Lasseter Reveals Exciting New Details About the Studios’ Upcoming Animated Film Slate During London and D23 Expo Presentations
John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Animation Studios, made several announcements regarding upcoming animated motion pictures while presenting at the Odeon Leicester Square in London (9/10/09) and at the D23 Expo at the
Anaheim Convention Center (9/13/09).
The news coming out of Lasseter’s presentations at both events include:
Timothy Dalton, Ned Beatty, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Garlin and John Morris joining the talented voice cast of Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story 3 along with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson and Michael Keaton. Directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Darla K. Anderson, this comedic and heartwarming adventure in Disney Digital 3D(TM), brings moviegoers back to the world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters as Andy prepares to leave for college. “Toy Story 3″ opens in theaters June 18, 2010.
Walt Disney Pictures’ Rapunzel has found its lead voice in singer/actress
Mandy Moore (“Saved,” “American Dreamz”) starring in the title role along with Zachary Levi (hit TV series “Chuck,” “Big Momma’s House 2″) as the dashing bandit. This action-packed, swashbuckling, animated musical comedy about the girl behind 70 feet of magical, golden hair who takes off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade with the help of a dashing bandit directed by Byron Howard and Nathan Greno, produced by Roy Conli with music by Alan Menken. This Disney Digital 3D(TM) adventure opens in theaters Holiday2010.
Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 combines thrills, intrigue and high octane comedy as
Lightning McQueen and his trusty-but-rusty friend Mater race across five
countries – England, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – where they face a host of new and worthy competitors. “Cars 2″ is being directed by the producer of the Oscar-winning animated feature “Ratatouille” Brad Lewis and produced by Denise Ream. This Disney Digital 3D(TM) race begins in theaters June 24, 2011.
The fifth film in Disney’s enormously popular fairy film franchise is Tinker
Bell and the Race through the Seasons. Veteran Disney writer/producer/director Bobs Gannaway (“Stitch! The Movie,” “House of Mouse”) is set to direct. The second entry in the popular direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray series, “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,” is due for release on October 27th, 2009. In this latest adventure, all the fairy talents compete in a challenging and traditional leap year race through the four seasons of Pixie Hollow. With Tinker Bell’s help, Clank and Bobble enter the race and all the hopes of the Tinkers rest on their shoulders. But the pressures of competition and Bobble’s desire to impress a beautiful lightning fairy threaten Clank and Bobble’s longtime friendship. In the end, will Bobble place winning a race above losing a best friend?
Winnie the Pooh marks the first time in more than 35 years that a feature film
staring Disney’s beloved characters is being produced at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Under the supervision of John Lasseter and producer, Clark Spencer (“Lilo & Stitch,” “Bolt”) the movie is due out in theaters spring 2011. Steve Anderson (“Meet the Robinsons”) and Don Hall (head of story on “The Princess and The Frog”) will co-direct this heart-warming motion picture that reunites five stories from the original books by A.A Milne with Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style. Tidbit: Burny Mattinson, who worked as an animator on the original “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree” featurette in 1964, will serve as the lead story artist on the project.
“Unidentified Flying Mater,” the latest in a series of Disney-Pixar animated
shorts called Cars Toons, is set to debut on Friday, November 20th on Disney
Channel, Disney XD, and ABC Family. Directed by Academy Award(R)-winner John Lasseter with Rob Gibbs co-directing, the film stars Lightning McQueen’s loyal pal, Mater. Additional shorts – “Monster Truck Mater,” “Heavy Metal Mater,” and “Tokyo Mater” will debut in 2010.
SOURCE Walt Disney Studios
Mandy Moore Unbraids Hair for Disney’s ‘Rapunzel’
Singer and actress Mandy Moore will voice the leading lady famous for her 70 feet of golden hair in Disney’s Digital 3D-animated musical action-adventure “Rapunzel,” according to Reuters.
Byron Howard and Nathan Greno will direct. Oscar winner Alan Menken will compose the film’s music so the score should be amazing!
Disney is re-imagining the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, by showing the princess years after her famous stuck-in-the-castle tale. Now a rebellious teenager, Rapunzel escapes and goes on the run with a dashing bandit, voiced by “Chuck” star Zachary Levi.
The Reuters article ponders if Disney will try to “franchise” Rapunzel as part of the mega-popular Disney Princess line. That is definitely a possibly and Disney is ever on the look out for the next merchandise revenue.
Mandy Moore has a very sweet voice and while not an Oscar-winning actress, I think she’ll perform greatly as a voice-over actress. She should bring forth a headstrong yet regal performance.
The film is scheduled for a holiday 2010 release.
What do you think of Mandy Moore’s casting as the voice of Rapunzel?
Disney Releases ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Theatrical Trailer
When the free-spirited, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) comes to town a deal with a shady voodoo doctor goes bad and the once suave royal is turned into a frog. In a desperate attempt to be human again, a favor in exchange for a fateful kiss on the lips from the beautiful girl, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), takes an unexpected turn and leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana to the banks of the almighty Mississippi and back in time for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. An unforgettable tale filled with music, humor and heart where two frogs—along with the help of a 200-year-old voodoo priestess, a love-sick Cajun firefly, and a trumpet-playing alligator—discover that what they want isn’t as important as what they need.
This will be the 49th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics and the first 2D-animated film by Disney since 2004′s Home on the Range.
I am VERY MUCH excited for this movie. I love the 3-D CGI films, but something about this 2D film looks very beautiful and enticing! I’m by no means an animation historian. I like what I like. But maybe this film is stirring some nostalgia for classic Walt Disney animated movies?
I love that it’s set in New Orleans so we can get some swinging awesome jazz music on the soundtrack!
I’m looking forward to the December 11, 2009 premiere date!!
Five Concept Art Images from Disney’s Rapunzel
Concept picture of Rapunzel
The Walt Disney Animation Studio has released five new concept art photos for their 2010 animated film Rapunzel.
And they are truly gorgeous!! Like beautiful pieces of painted art work!!
Five images on the Slash Film website.
Rapunzel is an upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios CGI film, starring Kristin Chenoweth as Rapunzel and Dan Fogler as Prince Flynn. It will be the 50th animated feature produced by the Studio, planned for release in 2010. The story is based on the classic German fairy tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm.
Alan Menken and lyrist Glenn Slater will provide the songs for this movie.
What do you think of these concept pictures? Do you like this animation style? Will Rapunzel be another hit for Disney? Let us know!
The Disney Animation Panel at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con
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Rope of Siilicon has the news from the Disney Animation pane at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con! Some exciting news from the Toy Story movie series (including Toy Story 3!!), Beauty and the Beast 3-D, the Princess and the Frog, and Ponyo. |
Tim Burton Talks About ‘Alice’ and Depp
Alice in Wonderland, Disney and Tim Burton’s new move, was a hot topic of the 2009 San Diego Comic Con. The teaser trailer revealed was helped by the surprise appearace of Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter in the film.
Disney’s Guinea Pigs Steal Boy Wizard’s Box Office Magic
Wow! Who would’ve thought that the Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer action guinea pig movie would knock of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the box office? Granted G-Force only beat the sixth Harry Potter movie by 3.1 million but I’m still a bit surprised. Because of the success of G-Force, soon we’ll hear about the rise in guinea pig sales for little kids.
Disney Announces ‘Pirates 4′ Shooting Date at Comic Con!
So much for Johnny Depp having some down time. Reuters had reported that, while having his name attached to high-profile films, none of Depp’s upcoming movies were green lit yet.
Thankfully that’s all about to change!
ComingSoon.net sat down with Disney’s Head of Production Oren Aviv at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con. And Aviv gave all us Pirates of the Caribbean fans reasons to SHOUT!!
“We’re going to shoot ‘Pirates 4′ in April or May of next year. We are going to release it hopefully in 2011 is the plan.” He said that this time they would only be doing one movie this time that would “hopefully be the first of another trilogy.”
This is what I’ve been waiting to hear!
No word on whether previous Pirates director Gore Verbinski will be on board to direct the Pirates 4. Though there’s rumors that uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney will hire a young up and coming director familiar with action movies.
Aviv did stress the main goal is to “get the story right.” He mentioned that the new movie needs to be smaller in scale as the subsequent movies got bigger and more complicated. He goes on to say “I want to kind of reboot the whole thing and bring it down to its core, its essence, just characters.”
The interview hinted that Captain Jack Sparrow‘s back story could be the focus of the fourth movie. Which would make sense if they wanted to “reboot” the franchise.
Disney, please don’t FULLY restart the Pirates series. I do agree they should scale back a bit. As much as I’ll miss the very lovely Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, I think her’s and Will Turner’s story was successfully resolved. Let’s focus more on the characters. And especially the rivalry between Captains Sparrow and Barbossa! Those were some memorable scenes from the trilogy.
Are you excited now that Pirates 4 has a shooting date? What do you want to see in Pirates 4? Let us know!
Disney Pictures Posts Photos of the Alice in Wonderland exhibit in San Diego
Walt Disney Disney Pictures shared some amazing costume displays from the new movie Alice in Wonderland on their official Twitter page. Click on the thumbnails for bigger pictures.
Here’s a look at Alice’s costume from Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter costume:
The Red Queen’s costume:
And finally, the beloved White Queen’s gown worn by Anne Hathaway
Very neat that Disney Pictures posted these Twitpics! Can’t wait to see more updates!
‘Tron Legacy’ Revealed by Disney at SDCC and on Facebook
Today, simultaneously at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con and on Facebook, Walt Disney Pictures reveals the official name and logo for the Tron sequel: Tron Legacy.
Announced at the Comic Con panel is that the new movie is still about a year away from completion. Concept art of the new lightcycles and car versions of the lightcycles were revealed.
I’m glad the earlier reports of the new movie just simply being called Tron were incorrect. Tron Legacy sounds cool. And since it’s been 27 years since the original movie, the “legacy” name could really work.
What do you think? Are you excited for Tron Legacy? Do you like this official name? Tell us what you think!
Updated ‘Alice’ Photos on Walt Disney Pictures Facebook Page
Simply stunning display of colors and maddness!
Walt Disney Pictures released new photos from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. And they are both beautiful and distrubing (in a good way!).
I’m so far loving all the images coming from Disney on this film. Tim Burton seems to have really captured the essence of Wonderland! I’m digging all the vivid colors.
Check out the Alice in Wonderland photos on Walt Disney Pictures Backklot’s Facebook Photo Album.
While you’re over on Facebook, please become a fan of The Magic Never Ends Podcast page!
Disney Asks Facebook Users: Choose Your Fandom To See Exclusive Look at Tim Burton’s ‘Alice’
In a unique marketing promotion for the much anticipated trailer for Tim Burton’s re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland, Disney is asking Facebook users to choose theirr allegiance. Or in Facebook terms, you need to choose which fan page to join. Choose wisely as the biggest fan page will get the exclusive preview of Alice at 4pm PDT on Thursday, July 23rd.
Decide from the following armies:
The Loyal Subjects of the Red Queen: www.facebook.com/RedQueenSubjects
The Loyal Subjects of the White Queen: www.facebook.com/WhiteQueenSubjects
The Disloyal Subjects of the Mad Hatter: www.facebook.com/MadHatterSubjects
I’m rooting for the White Queen as Anne Hathaway looks radiant and beautiful as the White Queen! But I have a feeling that the Mad Hatter will win.
Disney Reveals ‘Prince of Persia’ Movie Photos
Uber-producer Jerrry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures will bring the popular Ubisoft fantasy adventure video game to the big screen. What is sure to be an epic movie for the 2010 summer movie season, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dastan, a street urchin in 6th century Persia. After showing valor in battle, he is adopted by the king as his heir, so the king’s two sons will not fight over the throne. He teams up with Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) to rescue the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that controls time, from the hands of the villainous nobleman, Nizam (Sir Ben Kingsley).
Alfred Molina will portray Sheik Amar, Dastan’s mentor.
Mike Newell will direct the movie, which will hit theaters May 28, 2010.
Here are Gyllenhaal as the tough-looking, Dastan, and the beautiful Gemma as Princess Tamina.
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Check out the September issue of Empire for more exclusive pictures, and a report from the set of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Comingsoon.net has an exclusive photo of Sir Ben Kingsley as the villian in the movie.
I have yet to play any of the Prince of Persia video games, but I hear great reviews for this action video game series. Also, how can you go wrong with a Jerry Brucheimer produced action blockbuster movie? Newell did a good job on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which had action, drama and emotion.
What do you think? Is Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time on your movie watching list? Is this another epic movie for Disney?
‘Wall-E’ Director to Helm Disney Film Based on Burroughs Martian Fantasy Novel
Could John Carter of Mars be an epic franchise hit for Disney in the same caliber as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?
Willem Dafoe will play the fierce Martian warrior Tar Tarkas, who differs from his race because he possesses the ability to love, reports Variety.
The film is an adaptation on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel “A Princess of Mars,” which is the first in Burroughs’ Martian series. Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) will direct and write the picture.
Taylor Kitsch will play John Carter, the American Civil War veteran that is transported from Earth to Mars and the main hero of the novel. Lynn Collins will play Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a member of the humanoid red Martian race.
Stanton did an outstanding job with Wall-E by displaying both action and romance in that film. With him helming the film (and probably the movie series), John Carter should rock the box office and delight audiences like Pirates did.
These Burroughs novels are a blend of sword fighting and swashbuckling, monsters, and supernatural elements. In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Kitsch suberbly portrayed the mutant Gambit, who is a character full action and romance. So he should excel in the role of the courageous John Carter, master of swords and weapons.
Filming will take place from November 2009 to July 2010 in Utah. Disney plans to release the film in 2011, which I would assume is during the summer movie season.
Disney To Build Young Adult Fairy Saga Around Miley Cyrus
The Hannah Montana star will play a pretty fairy in the Wings Saga
According to Variety, Disney acquired the rights to Wings, a young adult fairy novel written by Aprilynne Pike. Miley Cyrus will play Laurel, a 15-year-old girl who discovers she is a fairy sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon. While attending a large high school, Laurel learns of her true nature when she sprouts a pair of wings. Originally published in May, the novel is planned as part of a four-title series.
Debuting to positive reviews, Wings draws frequent comparisions to Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twiglight Saga. Meyer’s gave Pike’s work her endorsement by stating “Aprilynne Pike’s Wings is a remarkable debut; the ingenuity of the mythology is matched only by the startling loveliness with which the story unfolds.
The book (and movie) should perform well as it clearly targets the huge Twilight fan base. Wings has the familiar love triangle (between Laurel, the human boy David and the fairy Tamani) and danger that have enthralled the Twilight fanatics.
The Wings saga should prove to be another franchise hit for Disney. This move to establish a young adult fairy saga seems to complement the company’s already established Fairy line, staring Tinker Bell, which is aimed at a young children.
Currently Cyrus is filming The Last Song, an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel.
New The White Queen Pic From ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Anne Hathaway is the White Queen in this new photo released by Empire Online.
Anne Hathaway is eye-catching as the White Queen in this brand-new picture available from Empire Online. Her appearance is elegant yet bizarre.
Which is not surprising since the White Queen seems to live her life backwards (screaming before she’s injured etc). Mostly an ally to Alice, she will prove not to be the most useful or reliable companion.
Though I’d rather see Hathaway in the lead role of Alice, I think she’ll excel in this odd character. Though truthfully all the inhabitants of Wonderland are more than a little odd.
Interesting fact is that the White Queen doesn’t appear in the Alice in Wonderland book, appearing in the sequel Through The Looking Glass.
But this Alice is not your Lewis Caroll classic. It’s a modernized re-imagining of Caroll’s book, from the wonderfully weird mind of Tim Burton! Burton is the no-brainer choice to direct Alice in Wonderland.
Linda Woolverton updated the story, which centers on the now-17-year-old Alice. Attending a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types, she runs after a white rabbit into a hole and ends up transferred once again to Wonderland. Still, she has no recollection of this place she visited 10 years before.
The 3-D movie will combine performance-capture imagery with live-action footage. The scheduled release date is March 5, 2010.
During their 3D panel on Thursday, July 23 at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, Disney will debut first ever footage of Alice in Wonderland. Now I’m really upset I cannot attend this years Comic Con!
Are you going to Comic Con? We would very much appreciate updates/reports from Disney’s 3D panel!
Empire also displayed three other pictures, which shows Mia Wasikowska’s Alice, Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, and The Red Queen played by Helena Bonham Carter.
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Disney Reveals Synopsis for new ‘Tron’ movie
Walt Disney Pictures reveals new Tron movie to be simply called Tron, not Tron 2, Tron 2.0 or Tr2n as previously reported.
The studio will screen footage from the new film the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday July 23 at 11am.
This is the official synopsis for the Tron reboot:
“TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.”
For those that crave spoilers, jump on over to CC2K for an Advanced Script Review. SPOILER WARNING!
‘Ponyo’ Director Hayao Miyazaki to Be Honored in U.S. Visit
John Lasseter, a friend of the Hayao Miyazaki for more than 20 years, convinced Japan’s Master Animator to make a rare United States visit. His first stop will be the San Diego Comic Con on July 24.
The NY Times has a very interesting article about a brilliant man that in part influence Pixar movies like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Cars, and Up.
Miley Cyrus & Sister Show Off ‘Ponyo’ trailer
Entertainment Tonight posted a video with sisters Miley and Noah Cyrus.
Noah will voice the title character in the English Adaption of the Hayao Miyazaki animated movie, Ponyo. The plot centers on a juvenile fish named Ponyo who wants to become a human girl. In pursuing her goal, she befriends a five-year-old human boy, S?suke (voiced by the “bonus Jonas” Frankie Jonas).
Ponyo also boasts the all-star voice talents of Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and Betty White.
Ponyo will hit theaters August 14, 2009.
The trailer looks good and while I might not see it in the theaters I will definitely rent it. Ponyo looks like a very cute and fun movie. The animation is a different style than with I’m familiar. Although anime fans are familiar with Miyazaki’s style. I actually did want to see Miyazaki’s Spirited Away but never had the opportunity. Maybe now is a good time in preparation for Ponyo.
What are your thoughts on Ponyo? Will you go see it? Have you seen any other movies by Hayao Miyazaki? Let us know!
Beyonce urging Disney bosses to remake ‘Sister Act’
The Daily Mail newspaper reports: “Beyonce has asked her representatives to persuade Disney to develop the show into a film vehicle for her.
Taking a break from her UK I Am Sasha Fierce Tour, the singer recently watched the stage show version of the 1982 movieat the London Palladium theatre.
The film starred Whoopie Goldberg as singer Deloris Van Cartier, who on the run from gangsters, dresses up as a nun to hide.
Click here to read the full Ireland Online article.
What do you think of Beyonce remaking Sister Act?
Miley Cyrus Rocks Glamour’s May Cover
Miley Cyrus, America’s Most Famous Girl is growing up in the May issue of Glamour magazine. The 16-year Disney pop star talks with Glamour Magazine about her future, her figure, her Hollywood role models and more! Read a quick excerpt below, then go pick up the Mag issue of Glamour magazine and learn more about Miley Cyrus. You can decide for yourself how much she’s grown since become a teen superstar.
Miley on using her fame as a platform on cancer fund-raising:
“My granddad died of lung and prostate cancer, and he was my best friend. I’ve also lost friends, not just to cancer. My best friend died of cystic fibrosis. It just kills me to see people lose someone they love, so I want to do as much as I can: give money to doctors and hospitals; get nurses in there that care; put a smile on a little kid’s face. The things we’ve done through City of Hope [a cancer research, education and treatment center] have been amazing: The Jonas Brothers and I have raised nearly $2.5 million through concerts.”
Read the full article at Glamour.com
View all full rocking Miley pics at Glamour.com.
Hannah Montana The Movie opens in theaters on Friday, April 10.
