Gal Gadot and Matthias Schoenaerts will star in ‘Ruin.’
It’s a thriller set in the immediate aftermath of World War II.
Niki Caro is directing.
Gal Gadot has not exactly had the best 2025 so far, at least cinematically –– she saw Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White,’ in which she played the Evil Queen, singularly fail to make much magic with critics, audiences or at the box office.
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So she’ll no doubt be hoping for better things from a new thriller, even if it promises some somber subject matter.
The new movie will see ‘Whale Rider’s Niki Caro back in the director’s chair following 2023’s Netflix action pic ‘The Mother,’ starring Jennifer Lopez. That said, the filmmaker is also attached to make an adaptation of Jess Walter’s novel ‘Beautiful Ruins.’
And the director has World War II form, since she also oversaw 2017 drama ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife,’ which saw Jessica Chastain as Antonina Zabinska, who had to save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in Poland.
‘Ruin’ is aiming to have its cameras rolling early next year.
Matthias Schoenaerts in ‘The Regime.’ Photograph by Miya Mizuno/HBO.
‘Ruin’ is set in the rubble of Germany following World War II, with a newly released camp prisoner (Gadot) forming an alliance with a German soldier (Schoenaerts) as they both seek revenge on a Nazi Schutzstaffel (AKA the SS, a paramilitary organization loyal to Adolf Hitler) unit.
This latest offering topped the Black List in 2017, becoming the most-liked unproduced script according to that much-vaunted listing.
And together, they’re also developing the Amazon series featuring historic thief characters Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (most famously brought to screens in the 1969 movie) that is set to star Glen Powell and Regé-Jean Page.
Caro serves as producer on the new movie alongside Marc Butan for MadRiver Pictures and Gadot and Jason Varsano for Pilot Wave Motion Pictures. Executive producing are Gillian Hormel for Ludascripts and Mary Aloe for Aloe Entertainment, in addition to the writers. Evan Powell will oversee the film for MadRiver.
As mentioned, Gadot was most recently seen opposite Rachel Zegler in ‘Snow White.’
The ‘Wonder Woman’ star is currently filming MGM Amazon Studios’ ‘The Runner’ and wrapped production last year on Julian Schnabel’s ‘Hand of Dante,’ the latter of which is mystery thriller about A handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s poem ‘The Divine Comedy’ making its way from a priest to a mob boss in New York City.
Also on the actor’s To Do list is a new take on Cleopatra, which has Kari Skogland aboard to direct, a biopic of real-life Polish nurse, social worker and resistance fighter Irena Sendler, who worked to battle the Nazis in World War II (lots of Nazi fighting in Gadot’s future, apparently) and a new take on 1955 Alfred Hitchcock classic ‘To Catch a Thief.’
Where else can we see Matthias Schoenaerts?
Matthias Schoenaerts in ‘The Regime.’ Photograph by Miya Mizuno/HBO.
And to keep his comicbook credentials burnished, the actor will also be back for Netflix sequel ‘The Old Guard 2’ (which stars Charlize Theron as an immortal warrior who leads a team of mercenaries) and Terrence Malick’s latest, ‘The Way of the Wind,’ an ambitious re-telling of stories from the life of Jesus.
Beyond those, Schoenaerts will appear in a documentary called ‘Hollywood Horsemen) which explores the career of horse trainer Rex Peterson and his journey from Nebraska to Hollywood.
This is a “wait and see” project, since while it already has the backing of sales company The Veterans, the rights will be up for grabs at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in hopes of snagging an international buyer.
UTA Independent Film Group, WME Independent and CAA Media Finance are handling U.S. rights.
Rachel Zegler and Marisa Tomei will star in ‘She Gets It From Me.’
The new comedy drama is based on a true story.
Julia von Heinz directed the movie.
The live-action Disney ‘Snow White’ might not exactly have worked at the box office, and saw itself mired in controversy, but star Rachel Zegler has her eyes set on her next project.
According to Variety, she’s now attached to star alongside Marisa Tomei in a new comedy drama called ‘She Gets It From Me,’ which will chart a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Yes, she’s going from having a wicked stepmother to a former punk rocker of a birth mother.
‘She Gets It From Me’ is based on a true story, and follows Nicky (Zegler), whose engagement celebration turns into a search for her pill-popping, ex-punk rocker birth mother, Charlotte (Tomei). Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
According to the official synopsis: “YouTube is packed with tearful family reunions, but nobody films the messy aftermath.”
Here’s what Heinz told Variety about the screenplay:
“The emotional truth of the movie, reflecting parts of all our lives, is truly funny, immersive cinema. Jay’s screenplay captures family dynamics at their most authentic: absurd yet profound, messy yet meaningful. The collision of two worlds creates comedy that cuts deep because it’s so honest.”
This is producer Jen Dana on what Zegler brings to the film:
“Rachel always brings a brilliant depth and humanity to her roles, and we are so excited for her to continue to showcase her versatility and humor as an actress.”
What else is Marisa Tomei working on?
(L to R) Marisa Tomei and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
More recently, she played Aunt May to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in the latest trilogy of ‘Spider-Man’ movies and in 2024 alone, she appeared in three movie, ‘Upgraded,’ ‘High Tide’ and ‘Brothers.’
Here’s what Embankment boss Hugo Grumbar said about Tomei’s casting:
“What could be more fun than finding out your birth mother is the wonderful Marisa Tomei!”
When will ‘She Gets It From Me’ hit theaters?
The rights to the new movie will be on sale at this year’s Cannes market via Embankment Films, while CAA will make its domestic deal.
But with not distributor attached yet, we’ll have to wait and see when it is released into theaters.
(L to R) Honor Gillies as Barb Azure, Konstantin Taffet as Clerk Carmine and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Disney CEO Bob Iger made the announcement to shareholders.
Directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina are back.
It seems to be the way of things these days that for every big Disney announcement spree targeted at fans –– at a Comic-Con, say, or especially the company’s D23 events –– there’s at least one with business entirely on the studio’s mind.
So it was with the news that Pixar –– an arm of the Disney empire alongside sibling production companies Lucasfilm and Marvel –– is developing a sequel to tear-jerking 2017 hit ‘Coco,’ as the overall CEO Bob Iger made first mention of it at a shareholders’ meeting.
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Here’s what Iger told shareholders about the status of the new movie:
“While the film is just in the initial stages, we know it will be full of humor, heart and adventure. And we can’t wait to share more soon.”
It’s hardly shocking that Pixar might look to score again with the sequel to one of its popular titles –– after all, last year’s ‘Inside Out 2’ was a gigantic success and while the animated team is testing original waters again with this year’s ‘Elio,’ the strategy still seems to be leaning on catalogue titles with built-in audiences.
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt).
Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
The movie made $210.4M at the domestic box office, and $814.6M worldwide, with $189.2M of that offshore cash from cinemagoers in China.
On the kudos front, it won two Academy Awards for best animated feature and best original song (‘Remember Me’). The movie also won a Golden Globe for best motion picture, animated, a BAFTA for best animated film, and Critics’ Choice awards for best animated feature and best song (‘Remember Me’).
It’s perhaps not surprising as to why Disney and Pixar decided to start work on a follow-up.
Who is working on the ‘Coco’ sequel?
A scene from ‘Coco’. Photo: Disney/Pixar.
‘Coco 2’ reunites the team behind the original film, including Oscar-winning director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina.
Oscar-winning producer Mark Nielsen (who also worked on the likes of ‘Toy Story 4’ and the aforementioned ‘Inside Out 2’) will produce.
What will the story be for the ‘Coco’ sequel?
A scene from ‘Coco’. Photo: Disney/Pixar.
We do have to take our cynical glasses off for a moment; after all, it’s entirely possible that Unkrich and Molina had cracked a solid story for a follow-up before ‘Inside Out 2’ tore through the box office and weren’t simply ordered to find something that worked so as to serve up an exciting corporate announcement.
Yet it’s tough to figure out where the narrative might go and how Miguel would feature. Of course, the team can cast a new youngster if the character is still boy, and the majority of the adult cast would be fine to return.
But ‘Coco’ itself wrapped up wonderfully with the revelation about Miguel’s family (and the news that de la Cruz wasn’t quite the heroic idol he always made himself out to be), plus a heartfelt, lovely send-off for Ana Ofelia Murguía’s Mamá Coco that left few eyes dry.
So will Miguel learn more lessons from the Land of the Dead? Might the place where spirits go come under threat? That’s all a big question mark for now.
What else is happening with Disney and Pixar?
‘Zootopia 2’ Photo: Disney.
On the movie front, Disney’s live-action take on ‘Snow White’ is now in theaters, though suffering from some very mixed reviews.
That’s followed on the big screen by live-action remake ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ due on May 23rd.
After that, we have Pixar’s aforementioned animated ‘Elio’ (also directed by Adrian Molina), which lands on June 20th.
Sequel ‘Zootopia 2’ lands on November 26th in the prime Thanksgiving slot, while ‘Freakier Friday’ is out on August 8th.
And this list doesn’t even encompass the Lucasfilm (just ‘Andor’s second season this year) or Marvel efforts headed our way.
When will ‘Coco 2’ be on screens?
As Iger said, it’s very early days, and nothing else has been announced about this new movie. Given the usual production time of animated movies, we doubt it’ll be out much before 2027, and even that seems ambitious (but you’ve got to think that 10 years after the original is a good shout).
This is a week of controversial movie releases: not only are we finally getting the Jonathan Majors-led ‘Magazine Dreams,’ but also Disney’s ‘Snow White,’ the delayed and divisive live-action remake of the Mouse House’s 1937 breakthrough animated classic, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ And it feels like the turmoil surrounding the new version has been as many years in the making as the movie itself.
In a nutshell, ‘Snow White’ was attacked early on by the far right for the “woke” casting of a Latina actress, Rachel Zegler, in the title role, with Zegler later slammed again for comments in which she implied that the story would be more feminist in nature. Then actor Peter Dinklage took Disney to task for revisiting its “backward story” about dwarfs, with Disney responding in a way that made some suspect the studio was going to ditch the dwarfs completely. To top it all off, Zegler and Gadot – the latter an Israeli who served in that country’s military – found themselves on opposite sides over the Israel-Gaza conflict. Got all that?
Now that ‘Snow White’ has finally arrived, we can brush all the outrage aside and focus on the movie. And the bottom line is that it’s neither the best nor the worst of the long run of Disney live-action remakes that begin with ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Jungle Book.’ It has its strengths (most particularly, its leading actor’s screen presence and charm) and weaknesses – including a padded-out story and the final version of the dwarfs (yes, they’re here) – making it a mixed bag that will probably enthrall little kids but might leave some adults squirming.
We all know the basic story of Snow White (Rachel Zegler) well enough: a princess in a peaceful, beautiful kingdom, her fortunes change drastically after the death of her parents. The throne goes to the king’s second wife, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot), who is not only obsessed with power but also with being “the fairest of them all,” which she reassures herself about every day by asking her Magic Mirror if she is the fairest.
The cruel Queen not only rules the kingdom like a tyrant but also turns Snow White into a servant reduced to cleaning the castle floors, her previous life and her father’s assurance of a wonderful future fading into the past. And things take a turn for the worse when the Magic Mirror proclaims that the now grown-up Snow White is “the fairest of them all,” prompting the jealous Queen to order her Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) to take Snow White out to the forest and execute her.
The Huntsman can’t do it, allowing Snow White to escape deeper into the woods, where gentle animals – deer, birds, squirrels, and chipmunks – guide her to a house belonging to seven dwarfs who work in a nearby mine. Staying with them and becoming their friend, Snow White’s life is placed in danger again when the Queen finds out she’s alive and sends her minions to find her – a search complicated by a ragtag group of rebels, led by a young man named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) who develops an increasing affection for Snow White.
The story is more or less the same as the 1937 original – until that last line above. Back in the day, Snow White was a standard Disney princess, waiting for a prince to dutifully come rescue her and sweep her off her feet. This time, the prince has been displaced by Jonathan, a vaguely roguish rebel leader, and Snow White is not nearly as interested in love and marriage as she is in reclaiming the kingdom for herself and her people.
Does this make ‘Snow White’ into the “woke” nightmare that its would-be critics were decrying for the past two years? Hardly. But the “resistance” subplot still falls flat, adding unnecessary filler to a story that took just 80 or so minutes in its original incarnation and now runs nearly two hours. The film’s third act is a succession of scenes that are literally stretched as far as they can go in a strained attempt to extend the movie’s running time. An impressive energy and vitality that marks the film’s first half is all but drained by the time we reach the end.
Luckily, however, there are still things to admire about this ‘Snow White.’ The production design, most of the visuals (especially the animals), and the costumes are all colorful and eye-catching. The animals themselves are adorable. And the film is bolstered considerably by the acting and singing of Zegler (‘West Side Story’), who has an inarguably strong screen presence in addition to a simply gorgeous voice.
(Center) Rachel Zegler as Snow White in ‘Snow White.’ Photo: Disney.
As for the dwarfs, created through motion capture and CG, they kind of resemble the originals yet fall short of being appealing to look at. Their faces flicker between striking flashes of realism and that “uncanny valley” look. In the end, the work done to bring them to life is to a certain degree impressive, but they can’t avoid being distractingly weird to watch as well.
The film also features a handful of new songs to go along with classics from the 1937 film like “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work.” Opening number “Good Things Grow” and Zegler’s first solo tune, “Waiting on a Wish,” are standouts, but the rest of the new material, including Gadot’s “All is Fair” and two Zegler-Burnap duets, isn’t memorable at all. That’s kind of par for the rest of the movie, as the interesting bits fight for space with the contrived or unnecessary ones.
Much of the success of ‘Snow White’ rests on Rachel Zegler’s shoulders. She brings a truckload of warmth, charisma, and feeling to the role, and her soaring, crystalline voice only confirms why Steven Spielberg chose her to star in ‘West Side Story.’ Although saddled with a haircut that doesn’t do her any favors (they could have updated that too), she is still an expressive actor who oozes kindness and humanity, making her Snow White a sensation.
Gal Gadot camps it up as the Evil Queen, snarling in her jewel-crusted gowns and clearly having a hell of a time playing the villain after years as the saintly Wonder Woman. She doesn’t have a lot of depth (neither does the character, frankly), but she’s fun to watch – until she opens her mouth to sing. She’s not the worst example of an actor attempting to sing onscreen, but she doesn’t do her big spotlight number any favors, we’re sad to report. At her nasty best, though, she seems like the female version of a certain orange-hued world leader we’re all familiar with, right down to the malignant narcissism.
We don’t love Andrew Burnap’s singing voice either, and there’s not much else about him that stands out: he joins a long line of bland, evanescent leading men in Disney live-action films. The dwarfs, meanwhile, are performed by a combination of voice actors and motion capture artists, but while the names – Dopey, Bashful, Sneezy, Doc, Sleepy, Grumpy, and Happy – are ingrained in our memory, the characters themselves don’t distinguish themselves all that much. And with the addition of the resistance to the story, they don’t get much room to do so.
Any time Disney remakes one of its animation milestones in live action, the question of whether they should even do it always comes up. We’ll skip that debate for now. The company is doing it for the money, just like any other business, and nothing will stop that short of box office failure. Director Marc Webb (‘The Amazing Spider-Man’) isn’t reinventing the wheel, but at least gives ‘Snow White’ some style and elegance.
And while the film does rise up in certain ways and fall down in others, we’ll give it credit for two other reasons. First, seeing a diverse flock of faces in the cast – from the lead role to the supporting ensemble in the village – makes the film’s message of kindness and compassion hit a bit harder. Second, at least in its first half, ‘Snow White’ does project a kind of innocence and even joy that is bracing in these cynical times. We’re hard-pressed to imagine that anyone could get outraged by that.
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What is the plot of ‘Snow White’?
A princess (Rachel Zegler) is cast out of her magical kingdom by her wicked stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot ), and finds herself in the company of seven dwarfs who help fight back to regain the land and free her people.
‘Paddington’ director Paul King is tackling Disney’s ‘Prince Charming.’
It’ll be a live-action take on the typically animated character.
Simon Farnaby and Jon Croker are co-writing the script.
Disney has been on a real adaptation spree in the last decade or so, rooting through its animated back catalogue for titles and characters it can use to make new live-action films.
While the quality and box office has been hit-or-miss, the company is still committed to the idea, with prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ landing in December, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch’ following next year and ‘Moana’ due in 2026.
We can add Prince Charming to the list, as, according to Deadline, filmmaker Paul King has made a deal to turn the character into a new live-action fairytale.
(L to R) Lily James and Richard Madden in ‘Cinderella’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
That’s the big question at this point –– Charming rarely has much of his own story, usually being found as the romantic interest for the likes of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, though his real origin lies in ‘Cinderella.’
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Deadline has heard, however, that we shouldn’t expect specific ties to any of the stories –– but it’ll still be interesting to see where King and his collaborators take the tale.
What else has Paul King directed?
Hugh Grant in StudioCanal’s ‘Paddington 2.’
King, who got his start on British television with the likes of comedy series ‘The Mighty Boosh,’ graduated to features with ‘Bunny and the Bull’ in 2009 but is probably best known for the pair of instant classics that are the first two ‘Paddington’ movies, one in 2014 and the even better-received sequel in 2017.
He’s also since co-written and directed musical prequel ‘Wonka’ starring Timothée Chalamet as the chocolatier who will go on to feature in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ The 2023 movie scored more great reviews for King and earned more than $634 million at the worldwide box office.
‘Prince Charming’ will see King co-writing the script with Jon Croker (who contributed to both ‘Paddington’ movies) and Simon Farnaby, who similarly co-wrote on the ‘Paddington’ movies, appeared in both and also co-wrote/acted in ‘Wonka.’
The reunion of this particular creative team gives us a lot of hope for the Charming film –– hopefully it will turn out as sweet and weird at their other movies.
When would the new ‘Prince Charming’ be in theaters?
Even with its history of cranking out these live-action movies, Disney has yet to announce a release date for –– or even confirm the new status of –– the Prince Charming movie.
(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.
Yet the image comes with a drawback, as the studio has announced that the movie will now be released a year later than planned.
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What’s the story of ‘Snow White’?
‘Barbie’ Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends a Photo Call at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo Credit: Caroline McCredie Photography.
Adapted from both the original fairytale and Disney’s acclaimed 1937 animated adaptation (which launched the studio’s reputation for cartoon movies), the new film will have a script from Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson that eschews the usual romantic subplot in favor of Snow White becoming the leader her father encouraged her to be.
So, in this case, the “fairest of them all” means something different.
Who else is in ‘Snow White’?
Gal Gadot attends the Netflix’s Tudum: A Global Fan Event 2023 at Fundação Bienal de São Paulo on June 17, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images for NETFLIX.
Disney has yet to confirm who is playing the dwarf characters, but we do know that the cast includes Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman and Andrew Burnap as a new character named Jonathan.
Following an outcry about the use of dwarf characters, not least of which was from Peter Dinklage (who said, “You’re still making that f*****g backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man?” on Marc Maron’s ‘WTF’ Podcast), Disney responded with an official statement on the matter.
Here’s what the studio said:
“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community. We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.”
Now, of course, we can see for ourselves –– and honestly, they’re a little terrifying, walking the edge of the uncanny valley. Of course, movies have been in this situation before: there was the backlash over the initial look of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’ so the filmmakers have time to work on the characters before ‘Snow White’ is released.
And talking of the movie’s release…
When will I see ‘Snow White’ in theaters?
For those who had been eagerly awaiting more news about the live-action version of the story, there is a bad news side to the good news/bad news equation –– Disney has announced that the movie is going to be delayed, presumably a knock-on effect from the actors’ strike’s impact on the studio’s schedules.
Once targeted for a March 22nd, 2024, release, the movie will now be in theaters on March 21st, 2025. Does that make you grumpy?
Rachel Zegler and Gal GAdot at Disney D23 Expo 2022 Getty Images
Walt Disney Studios kicked off the first day of D23 Expo 2022 in style today with tons of advance looks at what the House of Mouse has in store for fans in the coming days, months, and years. You can watch Moviefone‘s exclusive backstage interviews by clicking on the video player above.
The first D23 Expo in three years began with the president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, revealing the first-ever footage from ‘Hocus Pocus 2’.
Bailey was joined by the wacky Sanderson Sisters themselves – stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy – who appeared via video to show how their characters are back for the first time since 1993 for more soul-stealing Halloween action.
Battling them this time around are aspiring witch Becca (Whitney Peak) and magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson).
But the audience’s biggest applause went to the original film’s Billy Butcherson (‘The Shape of Water’s Doug Jones) upon his return from the grave. ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ hits Disney+ on September 30th. The trailer is in the video player above.
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Next up on the panel was another eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘Disenchanted’. Returning stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden took the stage, alongside Maya Rudolph, the film’s new villain. ‘Disenchanted’ finds Adams’ Giselle and hubby Dempsey moving to the suburbs with their infant and teenage children.
“I was a huge fan of the original,” said Rudolph. “I can’t believe I got to be part of this… It’s not easy being mean to Amy Adams.” The new teaser trailer for the sequel is in the video player above.
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As far as live-action remakes of Disney animated classics go, ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ was the first on deck today: with star Jude Law (Captain Hook) flanked by newcomers Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), Ever Gabo Anderson (Wendy), and Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Tiger Lily).
Expect more empowered female characters this time around, including at least one Lost Girl among Peter’s Lost Boys.
“Disney has worked very hard to give her more depth and a lot more character,” said Anderson of Wendy. “She and Peter are equals in this film.”
Law added that Hook and Pan’s prior relationship is also fleshed out. “We got to mine their back story a little bit more. You get to understand their past,” he said, hinting that the two were once friends.
“I got to make sure all the little details, all the Easter eggs are there. Because I’m a nerd,” confessed Simien. He then joined another of the film’s stars – scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis – in a Doom Buggy rolling across the D23 Expo stage.
Few Disney films are so beloved as 1994’s ‘The Lion King’. And fans will get more of the film’s animal kingdom in the 2024 prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.
Director Barry Jenkins appeared to explain how “Mufasa is the origin story of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Land… It’s the real story of how Mufasa found his place in the circle of life. What you learn is that Mufasa is great because of the family and the friends he has with him.”
Of course Disney Studios wouldn’t exist without its very first animated classic, 1937’s ‘Snow White’.
Director Marc Webb is tackling the live-action 2024 remake, featuring Gal Gadot as the Wicked Queen and Rachel Zegler as its eponymous heroine. The two were touched by the warm response they received as they presented a first look at their characters.
“Just your reaction means the world to us,” said Gadot.
A visibly moved Zegler explained that, “Snow White is the girl you remember, but she’s definitely made for the modern age,” stating the film redefines what it means to be the fairest of them all.
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at Disney D23 Expo 2022 Getty Images
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While ‘Snow White’ is Disney’s first animated feature, 1989’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ is responsible for the studio’s renaissance. As well as its renewed dedication to musicals, as Rob Marshall, director of May 2023’s live-action adaptation, reminded fans today.
“It was very important for us to honor the original. We went to Alan Menken, who was divine to work with, and also our dear friend Lin-Manuel Miranda. They had never worked together before… There are four new songs. We still retain the beauty of the original score, written by the late great Howard Ashman as well.”
Fans were treated to the film’s entire “Part of Your World” number, featuring a note-perfect Halle Bailey, who appeared on stage with Marshall.
“Three days of filming ‘Part of Your World,’” said Bailey, “that was the most beautiful experience of my life. Just getting to sing a song I’ve loved since I was a child was so exciting.”
“The camera loves you,” Marshall told Bailey. “But it’s more than that. [It] loves what’s inside. [It] loves what you bring.”
The two then unveiled a teaser that recalled ‘Finding Nemo’ in the color and detail of its underwater world. You can find a teaser version of the clip in the video player at the top of the page.
It was then time for Pixar Animation Studios’ turn in the spotlight, with chief creative officer Pete Docter introducing next summer’s ‘Elemental’.
Director Peter Sohn spoke of how the film’s Element City was inspired by the culturally mixed New York of his childhood. Footage shown depicted the star-crossed romance of its fire-based heroine Ember (Leah Lewis) and her watery boyfriend Wade (Mamoudou Athie).
Pixar also unveiled its first original long-form series in the form of ‘Win or Lose’, each episode of which follows the perspective of a different character connected to a co-ed softball team, the Pickles.
With this year’s ‘Lightyear’, Pixar returned to the science fiction of ‘Wall-E’. Expect more in this vein soon, starting with ‘Elio’.
Announced today at D23 with star America Ferrera on stage, the film’s title character is an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t feel like he fits in his world. His mom (Ferrera) runs a top-secret military project, which inadvertently results in Elio making first contact with alien life and becoming our planet’s ambassador to the rest of the universe. It’s due out in spring 2024.
Last but by no means least on the Pixar slate – ‘Inside Out’ star Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance alongside Docter to announce ‘Inside Out 2’.
“Joy and the emotions are back for an all new adventure inside Riley’s head,” said a fittingly ebullient Poehler. “Only this time she’s a teenager!”
New emotions will also appear in the film, as Kelsey Mann takes over the directing chores from Docter, with Meg LeFauve returning to write the summer 2024 release.
To cap off the panel, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer (and Oscar-winning ‘Frozen’ director) Jennifer Lee greeted the D23 Expo audience to show what’s in store for the studio’s 100th anniversary next year.
But first, Disney’s fan-favorite 2016 ‘Zootopia’ will get a spin-off series this November on Disney+. And attendees got an advance look at the aptly titled ‘Zootopia+’, consisting of six short ‘Zootopia’-style spoofs of everything from ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ to ‘The Godfather Part II’.
Perhaps Disney’s most unique offering at the Expo was ‘Iwaju’. Coming this year to Disney+, it finds the animation studio partnering for the first time in its long history with an overseas animation studio – Africa’s Kugali. Its three founders appeared today, describing their Afrofuturism fable and its characters as a love letter to their hometown of Lagos, Nigeria.
More sci-fi arrived with a new look at ‘Strange World’, described by Lee as “a film about family, legacy, and what we leave behind for the generations that follow.” Director Don Hall explained how the film chronicles three generations coming together on an alien planet in order to save their world.
Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Lucy Liu introduced a rip-snorting clip of an exciting chase through ‘Strange World’s creature-packed planet.
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The Disney Animation segment, and indeed entire panel, concluded with the revelation of the studio’s 100th anniversary feature film – ‘Wish’. The tale of the star upon which so many Disney characters have wished throughout the past century, ‘Wish’ is co-directed by the attending team of Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
Buck, who co-wrote the film with Lee, explained how ‘Wish’ explores a kingdom of wishes, in which wishes can literally come true. Offering a lush, animated watercolor style coupled with CG animation, it stars newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as 17-year-old Asha, who pleas to the heavens for help, and gets an actual star from the sky, named Star, who communicates through pantomime.
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Disney “good luck charm,” actor Alan Tudyk appeared with footage of his character, a goat named Valentino who wishes to communicate with people. Finally, DeBose saw fans off with a sizzling live performance of “More for Us,” one of the film’s songs by Grammy winner Julia Michaels.
The latest version of “Snow White” will a live-action adaptation of the 1937 classic animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Disney has seen a lot of success with such remakes in recent years, including 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” and 2016’s “The Jungle Book.” The most recent is “Aladdin,” which opened in theaters on May 24.
Webb is familiar with reboots. His two Amazing Spider-Man films rebooted Sam Raimi‘s earlier Spider-Man trilogy. Other projects he has directed include the films “Gifted” and “The Only Living Boy in New York” as well as episodes of the series “The Society” and “The Code.”
Marc Platt is set to produce the “Snow White” remake, and “La La Land” songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have been tasked with writing new songs. Hopefully it won’t be long before it’ll be off to work they go.
