With the world-wide success of The Mandalorian and exclusive rights to the distribution of all future Star Wars and Marvel content, Disney+ has become one of the biggest players in the arena of competing streaming platforms. While many subscribers thought they’d only have access to its vaults of animated films and live-action remakes, they’re quickly finding out the House of Mouse is unleashing a tidal wave of content in the New Year.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER
Without a doubt one of the most anticipated series coming to Disney+ in 2020, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier reunites Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier with Sam Wilson/Falcon, as played by Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie in the Captain America and Avenger film series.
The series will take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which opens up the narrative to a lot of unexplored territory. The pair will go up against villain Baron Helmut Zero, last seen in Captain America: Civil War, and they’ll get some unexpected allies, like Peggy Carter’s niece. The action from Marvel Studios begins late 2020.
NOT: ROGUE TRIP
In Disney+’s version of Parts Unknown, journalist Bob Woodruff and his adult son Mack are heading off on a road trip to investigate the “often overlooked” corners of the world. Whether this means Thai sweatshops or Thai temples, we’re not too sure, but Rogue Trip promises to include “roguish locations”.
Being that this is a Disney+ series and not HBO, we don’t expect it to showcase nearly as much “off the beaten path” style exploration as it promises. There’s only so much bushwhacking the House of Mouse is going to warrant. It’s advertised as the family vacation “most of us are least likely to take”, and that might very well prove true if viewers don’t tune in.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
Star Wars fans have been rejoicing for the return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Emmy-Awarding winning animated series that followed Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars between the Grand Army of the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
The series will return for a seventh and final season, where along with Skywalker and Kenobi, fan favorites Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano will also appear. The series was praised for its compelling storytelling, strong voice acting, and unique insider’s perspective of the clone troopers on the ground of the skirmishes throughout the Star Wars prequels.
NOT: (RE)CONNECT
Despite its name, this isn’t a series about improving your wi-fi signal strength, adjusting your signal settings, or overall device maintenance. (Re) Connect focuses on a different family every episode that’s struggling with a particular problem, from sibling rivalry to device addiction, and seeks advice from a specialized expert.
The family is tasked with unplugging from their busy schedules and hectic lives to reconnect with the help of their guide, though it’s been undetermined what sort of “expert” the family will consult. It seems with a little bit of pixie dust, the family will realize they can confront their issue together and overcome any problem. The only issue seems to be that problems are rarely resolvable in a half hour show.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: STAR WARS: JEDI TEMPLE CHALLENGE
Take Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple and combine it with the Star Wars brand, and you get Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, a game show where contestants apply the principles of the Jedi Path (strength, patience, bravery, etc) to overcome obstacles in a Jedi Temple setting and earn the rank of Jedi Knight.
Not only does this series look to be a lot of fun, it’s hosted by Ahmed Best. Star Wars fans will know Best as the man behind Jar-Jar Binks, the character notoriously derided in the Star Wars prequels. Best has bravely opened up in recent years about his personal mental health issues surrounding being an outcast in the fandom, so it’s great to see him once again embracing the Star Wars franchise.
NOT: DISNEY’S FAIRYTALE WEDDINGS
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like getting engaged or married at the Happiest Place on Earth, prepare to see behind the glitz and glamour of a Disney Destination wedding. You’ll get a rare peak at the planning and presentation from various parks around the world, from Florida to Tokyo.
It’s hard to view wedding-based series and not think of the stress and struggle behind the Big Day, but amidst the special performances, dazzling locations, and heartstring-tugging stories, Disney+ will do its best to make you forget all about burnt out bridezillas.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: MONSTERS AT WORK
Returning to one of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved franchises, Monsters, Inc., Monsters at Work will once again reunite Billy Crystal and John Goodman as the voices behind Mike and Sulley, the hilarious professional Scarers at Monsters, Inc. from the hit film.
The series focuses on Tyler Tuskmon (Ben Feldman), an entry-level employee of Monsters, Inc. which now uses children’s laughter instead of screams to power Monstropolis. Tuskmon hopes to one day be put on the factory Laugh Floor as a Jokester alongside his idols Mike and Sulley, if his clumsiness doesn’t get in the way of his success.
NOT: MUPPETS NOW
We were very excited when a new Muppets series was announced at D23, bringing in Josh Gad and the creators of Once Upon A Time to pen a six-part scripted series. It seemed like the right creative team was in place, similar to when Jason Segel helped reinvigorate the franchise with the 2011 film.
However, that series was cancelled, and a new “unscripted” series was installed in its place, which makes us less excited. On the one hand, it could prove to be a risk that pays off, on the other hand, it could turn out like Muppets Most Wanted in 2014. We’re more excited about the Jim Hensen Company’s alien talk show Earth to Ned, where alien puppets interview celebrity guests, than this project.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: INK AND PAINT
As part of a number of series pulling back the curtain behind the House of Mouse, Disney+ is premiering Ink and Paint in 2020, an eight part documentary series celebrating the animators that have been the unsung heroes behind countless Disney classics.
It promises to be the Hidden Figures of its genre, showcasing the talents of the women that were tasked with creating, drawing, and coloring some of the most recognizable Disney characters. An additional shout out goes to Prop Culture, another Disney+ series that will showcase the prop department behind Disney classics like Pirates of the Caribbean and Kirby the Love Bug.
NOT: CHIP ‘N’ DALE
The iconic Disney characters Chip and Dale have had many incarnations over their 70+ years of jocularity, and now Disney+ is going to broadcast one more with the new series Chip ’n’ Dale. The worrisome Chip and the adventurous Dale will find themselves living in a big city, getting into all sorts of shenanigans.
While we like the fact that it’s animated by French studio Xilam Animation, we’re having trouble seeing why it was created in the first place when the superior Chip ’n’ Dale Rescue Rangers is already on Disney+ and beloved by children and adults alike. How is this expected to top Chip and Dale dressed like Magnum P.I. and Indiana Jones, heading up a crime-fighting team of fellow nature animals?
