News from Disney Investor Day 2020

On Thursday (10th December), Disney held its Investor Day which detailed the corporation's plans for the next couple of years. This meant announcements for upcoming television and film projects, including from television networks like Hulu, FX, ESPN and National Geographic, and media franchises including  Pixar, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

So here's a round-up of some of the big news from the event!

DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS & PIXAR

Raya And The Last Dragon - Disney's 59th feature (with Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina voices the title roles) will hit cinemas (where possible) on March 5th 2021, but will also premiere on Disney+ on the same day (as Mulan did earlier in the summer)

Iwájú - Disney Animations will be collaborating with Pan-African entertainment company Kugali to create an all-new, science fiction series set in a futuristic version of Lagos coming to Disney+ in 2022. 

Encanto - Directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, Encanto is about a magical family from Colombia who llive in a magical home. Lin-Manuel Miranda has written the music for this film.

Luca - Coming after Soul (which hits Disney+ on Christmas Day), Pixar's next feature film is Luca. Set in Italy, the film is all about two best friends- Luca and Alberto- celebrating an unforgettable summer. It will hit cinemas in June 2021.

Turning Red - Domee Shi (who directed the Oscar-winning animated short Bao) directs Turning Red. Teenager Mei experiences all of the awkwardness of being a teenager, with an added twist: when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda. It comes to cinemas on March 11th 2022.

Lightyear - Now here's an interesting one. On June 17th 2022, we'll get to see the definitive story of the original Buzz Lightyear (the space ranger who inspired the action figure in the Toy Story films). And here's another interesting one: Buzz will be voiced by Chris Evans! 

DISNEY STUDIOS

The cast of the live-action version of The Little Mermaid has been confirmed, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into The Woods):

Also announced was Hocus Pocus 2, directed by Adam Shankman, and a remake of Three Men And A Baby with Zac Efron in the lead.

Night At The Museum is coming to Disney+ in 2021 in a new animated feature

Jungle Cruise, with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall and Paul Giamatti, will still be hitting cinemas in July 2021.

A live-action version of Pinocchio, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, has been announced, as has a version of Peter Pan with Jude Law as Captain Hook.

A sequel to 2007's Enchanted- called Disenchanted- will stream exclusively on Disney+ with Amy Adams returning to play Giselle; Sister Act 3 is also in the works with Whoopi Goldberg producing and starring.

STAR WARS

A huge slate of Star Wars TV shows was announced during the event, which will all premiere on Disney+

Rangers Of The New Republic and Ahsoka are two new original series set within the timeline of The Mandalorian; Rosario Dawson, who plays Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian, will reprise her role. 

In 2022, there will be an original series based around the character of Cassian Andor- who appeared in Rogue One- with Diego Luna returning to the role (and acting as an executive producer). It will run for 12 episodes.  Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, and Kyle Soller are joining the cast, as well as Genevieve O’Reilly as rebel leader Mon Mothma.

Ewan McGregor's long-mooted Obi-Wan Kenobi spin-off is definitely happening... with Hayden Christensen returning to play Darth Vader opposite him. Set 10 years after the events of Revenge Of The Sith, it's a project that has a lot of people excited.

A few new animated series and features were announced, including The Bad Batch, Visions (a series of shorts that show the Star Wars galaxy through Japanese anime creators), and A Droid Story (where a new hero will get guided by R2-D2 and C-3PO). 

A Lando Calrissian spinoff was also announced, as was The Acolyte which is billed as "a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era"

Disney also confirmed the Star Wars feature to be directed by Taika Waititi, whilst Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) will direct Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

MARVEL STUDIOS

Kevin Feige ended the four-hour event with a bumper load of news regarding Marvel's upcoming slate of television and films.

Starting with the television programmes:

WandaVision -  Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, this series starts streaming from January 15th 2021 on Disney+

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier -  Starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, this six-part series starts streaming from March 19th 2021

Loki -  Starring Tom Hiddleston, this crime caper will be released on Disney+ in May 2021

What If...? - The 10-part animated series, which explores what would happen if major moments in the Marvel timeline happened differently (for example, if Peggy Carter had received the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers, or if T'Challa had been found by Yondu instead of Star-Lord), hits Disney+ in Summer 2021. Jeffrey Wright plays the Watcher who narrates the show.

Ms. Marvel - This current iteration of Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan, a teenage Pakistani American from New Jersey, and one of the first Muslim characters to headline a Marvel comic) has only been in the comic books since 2014 but will be making her way to the small- and big- screens in 2021 and 2022. The Ms. Marvel TV show will air on Disney+ late 2021.

Hawkeye - Jeremy Renner will play Clint Barton/Hawkeye in this Disney+ original story, alongside Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop. Alaqua Cox, Fra Free, and Vera Farmiga will also appear in the show, which does not have a release date as yet. 

She-Hulk - Rumoured for a while, it's now been confirmed that Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany will be bringing Jennifer Walters (a.k.a. She Hulk) to the small screen. Also, it's been confirmed that Tim Roth will return to the MCU for the first time since 2008's The Incredible Hulk to play Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and appearances from current Hulk Mark Ruffalo have also been announced. 

Moon Knight - an original series featuring the detective character described as "a complex vigilante" (which is putting it mildly!) has been greenlit. No casting news or release date has been given, although Oscar Isaac has been attached to the role. 

Secret Invasion - Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury whilst Ben Mendelsohn reprises his Captain Marvel role as the Skrull Talos for this series. No other information has been given so far. 

Ironheart - An original series based on Riri Williams, a teenage engineering student who creates a suit of armour more advanced than Iron Man's, Dominique Thorne (If Beale Street Could Talk) will play the title role. 

Armor Wars - Don Cheadle returns as James Rhodes/War Machine for a series which shows what happens if Stark technology falls into the wrong hands.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special and I Am Groot - James Gunn returns to write and direct this 2022 holiday special (done on the set of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.3), whilst an animated series of shorts featuring Baby Groot will also come to Disney+ 

MCU MOVIES

A lot of interesting news came out for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Confirmation has come that Black Widow will still be hitting cinemas in May 2021, and that Mahershala Ali will be playing Blade in a new film.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings - Production has wrapped on the film, which will be released on June 9th 2021. Several new cast members have been officially announced: 

Doctor Who In The Multiverse Of Madness - Some familiar faces will be joining Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme for this Sam Raimi-directed film. Benedict Wong (Wong), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo) will be reprising their roles from the first Doctor Strange film, whilst newcomers to the cast include Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.  The film will reportedly link to both WandaVision and the third Sony/Marvel Spider-Man film (in which Cumberbatch will appear). March 25th 2022 is the given release date for this film at the moment.  

Thor: Love And Thunder - Again, something that had been long-rumoured but now confirmed: Christian Bale will be joining the MCU! Bale will star opposite Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman as Gorr the God Butcher. The film is due in cinemas May 6th 2022. 

Black Panther 2 - The sequel to the 2018 original will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler. Given the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman earlier this year, the decision has been made not to recast the character of T'Challa. Instead the film will explore the world of Wakanda and the other characters. The film will hit the cinemas on July 8th 2022.  

Captain Marvel 2 - Nia DaCosta (Top Boy, Candyman) takes the director's chair for the sequel to 2019's original. Brie Larson will once again take the role of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel and will be joined by Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. The film is due on November 11th 2022.

Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania - Peyton Reed (Ant-Man) will direct this threequel, with Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer all returning from Ant-Man And The Wasp. Kathryn Newton will join the cast as Cassie Lang, and Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror.

Saving some of the biggest news til last, Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home) will direct a new feature film bringing the Fantastic Four into the MCU. 

OTHER NEWS

An Alien television series is in development at FX Networks, with Noah Hawley (showrunner of Fargo) as showrunner.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been renewed for four more seasons (up to Season 18) which will make it the longest-running live action sitcom in TV history

A Willow TV show, based on the 1988 fantasy action drama of the same name, is in the works and will premiere in 2022. Warwick Davis will reprise his role from the original film, and the pilot episode will be directed by Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Crazy Rich Asians)

Pre-production has begun on the fifth Indiana Jones film. It'll be directed by James Mangold (Le Mans '66, Logan) and hit cinemas in July 2022. 

So, there's a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years!

The Watchers' Feelgood Films (Part 4) - Disney Special

Welcome to the fourth instalment of The Watchers' Feelgood Films, where the three of us discuss films that might help cheer you in these times. Today's instalment are our favourite films from Walt Disney Studios.

Matt recommends...

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Dir: Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise
Voice cast: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, and Angela Lansbury

Everyone has their favourite Disney film, for me it is the original Beauty and the Beast. The House of Mouse has given us numerous classics for nearly a century, but Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s film was the first that felt like it could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hollywood’s golden age: Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, or The Wizard of Oz (Beauty and the Beast was the first full-length animated feature film to be nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Picture).

1989’s The Little Mermaid saw Disney Studios return to its former glory after losing its way during the eighties, struggling to catch children’s imagination while Spielberg, Lucas, and Zemeckis were churning out blockbusters, but Ariel cannot hold a candle to Belle. Unlike previous Disney leading ladies, Belle does everything right here. Belle is fierce, she questions and stands up to those around her, and refuses to be labelled or put in a box – she is Disney’s first flesh-and-blood protagonist thanks to Linda Woolverton’s first-class writing.

The songs in Beauty and the Beast are all killer and no filler. Every one of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman’s musical numbers will stay in your head for the rest of your life. However, the standouts are "Beauty and the Beast" and "Be Our Guest". "Beauty and the Beast" is a masterwork in character development. Neither Belle nor the Beast say a word or sing a single lyric, but that scene pushes their bond, their characterisation further. Accompanied by Dame Angela Lansbury’s voice, the song – those two-and-a-half minutes on screen – are tender and heartfelt. For Beauty and the Beast’s 25th anniversary screening, Lansbury surprised the audience by singing the title song. The video is available here and you will struggle not to well up whilst watching it.

"Be Our Guest", I would argue, is Disney Studios’ first music video. It is a melting pot of 80’s MTV (Peter Cristopherson, Derek Burbidge, and Steve Barron to name three directors), the Moulin Rouge, and Broadway musicals, all given a good stir. Every frame grabs hold of your eyes; it is beautiful, wondrous stuff. Whenever I put on Beauty and the Beast, I cannot go past "Be Our Guest" without watching it again.

Hand-drawn animation probably looks weird to today’s children, when compared to something that was conjured up on a computer, but Beauty and the Beast’s animation and background design still stands the test of time and deserves to be watched on the biggest, most high-tech TV you can find.

Disney has many classic films, but Beauty and the Beast is a masterpiece that can be watched over-and-over and its magic never diminishes.

* * *

Rhys recommends...

Aladdin (1992)

Dir: Ron Clements & John Musker
Voice cast: Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried, and Robin Williams

Back in 1992, I was a teenager and not interested in musicals and definitely done with cartoon films from Disney! On a day out with family, we ended up at the cinema and they chose Aladdin. I was not happy and went in to watch it in a right grump! 

The film began and my eyes were opened to how Disney in the early 90s had changed things! Aladdin reintroduced me to enjoying animated films and, if I'm honest, musicals too! 

This film is one of my favourite films of all time, it is definitely one of my go-to feel good films of choice. It will whisk you off to a whole new world on a magic carpet ride! The film is pitch perfect; fun, uplifting and- for a child- it has one of the all time scariest villains in Jafar! It is massive in scope, from the "Friend Like Me" number to the ending with a giant gene looming overhead. This film is just plain brilliant! And, of course, the late, great Robin Williams' voice performance of the Genie made big name actors suddenly all want to be a voice in a cartoon! 

Just watch it if you haven’t already - and if you have, well time to watch it! 

Oh, and a final bit of fun trivia, Frank Welker- who is the voice of the Cave of Wonders- played Megatron in all the Transformers cartoons and films! 

* * *

Tez recommends...

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Dir: Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders
Voice cast: Daveigh Chase, Christopher Michael Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Jason Scott Lee, and Ving Rhames

From an enchanted French chateau via the desert lands of Agrabah to the sun-kissed shores of Hawaii for our final feelgood choice. Lilo & Stitch might seem like a bit of an odd choice, but for me it's second only to Beauty And The Beast for a Disney film that can make me feel good. 

Lilo is a bit of a misfit, being looked after by her older sister Nani after the death of their parents. As they try and rebuild the family unit, into their life comes Experiment 626, a genetically-modified alien bent on destruction which crashlands on Earth after going on the run. When he's found (after being hit by a fuel tanker), 626 ends up at a dog pound where he is adopted by Lilo and renamed Stitch. With threats both extraterrestrial and all too real, this dysfunctional little family must band together, demonstrating the true meaning of ohana.

Much like with Galaxy Quest and several of my other feelgood choices, what makes them feelgood to me is the philosophy behind them. In Lilo & Stitch, it's all to do with the Hawaiian concept of ohana. Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. When the chips are down and it's all looking grim, your family- whether by blood or the family you create- are there for you. It's that sentiment, borne out by the events at the end of the film, that give me the warm fuzzies.

Also, there's a great deal of humour from the odd-couple antics of Dr. Jumba Jookiba (a superb voice performance by the late, great David Ogden Stiers) and Agent Pleakley (a similarly strong turn by Kevin McDonald) who are sent to Earth to find Stitch and bring him back and some truly inspired visual gags- such as Stitch and Jumba passing a soon-to-explode plasma gun back and forth like a demented game of pass-the-parcel, or a running gag involving a tourist and his ice-cream. 

When advertising Lilo & Stitch, Disney took an unconventional but inspired approach (which neatly links into the idea of ohana and a slightly dysfunctional family) where Stitch was inserted into several iconic Disney moments and causes mischief- including two scenes from the films mentioned above. These can be seen here, and are definitely worth a watch.

There's also a cracking soundtrack which takes in everything from traditional Hawaiian music through to several of Elvis Presley's most iconic songs. 

Lilo & Stitch is well worth a try if you've not seen it before. 

Review: Frozen II (UK Cert U)

Whatever you may think of it, Frozen (2013) was a cultural phenomenon. Even now, six years on, the impact the film had can still be felt. It was only going to be a matter of time before a sequel happened, so here we are. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return to direct, with Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez returning to write the songs. Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff reprise their voice roles from the first film, with Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K. Brown, Alfred Molina, and Jeremy Sisto joining the cast. 

Three years have passed since Elsa was crowned queen of Arendelle. But when she hears a mysterious voice calling to her, she unintentionally awakens ancient elemental spirits which attack the kingdom. With Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven at her side, she makes the journey north to the Enchanted Forest to find the truth behind the voice and the kingdom's past...

Frozen II is one of those rare sequels that doesn't just try and rehash the original. This isn't a cynical, rushed-out, by-the-numbers, cash-in sequel. There's been six years between Frozen and Frozen II, and there's been a lot of thought put into the story. Linking to Arendelle's past, the history of Elsa and Anna's family, and the expansion of the world beyond the city are all done very well and- whilst it may not exactly be a surprise when you find out the truth behind what happened in the Forest- the reveals never feel signposted or too obvious. There isn't much I want to say about the cast, apart from the voice acting is as superb as it was for the first film. 

Proving that "Let It Go" wasn't just a one-off fluke, Lopez and Anderson-Lopez provide several anthemic numbers for Frozen II [and thankfully there's nothing as twee or as saccharine as "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" this time round.]  

For me, the best song is "Into The Unknown" where Elsa explains being torn between the temptation of following the voice or staying where she is and where things are settled (which also has an absolutely belting cover over the end credits by Panic! At The Disco; of all the musical numbers, this stands the best chance of getting an Oscar nod for Best Original Song). Other standout songs are "Show Yourself" (when Elsa gets to the Forest to confront the mysterious voice) and "Lost In The Woods"; having not had a big number in the original film, Jonathan Groff gets to flex his vocals in a deliciously 80's power ballad where Kristoff explores his feelings for Anna, calling her his "one true north".  

Just as a side note, the script continues to show Kristoff as a thoroughly positive character and frankly one hell of a role model for any young boys who might be in the audience (so massive kudos to Jennifer Lee for writing such a decent character). Not only does he get a song where he is open about his emotions, he's always shown as supportive and encouraging; at one point, when Anna is charging in to help Elsa, he doesn't take over or try and muscle in, he simply asks her what she needs from him. Also, later, after Anna has a freakout about how things have gone, he reassures her that his love "isn't fragile". And it's all done naturally, isn't overemphasised or pointed out. 

Frozen II is an ideal family film: there's heart, there's humour, the occasional thrill of danger, some great songs, and some truly superb animation. There's also a very cute end-credits scene which doesn't add much but is still worth sticking round for. So do the next right thing, take a step into the unknown and show yourself to Frozen II. You won't regret it. 

Rating: 4 out of 5

Tez

Comicbook Movie Round-Up: April 2019 (Part 3)

In the third and final part of this round-up (aren't you glad I didn't do this in one post?), we take a look at what Sony has brewing in relation to its Marvel-adjacent movies and find out what's going on with the X-Men...

SONY

MORBIUS

As part of Sony's Universe of Marvel Characters (SUMC)- which started with Venom- there's going to be a film featuring Morbius The Living Vampire 

For those who need to know, Morbius The Living Vampire was introduced in the Spider-Man comics in 1971. Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Dr. Michael Morbius attempted to cure himself of a rare blood disease- with disastrous consequences. Well, if you will inject yourself with vampire-bat DNA...  Instead of a cure, he found a thirst for blood- as well as super strength, and fangs. Originally an antagonist, Morbius soon became a hero of sorts. 

Jared Leto is taking on the main role (probably another reason why he won't be reprising the Joker anytime soon), whilst erstwhile Time Lord Matt Smith and Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows' Jared Harris have also joined the cast, rumoured to be the villain Loxias Crown (who suffers the same disease as Morbius) and Morbius' mentor respectively. Adria Arjona (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Good Omens) and Tyrese Gibson (Transformers, Fast & Furious 5) are also due to star, with Arjona as Martine Bancroft- Morbius' love interest- and Gibson as an FBI agent who is after the living vampire. 

Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Life) will direct, from a script by Burk Sharpless & Matt Samaza. The film is expected in July 2020.  

VENOM 2

Venom made a lot of money for Sony (with over $850m at the box office)- despite having about as much charm and wit as a sewage outlet- so it's pretty much a no-brainer that a sequel is in the works. Writer Kelly Marcel will return to write the screenplay. Given the brief scene with Woody Harrelson toward the end of the film, it's a pretty sure bet that any sequel will feature Cletus Kassady (a.k.a. Carnage). 

OTHER SUMC FILMS

There are rumours that a number of other films are being developed in this universe. 

Silk - a Korean-American heroine, Cindy Moon was also bitten by the radioactive spider that nipped Peter Parker, thus she also develops super-powers (organic webbing, Spidey-Sense etc). Asian-American actress Tiffany Espensen plays a character called Cindy in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which led fans to speculate that Silk may show up at some point. 

Kraven The Hunter - Sergei Kravinoff is a big-game hunter who has one major quarry whose head he wants to hang on his wall. No prizes for guessing that it's Spider-Man's. 

Mysterio - an illusionist who uses magic to pull of his criminal heists. There have been a number of people to use the 'Mysterio' name, but one of the best-known ones is Quentin Beck (who will be played by Jake Gyllenhaal in Spider-Man: Far From Home). 

Black Cat & Silver Sable - a previously announced film called Silver & Black which would focus on these two characters (Felicia Hardy and Silver Sablinova) has been dropped. But don't despair: apparently these two villainesses- anti-heroines?- will be getting their own standalone movies, with Black Cat (arguably the better known of the two characters) most likely to come first. Oscar-nominated actress Felicity Jones (The Theory Of Everything) played a character called Felicia in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 but the chances of her reprising the roe don't seem great. 

Jackpot - another nickname used by different people. Firstly, Sara Ehret who developed superhuman strength when exposed to the Lot 777 virus. When Sara wanted to return to a normal life, she sells her identity to Alana Jobson who uses the Mutant Growth Hormone to give herself invulnerability, super-strength and super-stamina

Nightwatch - originally featured in the comics in 1993, Nightwatch is the alter ego of African-American scientist Dr. Kevin Trench. Trench sees a costumed hero die whilst battling terrorists armed with cloaking devices. However, when he unmasks the dead man, Trench learns it was an older version of himself. Spike Lee has previously been attached to a Nightwatch movie for Sony, so whether he'll still take that on is unknown. 

So it looks as if Sony will be keeping itself busy if all of these films come to fruition!

Lastly, let's take a look at what Fox have going on, with the X-Men franchise...

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

As the merger between Disney and 21st Century Fox has now gone ahead, the X-Men are cleared to join the MCU. That won't be happening for a while, so X-Men: Dark Phoenix might be your last chance to see the X-Men on the big screen for a bit. Especially with what's going on with The New Mutants... (more on that below)

After not one, but two delays, pushing it back from November 2018 to February 2019 and then further, X-Men: Dark Phoenix will be hitting cinemas in June 2019. 

Set in the 1990s, X-Men: Dark Phoenix focuses on Jean Grey (Game Of Thrones' Sophie Turner) who starts to tap into the power of the Phoenix- but to what end? Well, if you've read the comic-books or you've seen the utter car-crash that is X-Men: The Last Stand, you know to what end: it involves people dying and wholesale destruction. 

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Alexandra Shipp, Tye Sheridan, Evan Peters, and Kodi Smit-McPhee are all back from previous X-Men movies- and are being joined by Jessica Chastain as the shapeshifter 'Smith' (having repeatedly shot down rumours that she's actually playing Shi'ar empress Lilandra Neramani)

Guess we've not got too much longer til we find out!

THE NEW MUTANTS

When one of the main cast of your well-publicised particularly troubled production bluntly comes out with 'Who knows when the f*** that's gonna come out?', the signs aren't good. Bit of an understatement, I know...

Starring Maisie Williams (she of the 'f*** knows' statement), Charlie Heaton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Henry Zaga, the trailer for this horror-tinged hero-fest- featuring, as the title suggests, a new class of mutants- hit in October 2017 with a planned release date of April 2018. Due to a less-than-positive reaction to that initial trailer, the film's release was pushed back by nearly a year to February 2019.

More time to 'get it right'. More time for reshoots. More time to add a new character in. More time to ramp up the horror. More time to... well, we're not really sure. But then X:Men: Dark Phoenix got moved, and so did The New Mutants- to August 2019. That is still the case, apparently. However, there's been no sign of any reshoots but things are in the hands of the director, Josh Boone. But he's been quiet about it...

Co-producer Lauren Shuler Donner has even stated that, whilst she'd like to see The New Mutants make it to the big screen, she wasn't able to confirm that it would happen. It could end up on a streaming service (either Hulu or potentially Disney+, as The New Mutants was still included in Disney's release schedule that was announced at CinemaCon) but a decision would be made once the Fox/Disney merger went through. 

So, frankly, who knows?

ONE LAST THING...

This might be of cheer to fans of Deadpool. Fears that- following the Fox/Disney merger- the Merc With The Mouth wouldn't be a good fit for the House of Mouse should be allayed, when it was announced that there are plans to continue with the more adult style movies like Deadpool. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger confirming that they will 'continue in that business... there's certainly popularity with those type of films'. Iger also went on to say that any R-Rated fare would be 'carefully' branded so as not to confuse the consumer. 

Reynolds took to Twitter once the merger was completed with a true-to-form tweet:

Never change, Ryan.

Mini-Countdown: 5 Favourite Disney Villain Songs

There's an old saying that 'the devil has the best tunes'. And whilst it's true that Disney has had more than its fair share of great songs, the bad guys definitely get some of the most memorable music in Disney history. So here's five of my favourites.

5. 'Trust In Me' (The Jungle Book)

The sinuous, hypnotic lullaby that the python Kaa uses to entrance his victims (including man-cub Mowgli) is calming and sinister at the same time. Also, there's a fantastic cover version of this song by Siouxsie And The Banshees 

4. 'The World's Greatest Criminal Mind' (Basil, The Great Mouse Detective)

Voiced with silky charm by the legend that is Vincent Price, Professor Ratigan is witty, urbane, and utterly convinced of his own superiority. There's a deliciously camp edge to Ratigan's paean to himself as he plots to take down Basil of Baker Street, and it's an absolute joy to watch and listen to. 

3. 'Be Prepared' (The Lion King)

  

In a similar vein to 'The World's Greatest Criminal Mind', Scar's mission statement of evil has a sly and knowing edge which Jeremy Irons plays to the hilt. It also provides a nicely cynical counterpoint against some of the cheesier songs in the soundtrack (I'm looking at you, 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' and 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?') 

2. 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' (The Little Mermaid)

When Ursula the Sea Witch proposes her nefarious trade to Ariel, the camp goes up to eleven as she sashays and flounces around her cave, enticing Ariel to take the devilish deal. It's unashamedly theatrical and simply divine.

1. 'Hellfire' (The Hunchback Of Notre Dame)

   

Quite possibly the messed-up song to feature in a Disney film, Frollo wrestles with his suppressed lust for Esmeralda, threatening to execute her unless she submits to him. It's incredibly dark and twisted and is, for me, the best Disney villain song around. Plus it gets bonus points for using the word 'licentious'. 


So which songs would make your Top 5? Would you place Dr. Facilier's creepy 'Friends On The Other Side' from The Princess And The Frog, or the fawning tribute that LeFou gives to 'Gaston' in Beauty And The Beast? Maybe Tamatoa's Bowie-inspired 'Shiny' from Moana is a great villain's song for you? Or, as it says in Tangled, does 'Mother Know Best'? 

Let us know in the comments!

Tez

Review: Moana (UK Cert PG)

The fifty-sixth animated feature by Disney, Moana tells the story of the headstrong daughter of a Polynesian tribe leader, who must cross the oceans to reunite an ancient goddess with her missing heart and stop the blight on her island. Along the way, she recruits Maui- a legendary shape-shifting demigod who stole the heart in the first place.

The film is beautiful. Well, that goes without saying, but everything is so vibrant and detailed- even down to individual blades of grass and the skin texture beneath Maui's tattoos (things that you might not usually notice). From the lushness of Moana's home island Motonui to the vast oceans and the underwater Realm of Monsters, it's a real treat for the eyes.

Newcomer Auli'i Cravalho is absolutely brilliant as the voice of Moana. Impetuous, strong-willed and determined, Moana refuses Maui's claims that she's a 'princess' (with all the negative connotations that brings) and sets out to save her island. But she's not perfectly equipped to do so- whilst she has a love of the ocean, she's not a wayfarer (at least not to begin with)- and when she has her crisis of faith, you really feel for her. It's an impressive vocal performance.

The other really refreshing thing about the film is there's no love story; Moana isn't expected to wed anyone or finds a dashing young man on her travels. The relationship between her and Maui is one of a grudging friendship burgeoning into respect (even one of a mentor/mentee in places)

Dwayne Johnson is on top form as Maui, the cheeky, cocky demigod. He's a larger-than-life character and the idea of having his tattoos move is a fun one. Johnson's performance is solid and really works. Jemaine Clement (Flight Of The Conchords, The BFG) is similarly great as the voice of Tamatoa, a hoarding coconut crab who gets a trippy, psychadelic Bowie-infused number called 'Shiny'- and gets a good postcredits scene too.

Rachel House gives a warm and sensitive performance as Moana's grandmother Tala whilst Temuera Morrison (Once Were Warriors, Attack Of The Clones) and Nicole Scherzinger provide strong support as Moana's father and mother. Finally, Alan Tudyk is credited as Moana's pet chicken Heihei, possibly the stupidest creature to ever appear in a Disney film and also responsible for one of the film's finest visual gags.

The music- by Mark Mancina, with songs by Opetaia Foa'i and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda- is also really strong, taking inspiration from Polynesian instruments and sounds to create a sublime score. The songs range from the perfectly serviceable to the instant classic- with Maui's paean to himself 'You're Welcome' and Moana's heartfelt 'How Far I'll Go' the particular standouts.

All said, it's a wonderful story, superbly animated and performed, Plus it's got a cute pig and an army of sentient coconut pirates. What more do you like?

Before the film, there was an aminated short called Inner Workings which was a lot of fun- showing the battle between heart and brain in an unassuming office worker.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Tez

Review: Big Hero 6 (UK Cert PG)

This might be something of a first: a quick review from me! Honestly, there isn't a lot I want to say about Big Hero 6 so I'll keep it short.

Big Hero 6 is based on a Marvel comic but they have taken a few liberties with the source material (changing some of the characters around and leaving a few out). It's essentially an origin story which sees 14-year-old robotics genius Hiro Hamada team up with his friends- and a big white robot named Baymax- to fight a sinister menace.

Baymax is just adorable. Originally created as a healthcare companion, Hiro sees the opportunity for an upgrade- but Baymax still retains that gentle naivete which is so loveable, coupled with a great voice performance by Scott Adsit. Most of the film's real laugh-out-loud moments for me came from the odd-couple relationship between Baymax and Hiro. There's a scene with a deflating Baymax, a cellotape dispenser and a very patient policeman which was particularly funny, as is the scene where Hiro must get Baymax back to his charging station. 

There's an interesting visual style for San Fransokyo (as the name suggests, it's a mash-up of San Francisco and Tokyo, so you have things such as reimagining the Golden Gate Bridge with torajii gates). There's quite a bit of self-referential comic book hero stuff knocking about, mostly through the slacker character Fred (who even remarks upon this being 'an origin story'), but that's sparing, which is good. The script is pretty formulaic, most of the other characters aren't exactly well-rounded or fleshed out, and there are some sections that looks like they've been directly lifted from the tie-in video-game (such as the first time Hiro and Baymax fly). 

Big Hero 6 doesn't reach the dizzying heights of Frozen (but then it'll be a long time before Disney manage that, if they ever do) and doesn't have the same charm as Wreck-It Ralph but it's still enjoyable enough- and Baymax is just great.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Tez

Review: Million Dollar Arm (UK Cert: PG)

With sports films “based on a true story”, you accept that you already know what’s about to happen: the main character will start from the bottom and work their way up, sometimes stumbling back to the beginning, but getting there in the end. The reason you watch a real-life sports film is for what makes it stand out; is it the performances, the script, the visuals? The trouble with Disney’s Million Dollar Arm is that, while it’s solidly made, there’s nothing that makes it tower over this over-crowded sub-genre.

The plot is a slight twist on an old formula. Agent to the sports stars JB (Mad Men’s Jon Hamm) is struggling to keep his business afloat. In a last ditch effort, he travels to India to launch a reality TV show to find an unknown baseball player and get them signed up with a major league team.

There’s nothing really wrong with Million Dollar Arm, but it falls miles short of classic status. The acting is all up-to-scratch. Hamm is a gifted actor; he turns on the charm as Don Draper, but can also play a convincing, clueless tool in Kristen Wiig’s Bridesmaids. Here he makes charisma look easy as JB, who initially sees his talent show winners as an investment, a commodity, but ends up forming a strong friendship with them. Alan Arkin may play tiny variations of the same role, but he’s done a fine job in all of his films. In Million Dollar Arm, Arkin is a grouchy as hell baseball scout who refuses to even look at potential players; he shuts his eyes and waits to hear that perfect strike. Pitobash raises a smile whenever he’s onscreen with his never failing enthusiasm as JB’s right-hand man, Amit. Lake Bell is given the love interest role, but at least her character, Brenda, has a personality; she’s quirky and feisty and given a reasonable amount of screen time. Last but definitely not least, Bill Paxton gives a rare understated performance as baseball coach Tom House. For most of the film, House clashes with JB over what makes a great baseball player. JB believes if you train a player for enough hours, eventually they’ll figure out what they’re doing. House, on the other hand, sees his players as family, adopted children who need to be nurtured, taken care of.

You can’t even fault the cinematography, Gyula Pados giving us different glimpses of India: Bollywood, show business India with its bright costumes, dancing, and blaring music; the diverse landscape of hills, rivers and frantic cities; the ramshackle villages and poverty in India, contrasting with the showy glamour of its film and TV industry.

What lets Million Dollar Arm down is Thomas McCarthy’s script. While the film is dotted with some smart one-liners (“That’s cricket? Looks like an insane asylum opened up and all the inmates were allowed to play.”), it is virtually scene-after-scene of seen-it-all-before clichés. The broke hero who is up to his neck in debt; the underdogs from poor backgrounds get picked for the team; the rousing speech; the point where it looks like everyone is going home, hanging their heads; the players coming back, ready to prove everyone wrong – all of this features in Million Dollar Arm. While you can argue that the events you’re seeing happened in real life – and this is a Disney film – that doesn’t mean audiences should be sat knowing near enough what is about to happen in every scene. When you do that, you’re not engaged with what’s going on; you don’t care about the characters as much as you should. Films based on real-life tweak the facts all the time to make things more interesting and unpredictable; why couldn’t the same happen with Million Dollar Arm?

To sum up, Million Dollar Arm is enjoyable enough – you won’t be in the cinema, angrily kicking the chair in front of you – but it never reaches the giddy heights of Friday Night Lights, The Fighter, or Warrior. Too often while sitting through Million Dollar Arm, you’ll find yourself thinking, “This is about to happen” and it does, pretty much how you imagined it.

3 out of 5

Matt

Review: Maleficent (UK Cert PG)

We all know the story of Sleeping Beauty, right? Beautiful princess cursed by evil fairy to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and sleep til true love's kiss awakens her. But what about that evil fairy? What's her story? And it could it be that the truth, as we know it, is not the truth at all? This is the premise behind Disney's Maleficent. It tells the untold story of the evil fairy and why she did what she did. Basically, Maleficent does for Sleeping Beauty what Wicked did for The Wizard Of Oz.

Angelina Jolie really sinks her teeth into the central role, and you can tell she's really enjoying herself. The performance is high camp in places, but it's not played for laughs or played broadly or like something you'd find in the local amateur dramatics society annual pantomime. The scene where she gatecrashes the christening is just sublime- Jolie looks fantastic (the costume team have done a brilliant job) and relishes her waspish dialogue. It's a thoroughly committed performance throughout and the most important thing is that you actually sympathise (or empathise) with her- she's driven to do what she does after she's comprehensively shafted by Stefan. 

The adult Stefan is played by District 9's Sharlto Copley who gives a decent enough performance, even if his sink into obsession and paranoia occasionally brushes into the melodramatic. Elle Fanning plays the teenage Aurora, a naive, sweet girl who veers to the side of saccharine occasionally but isn't merely a simpering, whimpering child (which is good). There's comic relief in the form of Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Juno Temple as the trio of good fairies charged to look after Aurora and keep her away from Maleficent's evil. I also particularly enjoyed the performance by Sam Riley as Maleficent's henchman Diaval, occasionally acting as her conscience and advisor. 

So performance-wise, it's all pretty good. The script by Linda Woolverton (inspired by Disney's 1959 version and the original Perrault and Grimm fairytales) is pretty solid. There's exposition a-plenty on how Maleficent becomes seen as evil and nothing feels rushed, despite a relatively short screentime of 97 minutes. The main theme is one of female emancipation and empowerment, which is very refreshing to see. It's just a poor matter of timing that Frozen is still laround (and which contains a very similar theme). I'm not judging Maleficent too strongly on that because, as we have previously seen, twin films come along quite often.

However, there are a few flies in the ointment. Whilst director Robert Stromberg has a good eye for an epic shot, the action sequences are dreadfully shot, with muddy and shaky camerawork which really undermines what's going on. The CGI on some of the faerie creatures leaves a bit to be desired (looking like rejects from Harry Potter). Unfortunately, fantasy has been done many times since The Lord Of The Rings and has been done better. It's perfectly fine but there's nothing particularly innovative in the effects (and, as usual, 3D doesn't add much apart from a bit of depth of field). 

I will be honest, I didn't go into Maleficent with the highest of expectation. Disappointing films like Snow White And The Huntsman and Oz: The Great And Powerful have meant I've lowered my expectations for revisionist fantasy tales but I was pleasantly surprised to find Maleficent was better than I expected. It's a thoroughly decent film with a strong central performance by Jolie. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Tez