We love Disney. We kind of have to now that they own every IP that gets us excited. In this new and ongoing segment, we will take a look back at the headline stories from Disney in the last week that will either knock your socks off or send you scrambling to the closest Disney Park. This is the Week in Disney.
This week: Disney princesses break the internet, Jungle Cruise causes controversy, Mulan gets a live-action look, Baymax dreams in real-time, and a new teaser emerges for the Kim Possible TV movie.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
With the Wreck-It Ralph sequel, Disney wasn’t kidding about trying to break the Internet. With the most recent teaser trailer, we got a glimpse of an assemble group of Disney princesses. What’s the collective noun for that? A song of princesses? Vanellope von Schweetz wins over the Disney princesses by sharing with them the power of comfortable attire. The scene features several of the original princesses in their PJs, which sent the fan community into a frenzy. Many praised the ultimate crossover, while others had issues about the alleged whitewashing of Tiana and Pocahontas in particular.
Jungle Cruise
Disney released their first look at the JUNGLE CRUISE film production this week, with a lighthearted bit of banter between stars Emily Blunt and Rock “The Dwayne” Johnson. We got a look at the massive set for the film as well. The production was plagued with controversy though, as debate sparked around straight actor Jack Whitehall’s casting as an openly gay character with stereotypical qualities. You might need to read the room on this one, Disney.
Mulan
Production has begun on Disney’s next live-action adaptation of an animated classic. The 1998 animated film MULAN is being remade by Niki Caro (Whale Rider) and features Chinese actress, model and singer Liu Yifei, who is pictured above. Read the full story.
Baymax Dreams and Unity
Big Hero 6 is one of Disney more recent overlooked gems, and it’s good to see it’s coming back again in a new form. Disney Television Animation is working with Unity on three innovative episodic animated shorts called BAYMAX DREAMS. The collaboration aims “to push the limits of animation using real-time, non-linear production workflows. We don’t know what that means, but the behind the scenes video above is pretty amazing. Directed by Simon J. Smith (Penguins of Madagascar) it will hit DisneyNOW and Disney Channel’s YouTube channel from 15 September 2018.
Kim Possible
“So what’s the sitch?” The briefest of teaser trailers arrived for the live-action Disney Channel movie adaptation of the fan-favourite animated series. We see a few seconds of actress Sadie Stanley in costume, and a 2019 release date is revealed.
