to King Magnifico for a chance to have it granted at a wishing ceremony.
The story introduces 17-year-old Asha, who works as a tour guide in Rosas and is about to interview to be the King’s apprentice. During the interview, it is revealed that while King Magnifico keeps the townspeople’s wishes safe, he doesn’t intend to grant most wishes. When Ahsa suggests the King return the ungranted wishes, he becomes upset and explains that he only grants wishes he sees fit to keep Rosas safe. When Ahsa further argues that wishes can’t be harmful King Magnifico retaliates by telling her he would never grant her grandfather Sabino’s wish.
Frustrated by this, Asha runs to the giant tree in the forest – the same one she and her father often visited during her childhood – and sings out her plead to the stars. Her wish was so passionate that it manifested a star from the sky into a ball of energy with magical powers. The night sky lights up with Star’s arrival, seen by all in the kingdom, including King Magnifico, who declares that any magic (other than what he conjures) is illegal and whoever uses magic is deemed a traitor.
This propels the story into Asha rushing against time to find a way to free and return the wishes to the people of Rosas, with the help of Star, her goat sidekick Valentino, and her band of friends.
The pacing of this movie is well-balanced, with the first act establishing the origins of Rosas, the relationship between Asha and her best friends, and King Magnifico’s past. The second act kicks into high gear as Asha works up a plan to free the wishes, all the while keeping Star hidden from King Magnifico. The songs are well-placed throughout and extremely catchy.
The overall look of ‘Wish’ preserves what we loved about the classics yet it retains the updated look wth 3D animation. It is clear to see that Buck and Veerasunthorn themselves are huge fans of Disney. Their love and appreciate of those films in is clearly shown in scenes that take places in the forest, as well as in the town of Rosas.
Leaning into the nostalgia even more are the easter eggs seen throughout the film. Most are subtle and does not distract from the movie. Sharp eyed fans can spot nods to films like ‘Bambi,’ ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ ‘Cinderella,” ‘Peter Pan’ and more. Asha’s group of friends is a nod to the seven dwarves as some of their character design and characteristics hints at at specific traits of the dwarves. The easter eggs sprinkled throughout are not only visual. If you listen carefully, you’ll also hear it in the dialogue and music.
There are seven brand new songs in ‘Wish,’ written by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice. Michaels is the youngest songwriter to have worked on a Disney animated feature, and her style brings a contemporary sound to the mix. DeBose’s solo “This Wish” shows off her vocal range and ability to capture the raw emotion of Asha in her moment of desperation and hones in on the empowering message of believing in and fighting for your truth. This ballad has the potential to have the effect of ‘Frozen’s “Let It Go.”
Another standout number is King Magnifico’s “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” where he descends into dark magic and villainy. As the citizens of Rosas begin to question why they can’t remember their wishes, the King’s charming facade starts to crack. This is an upbeat song with clever lyrics, as the King sings about being under-appreciated after everything he’s done for the kingdom, being constantly asked for more, and ultimately turning to the forbidden spell book. Chris Pine delivers on all fronts in this fun and entertaining number.
The other songs in ‘Wish’ include “Welcome To Rosas,” “At All Costs,” “I’m A Star,” “Knowing What I Know Now,” and “This Wish (Reprise).”
‘Wish’ embraces all that is classic Disney animation, from the art style to the message of never stop believing in yourself (and your wishes). The idea of wishing upon a star may be a tale as old as time, but it is told in a refreshing way that’ll capture audiences young and old. The songs are incredibly catchy, and the adorable sidekicks Star and Valentino are guaranteed to steal your heart.
Chris Pine’s King Magnifico makes a magnificent villain and is extremely very fun to watch, though they could have gone into greater detail about his backstory on why he turned to sorcery, as it would have made his falling into dark magic all the more worth while.
‘Wish’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What Is The Story of ‘Wish’?
Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, the story introduces Asha (Ariana DeBose), an optimist with a sharp wit who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, her plea is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
