Disney+: A Comprehensive Guide to All Its Programming (So Far)
Disney will officially enter the streaming wars in the fall when it launches its direct-to-consumer platform, Disney+, in November.
The platform, in the works since August 2017 when it was announced during an earnings call by Disney CEO Bob Iger, saw the media behemoth begin to pull its films from Netflix in a bid to use fare like Marvel features to incentivize potential subscribers to the service.
Make no mistake, Disney+ is the company's biggest bet yet. The service — designed as a competitor to Netflix with a monthly price of $6.99 — will be a home to Disney's massive animated feature library as well as assets from Lucasfilm (Star Wars), Pixar and Marvel, including new scripted offerings from the latter two companies.
Disney+ will be a separate service from its majority stake in Hulu and sports-themed ESPN+. While viewers will have to pay for each of the three services, they will all exist on the same platform — meaning subscribers can use the same password and credit card for each and all.
As Disney continues to reveal plans for the streaming service, here's a guide to keep track of who's running the show and all of the original series earmarked for Disney+.
THE TOP DECISION MAKERS
Kevin Mayer serves as chairman of the Disney direct-to-consumer and international. He was given oversight of the platform in March 2018 after serving as Disney's chief strategy officer. He reports to Iger.
Ricky Strauss serves as president of content and marketing at Disney+. He is charged with developing the platform's strategic content vision and has greenlight power for TV and movies. Strauss previously served as president of film marketing for Disney. He reports to Mayer.
Joe Earley is executive vp marketing and operations. The former Fox TV Group chief operating officer will lead content and brand marketing for Disney+. He will also working with its customer acquisition marketing group and oversee operations related to programming from Disney content groups including Walt Disney Studios, Disney-ABC TV Group and Pixar Animation, Marvel and Lucasfilm as well as third-party entities. Earley reports to Strauss.
Agnes Chu is senior vp content. She oversees programming for the streaming service and previously worked in story and franchise development at Walt Disney Imagineering and as a vp in the office of CEO Iger. Chu reports to Strauss.
Michael Paull is president of Disney Streaming Services and oversees design, development and operation of Disney's DVOD business, including Disney+. He reports to Mayer.
SCRIPTED ORIGINALS
The larger plan is to include content from Disney assets like Marvel and Lucasfilm — and newly acquired Fox asset National Geographic — on the Disney+ platform. Those will join a rapidly growing roster of scripted originals, below.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian | Expected to premiere in 2019, the drama takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi and before the villainous First Order rose to replace the Empire. Jon Favreau has described it as following "the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic." The series has booked a number of high-profile directors, including Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow and Star Wars: The Clone Saga's Dave Filoni. Favreau executive produces with Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson and Filoni. Pedro Pascal leads a cast that includes Gina Carano, Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, Ming Na and Werner Herzog, among others. The series, consisting of eight episodes, has completed production and will be available at launch.
Star Wars: Rogue One prequel | Diego Luna will reprise his role as rebel spy Cassian Andor and Alan Tudyk will again voice K-2S0 for the live-action series, which is set during the early days of the Rebellion and ahead of the events of Rogue One. It will debut in the second year of the service.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars | The animated series has been revived on Disney+ with a 12-episode order. Clone Wars — set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in the Star Wars timeline — ran for five seasons on Cartoon Network. It featured characters from the movie franchise, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, and introduced new ones to the canon, including clone trooper Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi padawan. A few episodes for a potential sixth season were already in the works and completed and released as a special "Lost Missions." Available in February 2020.
Untitled Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi series | Ewan McGregor, who played the Jedi master in the Episodes I-III, will play Obi-Wan again in a third live-action show set in the Star Wars universe for the platform. All the scripts for the series are written, Kathleen Kennedy told D23 attendees in August, with production set to begin in 2020.
High School Musical: The Musical | The 10-episode foray, available at launch, is based on the Emmy-winning franchise and will be shot as a docu-style series and follow a group of students at East High who stage a performance of High School Musical for their winter theater production, only to realize that as much drama happens offstage as onstage. Every episode will feature a new rendition of a song from High School Musical as well as an original song. The series will be executive produced by Tim Federle (Ferdinand) and Oliver Goldstick (Pretty Little Liars), with the latter on board as showrunner. HSM executive producers Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush also exec produce the series. Relative newcomer Joshua Bassett stars.
Monsters at Work | An animated series based on the Monsters, Inc. Pixar franchise will also be among the Disney+ offerings. Expected to debut in 2020, the series picks up six months after the original movie with the power plant at its center now harvesting the laughter of children to fuel the city of Monstropolis. The series follows Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman), an eager and talented mechanic on the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team who dreams of working on the Laugh Floor alongside Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman). Other original voice stars John Ratzenberger, Jennifer Tilly and Bob Peterson are set to return and will be joined by franchise newcomers Ben Feldman (Superstore), Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Henry Winkler (Barry), Lucas Neff (Raising Hope), Alanna Ubach (Coco), Stephen Stanton (Star Wars Resistance) and Aisha Tyler (Archer).
Marvel's Loki | Tom Hiddleston is expected to reprise his role as fan-favorite MCU character Loki in the six-episode live-action series that will follow the trickster and shape-shifter as he pops up throughout human history as an unlikely influencer on historical events. As revealed at D23, the series will answer the question of where Loki went after disappearing in Avengers: Endgame. Michael Waldron will write the pilot, serve as series creator and exec produce. It will premiere in 2021.
Marvel's WandaVision | Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen are expected to reprise their big-screen characters as Vision and Scarlet Witch in the series. Jac Schaeffer, one of the writers behind Captain Marvel, will run point on the series that will focus on the two integral members of the Avengers. She will pen the pilot and exec produce the series. Available in the second year of Disney+. As revealed at D23, the series is described as "half classic sitcom, half MCU spectacular." Thor grad Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy Lewis in the series, which has also enlisted Kathryn Hahn and Randall Park. Hahn will play a "noisy neighbor," while Park will reprise his role as FBI agent and Scott Lang's parole officer, Jimmy Woo. Due in 2021.
Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their roles as Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the miniseries, which has Malcolm Spellman (Empire) set to pen the script. Emily Van Camp and Daniel Bruhl will reprise their Marvel roles as Zemo and Sharon Carter, respectively. Wyatt Russell (AMC's Lodge 49) will play U.S. Agent John Walker. Due in 2020.
Marvel's What If …? | An animated series, based on the Marvel Comics title. Each episode will explore a pivotal moment in the MCU and "turn it on its head." Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said the first episode will re-examine the Captain America origin story, only with Peggy Carter receiving the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. Premiering in year one. Countless stars from the MCU will lend their voices to the animated show. Due in 2021.
Marvel's Ms. Marvel | British writer Bisha K. Ali will write and serve as showrunner on the series, based on the acclaimed comic about teenager Kamela Khan, who broke ground by becoming Marvel's first Muslim character to lead her own comics title. Her identity as a Pakistani-American living in a religious family in New Jersey whilst trying to find her own way has been a major focus of the stories. Her powers have been described as polymorphous, meaning she has the ability to stretch and change her shape.
Marvel's She-Hulk | The series will be part of Marvel's Phase 4, which includes Falcon and Winter Soldier, WandaVision, Loki, What If ..., Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight and She Hulk. She-Hulk, aka attorney Jennifer Walters and the cousin to Bruce Banner, is a hero whose blood transfusion was responsible for her powers. She was the last major Marvel character created by Stan Lee. After her comic series ended after two years in the early '80s, she became a member of both the Avengers and Fantastic Four. The She-Hulk series arrives at Disney+ after ABC tried developing the character for broadcast back in 2012 with Guillermo del Toro attached.
Marvel's Moon Knight | The character started as a good guy in 1975's Werewolf by Night No. 23 and is the vigilante alter ego of mercenary Marc Spector, but it’s actually more complicated than that: Spector also has a couple of other alter egos (millionaire Steven Grant and cab driver Jake Lockley) that may or may not be separate, alternate personalities, and the same may be true of Khonshu, the Egyptian deity who is either guiding Spector through his costumed adventures or a figment of Spector’s imagination. In recent years, another persona has emerged: “Mr. Knight,” a police consultant who dresses in all white and wears a mask while solving unusual crimes.
Diary of a Female President | The live-action comedy is the first Disney+ series to hail from an outside studio (CBS TV Studios). Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez will exec produce the 10-episode series that is told from the narration of her diary and follows a Cuban-American 12-year-old girl (played by Tess Romero of Blindspot) as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and her journey to becoming the future President of the United States. Rodriguez will have a recurring role as the adult version of the future president. Charlie Bushnell, Selenis Leyva and Michael Weaver co-star. Ilana Pea (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) created the original concept and will serve as writer and executive producer. Robin Shorr (The Carmichael Show) will serve as showrunner and exec produce alongside Rodriguez and her CBS TV Studios-based I Can and I Will banner topper Emily Gipson. Rodriguez will also direct the pilot. The series will launch in January.
Lizzie McGuire | The new live-action comedy, from original series creator Terri Minsky, will see Hilary Duff reprise her titular role as Lizzie, now a 30-year-old millennial navigating life in New York City.
Book of Enchantment | Adapted from author Serena Valentino's book series, the drama will spotlight Disney villains like the Beast, Ursula and the witch from Snow White. Michael Seitzman (Quantico) will pen the script and exec produce the ABC Signature Studios entry that marks a flip of the script of ABC's beloved fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time. Update: This series has been scrapped.
Love, Simon | A series sequel to the beloved 2018 feature, set in the same world but featuring new characters. The pic's director, Greg Berlanti, is not involved with the 20th TV-produced project owing to his commitments to Warner Bros., but screenwriters Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker (This Is Us) are and will serve as showrunners. Up-and-coming actor Michael Cimino and Ana Ortiz head the cast.
The Sandlot | A sequel to the 1993 movie which will focus on the children of the original's now-grown characters. The movie's screenwriter, David Mickey Evans, is behind the reboot, and sources tell THR that the original cast is all set to reprise their roles.
Other scripted series, including a Hawkeye miniseries starring Jeremy Renner, a take on Escape to Witch Mountain and a Muppets scripted comedy are in the works. (Update: The Muppets scripted comedy is no longer moving forward.)
UNSCRIPTED SERIES
On Pointe | This six-part docuseries from Imagine Documentaries and DCTV follows students at the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center through a year of triumphs, disappointments and growing pains. Billed as the first deep look inside the school in its 85-year history, the series will also follow the students, who come from around the country and the world, as they and their families adjust to life at the school and in New York City. Imagine's Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein executive produce with DCTV's Matthew O'Neill, who will serve as showrunner. Larissa Bills produces and directs. Premiere date TBD.
Ink & Paint | The eight-episode docuseries will be based on Mindy Johnson's book Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation. Premieres in year two.
Marvel's 616 (working title) is an anthological documentary series exploring the intersection between Marvel's rich legacy of stories, characters and creators and the world outside your window. Told through the lens of a diverse group of filmmakers, each documentary will dive into the rich historical, cultural and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe. The series is produced by Marvel New Media in partnership with Supper Club. Executive produced by Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, John Cerilli, Harry Go and Sarah Amos for Marvel and David Gelb, Brian McGinn and Jason Sterman for Supper Club. Premiering in the first year.
Earthkeepers (working title) is from the award-winning creators of Chef's Table and the producers of One Lucky Elephant. It is a cinematic documentary series that centers on the adventurous lives of the people changing the way we see the animal kingdom. The episodes focus on conservationists and the animals they've devoted their career to studying, diving deep into the personal trials and professional breakthroughs of protecting the planet's most endangered species. The series is executive produced by Brian McGinn, Jason Sterman and David Gelb for Supper Club and Cristina Colissimo and Jordana Glick-Franzheim for Wellworth Pictures. Premieres in year two.
Be Our Chef asks the question: What if your family had the chance to create the next great Disney Parks dish? Hosted by Angela Kinsey (The Office), Be Our Chef invites families from diverse backgrounds to join a positive and playful Disney-inspired cooking competition at Walt Disney World. In each episode, two families will participate in a themed challenge based on their family traditions and the magic of Disney. The finalists will apply what they have learned to create a dish that represents their family through a Disney lens. The winner's magical food creation will become a signature dish or treat served at Walt Disney World. Be Our Chef is produced by INE Entertainment with Eric Day and Mark Koops serving as producers. Coming in year one.
Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies (working title) is an anthology series that takes a unique look at beloved films through the props and costumes (now modern "artifacts") that made them unique — from the craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them and the collectors/archives who own and cherish them. The show will be hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan. Among the films featured in the first eight episodes are Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Produced by ABC Studios and executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan. Available in year one.
Encore! is from executive producer Kristen Bell (The Good Place), who brings together former castmates of a high school musical, tasking them with re-creating their original performance in a high school reunion like no other. Emotions run high as the former students face faded friendships, former flames, self-doubt and killer choreography. Through it all, these unlikely groups of friends — with the help of Broadway's best — just might pull off a standing-ovation-worthy performance of beloved musicals like The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Annie and more. Created by Jason Cohen and executive produced by Cohen, Bell, Alycia Rossiter, Will Gluck, Richard Schwartz, Jim Roush and Chris Wagner. Available at launch.
Marvel's Hero Project reveals the remarkable, positive change several young heroes are making in their own communities. These inspiring kids have dedicated their lives to selfless acts of bravery and kindness, and now, Marvel celebrates them as the true super heroes they are. Produced by Marvel New Media in partnership with Maggievision Productions. Executive produced by Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, Liza Wyles and Sarah Amos for Marvel and Maura Mandt and John Hirsch for MaggieVision Productions. Available on day one.
(Re)Connect features, in each episode, one family with a modern day, relatable issue that's driving a wedge between them. Issues range from workaholic parents, overly competitive siblings, technology addiction or a family secret that has recently been revealed. All of these families have reached a breaking point, and it's time for them to disconnect from their busy lives, devices and outside influences in order to address their issues head-on. With the help of a specialized expert, each family will go on a unique journey that organically ties to the issues they are facing in order to confront the family's dilemma head-on. Can they finally come together as a family to overcome their obstacles … and reconnect? Produced by Milojo Productions and Talos Films. Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa and Albert Bianchini of Milojo Productions, and Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami of Talos Films serve as executive producers. Premiering in year one.
Rogue Trip is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture — the roguish, often misunderstood and frequently overlooked corners of the world whose hidden corners surprise, amaze and inspire. This is the family vacation most of us are unlikely to take — but we do so vicariously with the intrepid Bob Woodruff and his 27-year-old doppelgänger son, Mack. Executive produced by Jeanmarie Condon and Mack and Bob Woodruff for Lincoln Square Productions. Available in year one.
Shop Class (working title) is a competition series that features teams of inventive students who are tasked with designing, building and testing new contraptions. In each episode, a panel of experts will rate their work based on engineering, design and the final test of the build. In the last episode, one team will be named Shop Class Champs. John Stevens and Spike Feresten of Hangar 56 Media and Richard Rawlings of Production Monkey are producing. Premiering in the first year.
The Imagineering Story chronicles the 65-year-plus history of Walt Disney Imagineering with parallel storylines of the people, the craft and the business. Created by Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated director and producer Leslie Iwerks, the series includes exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from Disney's parks around the world. Produced by Iwerks & Co. and directed by Leslie Iwerks. Available at launch. Angela Bassett serves as narrator.
Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 is a docuseries that offers a high-access, "raw" look at the making of Frozen 2, the sequel to the 2013 smash, as Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee put it. The series will offer a look at how artists, animators and the cast bring the sequel to life. Available in year one.
An untitled Pixar series will go behind the scenes at the animation studio's headquarters in Emeryville, California.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum | The National Geographic series, originally developed for its linear channel, will find the Jurassic Park and Thor: Ragnarok star taking a seemingly everyday object and revealing the "astonishing connections, fascinating science and big ideas" behind it. It is produced by Nutopia. Premiering on Nov. 12.
Magic of the Animal Kingdom | A docuseries (and piece of Disney corporate synergy) that takes viewers behind the scenes with the animal-care experts, veterinarians and biologists at Disney's Animal Kingdom park and the SeaBase aquarium at Epcot. Premiering in year one.
Behind the Attraction | The 10-episode docuseries will explore the history of Disney attractions and destinations — how they came to be and how they've changed over time — and feature interviews with Disney imagineers and others who make the attractions come to life. The show comes from Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia's Seven Bucks Productions and The Nacelle Company; Johnson, Garcia, Seven Bucks' Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Kevin Hill and Nacelle's Brain Volk-Weiss, Robin Henry and Cisco Henson executive produce. Volk-Weiss will direct. Premiere date TBD.
Disney's Fairytale Weddings | The former Freeform series will move to Disney+ and continue to give viewers a look at some of the wedding and engagement celebrations at Disney parks around the world — including surprise guests and performances and heartfelt love stories. The show comes from Freeform Studios and is executive produced by Ann Lewis Roberts and Simon Lythgoe. Past episodes will be available at launch, with new installments set to premiere in 2020.
FEATURE FILMS
Lady & the Tramp I Disney has had major successes with live-action remakes of animated classics such as The Jungle Book and Beautify and the Beast, and will be moving that formula to streaming with its adaptation of the 1955 love story about two dogs from different sides of the tracks. Tessa Thompson voice stars Lady and Justin Theroux is voicing the Tramp. Kiersey Clemons, Thomas Mann and Janelle Monae also star in the film from The Lego Ninjago Movie co-director Charlie Bean. Lady and the Tramp will be available on the streaming service at the time of its launch.
Noelle I Anna Kendrick stars as Santa Claus' daughter Noelle in the Christmas story with a female-centric twist. Bill Hader also stars, in the film. Did You Hear About the Morgans? filmmaker Marc Lawrence wrote the script and is directing. Noelle will premiere Nov. 12; it was originally going to be released theatrically on Nov. 1 before being earmarked for Disney+.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made I The adaptation of the children's book series by Stephan Pastis centers on the 11-year-old boy who believes he is the best detective in town. He runs the detective agency, Total Failure Inc. with his partner, a 1,200-pound (and imaginary) polar bear. Spotlight filmmaker Tom McCarthy is directing the project, with Jim Whitaker producing. Ophelia Lovibond, Chloe Coleman and Craig Robinson star. Timmy Failure will be released in the first year of Disney+. Due in early 2020.
Stargirl I The film, which will hit the streamer sometime in its first year, is based on the 2000 YA book from Jerry Spinelli and centers on a homeschooled teenage girl who enrolls in an Arizona high school. Her non-conformity alters the ecosystem of the student body and captures the heart of a star-struck boy. After the student body turns on the girl, the boy tells her to go against her nature and try to fit in. Julia Hart directs from a script by Kristin Hahn. Grace VanderWaal, Graham Verchere, Maximiliano Hernandez and Giancarlo Esposito star. Due in early 2020.
Togo I The action-adventure film stars Willem Dafoe and centers on a famous and dangerous sled-dog relay. Invincible director Ericson Core is at the helm of the project. Tom Flynn wrote the script for Togo, which will hit streaming service in December. Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer, Michael Greyeyes, Michael McElhatton and Michael Gaston round out the cast. Kim Zubick is the producer and Tom Flynn wrote the screenplay.
Phineas & Ferb: Candace Against the Universe | Originally developed as a theatrical feature, the movie will follow the two title characters as they hatch a plan to save their sister after she's abducted by aliens — even if she's enjoying the time away from her pesky little brothers. Premieres in the first year.
LIBRARY TITLES
The Simpsons | The longest-running primetime scripted series in TV history will make its exclusive SVOD home on Disney+. All 30 prior seasons will be available on day one, representing almost 10 percent of the 7,500 TV episodes the service plans to have available when it debuts. New episodes will continue to air on the Fox broadcast network.
Feature films available at launch include Star Wars episodes I-VII and Rogue One, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, The Incredibles, Cars, Wall-E, Up, Inside Out, Ratatouille, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Moana, Mary Poppins, The Princess Diaries, The Rocketeer, Iron Man, Free Solo and Steamboat Willie, among others. Disney plans to have all Pixar and MCU films on the service within the first year. Disney also announced in August at D23 that all of its animated feature films that were previously in its "vault" will be available to stream when the service launches. Pixar's library will as well. Avengers: Endgame will be available to stream starting Dec. 11.
TV series at launch, in addition to The Simpsons, will include Andi Mack, Boy Meets World, Raven's Home, DuckTales (1987 and 2016 versions), Kim Possible, Marvel's animated Guardians of the Galaxy and Ulitmate Spider-Man, Amazing Planet, Dr. K's Exotic Animals, Brain Games, One Strange Rock and Wicked Tuna. Malcolm in the Middle (produced by the now Disney-owned 20th TV) will debut during year one.
SHORTS
Muppets Now | The shortform series features Kermit the Frog and company alongside celebrity guests in a forum described as featuring a startling silliness and heartfelt fun. Available in 2020.
Forky Asks a Question | The collection of shorts from Pixar and based on the Toy Story 4 favorite character. Those will be available at Disney+ launch on Nov. 12. Tony Hale will again voice the character in the 10-episode run that explores topics including "what is love?" and "what is time?"
One Day at Disney | The docuseries, due Dec. 3, highlights the men and women who bring life to some of Disney's most beloved stories. Features employees and cast members throughout the Disney company worldwide. The 52-episode shortform series will launch with a feature-length documentary. From Endeavor Content and exec producers Michael Antinoro and David Chamberlin and produced by Victoria Chamlee.
Bookmark this page as THR will continue to update it as Disney+ continues to make content deals.
