EnglishConvention - Cinemacon 2023: Our review of the Walt Disney Studios presentation
By Mulder, Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, 26 april 2023
"I wanted to personally thank you for your support. It's very gratifying to see that business is picking up." - Alan Bergman
While the Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures presentations were impressive with many stars on stage, we have to admit that Disney's was a bit of a letdown with admittedly many never-before-seen images and long sequences from the films
Having only Melissa McCarthy on stage is not very memorable especially if we compare this presentation to the Dantean panel of Marvel Studios in July 2022 or to the masterful presentations of D23 covered this year. It was Disney Entertainment co-president Alan Bergman who took the stage at the beginning of the presentation to talk at length about 100 years of The Walt Disney Company. The head of theatrical distribution, Tony Chambers then took the stage to announce that this is the first time since 2019 that The Walt Disney company is releasing films from all seven labels, including 20th Studios, Disney Animation, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Searchlight in theaters.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3
It would have been nice if director James Gunn could have been present to talk about his latest film at Marvel Studios. The presentation was composed of the trailer (already aired) and excerpts (also already aired). Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, produced by Marvel Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the third and final installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy, the sequel to the Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) films, and the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was written and directed by James Gunn. The cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki, Maria Bakalova and Sylvester Stallone. In this film, the Guardians embark on a mission to protect Rocket (Cooper) from the High Evolutionary (Iwuji). Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22, 2023 and was released in the U.S. on May 5, 2023 as part of Phase Five of the MCU.
The Marvels
No unreleased images to our dismay and only the release of the trailer. The Marvels is based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to the Captain Marvel movie (2019), the continuation of the Ms. Marvel TV miniseries (2022), and the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Nia DaCosta from a script she co-wrote with Megan McDonnell, Elissa Karasik and Zeb Wells. It stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Zawe Ashton and Park Seo-joon. In the film, Danvers, Rambeau and Khan begin to switch places each time they use their powers and must team up. Filming began in mid-April 2021 in New Jersey. Principal photography began in early August 2021 and wrapped in mid-May 2022, at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire and Longcross in Surrey, England, as well as in Los Angeles and Tropea, Italy. The Marvels is scheduled for release in the U.S. on November 10, 2023, as part of Phase Five of the MCU.
Wish
Tony Chambers announced that Wish would feature Chris Pine as King Magnifico. A long clip featuring a song from the film "So I Made This Wish" sung by Ariana DeBose was released. Wish is an American animated musical film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 62nd animated film produced by the studio. It is directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes, and written by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore. The art style combines computer animation with classic Disney watercolor animation. Featuring the voices of Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine and Alan Tudyk, the film tells the story of a 17-year-old girl, Asha (DeBose), who makes an impassioned plea to the stars in a moment of distress, when she senses a darkness in the Kingdom of Rosas that no one else perceives. Development of Wish began in January 2022, when Lee was writing the original film at Walt Disney Animation Studios. In September 2022, the project was officially announced, with the title revealed along with the voice cast. The film is inspired by Disney's 100th anniversary, which is a major theme in all Disney films: wishes come true. Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice were hired to write the songs for the film, while regular Disney orchestrator David Metzger composed the music. Wish is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on November 22, 2023 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The little Mermaid
Melissa McCarthy took the stage to talk about the highly anticipated The little Mermaid. She said it was an honor to play one of Disney's most delightful and iconic villains. You can't help but love her, she said. As the actress also said, Ursula is very ordinary - she's shy, she's a cleaning lady, so maybe that's why I identify with her. The Little Mermaid is a musical film directed by Rob Marshall from a script written by David Magee. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, DeLuca Marshall and Marc Platt Productions, it is a live-action adaptation of the 1989 Disney animated film of the same name, which itself is loosely based on the 1837 fairy tale of the same title written by Hans Christian Andersen. The cast includes Halle Bailey in the lead role, as well as Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy. The Little Mermaid tells the story of a mermaid princess, Ariel, who makes a deal with the treacherous sea witch Ursula by trading her voice for human legs in order to impress Prince Eric, who is rescued from a shipwreck, before time runs out. Composer Alan Menken, who worked on the film's soundtrack, has returned to compose the music and write new songs alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-produced the film with Marc Platt, John DeLuca and Marshall. The little Mermaid will be released in U.S. theaters on May 26, 2023, in RealD 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema and 4DX formats, as well as in traditional theaters.
Haunted Mansion
The first trailer and clip for Disney's Haunted Mansion film has been shown. Haunted Mansion is an American supernatural horror comedy directed by Justin Simien from a script by Katie Dippold. The cast includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, this is the second film adaptation of Walt Disney's theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion, following the 2003 film of the same name. In the film, Gabbie (Dawson) and Travis (Dillon) enlist a team to exorcise the mansion and destroy the ghosts around them. Haunted Mansion is scheduled for release in the United States on July 28, 2023, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Elemental
Disney showed 20 minutes of 3D footage from its June 16 release, Elemental from Pixar. Elemental is an American animated film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream, it is written by John Hoberg and Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh and Sohn, with Pete Docter serving as executive producer. The twenty-seventh feature film produced by the studio features the voices of Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O'Hara, Mason Wertheimer, Joe Pera and Matt Yang King. Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, the story follows fire element Ember Lumen (Lewis) and water element Wade Ripple (Athie), who meet and fall in love after Wade is summoned by a plumbing accident at a convenience store owned by Ember's bigoted father Bernie (Carmen). Although they can't touch, Ember and Wade discover how much they have in common. Animation tools were used to design the visual effects and appearance of each character, especially Ember Lumen and Wade Ripple. Elemental took seven years to produce, both in the studio and with the filmmakers, with the story being completed remotely. Thomas Newman, who had previously worked on Pixar animated films, composed and conducted the film's original score. Elemental will be presented out of competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 27, 2023 and will be released in the U.S. on June 16.
The Creator
A trailer has been released for the new film directed by Gareth Edwards. In this American science fiction film we find in the cast John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ralph Ineson, Allison Janney and Ken Watanabe. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 29, 2023 by 20th Century Studios. The impressive images of the film make you really want to discover it and we will not miss to talk about it soon.
A Haunting in Venice
A trailer was unveiled during the presentation and announces a horrific thriller with a cast as prestigious as the two previous films. This supernatural and mysterious thriller is directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. The film is the sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Death on the Nile (2022). Branagh reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, alongside Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio and Michelle Yeoh. A Haunting in Venice is scheduled for release in the United States on September 15, 2023.
Next Goal Wins
A trailer has been released. Next Goal Wins is a sports comedy-drama directed by Taika Waititi, who co-wrote the script with Iain Morris. The film is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison about the efforts of American-Dutch coach Thomas Rongen to lead the American Samoa national soccer team, considered the weakest soccer team in the world, to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Michael Fassbender will play Rongen, alongside Elisabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Chris Alosio, Waititi, Will Arnett and Rhys Darby. Filming began in Honolulu in November 2019. The film is scheduled for release on November 17, 2023 by Searchlight Pictures.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
A long chase scene from the film was shown and received much applause. We regret that Harrison Ford did not come to speak about this highly anticipated film that will conclude in a certain way the Indiana Jones film saga of which he is and will remain attached in the memory of many film lovers. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an American action-adventure film directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote it with Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film is the sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and will be the fifth and final installment in the Indiana Jones film series. The film will mark Harrison Ford's last performance as the archaeologist Indiana Jones, John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Sallah from the previous films, as well as new actors such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen. Dial of Destiny is the first and only film in the series not to be directed by Steven Spielberg or written by George Lucas, with Spielberg and Lucas serving as executive producers. It is also the first and only film in the series not to be distributed by Paramount Pictures, as Disney acquired the film rights to future sequels as a result of its acquisition of Lucasfilm; however, as compensation for this agreement, Paramount retained the distribution rights to the first four films and an associated residual credit. Filming began in June 2021, in various locations including the United Kingdom, Italy and Morocco, and was completed in February 2022. The film will have its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2023, with a U.S. release date of June 30, 2023.
Lacking many stars on stage, however, The Walt Disney Studios did premiere the horror film The Boogeyman from Searchlight Pictures. The film is based on a short story by Stephen King
Photos: Getty images for Walt Disney Studios