Hot on the heels of Apple’s new streaming platform Apple TV+, launching Nov. 1, comes Disney’s even more highly anticipated streaming service, Disney+, which launches Nov. 12.
Disney+ brings a veritable arsenal of content to the table, ready to compete with streaming juggernauts like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO. The platform will become the home to the complete library of Walt Disney Studios’ content (yep, say goodbye to watching your favorite Disney movies on Netflix), plus Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm (Star Wars), and 20th Century Fox assets including National Geographic and “The Simpsons” (30 seasons!).
Pricing for Disney+ starts at a surprisingly reasonable $6.99/month or $69.99/year with a bundled option to include Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for $12.99/month, on par with Netflix’s monthly subscription price. This includes streaming and unlimited downloads.
Aside from finally having all of their favorite Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel content in one place, though, the biggest reason fans are losing their minds about Disney+ is all of the original programming that’s been planned for the platform. Disney is promising viewers blockbuster-film quality programming delivered straight to small screens and devices.
Intrigued? Here are some of the most exciting new shows and movies you have to look forward to, plus a list of everything you’ll be able to watch on Disney+ on day one, Nov. 12.
Original Content Debuting Nov. 12
Original Shows
“The Mandalorian”
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are behind the first of several original live-action “Star Wars” series coming to Disney+. Dubbed a “space western,” “The Mandalorian” is set just after the events of “The Return of the Jedi” and stars Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, plus Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, and quite a few other Hollywood heavy hitters. Hopes are high for this one and we’re expecting it to deliver.
“Forky Asks a Question”
“Arrested Development” and “Veep” star Tony Hale reprises his role as everyone’s favorite “Toy Story 4” utensil. In this series of 10 Pixar shorts, lovable spork Forky will tackle some of life’s great questions like “What is the internet?” “What is love?” and “What is cheese?”
“The World According to Jeff Goldblum”
We’ve always found Jeff Goldblum’s charismatic eccentricity irresistible and are HERE for this new series, in which he delves into the most random of subjects, like ice cream, tattoos, and sneakers. In Goldblum’s words, the gist is: “I know nothing. That’s the premise. I’m a humble student, and a late bloomer — a late Goldblum-er.” Oh Jeff, how we love you.
“Encore!”
Executive producer Kristen Bell is giving grown-ups the chance to head back to high school in this heartwarming reality series. The show reunites the casts of real-life high school musicals, and shows us what happens when adults return, minus their high school labels. Expect plenty of laughs and some cathartic tears.
“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”
It doesn’t get more meta than this story about students at East High, the school where “High School Musical” the movie was allegedly filmed, who find themselves starring in their own high school production of the musical version of the movie “High School Musical.” Still with us? Basically, if you liked the film, watch the show.
“The Imagineering Story”
Disnerds, this one’s for you. If you geek out in equal parts about how things work and all things Disney, don’t miss this documentary series tracing the history of Walt Disney Imagineering. Learn the tricks of the trade from the brilliant minds behind Disney’s groundbreaking theme parks. But, spoiler alert: If you don’t like your fourth wall broken at Disney, you might want to pass on this one.
Original Film
“Lady & The Tramp”
You didn’t think you’d get a break from Disney’s live-action remakes here, did you? They just. keep. coming. This time, puppy love — with a side of spaghetti and meatballs — is on the menu as Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux lend their voices to the iconic canines who first graced the silver screen in the animated original in 1955.
More On the Way During Year One
Subscribers can look forward to more than 25 original series and more than 10 original films, documentaries, and specials during the launch year. Here are some highlights.
Fall 2020
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”
“Endgame” spoiler alert: There’s a new Captain America in town, and his name is Sam Wilson (aka the Falcon). MCU heroes Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (aka the Winter Soldier), played by Sebastian Stan, team up for this six-episode series, which will be directed by Kari Skogland, the Emmy-nominated director who has also directed episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Additional Year One Original Shows
“Monsters At Work”
We’re always ready for more Pixar in our lives, so we can’t wait for this new addition to the “Monsters, Inc.” storyline. Picking up shortly after the ending of the 2001 film, the scare-producing company has just completed its transition from scream power to laugh power. Monsters University grad Tylor (Ben Feldman) faces a rude awakening when he heads to work and finds that he has to generate laughter instead of scares — his specialty. Tylor’s mom, Millie, is played by Aisha Tyler.
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”
Animated series “The Clone Wars” is back to give closure to its cult following who were up in arms at the series’ abrupt and premature ending. Dave Filoni is back to give fans a final season that will feature Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Ahsoka Tano, and more.
Year One Original Movies
“Noelle”
Disney+ wants you to know this isn’t the Hallmark Channel when it comes to holiday movies. Bringing big star power and bigger laughs, “Noelle” stars Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader as Santa’s kids, Noelle and Nick Kringle. When it’s time for Nick to succeed his father, he cracks under the pressure and goes missing, leaving the family business in jeopardy. Shirley Maclaine and Billy Eichner also star in this new holiday classic for the whole family.
“Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe”
It’s not Phineas and Ferb without some sister-related shenanigans. In the new original film, the stepbrothers head off on a space adventure to rescue their sister Candace, “who has been abducted by aliens and has found utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers.”
Other year one films in production are “Stargirl,” “Timmy Failure,” and “Togo.”
Other Major Shows in Production
More from the First Wave of Marvel Shows
In addition to “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Marvel is hard at work on several more projects for its first wave of Disney+ series. Many of your favorite MCU heroes (and villains) will return in live-action “Loki,” “WandaVision,” and “Hawkeye,” plus an animated series “What If…?” that brings with it the voices of almost all of the original MCU actors as the series revisits all 23 MCU films, asking what if just one element had been changed?
Ewan McGregor Will Return as Obi-Wan Kenobi
In what was easily the biggest and most exciting announcement to come from a star-studded, news-packed D23 Expo, “the ultimate Fan Event,” this past August Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Ewan McGregor announced that McGregor would return to the Star Wars film universe to reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new original series. This one can’t come soon enough.
Hilary Duff Is Back as Lizzie McGuire
In a 13-going-on-30-esque reboot of the hit Disney Channel show, Hilary Duff is returning to play 29-year-old Lizzie McGuire. Lizzie lives in NYC and has her dream job and dream boyfriend, but she also still has that same 13-year-old Lizzie running through her head.
More Star Wars
The nine-episode Skywalker saga is finally coming to a close this December, but fans will hardly have time to mourn because Disney+ is keeping our Star Wars appetites sated with a steady stream of new shows. Also up on the docket is a spinoff spy drama based around one of the heroes of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).
Disney’s Library of Movies and Shows to Be Released
For a taste of all the previously released movies and shows that will be immediately available to Disney+ subscribers on day one, check out these highlights shared by Disney earlier this year.
Films
- “101 Dalmatians”
- “A Bug’s Life”
- “A Goofy Movie”
- “An Extremely Goofy Movie”
- “Bambi”
- “Bao”
- “Big Hero 6”
- “Born in China”
- “Cars”
- “Fantasia”
- “Finding Dory”
- “Finding Nemo”
- “Free Solo”
- “Frozen”
- “Fun and Fancy Free”
- “Hercules”
- “High School Musical”
- “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”
- “Inside Out”
- “Iron Man”
- “Lady and the Tramp”
- “Lilo & Stitch”
- “Mary Poppins”
- “Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers”
- “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas”
- “Moana”
- “Monsters University”
- “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
- “Pixar Short Films Collection, Vol. 1”
- “Ratatouille”
- “Remember the Titans”
- “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
- “Sleeping Beauty”
- “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
- “Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace”
- “Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones”
- “Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”
- “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope”
- “Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi”
- “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens”
- “Steamboat Willie”
- “The Good Dinosaur”
- “The Incredibles”
- “The Little Mermaid”
- “The Parent Trap” (1961)
- “The Prince & The Pauper” (1990)
- “The Princess Diaries”
- “The Rocketeer”
- “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (short)
- “The Sword in the Stone”
- “The Three Caballeros”
- “Thor: The Dark World”
- “Toy Story”
- “Tron” (1982)
- “Up”
- “WALL-E”
- “Zootopia”
TV Series
- “Amazing Planet”
- “Andi Mack” (seasons 1-3)
- “Boy Meets World”
- “Brain Games”
- “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan”
- “Dr. K’s Exotic Animals”
- “Dr. Oakley Yukon Vet”
- “Drain the Ocean”
- “DuckTales” (1987)
- “DuckTales” (2016, season 1)
- “Earth Live”
- “Goof Troop”
- “Great Migrations”
- “Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things”
- “Kim Possible”
- “Malcolm in the Middle”
- Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” (animated series)
- Marvel’s “Ultimate Spider-Man” (animated series)
- “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” (seasons 1 and 2)
- “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”
- “Mickey Mouse Shorts”
- “One Strange Rock”
- “Raven’s Home”
- “Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue”
- “Star Wars Rebels”
- “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (series)
- “That’s So Raven”
- “The Incredible Dr. Pol”
- “The Simpsons”
- “Unlikely Animal Friends”
- “Wicked Tuna”
Editor in Chief of Better, Brooke Geiger McDonald is a Chicago native who has worked for O, The Oprah Magazine and Shape magazine in New York and for various book publishers in London. Back home in Chicago, she’s outnumbered by her husband and two sons, and the four of them are certifiable Disney and Star Wars fanatics, always counting down the days to their next Disney vacation. Her favorite nonprofits to support include The Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago and organizations focused on environmental conservation and combatting climate change, such as the Environmental Defense Fund and Shedd Aquarium. Follow her on Instagram: @brookegmcdonald
