So much has happened over the two days at the D23 Expo that we thought it would be best to put a blog together to review the top five HUGE announcements we enjoyed the most.
If you are not familiar with D23, it is the official fan club for The Walt Disney Company. Founded in 2009, the organization is known mainly for its biennial exposition event, D23 Expo, held this year on 14-16th August in Japan.
Number 5 – Rogue One
We love Star Wars here at Paladone, so much so that on the 4th September (#ForceFriday) we’re launching an entire range dedicated to the new movie, The Force Awakens, so we were very excited to hear that Lucasfilm have announced that their first film in the new standalone Star Wars stories series, “Rogue One,” has begun principal photography. Gareth Edwards (“Godzilla,” “Monsters”) is directing “Rogue One,” which tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star. The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and is slated for a December 16, 2016 release
Number 4 – The Good Dinosaur
Several new clips from Disney and Pixar’s presentation that hadn’t been seen before were screened and showed the trio of Tyrannosaurs voiced by Sam Elliot, Anna Paquin and AJ Buckley. So keep a lookout on YouTube for those to be released to all of us unlucky folk who couldn’t be at the expo. Here’s the heartwarming trailer.
Number 3 – Doctor Strange
Kevin Feige shared a glimpse into the world of Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” featuring a video greeting by Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars as the title character, followed by a pre-production piece that offered fans a taste of the look and feel of the upcoming film, opening in U.S. theaters on October 26, 2016. Can’t wait!!
Number 2 – Gigantic
2018 can’t come quick enough with Pixar and Disney announcing that they’re planning a new take on the classic “Jack and the Beanstalk” story with “Gigantic” which will score a 2018 release. Nathan Greno (“Tangled”) helms the film which will be set in Spain during the Age of Exploration.
Jack is an adventure-seeker who discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home and take on storm giants that live in a city in the clouds. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who penned the songs for “Frozen,” will do the music for this project.
Number 1 – Finding Dory
What we’ve all been waiting for! The “Finding Nemo” sequel will pick up shortly after the 2003 original left off, with Dory living in the reef with neighbors Marlon and Nemo. The story will see Dory on her quest to reunite with her family. Nemo and Marlin accompany the forgetful fish to “the jewel of Monterey, California” in order to find them.
Joining the amazing Ellen DeGeneres in the cast are the likes of Ed O’Neill as curmudgeonly octopus Hank, Ty Burrell as the beluga whale Bailey, Kaitlin Olson as the whale shark Destiny who thinks she’s a whale, and Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy as Dory’s parents. The film is slated to open June 17th next year. (Skip to 1:56 for the announcement).
Hopefully this has inspired you to find out more about #D23expo and the treats it provided us this year. Check out the official D23 Expo YouTube channel for some brilliant footage and interviews of the 2 day event: CLICK HERE
