Disney+ released the trailer and key art for season 2 of acclaimed Lucasfilm Animation series “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” When the new season opens, months have passed since the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch continue their journey navigating the Empire after the fall of the Republic. They will cross paths with friends and foes, both new and familiar, as they take on a variety of thrilling mercenary missions that will take them to unexpected and dangerous new places. “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” season 2 stars Emmy Award® nominee Dee Bradley Baker (“American Dad!”) as the voice of the Bad Batch and Emmy Award® nominee Michelle Ang (“Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462”) as the voice of Omega. Emmy Award® winner Rhea Perlman (“The Mindy Project,” “Cheers”) returns to guest star as Cid, Noshir Dalal (“It’s Pony,” “The Owl House”) returns to guest star as Vice Admiral Rampart and Emmy Award® winner Wanda Sykes (“The Upshaws,” “Black-ish”) makes her guest starring debut in the series as Phee Genoa.
“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” is executive produced by Dave Filoni (“The Mandalorian,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), Athena Portillo (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”), Brad Rau (“Star Wars Rebels,” “Star Wars Resistance”), Jennifer Corbett (“Star Wars Resistance,” “NCIS”) and Carrie Beck (“The Mandalorian,” “Star Wars Rebels”) with Josh Rimes (“Star Wars Resistance,” “Star Wars: Visions”) and Alex Spotswood (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”) as producers. Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer and Matt Michnovetz as story editor.
“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning January 4, 2023, with the first two episodes.
List of episodes and airdates:
Jan. 4 — Episode 201 “Spoils of War” & Episode 202 “Ruins of War”
Jan. 11 — Episode 203 “The Solitary Clone”
Jan. 18 — Episode 204 “Faster”
Jan. 25 — Episode 205 “Entombed”
Feb. 1 — Episode 206 “Tribe”
Feb. 8 — Episode 207 “The Clone Conspiracy” & Episode 208 “Truth and Consequences”
Feb. 15 — Episode 209 “The Crossing”
Feb. 22 — Episode 210 “Retrieval”
March 1 — Episode 211 “Metamorphosis”
March 8 — Episode 212 “The Outpost”
March 15 — Episode 213 “Pabu”
March 22 — Episode 214 “Tipping Point”
March 29 — Episode 215 “The Summit” & Episode 216 “Plan 99”
Lock the doors and keep your loved ones close in anticipation of the nail-biting new Japanese psycho thriller Gannibal—available only on Disney+.
Recently selected to be screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival, this upcoming Star Original is set in the fictional Japanese village of Kuge village and sees newly hired police officer Daigo Agawa arrive a broken man. While things start off promisingly for the new arrival, a series of alarming events begin to unfold that will lead Daigo to the horrifying realization that something is deeply wrong with the village and those who live there. Thrown into a hostile environment with suspense around every corner, will the latest police officer to roam the streets of Kuge-mura be able to bring those responsible to justice before it’s too late?
Yuki Agawa (Riho Yoshioka)
Starring award-winning actors Yuya Yagira (HOKUSAI, Asakusa Kid), Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice, Love You as the World Ends), and Riho Yoshioka (Haken Anime!, The Romance Manga Artist), Gannibal features a unique storyline brought to life exclusively on Disney+ by some of the biggest names in the Japanese creative industry. Produced by Teruhisa Yamamoto, producer of this year’s Academy Award-winning Drive My Car and Tatsuya Iwakura, Gannibal is directed by Shinzo Katayama (Siblings on the Cape) and adapted for the screen by Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award-nominee Takamasa Oe, who most recently wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-winning Drive My Car.
Yuya Yagira
Gannibal is the latest Japanese series to be announced as part of The Walt Disney Company’s ever-growing slate of world-class APAC content. Fans of Japanese storytelling can also enjoy the Disney+ Originals Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t!, about a lackadaisical student who is strongarmed into joining his university’s sumo club in order to graduate, and Lost Man Found about a man who is down on his luck but who turns his life around after discovering a misplaced airplane ticket.
Enjoy a good scare this winter with Gannibal – only on Disney+.
This November 30, we get to return to the magical world of Willow in the new Disney+ original series.
A sequel to the 1988 film of the same name that was executive produced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, Willow takes place many years after the events of the movie. It will follow Willow Ufgood as he leads a group of misfits on a dangerous quest to save the world.
Warwick Davis reprises his role as Willow Ufgood, and he is joined by Erin Kellyman (“Jade”), Amar Chadha-Patel (“Boorman”), Ellie Bamber (“Dove”), Tony Revolori (“Graydon”), Dempsey Bryk (“Arik”), and Ruby Cruz (“Kit”).
In a recent press conference for the series, Willow executive producer and writer Jon Kasdan joined the cast in answering questions about the new Disney+ series from the press. Check out the highlights of the press conference below:
Did you ever imagine, thirty- five years ago, that you’d be sitting where you are today, talking about this new ‘Willow’?
Warwick Davis: Certainly not, no, absolutely not. For years it’s been talked about, not by anyone official but by the fans. They’ve constantly pestered me, saying “When are we going to see a sequel to that movie?” And it’s a question that I could never answer. Until I met Jon Kasdan, who I understood was also a fan. And I wondered on the set of Solo who had let him onto set. You know, no fans allowed here, because he was obsessed, talking about Willow. And surely we should be concentrating on making this Star Wars story here, shouldn’t we?
[So we got to] talk about ‘Willow,’ and it was decided that there should indeed be more ‘Willow,’ and so that was the catalyst for this project to happen, really, and it happened very quickly in Hollywood terms. You know, it wasn’t years and years of development. Before I knew it I was sat on set in Wales for the very first day of filming. Once again looking just like Willow, but a slightly older, more mature, better-looking version.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Was it as simple as Warwick makes out?
Jon Kasdan: It was… it was in a lot of ways. I mean, there was the impulse certainly between Ron and Warwick and myself to continue this story, and return to this world. And I came at it as a fan, and they came at it both as the creators, and they found a champion in me, and I kept fighting and sort of hoping that we’d get a chance to go back here, and my ace was always that Warwick would be back and that he would look so attractive and America would – and the world – would really fall on their knees. I think everyone got that, and everyone appreciated that, that there was something really special in the opportunity to bring this character back to the screen.
To the younger cast, how familiar were you with the film before you got cast in this project?
Amar Chadha-Patel: I’m not as young as some of our younger cast, so I have to hold my hand up and say I was alive when it came out. So I first watched it about seven or eight years old, and it sort of fit neatly into my upbringing, in the sense that I grew up on escapism and fantasy, and ‘NeverEnding Story’ and ‘The Princess Bride,’ that’s my childhood. So by osmosis, I’d sort of imbibed the quality of that kind of film. So it was always a part of me, I think. And then I rewatched it again when I got cast, because I figured, you know, research is probably useful.
Tony Revolori: I actually watched it with my parents, and my brother, and yeah, I love the film, I fell in love with the magic of the world and you know when this opportunity came around, I was excited and honored.
Photo courtesy of Disney
The show has this epic fantasy side, but it’s also quite contemporary at the same time. How difficult was it to get that balance right?
Jon Kasdan: You know, that… it’s the challenge. With every episode, you’re sort of walking the line between making it familiar and satisfying, what fans expect from the brand ‘Willow,’ and then trying to push it forward and tell a story that’s surprising and unexpected. And you know, the great weapon we had with us was Warwick, who just lent the whole universe of ‘Willow’ credibility, and the moment you see him on screen, you suddenly believe these six other foolish kids could somehow fit into that world, and really inhabit it. And they did so so beautifully and with such gusto and enthusiasm and authenticity, that it was sort of an amazing thing to watch all these things come together, and become something that feels like a progression from the movie as much as a love letter to it.
How was it going back thirty-five years later, and seeing these locations again from the movie?
Warwick Davis: Yeah, certainly for me, one of the most enjoyable things about the series was really those callbacks to events that had happened in the film. You know, times that when I as a character talk about those events, and that was a really fun way of looking back at those things, and certainly I think fans will get a kick out of it. But also, as you say, we went back to locations, and environments that we’d already been to in the film. In particular, Nockmaar was one of those particular places, that for me really kind of gave me the shivers. You know, there I am kind of standing or sitting somewhere that Bavmorda would have sat, and you know, still kind of felt her presence in that area. That just shows you how powerful the film was, and those settings, and also Jean Marsh’s performance.
Jon Kasdan: There was an incredible thing that happened where we got our friend Kevin Pollak out to reprise his role as Rool. And he told me when he arrived that he and Warwick had never actually done any scenes together because all of the brownie bits in the movie had been filmed at Skywalker in Northern California. And Warwick and he got to actually riff off each other, and Tony got to be a part of that, and it was quite an amazing thing to kind of watch them actually interact, these old friends who didn’t know each other.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Did Warwick give you any wisdom or advice when you guys started out on this journey?
Ruby Cruz: Wisdom and advice from Warwick Davis? I think honestly, just being in his presence was like… I was going to say a lesson in its own right, but not in that way. But I think getting to just be around someone who’s so good at what he does, and someone who’s such a professional in what they do… Watching you be able to just switch it on and off, which is something I really struggle with, was a huge– honestly, I really admire you for that. Coming in, you’d just waltz on set, and then suddenly you’d be like in the most emotional state. Or you’d be like cracking one-liners the entire time, while everything is [a] disaster. So I think it was just being around you, and getting to witness you in your element, that was really cool.
This is your second project with Lucasfilm, and your second series on Disney Plus. What has kept you coming back to this company, and what appeals to you about these roles, such as Karli and Jade?
Erin Kellyman: I feel like I don’t ever want to stop playing these badass women. I think they’re all so multi-layered, and I love trying to pick them apart and understand them. I think Karli was super hard to understand because she does a lot of messed up stuff. But Jade, I think has been the person that I’ve put the most work into. I think me and Jon had the time to like really go back into her past and created that space where we could make time and I could understand her a bit more. Yeah, I really can’t wait for people to see her.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Val Kilmer’s Madmartigan is not in this new ‘Willow.’ How did you address his absence?
Jon Kasdan: Not tricky at all. It was always sort of going to be, right at the core of the story we were telling. And it really had to be… but because we were telling a story that had so many young characters, and they were all sort of searching for their identity, the search for Madmartigan, and the question of what had happened to him was right at the heart of the story we were telling. And we knew that it would be woven into this quest in a fundamental way, really, to see where he was and what had become of him, and what he’d given up. Particularly for Ruby’s character, Kit, and for Dempsey’s character, Airk, in order to do good.
And that question sort of follows the whole season. And we always knew that we sort of wanted to pay it off in one way or another, and we had a lot of ideas about ways to pay it off and ways to leave it open. And one thing that happened, because Val himself wasn’t able to come out to Wales and work with us, was that we added this texture of a friend of Madmartigan’s, who could give us some clues about his whereabouts.
How much input did George Lucas have, and did he have any advice at least for the project?
Jon Kasdan: You know, it’s funny actually, I’ve been getting this question a lot today, and Warwick was actually there, present on the day that I had my one and only conversation with George about this project. He came and visited the set of Solo because he is devoted to Ron, and they are dear, dear friends in real life. And they told us that he was going to come for just a moment, and we shouldn’t make direct eye contact or ask him any direct questions, and instead, he ended up staying for six hours and answering all our questions and being nothing but lovely.
And I sort of said to him in this moment when I found myself sitting next to this god of my childhood, “You know, the one thing I thought that Lucasfilm really had an opportunity to do was to tell more Willow stories.” And he kind of smiled wryly and said he couldn’t agree more, and had been trying to make that happen for quite a while, and was a supporter and an advocate for any of that that we could get off the ground. And that sort of faith and excitement and genuine boyish enthusiasm was really critical to feeling like, this was something we could go off and do.
Photo courtesy of Disney
What is it that fans love so much about this world, these characters, and this story?
Jon Kasdan: Oh I mean, you know, George entering the universe of fantasy, working in that genre is such an exciting thing. And I remember the feeling of being eight years old and hearing that George Lucas was giving us a new franchise. And this one would have magic and wizards and sword fights, and it wasn’t called Star Wars. That was a pretty unbelievable concept to an eight-year-old kid. And for me, it’s sort of a miraculous thing that it hasn’t been developed more and that it sort of remains as this artifact from a certain time in my life, with all this potential for more stories and more adventures.
What do you think is the one thing that you hope fans will take away from this series as a whole?
Tony Revolori: I think it’s the relatability of the characters, you know? Credit to Jon Kasdan, our writer, of Dawson’s Creek fame and Californication. He wrote every single character to have multiple layers, and we all got to play and have fun with them, and they’re very unique, and I think beyond it just being a family-friendly thing, that you can sit around with your family and watch, and point and go, ‘you’re like him, you’re like him, or her,’ or whatever it may be. I think that relatability, and the idea that these are flawed characters, and we grow through it, and maybe they can empathize through it a little bit. At least, that’s what I hope they take…
Amar Chadha-Patel: One of my favourite things about the show is that no character has it figured out at all. And that is so true to life. The entire quest is not just a physical one, to rescue someone. It’s also about us figuring out what the hell we’re doing. And some of us thinking that we know, and not knowing, and that couldn’t be more true to my own feelings. And I think seeing that reflected back in a big magical world is going to be real charming.
Dempsey Bryk: I feel like, another thing Jon Kasdan does so well is, he really presents different philosophies and ideas, and Jon, you can just Venmo me or whatever after this [laughs]… But so it’s really presenting different philosophies and ideologies that are all sort of equally valid, and sometimes there’s just no right answer. And I feel like today for like, you know, a younger generation, that’s a really confusing thing. To be like, ‘well I feel this,’ and then, ‘but you feel that,’ and maybe nobody’s right. Maybe it’s just okay to have different opinions.
—
Willow starts streaming on Disney+ this November 30.
As Disney+ finally opens its doors to the Philippines, there’s going to be a rush to catch up on all the movies and shows and specials that have not been available to us for years now. They have all types from Disney classics to their latest animated features, to the movies and tv series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or if you are a fan of the Star Wars franchise, that will be made available to you too. They even have exclusive Kdramas on the platform like ‘Snowdrop,’ ‘Soundtrack #1,’ and the special ‘In the Soop: Friendcation.’
What might be missed in all this hustle and bustle is a bite-sized 6-episode animated limited series called ‘Zootopia+.’ Based on characters from the 2016 animated film ‘Zootopia,’ the short series (each episode runs only for 7 to 9 minutes long) is set during the events of the movie, showcasing the lives of the different characters – from the arctic shrews, to the weasel that the protagonist Judy catches in the film, to the famous sloth civil servant, and even Gazelle’s dancers – that sort of amplifies the world of ‘Zootopia’ and make it bigger.
It’s an interesting concept as the world of the movie is completely big and new and it could do with a little more exploration. Like many of Disney’s animated films, this series boasts of incredible animation and effects. The world of ‘Zootopia’ is filled with so much texture from the different kinds of animals and their fur and hide (or skin). It really depends on the animal. The amount of work that is put into each individual episode is quite incredible. Even at an average of 8 minutes per episode, it shows the kind of dedication they have to the material.
Unfortunately, not all of the six episodes reach a sort of satisfying conclusion that gives them any sort of weight that endears us to the world nor does it make any interesting dissection of society and culture that the movie does.
Photo from ‘Zootopia’ trailer
Four of the six episodes are centered on a single gimmick or novelty that they bleed dry for the entire short duration of the episode. The first is a frenetic, over-the-top chase sequence between Judy’s parents and one of Judy’s younger siblings who has gotten away from them. It has a cute way of highlighting a married couple who are so supportive of each other but other than that, it really does nothing to make the world feel bigger. In fact, the whole length of the short episode manages to make the world of ‘Zootopia’ feel smaller by how it dramatizes the distance between Judy’s hometown and the city of Zootopia.
There’s a story involving Gazelle and a talent contest that is looking for new back-up dancers and it is just a single punchline that you see coming from a mile away. Another episode is of the sloth, Flash, as a dinner guest in a restaurant and it’s the longest episode at 9 minutes and it goes exactly how you imagine it to. There’s a musical episode with Duke, the Weasel, but while it does touch upon the tempting world of petty crimes, it doesn’t say much and in fact makes light of how difficult it is to find redemption.
Photo from ‘Zootopia’ trailer
There are only two episodes that I felt actually made the world feel bigger, and both these episodes are working on two different frameworks altogether.
One episode features Fru Fru, the arctic shrew is part of a television show called ‘The Real Rodents of Rodentia.’ The show is done ala-’The Real Housewives’ and the whole episode parodies the shooting style, the testimonials and confessionals, and even the shallowness of the reality show. It’s a brilliant little gimmick that’s perfectly played out in 7 minutes but what makes it interesting is how it subverts the form – the reality show – and uses it to talk about something deeper and meaningful; something that relates to the themes found in the original movie. Aside from the gimmick, it’s able to add something to the world and to the lore.
Photo from ‘Zootopia’ trailer
On the other side of that coin, the episode involving Mr. Big, the shrew that acts like The Godfather. Taking its cues from the movie ‘The Godfather,’ it shows us a bit of Zootopia history, and of how Rodentia came to be. It’s a wonderful episode that talks about community and the struggles that the smaller animals in Zootopia face in a city filled with animals of different sizes. This episode makes the world of Zootopia bigger (ironically) by showing us the hierarchies of the city and how these are overcome by a spirit of community. It’s something that relates strongly to the movie but it also opens up the world in many interesting ways.
So, while most of the episodes are really light and forgettable one-joke narratives, the proof of the concept works wonderfully in two of the episodes. While the other four merely serve as distracting content, the two episodes that matter really serve as viable companion pieces that can continue to deepen the world of the 2016 movie.
After much excitement and anticipation, The Walt Disney Company’s streaming service, Disney+, is available to consumers in the Philippines starting from today. With Disney+, consumers can access an incredible collection of beloved stories, global and Asian original tentpole titles and thousands of hours of movies, shows and binge-worthy general entertainment content from Disney’s iconic brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star.
Starting from today, consumers in the Philippines can join the Disney+ streaming service with a new range of subscription plans that will deliver more choices than ever before. The expanded line-up of plans includes a monthly Mobile Plan for ₱159, or annual Mobile Plan for ₱1,150. The Premium Plan is available for ₱369 monthly, or ₱2,950 annually. In addition, Alipay+ and Globe are offering special packages for consumers to subscribe to Disney+.
“As Disney+ continues to expand globally, we are excited that from today, consumers in the Philippines can access Disney+ and start enjoying our extensive collection of general entertainment content,” said Jay Trinidad, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Direct-to-Consumer, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific. “I am proud that through Disney+, we are able to bring joy and happiness to more fans, families and friends in my home country of the Philippines who can now connect with their favourite characters and enjoy some of the world’s best stories.”
With Disney fans and families now able to join the Disney+ streaming service, The Walt Disney Company is celebrating the service’s expansion to the Philippines by treating consumers to “A Night of Wonder with Disney+” featuring musical performances from some of the nation’s beloved stars including Morissette and Christian Bautista. Audiences can watch the show at 8pm tonight on the Disney+ service, or by logging onto Disney+’s social media pages including on Facebook , Twitter and Tiktok.
From today, viewers can watch an exciting and ever-growing library of global, regional and Asian language content on Disney+. In the coming days and weeks, consumers in the Philippines can look forward to watching many new movies, shows and series on Disney+ including:
Nov 17: Limitless with Chris Hemsworth – Global movie star Chris Hemsworth (Extraction, Thor, The Avengers) explores the revolutionary idea that we could combat aging and discover the full potential of the human body in this National Geographic Original series.
Nov 18:Mickey: The Story of a Mouse – A fascinating Disney documentary about one of the world’s most beloved icons who today is recognized as a symbol of joy and innocence in virtually every corner of the globe.
Nov 18:Disenchanted – An all-new live-action musical comedy and sequel to Disney’s box office hit Enchanted about a lovable maiden from the fairy tale world of Andalasia who finally found her Prince Charming in the kingdom of New York City.
Nov 21:Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium – In a special once-in-a-lifetime live event, fans from around the world will feel like they have a front-row seat to witness the magic of the Rocket Man in Elton John’s final North American show in Los Angeles.
Nov 25:The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special – In this Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Jason Quill, a celestial-human hybrid.
Nov 30: Willow – An all-new sequel series to George Lucas’s 1988 fantasy adventure in which the Nelwyn sorcerer returns, years after rescuing the infant empress Elora Danan, to lead a group of misfit heroes on a harrowing rescue mission through a world beyond imagination.
Dec 7: Connect – A Star Original coming exclusively to Disney+ about a man kidnapped by a gang of organ harvesters who wakes up following the procedure to discover his eye missing and that he has the vision of an infamous serial killer.
All this is in addition to the vast array of global and regional content from The Walt Disney Company’s iconic suite of brands and franchises including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and general entertainment content under Star.
Disney+ gives consumers access to some of the world’s most original stories told by talented creators across the globe – anytime, anywhere. Viewers in the Philippines can enjoy high-quality streams with up to four concurrent streams available with the Premium Plan.
Disney+ is now accessible on a wide selection of compatible mobile and televisions subject to users’ chosen subscription plans, including smartphones and tablets (Android or iOS), smart TVs such as Samsung and LG and connected TV devices including Google TV and other Android TV OS, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, and Chromecast.
We’re just a few days away from finally getting Disney+ here in the Philippines! And one of the first Disney+ original films that will be dropping on the platform is Disenchanted, the magical sequel to the 2007 movie Enchanted.
Releasing on November 18, just a day after the Disney+ launch in the country, Disenchanted resumes the story of Giselle who left the Disney-esque world of Andalasia and decided to live in New York with Robert and his daughter Morgan. Struggling to keep her ‘Happily Ever After’, Giselle and her family move to the quiet suburbs of Monroeville, but after wishing for a fairy tale life, she accidentally transforms Monroeville into a magical place. While it seems like everything she wished for, the magic slowly consumes Giselle and she soon finds herself becoming the wicked stepmother in her own fairy tale.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Before the release of the movie, we got to join the virtual press conference for the upcoming movie. The event was joined by the film’s stars Amy Adams (Giselle), Patrick Dempsey (Robert), Maya Rudolph (Malvina Monroe), Idina Menzel (Nancy), Gabriella Baldacchino (Morgan), Yvette Nicole Brown (Rosaleen), Jayma Mays (Ruby), Oscar Nunez (Edgar). The movie’s director Adam Shankman, producer Barry Josephson, and music composer Alan Menken also participated in the press conference.
Check out the highlights of the event below:
On returning to the magical story of Giselle and her family.
During the press conference, producer Barry Josephson shared that it was such a joy to resume Giselle’s story in the sequel. According to the producer, it was Amy Adams wanting to play her character again that started off the creation of Disenchanted.
As for the story, they jumped off director Adam Shankman’s initial idea for the sequel: “I was talking to Sean Bailey, the president of Disney, and he was talking about how the project was sitting there, and as we discussed it, I said, ‘Well, basically,’ I was like, ‘you know Giselle’s the stepmother. She’s Morgan’s stepmother.’
“And that for me became the absolute jumping-off point. I was like, ‘That’s low-hanging fruit.’ This is perfect in terms of a continuation of that because she has this now-developed daughter who probably doesn’t believe in magic anymore. And then I was like, “Let’s go from there,” and it was just sort of a thrill ride from there,” explained Shankman.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Josephson also added regarding Brigitte Hales’ script for the movie: “It was just such a joy to see the script come together and become something really joyous and a musical with comedy, and, you know, the right amount of drama. And sort of like all pivoting around what is Giselle’s new character? What is her dilemma? How do we progress from the original movie? And yet, make something that was definitively a new movie, a fresh new start for her character and the other characters that everybody loved from the first movie.”
The Disenchanted cast on reprising their roles from the first movie.
Many characters from the first movie are back in this next chapter in Giselle’s life. Aside from Morgan, the stars from the first film have returned to reprise their roles, including Patrick Dempsey as Giselle’s loving husband Robert; Idina Menzel as Nancy who became queen of Andalasia; and her king, James Marsden.
Referring to her character Giselle, Amy Adams says, “There’s been an evolution from the beginning of the movie Enchanted to who Giselle is at the end of the movie. So [we took] that evolution of who she might be after spending 10 years, but also [made] sure we keep her grounded in sort of the truth of her feelings, but without losing that joy and that naiveite and innocence and purity that makes Giselle so special.”
As for Idina Menzel, she talked with director Shankman to figure out the balance in her character for the sequel. “Adam and I would talk, and I’d say, ‘How much of my New York accent do I still have [laughs] coming from Andalasia, and how much is this idyllic,’ you know, ‘how much has this idyllic, romantic, beautiful perfect place rubbed off on me?’ And then, you know, putting on the corset and all that, it was an easy journey for me.”
Photo courtesy of Disney
Meanwhile, Patrick Dempsey talked about Robert’s place in the sequel, having to juggle his work, his new child and Morgan, and her daughter’s conflict with Giselle. But he adds that he had fun finally participating in the musical aspect of the film.
“That whole process of finding your voice, working with the coach on that, learning the lyrics and the dance was an extraordinary experience and something I’d never done before. I really appreciate the talent, with the voices and the singing of Idina and Amy and Maya and everyone. You know, it’s an extraordinary feeling you get when you sing. The vibration, there’s something very intoxicating about it. So it’s nice to get a taste of that,” said the actor.
The new cast members on joining the magical sequel.
There are also new actors joining the cast of Enchanted, such as Gabriella Baldacchino who now plays the teenage stepdaughter of Giselle.
“This has been a dream of mine to get to be a part of something like this,” said Baldacchino. “It just completely changed my life. And I’m so, so grateful to sing music written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Like, I grew up performing. I love musical theater and singing, so that wasn’t new for me. But to get to originate something that they wrote, it’s an honor… And working with this incredible cast is like a master class in acting every single day, so I’m just really grateful.”
Photo courtesy of Disney
Meanwhile, Maya Rudolph who stars as the villain Malvina Monroe calls the experience a “dream come true,” adding that “Even though I’ve had a chance to sing in things before, it was nothing like this experience. [It was like] I was training for the marathon I’d been training for my whole life. And that’s what it was every day.”
Yvette Nicole Brown also adds, “And we all had the best time in Ireland. It was just a lovely gathering, a little troupe of us coming together to make this love letter to everyone who loved the original film. And I’m just so honored to get to be a part.”
On the Disney nods and Easter eggs within the film.
Director Adam Shankman also talked about the many Disney tropes that are present in Disenchanted, just like how the first film had a lot of such tropes.
Photo courtesy of Disney
“It’s one of my favorite things about the movie and about participating in it because, to my knowledge, it’s the first time Disney ever winked at itself,” said Shankman. “I mean, I don’t think Disney ever allowed winking at itself. And so, this was such an incredible opportunity. So honestly, if you look around, when the town turns into a fairy tale town, every sign of every shop has something Disney winking involved in it.”
He also points out that in Morgan’s solo song, there are nods to other “I want” songs; the magic mirror is a replica from Snow White; and the ball dresses of Malvina’s minions, Rosaleen and Ruby, are literally the stepsisters’ dresses from Cinderella.
Photo courtesy of Disney
As the press conference comes to a close, director Adam Shankman shared some parting words about the new movie and answered what would be his happily ever after.
“Things were getting really complicated out in the world when we started all of this. And, you know, there was just a lot of conflict going on. And it felt like it was a good time. The stars definitely aligned. Like, the movie came out as coming out at the right time. To address your thing about what happily ever after is. Obviously, happily ever after is a lot of people watching this movie,” said Shankman.
— Catch Disenchanted when it premieres on Disney+ this November 18.
Home to thousands of hours of movies and series from The Walt Disney Company’s creative studios, including Disney Television Studios, FX, 20th Century Studios, 20th Television, and more, Star also houses exclusive Asian language Originals produced in collaboration with producers and directors in the Asia Pacific region.
BTS: PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LA
An exclusive cinematic 4K concert film starring RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, BTS: PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LA is a stunning concert film that captures the first time in two years since the pandemic that the band met fans in person, and was filmed during their performances in November and December last year at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
A stage-focused concert film, today’s release includes performances of the GRAMMY®-nominated group’s hit songs “Dynamite”, “Butter” and “Permission to Dance” as well as a whole range of other amazing songs performed alongside stunning choreography, live effects, pyrotechnics and more.
IN THE SOOP : Friendcation
An original travel reality show with a star-studded cast including V of BTS, Itaewon Class’ Seo-jun Park, Parasite star Woo-shik Choi, Hyung-sik Park, and Peakboy. The program features the five friends venturing on a surprise trip and enjoying a variety of leisure and fun activities.
Snowdrop
In 1987, bloodied man Soo-Ho jumps into a woman’s university dormitory in Seoul. Yeong-ro, a female student who fell in love with him at a group blind date, tends to his wounds as the dormitory is ensnare in intense surveillance. As Soo-ho’s secrets unravel, he must eventually face the conflict between his heart to Yeong-ro and responsibility to his comrades, as well as to his siblings who awaits him in his home country. What will be of their fate?
Big Mouth
In Big Mouth, a lawyer with a ten-percent winning rate is caught up in a murder case and becomes the notorious and genius con artist, Big Mouse, overnight. In order to survive and protect his family, he tries to reveal the true colours of the privileged people involved in a huge conspiracy.
Yakuza Lover
Based on the popular comic of the same name, Yakuza Lover centers around Yuri, a college student who dreams of a man who will love her for who she is. During a night out at a party, Yuri gets mixed up with a shady group, but is rescued just in time by Oya Toshiomi, the leader of a local yakuza clan. Drawn to Toshiomi’s gentlemanly ways, the two begin a passionate but forbidden romance that poses challenges at every turn.
The Kardashians
The family you know and love is here with a brand new series, giving an all-access pass into their lives. Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie bring the cameras back to reveal the truth behind the headlines.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders In The Building follows three strangers who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one as they investigate the mysterious death of a neighbor in their New York City apartment building.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 19
Grey’s Anatomy, the high-intensity medical drama follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.
Dopesick
Dopesick examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history and takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction. Defying all the odds, heroes will emerge in an intense and thrilling ride to take down the craven corporate forces behind this national crisis and their allies.
Summer Time Rendering
Summer Time Rendering is a sci-fi, summer story filled with suspense set on a small island that begins with Shine Ajar, whose childhood friend Ushio Kofune died. He returns to his hometown for the first time in two years for the funeral. Sou Hishigata, his best friend suspects something’s off with Ushio’s death, and that someone else can die next. A sinister omen is heard as an entire family next door suddenly disappears the following day. Furthermore, Min implicates a “shadow” three days before Ushio’s death.
Besides these Star shows, fans in the Philippines can look forward to a variety of original feature-length films, live-action and animated series, short-form content and documentaries from Hollywood to Hallyu including our iconic brands Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Pixar.
Disney+ is pleased to present A Night of Wonder with Disney+ to celebrate the streaming service’s availability in the Philippines from next week. To mark the expansion of Disney+ to the Philippines, the star-studded showcase will be streamed on the service on November 17, showcasing The Walt Disney Company’s creative excellence and celebrating Filipinos’ passion for music and song.
Hosted by Catriona Gray and Robi Domingo, the special will feature highlights from some of the incredible movies and shows that fans can look forward to watching on Disney+. Local landmarks will be transformed into stages for some of the Philippines’ most beloved singers including Morissette, Christian Bautista, Janella Salvador, Stell of SB19, Zack Tabudlo and Zephanie.
A Night of Wonder with Disney+ will be available to watch on November 17, 8PM on Disney+ and the following Disney+ social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and TikTok in the Philippines.
Disney+ Watchlist: Celebrity Picks
Need inspiration for your first show to watch after A Night of Wonder with Disney+? Check out these eight top picks by Filipino celebrities:
Catriona Gray – The Lion King (2019)
Disney’s The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna, where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon.
Robi Domingo – Andor
The Andor series explores a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It is an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Christian Bautista – Marvel Studios’ What If…?
What If…? flips the script on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.
Zack Tabudlo – Moon Knight
When Steven Grant, a mild-mannered gift-shop employee, becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life, he discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon these alter egos, they must navigate their complex identities while being thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
Morissette – The Little Mermaid
Ariel, the fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is enchanted with all things human. Disregarding her father’s order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be human, she strikes a bargain with the devious sea witch Ursula and trades her fins and beautiful voice for legs. With her best friend, the adorable and chatty Flounder, and her reluctant chaperone Sebastian, the hilarious, reggae-singing Caribbean crab, at her side, Ariel must win the prince’s love and save her father’s kingdom — all in a heart-pounding race against time.
Stell – High School Musical
The captain of the East High basketball team and the key member of the academic club shock the student body by teaming to audition for the upcoming school musical in a Disney Original Movie that’s all about being yourself and following your dreams. Troy (Zac Efron) is best known as the player who keeps the East High basketball team on the scoreboard. Of course, life isn’t always about athletics, though, and as Troy slam dunks on the boards, beautiful and brainy Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) is raising the reputation of East High as the key member of the school’s successful academic team. Despite their outgoing natures, no one would ever peg Troy and Gabriella as theater types. When word gets out that this popular pair has secretly chosen to reach for the stars and try their luck on the stage, the students of East High are about to learn an important lesson in teamwork while gearing up for a musical performance that will have their audience dancing in the aisles.
Janella Salvador – Disenchanted (18 Nov)
It has been 15 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
Zephanie – Aladdin (2019)
From Disney comes the thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of the animated classic Aladdin, the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, Aladdin features an all-star cast including Will Smith as the larger-than-life Genie, Mena Massoud as the clever scoundrel Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine, the beautiful, courageous princess of Agrabah.
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star – all in one place. For more information, visit DisneyPlus.com
Disney+ has released a delightful new trailer for Disenchanted, the all-new musical comedy and sequel to “Enchanted.” The film, which reunites original cast members Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden and also stars Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays, is directed by Adam Shankman and features new songs from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. “Disenchanted” debuts November 18, exclusively on Disney+.
It has been more than ten years since Giselle (Adams) and Robert (Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy.Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
“Disenchanted” stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jayma Mays, Gabriella Baldacchino, with Idina Menzel and James Marsden. Directed by Adam Shankman from a screenplay by Brigitte Hales and a story by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss, and Richard LaGravenese, “Disenchanted” is produced by Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Amy Adams, with Jo Burn, Sunil Perkash, and Adam Shankman serving as executive producers. The movie features songs with music by 8-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken and lyrics by three-time Oscar-winning lyricist Stephen Schwartz, whose work on “Enchanted” garnered three Academy Award® nominations and a score by Alan Menken.
The digital soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available on Nov. 18 and is available for Pre-Save/Pre-Add here.
With Disney+ arriving in the Philippines this November 17, most of us are probably most excited by its library of our favorite titles from Disney, Pixar, and the Marvel and Star Wars franchises. But the streamer also has a rich selection of K-dramas that fans will surely appreciate, including the new series Revenge of Others.
Revenge of Others follows the shooting athlete Ok Chanmi who is trying to uncover the truth behind her twin brother’s supposed suicide. Transferring to his school, she meets some interesting personalities that could be key to understanding her brother’s death, including Ji Sooheon who secretly takes revenge on bullies, Seo Jihoon who suffers from amnesia, the white-haired Tae Soyeon, and more!
In a recent press conference, the show’s director Kim Yujin and the cast members Shin Yeeun, Lomon, Seo Jihoon, Chung Subin, and Lee Soomin talked more about the thrilling Korean series. Check out some of its highlights below:
To Director Kim Yujin, how did everything come about and how did you feel about directing this show?
Kim Yujin: This series is written by writer Lee Heemyung who I’ve collaborated with on my past work Reunited Worlds. That’s how things came about. It took about three years from pre-production all the way to where we are now. It took quite some time indeed. Personally, I always wanted to try out a teen show and just like fate, writer Lee provided me with this story centered around high schoolers. The narrative was so immersive and interesting and genre-wise, I thought this was definitely going to stand out among other teen shows – so I just had to take it.
L-R: Chung Subin, Seo Jihoon, Shin Yeeun, Lomon, and Lee Soomin. (Photo courtesy of Disney+)
For the cast members, can you tell us more about your characters?
Shin Yeeun: Chanmi is a promising shooting athlete who wants to major in shooting. After finding out about her brother’s death, she becomes a darker person. She used to be a cheerful and outgoing person but as she delves deeper into her brother’s case, she becomes more of a… How should I put it? I think she became stronger and more resilient. That’s how I saw her.
Lomon: Ji Sooheon seems like he’s got everything – good grades, good at sports and popular at school. But he, in fact, has to take many part-time jobs to make a living and cover his mother’s medical bills. Due to an incident, he chooses to take revenge on behalf of his friends. He is a good fighter. He is so good at kickboxing that he’s almost like a professional kickboxer. So, he’s going to show you some intense action based off of his kickboxing skills.
Seo Jihoon: Jaebum loses his memory of the past year due to a mysterious accident so he was away from school. When he returns to school he wants to blend in and is willing to help out the new girl – Chanmi. I think he was attracted to her. He tries to help her out but he gets wired up in the incident too. When he realizes that the incident has got something to do with his accident, he is thrown into utter confusion. He is a character full of mystery.
Photo courtesy of Disney+
Chung Subin: Soyeon has a tragic past that she keeps hidden. She wants to help out and console anyone who might be experiencing the same thing. She knows that reality is harsh and adults can be cruel. She totally understands that feeling of neglect and expresses those feelings. That’s why she makes plans to take revenge on behalf of her peer students together with Sooheon. She wants to make justice prevail no matter what it takes.
Lee Soomin: Jihyun is the golden girl who’s got everything, but she holds a secret of her own. She’s had a crush on Sooheon for quite some time and when she sees him becoming close to the new girl Chanmi she gets upset and jealous. But as the story progresses, she also gets tangled up in the shocking incident…
Photos courtesy of Disney+
Director Kim, what message do you want to send across with this show?
Kim Yujin: When you watch this show, crimes happen and the main leads either take revenge for themselves or on behalf of others. This means that criminals are not getting the punishment they deserve and that these high schoolers who are not even adults have to take matters into their own hands. I mean this series wasn’t intended to throw a social question at the viewers but it can raise awareness of such issues. I wanted to mesh it up with the genre-specific entertainment and the fun.
Shin Yeeun and Lomon, how did you prepare for the roles of the shooting athlete Chanmi and the kickboxer Sooheon, respectively?
Shi Yeeun: At first, I questioned myself – can I pull this off? Because my physique is not quite that of an athlete and I didn’t feel I was in good shape. So, I started off with not just training for shooting but with other workouts because the gun was actually quite heavy. There’s that reverb that I have to withstand. To have a sound posture I would walk around with dumbbells and when I had a day off I spent all day at the shooting center. Thankfully the coaches really helped me out and rooted for me so I think I did quite well. I now have total pride in being a good shooter.
Lomon: Sooheon is a really good kickboxer – he’s almost like a professional. I poured most time and effort into prepping for the action scenes before we began shooting. Months before, I went to this action school three to four times every week. At first the steps and punches seemed off, so I went to Han River very early in the morning with a beanie on and practiced my steps and punches. Because the keyword for this show is revenge on behalf of others, I wanted to give that kickass, refreshing vibe so I bulked up too. I weight-trained every day for an hour and a half or two hours.
Photo courtesy of Disney+
What do you think is something not to miss out on in this show?
Seo Jihoon: Of the teen shows, nothing is as provocative as this one, I believe. That in and of itself is going to be fun, and there are so many twists and turns. I bet you’ll be pulled in by the narrative.
Chung Subin: We’ve already said this a few times but the backstories of each of the characters are also layers that add so much more to the main narrative. I think the viewers are definitely going to enjoy the diversity of characters and their backstories.
Lee Soomin: Just looking at my friends I can tell that people nowadays love fast-paced shows. Revenge of Others is really fast-paced so there is no boring moment and it is so immersive. I’m sure you guys are going to love watching it.
Shi Yeeun, you’re known for your cheerful and bubbly roles in the past, How did you get into this role and what was most challenging in doing so?
Shi Yeeun: I did take on many bubbly, cheerful roles, and I wanted to try out a genre work for once. I have a cheerful side but I also have a chic, cool-headed side to me too, I think. I wanted to show that side of me through a character. As I was getting into the Chanmi character, I wanted to show you the most natural, un-styled version of myself. I didn’t put on any makeup. When my dark circles became so evident my makeup professional would be like, “I have to cover up your dark circles!” But I told her that it’s alright because Chanmi is losing sleep and she’s so on edge to track down the murderer. I wanted to be seen that way so I went for the most natural look possible. Some viewers may think, “Who is that? Is that really Shin Yeeun?” Yes, it’s me! If people ask those questions, I guess I’ve succeeded in getting into my role.
Photo courtesy of Disney+
Lomon, after doing All of Us Are Dead, how did it feel to be in a school uniform again? And how does your character here diverge from your character in All of Us Are Dead?
Lomon: I’m in a school uniform in this show and my last work. I think the school uniform always gives me butterflies because it’s something I can pull off only for a short period of time. It’s a precious experience for me. Soohyeok in All of Us are Dead survived running away together with his friends, but Sooheon in Revenge of Others is a lonely boy who stands up and takes the world all on his own. That’s the difference.
—
Revenge of Others is now streaming on Disney+! You can start watching the series when the streaming platform officially launches in the Philippines this November 17. For more information, click here.
