Inside The Mouse Castle 01-26-2016 - New 'Star Wars' and 'Pirates' Release Dates and Josh Gad's Surprise

By Tim Callaway

Star Wars and Pirates get shuffled in 2017.

Disney is juggling its movie release schedule in 2017, which means you're going to have to wait an extra seven months before you get to see Star Wars: Episode VIII. Like the massively successful The Force Awakens. Episode VIII will open during the Christmas holiday season in 2017, moving from its previously announced Memorial Day weekend release. Sailing into that prime May slot will be Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth installment of Captain Jack Sparrow's epic adventures. Even with Star Wars' December shift, Disney will still have a pretty busy summer 2017 slate. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 will open on May 5 and Pixar's Cars 3 will hit the streets on June 16.

Anthony and I grab our popcorn and Red Vines and settle in for this week's edition of Inside The Mouse Castle:

• At Disneyland, you can now get an up-close look at the Disneyland Railroad trains and the old Frontierland train depot. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren has started putting in appearances at the Star Wars Launch Bay. We're also happy to learn that the Pope House, the historic former residence next to Disneyland's backstage Circle D Corral, has been preserved and relocated beyond the berm on Disney property. Its previous location will become part of Star Wars Land.

Are we getting a teaser trailer this week for Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast?

• Josh Gad (Frozen) will host an episode of The Wonderful World of Disney, celebrating Disneyland's diamond anniversary. Disneyland 60 will air on February 21 at 8:00 p.m. We're also intrigued by a "surprise" Gad promised this week via Twitter.
  

  Big surprise coming this Thursday

  — Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 25, 2016

  We're really hoping it's a teaser trailer for Disney's live action Beauty and the Beast, set to open March 2017. Gad will play Gaston's (Luke Evans') loyal and dimwitted sidekick Lefou. Emma Watson (Belle) and Dan Stevens (Beast) also star in the highly-anticipated reboot of the tale as old as time.
  
• Building those virtual replicas of Disney theme parks (or Universal or Six Flags) will get easier with two new roller coaster video games coming out this year. We can't wait to get our hands on Atari's Roller Coaster Tycoon World and Frontier's Planet Coaster, which both promise levels of theming and immersion never seen before in a roller coaster sim.
  

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 08-03-2015 - Disney's 'Descendants,' 'Star Wars,' 'Spider-Man' and Saving the Midget Autopia

By Tim Callaway

The cast of Descendants (l. to r.): Booboo Stewart,
Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson,
Mitchell Hope and Sarah Jeffery

Disney's Descendants was a huge hit on the Disney Channel last Friday, attracting over six million viewers. But, was it any good? 

I vote no, but then I'm not in the movie's age 9-14 demographic. 

Still, it's hard to like a film with a dumbed-down story that turns the most evil of Disney's animated villains into buffoons and then adds a rap sequence to "Be Our Guest." 

No. Just, no.

Unlike Descendants, very little is painful about this week's episode of Inside The Mouse Castle. There are even a few things Anthony and I like:

• Is Star Wars coming to Netflix? All the signs point to yes. We're hearing as many as three new series from Lucasfilm could be in development for the online entertainment service.
• Rumors abound about who will make up the supporting cast of Marvel's Spider-Man movie in 2017. It could just be wishful thinking, but we'll play along for now. Robert Downey, Jr. returning as Tony Stark, Hugh Laurie as J. Jonah Jameson, Forest Whitaker as Robbie Robertson, Billy Zane as the Vulture, Jason Biggs as Scorpion, Miranda Cosgrove as Betty Brant. We're on board for all of them if the rumors are true.
• Josh Gad has wrapped up shooting on Disney's live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. He's playing LeFou, sidekick to Luke Evans' Gaston. We're going to miss Gad's social media dispatches from the set. 
• What's the deal with Bob the Musical and why are so many big names attached to the project? The Hollywood Reporter says Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay) is working on the script for Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist). Meanwhile, Oscar-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie ("Man or Muppet") will pen the songs for the film about a man who can hear the inner music in everyone's heart. Oh, and did we mention Tom Cruise might star in it too?

The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki.

• Animation fans, especially fans of the great Hayao Miyazaki, are going to love the new Blu-ray box set from Disney and Studio Ghibli. The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki will include all 11 of the master's animated classics including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises. It will be available only on Amazon.com and will be released on November 17th.
• In 1966, Walt Disney donated the Midget Autopia attraction at Disneyland to his boyhood home of Marceline, MO, the only time a Disney attraction was ever moved to a non-Disney location. The Midget Autopia stopped operating in the late 1970s, but now the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fully restore the cars and track. You can help by visiting www.bringbackautopia.com. 

• Going to the D23 Expo this month? Download the app that will help you navigate the crowds and presentations at the epic Disney fan event. Get it for free now on Apple iOS and Android.
• We don't know a lot about what will replace Luigi's Flying Tires at Disney California Adventure, but now we have a name for it: Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 04-22-2015 - 'Star Wars' Celebration, Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'Beauty and the Beast' and More Disney Lawsuits

By Tim Callaway

Men at work.

A week later, Anthony and I are still talking about last weekend's Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. And if you haven't heard enough about it on our previous Mouse Castle Lounge shows, we'll give you another taste today as Anthony shares his thoughts on the event. We also touch on the teaser for the Star Wars offshoot Rogue One, how you can get your own BB-8 ball droid, and the effect The Force Awakens trailer had on the stock market. 

And since we know you all don't live by Star Wars alone, we offer you these tasty tidbits in the latest edition of Inside The Mouse Castle:

• We will never get tired of saying how excited we are about the cast of Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. Ewan McGregor (Lumiere) and Stanley Tucci (Cadenza, a new character that's a piano) are the latest actors to sign on. 2017 can't get here fast enough.

Concept of the Millennium Falcon play area aboard the Disney Dream.

• The Disney Dream will make kid-friendly enhancements during its October dry dock. Our favorite is a Star Wars-themed Millennium Falcon play area. <sigh> Why does it just have to be for kids?
• News of what we can expect in Disney Infinity 3.0 has leaked out. It looks like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn, Quorra and the cast of emotions from Inside Out will be part of the next iteration of the popular game. No official word yet on when they'll be released.

Coming to Disney Infinity 3.0?

• Disney is fighting a lawsuit filed by filmmaker Kelly Wilson over similarities between her short film The Snowman and Disney's first teaser trailer for Frozen. Wilson is claiming copyright infringement. Her film was screened at the 2011 San Francisco International Film Festival, an event that was also attended by Disney/Pixar employees. The Frozen teaser was not released until 2013. A judge has twice denied Disney's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit. What do you think? Take a look at both films:

You can view The Snowman HERE. We think Disney may want to settle this one out of court.

• In a more entertaining lawsuit, a West Virginia woman is suing Disney for implanting her with a chip. You just can't make this stuff up.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 04-14-2015 - 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Premiere, 'Star Wars' Celebration and Selfie Sticks

By Tim Callaway

Avengers assemble!

The Avengers assembled at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Monday night for the world premiere of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Go on the red carpet to hear from the film's stars Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evens, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader and director Joss Whedon with a cameo (of course) by Stan Lee.

Tim and Anthony don their super suits and discuss the high expectations attached to the newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how Age of Ultron could make as much as $2 billion worldwide, placing it in the rarefied air of Avatar and Titanic. They also talk about a few other things in this super long, super entertaining episode of Inside The Mouse Castle. 

• 'Star Wars' Celebration, the massive gathering of Lucasfilm uberfans, gets underway this week at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy will hold court at the first panel of the event Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Fans can line up to see the presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night. Wednesday night?!? (NOTE: after we finished recording this episode, 'Star Wars' Celebration announced that the Abrams/Kennedy panel--along with 30-plus hours of content--will be streamed live online at StarWars.com).

• It's official! The legendary Hatbox Ghost is finally returning to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in May. We anticipate he'll (dis)appear in the area behind the "window" that mysteriously showed up recently in the attic across from the Bride. 
• In other Mansion news, Guillermo del Toro's new Haunted Mansion film is moving forward and will star Ryan Gosling.
• Steven Spielberg will direct his first Disney film, The BFG, co-produced by Disney, Dreamworks and Walden Media, is based on a story by Roald Dahl and is scheduled for release in July 2016.
• Ian McKellen will play Cogsworth in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast. With a cast that already includes Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad and Audra McDonald, can expectations for this film get any higher?
• Disney is developing a new live-action retelling of Pinocchio, which naturally makes us nostalgic for the 2000 made-for-TV movie Geppetto starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
• Brad Bird is working on a script for The Incredibles 2. It's about time.
• Theme park guests can get a sneak peek at Bird's newest film, Tomorrowland, starting this Friday at Disneyland and Saturday at Epcot.
• The Matterhorn and Peter Pan are both getting upgrades for Disneyland's 60th. Down for refurb now, the attractions will reopen sometime in May.
• A fatal crash at the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World took the life of racing instructor Gary Terry over the weekend. Our condolences to his family and friends.
• Disney and Dali: Architects of the Imagination, a new exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum, opens on July 10th. It will explore the longtime friendship and artistic collaboration between Walt and the surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

The Boathouse

• The upscale restaurant The Boathouse opened at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) at Walt Disney World this week. Who wants to share a $115 steak with us?
• Selfie sticks have been outlawed at Walt Disney World. Or not. Or maybe just on attractions. Who knows? Actually, we do.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 03-30-2015 - Springtime at Disneyland, Trader Sam's at Walt Disney World, 'Rogue One' vs. 'Rogue Nation'

By Tim Callaway

Sleeping Beauty Castle at 60.

Spring has sprung all over the Disney parks, especially at Disneyland where they're ramping up for the Happiest Place on Earth's 60th birthday. Silver and blue Diamond Celebration decorations are showing up all over Disneyland, most notably on Sleeping Beauty Castle, which may look sharper now than it did during the 50th anniversary. And yet, with all this hoopla ready to commence, Anthony and I are more fascinated with the soft opening of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Walt Disney World's Polynesian Village Resort. It must be the tropical ambiance or the high-tech Tiki effects that hooked us.

Naah....it's the booze. I want a Nautilus cocktail badly.

Here's what else we've got going on in this edition of Inside The Mouse Castle:

• Innoventions West at Epcot is closing down for a spring refurb and will eventually welcome new sponsors to replace departing T. Rowe Price and Liberty Mutual. At least it will be back. Innoventions at Disneyland is done today.
• Have you ever wondered how you'd look as a Star Wars action figure? You can find out next month during Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios where they're bringing back D-Tech Me. Get a 3D scan of your face done and it will be rendered on a 7-inch or 16-inch Star Wars figure. You can be a Stormtrooper, a Jedi Knight, or even a hapless prisoner frozen in carbonite. Prices start at a hundred bucks. Find out more on the Disney Parks Blog.
• runDisney posted their upcoming schedule of events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Time to start training.

runDisney 2015-2016 Calendar.

• Broadway star Audra McDonald will play the Wardrobe in Disney's upcoming Beauty and the Beast, which I have to spell out because Anthony has no idea what "BatB" means.
• Cinderella continues to perform strongly at the box office, especially overseas. The reboot of Disney's animated classic just passed the $300 million mark at the worldwide box office. Want to know why Disney keeps remaking their animated films in live action? Because they make obscene amounts of money, hello!
• Are you getting Star Wars: Rogue One confused with Mission: Impossible, Rogue Nation? Me neither, but Disney/Lucasfilm and Paramount have cut a deal to keep Rogue One away from mainstream advertising until Rogue Nation has run its course. Rogue Nation, starring Tom Cruise, will hit theaters on July 31st. Rogue One will get a solid mention at Star Wars Celebration in a couple of weeks, but don't expect to hear anything else significant about it until December when Star Wars: The Force Awakens makes its debut.

Bambi concept art by Tyrus Wong.

• Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong was a remarkable exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum in 2013. You can now catch it on the East Coast at New York's Museum of Chinese in America through September 13, 2015. It's a wonderful celebration of the Disney Legend who gave life to Bambi and, at age 104, is still producing art. 
• Fancy Nancy, the title character of a successful series of children's books, will see her adventures turned into a movie on Disney Junior. My granddaughter is giddy.
• Does your child have a unique vision of the future? Hopefully, everyone's child does, but the right idea could get your kid $3,000 and some other cool prizes in Disney's Create Tomorrowland--XPRIZE Challenge. Find out more at www.xprizechallenge.org. 

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 03-16-2015 - Tim Burton Directs 'Dumbo'; Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline and Josh Gad Join 'Beauty and the Beast'

By Tim Callaway

Beauty and the Beast gets a live-action treatment in 2017.

Cinderella opened on Friday to positive reviews and solid box office sales. Maleficent and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland were mediocre films at best but made buckets of money for Disney. Now Burton is back to take on another one of Walt's animated classics. He'll direct a live-action version of Dumbo. No, really. Meanwhile, director Bill Condon is assembling a dream cast for a reboot of Beauty and the Beast. Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts), Kevin Kline (Maurice) and Josh Gad (LeFou) are the latest to join the ensemble in a film slated for release in 2017.

So, the question remains, is it still a good idea for Disney to remake its stable of animated classics as CG-heavy live-action films? Anthony and I jump into the fray in this edition of Inside The Mouse Castle.

We also cover these fascinating topics:

• We're getting conflicting news about a third Tron movie, but it looks like it's a go with Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) directing and Garrett Hedlund returning to play Sam Flynn. Shooting could start in Vancouver this fall.
• Disneyland and Walt Disney World will kick off the summer season with what has now become a tradition: a 24-hour party on Memorial Day weekend. The "Coolest Summer Ever" starts at 6:00 a.m. on May 22nd at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and the Magic Kingdom. The party won't end until 6:00 a.m. on the 23rd. Ready to pull an all day and all nighter? Start resting up now.

• Disney California Adventure's conversion of Condor Flats to an expanded Grizzly Peak will start to reveal itself on Friday when Smokejumpers Grill (formerly Taste Pilots) opens. The rest of the expansion, including an enhanced Soarin' Over California, will gradually reopen later this spring.
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens on December 18th, but the expected merchandising blitz will precede it. Twenty Star Wars-related books will hit stores leading up to the film's release.
• Want to have a bit of tournament fun that has nothing to do with basketball this month? Cast your votes during "March Magic," which pits 32 Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions against one another. Are you a Flying Elephant? A California Screamer? Maybe you're a Space Mountain Blast or a Caribbean Cannonball. And did we mention there are t-shirts? Get them now before your favorites are eliminated.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 03-09-2015 - Harrison Ford's Crash Landing, 'Tomorrowland' and Indy's 20th Birthday

By Tim Callaway

Tim O'Day and Tony Baxter celebrate
20 years of Indy at Disneyland.

Last week was about as busy as you could imagine if you're a Disney fan--and that's a good thing. New movie trailers, some juicy movie rumors, new cast announcements for Beauty and the Beast, the imminent closing of Innoventions and the 20th anniversary of the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

Oh yeah, and Han Solo crash landed the Millennium Falcon on Tatooine. Or something like that.

Here's what Anthony and I wax eloquently about on this episode of Inside The Mouse Castle:

• Anthony dropped in on a 20th anniversary celebration for Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. This exclusive Annual Passholder event saw Disney maven Tim O'Day swap stories with Imagineer and Indy designer Tony Baxter. A pleasant time was had by all.
• Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn let slip on social media that Marvel will not be in attendance at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. Okay by us. We're hyped to get our share of the Cinematic Universe at the D23 Expo in August. We're also wondering if Lucasfilm will go the same route with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Between the Expo and next month's Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, does Lucasfilm even need Comic-Con?
• Movie fans held their breath, then let out a collective sigh of relief when Harrison Ford crash landed his single-engine plane on a Southern California golf course Thursday and escaped without significant injuries. We wish the 72 year-old actor a speedy recovery. 
• A rumor has surfaced about the content of the next Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer. We're intrigued, but it seems a bit too detailed for a trailer that's still more than a month away from its expected debut at Star Wars Celebration. And let's face it, speculating that Luke, Leia, Han, C3PO and R2-D2 will finally make an appearance is not really a stretch.
• Meanwhile, this real, live trailer has pinned our nerd meter at eleven:

• This one ain't bad either:

• And have you seen the new movie poster for Tomorrowland? Dude, Space Mountain is in it. Wait, what?

• Luke Evans (Gaston) and Dan Stevens (Beast) are joining the cast of Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. Anthony and I aren't impressed, but apparently if you're female and have a pulse, this is a big deal.
• Pixar's Toy Story 4 will not be a continuation of the existing Toy Story trilogy--which is a relief. What it will be is a self-contained romantic comedy directed by John Lasseter. Assuming Woody (Tom Hanks) is at the center of the love story, Anthony has a brilliant idea of who should play the sheriff's new girlfriend. In fact, it's such a great idea, Anthony has been losing sleep over it. And it's no small coincidence he was in Seattle two weeks ago.
• Dear Internet: It's not CG. Even Lily James says it's a corset--and a damn uncomfortable one. Please move on.

• By the way, Cinderella opens in U.S. theaters on Friday.

• We really like this first glimpse at Zootopia. The Disney animated film opens next year (description courtesy Walt Disney Animation Studios).

• The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

Zootopia.

• Innoventions is closing up at Disneyland on March 31st to make way for...we're not sure yet, but we have plenty of ideas. And no, that doesn't mean Mickey's Toontown is closing too. How do these rumors get started?
• D23 has announced two fan contests for the upcoming D23 Expo. Are you artistic? Show them your best Sleeping Beauty Castle and you could win $2,300. Is cosplay more your thing? Mousequerade could send you to Disney's Aulani Resort.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 02-16-2015 - Spider-Man Returns to Marvel, Cinderella's Waist Shrinks and Mad T Party Comes Back to DCA

By Tim Callaway

Will Captain America meet
Spider-Man in Civil War?

Spider-Man is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and we couldn't be happier. Last week, Marvel and Sony announced an agreement to jointly produce films featuring the web-slinger. Sony will retain creative control of the character in a stand-alone film (with more to follow, we're sure) set for release on July 18th, 2017. Marvel, meanwhile, will be able to use Spider-Man in MCU films, which will be critical to the story line in next year's Captain America: Civil War. Anthony and I have the word on how this will affect other upcoming Marvel releases in this week's episode of Inside The Mouse Castle. We also chime in on these tasty tidbits:

• Big Hero 6 has quietly moved into the third place on the list of Disney's highest grossing animated films in the U.S. It now trails only The Lion King and Frozen in domestic box office.
• Is Cinderella looking a little too thin around the waistline to be believed? The latest trailer for Disney's new live-action film has people wondering whether, like mice morphing into horses, the little cinder girl's tiny tummy is a CG effect as well (check 1:11 and 1:54 in the video).

• Will Hermione Granger and Professor Trelawney reunite in Beauty and the Beast? We already know Emma Watson is on board to play Belle, but now Emma Thompson is rumored to be talking with Disney about playing Mrs. Potts in the live-action reboot of the classic animated film. 
• Will Pixar's "Day of the Dead" movie be the studio's first musical? Songwriter Randy Newman let slip a bit of information that has us thinking this is the case for the Lee Unkrich-directed project.
• Pete's Dragon has started shooting in New Zealand. Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters and Helen Reddy aren't in it. [sigh]
• We already knew that Frozen was headed to Broadway, but now we've confirmed that the movie's songwriting team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez will be penning additional tunes for the stage adaptation.
• Star Wars is headed out to sea. In 2016, select Disney Fantasy cruises will feature a Star Wars Day at Sea with character meet and greets and special activities for adults and kids.

• Arrivederci, Luigi's Flying Tires. The Cars Land attraction in Disney California Adventure closed for good on Monday. We'll miss it, but even we admit it wasn't that great a ride.
  
• Freeze the Night will do what nighttime entertainment does in summer: make way for the return of Mad T Party at DCA on May 22nd. Any chance we'll ever get ElecTRONica back? Any chance the Hollywood Land "backlot" will be anything else in the daytime other than cluttered access to Mike & Sulley to the Rescue? Hey, who misses Superstar Limo?

• The Walt Disney World Speedway along with the Richard Petty Driving Experience is going away. Buh bye.
• Now open at the Walt Disney Family Museum is Lights! Camera! Glamour! The Photography of George Hurrell. The exhibition runs through June 29th and includes over 50 prints and items from the renowned celebrity photographer and artist.

Walt Disney in 1940. Photograph by George Hurrell.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 01-26-2015 - Emma Watson is Belle, 'Strange Magic' is Bad, Disney Cruise Line is Frozen

By Tim Callaway

Emma Watson

In a surprising and pretty exciting casting announcement, we learned today that Emma Watson (Harry Potter and the etc., etc.) will play Belle in the live-action movie version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Okay, I'm excited, but Anthony's a little skeptical.

Still, Emma Watson is going to be Belle!

The film, directed by Bill Condon, will start shooting later this year and likely be released in 2016. And yeah, I get that this is yet another live-action redo of classic Disney animation (see 101 Dalmatians, Cinderella and The Jungle Book), but, dude, Emma Watson is going to be BELLE!

Also in this episode of Inside The Mouse Castle:

• Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner) is hopping aboard Pirates of the Caribbean 5. The film is currently in pre-production in Australia and is looking at a July 2017 release date.
• Strange Magic crashed and burned at the box office over the weekend. The Lucasfilm release, with a story by executive producer George Lucas, was skewered by critics and took in a paltry $5.5 million.
• One story George Lucas won't get credit for is the one for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In a recent interview, Lucas said, "The [stories] that I sold to Disney, they came up to the decision that they didn't really want to do those. So they made up their own."

Anna, Olaf and Elsa want to take you on a sea cruise.

• Frozen is coming to Disney Cruise Line. We knew it had to happen eventually.
• This:

• Some classic Disney comic books from the past will make a return later this year when IDW Publishing releases a series of Uncle Scrooge, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Walt Disney Comics and Stories titles.
• It's that time of year. Ticket prices at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are due to increase soon--at least that's what the rumor mill says. Let the emotional outbursts from fans begin!

Enjoy!

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Disney Animator Andreas Deja in the MCL

Andreas Deja

Andreas Deja always knew he wanted to be a Disney animator. Born in Poland and raised in Germany, he sent his first letter to the studio inquiring about a job when he was only ten years old. He received a form letter in return, but it was full of encouraging words urging him to study art and build a portfolio. As a teen, he continued to practice his craft, corresponding with Eric Larson, one of Disney's Nine Old Men who headed up the animation training program at the studio. Andreas graduated from university in 1980 and by the end of the summer had accepted a position at Disney. It would mark the beginning of a relationship that would last over 30 years.

The first film Andreas worked on was The Black Cauldron, doing early character design, costume research and some animation. Over time, he lent his talent to Oliver & Company, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Little Mermaid. He found his niche as a master of villains when he became supervising animator of Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. More bad guys would follow: Jafar in Aladdin and Scar in The Lion King.

Scar in The Lion King

Andreas finds drawing villains more fun than drawing heroes. He says, "You have so much more to work with in terms of expressions and acting and drawing-wise than you would have with a nice princess or a prince, you know, where you have to be ever so careful with the draftsmanship." Still, he managed to draw his share of heroes. He was supervising animator of adult Hercules in Hercules, as well as that most heroic of rodents, Mickey Mouse, in the shorts The Prince and the Pauper and Runaway Brain.

Today, we celebrate one of Disney's truly great animation artists. Andreas Deja is my guest in The Mouse Castle Lounge.

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Remembering Howard Ashman

Today would have been the 63rd birthday of the late writer, lyricist and director Howard Ashman. With composer Alan Menken, Ashman wrote the great songs of Disney's animation renaissance during the 1980s and 90s: "Part of Your World" and "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid; "Be Our Guest" and "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast; "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" from Aladdin--among so many others.

Ashman had a passion for musical theater and a gift for clever wordplay that coalesced brilliantly during his time at Disney. In this clip from the 2009 documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty, we see Ashman in action, coaching Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, through a recording of "Part of Your World." He goes on to explain why that song and others like it are critical in theater and film to make audiences "fall in love" with the leading lady.

With Menken, Ashman won two Academy Awards for "Under the Sea" and "Beauty and the Beast." In 1991, Ashman died far too young at the age of 40 from complications arising from AIDS. Both he and Menken were named Disney Legends in 2001.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ashman's sister, Sarah Ashman Gillespie, about her brother's life and legacy. Sarah manages the website Part of His World, a labor-of-love tribute to Howard, full of history and fond remembrances from Sarah and some of the people who knew and worked with Howard, including Alan Menken, Jodi Benson and John Musker. I'll post part one of my conversation with Sarah this weekend in The Mouse Castle Lounge.

Happy Birthday, Howard.  You are missed.

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