Category — Walt Disney Pictures

So, I’m hanging with Bruce Smith at the Magic Kingdom the other day (how many times will I ever be able to open a story with that line?) and I totally wanted to ask him about a “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” sequel, since he worked on the original. But when time came for the official interview, I forgot. Figures.

Turns out that’s okay because Honor Hunter sent his minions out to collect the latest details on the Roger Rabbit sequel and found a scoop. Roger Zemeckis mentioned that a new screenplay was in progress during this interview with MTV.

There are still a lot of hoops to climb through for the sequel. For instance, Bob Hoskins who played Eddie Valiant has essentially declared himself unfit for that style of acting. But every step forward is a good one.

Tron Legacy (aka Tron 2.0) is still more than a year away from it’s theatrical release. Primary shooting just wrapped and now the intensive post-production process begins. Olvia Wilde (whom you may know from her role on “House”) sat down with ComingSoon.net for an interview where they talked about Tron Legacy.

We shot some 20-hour days, we were wearing the suits, which are not easy to wear. I was doing a lot of my own stunts and training a lot of the time. Really pushing myself physically as well as mentally. It was an epic undertaking. It was a HUGE film to shoot in those few days. I was so proud to be a part of it. The morning that we wrapped it was an unbelievable feeling. We all just lost it. It was sunrise and we couldn’t believe we were actually done.

So when do we start camping in line?

As  Beatlemania sweeps the world all over again this week with the issuing of the band’s remastered catalogue on CD and The Beatles: Rock Band video game, The Walt Disney Studios, The Beatles‘ company Apple Corps Ltd., and Robert Zemeckis’ Disney-owned studio ImageMovers Digital officially announced today at the D23 Expo that a deal has been struck to “develop a new 3D performance capture adaptation  of the 1968 hit animated film Yellow Submarine to be written and  directed by Robert Zemeckis”.

Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook made the announcement, confirming Hollywood trade publication Variety’s report from last month which said a deal was in the works —news that rankled many but made me very happy.

The film will incorporate 16 of the Beatles’ original recordings, including classic songs like ”All You Need Is Love”, “Eleanor Rigby”, and “Lucy  in the Sky with Diamonds”. No target release year or date was mentioned, but there seems no reason to doubt Variety’s claim of Summer 2012, considering the factual accuracy of the rest of their story.

Again, this is simply a dream collaboration: “one of the most exciting and anticipated project’s coming from Disney” in the next few years, as I put it in my earlier post. To have Disney and Robert Zemeckis put breathtaking 3-D images to the lyrics and melodies of the Beatles’ songs should prove to be quite an experience for moviegoers.

Interestingly, in the mini documentary included with remastered version of the Yellow Submarine album released on Wednesday, Paul McCartney conspicuously mentions Disney at least twice as an influence on the Beatles’ decision to create the original Yellow Submarine animated film (poster pictured), released in 1968.

The complete press release, with extended quotes from Cook, Zemeckis, and Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones, after the jump.

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It was a big day at the D23 Expo in Anaheim for fans of Disney movies. Key talent and filmmakers from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ upcoming slate of movies were on hand at the D23 Expo, made some surprise appearances. Alas photography and video devices of any kind were banned from the presentation, so we have to really on Disney PR to provide the shots.

Mickey Mouse, Anika Noni Rose, and CEO Bob Iger get chummy.

The biggest news was that Johnny Depp will be back in a fourth edition of the popular movie based on the Disneyland pirates attraction. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” will come out in 2011. Depp appeared on stage in full Captain Jack Sparrow regalia acting with the drunken swagger we’ve come to expect from the Pirate rogue. (Note: sadly there is no PR photo of this yet. One is promised. When I find it I’ll put it up.)

Depp is also appearing in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Lone Ranger”. None of this was really news, the only question was when. Tim Burton also announced he is making a feature length version of his “Frankenweenie” cult short film.

Bruckheimer, Cyrus, and Cage post for the camera.

Nicolas Cage, star of upcoming film “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (July 2010) wants to do another “National Treasure” film. Someone is probably making that happen as we speak. (updated)

That’s a handsome looking family.

The Travolta family, John, wife Kelly Preston, and their daughter Ella Bleu previewed some scenes from “Old Dogs,” which also stars Robin Williams. It’s 9-year-old Ella Bleu’s debut. It will hit theaters November 25th 2009.

Miley Cyrus, star of upcoming film “The Last Song” sang her hit song “The Climb.”

Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of upcoming films “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (May 2010) and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (July 2010) was there to preview those two films to the audience.

It’s not a show without an appearance by the Muppets. Hey is that Mark Twain for sale?.

Also Kermit the Frog, and the game from the Muppets put in an appearance. Disney has plans for these Muppets, but I don’t think it’s a new finale for Fantasmic!

This wasn’t even all the news. Tomorrow Pixar studios and John Lasseter gets their chance.

(all photos courtesy Disney PR / Eric Charbonneau Photographer)

Here, direct from Comic-Con, is the teaser trailer for Tron Legacy (aka Tron 2.0 or TR2N). Note, this is essentially the same video from last year, just much better quality.

So Flynn Lives, eh. I’m certainly looking forward to this. Look for Tron Legacy to hit theaters in 2010.

Depending on how you define animation, The Walt Disney Company actually has two major animated films coming out this holiday season. “The Princess and The Frog”, Walt Disney Animation Studios return to hand drawn animation is opening December 11th, but before that Disney will enter a new era of animation with its first 3D Motion Picture capture movie “A Christmas Carol”, which will hit theaters on November 8th.

A few minutes of footage were screened at Cannes this week and we got our first look as Jim Carrey as Scrooge (click above for larger image). You’ll also be able to experience an early look at the film as the ‘Christmas Carol Train Tour’ makes 40 stops around the country beginning this weekend. Click below the cut for the full schedule.

Actor Jim Carrey, actress Robin Wright Penn and actor Colin Firth attend Walt Disney’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Photo Call and Press Conference at the Carlton Hotel during the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2009 in Cannes, France. (Photo Courtesy Disney, Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com ©Imagemovers Digital, LLC. )

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Race to Witch Mountain found its target at the box office this weekend bringing in the number one spot for Walt Disney Pictures with $25 million. This was also the second largest opening for a film with Dwayne Johnson at the lead (Scorpion King did $36 million). There’s little new competition next weekend, so Disney might strike gold a second time.

Race to Witch Mountain opens today and sadly, it’s getting mixed reviews. Good enough to kill a few hours before summer gets started, but otherwise boring and pointless.

A.O. Scott from the NY Times, whose reviews I seem to find a lot to agree with, says the movie “is modest and diverting, rough and bland, with some good (if not quite Bette Davis caliber) actors and so-so special effects.”

Eric Snider at Cinematical is not so kind. “Are you getting the impression that the film consists entirely of random, pointless details?” I am now. “The whole thing’s loud and flat, like a radio tuned to static and turned up all the way.”

RottenTomatoes.com has it pegged at 45 out of 100. So your mileage may vary.

If you do see Dwayne Johnson and Race To Witch Mountain please do return and leave your thoughts below.