Disney This Week: Cars 3 sneak peek, Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast & more!
Welcome to another edition of our new regular weekly feature Disney This Week here at ComingSoon.net. We’re rounding up the latest news on all things Disney, including movies, TV, Blu-ray/DVD, theme parks, fan art and Disney history. Let us know what you like or want to see more out of in Disney This Week in the comments below!
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Movies
Lightning McQueen Returns in the Cars 3 Sneak Peek!
It’s here! The Cars 3 sneak peek is now online and can be viewed in the player above!
Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist for Cars and Cars 2), Disney•Pixar‘s Cars 3 begins when, blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
Tim Burton and Will Smith May Team for Live-Action Dumbo
Tim Burton may have found a star for his upcoming live action Dumbo movie. Will Smith is in talks for a leading role in the big-screen take on the Disney animated classic. It is unknown what role Smith might be playing or even how similar the live-action Dumbo‘s narrative will be to the original.
Tom Hanks Offered Dumbo Villain Role
Tom Hanks has been offered a part as well. According to the trade, Hanks would play the central Dumbo villain. There’s no word yet, however, as to exactly what that character might be and the same report hints that a potential conflict may prevent Hanks from taking the role.
Dumbo, released in 1941, marked Disney’s fourth full-length animated feature and told the story of a young circus elephant who, mocked for his enormous ears, discovers that he can actually use them to fly. The new film, which is planned to blend CGI and live action, will feature a screenplay by Transformers scribe Ehren Kruger.
Ariana Grande and John Legend to Perform Beauty and the Beast Title Track
Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time Grammy, Oscar-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend are set to perform the Oscar and Grammy-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast” as the title track for Disney’s upcoming soundtrack to the live-action film adaptation Beauty and the Beast. The song will also be featured in the film.
The enchanting ballad, originally performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson featuring eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken’s beautiful melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics, received an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy Award, among other accolades, upon its release in 1991.
New Beauty and the Beast Preview from the Golden Globes!
The Walt Disney Studios debuted a new Beauty and the Beast preview during the 74th Annual Golden Globes featuring Emma Watson singing “Belle.” You can watch the Beauty and the Beast preview above!
The New Beauty and the Beast Poster is Here!
The Walt Disney Studios has debuted the new Beauty and the Beast poster, which you can view in full in the gallery below!
Disney’s new Beauty and the Beast movie is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.
Moana Sing-Along Version, Digital and Blu-ray Releases Announced
The epic journey continues for Moana fans as Walt Disney Animation Studios introduces an all-new sing-along version of the hit, critically-lauded comedy-adventure, coming to theaters nationwide Jan. 27, 2017. Additionally, the original theatrical version of the film will release digitally Feb. 21 and on Blu-ray March 7.
Fans are invited to warm up those vocal cords and set sail with an all-new Moana sing-along version launching in more than 2,000 theaters nationwide on Jan. 27 and exclusively at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on Jan. 20.
EXCLUSIVE: Enjoy this special bonus clip called “Gone Fishing” from #MOANA, available on digital Feb. 21 & Blu-Ray March 7. pic.twitter.com/SUr0IrWWaD
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) January 12, 2017
Disney Releases a Fishy Moana Bonus Clip
Disney also released a fishy Moana bonus clip from the film, which you can check out above!
Disney’s Magic Camp Begins Production, Starring Jeffrey Tambor
Production has begun on Disney’s Magic Camp, a live-action comedy starring Adam Devine, Gillian Jacobs and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor, directed by Mark Waters. The film is shooting on locations in and around Los Angeles and is scheduled for release in 2017.
Tambor plays Roy Preston, the owner of a summer camp for aspiring young magicians and Devine is Andy, a former camper whose flailing career as a magician has forced him to return to the camp as a counselor. Also returning to the camp is Andy’s former partner and current nemesis, Darkwood, played by Jacobs, who is now a successful magician. When preparations begin for the end-of-summer magic contest between rival teams of campers, Andy and his team of ragtag misfits must go head to head with Darkwood and her campers. In the process, Andy is inspired by the young campers and rediscovers his passion for magic.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
.@DisneyAnimation‘s #Zootopia Wins Best Animated Picture at the #GoldenGlobes: https://t.co/zazWZRyAU6 pic.twitter.com/fI3k3nLdz9
— Disney (@Disney) January 9, 2017
Grand adventures are headed to the big screen in 2017. pic.twitter.com/rilfeHBWoR
— Disney (@Disney) January 8, 2017
INFOGRAPHIC: #RogueOne becomes fifth release over $900 Million in Disney’s record-setting 2016: https://t.co/uJeALBYmGY pic.twitter.com/qpIqyqsvf2
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) January 10, 2017
DVD/Blu-ray
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands
This week’s DVD release of the sequel animated series to The Lion King features Simba’s son Kion in five episodes guaranteed to make your kids very happy. The disc also comes with some bracelets as well! The show also features appearances by King Simba, the spirit of Mufasa and the hilarious antics of Timon and Pumbaa.
The cast includes Rob Lowe (“The Grinder”) as Simba; Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane”) as Nala; Max Charles (“The Amazing Spider-Man 2”) as Kion; Joshua Rush (“The Adventures of Puss in Boots”) as Bunga; Atticus Shaffer (“The Middle”) as Ono; Diamond White (“Sofia the First”) as Fuli; and Dusan Brown (“Blaze and the Monster Machines”) as Beshte.
Click here to purchase a copy of The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands on Disney DVD!
Piece together the journey of a chess champion in #QueenOfKatwe, now on Digital HD and @DisneyAnywhere: https://t.co/zein8iiIUT pic.twitter.com/OEsNcU7lAq
— Disney (@Disney) January 11, 2017
Star light, star bright! Pinocchio joins Walt Disney Signature Collection on Digital HD and @DisneyAnywhere today: https://t.co/qGUyckyAYm pic.twitter.com/KeZa8Zocq6
— Disney (@Disney) January 10, 2017
Destined to defend all dimensions. Own #DoctorStrange on Digital HD February 14 and Blu-ray February 28: https://t.co/bx6SK8sVMJ pic.twitter.com/tSrHaWoTGh
— Disney (@Disney) January 7, 2017
Just Announced! See the first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon when you bring home Pinocchio on Blu-ray or Digital HD:https://t.co/Nb8Kn8GfHD pic.twitter.com/5U1DMjnlCL
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) January 9, 2017
TV
Watch the Hair-Raising Trailer for Tangled Before Ever After!
Disney Channel is back with an expanded look at the upcoming Tangled series. The series will launch with an all-new animated film, Tangled Before Ever After, that will launch on the network in March. As you can see for yourself in the player above, Tangled Before Ever After brings back Rapunzel, Eugene, Pascal, Maximus and an awful lot of hair.
Based on Disney’s popular animated film Tangled, the new series will see Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprise their film roles alongside a returning voice cast that also includes Jeffrey Tambor as Big Nose and Paul F. Tompkins as Shorty (both Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs), as well as M.C. Gainey as Captain of the Guards.
Girl Meets World Could Possibly Continue
Disney Channel canceled Girl Meets World after three seasons on January 4th, but according to the show’s co-creator, we may not have seen the last of Riley & co.
“We are certainly having discussions, there are some interested platforms,” showrunner Michael Jacobs said. “I don’t think ‘Girl should have been canceled. We signed to do four seasons. I thought we would be able to tell stories through four seasons. That’s the way we set it up. It was going to be a remarkable final year. But I understand, things end.”
Warhead: Watch the Latest Star Wars Rebels Clip
Lucasfilm and Disney XD have just released a new Star Wars Rebels clip from this weekend’s new episode, “Warhead.” Catch it Saturday, January 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Watch the “Warhead” clip in the player above!
Theme Parks
New FASTPASS Locations and the Disney MaxPass Are Coming to @Disneyland: https://t.co/nQhzJ8N92h pic.twitter.com/bMZ00q2txY
— Disney (@Disney) January 12, 2017
#ArtfulEpcot begins today! Here’s everything you need to know about Epcot’s newest festival: https://t.co/8Drwce6JIi pic.twitter.com/jtztabfy9Q
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) January 13, 2017
9 things you may not know about @Disneyland‘s Star Tours – The Adventures Continue: https://t.co/KYsFdrP9Pq pic.twitter.com/1UjvzZBiOA
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) January 9, 2017
Calling all foodies! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is back! https://t.co/MJueUmOO4M
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) January 9, 2017
Dustin Lance Black, creator & exec producer of ABC’s @WhenWeRiseABC visits with @Disneyland Resort cast members: https://t.co/IKJSSlxpR6 pic.twitter.com/t5dyYzu2oR
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 13, 2017
Tonight’s “After Dark” image was snapped at the classic Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress attraction: https://t.co/B8sBXrFLbp pic.twitter.com/OhYb4aWDwZ
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 13, 2017
PHOTO: The Main Street Electrical Parade will return to @Disneyland park with the classic drum float! https://t.co/DjDg5Z23tR pic.twitter.com/v15qUnDJpy
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 12, 2017
Runners embraced their favorite Disney characters & icons this past weekend at the @runDisney #WDWMarathon Weekend! https://t.co/vT4cGM0DMJ pic.twitter.com/NRzh7HVMvA
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 11, 2017
A new #StarWars special event will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on April 14! Details: https://t.co/gSfpP4rNgz pic.twitter.com/iw9pLI4Xji
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 11, 2017
PHOTOS: Check out some of the celebrities that have visited Walt Disney World recently! #DisneyFamilia https://t.co/NTCN1MpHz6
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 11, 2017
The Iron Man Experience is now open at Hong Kong Disneyland! https://t.co/ZuOa3uaAaz pic.twitter.com/u6I8pSldcp
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 11, 2017
Toys
Cozy up with one of these Disney reads: https://t.co/sllKSGJFIm pic.twitter.com/bRLQ2nrwdy
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) January 12, 2017
New products are coming to Disney California Adventure park for Lunar New Year 2017! https://t.co/FiQA6HeDBI pic.twitter.com/7tfggApSNb
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 12, 2017
New Disney Tsum Tsum inspired by Splash Mountain have dropped into locations at Disney Parks! https://t.co/wyPF7KIDbO pic.twitter.com/872fE1i6Io
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 11, 2017
Fan Art of the Week
Since Will Smith and Tom Hanks are in discussions for roles in Tim Burton’s Dumbo we thought we’d find some fan art from that film. This adorable piece is by Ellie Horie, and you can see more of her wonderfully cute artwork at her gallery by clicking here!
This Week in Disney History
This week in 1987 the Star Tours attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It cost around $32 million dollars to create.
This week Disney released both The Air Up There and Cabin Boy in 1994, Snow Dogs in 2002 and Glory Road starring Josh Lucas in 2006. Glory Road was also this author’s first press junket… 🙂
Disney Vault
Each week we highlight an underappreciated Disney classic! This week it’s the 1964 Hayley Mills vehicle The Moon-Spinners, a romantic adventure flick set on the gorgeous Greek island of Crete. There she gets caught up in a stolen jewel caper with an attractive young lad played by Peter McEnery. The great Eli Wallach (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) plays the heavy with his usual flair, and the scenery alone in the Hitchcock-esque story is to die for. This was also one of the final live-action movies Walt Disney personally produced before his death. Check out one of the more memorable scenes from the film below!
Click here to order your copy of The Moon-Spinners on Disney DVD!