Tim Allen Shares First Set Photo From Disney+ Series ‘The Clauses’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

A few months ago, it was announced that Disney was working on a limited series based on The Santa Clause movies. While they’re hardly considered Christmas classics, news of Tim Allen’s return as Scott Calvin/Santa Claus felt like Christmas had arrived very early.

Shortly after, it was confirmed that his co-star from The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), Elizabeth Mitchell, would also be reprising her role as Carol Newman/Mrs. Claus.

More recently, we learned that Tim Allen’s real-life daughter, 13-year-old Elizabeth Allen-Dick, had been cast as his on-screen daughter, Sandra. Now, the latest news has left us wishing the rest of the year away, seeing as the series is set to arrive on Disney+ before Christmas.

Tim Allen has taken to Twitter to share the first ever set photo from the upcoming Disney+ series, beneath a caption that reads, “Might just be a photo of Santa Claus’s office but don’t tell anyone….”. Check out Allen’s festive Twitter post below:

It sure looks like Christmas has come early, as this is clearly a shot of Santa Claus’s North Pole office, which we’ve already seen in all three The Santa Clause movies – although it looks like it’s been given a slight makeover since we last saw it in 2006 (and no doubt a good clean too).

The official title for the show is The Clauses (TBA), which makes sense given that it will focus on Scott and Carol’s family, as they struggle to raise their children, manage the unenviable task that is Christmas from the North Pole, and find an eventual replacement for Scott Calvin/Santa Claus.

Tim Allen The Santa Clause

The Clauses stars Tim Allen (Scott Calvin/Santa Claus), Elizabeth Allen-Dick (Sandra), Elizabeth Mitchell (Carol Newman/Mrs. Claus), Kal Penn (Simon Choski), Matilda Lawler (Betty), Austin Kane (Cal Calvin), Rupali Redd (Grace Choski), and Devin Bright (Noel).

The series will be directed and executive-produced by Jason Winer, who is best known for the hit US sitcom Modern Family (2009). Jack Burditt, whose name is associated with equally popular sitcoms 30 Rock (2006) and Frasier (1993), will serve as executive producer and showrunner.

Santa Claus

This isn’t the first time Disney has taken one of their own movie franchises and adapted it for Disney+ — The Mandalorian (2019), The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021), and Monsters at Work (2021) are just a few examples. Upcoming projects include Zootopia+ (2022).

The Santa Clause Trilogy is now available to stream on Disney+. The new series started shooting in March and is expected to begin streaming later this year.

“HOCUS POCUS 2”: Disney+ updates cast details

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

It’s been almost 30 years since Disney’s first Hocus Pocus film was released. Talk about staying power!

The film all about the Sanderson Sisters was well-received upon its release, but its popularity has only grown over the years, so much so, that Disney has opted for a take-two of the Sanderson Sisters saga, announcing last year that Hocus Pocus 2 will be streamable on the Disney+ platform later this year.

Hocus Pocus 2': Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy returning - CNN

For those Hocus Pocus fans who just can’t get enough of the Sanderson Sisters, Disney has released an updated look at the cast of Hocus Pocus 2, which will include some younger, fresher actors in addition to the actors and actresses that made the film in the first place.

Bette Midler (Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson)

Bette Midler on never performing again and the songs she regrets

The legendary Bette Midler will reprise her role as Winnie, the eldest Sanderson sister. Midler has a long-standing career as a stage actress and a screen actress. Some of her more notable projects include Beaches, The First Wives Club, 2019’s The Addams Family, and its 2021 sequel. Most recently, she appeared in Hello Dolly! in 2017.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson)

Sarah Jessica Parker responds to critical commentary about her age

Sarah Jessica Parker returns as the youngest of the Sanderson Sisters, Sarah. In Hocus Pocus 2, Parker is still just as beautiful, and reportedly, the boys still love her. She is currently starring in HBO Max’s And Just Like That…, which is a sequel to the very popular Sex and the City. Since the first Hocus Pocus film, Sarah Jessica Parker has starred in movies like The First Wives Club (with Bette Midler), Mars Attacks!, The Family Stone, and other films.

Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson)

Kathy Najimy - Feinstein's/54 Below

Actress Kathy Najimy will also return to reprise her role as Mary Sanderson, the middle Sanderson sister. Outside of her role in Hocus Pocus, Kathy Najimy is well-known for her role as Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, as well as for lending her voice to Peggy on King of the Hill. Some of her other acting achievements include playing roles in films like Hope Floats, Dumplin’, and Single All the Way. She also held recurring roles in TV series like Veep.

Doug Jones (William ‘Billy’ Butcherson)

Another familiar face will return to reprise his role in Hocus Pocus 2. Doug Jones will play the role of Billy Butcherson, who is Winifred’s ex-boyfriend. Winifred poisoned Billy but then brought him back to life as a zombie in the storyline of Hocus Pocus. Doug Jones is known for many roles, and he has also collaborated with famed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro more than once. Jones plays Saru in Star Trek: Discovery and also plays a recurring part in What We Do in the Shadows.

New roles and new faces for Hocus Pocus 2

Taylor Paige Henderson will star in her first-ever movie role as Young Winifred Sanderson. Juju Brener will play the role of Young Sarah Sanderson. Also joining the franchise as a younger version of one of the Sanderson Sisters is Nina Kitchen, who will play Young Mary Sanderson. This will be Kitchen’s first-ever acting credit.

Whitney Peak will play the role of Becca, one of the three high school students who will play deterrents to the Sanderson Sisters in the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2 film.

Hannah Waddingham Says That It Is a Struggle to Keep a Straight Face on the Set of 'Ted Lasso'

Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham will join the cast of Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2, playing a role that has not yet been revealed by the House of Mouse. Waddingham’s acting career is a colorful one. She played a role in the fifth and sixth seasons of Game of Thrones, and she is no stranger to the stage, having appeared in both London’s West End and New York’s Broadway. She had roles in Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz, and Kiss Me, Kate. Currently, she plays the role of Rebecca Welton, ex-wife of the former owner of an English soccer team, AFC Richmond, alongside Jason Sudekis in Ted Lasso.

Hocus Pocus 2 Is Officially in the Works, Plus More Movie News << Rotten Tomatoes – Movie and TV News

Filming of the newest Hocus Pocus film finished in January of this year. Hocus Pocus 2 is set to debut on Disney+ this fall.

Disney Calls Tinker Bell and Captain Hook “Potentially Problematic”

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via DisDining.com

Over the years, people change and ideas change. Things that were once considered acceptable are now seen for what they can be, disrespectful of different people and cultures. While we cannot erase the past, it is important that it is acknowledged, and we realize that it is wrong and work hard to make sure it does not happen again. Disney has been working to address cultural insensitivities in some of its earlier films and has put a warning before some movies on Disney+.

One film that has been repeatedly acknowledged for cultural misrepresentations is the 1953 movie, Peter Pan. Peter Pan tells the story of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling and the trip that they take to the magical place of Neverland. During their time in Neverland, they encounter villainous pirates, mermaids, and a group of Indigenous peoples. It is the portrayal of the Indigenous peoples that has been universally acknowledged as very insulting. Animators made all of their skin red, and there is even a song called “What Makes the Red Man Red.”

Now, Disney is sharing that more characters in the film are also “potentially problematic.” Disney has created a “Stories Matter” team that looks to make sure any insensitivities in Disney films and television shows are addressed. The “Stories Matter” team has determined that both Captain Hook and Tinker Bell could both be seen as problematic — as they perpetuate negative stereotypes.

Captain Hook Tinkerbell Peter Pan

When it comes to Tinker Bell, the group believes that she could be perceived as problematic because of her anger over Peter giving his attention to Wendy. They also feel that she does not send a body-positive message. There is a scene in the film where Tinker Bell sees herself in a mirror and, at first, thinks that she looks beautiful. Then she begins to focus on her hips and thinks that they are too big.

Tinkerbell Peter Pan

As for Captain Hook, well we all know that he is called that since he has a hook for a hand. The hand was eaten by a crocodile and a hook was used as a prosthetic. The “Stories Matter” team believes that making someone with a disability a villain could be seen as prejudiced.

Peter Pan is not the only Disney film to receive an advisory warning at the beginning. The Aristocats and Dumbo have the same warning. There is a cat in The Aristocats who is a racial stereotype of East Asian peoples, with his severely slanted eyes and buck teeth. In Dumbo, there is a group of singing crows who many liken to racist minstrel shows, where white performers would wear blackface, dress in ripped clothes, and mock enslaved people from Southern plantations.

In figuring out which characters are troublesome, the “Stories Matter” team said the following:

“Stories shape how we see ourselves and everyone around us. So as storytellers, we have the power and responsibility to not only uplift and inspire, but also consciously, purposefully and relentlessly champion the spectrum of voices and perspectives in our world,” Disney’s Stories Matter Team says on its website. “As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are in the process of reviewing our library and adding advisories to content that includes negative depictions or mistreatment of people or cultures. Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. We also want to acknowledge that some communities have been erased or forgotten altogether, and we’re committed to giving voice to their stories as well.

We can’t change the past, but we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together to create a tomorrow that today can only dream of.”

MCU’s ‘Hawkeye’ Series Is No More

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Kevin Feige’s Marvel Studios has a long and complicated history of changing plans, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye series.

In a recent announcement, Marvel has quietly confirmed the fate of the acclaimed Avenger-led television show.

Marvel Phase Four has issued a lot of firsts for the superhero studio. What began with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man (2008) has exploded into a behemoth blockbuster franchise spanning big and small screens. It was last year that Feige’s Marvel Cinematic Universe officially transitioned into streaming Original series with the release of WandaVision on Disney+. The Marvel studio that was once exclusively restricted to movie theaters now allowed fans to experience the MCU in new and interesting ways.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier quickly followed WandaVision, with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson shedding his feathers as Falcon and becoming the new Captain America, taking the mantle that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) left behind. Then came Loki, the MCU’s biggest streaming release to date, with Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Sophia Di Martino (Sylvie) taking viewers across the Multiverse and introducing the Sacred Timeline.

Marvel had another first when Summer came around. The first animated canon television series debuted and while What If…? seemed like a filler at first, as the episodes continued, it may just be the key to the MCU’s entire future.

clint barton with pym tech arrow in hawkeye

November brought Jeremy Renner back into the fold as Clint Barton/Hawkeye. This is the first time fans have seen Hawkeye since the devastating events of Avengers: Endgame (2019) — Black Widow (2021) aside — and, along with Hailee Steinfeld’s debut as Kate Bishop, the series drew acclaim from fans and critics alike as Hawkeye explored Barton’s Ronin persona amid Christmas season in New York City.

But, what about a Season 2?

Hawkeye Season 1 seemingly left off in a place where the story of the Avenger could continue, it even debuted Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in the MCU, but it would seem Marvel has decided the fate of the series with a recent Emmys announcement.

Variety reported:

After initial plans to submit it in limited series, Variety has learned exclusively that “Loki” will seek Emmy love in the drama categories.

Disney’s original plan was to submit the third MCU TV series in the limited series field alongside its other MCU counterparts “Hawkeye” with Jeremy Renner and “Moon Knight” with Oscar Isaac. But, unfortunately, that’s not so simple because of “Loki’s” post-credits scene in the final episode that reads: “Loki will return in season 2.”

larping hawkeye jeremy renner as clint barton

From creator Jonathan Igla, and Rhys Thomas, who led the directing team, Hawkeye was always pitched as a limited series, but, many of the other Marvel Phase Four TV shows were also. As the report notes, Loki was going to be submitted in the Limited Series category, but that post-credits scene signaling a second season for the popular show eradicated that possibility. Likewise, last year Marvel Studios opted to submit The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Drama Series, despite it not having yet received an order for a sophomore season.

Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, hawkeye

It was recently confirmed, although not surprising considering her next appearance as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), that WandaVision was one and done. Michael Waldron and Kate Herron’s Loki was seemingly the same until the development of the series proved there was more to Loki than first thought (isn’t there always?).

In a similar vein, Mackie and Sebastian Stan’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could have been moved to Drama Series in 2021 to avoid competing with WandaVision, or it is more likely that Feige’s team wants to tell more of the buddy-cop-style story before Captain America 4 releases some time in the future.

That being said, Hawkeye fans will likely not see a second season of the Marvel Comics action-drama, but a spinoff series, Echo, was already confirmed a while ago. Native American Deaf actress, Alaqua Cox, brought Maya Lopez AKA Echo to the MCU and will continue her story in this self-titled series, most likely releasing in 2023. It is rumored that D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil) will star alongside Cox.

‘National Treasure’ Star To Return For Disney+ Series

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Disney is currently hard at work on a new series for Disney+ based on the 2004 film, National Treasure, and its follow-up 2007 film, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. Disney announced the series back in March 2021 — and they also shared that they wanted to be able to finally make the third film in the franchise that fans had been expecting. At the time the series was announced, no casting information was given, but we have since learned that Lisette Alexis will star as Jess Morales and Catherine Zeta-Jones will star as Billie.

It is also now being revealed that the National Treasure series will star one of the film’s original actors. Justin Bartha played Riley Poole — a computer expert — in both films. We can confirm that Bartha has signed on to officially reprise his role as Poole in the new show. Disney had stated that they wanted the show to be an expansion of the franchise, so Bartha’s character will be the definitive link between the two.

National Treasure

The new National Treasure series will focus on 20-year-old DREAMer Jess Morales, who sets off on an incredible journey to discover the secrets of her family’s history and uncover a legendary lost treasure. In addition to Bartha, Alexis, and Zeta-Jones, the series will also star Lyndon Smith as Agent Ross, Armando Riesco as Agent Hendricks, and Tommy Savas as Dr. Zeke Hudson.

National Treasure

The Disney series is currently filming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is being produced by legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer — who also produced the first two National Treasure films. Bruckheimer has also confirmed that is he one of the producers of the third National Treasure film, which has only been announced at this time. Rick Muirragui will serve as both a writer and an executive producer. Cormac and Marianne Wibberley — who were the writers on the first two films — are also returning to write the series and executive produce.

National Treasure

Disney has not announced a Disney+ premiere date for the new National Treasure series, but it is expected to premiere sometime in 2023. At this time, we do not know if Bartha, or costars Nicolas Cage or Diane Kruger, will also be returning for the third National Treasure movie.