Will “Black Widow” Make Disney+ Premier Access?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via DisneyFanatic.com

We all know it’s been an interesting year since March 2020 when COVID-19 rocked the world… and continues to keep us on our toes. Theaters took a huge hit, but it seems like they are slowly but surely beginning to welcome more and more guests back. Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon recently hit select theaters and also released via Disney+ Premier Access. The question now is how will Disney release their next big film, Black Widow? It looks like Disney has yet to make a decision.

As reported by WhatOnDisneyPlus: “The next big movie release on Disney’s movie calendar is Marvel’s “Black Widow”, which is due to be released in cinemas on May 7th. During a Bloomberg interview with Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who spoke about the reopening of Disneyland in California at the end of April, he was asked about the release of “Black Widow” in theatres and on Disney+ Premier Access.”

Chapek is quoted: “Our situation and our conditions change. Just a few weeks ago, theaters in New York and Los Angeles weren’t even open. Now, all of a sudden they’re open, so we’re waiting to see how prospective theater goers respond to these reopenings. We’re going to remain flexible. We’ll make the call probably at the last minute in terms of how these films come to market, whether it’s Black Widow or any other title.” Chapek goes on the say: “We love the theatrical window. We think it’s important for building our franchises. At the same time, we don’t think it’s the only way to do it. … We’ll see what happens over the next couple of months. So much is changing, it’s such a dynamic environment. It’s really hard to predict what’s going to happen with consumer behavior in the next month as it comes to re-emergence back into the world of normal. We’ll be watching the call carefully and make the call when we have to.”

It looks like we’ll have to wait last minute to find out how Black Widow will debut. It’s interesting to note that Warner Brothers and Universal have already laid out their plans for 2021. We’ll just have to wait and see if Disney+ Premier Access carries on for Disney’s new films.

Director Announced for Disney+ Horror Series Based on R.L. Stine Novel

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Disney previously announced that a new 8-episode Horror Series will be arriving on Disney+ based on R.L. Stine’s “Just Beyond” novel series. This popular muddle-grade horror book is a popular series, particularly for middle-school ages. Well, now a Director has been announced for the series!

As reported by WhatsOnDisneyPlus: “Director Marc Webb has joined the Disney+ series, and production is taking place in Atlanta, Georgia. Marc Webb has previously directed several big blockbuster films, including Marvel’s “Amazing Spider-Man” and “Amazing Spider-Man 2” plus “500 Days of Summer”.  He has also been a director and executive producer on many series, including “The Code”, “The Society”, and “Why Women Kill”.”

The graphic novel’s official description says: Middle school feels like the worst place imaginable, but for Jess, Josh, and Marco, their school may actually be the worst place in this world…or any other! After a chance encounter with a deadly creature stalking the school halls, these three unsuspecting students are whisked away to a horrifying realm beyond the school boiler room where they must unravel a terrifying mystery. Can they save the kids they find there and escape themselves, or will they be forever trapped “Just Beyond”?

New Character Posters for “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier”, New “Legends” Trailer Released for Disney+

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Check out the new character posters for Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” featuring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier, Daniel Brühl as Zemo, and Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter. 

The all-new, six-episode series streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning March 19th.

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And check out this new “Lengends” trailer for “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier”:

In Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, who came together in the final moments of “Avengers: Endgame,” team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience. The series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is head writer. 

Video Game Interactivity to Disney+?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via wdwnt.com

As more homes “cut the cord” by disconnecting from cable television and satellite providers, viewers have turned to streaming services like Disney+. Streaming services put a nearly endless amount of content at our fingertips, but lack one thing: interactivity. A Disney patent application published March 4, 2021 would bring new levels of interactivity to nearly any streaming service.

The patent application details the difficulties involved in adding interactivity to video content. Usually, interactivity is added by coding a container that layers game-like features over the streaming video. The issue with this method is that the container code must be rewritten to add new features.

Some app developers create interactive video experiences, but the Disney patent application states that apps lead to “brand confusion” and may be hampered by underpowered user devices such as tablets or smartphones.

The “Cloud-based Image Rendering for Video Stream Enrichment” patent application offers a fix in the form of a video enrichment unit that takes in the stream, adds interactivity based on user preferences, then presents the interactive content to the viewer.

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Fig. 1 gives an overview of how streaming video is enriched. The patent states that a stream “may include only the generic and predetermined content inserted into video stream (130) by content provider (114).” The real magic happens when the video enrichment unit is allowed to do its thing.

“For example, where video stream (130) is a broadcast of a sporting event, and one of user profiles (124a-124c) corresponding to a user of one of non-interactive video player(s) (120) includes data identifying a favorite team of that user, team colors and/or a team logo may be included in lightly enhanced video stream (142) as basic graphical overlays.”

U.S. Patent Application 2021/0067844 A1

The user profile aspect is unique. Many streaming services allow for multiple profiles. The Disney device reads a profile and presents interactive content that is relevant to the selected viewer.

By offloading processing requirements from the streaming device (Apple TV, Roku, smart televisions) to the video enrichment unit, interactive 3D objects, quizzes, games, and polls are possible. Such interactive features would allow viewers to “collaboratively participate in providing feedback and/or selecting additional video enhancements for rendering and insertion” into the the customizable video segments.

This interactive feedback could be used to cast votes on shows such as American Idol or to guess which Jedi would appear during The Mandalorian finale. Disney could easily license the technology to other streaming services.

In October 2020, Disney announced that it is shifting its focus to streaming. This new patent application could shed light on the scope of Disney’s streaming plans.

Additional recent Disney patent applications include:

  • Multimedia Show System
  • “Smart” Merchandise Display
  • Virtual Puppeteering System
  • Robotic Motion Vibration Suppression System

Casting Details for Disney+ Original Pinocchio Released

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

New casting details have been revealed for the upcoming Disney+ Original live-action movie “Pinocchio”.

This new film will leverage state-of-the-art CGI to bring Pinocchio to life. A living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy in a musical remake of the Disney animated classic.

Robert Zemeckis will be directing the film, and Tom Hanks will be starring in it as Geppetto.  Luke Evans will also be playing the role of the Coachman in the film.

According to the THR, Cynthia Erivo will be playing “The Blue Fairy” in the film, along with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth playing the title character of Pinocchio.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be playing the voice of Jiminy Cricket and Keegan-Michael Key as the voice of Honest John.

A new character called Sofia The Seagull will also be introduced in the film and will be played by Lorraine Bracco as the voice of Sofia the Seagull.

No release date has yet been announced on when “Pinocchio” will be coming to Disney+.  Production will begin on the film in the UK next month.