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Tag: Disney

  • Disney making changes to Disability Access Service program

    Disney making changes to Disability Access Service program

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    Disney making changes to Disability Access Service program

    Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are changing their Disability Access Service (DAS) program amid concerns of abuse, according to its website.The change, which goes into effect May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland, will include more specific language on who is eligible for the program and outlines how eligibility will be verified before guests visit the parks.In the updated wording, the system is now intended to accommodate “only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar,” are unable to wait in long lines.Disney said it will work with Inspire Health Alliance’s health professionals to determine a guest’s eligibility.Disney World will require the guest attend a virtual meeting with a Disney Cast Member to determine eligibility before visiting the parks, while Disneyland guests can meet virtually or at the Accessibility Services window on site the day-of.Disney will also introduce a “return to queue” process that will allow a DAS guest to leave and then re-enter a line when necessary.These changes come after Disney officials said DAS usage has tripled at the parks over the past five years. Disney hopes the changes will reduce misuse of the system by those who do not need the service.“Disney is dedicated to providing a great experience for all Guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our Guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting out theme parks,” a Disney official said.Top headlines: Florida woman finds 8-foot gator in her kitchen Florida teacher’s son stabbed her 70 times, used pre-med training to kill her, sheriff says When is the next time Florida will be in the path of totality for a solar eclipse?

    Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are changing their Disability Access Service (DAS) program amid concerns of abuse, according to its website.

    The change, which goes into effect May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland, will include more specific language on who is eligible for the program and outlines how eligibility will be verified before guests visit the parks.

    In the updated wording, the system is now intended to accommodate “only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar,” are unable to wait in long lines.

    Disney said it will work with Inspire Health Alliance’s health professionals to determine a guest’s eligibility.

    Disney World will require the guest attend a virtual meeting with a Disney Cast Member to determine eligibility before visiting the parks, while Disneyland guests can meet virtually or at the Accessibility Services window on site the day-of.

    Disney will also introduce a “return to queue” process that will allow a DAS guest to leave and then re-enter a line when necessary.

    These changes come after Disney officials said DAS usage has tripled at the parks over the past five years. Disney hopes the changes will reduce misuse of the system by those who do not need the service.

    “Disney is dedicated to providing a great experience for all Guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our Guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting out theme parks,” a Disney official said.

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  • Why We’re Not Too Worried About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

    Why We’re Not Too Worried About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

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    Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice introduced the blueprint for cinematic meta agents of chaos into pop culture long before Disney’s Genie from Aladdin or the MCU’s Deadpool and Loki. Without much of a mythology, save for some comparisons to trickster entities of folklore and classic lit like Puck from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Betelgeuse—as his name is spelled in the film’s flashy neon sign—can be anything not beholden to a history.

    Michael Keaton’s original summoning of the character introduced Beetlejuice as an unreliable narrator, which is followed in every variant of him we’ve seen in television and on stage; he has powers we don’t quite understand and no one can control outside of saying his name three times before he can stop them. Keaton’s version of the character will seen again in this September’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice—and though there’s always some trepidation awaiting a long-in-the-making sequel, here’s why we’re too not worried about what to expect from this one.

    In the 1988 dark comedy about life as ghosts for the recently departed, Keaton shone as the larger-than-life poltergeist in a performance that helped make Burton’s wacky creation iconic. With stand-up gags and stop-motion buffoonery (some of which might not be so PC nowadays), the villain of his own movie almost stole the show from Winona Ryder’s teen goth dream Lydia and her ghostly found family after nearly getting rid of her living family (who may have deserved it). The film grossed $74,664,632 in North America, garnering its success in theaters and being embraced as a hit family film about death. It also primed Keaton to reunite with Burton for Batman.

    Image: WB Entertainment

    Beetlejuice’s jump in the line from the films into becoming a cultural staple was propelled by Beetlejuice, the animated series. The cartoon had a more family-friendly, looser interpretation of the plot introduced in the film. It got rid of the Maitlands and the questionable child-bride thread, and instead made Beetlejuice a lovable manic sidekick Lydia rehabilitates into more of an anti-hero. Their spooky cartoon adventures ran from 1989 to 1991 and it became a popular movie-to-show experiment, solidifying Beetlejuice’s place as a spooky pop-culture star.

    His inclusion in the real world through his presence at Universal Studios theme parks continued to keep the Ghost with the Most in the zeitgeist through the ‘90s. Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue was my first introduction to the character before watching the film, which came out before I was born. The live theme park stage show was a monster mash of pop-rock music covers performed by the Universal Monsters and hosted by Beetlejuice; it debuted in the ‘90s but had updated iterations throughout the years. It was a genius move by Universal, crafting a formative theme park-experience that made such an impact on monster kids, goths, and normies—reframing Beetlejuice as the crypt keeper for a new generation but for silly spooky nonsense.

    Full Final Performance of Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios Florida

    Because… why is he hosting a graveyard jukebox musical? What does it have to do with the movie? Why are the Universal Monsters there? Wait—no, they make sense, why is he (a Warner Bros. property) there? By the time he jumped out of the grave none of those questions mattered; he was back and badder than ever. Beetlejuice has been a Universal Studios character meet and greet staple ever since—even past the closing of his revue back in 2015. Most recently in 2021, Beetlejuice got a Halloween Horror Nights house at Universal Studios Orlando; it proved to be one of the annual event’s most popular attractions and showed that fans were still clamoring for more, even before Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was greenlit.

    Beetlejuice house hhn

    Image: Universal Studios Products and Experiences

    Still another iteration of Beetlejuice came to life shortly before the pandemic. In 2019 a Broadway musical adaptation of the property hit the stage for a stint before returning in 2021 and heading out on a national tour. The show, starring Alex Brightman (who recently was featured as Richard Dreyfuss in the Jaws behind-the-scenes play The Shark is Broken), may appear at first to be merely a musical version of the film—however, if you’ve seen it, you know it’s much more than that. The book for the musical, written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, departs greatly from the film with a more cohesive storyline, centering Lydia’s journey through the grief of losing her mother (while her dad quickly remarries Delia), and the Maitlands’ grief at not being able to live long enough to have a family. Both give the story more to explore at depth—all while retaining the funhouse comedy romp that comes from dealing with death by means of Beetlejuice’s comedic chaos counseling. By the time the second act hits, it feels like such a completely different story from the movie in a good way, and if it happens to stop in your town on tour, don’t miss it.

    Beetlejuice musical

    Image: Matthew Murphy

    Each variant of the Beetlejuice story down to its core is about the character’s freedom to fit into any medium with meta commentary about death—perhaps because since he’s dead, he exists outside reality. His presence makes sense of the unexplainable not by giving answers but by exploring the questions people have about life and death through a movie, cartoon, haunted house, and musical. Beetlejuice’s modus operandi is to not entirely change others, but to be changed by the situations he’s in—all while being his best hedonistic self and at most encouraging the living to live a little through the horrors of humanity. It’s why he and Lydia have become goth legends for the Hot Topic and Spirit Halloween crowds. Beetlejuice isn’t high-brow “cinema,” it’s about a guy who’s the executioner of gallows humor. And that is why we shouldn’t be too worried about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: it’s not a legacy sequel that has a bar to reach, and I honestly think it might make fun of that concept in the best way. I’m just hoping for another good time, a new reason to laugh and not be afraid of death while seeing that Beetlejuice fella be up to no good again before getting exorcised back to his resting place… we know it’s not final.

    Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opens September 6.


    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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    Sabina Graves

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  • Don’t Worry, ‘Bluey’ Probably Isn’t Going Anywhere

    Don’t Worry, ‘Bluey’ Probably Isn’t Going Anywhere

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    Apparently, there are rumors circulating that Bluey is leaving Disney+. Considering the constantly shifting licensing agreements between streamers, the seismic ending of “Ghostbasket,” and the upcoming Bluey special, it’s reasonable to wonder what’s going on with the show—but Bluey fans don’t have to worry quite yet.

    Bluey follows the adventures of an exuberant young blue heeler. With her parents, Bandit and Chilli, along with her little sister Bingo and all her friends and extended family, Bluey has adventures around her home in Brisbane, Australia.

    The series has earned a devoted fanbase around the world, with both children and adults following the show’s madcap humor, relatable characters, and heartfelt explorations of childhood and parenting. Thanks to a deal between the Australian Broadcasting Company and Disney, the series is currently streaming in the U.S. on Disney+.

    Despite any doomsday rumors you might have heard on the internet, Disney has not announced any plans to remove Bluey from its streaming platform. In fact, with the show as wildly popular and profitable as it is, with numerous merchandising agreements, Disney is unlikely to let go of it any time soon.

    In fact, there’s new Bluey content coming to Disney+ very soon. On April 14, the first-ever Bluey special will see its global release. The special, called “The Sign,” will be 28 minutes long, approximately the length of four Bluey episodes. According to the trailer that Disney recently released, “The Sign” will focus on the wedding between Bluey’s Uncle Rad and his fiancée, Frisky. In the trailer, we see Bluey, Bingo, and their cousins Muffin and Socks wearing flower garlands on their heads, which means they may be flower girls in the wedding.

    However, there’s a hint of pathos to “The Sign,” too. At the end of “Ghostbasket,” which dropped on April 7, we learn that the Heelers are selling their home. Could the For Sale sign in front of their house be the sign that the special’s title is referring to? What’s going to happen to Bluey and her family?

    Ludo Studios reportedly announced a hiatus after finishing production of “The Sign,” so we may not get new Bluey episodes anytime soon. However, that doesn’t mean the existing episodes will leave Disney+. For now, all 152 episodes of Bluey are currently streaming on Disney+, and they’re likely not going away any time soon.

    (featured image: Disney+)


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    Julia Glassman

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  • The First Omen’s Arkasha Stevenson Fought to Keep Its Haunted Birthing Scene

    The First Omen’s Arkasha Stevenson Fought to Keep Its Haunted Birthing Scene

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    The First Omen is a prequel to the classic 1976 film, set days leading up to the birth of Damian, who’s to be the Antichrist. Along with the actual birth of Damian himself, the film features another birthing scene, one that nearly got the film in trouble with the MPAA up to release.

    Early on in the film as she’s adjusting to life at the orphanage, beginner nun Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) sees a hallucination of a woman giving birth. During it, a demonic hand comes out of the woman’s birthing canal, in turn earning the film an NC-17 rating in the eyes of the ratings board. (A film getting that rating tends to kneecap its theatrical prospects.) The initial rating took director Arkasha Stevenson by surprisie, even more so when she realized what specifically about that scene led to the rating.

    “[We have] this full frontal shot of the vagina and a hand starts to come through. It was just this…shot of the vagina that was getting flagged every single time,” she told TheWrap. Dealing with the MPAA’s hangups was “really frustrating,” even more so once they realized the scene would get approved if “the labia was no longer in focus.” That was a real Joker moment for Stevenson, who called it weird since “we have a lot of gore and violence. We have a demon phallus. […] I was like, ’What is going on?’ That just made me so upset that it gave me more fuel to keep fighting with them.”

    Eventually, she settled on starting the shot with the hand coming through the vagina, when she said it’s “already violated.” In her eyes, conceding to the MPAA made for an even more graphic scene, since you see “the skin getting stretched and it feels much more painful.”

    For her part, Free acknowledged filming that scene was split between actually working with the actor playing the “mother” and just looking at a red dot on a camera. It was only in the ADR phase that she got to see it “in all its sticky glory,” and she loved it. “I was cheering in the booth,” she laughed, “I was like, ‘Fuck yeah!’” In the context of the whole movie, she noted how First Omen “deals with very topical and very difficult things” despite its dark themes. “[We do] it in a way that we’re not trying to spoon-feed anything to you. We’re not trying to even enforce our opinions on you whatsoever.”

    As for Stevenson? She was just glad the studio had her back during the whole ordeal. “[We have] a vagina in a Disney film, [and] that feels wonderful.”

    The First Omen is now in theaters.


    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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  • 4/3: Prime Time with John Dickerson

    4/3: Prime Time with John Dickerson

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    4/3: Prime Time with John Dickerson – CBS News


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    John Dickerson reports on President Biden’s planned call with Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu after a strike on aid workers, an update on the Disney shareholder fight, and how some students will be able to hear the solar eclipse.

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  • Disney Board Holds Off ‘Activist Investor’ Nelson Peltz

    Disney Board Holds Off ‘Activist Investor’ Nelson Peltz

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    Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the Disneyland Hotel reopening celebration at Disneyland Paris on February 3, 2024.
    Photo: Kristy Sparow (Getty Images)

    The atmosphere at Disney’s corporate offices must feel slightly lighter these days, between Disney World’s recent detente with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and news today that shareholders have voted against billionaire “activist investor” Nelson Peltz’s attempt to snag two seats on the company’s board.

    As io9 previously explained, a behind-the-scenes situation that probably wouldn’t interest the average Disney fan suddenly became more headline-worthy when Peltz gave an interview to the Financial Times in which he complained about diversity in recent Disney Marvel projects, including last year’s The Marvels and the Oscar-winning smash hit Black Panther. “Why do I have to have a Marvel [movie] that’s all women?” the 81-year-old asked. “Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have Marvels that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?” Not only was this attitude off-putting to fans, it also rubbed high-profile Disney shareholders the wrong way—including Star Wars creator George Lucas, who spoke out against Peltz’ proxy fight.

    As the Hollywood Reporter updates, today’s annual shareholder meeting proved to be “a win for the Walt Disney Co. and CEO Bob Iger” as all of the company’s director nominees “have been elected by shareholders, rebuffing the activist investor Nelson Peltz, who had been running a high-profile campaign to put himself and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo on the company’s board.”

    Sources cited by the trade make it sound like the voting wasn’t exactly close, coming out decisively in favor of Team Iger. THR also has a statement from Iger, who sounds ready to put the Peltz situation in Disney’s rear-view mirror as quickly as possible: “I want to thank our shareholders for their trust and confidence in our Board and management. With the distracting proxy contest now behind us, we’re eager to focus 100% of our attention on our most important priorities: growth and value creation for our shareholders and creative excellence for our consumers.”


    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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    Cheryl Eddy

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  • Hasbro’s New Figure Reveals Are Full of Rebels, Robots, and a Goddamn Hammerhead

    Hasbro’s New Figure Reveals Are Full of Rebels, Robots, and a Goddamn Hammerhead

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    Image: Hasbro

    This past weekend Hasbro—not content with the metric buttload of action figures it’s already been teasing lately—revealed a bunch of new figures for its Transformers, G.I. Joe, Marvel, and Star Wars lines at Wondercon. But, at long last, the toymaker is getting around to a character from the galaxy far, far away it’s been away from for far too long.

    Momaw Nadon—aka Hammerhead, as the Ithorian bar patron was lovingly referred to back in Kenner’s classic Star Wars figure line—is an unhinged choice for a Star Wars action figure, considering he’s in A New Hope for a handful of seconds, adding memorable background flavor to Mos Eisley Cantina. But those early days of merch mania that turned Star Wars into such a transformative moment in the toy industry meant that no matter how obscure the character, odds are they’d wind up on a toy shelf at some point. Momaw was an early prime choice, sealing his status in the minds of Star Wars fans and collectors forevermore.

    There’s been figure recreations of him over the years since that original rudimentary figure, but not in Hasbro’s 6″-scaled Black Series line yet—although the inevitably was all but assured when, last year, Hasbro revealed a special action figure for the Galaxy’s Edge theme park recreating the Disney Parks’ own Ithorian character, antiquities dealer Dok Ondar. Now though, at last, we can get our hands on the real deal. Click through to see Momaw and plenty more reveals—including new Star Wars Rebels figures for fans who didn’t get their hands on the lavish crowdfunded replica of the Ghost, lots of Iron Men for the Marvel Legends line, and more!

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  • Fridays Are Officially Freaky Again

    Fridays Are Officially Freaky Again

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    Image: Walt Disney Pictures

    Freaky Friday—the 2003 version that’s become one of Disney’s standout early-aughts live-action teen movies—is finally getting a sequel.

    After years of saying they’d do it, Jamie Lee Curtis (Borderlands) and Lindsay Lohan (Irish Wish) have finally manifested Freaky Friday 2, which they teased today in an Instagram post. The Hollywood Reporter also confirmed the news that Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales filmmaker Nisha Ganatra is aboard to direct the reunion, and that producer Andrew Gunn will return to oversee the film with ex-Disney exec Kristen Burr.

    Freaky Friday has been a recurrent franchise at Disney since the 1976 film starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris as the teen daughter and mom who switch bodies. Both that film and the 2003 remake are based on Mary Rodgers’ novel by the same name, which has had numerous other adaptations, including a musical, all centering on the classic comedic dynamic that comes when characters plunge right into the generation gap—not to mention the fun of seeing a young actor get to play a mom in the wrong body, and vice versa. As THR notes, “Lohan is no longer a teen and the new script, by Jordan Weiss, is said to bring a multigenerational approach to the story.”

    Disney has yet to reveal if Freaky Friday 2, which starts shooting this summer, will be getting a theatrical release or going straight to Disney+.


    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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    Sabina Graves

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  • Disney+ Has a New Look—Which Is No Look at All

    Disney+ Has a New Look—Which Is No Look at All

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    Are you one of those people who arranges your apps by color? Do you keep folders? Or are you, like me, a moron who just keeps a loose memory of what color any particular app is and swipes and scrolls until their eyes catch a familiar glimpse? If you are the latter, finding Disney+—and Hulu—might be getting a little harder.

    This week, Disney rolled out Hulu on Disney+ in the US. Ostensibly part of company CEO Bob Iger’s promise of a “one-app experience,” the launch basically just means that if you have one of the Disney “bundles” you can now watch Hulu stuff while you’re in Disney+. OK, cool. Along with the change, though, Disney+ got a new logo, one awash in what it is calling “aurora,” a swampy blue-green hue that looks like what would happen if the eyes of Tammy Faye were imprinted on your device’s screen like it was the Shroud of Turin.

    As with any minor change to their digital experience, internet people have noticed this shift. And commented. Some called it “bland,” while others called it “lifeless.” More nuanced and jugular-aiming takes went like this: “I mean, it’s Disney. Making new versions of stuff that’s worse than the original is what they do.” A hot take for a cool color.

    Courtesy of Disney+

    Disney’s shift here isn’t entirely insignificant. It involved modifying everything, from re-encoding Hulu’s video files to work on Disney+ to updating the metadata attached to shows and movies. The idea is that one day Disney will have “one master media library for the entire company,” Aaron LaBerge, president and CTO of Disney Entertainment and ESPN, told the Verge. It is, in other words, about making Disney+ a bigger trove of content than it already is.

    This is where, metaphorically, the Disney+ color change takes on a different tone. It serves as a reminder of the flattening of the streaming experience. In the app libraries of our minds, Netflix is red, Apple TV+ is black, Hulu is green, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video have a very similar blue hue, Peacock and Discovery+ have a rainbow-and-black thing going on. These visual signifiers indicate what kind of experience will emerge when clicked. (I don’t know about you, but I now associate perfectly zestless television with RGB 229 9 20, aka Netflix Red.)

    As the streamers have consolidated or changed their identities, they’ve muddied the nonverbal cues that have set our expectations around what they offer. Had HBO kept that old black-silver-blue look from the Go days, maybe, coupled with Apple TV+, black would be the official color of prestige television. But it’s not.

    The Monitor is a weekly column devoted to everything happening in the WIRED world of culture, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter.

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    Angela Watercutter

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  • Save on Disneyland Tickets! Starting at $70 Per Day for SoCal Residents

    Save on Disneyland Tickets! Starting at $70 Per Day for SoCal Residents

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    Save on Disneyland Tickets

    Save on Disneyland Tickets

    Southern California residents can take advantage of a Groupon deal to score Disneyland® Resort tickets starting as low as $70 per day. The lowest price is for a special 3-Day,1-Park Per Day ticket, which is valid from 1/2/24 to 6/2/24. Tickets may be used on nonconsecutive days, but are limited to certain days only.

    Just keep on mind that offer is valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000- 93599. Proof of eligible residency, including valid government-issued photo ID, is required for purchase and admission.

    The Deals

    • 3-Day 1-Park Per Day Ticket with Disney Genie+ Service SoCal Resident Monday – Thursday Only Promo; SoCal Residents General Admission (ages 3+) $98.33 PER DAY (Save $185.00)
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    • 3-Day 1-Park Per Day Ticket SoCal Resident Monday – Sunday Promo SoCal Residents $85.67 PER DAY (Save $133.00)
    • 3-Day 1-Park Per Day Ticket SoCal Resident Monday – Thursday Only Promo SoCal Residents $70.00 PER DAY (Save $180.00)
    • 3-Day Park Hopper® Ticket SoCal Resident Monday – Sunday Promo SoCal Residents $107.67 PER DAY (Save $137.00)
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    Visit promotion page and click Buy Now to see all options available.

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    DDG

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  • Settlement reached in lawsuit between Gov. DeSantis allies and Disney

    Settlement reached in lawsuit between Gov. DeSantis allies and Disney

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    Allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney reached a settlement agreement Wednesday in a state court fight over how Walt Disney World is developed in the future following the takeover of the theme park resort’s government by the Florida governor.

    In a meeting, the members of the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District approved the settlement agreement, ending almost two years of litigation that was sparked by DeSantis’ takeover of the district from Disney supporters following the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.

    The 2022 law bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by the Republican governor, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until he suspended his presidential campaign this year.

    The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades.

    Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement Wednesday that the company was pleased a settlement had been reached.

    “This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the state,” Vahle said.

    As punishment for Disney’s opposition to the law, DeSantis took over the governing district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in January.

    Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers and the district sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.

    Disney filed counterclaims that included asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.

    Under the terms of Wednesday’s settlement agreement, Disney lets stand a determination by the board of DeSantis appointees that the comprehensive plan approved by the Disney supporters before the takeover is null and void. Disney also agrees that a development agreement and restrictive covenants passed before the takeover are also not valid, according to the settlement terms.

    Instead, a comprehensive plan from 2020 will be used with the new board able to make changes to it, and the agreement suggests Disney and the new board will negotiate a new development agreement in the near future. 

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  • Who the Hell Is Nelson Peltz, the Billionaire Investor Disney Is Freaking Out About?

    Who the Hell Is Nelson Peltz, the Billionaire Investor Disney Is Freaking Out About?

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    So-called activist investor Nelson Peltz, who’s aiming to win two Disney board seats, has stirred up some controversy by calling out Disney’s recent era of “woke” strategy through diversifying its slate of films at Marvel Studios.

    The 81-year-old businessman, whose experience is with food companies including Wendy’s and H.J. Heinz as well as having once supported the DeSantis presidential campaign, had a lot to say about The Marvels and Black Panther in an interview with the Financial Times. “Why do I have to have a Marvel [movie] that’s all women?” Peltz asked the publication. “Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have Marvels that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?” Side note: Peltz happens to be the father of Nicola Peltz, who played Katara in 2010’s infamously very white Last Airbender adaptation.

    He continued, “People go to watch a movie or a show to be entertained. They don’t go to get a message.” Since he also claimed that he doesn’t have experience in media, it’s interesting to note that Peltz’s Trian Partners is pushing for this vote as part of Ike Perlmutter’s hopes for retaliation against Disney CEO Bob Iger, who terminated him from Marvel Entertainment last year. Variety reported that, “Trian controls roughly $3.5 billion worth of Disney stock, 79% of which is owned by Perlmutter.” This goes back to Perlmutter’s feud with Kevin Feige, who pushed for Black Panther and Captain Marvel. Perlmutter fought against diversity in Marvel’s slate until Iger stepped in to force his hand and allow the films to be made.

    Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, starring the late Chadwick Boseman, was a hit with $1.35 billion at the worldwide box office; it kicked off the Academy Award-winning franchise and brought more inclusivity to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Proving Perlmutter wrong publicly while revealing the lengths the forner Marvel exec went to in order to stop diverse superhero toys, merch, and movies being made really propelled Feige into the public’s good graces. Recent misses for the studio including The Marvels have caused some Marvel watchers to wonder if Feige’s position should be called into question. When asked by the Financial Times if it should, Peltz responded, “I’m not ready to say that, but I question his record.”

    Disney board member George Lucas recently stood up against Peltz by releasing a statement (reprinted in Variety and elsewhere) to support Bob Iger in rejecting his bid. “Creating magic is not for amateurs,” Lucas said in a shot right at Peltz, who also admitted to the Financial Times he’s been a bit of a bully. (“What sense is being a billionaire if you’re not a bully?” Peltz has been quoted as saying.) Which is such a strange stance to bring into Disney, standing directly against all it represents.

    Lucas continued, “When I sold Lucasfilm just over a decade ago, I was delighted to become a Disney shareholder because of my longtime admiration for its iconic brand and Bob Iger’s leadership.” He added, “When Bob recently returned to the company during a difficult time, I was relieved. No one knows Disney better. I remain a significant shareholder because I have full faith and confidence in the power of Disney and Bob’s track record of driving long-term value. I have voted all of my shares for Disney’s 12 directors and urge other shareholders to do the same.”

    Peltz aims to add more board seats for his hedge fund firm through his Disney bid and support the agenda that Ike Perlmutter, his silent third party partner, has advocated for during his Disney tenure. The Hollywood Reporter disclosed that Perlmutter had this up his sleeve as soon as he was terminated, as he immediately pledged his stakes in Disney to Peltz. Before Iger came back Peltz had attempted a proxy battle with the company as a result of its losses, but was held off by his return. With this seat bid he hopes for round two in having more direct influence on the company board.


    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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    Sabina Graves

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  • ‘X-Men ’97’ Hits 4 Million Views in Five Days

    ‘X-Men ’97’ Hits 4 Million Views in Five Days

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    In its first five days on Disney+ after launching on March 20, “X-Men ’97” hit four million views.

    This marks Disney+’s most-watched premiere for an animated series since Season 1 of Marvel’s “What If…?” in 2021.

    More to come…

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    Selome Hailu

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  • Oscar nominee comes home to screen ‘Madu’ at AFI Silver Theatre before Disney+ premiere – WTOP News

    Oscar nominee comes home to screen ‘Madu’ at AFI Silver Theatre before Disney+ premiere – WTOP News

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    D.C. filmmaker Matt Ogens is out with his new documentary “Madu,” which screens at the AFI New African Film Festival on Sunday and Tuesday before streaming on Disney+.

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Madu’ at AFI Silver Theatre (Part 1)

    He earned an Oscar nomination for his Netflix documentary “Audible” about the football team at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Maryland.

    Now, D.C. filmmaker Matt Ogens is out with his new documentary “Madu,” which screens at the AFI New African Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Sunday and Tuesday before streaming on Disney+ on March 29.

    “It’s always meaningful to be able to share it with the community that I grew up with,” Ogens told WTOP. “I was born in D.C. and grew up there, just outside of D.C. in Maryland. … So to go back with this new film, which is really near and dear and meaningful to me is great. Family, friends, people I grew up with, whoever wants to come, I look forward to being able to present the film and do a Q&A after. It means a lot.”

    The film follows Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy who became a viral ballet sensation.

    “Two and a half years ago, my producer … sent me a text in the middle of the night, a video of this 11-year-old boy barefoot doing ballet moves in the rain,” Ogens said. “The video ended up going super viral, Viola Davis retweeted it and it really spun out and got a lot of attention. … He just said, ‘Find this kid.’ I was very curious. … Sometimes you just get these stories that just hit you in the gut. I wanted to know this kid’s story.”

    After FaceTiming with Madu’s family, Ogens decided to codirect the documentary with Nigerian filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi Benson, flying a Disney camera crew to Africa to film in Madu’s home near Lagos, Nigeria.

    “He grew up just on the outskirts of Lagos, about a two or three-hour drive away in an impoverished area that a lot of people in Downtown Lagos don’t even know exists, but there’s this beauty and love in his home, in his family, in his community,” Ogens said. “Juxtaposed against a kid who’s bullied and doesn’t really feel like he belongs because he does ballet. If you’re a kid in Nigeria, especially a boy, you don’t do ballet — you play soccer.”

    During the production, Madu was accepted into the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, England.

    “His mother gets a call from a very prestigious ballet school,” Ogens said. “They get to know him and they see and feel his passion the same way that we did and they offered him a full seven-year scholarship, which is amazing for him because suddenly he’s going to go to this new world where he is around people that value and appreciate ballet. He’s not going to get bullied, made fun of or mocked for doing ballet.”

    Madu hopes to continue to inspire others by dancing as his lifelong career.

    “His dream, as he states at the beginning, is to be a principal ballerina and really represent Nigeria wherever he goes,” Ogens said. “If he stays in England or comes to America or another country or comes back to Nigeria, it’s a win because he’s bringing that back with him. Really, he wants to inspire the rest of us in the world that we can dream big. Even though it seems impossible and so far off and Mount Everest to climb, it is possible.”

    Find ticket information here.

    WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Madu’ at AFI Silver Theatre (Part 2)

    Listen to our full conversation on the podcast below:

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jason Fraley

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  • What Do Bluey’s Parents Do For Work? Hint: They’re Careers Dogs Would Love

    What Do Bluey’s Parents Do For Work? Hint: They’re Careers Dogs Would Love

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    Bluey centers on an exuberant young blue heeler and her little sister, Bingo. But the show isn’t just about childhood adventures—it’s also a story about Bluey’s parents, Bandit and Chilli. But do Bandit and Chilli actually have jobs?

    Yes, they do! And we know what those jobs are!

    Here’s the lowdown on what Bandit and Chilli do for a living.

    Bandit is an archaeologist

    Bandit waves from the screen of a tablet, covered in dirt with a natural landscape behind him.
    (Disney+)

    Back in the old days (like, a year or so ago), there was a short on the Bluey YouTube channel that showed Bandit speaking at an archaeologist conference. In the short, Dr. Heeler (yes, apparently he has a PhD!) introduces a bone he found in the field, showing an ancient bipedal canine ancestor. After presenting the find, though, Bandit succumbs to the urge to gnaw on the bone. Because he’s a dog! Dogs like bones! Bluey is a show about dogs, you see.

    Even though that short isn’t online anymore, though, there are other clues to Bandit’s profession. In the episode “Yoga Ball,” you can see various artifacts and maps in his home office. In “Curry Quest,” Bandit goes on a dig for six weeks, saying hello to his family via FaceTime calls. On the tablet screen, you can see that Bandit is covered in dirt with a digging tool tucked behind his head.

    Chilli does something related to airport security

    When it comes to Chilli, it’s a little harder to pinpoint her exact job, but consensus has gradually formed that she works in airport security. Some sources claim that her job used to be part of her character profile on the Bluey website, although that information is no longer there. She doesn’t seem to be a rank and file security agent, though—at least, not full time. In “Tradies,” she tells two contractors that she’s working from home, and in another episode, she has to fill in for a sick coworker and slips her laptop into her backpack before she leaves. She seems to have an office job that she can do remotely some of the time.

    How does airport security connect to dogs? The connection isn’t as cut and dry as Bandit chewing on a bone he found, but I guess real dogs do work in airport security.

    Do Bandit and Chilli ever actually go to work?

    Although they seem to have infinite time to spend playing with their kids, you do occasionally see Bandit and Chilli working. In “Daddy Drop-Off,” Chilli leaves early for work. In another episode (I’m sorry I don’t recall every single Bluey episode, I truly am), we see Bandit emailing a coworker on his phone. It seems that although their work schedules are a little kinder, Chilli and Bandit have the same work-life balance issues as the rest of us, letting their jobs encroach on their home life.

    The real question is, how do they afford that amazing house? Alas, the show has yet to give us any answers to that question.

    (featured image: Disney+)

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Julia Glassman

    Julia Glassman (she/her) holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and has been covering feminism and media since 2007. As a staff writer for The Mary Sue, Julia covers Marvel movies, folk horror, sci fi and fantasy, film and TV, comics, and all things witchy. Under the pen name Asa West, she’s the author of the popular zine ‘Five Principles of Green Witchcraft’ (Gods & Radicals Press). You can check out more of her writing at <a href=”https://juliaglassman.carrd.co/”>https://juliaglassman.carrd.co/.</a>

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    Julia Glassman

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  • Are you a Disney lover and a foodie? California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is for you

    Are you a Disney lover and a foodie? California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is for you

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    ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) — The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is back! It’s a feast for the senses, celebrating the rich flavors and cultures of California.

    “I’m just super excited to eat my way through California Adventure!” said Karenna Olson.

    There is a wide variety of tasty treats to choose from: pistachio cheesecakes to shrimp papas locas to cheeseburger baos. Something for every palette is ready for plating at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival.

    Chef Luis is part of the team that puts creativity to the test for this big event.

    “We have, we call it family meals. We each cook for ourselves, and we try different ingredients and try different recipes that our families bring and that’s how we come up with combinations of offerings,” he said. “A lot of times we also have these friendly internal challenges where whoever can come up with the dish that’s most popular with our guests.”

    And guests have been bringing big appetites.

    “We’ve come a couple years for this event. because it’s just so fun to try little, tiny bites of everything and usually we share,” said Heidi Olson.

    You can buy foods individually, but to really save, buy a sip and savor pass: 8 items for $61 or 4 for $31.

    There’s even a tasting passport, breaking down all this year’s dishes and where to find them.

    The festival also brings in cooking demos, mixology seminars, and new merchandise. It also brings back the ride “Soaring over California” for a limited time.

    The festival runs until April 22.

    Disney is the parent company of this ABC station.

    Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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    Irene Cruz

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  • Viral Movie Posters of The Land Before Time Remake From Disney Are Totally Fake

    Viral Movie Posters of The Land Before Time Remake From Disney Are Totally Fake

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    Fake movie posters for a remake of The Land Before Time, falsely billed as upcoming releases from Universal and Disney/Pixar respectively.
    Screenshot: Facebook / TikTok

    Movie posters appearing to show an upcoming remake of the children’s dinosaur movie The Land Before Time (1988) have elicited strong emotions on social media recently. But no matter if you think a remake is a bad idea or a good idea, the movie isn’t happening. At least not in the foreseeable future.

    The rumors about this fake dino-remake can likely be traced to a Facebook page called YODA BBY ABY, which first wrote about the potential movie in late 2023.

    “Get ready to embark on a prehistoric escapade like never before! Disney and Pixar join forces to bring you a dazzling remake of The Land Before Time, where Littlefoot and friends journey through lush landscapes and encounter enchanting surprises,” the fake post reads. “Brace yourself for a January 2025 release – a dino-mite adventure awaits!”

    But there’s no evidence that any remake of The Land Before Time is in production by Disney and Pixar, much less coming out in January 2025. Another viral claim suggests the movie is coming out in December 2024, but there’s no evidence for that either.

    The prospect of a remake has been incredibly polarizing, especially because people who loved the original movie took issue with the way the dinosaurs looked on these fake movie posters.

    “I hope this is some kind of sick joke that someone made, because that is not Little Foot,” on TikTok user commented last week.

    Other TikTok users said they were “disrespecting the spirit of Land Before Time” and “disrespecting Littlefoot” with the new character designs.

    While the original 1988 film, executive produced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, is the most beloved, there were actually 13 sequels. Only the 1988 version received a theatrical release though, with all of the follow-ups going straight to home video. The last in the series was released in 2016 and is titled Journey of the Brave.

    But if I’m Universal Pictures I’m looking at the strong opinions currently circulating online and seeing dollar signs in my eyes. If people have strong feelings about the film series, that certainly counts for something. Millennial nostalgia can be an extremely profitable enterprise as the generation enters middle age, whether it’s the 30th iteration of Mean Girls or our favorite animated dinosaurs. Get to work, movie execs.

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    Matt Novak

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  • Jurassic World 4 May Have Found Its Star

    Jurassic World 4 May Have Found Its Star

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    Peek behind the curtains in a new X-Men ‘97 featurette. Get a look at what’s coming on Halo’s season finale. The Wynonna Earp revival movie has wrapped filming. Plus, meet Inside Out 2‘s new emotions, and Evil Dead Rise’s Lee Cronin is setting up his genre future. To me, my spoilers!

    Jurassic World 4

    According to a new report from The InSneider newsletter, Universal Pictures has offered Scarlett Johansson the leading role in Jurassic World 4.


    The Prisoner

    Additionally, Variety suggests Christopher Nolan may follow Oppenheimer with a film adaptation of the 1960’s TV series, The Prisoner—a project the outlet notes the director was formerly “attached to in 2009,” but “the sci-fi project vanished from Nolan’s dance card that same year when AMC released its own The Prisoners, a six-part miniseries led by Jim Caviezel as the ill-fated agent Number Six alongside Ian McKellen and Ruth Wilson.”


    Untitled Lee Cronin Projects

    THR reports Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin “has joined forces with frequent collaborators John Keville and Macdara Kelleher of Wild Atlantic Pictures” to launch Doppelgängers, “a new production outfit focused on genre fare” that’s already signed “a first-look deal with New Line Cinema for its feature film projects.”


    Cuckoo

    According to Bloody-Disgusting, Tilman Singer’s horror film Cuckoo has been rated “R” for “violence, bloody images, language and brief teen drug use.” Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csókás, Greta Fernández and Jan Bluthardt star.


    Inside Out 2

    Disney has released character posters of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Anxiety, Ennui, Envy and Embarrassment as they appear in Inside Out 2.


    Wynonna Earp: Vengeance

    Filming has officially wrapped on the Wynonna Earp revival movie, according to series creator Emily Andras on Instagram.


    X-Men ‘97

    The cast and crew of X-Men ‘97minus series creator Beau DeMayo—discuss the revival at Disney+ in a new featurette.

    Marvel Animation’s X-Men ‘97 | A New Age | Disney+


    Halo

    Master Chief returns to the Halo in the trailer for next week’s self-titled season finale.

    Halo 2×08 Promo “Halo” (HD) Season Finale


    Resident Alien

    Finally, the “humalien” baby returns as Harry falls to into a deep depression in the trailer for next week’s episode of Resident Alien.

    Resident Alien 3×06 Promo “Bye Bye Birdie” (HD) Alan Tudyk series


    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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    Gordon Jackson and James Whitbrook

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  • New on Netflix: K-drama goes surreal in ‘Chicken Nugget’; a twisty Hindi-language mystery, and more

    New on Netflix: K-drama goes surreal in ‘Chicken Nugget’; a twisty Hindi-language mystery, and more

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    Premieres Wednesday, March 13:

    Bandidos — A bunch of deep-diving opportunists try to retrieve a centuries-old treasure from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico — before a competing party can get to it first. Damn, that Jason Momoa is really hard up these days. (Netflix)

    Little Wing — A New Yorker article by Susan Orlean becomes a dramatic feature about a 13-year-old who hopes to bring her family back to solvency by rising to the top of the lucrative sport of … pigeon racing. If the kid is smart, she’ll keep her money on the DL when Orlean is around. Because nobody’s forgotten that shit she and Chris Cooper tried to pull with the orchids. (Paramount+)

    Premieres Thursday, March 14:

    24 Hours With Gaspar — A private detective decides to spend his last day of life taking part in a jewelry heist in this crime drama, which netted nine nominations at the 2023 Indonesian Film Festival. It won Best Adapted Screenplay, a category it got shunted into when somebody realized “Gaspar” is Indonesian for “Ken.” (Netflix)

    Apples Never Fall — In an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s 2021 novel, the children of two retired tennis coaches have to consider some disquieting possibilities after the mom (Annette Bening) goes missing. At least nobody has to trawl the rivers, since we’ve all seen how that bish can swim. (Peacock)

    Art of Love — A Turkish Interpol officer develops an even deeper distaste for the art thief she’s been pursuing when she learns he’s a guy she used to bang. And thus begins a desperate game of cat and mouse — if that’s what you call it when the cat gave the mouse herpes. (Netflix)

    From Dreams to Tragedy: The Fire That Shook Brazilian Football — A three-episode docuseries takes stock of the catastrophic 2019 blaze that claimed 10 lives at the Flamengo football club’s training center in Rio de Janeiro. Wait a minute: Somebody finally found a way to make soccer interesting, and we’re supposed to cry about it? (Netflix)

    Girls5Eva — The series moves to Netflix for Season 3, in which the ladies hit the concert trail to promote their comeback album — despite having no itinerary, tour manager or booked venues. What I’m hearing here is that they’re on a major label. (Netflix)

    The Girls on the Bus — The writings of New York Times reporter Amy Chozick are adapted into a scripted series that follows female journalists on the presidential campaign trail. Your heart will swell with pride as they prove they can draw false equivalencies and normalize fascism as well as any man. (Max)

    Invincible — As the second half of Season 2 commences, Mark and Oliver are searching for a way to get back to Earth so they can stop the Viltrum Empire from subjugating the entire planet. Given that the distance is millions of miles and time is of the essence, I’m gonna say SunRail is out. (Prime Video)

    Justice, USA — Male, female and juvenile inmates are featured in a two-part exposé of the Nashville prison system. You can tell which ones have been locked up the longest, because they can be heard asking the guards why they don’t get Johnny Cash concerts anymore. (Max)

    Red Ollero: Mabuhay Is a Lie — Captured in concert during an August 2023 three-night stand at the Teatrino Promenade in San Juan, the Filipino comic sets out to dispel some of the biggest misconceptions about Pinoy culture. Well, for one thing, Imelda Marcos did not invent Crocs. (Netflix)

    Premieres Friday, March 15:

    The Bloody Hundredth — A documentary profile of the brave men of the 100th Bomb Group arrives just in time to promote the final episode of the like-themed drama series Masters of the Air. Gosh, it’s so inspiring when corporate synergy gives us a window to honor the fallen. (Apple TV+)

    Chicken Nugget — K-drama takes a turn for the surreal as a woman gets turned into a chicken nugget, sending her father scrambling to find a way to restore her. But is this really a big deal? I know people who are essentially 87 percent cheese fries. (Netflix)

    Irish Wish — After trying her darndest to suppress a crush on her best friend’s fiancé, Lindsay Lohan wakes up one morning to find they’ve traded places. (I mean she’s traded places with her friend, not with the fiancé. But now that I’ve said it out loud, isn’t that the movie you’d rather be watching?) (Netflix)

    Iron Reign — The life of a Barcelona drug lord gets significantly more complicated after his family business receives a problematic product shipment. It’s amazing the hot water you can get into when you order a kilo of blow off Amazon and they send you six cases of Gold Bond instead. (Netflix)

    Manhunt — A seven-part limited series dramatizes the nearly two-week search for John Wilkes Booth that played out while the nation was still reeling from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Given that Booth was an actor, did anybody think of looking in the break room at Applebee’s? (Apple TV+)

    Murder Mubarak — A firmament of Bollywood stars plays the suspects in a twisty Hindi-language mystery that shows an “unconventional cop” trying to find the killer amid a group of outwardly normal folk. It’s a tough case to crack, mostly because he doesn’t speak Hindi. (Netflix)

    The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare — A Gallic version of The Crucible played out 20 years ago, when the accusations of four French children got their parents and other adult authority figures convicted of sexual abuse. As this docuseries shows, the public erupted in outrage when the charges proved to be as bogus as gas-station escargot. On the bright side, we finally canceled Pepé Le Pew. (Netflix)

    The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy — Eugene schleps all over Europe in Season 2, on a quest to explore some of the continent’s most intriguing locales. First up: The credit union where the Romanians hide all that money they’ve been withholding from NATO. (Apple TV+)

    Premieres Monday, March 18:

    Stormy — The notorious Stormy Daniels goes before the documentary cameras to reveal the real woman behind the sex scandal that failed to bring down a president but sent two lawyers to prison. Or as Ken Jennings would call it, “a solid consolation prize.” (Peacock)

    Premieres Tuesday, March 19:

    Brian Simpson: Live From the Mothership — Not only is this the first stand-up special for Austin-based comic Simpson, it’s the first by anybody to be recorded at Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership. You really want to be funny in that environment, you stop your set right before the first punchline and demand that everybody produce their vax card. (Netflix)

    Dinner Party Diaries With José Andrés — The internationally renowned chef opens up his kitchen to swap stories and recipes with guests Jamie Lee Curtis, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Bryan Cranston. “Hey Bryan, why is that béarnaise sauce so blue?” (Prime Video)

    Forever Queens Season 2 — With their comeback single a hit, the titular quartet of middle-aged Mexican performers suddenly find themselves down two members and scrambling to hire replacements. In a shocking turn of events, the first right of refusal goes to anybody from BTS who isn’t currently in the army. (Netflix) 

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    Steve Schneider

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  • Paul Giamatti’s Lazy Eye Drunkenly Watching Oscars From Corner Of Dive Bar

    Paul Giamatti’s Lazy Eye Drunkenly Watching Oscars From Corner Of Dive Bar

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    NEW YORK—Hunched over a pint of beer, Paul Giamatti’s fake lazy eye from The Holdovers was reportedly drunkenly watching the Oscars broadcast from a corner of the dive bar, sources confirmed Sunday. “Turn it up, turn it up, I can’t hear!” said the prosthetic eyeball, which slurred its words as it tried to tell everyone in the vicinity that it had been invited to the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony, but had chosen to eschew it because everyone was “uptight.” “You guys saw it right? You saw me in The Holdovers? Giamatti’s not going to win. He doesn’t stand a chance. Alexander Payne, he’s the director, he told me I should have been the nominee, but his hands were tied. That’s fine by me. I don’t like the spotlight anyway. I’d rather be here.” At press time, the eyeball was boasting that it was up to be Quasimodo’s eye in the Disney live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

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