Disney Shifts ‘Haunted Mansion’ to Summer 2023, Sets ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ for July 2024

Naman Ramachandran The life and work of Hans Zimmer, the Oscar-winning composer of “The Lion King” and “Dune: Part One,” will be celebrated in BBC Two documentary “Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel.” The 60-minute film looks back at Zimmer’s 40-year journey from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty. It will seek to reveal the musical secrets of Zimmer over a career that includes scores for films “Rain Man,” “Pirates of The Caribbean,” “Gladiator,” “No Time To Die,” “The Dark Knight,” “Batman Begins” and “The Thin Red Line” plus the music he created for BBC Studios Natural History films, including “Planet Earth II,” “Blue Planet II” and “Frozen Planet II.”

Taika Waititi’s cast for his Apple TV+ comedy series “Time Bandits” has assembled. Led by “Friends” alum Lisa Kudrow, who is playing ‘Penelope, the series will also star Kal-El Tuck (“Unseeing Evil,” “Band in the Sand”) as Kevin; Charlyne Yi (“Knocked up,” “Paper Heart,” “The Second Act”) as Judy; Tadhg Murphy (“Conversations with Friends,” “Black Sails,” “Brassic,” “Undergods”) as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (“You Don’t know Me,” “Tomb Raider”) as Widgit; Rune Temte (“Eddie The Eagle,” “The Last Kingdom,” “Captain Marvel”) as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson (“Martyrs Lane,” “Salisbury Poisonings”) as Saffron; and Rachel House (“Heartbreak High,” “Thor Ragnarok”) as Fianna.The “Time Bandits” series “is a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd,” per Apple TV+. It takes inspiration from the 1981 film of the same name, but is its own reimagining, TheWrap has learned.Waititi directed the first two episodes of the show.“Time Bandits” is produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios and MRC Television.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Time Bandits” TV series at Apple from Taika Waititi has found its main cast, Variety has learned. Joining the series are: Lisa Kudrow (“Friends,” “The Comeback” as Penelope; Kal-El Tuck (“Unseeing Evil,” “Band in the Sand”) as Kevin; Charlyne Yi (“Knocked up,” “Paper Heart”) as Judy; Tadhg Murphy (“Conversations with Friends,” “Black Sails”) as Alto; Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (“You Don’t know Me,” “Tomb Raider”) as Widgit; Rune Temte (“The Last Kingdom,” “Captain Marvel”) as Bittelig; Kiera Thompson (“Martyrs Lane,” “Salisbury Poisonings”) as Saffron; and Rachel House (“Heartbreak High,” “Thor Ragnarok”) as Fianna.

As Mrs Doubtfire comes to the end of its huge four-week run at Manchester’s Opera House this week, it will make way for a jam-packed months of theatre, musicals and comedy throughout October in the city. Between Palace Theatre and the Opera House, there’s a whopping 10 productions to choose from - including The Lion King, Jersey Boys and Ru Paul’s Drag Race tour.

Netflix has announced The Witcher season three will be released in summer 2023.The release date was revealed during the streaming service’s TUDUM event on Saturday (September 24), in a segment presented by Geralt of Rivia actor Henry Cavill.The Witcher spin-off series, Blood Origin, also received a release date of December 25, 2022. The four-episode prequel series, set 1200 years before the events of the main show, will explore how “the first Witcher came to be”.Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) was also announced to be joining the cast as a narrator character, who plays a pivotal part “in connecting Blood Origin’s past with The Witcher’s future”.Worlds will collide.

Netflix is very much doubling-down on the popularity of their fantasy series “The Witcher” led by hunky British actor Henry Cavill as they are not only getting ready to debut the third season of the flagship show but also behind a prequel spinoff series called “The Witcher: Blood Origin” that sees actress Michelle Yeoh of “Everything All At Once” and “Shang-Chi & Legend of The Ten Rings” among the cast.

Dead & Company have confirmed their plans to formally disband in the near future, revealing today (September 23) that a farewell tour will be announced in the coming months.The supergroup – consisting of Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti – confirmed their imminent break-up in the form of a poster advertising “the final tour”. Though cities and dates are yet to be announced, the poster assures fans that “more information [is] coming soon”, and reveals that the tour will take place over the summer of 2023.“As we put the finishing touches on booking venues, and understanding that word travels fast, we wanted to be the first to let you know that Dead & Company will be hitting the road next summer for what will be our final tour,” Mayer said in a statement shared with the poster.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic After earlier hedging on whether the group might be coming to an end, Dead and Company issued a statement on social media Friday announcing a farewell tour for summer 2023. The wording of the announcement suggests that details of the tour are far from final but that group members wanted to get out ahead of the news leaking with an official declaration that Dead and Company is coming to an end. “As we put the finishing touches on booking venues, and understanding that word travels fast, we wanted to be the first to let you know that Dead & Company will be hitting the road next summer for what will be our final tour,” the statement read.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “Reservation Dogs” has been renewed for Season 3. The FX series airs exclusively on Hulu. The news comes as the critically-acclaimed series is still airing its second season. Season 2 will conclude on Sept. 28. The third season is expected to debut in 2023. “’Reservation Dogs’ continues its remarkable run with critics, fans and awards all recognizing the singular brilliance of the series created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi,” said Nick Grad, president of original programming for FX. “FX is proud to join with our partners at Hulu to order a third season featuring the amazing cast and all of the artists who deliver one of the most original, engaging and funny shows on television.”

After “Moonlight,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and “The Underground Railroad,” did anyone expect Barry Jenkins‘s next film to be… a prequel to “The Lion King“? It’s a total left-field move by Jenkins. After all, how will the director’s formal brilliance shine through all the photo-realistic CGI “Mufasa: The Lion King” will rely on?   READ MORE: ‘Lion King’ Prequel TItle Unveiled, ‘Haunted Mansion’ Adds New Cast & More [D23 Expo] Audiences won’t get an answer until the movie releases in 2024, but even then: it’s a Barry Jenkins movie, so, something to be really excited about.

Marva Hicks, the singer and actor who made her Broadway debut in 1981’s Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music and most recently appeared in 2013’s Motown The Musical, died in New York City on Sept. 16.

Disney has summarized a bulk of release dates that had made know over the weekend out of D23. What’s important to note that’s new here is that the Star Wars movie which Patty Jenkins couldn’t commit to, Rogue Squadron, is removed off its Dec. 22, 2023 release date — not shocking. TBD if that film is still in development.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Disney has removed “Rogue Squadron,” the new “Star Wars” film from director Patty Jenkins, from its release calendar. The move comes as little surprise since the tentpole, which was scheduled for Dec. 22, 2023, was taken off the studio’s production schedule in 2021. The announcement is more-or-less pro forma, as the window for “Rogue Squadron” to start filming in time to complete the movie by next December had very nearly closed. The next big-screen story in the space opera saga had already been delayed in November 2021, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with Jenkins. As part of the scheduling change, Disney set release dates for several movies, including its “Snow White” remake, starring Rachel Zegler (March 22, 2024); “Inside Out 2,” a follow-up to the emotional Pixar picture (June 14, 2024); and “The Lion King” sequel “Mufasa,” from director Barry Jenkins (July 5, 2024).

Disney‘s big event, D23 Expo 2022, is currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center and today Walt Disney Studios‘ made a big promotional push for upcoming theatrical and Disney+ lineup for feature films. The giant entertainment company revealed new details and first looks, led by their new “Lion King” prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight“), now titled “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Some of those anticipated titles include traditional animation flicks the family-friendly company is known for from Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with their live-action projects as well.

Barry Jenkins will be directing Mufasa: The Lion King, the upcoming prequel to the 2019 live-action adaptation of The Lion King.

Disney revealed details about the upcoming Haunted Mansion remake movie during the D23 Expo on Friday (September 9), including the star-studded cast!

Disney‘s big event, D23 Expo 2022, is currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center and today Walt Disney Studios‘ made a big promotional push for upcoming theatrical and Disney+ lineup for feature films. The giant entertainment company revealed new details and first looks, led by their new “Lion King” prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight“), now titled “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Some of those anticipated titles include traditional animation flicks the family-friendly company is known for from Walt Disney Animation Studios, along with their live-action projects as well.

Wilson Chapman editor Barry Jenkins is heading to Pride Rock. At D23, the acclaimed “Moonlight” director appeared on stage to officially announce “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a new prequel to the 2019 “Lion King” film. Originally announced in 2020 as a sequel to the 2019 film, “Mufasa” tells the origin story of the iconic Disney father, exploring his childhood growing up with his brother Scar. The film will feature the voice of Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as younger versions of the characters, filling in for James Earl Jones as Mufasa in both the 1994 original and the 2019 CGI remake, and Jeremy Irons and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the villainous Scar. In addition to announcing the title, exclusive preview footage of the film was shown to the audience of the D23 expo.

Carson Burton Boo! Disney revealed details from the upcoming “Haunted Mansion” remake, including new cast members like Winona Ryder, Dan Levy and Hasan Minaj during Disney’s D23 Expo on Friday. “Haunted Mansion” boasts a star-studded cast, including Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Jared Leto, Tiffany Haddish, Ryder, Jamie Lee Curtis, Levy, Minaj and Danny DeVito. Justin Simien directs the supernatural comedy film, which follows Dawson’s character Gabbie, a single mom with a nine-year-old son. Looking to start a new life, Gabbie buys a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans. When they discover the mansion is haunted, Gabbie resorts to hiring a paranormal tour guide (Stanfield), a psychic (Haddish), a priest (Wilson) and a historian (DeVito) to help exorcise her newly bought mansion. The film will feature classic references to the classic Disneyland ride, including Leto’s character of the Hatbox Ghost. Curtis will also play a character named Madame Leota.

Jenkins told the crowd in Anaheim that the movie will tell the story of how Simba’s father rose to become King of the Pridelands, with Rafiki as the narrator. While Mufasa would become a figure of wisdom to his son and to everyone in the Pridelands, he wasn’t destined for greatness and in fact came from a very rough cubhood.The teaser includes Rafiki’s narration, taking us to the “other side of the light.” He reveals that Mufasa was born “without a drop of royalty in his blood” and was forced to grow up alone.