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Disney’s Live Action Beauty and the Beast Gets More Cast, Release Date

by John Frost
March 17, 2015March 17, 2015

Disney hopes to continue its string of successful live-action remakes with a new live action version of Beauty & The Beast. We already learned that Emma Watson and Dan Stevens will star as Belle and the Beast/Prince respectively, and Luke Evans will play the role of Gaston. We now know that Emma Thompson has joined the cast as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Maurice.

I love Kevin Kline, who voiced Phoebus in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Emma Thompson did such a wonderful job as P.L. Travers in Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks and as Queen Elinor in Pixar’s Brave. (Trivia: Without googling it, can you name the other character Thompson voiced for Disney?*)

Eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards for the 1991 animated classic, will score the film, which will feature new recordings of the original songs in addition to several new songs written by Menken and Sir Tim Rice. So this might actually be a live action remake of the stage musical, which itself was an expanded version of the movie. I’m okay with that.

Disney has announced they will release Beauty and the Beast in 3D on March 17, 2017.

The beloved tale will be retold for the big screen with a modern live-action lens and the help of transformative computer generated special effects. Bill Condon will direct from a script by Stephen Chbosky, and the film will be produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Production begins in May at Shepperton Studios in London.

*Trivia answer below:

D23 Expo returns to Japan in November

by John Frost
March 17, 2015

The love of Disney knows no international borders. You’ll find Mickey & Minnie on t-shirts and toy shelves nearly anywhere you visit on the planet. There is one place that takes its mouse worship to a new level however. That is the country of Japan. The Walt Disney Company Japan has just made an announcement that will make those fans very happy, it will stage D23 Expo Japan 2015, a special event for Disney fans created by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. The Expo will take place over three days from November 6 to November 8, 2015 in Maihama in Tokyo Disney Resort.

“We heard from a lot of fans about how delighted they were with the D23 Expo we held in 2013, and this Expo promises to be even more spectacular,” said Walt Disney Japan President Paul Candland. “We’re very excited about being able to present this great event once again, and we know our guests will have an incredible experience during the three days we have planned for them. ”

D23 Expo is a special event held every two years in the U.S. as part of D23’s ongoing engagement with Disney fans. In 2013, Disney launched D23 Expo Japan, a uniquely Japanese event that remains true to D23’s vision for “the ultimate fan event.” The program includes thrilling performances, as well as engaging presentations by Disney executives, and showcases what’s on the horizon from across The Walt Disney Company, including theme parks, movies, television, and music. Themed around “the power of story,” D23 Expo Japan 2015 will bring together fascinating tales from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel.

Disney and Saks Fifth Avenue Unveil Cinderella Luxury Designer Shoe Collection in New York City

by Michelle Snow
March 17, 2015

Pictured top (from left to right): René Caovilla, Nicholas Kirkwood, Jimmy Choo, Paul Andrew
Pictured bottom (from left to right): Charlotte Olympia, Alexandre Birman, Salvatore Ferragamo, Jerome C. Rousseau, Stuart Weitzman

Just ahead of the March 13 release of Disney’s live action film “Cinderella,” Disney Consumer Products and Saks Fifth Avenue launched a fairy tale collection of luxury designer shoes that reimagine Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper for grown up fans of the classic story.

The collection was unveiled with the stars of the film, Lily James and Richard Madden, via six store windows at the Saks flagship store in Manhattan.

Baby Goats join the Disneyland herd

by John Frost
March 17, 2015March 17, 2015

In today’s moment of cute, Disneyland recently added two baby goats to their small pack of goats at the Big Thunder Ranch petting area. Meet Benard and Bianca, two baby goats who are already out visiting with guests. I like how they have the area… Read More »Baby Goats join the Disneyland herd

Funko to Introduce Disney Heroes vs Villains Mystery Minis Collectibles

by Michelle Snow
March 16, 2015March 15, 2015

Funko is partnering with Disney to release a new Heroes vs Villains Mystery Mini collection, which will be available in April 2015. The collection is a blind box series, with six heroes and six villains packaged individually. Each hero will have a companion villain to… Read More »Funko to Introduce Disney Heroes vs Villains Mystery Minis Collectibles

Cinderella Waltzes Away With Weekend Box Office Win

by John Frost
March 16, 2015March 15, 2015

In the new live-action remake of Disney’s classic Cinderella, we learn that those who are kind and have courage will find life has its rewards if you just persevere. The movie itself didn’t have to wait long. It is Box Office Royalty right out the… Read More »Cinderella Waltzes Away With Weekend Box Office Win

Boffo Box Office for Big Hero 6

by John Frost
March 16, 2015March 15, 2015

Don’t look now, but Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning Big Hero 6 just became the highest earning animated feature of 2014. Thanks to a strong international box office, it has now passed $620 million globally. The film, which earned $221 million domestically, surpassed $400… Read More »Boffo Box Office for Big Hero 6

Pixar’s Inside Out Joins March Madness

by John Frost
March 16, 2015March 15, 2015

It’s March and college basketball fans are looking forward to a fantastic NCAA Tournament. Pixar wants to share that its upcoming animated feature “Inside Out” features it’s own special brand of madness with this new TV Spot:

Definitely an emotional roller coaster there. A lot of fun new glimpses, quite a bit different than what we saw in the last trailer.

Btw, I want to pause and call out the amazing hair in this scene. Seems now that Pixar has figured out how to make a redhead’s hair, they can’t help but show off a bit.