Disney dropped a content bomb on us last night. They gave us release dates, new shows and movies, casting confirmations, and more at their investor meeting Thursday night, 80% of which will be available on Disney+. If you missed any of it, I've got you covered.
My biggest complaint about Disney+ has been lack of content. Aside from The Mandalorian or a Clone Wars rewatch, I rarely use the platform. That's all about to change. It seems Disney has discovered that their Star Wars shows are ten times better than the movies they've churned out. And with no Marvel movies this year, they dumped a thousand things on us. Pixar made some noise too, as did Hulu and ESPN. Here's the highlights of everything you can in expect in the coming years:
Star Wars/Lucasfilm
- Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka - Christmas 2021
Two new live action series from Dave Filoni and John Favreau that will spin off their hit, The Mandalorian. Ahsoka Tano is my favorite Star Wars character period, and for her to get her own show is something I've been waiting a long time for. I would assume Rangers of the New Republic may spin off Cara Dune or Cobb Vanth from Season 2 of Mando.
- Andor - 2022
Cassian Andor spin off from Rogue One
- Obi-Wan Kenobi - production March 2021
This one's been in the rumor mill for a while so no surprise, but what we didn't know is that Hayden Christensen is BACK. The prequel trilogy's Anakin Skywalker will return as Darth Vader to face his old master. Christensen took a lot of crap for the prequel trilogy that wasn't his fault so I'd like to see him redeem himself.
- The Bad Batch - 2021
A spin off from The Clone Wars animated series. This one follows some unique experimental clones with some elite abilities.
- Lando - early development
Not a lot known about this. Hopefully Billy Dee Williams and Donald Glover are both involved.
- The Acolyte
Again, not much known other than mystery thriller that involves the rise of the dark side in the Republic's final days.
- Rogue Squadron - in theaters Christmas 2023
Star Wars landed Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, WW 1984) for their next theatrical release. She's a very good director and I'm interested to see more about what this will entail.
- Taika Waititi Star Wars film - in development
Another one that has been rumored for a while, Taika is one of the best in the biz right now so I expect his Star Wars movie to be the best on since the Original Trilogy. No pressure.
- Indiana Jones 5 - July 2022
Ohhh boy. The Indiana Jones trilogy is my favorite of all time and Indy is my favorite movie character. Crystal Skull was a big ole stinker so this makes me very nervous, but James Mangold (Ford v. Ferrari, Logan) directing gives me hope. He conducted Wolverine's exit in Logan beautifully, so maybe he can do the same with Indy's final film.
Marvel
- WandaVision - January 15, 2021
There's been two trailers for this and I still don't know what's happening. I imagine it will have ramifications throughout the MCU, though. Disney proved Star Wars works in show form. WandaVision will be their first crack at a Marvel show.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - March 19, 2021
Buddy cops! The chemistry between Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will be on full display in this one.
- Loki - May 2021
You knew he wasn't staying dead. We got our first look at Loki's upcoming series that will follow the god of mischief after he dipped out in Avengers: Endgame. Other than that, I have no idea what is going on except that he is working with TVA, which I'd assume is not the Tennessee Valley Authority. Owen Wilson was also there.
- What If...? - 2021
Fan fiction come to life, What If...? explores how things could have been if major MCU movie moments turned out differently. The trailer highlights Peggy Carter as Captain Britain instead of Steve Rogers. It also shows T'Challa as Star-Lord instead of Quill. The actors from the MCU are back in this to voice their animated counterparts which is pretty neat. I think I saw a zombie version of Cap too.
- Black Widow - in theaters May 7, 2021
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - in theaters July 9, 2021
- The Eternals - in theaters November 2021
- Ms. Marvel - 2021
New show coming to Disney+ centering around Kamala Khan, a teenage Pakistani American with superpowers. Kamala aka Ms. Marvel will be portrayed by Iman Vellani.
- Captain Marvel 2 - in theaters November 11, 2022
Brie Larson returns as Carol Danvers and she will be joined by the new Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Rambeau, you might recall, was but a child in Captain Marvel. She was the daughter of Danvers' best friend. Now she's all grown up and will appear in this and WandaVision.
- Hawkeye - 2021
Another Disney+ show set for later this year. Jeremy Renner returns as Clint Barton and Disney confirmed Hailee Steinfeld will be joining him as the archer, Kate Bishop. Set photos have also shown Hailee with a golden retriever, presumably Lucky the Pizza Dog!
- She-Hulk
Tatiana Maslaney confirmed as Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk. Mark Ruffalo will return as Professor Hulk and Tim Roth as Abomination.
- Moon Knight
Not a lot of new news on this aside from it is happening. Oscar Isaac has been rumored to play Marc Spector aka Moon Knight who is a former CIA operative turned mercenary that becomes the avatar of the Egyptian moon god on Earth. He has multiple personalities and is really quite a nutter. Let's get weird.
- Thor: Love and Thunder - May 6, 2022 - Christian Bale is officially joining the cast as the villain Gorr the God Butcher.
- Secret Invasion, Ironheart, and Armor Wars - three new series in the works on Disney+. Secret Invasion will reunite Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn as Nick Fury and Talos in a series about a Skrull invasion of earth. Ironheart will revolve around Riri Williams, a genius inventor who makes the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Armor Wars brings back Don Cheadle as War Machine in a fight versus bad guys with Stark Tech.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special - 2022
- I Am Groot - Groot is getting some love in the form of shorts.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania - Title confirmed. Everyone is back and joined by Jonathan Majors who will play the villain - Kang the Conqueror. Kang is a bad dude. Could be the next big bad.
- Black Panther 2 - July 8, 2022 - confirmed T’Challa will not be re-cast, the story of Wakanda will continue.
- Fantastic 4: Finally confirmed. Jon Watts will direct Marvel’s first family in their return. Finally.
Well. That about covers the big stuff. Disney also announced a few other things of note: a Mighty Ducks series with Emilio Estevez returning, Hocus Pocus 2, a Cheaper by the Dozen remake with Gabrielle Union, a remake of Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers with Andy Samberg and John Mulaney, an Enchanted sequel called Disenchanted with Amy Adams, a movie called Lightyear with Chris Evans, and animated series for Moana, Big Hero Six, Zootopia, and The Princess and the Frog. I'm sure I left some stuff out but man, there has never been a better time to be a Marvel or Star Wars fan.
Bring on 2021!
- BH
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