Disney Announces Monumental $1.5 Billion Dollar Investment Into Epic Games

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Video Game fans get excited! Epic Games, the popular owner of Fortnite and Rocket League, is expecting a long-term infusion of cash from none other than the Walt Disney Company.

Although a partnership has existed previously between the two companies, CEO Bob Iger spilled the beans on a a huge investment that Disney will be making, taking a stake in Epic Games, cementing their video game partnership for years to come.

The popular gaming experience has worked with Disney previously to bring big names from Star Wars, Marvel, and even Jack Skellington to life, but moving forward, Disney will be a much more prevalent feature in the Battle Royale feature.

As the newest season of Fortnite has cemented many exciting collabs moving forward, including Rocket League (owned by Epic Games), Fornite Festival, and LEGO Fortnite, despite outward appearances, a large-scale partnership between the two isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.

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Taking advantage of a significant opportunity in the gaming business, Disney has announced, as part of their quarterly earnings call, that they will be injecting a whopping $1.5 billion into the Unreal Engine-based Fortnite moving forward.

Although not necessarily ground-breaking news, the investment represents a large-scale shift in Dsiney’s portfolio. Although previous games featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and other famous Disney characters have made their presence in the gaming community, owning a stake in Fortnite, arguably the most competitive and popular video game environment, will help diversify Disney’s already exhaustive portfolio.

Among news of a sequel to Moana and much more, The Walt Disney Company has made it clear that they are dedicated to bringing the magic of Disney through a partnership between Disney CEO Bob Iger and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.

Jedi Survivor EA

Interestingly enough, Fortnite won’t be the only area of focus for Disney and Epic Games. CNBC states, “the media giant will work with the Fortnite gaming studio on new games and an entertainment universe.”

As Fortnite has seen an expansion in its current gaming offering, an entertainment universe feels right up their alley as the game evolves, especially considering the amount of intellectual property that The Walt Disney Company owns.

As The Walt Disney Company continues its march towards an evolving business, it seems that Bob Iger is very much aware of the lucrative and promotional availbility regarding a partnership of this magnitude with Epic Games. Whether it be Fortnite, an entertainment universe that includes new gaming experiences, there’s much to look forward to for fans of older games such as Disney Epic Mickey or Kingdom Hearts.

With the accompaniment of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, properties such as Marvel and Star Wars, the ability to create new and amazing worlds, as seen by Portkey Games’ 2023 release of Hogwarts Legacy, is now a real possibility for Disney.

Disney Announces ‘Moana 2’; Reveals Trailer and 2024 Release Date

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Fans of the highly adored film Moana will be thrilled to know that a sequel is coming this year!

In a shocking announcement during today’s Quarterly earnings call, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced that a Moana sequel is coming much sooner than expected. The exciting news has just arrived that the highly anticipated Moana Disney+ series will now transform into a magnificent theatrical film, set to hit the big screens later this year.

This incredible development comes as a delightful surprise to fans, as the previously announced Disney+ series will now take on a larger-than-life form, captivating audiences in cinema halls across the globe. In an announcement that has made waves throughout the entertainment industry, Bob Iger shared his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re turning what was a Moana TV series into a Moana feature – a theatrical release.”

This decision to reimagine the Moana Disney+ series as a theatrical film speaks volumes about the immense potential and captivating storyline that this beloved animated adventure holds. By embracing the grandeur of the big screen, Disney is providing an even greater platform to showcase the breathtaking visuals, heartfelt narrative, and enchanting characters that Moana has become synonymous with.

As fans eagerly await the release of this extraordinary film, one can’t help but imagine the immersive experience that awaits them in theaters. Thankfully, fans did get a sneak peek thanks to a teaser trailer that was revealed for the film that will be released this November!

The Moana theatrical film venture is set to be a remarkable addition to the storied lineup of Disney animated classics. Building upon the success and adoration garnered by the original Moana film, this adaptation will continue to celebrate the empowering message of self-discovery, resilience, and embracing one’s true calling.

As the release date draws closer, fans can look forward to being transported back to the enchanting world of Moana, where they will once again be swept away by the awe-inspiring adventures of the courageous and determined young heroine, Moana, and her companions. With breathtaking visuals, unforgettable music, and a heartfelt narrative that resonates with audiences of all ages, the Moana film promises to be a cinematic experience that will leave a lasting impact and rekindle the spirit of adventure within us all.

Father/Daughter Duo Jailed After Stealing Hundreds in Disney World Merchandise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Taking a Walt Disney World Resort vacation is such a magical experience for the millions of people who do it every year. There is so much to see and do! Guests can visit the four main theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are also two water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — as well as Disney Springs.

Disney Springs is a massive shopping and dining area, full of dozens of restaurants, and great Disney-themed shops like World of Disney, Art of Disney, and Goofy’s Candy Company. There are also a huge number of stores for guests to enjoy that are not Disney-themed, like Anthropologie, Basin, Tommy Bahama, and the Coca-Cola Store.

Thousands of people visit Disney Springs every day, and many of them are there with nothing but pure intentions. However, there are also those who head to the area with more nefarious plans in mind. But, thankfully, Disney security is always on the ball, ready to stop those people.

The Daily Mail shared a video, showing officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office approaching a man as he shopped in the massive World of Disney Store. Disney works with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and pays them to have officers not only in Disney Springs, but also monitoring the parks  — along with their K-9 units — at all times.

The deputies approached the man while he was shopping in World of Disney with his wife and daughter. They were then taken backstage, where the mother was informed that the man and daughter were seen, on camera, stealing merchandise from the Oakley store. The woman was told she was free to go because she was not seen on the video.

Later in the video, multiple pairs of sunglasses can be seen sitting on a box, while the officers add up how much the merchandise was worth — almost $1,500. The man and his daughter were then informed that they would not only be banned from all Disney property, but that they were also being taken to the Orange County Jail.

father daughter steal oakley disney springs

The daughter repeatedly said that it was their first day at Disney World. She also told the officers that she recently had surgery, but that had nothing to do with the theft. She also informed them that she was a first-grade teacher and that she did not want to lose her job. Unfortunately, it does not look like she thought about that BEFORE she stole the merchandise.

father daughter arrested disney springs

The daughter also tries telling police that she was merely holding the bag, but that doesn’t appear to match with what was seen on the security footage.

Disney takes cases of theft at its resorts very seriously. Another man was recently handcuffed and hauled away by Anaheim Police Officers when he was caught stealing in the Downtown Disney District of the Disneyland Resort.

Crew Member Dies on Set of Marvel’s Newest Show

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Since its November 2019 launch, Disney+ has created a number of hit shows that fans just can’t get enough of. And a lot of them are coming from Marvel Studios. First, there was WandaVision, followed by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki. Now, we also have What If…?, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, and Echo.

Disney and Marvel also have several series in development, including Secret Invasion, Ironheart, Armor Wars, and Wonder Man.

Sadly, we have learned that one of the crew members working on Wonder Man has died after an on-set accident at the CBS Radford Studios. According to Deadline, the man was working as a rigger and fell from the rafters.

A rigger working at Radford Studios in Studio City died today after falling from a catwalk, Deadline has learned. The male crew member was working on the set of Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man, but the series was not filming at the time.

The Los Angeles Police Department later confirmed the man’s death but did not immediately release his name.

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Wonder Man was set to begin production next month, after being delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes that occurred over the spring and summer of 2023. We do not know if Marvel will delay production further because of the man’s tragic death.

Shortly after news of the man’s death broke, a Marvel spokesperson shared a brief statement:

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends, and our support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this accident.”

Wonder Man Marvel

An investigation is underway and is being performed by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, also known as OSHA. OSHA typically steps in when a death occurs at any workplace.

The unnamed crew member was a member of the IATSE union — the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It is an incredibly large union, which represents those who work behind the scenes on film and television productions.

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IATSE also released a statement, saying that they were working closely with OSHA to determine exactly what happened.

“Everyone in the IA family is shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic loss. We are working to support our member’s family, and his fellow members and colleagues. Safety on set is our highest priority and we will assist Cal/OSHA in their investigation in any way that we can. If you feel unsafe on set for any reason, members can call the IATSE Safety Hotline at 844-422-9273 or use our safety info app.”

marvel studios president kevin feige desk with toys, action figures office

Wonder Man is set to star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a stuntman who gains superpowers and transforms into Wonder Man. The series will also star Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, who has also appeared in Iron Man 3 (2013) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). Demetrius Grosse will play Eric Williams, Simon’s brother, and Grim Reaper.

Ben Kingsley Shang Chi

It has also been reported that Frozen star, Josh Gad, has been cast in an undisclosed role. The series was created by Destin Daniel Cretton, who will also serve as writer and director.

Wonder Man does not currently have a release date.

Fifth Theme Park to Be Constructed at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney World will begin construction on a fifth theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in an effort to remain competitive in Central Florida, per an industry expert.

The Central Florida theme park war continues as it has since 1990 when NBCUniversal built its first theme park location in Florida to compete with the Walt Disney World Resort.

At the time of Universal’s theme park debut in the Sunshine State, Disney World was already home to three unique theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then known as Disney-MGM Studios.

In May 1999, when Universal first welcomed guests to its second theme park location in Orlando called Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Disney had already added a fourth theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, outnumbering Universal’s theme parks two to one.

Since 1999, no new theme parks have been added to either of the mega theme park resorts in Orlando. Rather, both Disney and Universal have instead chosen to fortify their existing parks with new themed lands, including a massive expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom in 2012, the creation of Avatar: The World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017, and the additions of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2018 and 2019, respectively, at Disney World.

galaxy's edge and toy story land

Universal Orlando Resort beefed up its theme parks with the additions of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure. 

But in early 2023, Universal Studios made an “epic” announcement. Though the resort hadn’t added a new theme park in years, Universal appeared to be making up for lost time.

A brand-new theme park–the third gate at Universal Studios Orlando–was in the works, and it would open in 2025. Initially, the news was not earth-shattering.

After all, it had been more than 20 years since Universal added a new theme park, and aside from Volcano Bay water park, the resort still only had two theme parks. It was time.

epic universe themed lands

In late January 2024, Universal unveiled the names of the themed lands inside Epic Universe, Universal’s massive new theme park, and it became glaringly obvious that Universal has a good shot at becoming the victor of the Central Florida theme park wars.

In addition to an amazing new theme park, Universal has also announced two new resort hotels, and the most amazing thing about them is their nightly rates, deemed reasonable by most standards, especially when compared to the nightly rates of many of Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Details about the hotels that will be part of Epic Universe were revealed this week - Rendering courtesy Loews Hotels

Walt Disney World will likely have to make a move now to keep up with Universal.

In fact, Dennis Speigel, CEO of International Theme Park Services, says that Universal’s newest addition will put things in Universal’s favor in Central Florida.

Universal Orlando Epic Universe land and details

“This is going to tilt the axis of the theme-park world, I believe, in Orlando,” Spiegel said. “This park is going to perform at enormous numbers.” He estimates that between five and six million people will visit the park during its inaugural year alone.

In 2023, Disney took steps to further the possible development of a villains-themed land at Disney World, and during the Destination D23 event in late 2023, Disney unveiled artists’ renderings of a new themed area that will replace Dinoland, U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new area will reportedly feature a “Tropical Americas” theme.

Disney Imagineer Bruce Vaughn also shared information about plans for another expansion at Magic Kingdom, calling it the “largest ever” expansion at the park that will include attractions, rides, restaurants, and other offerings.

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In September 2023, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said that the company has “a wealth of untapped stories to bring to life across our business,” which could easily mean a fifth theme park is in the works–one that could serve as the stage on which those stories could play out.

Additionally, Disney execs confirmed that there are more than 1,000 acres available on Disney World’s property that can be used for the future development of a new theme park or the expansion of an existing one at the resort.

Spiegel says he’s heard things about a fifth park at Disney World for years now, and he thinks that the announcement of Epic Universe will serve as a catalyst for Disney to finally make their move.

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“You’re going to see a big announcement,” he said. “They’re going to add a fifth park.”

As of the time of this post, Disney Company execs have yet to make the official announcement, but preparations for park expansions, along with the company’s announcement of an infusion of $60 billion into its theme parks division over the next ten years, seems to line up with that.