Updated 25-Jan-2021: A notable month for Disney+ UK sees the launch of the Hulu-esque Disney Star service on the streamer, opening up access to the more mature library of content that the House of Mouse is sitting on from the likes of 20th Century Studios, FX and ABC.
Just before Christmas, Disney announced that Star, its international version of Hulu, would be rolling out to Disney+ subscribers outside the US on Feb 23rd. It’s now revealed some of the lineup that will bring more mature viewing to the streaming service.
Hitting that perfect emotional note once again, this sublime visual and tonal companion-piece to Inside Out sees Disney/Pixar dig deep for further reflections on mortality following their excellent work on Onward and Coco.
Updated 12-Jan-2021: There’s a double header of new Marvel releases to get things rolling for Disney+ in 2021 with WandaVision the first of the promised shows with MCU characters making the switch to the small-screen, long-form storytelling.
The Mandalorian Season 2 (Disney Plus) TV Show Review
by Cas Harlow
CONTAINS SPOILERS, please do not read until you have finished Season 2! John Favreau's The Mandalorian delivers a second season that is comfortably the best Star Wars viewing in decades, if ever.
Disney announces Star Wars, MCU expansion plus huge production slate
by Andy Bassett
Disney’s latest Investor’s Day saw a price increase for Disney+ revealed, though the company will hope the sting is soon dulled by a massive slate of content announcements.
Disney+ adds Star for streaming mature content outside U.S.
by Andy Bassett
Disney’s latest Investor Day has come off like a trip to Santa’s Grotto with huge subscriber numbers reported, masses of new content announced and confirmation of the mature content themed Star service for non US subscribers.
Updated: 3rd Dec: December sees more seasonal fare drop onto the Disney+ UK service along with two of the year’s biggest movies - one of which you might have already paid for if you were impatient back in September!
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (Disney+) Movie Review
by Cas Harlow
Disney's Lego Star Wars Holiday Special plays out like the comedy Endgame of the Star Wars universe, revisiting and poking fun at iconic moments across the franchise.
Agents of SHIELD Season 7 (Disney+) TV Show Review
by Cas Harlow
Marvel's longest running TV property goes out with a bang, packing some superbly entertaining time-travel shenanigans into its 13-episode final run and signing off with some fitting, albeit bittersweet, closure.
Xbox Series X and Series S streaming apps confirmed
by Andy Bassett
Microsoft recently posted a blog article confirming the home entertainment streaming apps that will be available for its latest consoles and the list includes the Disney+ streaming service, Apple TV, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The UK service is still playing catch up to its US counterpart but this month sees the appearance of some long awaited content alongside the more usual synchronous launches, bringing Disney+ UK closer to parity with its transatlantic cousin.
LG Display, has announced an innovation partnership with Walt Disney Studios’ StudioLAB to develop the use of cutting edge OLED displays in the content production process.
More Mad Men-lite than For All Mankind, Disney+'s first and only non-Star Wars series of note - courtesy of National Geographic - is a visually lavish period piece embalmed in rousing, patriotic chords, but it feels like it may be a long ride with little new or interesting to add.
UPDATED 29-Sep-2020: While some of Disney's streaming rivals might have been tempted to load up on Halloween themed content for October, Disney+ looks to the stars with two big shows - its returning flagship, The Mandalorian and new series The Right Stuff.
Mulan rumoured to net $260M in US after Disney+ premiere
by Andy Bassett
Disney’s bold move to premiere Mulan, one of its biggest movies of 2020, directly onto its streaming service for an additional charge rather than rely solely on a theatrical release could well have paid off in spades according to latest reports.
It's easy to see why Disney want to leverage a premium price for this epic wuxia martial arts romp; it's a storming live-action adaptation of the animated classic.
The Mandalorian returns to Disney Plus on Oct 30th
by Andy Bassett
The series set in a galaxy far far away that helped launch the Disney+ streaming service late last year is set to return in just a few weeks, in time for Halloween no less.
Disney has finally confirmed what most UK fans and industry watchers were expecting, Mulan is coming to subscribers of its Disney+ UK streaming service for a Premier Access fee of £19.99 from 4th September.
Disney continues to slowly let the content rope out, hand over hand in a controlled and measured fashion. Now, September will see the streaming service feature its biggest release yet in the shape of the live action Mulan.
It's hard to see quite how this was ever supposed to be a successful theatrical release, with Disney Plus churning out another Netflix-standard all-star family flick which will at least please the kids.
While it’s highly unlikely that Disney would drop the family friendly badge that has served it so well for decades, recent reports indicate that the Disney+ streaming service may well start handling more mature themed content.
The fanfare, logo backdrop and sweeping searchlights may remain but the emblematic 20th Century Fox name will now be consigned to entertainment history.
With Garth Davis recently announced as director, Jared Leto has now confirmed he will star in the next Tron movie as things appear to be gathering apace for the Disney project.
Disney has taken the leap and confirmed that their anticipated live action version of Mulan will not debut in cinemas but will instead premiere on the company’s Disney+ streaming platform on 4th September 2020 at a cost of $30.
Death, taxes, and Beyoncé releasing content that more or less breaks the internet. This time it’s Black is King, released on Disney+ this week as an accompaniment to last year’s album The Gift.
Every Friday is drop day for Disney+ and those in August will see the documentary Howard, Disney original The One and Only Ivan and a second Phineas and Ferb movie arrive on the UK service.
Movies preferred to TV shows during lockdown in UK
by Andy Bassett
A wide ranging survey has revealed certain UK viewer’s habits during lockdown and it’s good news for Disney+ and movies in general, with some surprises topping the 'most anticipated' lists going forward.
Disney Plus announces Star Wars: The Bad Batch spin-off
by Andy Bassett
Disney is expanding the Star Wars universe and has confirmed production of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, an animated spin-off series from its popular Clone Wars franchise.
Sky Q updates smart features and adds Disney Plus in HDR
by Andy Bassett
Sky’s premium entertainment service Sky Q gets its biggest update since its launch in 2016 and brings a host of smart improvements, an expanded UI and Disney+ in HDR.
Symbolically released on Disney Plus for America’s Independence Day, Hamilton is an exquisite documentation of the stage show that loses nothing of the thrill of live theatre in its adaptation.
July on the streaming service is bookended by the hugely popular Hamilton musical and Disney+ Original TV show, Muppets Now. Along the way, there’s plenty of family-friendly TV content, plus Frozen II headlines the audience-pleasing movies.
Disney cuts its losses on its first film as Artemis Fowl leaves cinema schedules and heads to Disney+. Was it the right decision? Will my review bring this issue up again? Will I ever get to see a good film? Read on!
An unexpectedly touching father-son(s) story, Disney/Pixar once again hit your heart hard with this rocking ode to fantasy role playing games that enjoys a particularly fun, boisterous turn from Chris Pratt.
Disney Plus has proved an absolute hit for Walt’s media behemoth and since it’s initial rollout, subscribers have been flocking to view its precious horde of content (54 million and counting). However, just what has the streaming service got to offer in the way of new material for the coming month?