In November 2019, Disney is set to launch its own streaming service, called Disney+. It will feature movies and TV shows from Disney and from Disney properties, such as Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, National Geographic and the recently acquired FOX brand.
Despite the numerous other streaming services most of us already subscribe to, the announcement of Disney+ has people very excited and for (mostly) good reason. Read on for 8 reasons to get very excited about Disney's new venture and 2 reasons why you might want to think before parting with your cash...
(Be Excited) The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Not many actors are as highly regarded or as loved as Jeff Goldblum. The Jurassic Park alum has been signed up to host a new docuseries for National Geographic on Disney+. Disney has said that in the show “Jeff pulls back the curtain on a seemingly familiar object to reveal a world of astonishing connections, fascinating science, and a whole lot of big ideas.”
Most people would listen to Jeff read the phonebook, of course we'll be there for a documentary series led by him. It's also heartening that Disney is showing a willingness to move into factual material and not just TV dramas.
(Be Excited) The Simpsons
For people of a certain age, the most important news to come out of the Disney+ announcement is the news that all 30 seasons of The Simpsons will be available on the series from day 1. Finally, the greatest animated show of all time will be easily available.
After Disney acquired FOX earlier on this year, it was only a matter of time before FOX shows and films started showing up on Disney channels. Now not all of the 30 seasons are must-watch TV but just for the golden age of The Simpsons (the first 10 seasons) the Disney $6.99 monthly subscription fee is more than worth it. Now if they could only add Futurama as well...
(Be Excited) Marvel's What If...?
As the Marvel series heads towards its Endgame and the traditional Netflix Marvel shows are no more, Marvel is heading back to TV in a slightly different way. There are more traditional, live-action series on the way too (more on them in second) but the most intriguing series to be announced was the animated Marvel's What If...?
Based on the long-running anthology series from the 1970s, Marvel's What If...? are non-canon tales of intrigue and wonder, asking questions that have been plaguing fans for years. One proposed storyline is 'What if Loki had found the hammer of Thor?' with Loki actor Tom Hiddleston planned to return as the voice of Loki.
(Be Excited) Monsters at Work
Pixar's Monsters Inc is one of the greatest animated films of all time and has a pretty decent sequel to boot. The world of Monsters Inc is perfect for a spin-off show, there's so much in the world left to be explored. And luckily Monsters at Work is set in the world of the first film, in the Monsters Inc factory, in the world of Monstropolis (which now runs on the power of laughter rather than screams).
Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) return although it looks as they won't be the star of the show this time around. That's Tylor Tuskmon, a mechanic on the Facilities Team, who dreams of working alongside his idols Mike and Sulley.
(Be Excited) Untitled Cassian Andor series
Unlike the other upcoming Star Wars show, The Mandalorian, the as-yet-untitled Cassian Andor show was announced with much less fanfare. It's suggested that the live-action show will follow Rogue One's Cassian Andor through the events leading up to Rogue One, in the formative years of the rebellion. The Americans showrunner, Stephen Schiff is set to take up the showrunner reins on the show.
Cassian Andor's Rogue One actor Diego Luna is set to return, as is Alan Tudyk as his faithful droid K-2SO. Don't get too excited just yet however, the show is not set to premiere until 2021, so we have a while to wait yet.
(Be Excited) MCU shows
First things first, forget the ridiculous name of WandaVision. Marvel's spinoff star is still set to star the original Vision and Wanda actors, Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen. Their romance in Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most heartbreaking parts of the film so a show reuniting them sounds fantastic.
Another show, Falcon and Winter Soldier, does exactly what it says on the tin and sees B tier MCU heroes Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up to fight presumably fight crime. All four of these heroes are victims of Thanos' snap, so we'll have to see the events of Endgame first.
(Be Excited) The Mandalorian
The absolute best thing to shell out 6.99 a month for, however, is the upcoming Star Wars TV show The Mandalorian. The show is spearheaded by Iron Man director and Star Wars nerd Jon Favreau and Star Wars: The Clone Wars showrunner and Star Wars expert Dave Filoni.
Not to mention a first-rate cast including Pedro Pascal as the eponymous Mandalorian, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers and, weirdly, Werner Herzog. No footage has been seen by the public (outside of those attending the Star Wars Celebration panel) but word is that the show is looking good. Best of all, the show will become available as soon as Disney+ launches on November 12, 2019)
(Be Excited) Disney ending the vault
The Disney vault is where Disney keep the film titles that aren't currently for sale. For example, a Disney film is released on DVD/Blu ray for a limited time and then Disney locks this title away in its 'vault' for a lengthy period.
The idea is that Disney drives up demand whenever they do release a new edition of an old classic. This stranglehold on the home media market has always been difficult for fans, especially those of us who like out complete collections. But now Disney has announced that all of the films that used to be in the vault will be available to subscribers of Disney+ and on no other streaming service.
(Be Worried) Lady and The Tramp
The upcoming Disney+ exclusive, live-action remake of the beloved animated classic, Lady and The Tramp, is maybe a worrying sign of things to come. Disney has been in the live-action remake game a while now already, with Beauty and the Beast and Dumbo both doing big business at the box office.
But even the most die-hard fans of those controversial remakes may be worried by the lackluster look of the new Lady and the Remake. The cast is fantastic, Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux are the lead voice actors. But the whole real dog, CG mouth schtick is something best left in the past.
(Be Worried) What it means for the future of streaming services...
The biggest takeaway from the Disney+ announcement, however, was what it means for the future of streaming services. Most people already have a monthly Netflix subscription (unless you leech off of a friend or relative like the rest of us) a lot of folks have a subscription to Amazon Prime also.
Then there's Hulu and the CBS streaming service, CBS All Access. There's so much good stuff on all of them that they all feel essential. But this fracturing of streaming services might push for creators to make bigger and better shows but, at the end of the day, it'll be us, consumers, paying the hundreds of dollars a month for our content.