Disney Reveals More Details on ‘The Lion King’ Remake

Disney unveiled some new details concerning upcoming The Lion King remake at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on Saturday.

After a look back at some of Disney classics, the executives went into the first details of Aladdin, Dumbo and The Lion King.

At the start of the Lion King portion, the screen fades into The Lion King footage. The sun rises of a “Disney Presents” logo. The iconic music beings. The animal kingdom comes to life. Bugs carry leaves. Elephants start;e small birds. Rafiki, Simba, and the animal kingdom unite as Simba is held above them, with “The Circle of Life” blaring.

Jon Favreau takes the stage to a roaring applause.

“Thank you all so much,” he said. “Those of you here two years ago, we showed you what we were thinking with Jungle Book…I want to thank Disney but also thank the fans for trusting us with this. We know how important this is.

“As soon as I found out we were gonna be doing this film, my first question was, when is D23? The team, a lot of people scrambled for something to show you…we’re working hard, we love you guys, and thank you so much for the opportunity.”

The movie recently made some major casting announcements. They found their Timon and Pumbaa in Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively. It was also just revealed that John Oliver will be voicing the trusty adviser Zazu.

Disney Reveals All Its Movies Through 2019

In addition to The Lion King, Disney has unveiled its slate of films through 2019 at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.

The slate features the next films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Star Wars franchise and numerous Pixar and Disney favorites.

Up Next: The Lion King Live-Action Movie Casts Timon And Pumbaa

Later this year, fans will be getting Thor: Ragnarok, Pixar’s Coco and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

In 2018, Disney is planning nine releases: Black Panther, the Star Wars Han Solo film, A Wrinkle in Time, Wreck-It Ralph 2, The Incredibles 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Mary Poppins Returns.

More: ‘Toy Story 4’ Gets a Major Director Change

Disney will match that in 2019 with nine more films: Captain Marvel, Dumbo, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, an Avengers film, Frozen 2, Mulan, Star Wars: Episode IX and another untitled animated feature.

More details on these films are expected throughout the D23 Expo.

This is a developing story.

Will Smith Confirmed To Play Genie In Disney’s ‘Aladdin’

Disney just dropped a bombshell for one of their live-action remakes of an animated classic, as production details begin to release for Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of Aladdin.

Sean Bailey announced at D23 that Will Smith is confirmed to play Genie in the live-action movie, joined by Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine.

The news comes after reports that Disney and Ritchie were having trouble finding actors to cast in the now iconic roles, but it seems like those troubles have subsided.

MORE NEWS: ‘Aladdin’ Director Guy Ritchie Wants Tom Hardy To Play Jafar

Smith was first reported by THR last week, but has now been confirmed. He will be playing the role made famous by the late Robin Williams, who voiced the Genie in Aladdin and the sequel Aladdin and the King of Thieves.

Scott recently starred in the Power Rangers movie, while Massoud will star in the Jack Ryan television show.

Bailey said Ritchie’s film will contain elements from the 1992 animated classic as well as the original source of inspiration, Arabian Nights, AKA One Thousand And One Nights.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Footage Debuts At D23

Disney unveiled a slew of details concerning Mary Poppins Returns at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on Saturday.

Sean Bailey, Head of Production from Disney’s live action studio, started off the the presentation by complimenting the music of Disney films and goes on to highlight the Sherman Brothers, the musicians behind the original Mary Poppins.

Rob Marshall directs Mary Poppins with John DeLucas and Marc Platt producing, with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman composing the music.

“Two dozen years beyond the events of the original films,” he said. “As we know it here in the States, the Great Depressions.”

The heartless Bank Manager, Mr. Wilkins played by Colin Firth, wreaks havoc on their life. “Dame Andrews is a very, very tough act to follow but I think we can agree that, in Emily Blunt, we have found the perfect actress to fill those shoes.”

Bailey runs through images of the cast and crew, including Lin Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, and Dick van Dyke. Emily BLunt and director Rob Marshall take the stage. Marshall is excited to make the film about Mary Poppins as others as older characters.

“We both and the entire company and the creative time feel very protective of the original film because we love it so much,” Marshall said. “That’s that and will always be that. This is living in that world with a foot in the past and a foot in the future and telling that story.”

“I watched about 15 minutes of the original and then just stopped watching it,” Blunt said. “I had to do my version of her. I think we were very loyal to the books.” She says they went in a direction of the books which see Poppins as a sarcastic, often rude yet fun character.

“It’s a dream cast,” Marshall said. “Every person we approached said yes immediately.” He goes on to call this film “a gift to the world” while it needs something of the sort before telling a story about Dick van Dyke coming on set. “He said, ‘It feels exactly the same. The same feeling of joy in making the film.’ And that was the highest compliment.”

“Poppins is a big ole musical,” Blunt said.

Marshall points out that the new film uses set items and props from the original film. He was ecstatic to point out they got the original table with the phone on it.

Marshal says the composers “bring a new joyous humor to it,” calling their work “clever” and “smart,” before introducing a bit of new footage, calling it “a taste of what’s to come,” teasing a “wonderful surprise.” The Disney orchestra and Mark Shaiman score the trailer as it plays.

Footage of the iconic house starts. Various characters flash by. A kite is taken from the ground and into the wind before a boy plays with it and the screen reads, “A new story to tell.” A storm catches the kite until the clouds clear and Mary Poppins is hanging from it. Later, she enters the house. The music becomes more upbeat. A captain fires a cannon. Poppins pulls her umbrella from a sink’s drain. More extravagant shots of characters amd dance numbers. Men dance on lamp posts, swing form ladders. The cast are introduced with names, right up to Dick van Dyke dancing on a table. Poppins slides up a railing to end the trailer.

Watch ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Official Trailer

The time has finally arrived!

Disney’s film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time has released its first trailer.

The film, directed by Ava DuVernay, has a star-studded cast, featuring, Chris Pine as Mr. Murry, Storm Reid as Meg, Levi Miller as Calvin, Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit, Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who, and Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which.

Up Next: First Look at Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

A Wrinkle in Time is based on Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel of the same name.

The upcoming fantasy is about a ordinary teenager named Meg who is whisked away on a cosmic adventure to find her missing science teacher, played by Pine. She receives guidance from three chimerical celestial beings who help her “wrinkle” time and space.

The film opens in theaters on March 9, 2018.