Welcome to the golden age of television, where you need multiple spreadsheets and 48 hours in a single day to keep track of and watch all your favorite shows. Who knew that sitting and staring could be so exhausting?! As streaming services expand and basic cable struggles to keep up, it can be overwhelming to know where to spend your entertainment budget.
Joining the fray is the highly anticipated Disney+, the Mouse House’s own entry into the streaming world. Disney+ has not only the benefit of a massive catalog of properties, but also everything that comes with their acquisition of Fox. Oh, and they also have two of the biggest entertainment franchises on the planet: Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Here’s what we know Disney+ has on the docket, which will be available exclusively on their platform:
The Loki Show
(image: Disney)
One of the first projects announced on the streaming service was the Loki spin-off series, which will focus on everyone’s favorite adopted Asgardian prince. Hiddleston is confirmed to reprise his role, but we don’t know whether the show will take place after the events of Endgame or before. Michael Waldron (Rick and Morty) has joined the show as writer and producer, but no further casting announcements have been made. Infinity War may have opened with Loki’s death, but we know that nothing can keep a trickster god down for good.
The Mandalorian
Perhaps the most anticipated series the network has on deck is The Mandalorian, a Star Wars story about a “lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.” The series, created by Jon Favreau, stars Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) alongside Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, Omid Abtahi, Giancarlo Esposito, Nick Nolte and … Werner Herzog?! The series also features an impressive slate of directors, with Favreau, Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, and Rick Famuyiwa.
The Cassian Andor Series
When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ended with literally everyone dying, fans were bummed that they would no longer see the continuing adventures of the charismatic team. Luckily, Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor is getting his own spin-off series set well before Rogue One. The show “follows the adventures of rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative years of the Rebellion”, and is described as a “spy thriller.” Consider us on board.
A Monsters Inc. Show
One of my favorite Pixar films, Monsters Inc., is getting its own spin-off show, which will presumably follow the adventures of Sully and Mike Wazowski in Monstropolis. The duo already got a film sequel in 2013’s underrated Monsters University. Nothing much is known about the show, but it will surely have an audience of parents and kids watching.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Series
(image: Lucasfilm)
The animated spin-off series Star Wars: The Clone Wars was massively popular for kids and adults alike, filling in the gaps between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The series ended in 2014 after six seasons, but Disney+ is resurrecting the series for a 12-episode 7th season. More Ahsoka Tano is always a good thing.
Lady and the Tramp Live-Action CGI Remake
The animated Disney classic that taught us all to get a man who shares spaghetti with you is getting a live-action treatment with Justin Theroux and Tessa Thompson voicing the titular duo. Thompson’s BFF (or girlfriend?) Janelle Monáe joins the cast as Peg, the pound dog that sings “He’s a Tramp”. Other cast members include Ashley Jensen (Extras) as a Scottish terrier and Kiersey Clemons as Darling, Lady’s human mom. The film will be directed by Charlie Bean (The Lego Ninjago Movie).
Noelle
(image: Lionsgate)
Full disclosure: the above GIF is Anna Kendrick kissing Blake Lively in A Simple Favor, because I don’t have a GIF of Anna Kendrick playing Noelle, Santa’s daughter. Sadly, Kendrick will not be making out with Lively in this holiday film which co-stars Bill Hader, but I’m sure it will be fun nonetheless. Plus, it’s got Billy Eichner, Shirley MacLaine, and Julie Hagerty. The film, directed by Marc Lawrence (Music and Lyrics), was originally slated for a theatrical release, but has since been bumped to the streaming service.
Vision and the Scarlet Witch
Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen return as the MCU’s fourth (?) favorite couple, Vision and Scarlet Witch, for their own spin-off series. Folks were disappointed when Wanda Maximoff’s solo series quickly became a couples show with Vision first-billed. My feelings on this can be summed up in this tweet from the brilliant Clarkisha Kent:
Y’all really want me to watch Wanda and this floppy disk attempt this “romance” and….EYE REFUSE. https://t.co/LXm19cV8AB
— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) December 1, 2018
The Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes Buddy Series
Now here’s a Marvel duo I can get behind. Despite both heroes getting dusted at the end of Infinity War, Disney+ is planning a spin-off series following Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The limited series is being written by Malcolm Spellman (Empire) but no other announcements have been made.
An Animated What If Series
(image: Marvel)
Disney+ just announced an animated series based on the “What If” comics run that imagines different journeys Marvel’s heroes could take. What if Loki wielded Mjolnir? What if Wolverine was a vampire? What if Wanda Maximoff was a werewolf? The show sounds like a fun anthology exploration of the Marvel’s unlikeliest stories.
More projects are in the pipeline, including a High School Musical spin-off series and an adaptation of Serena Valentino’s Villains, which tells the origin stories of our favorite Disney villains. Also in the works are a live-action adaptation of The Sword in the Stone and a High Fidelity television series starring Zoe Kravitz, whose mom Lisa Bonet appeared in the original John Cusack film.
Whew, I’m exhausted. Are you tired? Will you be signing up for Disney+ or just stealing your parents’ password?
(via Business Insider, image: Disney)
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