Before we leave November, I have to wish Mickey Mouse a happy 90th birthday! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 90 years since he first appeared in Steamboat Willie in 1928- he hasn’t aged at all! Disney movies were my favourite growing up and now as a parent I love to watch them with my family. My inbox has been full of Disney movie news this past few weeks so I though I’d write a round up of five Disney films that we’re excited to see in 2018 and 2019:
2018 Disney Film Releases
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Friday 30th November
My kids have been talking about the new Wreck it Ralph film for months- there have been lots of heated discussions over which Disney Princesses should be in the film! So I can’t wait to take them to finally see it.
Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) navigate the vast and dynamic world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s game, Sugar Rush.
I can’t wait to see the Princesses in action, especially as in this film they are the heroes doing the rescuing, “There’s a big strong man in need of rescue!”
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET LOADS IN UK CINEMAS THIS FRIDAY – 30TH NOVEMBER
Watch the trailer below:
Mary Poppins Returns: Friday 21st December
Over the years there have been many rumours about a Mary Poppins sequel. Then in early 2017, production began on Mary Poppins Returns. I have been so excited since then. When Disney released the first look at Mary Poppins Returns it felt like we had a long wait ahead of us. Now I can’t believe that we’re only weeks away. For me it is the film of Christmas 2018. Mary Poppins was one of my favourite childhood films, we love the books and the Mary Poppins Musical stage show and now I feel my kids will have a Mary Poppins film for their generation.
In Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt (“A Quiet Place,” “The Girl on the Train”) stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.
Mary Poppins Returns is directed by Rob Marshall (“Into the Woods,” “Chicago”). The screenplay is by David Magee (“Life of Pi”) and the screen story is by Magee & Rob Marshall & John DeLuca (“Into the Woods”) based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are John DeLuca, p.g.a., Rob Marshall, p.g.a. and Marc Platt, p.g.a. (“La La Land”) with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer. The music score is by Marc Shaiman (“Hairspray”) and the film features all new original songs with music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman (“Smash”) and Shaiman. The film also stars Ben Whishaw (“Spectre”) as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer (“Hugo”) as Jane Banks; Julie Walters (“Harry Potter” films) as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”) as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes, Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.
MARY POPPINS RETURNS IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS 21 DECEMBER
Watch the trailer below:
2019 Disney Film Releases
Toy Story 4: June 2019
I was sixteen when the first Toy Story film was released. Thankfully I had a younger sister so I had an excuse to see it! Toy Story 2 was released in 2000 just a few years before Danny was born. He grew up watching the Toy Story and Toy Story 2 movies on DVD. When Toy Story 3 was released in 2010 he was so excited to get to see it in the cinema and Rebecca was just old enough to watch it too while I sobbed all the way through it holding a toddler Caitlyn. Now Toy Story 4 will be Izzy’s film! I must make sure she watches the previous films ready to see Toy Story 4. It’s going to be an emotional one (yes, even more so than usual) so make sure you pack tissues!
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
#ToyStory4
TOY STORY 4 RELEASES IN UK CINEMAS ON 21ST JUNE 2019
Watch the teaser trailers below:
See the brand new trailer here:
The Lion King (Live Action): July 2019
We took my younger sister to see the original animated Lion King in 1994. It’s such a beautiful film but it always makes me sob. The “live action” film looks even more sumptuous and I can’t wait to take the kids to see it (but will definitely need lots of tissues).
Lions rule the African savanna in The Lion King, which welcomes Donald Glover (Atlanta, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as future king Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Dreamgirls, Lemonade visual album) as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Field of Dreams) as Simba’s wise and loving father, Mufasa, reprising his iconic performance from Disney’s 1994 animated classic. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Twelve Years a Slave, Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange) was called on to portray Simba’s villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard (Juanita, Marvel’s Luke Cage) portrays Simba’s no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary (OWN’s Tyler Perry’s The Paynes, Apple’s Vital Signs) fills the shoes of Young Simba, a confident cub who can’t wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph (NBC’s Hairspray Live, Broadway’s The Lion King) brings tough cub Young Nala to life.
Every kingdom comes with a trustworthy advisor or two. John Kani (Coriolanus, Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War) was cast as the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliver (HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) was tapped as hornbill Zazu, Mufasa’s loyal confidant. When Simba goes into exile, he relies on two newfound friends—Seth Rogen (Sausage Party, Neighbors) lends his comedic chops to naïve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street, FX’s American Horror Story) joins the cast as know-it-all meerkat Timon.
THE LION KING IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS JULY 2019
Watch the trailer below:
Artemis Fowl: August 2019
Danny and Caitlyn enjoy the Artemis Fowl books so are very happy to see it’s being made into a movie. I used to read the books along with Danny when he was younger but never fully got into them as I wasn’t hearing the whole story. Therefore I’m looking forward to watching the film to understand more of what Artemis Fowl is about.
Based on the first book of Eoin Colfer’s best-selling series of the same name, and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Disney’s Artemis Fowl has begun principal photography and will film in England, Northern Ireland and Ho Chi Minh City. The book was adapted for the screen by award-winning playwright Conor McPherson. Descended from a long line of criminal masterminds, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance. Newcomer Ferdia Shaw plays the title character, with Lara McDonnell (Love, Rosie) playing Captain Holly Short, a feisty, spirited elf, who is kidnapped by Artemis for a ransom of fairy gold. In the underground fairy world of Haven City, Academy Award®-winner Dame Judi Dench (Skyfall) plays Commander Root, the leader of the reconnaissance division of the LEPrecon, the fairy police force, and Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast) plays Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf, who attempts to help rescue Holly. Above ground, Nonso Anozie (Cinderella) plays the Fowl family bodyguard, named Butler, and Tamara Smart (The Worst Witch) plays Butler’s niece Juliet. Miranda Raison (Murder on the Orient Express) plays Artemis’ mother Angeline.
Other members of the cast include Josh McGuire (About Time), Hong Chau (Downsizing), Nikesh Patel (London Has Fallen), Michael Abubakar (Trust Me), Jake Davies (A Brilliant Young Mind), Rachel Denning (Doctor Who), Matt Jessup (Dread), Simone Kirby (Alice Through the Looking Glass), Sally Messham (Allied) and Adrian Scarborough (Les Misérables). Branagh brings back several members of his creative team, including Haris Zambarloukos, director of photography; Jim Clay, production designer; Patrick Doyle, composer; and Carol Hemming, hair and makeup designer—all of whom worked on Branagh’s 2017 directorial project, Murder on the Orient Express. The costume designer is Sammy Sheldon Differ (Assassin’s Creed), and the film will be edited by Martin Walsh (Wonder Woman).
The film is produced by Kenneth Branagh and Judy Hofflund, with Matthew Jenkins and Angus More Gordon serving as executive producers.
ARTEMIS FOWL IS RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS AUGUST 2019
I’m a little bit sad that there isn’t a new Star Wars film out this Christmas time as it had become one of our traditions! But the best things come to those who wait and Star Wars: Episode IX will be out in December 2019…
Which Disney movies are your favourite? Which upcoming Disney films are you most looking forward to?
