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Direct Link to offer (contains our affiliate)
You can try going through a shopping portal, though I’m not sure they pay out on gift card purchases. Stack with the AmEx Offer for an extra 1x Membership Rewards points at Best Buy.
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Chuck
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Activate Rewards via Fandango Rewards is offering a $10 Fandango Promo Code for Deadpool & Wolverine Movie Ticket for Disney+ subscribers only.
You can get the $10 promo code for free when you submit your name and email associated with your Disney+ subscription on the webpage. You will receive an email with the Fandango promo code.
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DDG
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The makers of “Inside Out 2” presumably felt unbridled joy Wednesday after the hit movie surpassed “Frozen 2” to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Released June 10 by Disney’s Pixar Animation Studio, “Inside Out 2” has now generated global box-office receipts of $1.46 billion, the entertainment giant said. That surpasses the $1.45 billion earned by Disney’s “Frozen 2” after its release in 2019.
“Inside Out 2,” which tells the tale of a teenage girl as she navigates the emotional ups and downs of adolescence, also ranks No. 13 on the list of highest-earning films, with U.S. receipts of $600 million, according to Disney.
“We knew it was really special, but no one could have predicted it would reach these record-breaking heights,” Alan Bergman, co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, said in a statement.
Rounding out the all-time top-grossing animated films, according to The Hollywood Reporter, are:
3. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” Illumination/Universal ($1.361 billion)
4. “Frozen,” Disney ($1.274 billion)
5. “Incredibles 2,” Pixar/Disney ($1.242 billion)
6. “Minions,” Illumination/Universal ($1.157 billion)
7. “Toy Story 4” Pixar/Disney ($1.072 billion)
8 “Despicable Me 3” Illumination/Universal ($1.032 billion)
9. “Finding Dory” Pixar/Disney ($1 billion)
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If you’re anything like us, you’ve been deeply entrenched in Oshamir brainrot for the last couple of days following the season finale of The Acolyte. Yes, we said season, because we choose to believe in our hearts that it’ll be renewed for Season 2. We still have many questions: Will we discover what happened between Qimir/The Stranger and Vernestra? Will we get to see Qimir and Osha train together? What is The Stranger’s real name? Will we finally get to see the scrapped Oshamir kiss?!?!
Like we said, deeply entrenched in the brainrot.
We’ve been eating up every scrap of Oshamir content we can find. Considering there are only 8 episodes in Season 1 of The Acolyte and a mere handful of Oshamir moments to go off of, we’re gnawing at the bars of our enclosure waiting for more. Not to say the internet hasn’t provided. Fan artists and content creators have already brought us amazing Oshamir content, from fics to drawings to stickers and pins!
We wanted to join in the hype, because we love all things Oshamir, and we really want to help make Season 2 happen. And since we are The Honey POP and music is one of the things we do best, we’ve brought you Oshamir: The Playlist. Oshamir/plot points in their story on The Acolyte inspired some of the songs on this playlist, either loosely or directly. You can find the full playlist at the bottom of this article but we wanted to highlight some of our favorites!
Avid Oshamir fans probably aren’t shocked to see this one on our list. Manny Jacinto, Qimir himself, mentioned in an interview that ‘The Less I Know The Better’ really fit Qimir and his physicality. Ever since this revelation, some fans have taken a deeper look at the lyrics and related it to Osha and Qimir’s relationship:
“Oh, my love, can’t you see yourself by my side?
No surprise when you’re on his shoulder like every night
Oh, my love, can’t you see that you’re on my mind?
Don’t suppose you could convince your lover to change his mind?”
“Oh my love, can’t you see yourself by my side” fits Qimir and Osha perfectly given that he wants an acolyte, and asks if she’d ever consider being trained in episode 8. Not only that, but episode 8’s final shot of Oshamir holding hands and looking out into the sunset brings this question to a full circle since Osha has joined him.
This song feels like it captures Osha’s inner emotional struggles leading to her fall to the dark side perfectly.
“And though I try and do it right with my intentions
Keepin’ good, they never break, but I still bend ’em
‘Cause this devil on my shoulder wants to pull me underneath (underneath)
Another sleepless night staring through the ceiling
Wondering how could I
Calm my head, yeah, calm my head, ’cause
I see red
My blood is boiling and it shows“
In episode 6 Qimir pushes Osha emotionally, asking why she isn’t a Jedi. She answers by shoving him against the rock with his lightsaber, exclaiming that it’s because she failed. (Had us giggling and kicking our feet, mind you) Later, we find out that she was never quite able to keep her anger towards Mae and their past in check, causing her to leave the Jedi Order. These lyrics from ‘weapon’ remind us of that inner conflict and turmoil. She does her best but eventually succumbs to the devil on her shoulder when she gives in to the dark side and kills Sol.
We also don’t mind calling Qimir the devil on her shoulder. 🙂 But unlike in the song where Chrissy Costanza sings “you shoot em down till you end up alone,” Osha ends up with Qimir, thus making it a perfect Oshamir track.
‘Power of Two’ is on the official The Acolyte soundtrack so OF COURSE it’s perfect to include on this playlist. While the song alludes more directly to Osha’s relationship with her sister Mae, the concept of the “power of two” comes up throughout the show. Qimir tells her point blank that he wants the “power of two” and fans ran with that statement. After that finale one could argue that the power of two works for Osha and Qimir, master and acolyte, and perhaps maybe more 👀
Aside from the thematic/symbolic meaning, we just really love this song. Victoria Monet is a powerhouse and we’ve had this stuck in our heads ever since we heard it during the end credits of episode 7.
This one is really because of The Stranger’s helmet if we’re being honest. Darth Teeth over here with the creepy toothy smile on his helmet fits ‘Teeth’ to a capital T.
“Fight so dirty but your love’s so sweet
Talk so pretty but your heart got teeth
Late night devil, put your hands on me
And never, never, never ever let go”
We’ve only gotten a glimpse into Oshamir’s dynamic so far. The “lovers” part of enemies to lovers finally sparked in the last episode but a big part of this season was spent with them as enemies. We imagine that as their training commences we might still get some “enemies” tension that leads to more. These lyrics feel like they sum up Oshamir’s current dynamic quite well and we can’t wait to see where it leads. (Yes, that is us manifesting season 2 again.)
We have seen so many Oshamir edits set to ‘The Great War’ and honestly? It’s kind of perfect. And that’s us being tame about our reactions tbh, it’s mostly a lot of squealing and giggling to ourselves. These lyrics, in our humble opinion, can directly represent Qimir and Osha’s relationship:
“It turned into something bigger
Somewhere in the haze, got a sense I’d been betrayed“
This obviously references Master Sol’s betrayal and lies to Osha about what really happened on Brendok, ultimately leading to his death by her hand.
“All that bloodshed, crimson clover
Uh-huh, sweet dream was over
My hand was the one you reached for
All throughout the Great War“
In the end of that bloody betrayal and all the fighting, we get that wonderful, amazing, beautiful, everything-we-could’ve-hoped-for shot of Oshamir standing back on the unnamed planet Qimir (now both of them?) calls home. As Osha faces the sunset, standing by the water, Qimir comes over and grabs her hand, both of them clutching Osha’s now bled lightsaber. (Side note: we got to see a kyber crystal bled in a live action Star Wars show and we’re still not over it.) Her hand was the one he reaches for and the fighting isn’t done.
This song is E V E R Y T H I N G when it comes to describing Oshamir. It definitely leans into the sexier, sensual, romantic, and seduction-heavy side of Osha and Qimir’s relationship.
“Oh my god
Do angels ever fall this hard?
The devil’s dancing in the dark
I kinda like it in his arms“
Just look at those lyrics! The symbolism of Osha’s fall to the dark side and into Qimir’s arms (@ Leslye Headland, please) is portrayed perfectly here. Fun fact: This is Chrissy Constanza’s first release as a solo artist and we are simply obsessed. Against The Current is still alive and well but we love seeing the direction she’s going in with her solo project and we can’t wait to hear more. Perhaps she’ll give us more Oshamir-coded music in the future!
“Close your eyes
I’m gonna be your favorite vice
Forbidden fruit of paradise
You wanna take a little bite?“
Qimir is Osha’s favorite vice, the forbidden fruit. Now that they’re acolyte and master we can only imagine where things are going to go given his propensity to be physically near her or touching her at all times. Even the music video for ‘7 Minutes In Hell’ fits the theme we have going on here. Chrissy starts out as an angel before the feathers on her wings turn black. It’s just such a poignant visualization that mirrors Osha’s fall to the dark side and relationship with Qimir and we can’t get enough.
Like we said, this is just a small sample of our Oshamir playlist so you should definitely check that out:
Let us know your thoughts on the playlist and Oshamir! What are you hoping The Acolyte Season 2 brings us? What songs do you think sum up Oshamir? Drop a comment below or come buzz with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
We have a ton of other playlists you can check out, you might find something you love!
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Aman Shamim
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A group calling itself “NullBulge” published a 1.1-TB trove of data late last week that it claims is a dump of Disney’s internal Slack archive. The data allegedly includes every message and file from nearly 10,000 channels, including unreleased projects, code, images, login credentials, and links to internal websites and APIs.
The hackers claim they got access to the data from a Disney insider and named the alleged collaborator. A person with that name who lists Disney as their current employer did not return WIRED’s request for comment. Whether the hackers actually had inside help remains unconfirmed; they could also have plausibly used info-stealing malware to compromise an employee’s account. Disney did not confirm the breach or return multiple requests for comment about the legitimacy of the stolen data. A Disney spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that the company “is investigating this matter.”
The data, which appears to have been first published on Thursday, was posted on BreachForums and later taken down, but it is still live on mirror sites.
Roei Sherman, field CTO at Mitiga Security, says he isn’t surprised that a giant like Disney could have a breach of this scale and significance. “Companies are getting breached all the time, especially data theft from the cloud and software-as-a-service platforms,” he says. “It is just easier for attackers and holds bigger rewards.”
Sherman, who reviewed the data in the leak, added that “all of it looks legit—a lot of URLs, conversations of employees, some credentials, and other content.”
The NullBulge site says that it is a “hacktivist group protecting artists’ rights and ensuring fair compensation for their work.” The group claims it hacks only targets that violate one of three “sins.” First: “We do not condone any form of promoting crypto currencies or crypto related products/services.” Second: “We believe AI-generated artwork harms the creative industry and should be discouraged.” And third: “Any theft from Patreons, other supportive artist platforms, or artists in general.”
The group’s “wall of knowledge,” where it lists its data dumps, summarizes the philosophy: “What better way to punish someone than getting them in trouble eh?” Previously, the group targeted the Indian content creator Chief Shifter with a “first shaming.” Then in May, NullBulge posted a “second punch” and teased the Disney breach. “Here is one I never thought I would get this quickly … Disney. Yes, that Disney,” NullBuldge wrote, suggesting that the group may be a single person. “The attack has only just started, but we have some good shit. To show we are serious, here is 2 files from inside.”
In addition to the alleged Slack data, NullBulge posted what appears to be detailed information about the individual whom they claim provided the insider access and data. The leak includes medical records and other personally identifying information, plus the alleged contents of the alleged Disney employee’s 1Password password manager. NullBulge claims to have doxxed the individual in retaliation for cutting off communication and access, although whether the employee actually collaborated with the group in the first place remains unconfirmed.
Security researchers have long warned about corporate Slack accounts as a treasure trove for attackers if compromised. The popular team communication platform is owned by Salesforce and is used by an array of prominent organizations, including IBM, Capital One, Uber, and Disney rival Paramount.
“Disney will probably be targeted a lot more now by opportunistic threat actors,” Sherman warns.
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Lily Hay Newman
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The Acolyte is wrapping up on Tuesday night, in what creator Leslye Hedland hopes is the first of more seasons to come. As the show’s played out over the past month and change, one part of the show has been consisently great: its costumes. This has always been an area where Star Wars has shined, but Acolyte’s costuming stands out as the first show set in the High Republic, which has consisted of books and comics over the last five years.
The show’s various costumes were designed by Jennifer L. Bryan, whose previous credits include Breaking Bad and Halt & Catch Fire. In a new blog on Star Wars’ website, she broke down her process for costuming the series’ cast. Along with drawing on previous Star Wars media for inspiration–namely Trisha Biggar’s prequel costumes–Bryan and her team also looked at clothes from real-world warriors. In the case of Amandla Stenberg’s Osha, the character’s primary outfit was a mix of a flight suit and mechanic coveralls, and its color palette was inspired by what soldiers wore during the Vietnam War.
As for Osha’s sister Mae, her design was inspired by warrior tribes from East and North Africa, and various empires across Asian and European history. While Mae’s outfit is cobbled together with what she’s found over the years, Bryan believes it “needed to look like it’s put together from these different historical eras of warriors, but not specific to any one culture.” Bamboo strips across the chest were inspired by samurai, while the chainmail for her arms and cloak drew from Byzantine knights and Roman gladiators. Chainmail isn’t commonly seen in Star Wars, but she argued it was “historically important” as means of protection. Purple serves as her primary color because it’s a “memory color” calling back to her family.
Some of the inspirations for their costumes are going to be obvious right away (of course Qimir’s pulling on Vader and Kylo Ren), while others are a bit more surprising. For example, Leia’s white gown inspired the ivory colors of Indara, and the layers of her costume were intentionally made with her action scenes taken into account. That also applied to Qimir, whose fabrics and layers had to be “agile and very, very athletic.” According to Bryan, Qimir’s hand-sculpted cortosis gauntlet was a particular favorite since it’s “so out of the boxand it’s so different from all the pieces that came along with that work.”
The Acolyte’s season finale airs this Tuesday, July 16 on Disney+. While we’ve posted photos of the main cast, there’s plenty more over on Bryan’s blog, which also digs into the costuming for characters like Sol, Mother Aniseya, and Yor.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Justin Carter
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Disney+ will release Korean drama The Tyrant on August 14, starring Jo Yoon-su, Kim Seon-ho and Cha
Seoung-won.
The plot revolves around the development of a cutting-edge virus as part of ‘The Tyrant Project,’ directed by a group of rogue scientists working within the South Korean government. The project aspires to elevate their country’s political power on the global stage.
However, before the project can be finalized, a group of U.S. agents uncover the plan and demand that all samples be handed over. The bioweapon is stolen during a secret handover between Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies, which leads to both governments and a black ops team going to war to recover the virus.
In The Tyrant, Jo Yoon-su (True Beauty, Juvenile Justice) stars as vengeful assassin Chae Jagyeong and Cha Seoungwon (Our Blues, A Korean Odyssey) as cold-blooded mercenary Lim Sang.
Kim Seon-ho (Start-Up, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) plays the role of Director Choe, the leader of the secret Korean project, while Kim Kangwoo (Le Grand Chef, Goodbye Mr. Black) stars as U.S. intelligence agent Paul.
Running for four episodes, The Tyrant is written and directed by Park Hoonjung (New World, The Witch: Part 1).
The Tyrant is another Korean title from Disney+’s 2024 slate, following the release of originals like A Shop for Killers, Impossible Heir, Blood Free and Uncle Samsik over the last few months.
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Sara Merican
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Deception, lies, and betrayal are at the heart of the latest Star Wars show to hit Disney+, The Acolyte. Now that we know that even the Jedi can’t be trusted, fans are starting to wonder, is Master Vernestra Rwoh hiding something?
It’s hard to believe that we’re already approaching the end of Leslye Headland’s High Republic show, The Acolyte. With just one episode left to go until the finale, the series has some burning questions to address—namely, about dark sider Qimir (Manny Jacinto) and what exactly happened on Brendock 16 years ago. We know that the Jedi were, to an extent, involved in the destruction of the witch coven Mae and Osha (Amandla Stenberg) once belonged to, but their role in the whole fiasco remains cloudy, to say the least.
Now, the latest episode of The Acolyte, titled “Teach/Corrupt,” is making things even more complicated by introducing a subplot that could change how audiences view Master Vernestra and her so-called “loyalty” to the Jedi Order—forever.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for all episodes of The Acolyte.
To fully understand Vernestra’s role in The Acolyte, we have to look to the High Republic novels and comics. Vernestra, a green-hued Mirialan, made her debut in The High Republic Adventures Annual 2021, but it wasn’t until Star Wars The High Republic #5 that her character was really fleshed-out. Since then, the character has featured prominently in Charles Soule’ canon novel The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, as well as The High Republic: A Test of Courage, among others.
There’s a lot of lore here, but all you need to know is that Vernestra Rwoh is the “it girl” of the High Republic era, having achieved Jedi Knighthood at the tender age of just 15. Razor-sharp with both her mind and her one-of-a-king purple lightwhip, Vernestra is described in the High Republic books as being something of a teenage prodigy, which often led to more problems than anything. And yeah, given that she was born around 248 BBY (if the Test of Courage timeline is anything to go by), this would make her well over 100 years old by the time The Acolyte rolls around—Vernestra has lived a lot of lives.
High Republic fans finally get to see their favorite gal in full, live-action glory thanks to The Acolyte, where she’s played by showrunner Leslye Headland’s wife, Rebecca Henderson. The Disney+ show paints a more complicated picture of Vernestra, as the stoic Jedi Master seems to struggle between her oath to the Order and her personal feelings, wanting justice for Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) at any cost. It’s not exactly a Jedi-like feeling, and raises the question of whether or not Vernestra has the right intentions by going after Sol’s (Lee Jung-jae) ship after sending them on what was, essentially, a death mission to Khofar…all without the High Council’s permission, it seems.
Episode 6 of The Acolyte also adds a whole new layer to the mystery of Vernestra by introducing audiences to Padawan learner Mog (Harry Trevaldwyn). After receiving Sol’s distress signal, he assembles a search party to Khofar to retrieve the slain Jedi. Upon discovering the corpses, Mog has quite the damning accusation: Sol was the one who murdered all of the Jedi. We, the viewer, know this isn’t true, and Vernestra adamantly denies this. Howeverm Mog seems to know a little more than he’s letting on, perhaps, about Sol’s shady past on Brendock. We also get to see Vernestra’s lightwhip in action when she cuts down a umbramoth in the jungle, begging the question…are those scars on Qimir’s (ahem, well-toned) back somehow related? If so, was Vernestra once his Master? And what would’ve brought them to such a violent confrontation?
Obviously, there’s a lot of loose plot threads for The Acolyte to tie up before its finale. But regardless of whether or not Disney will move forward with a second season, seeing Vernestra Rwoh in live action has been a treat for us High Republic girlies already.
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Amanda Landwehr
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The 4th of July is a day for jingoistic mythmaking and summer merriment. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it than by grilling food, watching things explode, and ordering a bunch of cool stuff online that you totally don’t need but will still be really awesome to have.
Commerce was a key driver of dissatisfaction with the crown when a bunch of American colonies originally told England to fuck off, so it makes sense that shopping remains a core ritual at the heart of celebrating the nation’s founding. Independence Day is a great time to buy a car or a refrigerator, but you’re not here for any of that. Instead, I’ve rounded up an eclectic mix of 4th of July gaming deals and culturally adjacent curios that happen to be discounted right now. Check them out. It’s what George Washington would have wanted.
The eShop is currently running a few sales through July 14, including the Recollection Collection Sale and Devolver Digital Summer Sale. Capcom also has a publisher sale running through July 7. There’s a wide-array of great games for cheap. Here are some of the highlights:
- Hogwarts Legacy: $30 (50 percent off)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge: $16.24 (35 percent off)
- Sonic Mania: $8 (60 percent off)
- Persona 5 Royale: $30 (50 percent off)
- Dave the Diver: $14 (30 percent off)
- Unicorn Overlord: $42 (30 percent off)
- Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: $16 (60 percent off)
- BioShock: The Collection: $10 (80 percent off)
- Terra Nil: $15 (40 percent off)
- Pepper Grinder: $10 (33 percent off)
- Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection: $30 (50 percent off)
- Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers: $20 (50 percent off)
- Capcom Fighting Collection: $16 (60 percent off)
- Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection: $10 (66 percent off)
- The Messenger: $5 (75 percent off)
It’s been back-to-back-to-back sales on the PlayStation Store for a while now between Play Days and the Mid-Year sale. Now there’s another with the Essential Picks sale running through July 17. Many of the above Switch game deals are also available for the PlayStation versions, as well as these additional ones:
- Dragon’s Dogma 2: $56 (20 percent off)
- Persona 3 Reload: $49 (30 percent off)
- System Shock: $28 (30 percent off)
- Batman Arkham Collection: $6 (90 percent off)
- Nier: Automata: $16 (60 percent off)
- Castle Crashers Remastered: $3 (80 percent off)
- Octopath Traveler II: $36 (40 percent off)
- Like a Dragon: Ishin!: $24 (60 percent off)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe: $45 (50 percent off)
- Dead Space Deluxe: $28 (65 percent off)
- Far Cry 6 Deluxe: $20 (75 percent off)
- Diablo II: Resurrected: $13 (67 percent off)
Not to be left out, a bunch of Xbox games are currently discounted, too. Many of the Switch and PS5 game deals also apply to the Xbox versions, as well as these other cheap games worth a shout-out:
- Hades: $12.50 (50 percent off)
- Dead Rising 2: $5 (75 percent off)
- Monster Hunter Rise: $25.50 (65 percent off)
- Resident Evil Village: $20 (60 percent off)
- Aragami 2: $10 (75 percent off)
- Axiom Verge 1 & 2: $10.50 (70 percent off)
- Flinthook: $7.50 (50 percent off)
- Metro: Last Light Redux: $3 (85 percent off)
- Wasteland 3: $8 (80 percent off)
If you haven’t already looked through our Steam Summer Sale overview you should do that, as there’s a lot of surprisingly steep discounts. So instead, I’ll take this opportunity to highlight a bunch of really good Steam Deck compatible game sales. The PC gaming handhelds themselves are 15 percent off right now. Here’s what you can play on them:
- Elden Ring: $42 (30 percent off)
- Cyberpunk 2077: $30 (50 percent off)
- Stardew Valley: $9 (40 percent off)
- Slay the Spire: $8.50 (66 percent off)
- Dead Cells: $12.50 (50 percent off)
- Hollow Knight: $7.50 (50 percent off)
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection: $10 (75 percent off)
- Marvel’s Midnight Suns: $15 (75 percent off)
- Risk of Rain 2: $8.25 (67 percent off)
- Vampire Survivors: $3.50 (25 percent off)
- Balatro: $13.50 (10 percent off)
There are hundreds of cheap TVs to pick from, but I have two for you that should get the job done at either end of your price range. If you’re content to game and stream shows on a budget TV like I am, then Best Buy is currently selling 55-inch TCL Q5 series 4K displays for just $300 (33 percent off). If you want something more fancy, you’re also in luck. While you could spend thousands on a truly top-of the line TV with blacks as dark as an event horizon, you could also splurge on a 48-inch LG OLED. Best Buy is also selling those for just $800 (almost 50 percent off the sticker price).
GameStop is currently running a buy 2, get 1 free on all used games, including its (very limited) retro collection. It’s great way to catch up on bargain bin stuff you might have never gotten to (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Watch Dogs 2, GTA V) as well as more recent stuff that hasn’t dropped in value yet. For example, you could play some of 2024’s biggest games so far like Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Tekken 8 and save roughly $50 in the process. Have fun mixing and matching. Just make sure they actually have used copies of the games in stock.
Here’s where we have fun with a rapid-fire round of some other neat deals:
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Ethan Gach
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While many streamers have a global subscriber base, some have stuck to North America. Tubi, the Fox Corporation’s free ad-supported streaming service, is no longer in that second camp with the streamer announcing it will launch in the United Kingdom.
Tubi will arrive with over 20,000 TV episodes and movies on-demand, from the likes of Disney and Sony Pictures Entertainment, along with Tubi Originals. “We are launching with one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK, designed to indulge viewers in everything from blockbusters to original stories to hidden gems,” Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi, stated in the company’s announcement. “Most importantly, we’re committed to listening to what resonates with UK fans, and bringing them more and more of what they love.” Tubi will offer UK users Hollywood films, British classics, Bollywoods, Nollywoods and Arthouse Cinema — to name a few.
The streamer claims to have nearly 80 million monthly active users and clearly hopes to grow that number significantly with a UK audience. It will be available on iOS and Android smartphones, major connected TV platforms and the web.
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Sarah Fielding
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Photo: Warner Bros Discovery
Way back in 2016, Vulture wrote of the now mostly forgotten Netflix series Bloodline that “Netflix did something it’s rarely done in its four-year history of original programming Wednesday: It canceled a show.” These days, updates on streaming series reckon with how “platforms invented cruel and unusual ways to cancel them.” Well, the great cancel-off of 2024 is officially on its way, and no show is safe. Without reputable sourcing on streaming audience numbers, there’s little way to know if your favorite piece of art content is actually a hit or just a hit with your friend group/online bubble/in-laws. So we end up with cancelations like Our Flag Means Death, which, based on the amount Taika Waititi fans talk about it, sure seemed like a hit. This Fool was canceled on February 14, which (besides Valentine’s Day) was Ash Wednesday. Time to think about your sins, execs. And now, we’re saying goodbye to Tokyo Vice (thankfully, we’ve prepared a speech ahead of time.) Below, a list of every TV show canceled so far in 2024.
What’s it about? Based on the book of the same name, this comedy stars Chris O’Dowd. It takes place in a small town that, per Apple TV+, “is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears, promising to reveal everyone’s true potential. Soon residents start changing jobs, rethinking relationships, and questioning long-held beliefs — all in pursuit of a better future.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? June 28
What’s it about? TikTok stars Dixie and Charlie D’Amelio try to expand their brand, Kardashian-style. They’re joined in this effort by parents parents Heidi and Marc. According to Deadline, the choice not to renew came from Hulu, but was supported by the fam.
Number of seasons: 3
When was it canceled? June 26
What’s it about? Per Max, the show follows “Adelstein’s (Ansel Elgort) daily descent into the neon-soaked underbelly of Tokyo in the late 90s, where nothing and no one is truly what or who they seem.” During a PGA producing panel in June, the producers revealed that the Max noir thriller is closing up shop. Creator J.T. Rogers and director Alan Poul said in a statement, “Not only did they give us these two seasons, they said yes when we asked to end season one with a series of cliffhangers, and they said yes when we asked for two extra episodes so we could land the plane in the way J.T. had always envisioned.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? June 8
What’s it about? Inspired by a chapter of Amy Chozick’s book, this show “chronicles four female journalists who follow every move of a parade of flawed presidential candidates, while finding friendship, love, and scandal along the way,” per Max.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 24
What’s it about? A series based on Tegan and Sara’s memoir, Freevee describes it as “a story about finding your own identity—a journey made even more complicated when you have a twin whose own struggle and self-discovery so closely mimics your own.”
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 23
What’s it about? Per the CW, the show follows Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki), who is “living by his own moral code” as he navigates romance, fatherhood, his law enforcement career, and “secrets from his past.” It was a reboot of the 1990s show Walker, Texas Ranger.
Number of seasons: 4
When was it canceled? May 21
What’s it about? This single-cam comedy was inspired by journalist Shea Serrano’s life growing up in San Antonio, Texas. Ignacio Diaz-Silverio starred as 16-year-old Rafa Gonzales, who was being raised by his mother and five overbearing uncles.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 21
What’s it about? Based on the novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris, the show starred Sinclair Daniel as Nella, an editorial assistant who is tired of being the only Black girl at her company. She’s excited when Hazel (Ashleigh Murray) is hired. But, per Hulu, “as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.”
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 10
What’s it about? This psychological thriller followed an astronaut named Jo (Noomi Rapace) who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. Per Apple TV+, it’s “an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost.”
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 10
What’s it about? An expansion of the 2016 short film Scavengers, this surreal sci-fi animated series followed the remaining crew of a damaged interstellar freighter ship who are stranded on an alien planet. Per Max, “their new home reveals a hostile world allowed to thrive without human interference.” The show will remain on Max, but also begin streaming on Netflix on May 31.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 10
What’s it about? Created by Jennifer Crittenden, Clea DuVall, and Gabrielle Allan, this animated sitcom follows pets in a Los Angeles therapy group led by a poodle named Honey (voiced by Lisa Kudrow).
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? May 10
What’s it about? Created by Mike O’Malley, this comedy follows Jim (Jon Cryer) and Julia (Abigail Spencer), a couple who amicably divorce and take turns staying with their kids at the family home. But things get complicated when Boston Celtics owner Trey (Donald Faison) wins Julia’s heart. The show is inspired by the real-life family dynamic of executive producers Emilia Fazzalari, George Geyer, and real-life Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? May 7
What’s it about? Nasim Pedrad transforms into awkward Persian American teenager Chad Amani, who is navigating his cultural identity and the chaos of high school. The Roku Channel swooped in to save the comedy after TBS’s last-minute cancellation, but it has now confirmed to Deadline that it’s out, too.
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? May 7
What’s it about? Love Is Blind’s Vanessa Lachey and NCIS: LA’s LL Cool J star as “a skilled mix of mainland transplants who’ve re-located to the tranquility of the Pacific and wizened locals who know their mahalo from kapu,” according to CBS.
Number of seasons: 3
When was it canceled? April 26
What’s it about? Per CBS, “a brilliant team of forensic investigators” must welcome back old friends and deploy new techniques to face an existential threat that could bring down the Crime Lab. The old friends in question include William Petersen and Jorja Fox in season one, and Marg Helgenberger starting in season two.
Number of seasons: 3
When was it canceled? April 19
What’s it about? Pitch Perfect’s Skylar Astin played a private investigator who reluctantly goes to work at his mother’s (Marcia Gay Harden) law firm.
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? April 19
What’s it about? The year-round daytime talk show premiered in 2010, with a discussion format featuring Holly Robinson Peete, Julie Chen Moonves, Leah Remini, Marissa Janet Winokur, Sara Gilbert, and Sharon Osbourne. The most recent host lineup included Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, Natalie Morales, and Sheryl Underwood.
Number of seasons: 15
When was it canceled? April 12
What’s it about? A follow-up to the original NBC series of the same name, the show follows a new team that is trying to restart the work of Dr. Sam Beckett, who stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and disappeared 30 years ago.
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? April 5
What’s it about? Mandy Patinkin and Violett Beane starred in this show set “amidst the glamor of the global elite,” per Hulu. Imogene Scott (Beane) becomes the prime suspect in a locked room murder mystery on a lavishly restored Mediterranean ocean liner. To prove her innocence, she must partner with the world’s greatest detective, Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), whom she happens to despise.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? March 29
What’s it about? Created by Darren Star, star Neil Patrick Harris plays a newly single gay man named Michael where, per Netflix, “Overnight, he has to confront two nightmares: losing the man he thought was his soulmate, and suddenly finding himself a single gay man in his mid-forties in New York City.” Showtime tried to save it from cancelation early last year, but their efforts were not fruitful; they uncoupled with the idea of a season two in March.
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? March 21
What’s it about? Long, long ago, in the pre-YouTube essays era of the internet, someone made a machinima show using Halo. The success of Red vs. Blue spun out into a whole company, Rooster Teeth, which was eventually subsumed by Warner Bros. Discovery. And we all know what happens to cartoons at Warner Bros. Discovery. Rooster Teeth announced its shut down March 6, as well as the final season of Red vs. Blue.
Number of seasons: 19
When was it canceled? March 6
What’s it about? Created by Brad Falchuk (Glee, American Horror Story) and Byron Wu, this action comedy-drama follows legendary killer Charles “Chairleg” Sun (Justin Chien), whose father — the head of a Taiwanese triad — is shot by a mysterious assassin. Per Netflix, Sun heads to L.A. to “protect his mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and his naive younger brother, Bruce (Sam Song Li) — who’s been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now.”
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? March 1
What’s it about? Chris Estrada (who created the show) and Frankie Quiñones starred as cousins/reluctant buddies. When Luis (Quiñones) is released from prison, Julio (Estrada) becomes his case worker at a gang-rehabilitation center run by a rich white dilettante (Michael Imperioli).
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? February 14
What’s it about? Sarah Paulson seemingly confirmed the show’s cancelation while signing autographs at the stage door after Appropriate. “In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind,” described Netflix of the series inspired by One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
Number of seasons: 1
When it was canceled: February 5
What’s it about? Per Netflix, the series followed a special forces team that celebrates a victory in Las Vegas, but “when the real threat emerges, they must sober up to save Las Vegas.” Created by Cobra Kai’s Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, the show starred the ensemble partiers of Nick Zano, Shelley Henni, Terrence Terrell, Alyson Gorske, C. Thomas Howell, Eugene Kim, Paola Lázaro, and Kimi Rutledge.
Number of seasons: 1
When it was canceled: February 1
What’s it about? Griffin Campbell and his family move into an old hotel that the town believes “is haunted by the ghost of a girl who disappeared over 30 years ago,” per Disney. “When Griffin and his new best friend Harper try to solve the mystery of what happened to her, they find a portal that lets them travel back in time, where they learn that the secret to solving the mystery is meeting Griffin’s own father!”
Number of seasons: 3
When it was canceled: January 30
What’s it about? Created by Teen Wolf’s Jeff Davis and based on the books by Edo van Belkom, Wolf Pack follows four young adults who “find themselves drawn together under a full moon” when “a raging wildfire releases a supernatural creature,” according to Paramount+.
Number of seasons: 1
When it was canceled: January 25
What’s it about? Starring Kaley Cuoco as the titular flight attendant Cassie Bowden, the first season was based on the novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. The second season follows Bowden “living her best sober life in Los Angeles while moonlighting as a CIA asset in her spare time. But when an overseas assignment leads her to inadvertently witness a murder, she becomes entangled in another international intrigue.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled: January 19
What’s it about? A pastiche of classic musicals, season two of Schmigadoon found, “Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) in Schmicago, the reimagined world of ’60s and ’70s musicals,” according to AppleTV+. “The second season of Apple’s broadly acclaimed comedy will include new original musical numbers from co-creator and executive producer Cinco Paul.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled: January 18
What’s it about? “Rap Sh!t follows two estranged high school friends from Miami, Shawna and Mia, who reunite to form a rap group,” Warner Bros. says. “In their rise to fame, Shawna and Mia find themselves at a pivotal moment in their rap career as they are forced to decide if they will stay true to themselves or conform to the demands of the music industry.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? January 18
What’s it about? A Max spokesperson confirmed to Vulture that Julia is closing up the kitchen. The show was inspired by “Julia Child’s extraordinary life and her long-running television series, The French Chef, which pioneered the modern cooking show. Through Julia’s life and her singular joie de vivre, the series explores a pivotal time in American history – the emergence of public television as a new social institution, feminism and the women’s movement, the nature of celebrity and America’s cultural evolution,” according to Warner Bros.
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? January 10
What’s it about? “Our Flag Means Death is based (very) loosely on the true adventures of 18th-century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby),” according to Warner Bros. “After trading the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede became captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes changed after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). To their surprise, the wildly different Stede and Blackbeard found more than friendship on the high seas … they found love. Now, they have to survive it.”
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? January 9
What’s it about? After being revived from the dead (being canceled by Max) after one season by Starz, the network proceeded to cancel the show after one extra season. “Minx is set in 1970s Los Angeles and centers around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women,” according to Warner Bros.
Number of seasons: 2
When was it canceled? January 5
What’s it about? The show is “based on Gene Luen Yang’s groundbreaking graphic novel that chronicles the trials and tribulations of a regular American teenager whose life is forever changed when he befriends the son of a mythological god,” Disney+ says. “This is the story of a young man’s battle for his own identity, told through family, comedy, and action-packed Kung-Fu.”
Number of seasons: 1
When was it canceled? January 5
This story has been updated.
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Jason P. Frank
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With Inside Out 2, practically everyone at Pixar (and Disney) is breathing a sigh of relief.
After a few years of less-than-stellar reviews and movies that were sent straight to Disney+, Pixar seems to be returning to its former glory with the second installment in the Inside Out series. It has grossed nearly $800 million worldwide at the box office, making it 2024’s highest-grossing movie to date, and critics and audiences seem pleased.
Inside Out 2 also has something else familiar to fans of the animation studio’s movies: Easter eggs, quotes, and references to Pixar’s past catalog. In this case, however, there is also a particular reference to a film coming in the future.
As is often the case in animated productions, it is easy to litter scenes with nods to other works, a way to tease the viewer’s attention and invite them to unearth every possible link. Inside Out 2 is no exception.
In the scene where Riley’s emotions run through her future career hypotheses, for example, there is a quick glimpse of Pixar’s iconic Luxo ball. Look closely at the boy band posters on Riley’s wall and you’ll catch a glimpse of one for 4*Town, the musical group beloved by the kids in Turning Red. When Joy has Sadness observe the new configuration of the Islands of Friendship and Family in Riley’s mind, she hands her a pair of binoculars that look like Lenny from Toy Story.
But the movie contains more than just glimpses of the past. Inside Out 2 also features a character who will join the Pixar family in 2025: the protagonist of Elio, its feature about a young boy who is mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to alien races and then “summoned” to deal with the future of the galaxies.
During Inside Out 2‘s sarcasm scene—though not the “sar-chasm” one—there are several memory spheres and one is dedicated to Elio, the movie’s namesake. It’s easily missed but also something of an odd premonition. Elio was originally slated to hit theaters earlier this year, before Inside Out 2, but got postponed to June 2025. Did you catch it?
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Paolo Armelli
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Popstars have been the backbone of the music industry for decades upon decades. There were OG divas like Whitney Houston and Britney Spears. There were Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Rihanna. But it felt like we were in need of a fresh sound.
Most of our original pop girls are onto ventures like starting beauty lines, starring in films, writing books, and starting families. There wasn’t an immediate need to release albums or tour anymore. So the takeover of male artists on Billboard charts ensued.
Of course, the shine to Taylor Swift will blaze on. But the world grows tired of hearing the same few artists over and over. As always, there’s a bright new, shiny Next Big Thing on the horizon.
The summer of 2024 proves that you don’t necessarily need to be a “new” artist to rise to superstardom. Ever since Coachella, it has become clear that there are two Next Big Things in the realm of pop music:
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.
Both Carpenter and Roan signed to labels when they were young. You may know Carpenter from opening for Swift on
The Eras Tour or her stint as a Disney star. And you may know Chappell as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo on The Guts Tour.
@1824official @chappell roan is taking coachella by storm with these insane vocals 👏🏼👏🏼 #chappellroan #coachella #chappell #goodluckbabe #coachella2024 ♬ original sound – 1824
Chappell has been signed to Atlantic Records since she was 17 – back when she uploaded an original song called “Die Young” to YouTube. Under Atlantic, Chappell released an EP and eventually, in 2020, released “Pink Pony Club.” Not long after, she was dropped.
Everything shifted in September 2023. After being dropped from the label, she remained independent until releasing her debut album,
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, through Island Records.
Come 2024, Chappell toured the album in two parts, captivating fans’ hearts with her wit, her live vocal ability, and her homemade tour outfits that were equally as camp as her music.
In the meantime, she remained in control of her social media accounts. Regularly posting funny TikTok anecdotes, capturing more fans in her web along the way. Although Chappell’s album was receiving rave reviews, we were still a little ways away from the world finding her.
Once she joined friend Olivia Rodrigo on
The Guts Tour (previously appearing as The SOUR Tour opener), Roan’s streams saw a 32% increase. But this was only the beginning.
April 2024 marks the complete juggernaut of Chappell Roan’s career. She’s no longer a best-kept secret. Chappell Roan – who sings candidly about sexuality and celebrates being gay in her drag-inspired makeup, her wild red hair, and her Lady Gaga-esque dedication to dramatics – was about to become the next mega-popstar.
In early April, Chappell released “Good Luck Babe” as the next single from
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It felt like the start of the rest of her career. Her way of telling the world: here I am to give you the latest, refreshing pop music. And while I’m at it, shine light on the LGBTQ+ community.
The song received 7 million streams in the first week, “Good Luck Babe” became her fastest song to reach 100 million streams in no time. And then came the Coachella performance.
Chappell was set to perform in the Gobi tent. If you’re clued in to Coachella lore, the tents are generally smaller venues compared to the stages. It’s not typically reserved for bigger artists because they draw larger crowds.
However, during Chappell Roan’s Weekend I set, the Gobi tent overflowed with fans and new listeners alike. The world was watching on the Coachella livestream. And thanks to social media, thousands of TikToks and Instagram Reels were sourced and shared to
millions of viewers.
@chappellroan It’s me, Karma @coachella ♬ original sound – chappell roan
Chappell Roan caught the world’s attention by being true to herself. Her humility and humor make her relatable – she often displays emotions on stage no matter what they are. Her avant-garde makeup and outfits pay homage to fabulous drag queens and are reminiscent of Lady Gaga in 2010.
And of course, her music brings back a sense of fun to the world. Each song is catchy, daring, and reveals Roan’s true colors. After Coachella, her monthly listener count on Spotify saw a 500% increase to 7 million.
Since then, the world’s attention is on Chappell Roan. Her monthly listener count sits at over 24 million. She’s dined with new friend Elton John, who shared her album with Ed Sheeran, who also adores it.
@chappellroan @Elton John this was such an honor to talk to you. I look up to you so much and what you’ve done for our community. Thank you #rockethour podcast for having me ♡‧₊˚ full interview in my bios #queertok #artistsoftiktok #eltonjohn ♬ original sound – chappell roan
She took the stage at Gov Ball 2024 inside an apple, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, holding a massive joint…to a massive crowd – bigger than the headliners. She’s as in-demand as it gets right now…publicly declaring she turned down a visit to the White House until there’s liberty and justice for all.
In an audacious performance, Chappell Roan declares herself as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist.” And she’s not wrong anymore. It’s no longer simply an outrageous statement. Simply put. Chappell Roan is a sensation.
She receives acclaim from Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and so many more. And has been candid about struggling with her recent rapid rise to the top – breaking down onstage, sharing with viewers on TikTok that many pop girls are really just as nice as they seem.
@chappellroan♬ original sound – chappell roan
As she continues to grow and flourish in the public eye, Chappell Roan’s bearing up under the burden of pop princess. It’s something she has in common with another rising star, Sabrina Carpenter – who often goes viral for her off-the-cuff comments and sexual innuendos.
A new voice of our generation – Chappell Roan is a breath of fresh air. The people love honesty, they love personality, and they love fine music. Thank goodness Chappell Roan has all three.
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Jai Phillips
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The Bear season 3 is finally upon us—but if , like us, you plan to binge it all at once, here’s when you can expect your next infusion of chef-fuelled drama.
Reports from Variety and Deadline show that The Bear has quietly had its fourth season greenlit, although not yet publicly announced by production company FX. This is hardly a surprise, considering the show’s storming success from its first two seasons and high anticipation for its third.
It’s also cleaned up in the awards circuit, taking home ten Emmys and four Golden Globes, including wins for leading man and woman Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri. Looking forward to the future, here’s a look at what we might expect from The Bear season 4.
What we don’t know so far is when The Bear season 4 will come out. However, the show has so far stuck to a pretty strict release schedule, with a new season coming every June. In fact, it always seems to be in the final week of June, demonstrating a tight adherence to an annual rhythm.
That means we can most likely expect The Bear season 4 in June 2024, probably between June 21 and 25. Of course, that’s not confirmed just yet but it would be unusual for FX to break from its three-year routine at this point.
Although no official cast or plot news has been published yet, we can likely expect our leading duo of Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri to stay in their respective roles as Carmy and Syd. The heart and soul of the show is also forged in the other long-term stars: Abby Elliott as Natalie, Matty Matheson as Fak, L-Boy as Marcus, and flashbacks to Jon Bernthal as Michael.
With Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie) now cast in Fantastic Four, it’s possible that those projects could clash. However, we hope that he stays on in the show; his growth in season 2 especially is the beating heart of the plot and it truly won’t be the same without him.
Season 2 also saw Molly Gordon’s Claire at odds with Carmy. While it’s expected that she will return in season 3, if her and Carmy can’t work things out, this could be her last season of the drama. Indeed, any dramatic twists in the story could result in any member of the cast disappearing for good. Until season 3 airs and is wrapped up, it’s hard to make any concrete predictions for season 4.
(featured image: Hulu)
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Rachael Davies
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If you bought a Disney Dream Key pass from August 25 to October 25, 2021, you could receive part of a $9.5 million settlement.
Disney has settled a class action lawsuit filed in November 2021 in California district court over how it marketed its $1,400 Dream Key pass, a program that allows customers to pay a flat rate to go to Disneyland and California Adventures theme parks whenever they want throughout the year.
The settlement website shows that payments to qualified class members were sent either by check or through a digital payment on June 14.
Unless a class member excludes themselves from the settlement payout, they give up any right to sue Disney over the same claims in the lawsuit.
Disneyland. Photo by Barry King/WireImage
According to the plaintiff, Jenale Nielsen, Disney advertised the Dream Key Pass as a way to enter Disneyland without any restrictions. When she bought the pass and tried to make a reservation, however, she found that Disney had blocked out many days, including all weekends in November 2021.
“Given that Disney had advertised and promised that there would be no ‘blockouts’ for Dream Key holders, Ms. Nielsen was surprised,” the filing stated.
Nielsen looked at Disney’s website and found that it still had passes available for sale on the days it had barred Dream Pass holders, so the blocks weren’t caused by tickets being sold out.
Related: A Fifth Walt Disney World Theme Park Could Be Coming Soon — Here’s What We Know
The filing called the Dream Key a “second class ticket” to Disney’s parks and said that Nielsen “was deceived by and relied upon” Disney’s “false and deceptive advertising.”
Locked Disneyland during the pandemic. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Disney denied all of Nielsen’s claims as well as any wrongdoing or liability.
Nielsen received $5,000 as part of the settlement and 100,000 others affected will receive around $67.41 from Disney.
For reference, a standard Disneyland theme park ticket starts at $96 to $194 per day.
Disney has now made changes to its Magic Key Pass advertising. The Dream Key is no longer available to purchase. In its place, the highest tier is now the Inspire Key, priced at $1,649 and labeled as subject to “applicable pass blockout dates.”
The Magic Key calendar at the time of writing had availability open for almost all days in July, August, and September for Inspire Key holders.
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Sherin Shibu
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An Australian teenager of Samoan heritage has been announced as the star of the upcoming live-action version of the hit Disney movie “Moana.”Watch the trailer for “Moana 2” in the player aboveSeventeen-year-old Catherine Laga’aia has been cast as the eponymous heroine of the movie, which begins filming this summer.The movie will celebrate “the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a spectacular adventure,” according to the announcement from Disney, which added: “Catherine Laga’aia will be voyaging to Motunui and beyond as the adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people in Disney’s upcoming live-action Moana.”Laga’aia’s IMDB profile shows just one other listing – for three episodes of the TV series “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart,” which also starred Sigourney Weaver.She is no stranger to showbiz, however, as her father is Jay Laga’aia, a New Zealand-born actor who starred in two of the “Star Wars” movies.Disney announced the casting online, saying Laga’aia will appear alongside Dwayne Johnson as Maui, the larger-than-life demigod for whom he provided the voice in the original 2016 animated feature. He is also one of the movie’s producers, alongside, among others, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote much of the original movie’s soundtrack.In a statement included in the announcement, Laga’aia, who lives in Sydney, said: “I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites.”My grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”Her proud father took to social media to announce the news, too, posting on Instagram: “My family and I are so pleased to share this news with the rest of the world. My daughter Katie can finally share the news that she will be taking on the role of Moana in the live action Disney movie along side Dwayne Johnson and Lin Manuel Miranda.”Set for release in July 2026, the movie also features New Zealand actor John Tui as Moana’s father, Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as her mother and Rena Owen as the storyteller Gramma Tala.Directing is Thomas Kail, whose previous credits have included “Hamilton” on Broadway and Disney+.News of the live version was announced by Johnson last year. He said on Instagram that “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace, mana and warrior strength.”The animated “Moana” was a smash, making over $680 million at the box office and the most-streamed movie of 2023, according Nielsen tracking. The sequel, “Moana 2,” is set for release in November.Auli’i Cravalho starred as Moana in the original film, along with Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger and Temuera Morrison.Disney has successfully reimagined several of its animated classics as live-action movies, beginning with “Beauty and the Beast” in 2017, followed by “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” in 2019 and “The Little Mermaid” last year.
An Australian teenager of Samoan heritage has been announced as the star of the upcoming live-action version of the hit Disney movie “Moana.”
Watch the trailer for “Moana 2” in the player above
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Laga’aia has been cast as the eponymous heroine of the movie, which begins filming this summer.
The movie will celebrate “the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders in a spectacular adventure,” according to the announcement from Disney, which added: “Catherine Laga’aia will be voyaging to Motunui and beyond as the adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people in Disney’s upcoming live-action Moana.”
Laga’aia’s IMDB profile shows just one other listing – for three episodes of the TV series “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart,” which also starred Sigourney Weaver.
She is no stranger to showbiz, however, as her father is Jay Laga’aia, a New Zealand-born actor who starred in two of the “Star Wars” movies.
Disney announced the casting online, saying Laga’aia will appear alongside Dwayne Johnson as Maui, the larger-than-life demigod for whom he provided the voice in the original 2016 animated feature. He is also one of the movie’s producers, alongside, among others, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote much of the original movie’s soundtrack.
In a statement included in the announcement, Laga’aia, who lives in Sydney, said: “I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites.
“My grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
Her proud father took to social media to announce the news, too, posting on Instagram: “My family and I are so pleased to share this news with the rest of the world. My daughter Katie can finally share the news that she will be taking on the role of Moana in the live action Disney movie along side Dwayne Johnson and Lin Manuel Miranda.”
Set for release in July 2026, the movie also features New Zealand actor John Tui as Moana’s father, Samoan-New Zealand actress Frankie Adams as her mother and Rena Owen as the storyteller Gramma Tala.
Directing is Thomas Kail, whose previous credits have included “Hamilton” on Broadway and Disney+.
News of the live version was announced by Johnson last year. He said on Instagram that “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace, mana and warrior strength.”
The animated “Moana” was a smash, making over $680 million at the box office and the most-streamed movie of 2023, according Nielsen tracking. The sequel, “Moana 2,” is set for release in November.
Auli’i Cravalho starred as Moana in the original film, along with Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger and Temuera Morrison.
Disney has successfully reimagined several of its animated classics as live-action movies, beginning with “Beauty and the Beast” in 2017, followed by “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” in 2019 and “The Little Mermaid” last year.
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Premieres Wednesday:
Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial — Documentary legend Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost) takes a six-episode stroll through the history of the Third Reich, with the Nuremberg Trials as a framing device. If you’re unfamiliar with that aspect of the story, the Nazis all had their convictions overturned on appeal because the judge hadn’t allowed them to tweet smack about the Allies. (Netflix)
How to Rob a Bank — Explore the methodology of the late Scott Scurlock, who got dubbed “The Hollywood Bandit” for wearing theatrical disguises while holding up 17 banks in the Seattle area. Fun fact: The Unknown Comic tried something similar after falling on hard times, but drawing a new face on the bag for each heist didn’t fool anybody. (Netflix)
Under Paris — Remember when Bérénice Bejo was nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Artist? Now she’s starring in a Netflix movie as a scientist who discovers a giant, bloodthirsty shark lurking in the river Seine. And that’s all it is: just a shark. If the woman’s going to wave the white flag on her whole-ass career, the least they could do is make it half kraken or something. (Netflix)
Premieres Thursday:
Am I OK? — Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne direct Dakota Johnson as a woman who has to confront the real reason she can’t form successful relationships with men. Personally, I’m guessing it’s because they aren’t bears. (Max)
Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura — Characters from the two hit manga series meet in a contest of martial-arts prowess. It’s kind of like RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, but with a slightly lesser possibility of violence. (Netflix)
Basma — Writer/director/star Fatima Al-Banawi drew on her degree in psychology to compile this dramatic portrait of a young woman who returns to her native Saudi Arabia after completing her academic studies in the U.S.A., just in time to discover that her father has become a delusional paranoiac. Gosh, a guy really has to be crazy if he still seems off to you after you’ve been living with Americans. (Netflix)
Counsel Culture — Get a better understanding of the mental-health issues facing today’s men in this series hosted by Nick Cannon and adapted from his podcast of the same name. Because “Nick Cannon” and “podcasting” are two things that always go together perfectly smoothly, as your rabbi well knows. (Prime Video Freevee)
Criminal Minds: Evolution — As Season 2 dawns, the members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit are shocked to learn that last season’s big bad — serial killer Elias Voit — has been transferred to their own neck of the woods by the feds. It seems like this shouldn’t be too much of a concern unless you don’t trust the feds. So count me in, because boy do I not trust the feds! (Paramount+)
Kübra — The Turkish thriller series has cooked up even more trouble for protagonist Gokhan Sahinoglu, whose acceptance of his role as a modern-day prophet threatens to put him at odds with just about everybody in Season 2. Yeah, people just naturally resent a prophet. Look at what Britney has to deal with every day. (Netflix)
Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money — Fresh out of prison for her involvement in one of Brazil’s most infamous corruption cases, the black-market money trader sits down with interviewers to paint herself as a mere stooge to an all-powerful criminal network. Smart move, Nelma. Everybody hates Ticketmaster. (Netflix)
Queer Planet — The next time somebody insists to you that heteronormativity is the natural order of things, plunk them down in front of this documentary about the fluidity of sexuality that exists throughout the animal world. Just make sure they’re wearing pants, because you never know what’s going to turn those people’s crank. (Peacock)
Rafa Márquez: El Capitán — Go straight to the horse’s mouth to learn about the highs and lows in the life of the great Mexican defender. “Ooh, a defender! Like a crusading public defender?” No. “OK, maybe an Aztec soldier with a nifty golden sword?” Nope, defender as in soccer. “Goddammit, hasn’t the UN’s Human Rights Council outlawed that yet?” (Netflix)
Sweet Tooth — The third and final season takes the action to Alaska, where human/deer hybrid Gus is pursued by forces dedicated to the cause of human supremacy. On the plus side, I think Marisa Tomei has finally convinced Joe Pesci not to shoot him. (Netflix)
Premieres Friday:
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld — Daniel Brühl plays the title role in a French-made period piece that shows the legendary designer battling rival Yves Saint-Laurent (Arnaud Valois) to define fashion in the ’70s. Interestingly, the series only came about because the French government announced it was willing to fund “somezing like ze Ryain Murph-AY.” (Hulu)
Hierarchy — Just when they’ve fully accustomed themselves to their school’s rigid social order, the students at a Korean private academy have to cope with a whole bunch of unfamiliar phenomena, like untimely death and the arrival of a new pupil who’s there on a scholarship. I mean, the occasional corpse is something every kid should learn to deal with, but a full-rider? Ewwwww! (Netflix)
Perfect Match — Season 2 brings together past contestants from shows like Love Is Blind, The Ultimatum and Too Hot to Handle to find a pairing that might actually stick this time — and to vote on one another’s prospects while they’re at it. Here’s hoping Season 3 adds the Baby Reindeer chick, to really spice things up. (Netflix)
Queenie — Author Candice Carty-Williams is executive producer and showrunner of this series adaptation of her 2019 novel, with Dionne Brown in the title role of a 20-something Jamaican British woman who reacts to being dumped by making some questionable choices. Hey, getting dumped is when you get to make all the questionable choices you want. Sleep around! Share needles! Become a showrunner! This is your mulligan! (Hulu)
Transformers: EarthSpark — The first nine episodes of Season 2 feature guest voice-over work from Richard Ayoade, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Flea. Not to be outdone, Luther Campbell is lobbying hard for a part in the next He-Man show. (Paramount+)
Premieres Tuesday:
How Music Got Free — Yes, that title is meant to be ironic. Because what we have here is an industry-sponsored excoriation of the file-sharing explosion of the early 21st century, with the tech innovators of the time denounced as “thieves” who ruined music for everybody. But seriously, if that were true, the recording artists of today wouldn’t be able to make a single penny for their … oh, shit. ShitshitSHIT. (Paramount+)
Keith Robinson: Different Strokes — Get a humorous lesson in perseverance from comic Robinson, who suffered life-threatening strokes in both 2016 and 2020. But that’s what’s gonna happen when a guy’s refreshing fivethirtyeight.com every 10 seconds. (Netflix)
Love Island — Ariana Madix of Vanderpump Rules replaces Sarah Hyland as host in Season 6, with the action now set in Fiji. Meanwhile, herpes replaces hepatitis C as the pathogen you’re most likely to contract from just watching. (Peacock)
Tour de France: Unchained — Season 2 invites us to relive the thrills of the 2023 race, through every one of its 21 nail-biting stages. (Is anybody else a little weirded out that that’s three times as many stages as grief gets?) (Netflix)
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Disney+, if you didn’t know, isn’t just for kids. With its ownership of the Lucasfilm brand and the Marvel titles, the streaming service offers plenty of grown-up content in its bid to compete with Netflix and Amazon—and we’re not just talking movies. Since launching the service, Disney has used the name recognition of Star Wars and Marvel to launch scores of TV shows, from The Mandalorian to Loki. In the list below, we’ve collected the ones we think are the best to watch, from those franchises and beyond.
Want more? Head to our best movies on Disney+ list if you’re looking for movies, and our guides on the best shows on Netflix and best shows on Apple TV+ to see what Disney’s rivals have to offer. Don’t like our picks, or want to suggest your own? Head to the comments below and share your thoughts.
A Jedi turning to the Dark Side is a concept as old as the Star Wars franchise itself, and not something fans have given much thought to in terms of the “why.” But this new Disney+ series dares to ask that question, and plays out a bit like a true crime procedural in a sci-fi landscape. Carrie-Anne Moss stars as a Jedi Master, and if her character seems a bit like Trinity from The Matrix series, that’s by design. Series creator Leslye Headland told Empire that the character owes much of its inspiration to the Wachowskis’ movies and that Moss’ Indara is basically “Trinity with a lightsaber.”
It’s been five years since Disney released the last Star Wars movie, and it will likely be another two years (at least) until The Mandalorian & Grogu arrives. Fortunately, Disney+ has plenty of TV series to fill the void, including this animated anthology that adds new stories about the franchise’s Galactic empire, in the same time period in which the original trilogy existed. It follows the very different journeys of two characters: Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), a Force-sensitive human and member of the Nightsister coven who, after being one of the few of her people to survive the Clone Wars, is seeking revenge. Meanwhile, Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger) is a former Jedi who is questioning her own disillusionment with the order and what her road ahead looks like. Both are forced to make decisions that will change their individual destinies, and the galaxy far, far away with it.
May 10 marked the beginning of a new era for Doctor Who fans when Ncuti Gatwa was officially handed the sonic screwdriver and to take the legendary sci-fi series in new directions as the Fifteenth Doctor. Russell T. Davies is back to oversee all the time-traveling shenanigans as the latest incarnation of the Time Lord journeys through space and time with companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). The pair officially made their debut as part of the latest Christmas specials, which also saw the return of fan favorites David Tennant (here playing the Fourteenth Doctor) and Catherine Tate in honor of the show’s 60th anniversary. While the series will keep its standing as a BBC staple in the UK and Ireland, American audiences will need to head to Disney+ to experience it all.
Of all the big-budget X-Men movies and TV shows that have existed over the years, it’s hard to believe that a cartoon series from the ’90s is one of the most beloved entries. But it’s true. And fans of that series, which ran for five years beginning in 1992, have been eagerly awaiting this revival, which arrived in March. Many of the original voice actors have returned to reclaim their characters, who must learn how to navigate a world without Professor Xavier to guide them. The events of this series pick up just one year after the point where the original show (which you can read more about below) ended.
Louisa Harland shines as Nell Jackson, the renegade of the title, who accidentally becomes one of the most feared highwaywomen in 18th-century England after she is framed for murder. Of course, this being a Disney series, it’s best to expect something a little magical—which in Nell’s case is Billy Blind, a magical sprite sent to help her realize her true destiny. What is surprising is that the series, which is perfectly suited to teens and their families, was created by Sally Wainwright, the brilliant mind behind such adult-themed series as Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack.
Tola Martins (Simisola Gbadamosi) is an adventurous 10-year-old who longs to discover more about the history and culture of her native Nigeria, which is portrayed as a kind of Wakanda. But her father, a wealthy scientist and tech CEO, prefers that his daughter remain within the bubble of privilege he has built around her on their island home. When she decides to travel into the city to surprise her dad, his own worst fears are realized when she is kidnapped. The limited sci-fi series, which is set in a futuristic Lagos, plays out a bit like a graphic novel—which is a good thing. With its striking animation and themes of class and racial divide and social justice, Iwájú is the thinking family’s next binge-watch.
“We don’t call her Mother Nature for nothing,” says Angela Bassett in the trailer for Queens, a Nat Geo series that documents six far-flung places around the world where female animals rule the kingdom, from the mountains and rainforests to the oceans and savannas. The series’ final episode also pays special tribute to the women working to protect these fierce female warriors.
Nineties kids no doubt remember this sitcom about a family of dinosaurs. Earl Sinclair is a fortysomething megalosaurus living with his family in Pangaea circa 60,000,000 BC. While his days are spent working as a tree pusher (yep, he pushes over trees), he lives for his family: wife Fran and kids Robbie, Charlene, and Baby Sinclair, whose running gag of hitting his dad over the head with a frying pan and shouting “Gotta love me!” never gets old. Not even three decades on.
Since first premiering in 2017, Nat Geo’s Genius series has given viewers an exhaustive history of some of the world’s greatest thinkers, beginning with Albert Einstein (masterfully played by Geoffrey Rush). For its latest season, the network is diving into the real histories of the lives of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). Rather than just hit the high points, like the famous speeches you likely know by heart, Genius delves into the past and deep below the surface to show how their backgrounds and personalities led them to become the icons we know today.
This Marvel series continues the studio’s recent trend of shining a spotlight on its fearless—and complicated—female characters. In this case, that character is Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), aka Echo, who is best known to audiences as a baddie from Hawkeye. But over the course of its relatively short five episodes, all of which are streaming now, we learn why Maya—one of the MCU’s few deaf characters—must reconcile the events of her past and reconnect with her Native American roots in order to confront the future she has created for herself. The series is already earning solid reviews, especially for the work of Hollywood newcomer Cox, who deftly manages to shoulder the weight of an entire MCU series.
Nearly 20 years after the release of the first book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, this small-screen adaptation of that first title is being praised for how faithful it has remained to Riordan’s beloved words. Being a tween is hard enough, but for 12-year-old Perseus “Percy” Jackson (Walker Scobell) it gets even harder when he learns he’s the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and that he has pissed off his uncle, Zeus, who believes that Percy has stolen his thunderbolt. (And you thought having a zit was bad!) Fortunately for Percy there is Camp Half-Blood—a place where demigods like himself can learn to harness their powers and use them for good. It’s there that Percy learns the whole “with great power comes great responsibility” thing and embraces it—even if he’d rather be playing video games with his friends.
The further removed people become from any particular decade, the more ridiculous that decade seems to become. And the ’90s are no exception, especially when you’re reminded that the government feared Furby, of all things. This limited series from Nat Geo is a loving look back at the decade that made us dependent on the internet, introduced us to the Spice Girls, and made Fabio a sex symbol around the world. If you don’t know who Fabio is, you now have even one more reason to watch. (Disclosure: WIRED’s culture editor, Angela Watercutter, is a talking head in this series.)
Disneyland, Walt Disney’s very first theme park, opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. In the nearly 70 years since, Disney parks have become a worldwide phenomenon and inspired rabid fan bases who make annual (if not more frequent) pilgrimages to these so-called Happiest Places on Earth. But what goes on behind the scenes? From the creation of major attractions like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean to its bustling food scene (Dole Whip, anyone?), this docuseries goes behind the scenes of the world’s most famous amusement parks.
For more than 30 years, R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps books have fed the nightmares of young readers—much to their delight (well, usually). Now Disney is inspiring a whole new generation of horror lovers with this fun series, which follows the lives of a group of high schoolers who begin to unravel the terrifying truth about a decades-old murder—and the roles their nearest and dearest might have played in it—in their otherwise picture-perfect hometown. While the always-affable Justin Long stars as a teacher who may or may not be possessed in season 1 of this anthology series, season 2—which was announced in February—will bring an all-new cast with it, including Friends star David Schwimmer.
The MCU is exhaustingly huge. Yet while Loki is undoubtedly part of that universe, the series could just as easily work as a stand-alone piece, and it’s all the more fun and surprising as a result. There are enough plot twists, silly one-liners, and time-travel antics to keep everyone entertained, and even a wisecracking alligator. If that doesn’t do it, Loki has a visual effects budget that would put most Hollywood blockbusters to shame. Sure, it’s not the most intellectually stimulating show out there, but Tom Hiddleston does a great job of turning Loki into a fairly complex, interesting character. No word yet on whether there might be a third season in Loki’s future—and even Hiddleston is in the dark. “I truly don’t know,” he admitted to Variety in a recent interview, adding: “There have been other times when I thought that it was the end and I have been mistaken. But if this is the end, I’m so proud of where we ended up.”
Before Disney+ became the home for all of Marvel’s TV content, Netflix was the place to find it—beginning with Daredevil, in which blind attorney Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) spends his days seeking justice and his nights looking for revenge as a masked vigilante attempting to rid his Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of its criminal element. While the series ended in 2018, Cox has reprised the role and is at work on a new series, Daredevil: Born Again, which will be a Disney+ exclusive when it arrives in January 2025—hopefully (the reboot is in the midst of a massive overhaul).
We know what you’re thinking: Wait, another Star Wars series? And we don’t blame you for asking the question. But for old-school franchise fans, Ahsoka just might surprise you. Rosario Dawson reprises the title role as Ahsoka Tano, a former Jedi who studied under Anakin Skywalker, which she first played in season 2 of The Mandalorian. Here, Ahsoka sets off on a journey to locate Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, Mads’ brother)—a master manipulator who seems to be on a mission to become the grand ruler of the galaxy. A second season is in the works.
In 2021, writer-producer Saladin K. Patterson (Frasier, The Bernie Mac Show) rebooted the award-winning, and much beloved, series The Wonder Years for a new generation. Don Cheadle narrates the adventures of Dean Williams (Elisha “EJ” Williams), as he comes of age in Montgomery, Alabama, in the final years of the Civil Rights Movement. Both seasons of the worthwhile series are now streaming.
While Black Panther may have gotten an official sequel with 2022’s Wakanda Forever (which is, of course, available to stream on Disney+), this animated anthology series is in many ways a spiritual successor to that Oscar-winning MCU flick. More than a dozen up-and-coming African storytellers were handpicked to write and/or direct these 10 short films, which build on the makers’ cultures and histories to paint a fascinating, gorgeously animated—and often dystopian—picture of Afrofuturism.
From the moment it launched, Secret Invasion sparked conversation—although not for the reasons Marvel might have hoped. Turns out, the studio used artificial intelligence to create the show’s opening credits, a move that turned off some fans. Whether it’s curiosity about those Midjourney-looking visuals or general interest in what Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has been up to, Secret Invasion is worth a look. Captain Marvel costars Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn (Talos) team up again, and the show follows the two as they investigate a clandestine invasion of Earth by a shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls. If that doesn’t do it for you, you might want to tune in for Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke’s first—though surely not their last—forays into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As any Muppets fan will tell you, The Electric Mayhem Band is a highlight of any show the gang puts on. This time, Dr. Teeth and the gang are front and center, on a quest to record their first studio album with the help of an ambitious music executive, played by one-time YouTube star Lilly Singh. While one season is all you’re getting, get ready to rock nonetheless.
While the story of Anne Frank is well known, the life of Hermine “Miep” Gies—Otto Frank’s secretary, and one of the five Dutch citizens who helped to hide the Frank family—is lesser known. This powerful Nat Geo miniseries helps to change that, with Bel Powley delivering a moving performance as a young woman who takes a heroic stand, regardless of the consequences.
Oscar winners—and Everything Everywhere All at Once costars—Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan reunite for this Disney+ original series. Jin Wang (Ben Wang) is your typical teenager who’s just trying to get through the day of dealing with high school social hierarchies. But his life is forever altered when he’s asked to serve as a mentor to Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), a foreign exchange student who is hiding some pretty big secrets. Like that he’s actually on an otherworldly mission from the heavenly realm and has chosen Jin to serve as his guide. Part coming-of-age tale and part mythological fantasy, the single-season series is a formidable adaptation of Gene Yang’s graphic novel.
For a franchise as varied and diverse as Star Wars, sometimes its output can feel a little same-y. That’s not the case with Visions. The point of the anthology series is to provide “all-new, creative” takes on the Star Wars universe. The first series, which premiered in 2021, featured nine installments from some of the best anime studios in Japan, including Kamikaze Douga and Trigger. The second anthology, which arrived in 2023, broadens the scope further, incorporating work from studios in India, Ireland, Spain, Chile, France, South Africa, the US, and the UK. If you’re looking for the best one-off tales from the Star Wars universe, look no further.
The Mandalorian was, and is, exactly what the Star Wars franchise needed. Everything about this Jon Favreau series feels like classic TV—from the episodic adventures to the cameos. Set in the outer reaches of the galaxy, it follows a moody, masked Mandalorian bounty hunter (WIRED cover star Pedro Pascal) and really delivers on the hype with its retro-futuristic robots, salty Space Western vibes, lack of Skywalker baggage, and, of course, Grogu (aka Baby Yoda). The Mandalorian really set the tone for what a great Star Wars series could be, and while not every subsequent show has been as good, others, like Andor, have lived up to the precedent it set—and proved Star Wars stories can make for great TV. There’s still no official word on a fourth season, but there is one more exciting adventure on the horizon: a movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is rumored to begin production in June (with a 2026 release date).
Andor is something of a miracle. Created by Tony Gilroy, the filmmaker brought in to save Rogue One, it’s the origin story of one of that movie’s most beloved characters, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). Set in the early years of the Rebellion, it charts Andor’s path to becoming one of the most integral of the Rebels. With a supporting cast that includes Fiona Shaw and Stellan Skarsgård, it also features a fantastic score from Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, Succession). After spending so much time with Mandalorians and Jedis, it’s a welcome reprieve and perhaps the closest thing to prestige TV the Star Wars universe has released yet,
With Ms. Marvel, Disney manages to combine its knack for producing coming-of-age tween fare with its new role as caretaker of the MCU. Iman Vellani charms as Kamala Khan, an Avengers-obsessed high schooler from Jersey City who feels like an outsider in most areas of her life. But when a gold bangle arrives from her grandmother in Pakistan, Kamala begins to realize that all the time she’s spent fantasizing about what life would be like with superpowers might have been preparing her for real life. With one foot in the teen drama world and the other in the comic book universe, Ms. Marvel—which just happens to feature Marvel’s first Muslim superhero—marks yet another admirable step forward for the company in both innovation and inclusion. Vellani’s Ms. Marvel recently made the leap to the big screen to star alongside Brie Larson in The Marvels.
If helping to raise a new generation of Star Wars geeks was even a small part of your reason for having kids, this brand-new animated series, which is basically the Star Wars version of Muppet Babies, is a great place to start their education. Set during the High Republic era, approximately 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, it follows a group of young Jedis—Jedi Lites—who are sometimes stumbling their way through learning the ways of the Force. Like any good kid series, it also teaches important lessons about life and making a positive difference in the world.
Tatiana Maslany is no stranger to complicated characters (see: Orphan Black) or to playing more than one side of a single character (see again: Orphan Black). In She-Hulk, she gets to hone her deft skills even further while amping up the silliness of it all. Maslany plays Jennifer Walters, the cousin of Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), with whom she shares that angry green gene. Ultimately, this turns out to be a boon for Walters—and the audience—when she is given the chance to head up a new branch at her law firm that’s dedicated to cases involving “superhumans” like herself. While Maslany could easily carry the show on her own (yet again, see: Orphan Black), an all-star supporting cast that includes Ruffalo, Jameela Jamil, Tim Roth, and Benedict Wong only adds to the fun and further cements the show’s place in the MCU.
Ewan McGregor has not always had the kindest words for the Star Wars prequels in which he first played the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi—a role he inherited from Alec Guinness, who also had plenty of less-than-favorable things to say about the franchise. So it was somewhat surprising when Lucasfilm announced that McGregor would be donning his Jedi gear again to star in a stand-alone Star Wars series for Disney+. (Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has already said there will not be a second season.) In many ways, however, it allowed McGregor and former costar Hayden Christensen to course-correct some of their earlier work, as it follows a downtrodden Obi-Wan attempting to process his personal and professional disappointment over losing Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) to the Dark Side.
In January 1969, just more than a year before they announced they were breaking up, the Beatles allowed a film crew unprecedented access to the creative process and recording of Let It Be, which would be their final studio album. Fifty years later, Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson was presented with the nearly 60 hours of film footage and more than 150 hours of audio that resulted from this project, and he remastered it and turned it into a three-part docuseries. Whether you’re already a Beatles fan or not, the documentary is a fascinating look at the creative process of one of the music world’s most influential bands as they work against the clock to finish recording an album, decide to have a free concert on their label’s rooftop, and occasionally butt heads. Knowing what the subjects do not know—that this will be the last time they perform live together or record an album—only adds to the project’s intimacy. The miniseries won all five Emmys it was nominated for, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Oscar Isaac brings yet another marquee name to Marvel’s growing roster of all-star talents with Moon Night. Here, Isaac plays a man with dissociative identity disorder, giving us not one but three distinct characters: mercenary Mark Spector, British gift shop employee Steven Grant, and the mysterious—and seemingly ominous—Jake Lockley. Ultimately, he must face off against himself to get the answers he’s seeking. For Moon Knight, Isaac told Empire that he was thrilled to be able to do something “really fucking nutty on a major stage”—and he delivers.
As with The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau helms this Disney series, in which the criminally unsung bounty hunter of the Star Wars films finally gets his day in the sun. The series is technically a spinoff of The Mandalorian and takes place in the same time frame, after the events of Return of the Jedi. That explains why Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and his partner Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) are attempting to take over the underworld previously controlled by Jabba the Hutt.
While The Muppet Show, which ran for five seasons between 1976 and 1981, is considered a piece of classic television today, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for creator Jim Henson. Henson produced two one-off Muppet specials that were intended to take the show into prime time, but neither came to fruition. Fortunately, the Muppets did have a recurring gig in “The Land of Gorch” sketches that aired during Saturday Night Live’s first season, which—when that became a hit—gave Henson proof that there was a potentially massive audience for an adult-oriented Muppet show (not to mention celebrity connections to entice plenty of A-list names to host). The rest is Muppet history.
The Punisher is yet another Netflix-turned-Disney+ Marvel series that also happens to be a spinoff of Daredevil. Like Daredevil, the Punisher (real name: Frank Castle, played by Jon Bernthal) is a vigilante who seems to relish exacting revenge, regardless of the results. He and Daredevil operate within the same universe, and while the Punisher sort of admires Daredevil’s quest for true justice, Daredevil despises the Punisher’s by-any-means-necessary methods. Bernthal brings an intensity to the role that, while undoubtedly violent, also has a sense of humor about it.
If ABC’s TGIF lineup wasn’t a part of your night as a kid, you clearly didn’t grow up in the ’90s. But Disney+ is happy to right that wrong by housing all seven seasons of the teen sitcom in its library. Corey Matthews (Ben Savage) deals with the ups and downs of growing up and ever-evolving relationships with friends and family—plus that one teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels)—who always has the right answer to your problems, whether you like it or not. As the show progressed and the kids grew up, serious issues like drugs and sex were thrown into the mix, which didn’t always please the network. When the show aired on the original Disney Channel, a few episodes weren’t included in the lineup because of the more mature subject matter. You can also check out all three seasons of Girl Meets World, the series reboot (which features Corey as the parent and Mr. Feeny) when you’re done.
Just about six months after Daredevil arrived on the scene, Netflix took another chance on a Marvel property with Jessica Jones. In this dark dive into the world of superheroes, Krysten Ritter plays a private investigator who gave up her days as a superhero after a major catastrophe. But you can’t deny who you are, as Jessica discovers when it seems like every case that comes her way forces her to confront her past—and the supervillain Kilgrave (David Tennant), who turned her into a shell of her former self.
Yet another in an ever growing string of spinoff TV shows from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hawkeye gives some long overdue attention to Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, who in many ways has often seemed like the forgotten Avenger. The supernaturally skilled archer is in most of the ensemble Avengers films, but this Disney+ series marks his first solo outing. The show sees Hawkeye teaming up with Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a precocious twentysomething who shares his skills for slinging arrows but lacks his eye for danger. It’s set during the holidays, and there are shades of Die Hard as the eponymous character tries to save the day and make it home in time for Christmas. Let the arguments about whether it’s a Christmas TV show begin.
Monsters at Work is the Monsters, Inc. spinoff you didn’t know you needed. It picks up the action six months after the end of the iconic Pixar movie—after Sully and his friend and colleague Mike (a giant green eyeball) have reworked the Monstropolis energy grid to run on laughter instead of children’s screams. The show, which includes elements of a workplace comedy, premiered in the summer of 2021 and just debuted its long-awaited second season in April.
Yes, Disney really is milking its Star Wars properties for all they’re worth. The Bad Batch is an animated spinoff series set in the aftermath of the Clone Wars, between the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy in the overarching timeline. It follows a group of clone soldiers with genetic defects that give them individual traits and personalities, making them well suited to taking on daring mercenary missions. All three seasons are available to stream.
This slow-burning sitcom parody is unexpectedly compelling. For the first couple of episodes, even hardened Marvel fans will have very little idea what’s going on, as Avengers Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) live out an idyllic family life in black-and-white 1950s suburbia. Quickly, it becomes clear that something is wrong in the quiet town of Westview, as the world of the show ties into the wider MCU. Olsen reprises her role in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which picks up right after the events of WandaVision. Though there will not be a second season, fan-favorite Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is getting a spinoff, Agatha All Along, which is expected to drop in September.
After the surreal sitcom stylings of WandaVision, the second Marvel show to land on Disney+ covers more familiar ground. It’s an action-packed thriller that follows Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as they try to fill the void left by Captain America in the months after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Accessible for kids and adults alike—and undoubtedly one of the best Star Wars TV series on Disney+—this animated series follows a group of rebels led by the former Jedi Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and featuring his force-sensitive Padawan, Ezra Bridger (Ezra Gray). Fan favorite Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) is another regular character across its four seasons, which do a neat job of fleshing out the time between the end of the prequel trilogy and the beginning of the original one.
Have you got some time on your hands? Well, the 34 seasons of The Simpsons currently streaming on Disney+ should keep you busy. What can be said about one of the longest-running—and arguably most famous—animated TV shows ever made? While the first season is a little patchy by today’s standards, and there are ongoing arguments about when the show went from essential viewing to neglected cash cow, whatever your view, there are literally weeks worth of entertainment here.
If you really want to nerd out, this critically acclaimed animated X-Men series from the ’90s is worth a watch. In fact, the first two films in the live-action movie franchise drew heavily from this cartoon, which serves as a nice reminder of what can be done with rich source material.
This seven-season series, which is for serious Marvel fans, revolves around S.H.I.E.L.D.’s less super agents, led by Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg). The first season takes a while to warm up, but it really hits its stride in its second and especially third seasons, and it eventually ramps up with a complex plot that ties into the films.
Agent Carter is a better show than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but it struggled to find an audience during its two seasons. Hayley Atwell reprises her role as Peggy Carter from several MCU films in this 1940s-set series, where she doubles as an agent for the US government while helping Howard Stark (Tony’s dad) out of more than one jam. The two seasons stretch to only 18 episodes, so it’s a quick watch, but one worth making the time for.
This is another Star Wars animated show worth seeking out, though it’s not to be confused with the equally worthy 2003 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars from legendary Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky. Both series deal with the period between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and chronicle the rise of Anakin Skywalker from arrogant Padawan to powerful Jedi Master.
There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes content on Disney+. These are short clips that, in another age, would have been confined to the DVD extras menu. But this series of 20-minute documentaries on different Pixar movies offers a fascinating insight into the animated hit machine.
Here’s an animated series based on one simple question: What if? The Watcher, played by Jeffrey Wright, is an extraterrestrial being who observes the multiverse, occasionally making minor changes to influence events. This series looks at how events in the Marvel movies would have turned out differently if they’d had a Sliding Doors moment. The first episode follows an alternate timeline in which Steve Rogers remains a scrawny sidekick and Agent Carter becomes a Union Jack-draped super soldier. Actors from the films reprise their roles, including Josh Brolin as Thanos, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Karen Gillan as Nebula. The second season arrived in late 2023.
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Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED Staff
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The eight-part Disney+ series is set 100 years before the ‘Star Wars’ prequels.
NEW YORK CITY — The newest series to emerge from a galaxy far, far away is almost here.
A special screening was held Monday night in New York City for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte.’
The eight-part Disney+ series is set 100 years before the ‘Star Wars’ prequels.
An investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi master against a dangerous warrior from his past.
It features fresh characters and newcomers to the Star Wars universe.
The first two episodes of ‘The Acolyte’ premieres Tuesday on Disney+.
Disney is the parent company of ABC OTV stations.
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OTRC
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CLEVELAND (WJW) – A Disney trip turned dangerous for a family from Northeast Ohio.
“It was my brother Guy’s 40th birthday. We had the fun shirts made,” said Kelleen Reddy, of West Park.
It was supposed to be a dream vacation at Walt Disney World.
“We arrived Sunday, the 19th. We checked into our rental home and then we kicked the parks off right away Monday,” said Reddy.
The party of 14, which included five children, enjoyed five days at the parks. However, when Kelleen returned to her rental home in Kissimmee, Florida Friday night, the trip took a dangerous turn.
“It was just jam-packed with cars that Uber almost had to go on the sidewalk to get around and zig-zag. Hundreds of kids just in the street,” said Reddy.
Kelleen said police were called and the crowd thinned out, but as a precaution, everyone decided to sleep on the second floor.
“And as I’m laying there, I hear this voice scream, ‘party’s over!’ and 30 seconds later a single gunshot. And I grabbed my two-year-old. I get her into a bathroom in a bathtub for extra protection, and then it just sounded like fireworks, just nonstop fireworks going off,” said Reddy.
Deputies in Florida said the shooting was the result of a house party at a rental property right next door to Reddy’s vacation home.
“We made sure it was a gated community. That was one of the biggest priorities for us, not knowing the area and security, which again, we’re still trying to process how all those cars and people were allowed in the area at 2 in the morning,” said Reddy.
Kellee said she is sharing their story to raise awareness and to remind families to check and double check before booking a rental home.
“I think the safety of rentals needs to be locked down altogether. They need to do a better job. They need to be more diligent in checking if their security cameras are working and they can
actually see how many people are outside of their rental property,” said Reddy.
Reddy said her family was given a full refund by the rental home website.
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Melissa Reid
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