Unless you’ve been living under a rock or don’t pay attention to it, then you have to had heard of Disney Investor Day 2020. On December 10th, 2020, Disney did a four hour stream showcasing their plans for the entertainment industry over the next few years. And to sum them up with a gif:
Yeah, it was really good! I meant to do this sooner, but I couldn’t find the way to appropriately communicate my thoughts on everything. After thinking it over for three days, though, I’m ready to give my thoughts on everything we learned at Disney Investor Day!
The Force is Strong with Lucasfilm
Since they acquired LucasFilm in 2012, Star Wars has become one of Disney’s most profitable franchises. While they arguably stumbled with the Sequel Trilogy and the lack of a coherent story, Disney managed to rally with The Mandalorian. Throw in the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars is more popular than ever. And they’re going to build that success over the next few years.
- As everyone thought, Ashoka’s getting her own live-action show, Ashoka!
- Star Wars: Visions, an anime anthology series
- The Obi-Wan Kenobi is coming up, and Hayden Christensen’s playing Vader again. Taking place ten years after Revenge of the Sith, this could see the former Master and Padawan fight in a previously unknown rematch!
- The Clone Wars is getting a spin-off starring the Bad Batch as they go through the rise of the Empire
- LucasFilm is bringing Harrison Ford back for Indiana Jones for one last time, and working with The Jim Henson Company on another project
- Star Wars: Acolyte will take us back to the final days of the High Republic
Bottom line, Disney has a lot of plans Star Wars.
The MCU Returns Better Than Ever
Thanks to 2020, the MCU’s taken several heavy hits. Firstly, this marks the first time in ten years where we have no new Marvel movies or shows. Secondly, we lost Chadwick Boseman to cancer. So, it’s been a dark year for Marvel. However, Disney is ready to make up for lost time.
Starting in 2021, Phase Four of the MCU will start with a bang, with more shows and movies than ever.
- On January 15th, WandaVision premieres on Disney+. Part sitcom, part mystery, we see the mysterious return of Vision after his death in Infinity War. Having read the comics and seen how mentally unstable Wanda can be, I know she has something to do with this.
- Armor Wars and Ironheart will see War Machine and a new character deal with the legacy left behind by Tony Stark
- Falcon and The Winter Soldier premieres in spring 2021, and it will be glorious
- Loki is getting his own show! I’m still confused as to whether it takes place in an alternate timeline, though
- Groot’s getting his own series of shorts.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. ‘Nuff Said.
- Disney is going to do the Fantastic Four justice at last!
- Black Panther 2 is still on, but they will not recast for Chadwick Boseman!
- So many more annoucements!
Disney Animation and Pixar
Disney Animation and Pixar aren’t being lax, either. They’ve got plenty of new things in the works.
- A new musical show based on The Princess and the Frog, Tiana
- Moana is getting its own series.
- Zootopia and Big Hero 6! are getting their own series.
- Win or Lose, Pixar’s first animated series.
- A series for Pixar’s Cars.
- A new series about iconic Pixar characters starts in January.
- Dug from UP is getting his own series, Dug Days.
- Lightyear, an origin film for Buzz Lightyear, premieres in 2022 and stars Chris Evans (SO PSYCHED FOR THAT!!!!!!!!)
Disney: The Path To Global Conquest
At this point, I’d think it would be crazier to deny the idea that Disney is on the path to achieving total hegemony on Western Culture. On the one hand, this doesn’t bode well for healthy competition in the Entertainment Industry. On the other hand, Disney makes a lot of good stuff, and as long as that keeps happening, people may not care. Either way, Disney looks set to remain on top for the 2020s.
A big key to the company’s long term plans seems to be Disney+. With a large chunk of its library available on the streaming service, Disney has begun to dominate the streaming business. As a result, they’re willing to raise the subscription costs by a dollar because they think they can afford it. And to be honest, I think so, too.
Overall, I’m very happy with all these announcements from Disney, and I think that it’s going to make them more money than ever. Anything that you guys are excited for, though?