Recapping everything that went down at Disney+ Day
November 12, 2021 marks two years of streaming on Disney+, and the House of Mouse went all out to celebrate with a brand new holiday: Disney+ Day.
Unfortunately for fans, the results ended up somewhat underwhelming. There were no earth-shattering reveals or announcements, instead just an overwhelming amount of content. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Star Wars, Pixar, Disney Animation and more, there’s no shortage of projects coming to the streamer in 2022 and beyond – and we’re here to catch you up.
But the festivities aren’t only about getting you ready for the future – there’s plenty coming to Disney+ right now. Hit movies like “Jungle Cruise” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” make their debut on Disney+ today, along with the new “Home Alone” reboot, “Home Sweet Home Alone.” Plus, new shows and preview specials will be hitting the streamer throughout the day.
MARVEL:
If we’re being honest, the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave us a ton without really giving us anything. The climax of the reveal was a 14-minute special preview of the MCU shows coming to Disney+, but 12 minutes of that was spent with content that is either already released or will be within the next 12 days.
The full breakdown was seven minutes spent highlighting “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Loki” and “What If…?”, followed by a five minute clip/sizzle from “Hawkeye,” which hits Disney+ on November 24. The final two minutes were used to tease everything else, including first looks at “Moon Knight,” “She Hulk,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Secret Invasion” and Season 2 of “What If…?”
As far as announcements go, a few new series were highlighted, including three animated stories. “Spider-Man: Freshman Year” takes place in the MCU prior to our first meeting with Peter Parker in “Captain America: Civil War.” The series will follow a younger Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man. “Marvel Zombies” will continue the zombie stories inspired by “What If…?,” while “X-Men ’97” will revive the animated cartoon classic with new episodes coming in 2023. A new live-action series, “Echo,” was announced, which will continue the story of Alaqua Cox’s Echo, a character we’ll meet in “Hawkeye.”
Beyond that, the only other “new” content was an overwhelming amount of new logos for the upcoming projects.
STAR WARS:
Talk about a let down. More so than any Marvel disappointment, “Star Wars” fans were left high and dry.
Expectations were lofty for a trailer for the upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series and potentially a sizzle reel for the “Andor” series. Without a dedicated “Star Wars” section in the day’s events, it seemed as if the galaxy far, far away was just an afterthought.
A one-minute sizzle for “Obi-Wan Kenobi” was released on Disney+, or should I say rereleased, considering it first debuted last year at Disney’s Investors Day. Other than that, the only “Star Wars” content came in the form of “Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett.” In anticipation of the release of “The Book of Boba Fett” next month, this 21-minute special explores the character’s origin and how the bounty hunter became a fan favorite.
PIXAR:
Pixar ace Pete Docter led the way with a four-minute special teasing what’s to come from the animation studio in the next two years. We know “Turning Red” and “Lightyear” are coming to the big screen soon, and those films will be accompanied by Disney+ documentaries exploring the making of each one. Here’s what else you can expect from Pixar on Disney+.
“Ciao Alberto” – Today
Picking up right where “Luca” left off, “Ciao Alberto” is a new Pixar short exploring what life is like in Portorosso following Luca’s departure. Jack Dylan Grazer is back voicing Alberto, as he works to impress his new mentor, Massimo, aka Giulia’s father. The 8-minute short is now streaming on Disney+.
“Cars on the Road” – 2022
Larry the Cable Guy is back in the driver’s seat as Mater as he and Owen Wilson’s Lightning McQueen road trip to meet new and old characters from the “Cars” universe.
“Win or Lose” – Fall 2023
Marking Pixar’s first long-form series, “Win or Lose” will follow a middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game. The catch? Each episode is told from the perspective of a different character, allowing the animation to full encapsulate their personality. Disney+ Day revealed the first look at concept art for the series.
DISNEY:
“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” Season 3 – 2022
The East High Wildcats are back for another season, but they won’t be at school this time around. Season three of the show will follow its characters to sleepaway camp for a summer of campfires, romances, and curfew-free nights, and if that tagline “Love is an open door…” means anything, then expect a bit of a “Frozen” twist.
“Pinocchio” – Fall 2022
“Pinocchio” is getting the live-action treatment, and Tom Hanks is taking center stage as Geppetto. Coming in Fall 2022 from director Robert Zemeckis, the cast also includes Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans and the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco.
“Hocus Pocus 2” – Fall 2022
The Sanderson sisters are back, and that means Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are in all-out witch mode for “Hocus Pocus 2.” The cast also just added “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham to the mix. Check out this new look at the three starring sisters.
“Better Nate Than Ever” – Spring 2022
Who doesn’t love some good ‘ol Disney synergy? In this musical comedy from “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” showrunner Tim Federle, an unpopular Midwestern kid entertains vivid fantasies of becoming a big Broadway musical star, but he can’t even get a leading role in his school production. So, Nate and his best friend set off for New York City to audition for “Lilo & Stitch: The Musical.” The film stars Rueby Wood as Nate, plus Lisa Kudrow and HSMTMTS star Joshua Bassett.
“Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” – Spring 2022
Stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg provided a brief update on their animated reboot (not a reboot) of two classic Disney characters: “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.” The Disney+ Original Movie will hit the streamer in Spring 2022.
“Disenchanted” – Fall 2022
After campaigning since the birth of Disney+, the 2007 animated-live action fairy tale “Enchanted” has finally arrived on the streamer today. Stars Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey also gave an update on its sequel, “Disenchanted,” which hits Disney+ in Fall 2022.
“Cheaper By The Dozen” – March 2022
This classic family story will get a modern update as Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union star as the parents of 12 children. The movie will release exclusively on Disney+ in March 2022. The Baker family was last seen in 2003’s “Cheaper By The Dozen” and 2005’s “Cheaper By The Dozen 2” with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt in charge.
“Baymax!” –Summer 2022
After stealing hearts in 2014’s “Big Hero Six,” the world’s sweetest superhero is back in his own show, “Baymax!” Follow along as Baymax helps his community with everything from exercise to barista duty. Check out the show’s first trailer before it premieres in Summer 2022.
“The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild” – January 28, 2022
After a five-year hiatus, the prehistoric creatures of “Ice Age” are back with a new series streaming on Disney+. Led by Simon Pegg as the voice of the fearless one-eyed weasel, Buck, the show follows Buck and his possum posse as they search for dinosaurs. Disney+ Day saw the release of the show’s first trailer, as well as its premier date: January 28, 2022.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:
“Welcome to Earth” – December 8, 2022
Will Smith is going to be all over your TV as he prepares for his “King Richard” Oscars bid, and the next stop is in National Geographic’s “Welcome to Earth.” Follow Smith as he journeys to the ends of the Earth in this six-episode series.
“Limitless with Chris Hemsworth” – 2022
As if the pressure of being Thor wasn’t enough, it looks like Disney is now trying to kill Chris Hemsworth. The star’s new National Geographic series will see him push his body to its limits in a search for longevity and greater control in the face of fear and stress. Plus, it looks like he’s shirtless quite often, which never hurts.
Head to Disney+ for more reveals from Disney+ Day.
Zach Goins View All
Zach Goins is a member of the North Carolina Film Critics Association based in Raleigh, N.C. Zach co-founded Inside The Film Room in 2018 and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the website and co-host of the podcast. Zach also serves as a film critic for CLTure.org.
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