Check out the first half of the mailbag on The DisInsider to get cool answers about live-action Hercules, Moana 2, Pirates, Kingdom Keepers, and more:
Welcome to the second half of The DisInsider/Boardwalk Times mailbag. Today, I’m joined by my good friend Skyler Shuler of The DisInsider. Followers of Boardwalk Times know that I usually do my mailbags quarterly and usually they are business-focused questions so it was a lot of fun to answer these questions about the Disney Parks, Disney+, and Walt Disney Studios alongside Skyler.
Snow White teaser in July? They dropped the Mufasa teaser about 8 months before release and 8 months before Snow White’s release is July so teaser then?
Skyler: With Disney’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event around the corner I wouldn’t expect a trailer until then.
Where is the Moana 2 trailer? Is Disney confident in the movie?
Skyler: Recording is ongoing but from what I have heard from people in the know, Moana 2 is something special and Disney is very confident they have a critical and financial hit on their hands.
Will we get more Broadway musical pro-shots on Disney+? I remember reading Aladdin was shot years ago but was never released… What happened?
Zach: The Aladdin thing is an anomaly. But I do expect more pro-shots on Disney+. Disney is cutting back on original content spend and they have been leaning into more music documentaries and acquired content lately for Disney+.
Any live-action Lilo and Stitch updates in terms of a first-look trailer or release date? Is it still a Disney+ release or moved to theatrical?
Zach: I’m going to have Skyler answer this one but I heard rumblings of theatrical but not entirely sure.
Skyler: I am thinking this will remain a Disney+ release, but I did talk to someone close to the project and all signs point to Lilo & Stitch being one of Disney’s better remakes. Expect a first look within the next couple of months.
Are Taron Edgerton and Michael B. Jordan still the top choices for Hercules? And do you have any hints as to who the Muses will be?
Skyler: Last I heard, Egerton was high on Disney’s “wishlist” as is Austin Butler, Jordan’s was not mentioned to me in my recent discussion with a source.
I think an adaptation of Fantasmic would be great for Mickey’s 100th birthday either as a Disney+ movie or a short like Once Upon a Studio.
Zach: Lovely idea. However, I think if you did Fantasmic you gotta send that one to theaters. You don’t have Sorcerer Mickey taking on iconic Disney villains sent straight to Disney+.
Will Disney do Broadway musical adaptations of movies like Princess and the Frog or Encanto?
Zach: My money is on Encanto.
Is Disney Animation making more 2D/3D hybrid animation movies?
Skyler: Disney Animation has a 2D project in the works. The studio is looking at new ways to tell stories on the animation side, so I would imagine that is a combination of the two.
It’s a big summer for the Muppets, with Jim Henson doc and Frank Oz being inducted as a Disney Legend (long overdue). What is your dream project for the Muppets moving forward? And any picks for legacy Muppet titles that need to land soon on Disney+?
Zach: Totally agree that Frank Oz being inducted as a Disney Legend is long overdue. My dream project for the Muppets moving forward would be a Disney+ series similar to Muppets Tonight/The Muppet Show and then maybe do a Muppet film every four years in theaters as a co-production with The Jim Henson Company (ideally would love Brian and Lisa Henson helping with The Muppets). On off years do some holiday specials for Disney+! My Muppet legacy titles that need to land soon on Disney+ are Muppets Tonight, The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, The Muppets at Walt Disney World (I mean come on???), The Muppets Wizard of Oz, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together, A Muppet Family Christmas, Of Muppets and Men, The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Muppets from Space.
Is Lucy Hale replacing Rachel Zegler as Snow White?
Zach: No.
Is the rumored Kingdom Hearts movie being made by Disney Animation?
Zach: Last I heard was that this film was going to be live-action/CGI hybrid.
Skyler: Last I heard, the idea was all animated but there are some insiders who are saying what Zach heard.
Is Maleficent 3 still happening? Since Angelina announced it in December last year
Skyler: Yes
Hello, how close to the original movie do you think Snow White will be? (Music, style, sets)
Skyler: They are taking a lot of inspiration from the animated movie in terms of costume design. Multiple new songs will be featured, sets will have a bit of a unique look. Keep in mind, there are vast differences with Snow White having Dwarfs and Jonathan having Bandits. Think of this remake of how Disney did Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
Is Tobey Maguire going to appear as Spider-Man in Deadpool 3??
Skyler: I do not think so, but Avengers: Secret Wars… 😉
There have been rumors of Disney wanting to remake Mulan again but closer to the cartoon this time: a musical, with Mushu, etc. Is that true?
Zach: Not true.
Other than Colman Domingo, who else is being considered for Kang?
Skyler: They are looking for actors but I do not believe Colman is one of those being considered.
Does Disney have any plans for any more 20th Century Studios IP that aren’t Avatar in the Parks?
Zach: The integration of 20th Century IP’s outside of Avatar is slow. There was an Ice Age sand sculpture at Animal Kingdom for a limited time and too many people read into that. The Simpsons are tied up at Universal for a bit longer. I’d keep your eyes on Planet of the Apes though, if those films stay critically and financially successful a Parks integration will eventually become a no-brainer. Hoping to have more info on 20th Century Studio IP in the Parks later this year in my newsletter as well.
Do you think we will get an update from the Tiana series/movie at D23 this year?
Skyler: Oh yes, be ready for that announcement this Summer.
Do either of you expect any of the attractions built as part of Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs expansion to eventually (emphasis on eventually) be cloned at a domestic park? If so, where?
Zach: I am more excited to see Skyler’s answer. However, I don’t think it will be a clone of Fantasy Springs exactly but I expect Arendelle or more Frozen at Disneyland Resort. Everything about Fantasy Springs is cool but Tokyo Disney Resort also has an exclusivity agreement when it comes to their experiences so I don’t know the likelihood we would get anything similar at other parks. Even if the Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan attractions are all super cool!
Skyler: Well, Frozen will make an appearance via DisneylandForward. Disney Parks keep a lot under wraps, but I will say with the Tron: Ares on the way and the vast popularity of the TRON: Light/Cycle Run attraction I imagine Disneyland will bring that over. The Pirates of the Caribbean in Shanghai coming to Disneyland would be a wish for me though.
Do you think there will be something new announced for Disneyland Park (Paris) at D23?
Zach: Disney Experiences keeps emphasizing the reimagining of Disneyland Paris Resort. It would be an absolute crime if something new isn’t announced for the main park at D23.
What are you hearing about Percy Jackson beyond Season 2?
Skyler: They are already outlining Season 3 so expect this series to keep going.
When will Win or Lose be out on Disney+ feels like forever ago that they announced that series.
Zach: Later this year! I was hoping for August but now I’m thinking it will be post-Agatha. Skyler? You got a story to break here haha?
Skyler: I believe it drops in November, if I remember correctly.
How much would Moana 2 have to make at the worldwide box office to push Disney to turn Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Disney+ Tiana series into The Princess and the Frog 2 for the big screen with enough money for a big budget to make it fully 2D/hand-drawn animated?
Skyler: Disney already knows what it wants to do with Tiana/Princess and the Frog 2, it doesn’t need Moana 2 to help with that decision.
Have you heard if a Villains Land is still going to happen in Magic Kingdom?
Zach: At the time of this mailbag that’s a yes. Although fair warning Disney has a ton of prep work to do to even get that expansion area ready for building. We may not even see a hypothetical Villains Land at MK until the end of the 2020s. I’m sure there have been a ton of conversations at Imagineering if it’s even the right call to do a land that has such high expectations.
Do you believe in conspiracy theories? I ask this because a Club 33 movie was announced and there are a lot of things about that place… 😬👀💀
Zach: HAHA spill! Club 33 film is funny because that plot sounds like it could literally be for anything and they went and titled this after a fancy Disneyland club, essentially pigeon-holing the concept out of the gate.
Could you talk about the role of Jonathan in Snow White live-action? Do you know if he will be a rebel prince in disguise or a simply thief?
Skyler: He is the leader of the bandits, he is not a prince but make no mistake he is Snow White’s love interest.
Who do you believe will be the company’s CEO successor based on known candidates and who do you feel should be the CEO successor in your opinions?
Zach: I believe it’s going to be either Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden or Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro. Maybe even C0-CEO’s or a CEO/COO structure. I think it’s shocking how internal the search for CEO has been, waiting for some news on some external candidates emerging. In my opinion, Josh D’Amaro would be your next CEO. Some have unfairly compared him to Chapek but truthfully Josh feels like the perfect guy to lead Disney. A Disney lifer, on the young side, charismatic, great relationships with creatives at the studios, etc. For what it’s worth I’d be cool with D’Amaro or Walden but I do lean towards D’Amaro.
Skyler: I totally agree with Zach here, Disney is setting up Dana Walden for the position.
That’s all for this special The DisInsider/Boardwalk Times mailbag crossover!
Thank you all for reading. Stay tuned as every Thursday a new DisInsider Mailbag from Skyler will drop.
My next mailbag will likely be for Disney’s Q3 which could be in August ahead of D23. Who knows maybe I do another mailbag before then!
Thank you to Skyler Shuler for doing this mailbag crossover with me, and be sure to visit and follow The DisInsider.
Be sure to continue to follow Boardwalk Times for more coverage of The Walt Disney Company.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
