There is no doubt that there is a lot to cheer about during Disney Investor Day. So much of the three hour presentation was focused on how they were expanding the company and their direct-to-consumer products on a global scale. But the day did come with some unexpected news. How you take it all depends on how you feel about Disney releasing their live-action adaptations of their animated classics on Disney+.
Though the studio has found huge success at the box office with these films, but eventually plans change, and studios need to adapt to these changes in a time where people seem to prefer streaming over going to a theater. And this is especially true during a time of a pandemic.
With that being said, Disney plans to release “Pinocchio,” “Peter Pan and Wendy,” and “Cruella” on Disney+.
Peter Pan & Wendy will be flying to #DisneyPlus. David Lowery directs an amazing cast including @YaraShahidi in the role of Tinker Bell and Jude Law as Captain Hook. 🧚🪝 pic.twitter.com/U8tWoxxSOk
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) December 11, 2020
One of Disney’s all-time classics is coming to #DisneyPlus with the new live-action retelling of Pinocchio, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis. ✨ pic.twitter.com/44bHbFRhMe
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) December 11, 2020
It is unclear how Disney will release these films on Disney+. Will it be for free or will they charge a premium fee on their Premier Access for a chance for Disney+ subscribers to see it early? And because we don’t know the exact numbers for Disney’s live-action “Mulan” there is no way to determine the success of adding a premium price to see it early on Disney+ Premier Access. That being said, it looks like it is the kind of model they want to follow-up with considering they will be releasing “Raya and The Last Dragon” on Disney+ on the same day as it is released in theaters.
Stepping away from the Disney live-action adaptations of animated classics, the studio announced that their will be a few sequels to original films that have huge followings. Finally, after years and years of waiting, “Hocus Pocus” is getting a sequel. Disney announced that “Hocus Pocus 2” is currently under development, but it was unclear if Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy would return as the witchy Sanderson sisters. But let’s face if, it wouldn’t be a proper “Hocus Pocus 2” if it didn’t have the original cast.
Though the original 1993 film wasn’t a box office hit, it somehow, for some unexplained reason, gained a huge cult following.
Another hugely popular Disney original film to get a sequel is Enchanted. The film starring Amy Adams as Giselle, an animated princess finding herself in the real world and learning that things aren’t as rosy as they appear to be. The sequel, appropriately titled “Disenchanted” takes place a decade after the original with Giselle rethinking what it means to be in love. It’s not exactly clear how much of the script is finished or how many songs are written, but today’s news is the first major update from the studio. Of course, we will keep you posted should any new come up.
Both “Hocus Pocus 2” and “Disenchanted” will be released exclusively on Disney+.
