Here's why Arizona won't 'spring forward' for daylight-saving time

Mark Nothaft

Special for The Republic | azcentral.com

Every state has a choice on daylight saving time, but Arizona and Hawaii are the only two to opt out

ASU expert Randall Cerveny says Arizonans don't want summer heat in the evening hours

Prolonging sun and heat into the evening costs more energy, Cerveny says

Arizona just has to be different, right? Well, with summer on the way, you'll be glad we don't follow daylight saving time.

But why? For starters, the sun wouldn't set until after 9 p.m. during the summer if we "sprang forward." And how about your APS or SRP bill for all that extra air conditioning? Yipes.

Oddly enough, every state has a choice. Arizona and Hawaii are the only two to opt out. Indiana avoided springing back and forth for awhile but gave up in 2005. Don't think the cows could handle it.

NEW FOR 2017: What Arizonans should do with that extra hour from skipping daylight-saving time: Read this trivia

Even more weird, in the state's northeast corner, the Hopi Nation opts out but the Navajo Nation doesn't. The Hopi are like an island within the Navajo Reservation. What happens when you drive across the border for a gallon of milk but Bashas' is closed?

EDITORIAL: Why everyone else is wrong about Daylight Saving Time

Anyhow, I conferred with the smart folks at Arizona State University for some answers.

"Actually, the reasoning is pretty straightforward: we don't want our summer heat continuing on into the evening hours," Randall Cerveny of ASU's School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning says. "Imagine having the sun set here at 9 or even 10 p.m. in the summer as it does in some parts of the country on daylight saving time. Miserable!"

Agreed. Cerveny also says that in other areas of the country, farmers and other industrious types can do more stuff in the evening hours on daylight saving time since the sun is still up and save energy.

MONTINI: Keep your daylight-savings — we LIKE it in the dark!

"But for us, it is the opposite," he says. "Prolonging sun and heat into the evening costs more energy. So far we have shown sense enough to do what is best for us rather than what conforms to the rest of the country."

The meteorological gurus at Salt River Project concur.

"From a weather perspective, not observing DST gives Phoenix and Tucson residents 'cooler,' more comfortable evenings in the heat of summer," Jon A. Skindlov of SRP says.

Sounds like a good reason to be different.

Contact "Only in Arizona" columnist Mark Nothaft at marknothaft.onlyinaz@gmail.com. Send him the weird and fun facts and places found #OnlyInArizona.

Purpose of Daylight Saving Time

• It saves energy. During daylight saving time, the sun sets one hour later in the evenings, so the need to use electricity for household lighting and appliances is reduced. People tend to spend more time outside in the evenings during DST, which reduces the need to use electricity in the home. Also, because the sunrise is very early in the morning during the summer months, most people will awake after the sun has already risen, which means they turn on fewer lights in their homes.

• It saves lives and prevents traffic injuries. More people travel to and from school and work and complete errands during the daylight.

• It reduces crime. More people are out conducting their affairs during the daylight rather than at night, when more crime occurs.

(SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation)

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Corrections and Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated when daylight saving time took place annually before it was extended by President George W. Bush.

Here we go again: Time to fall back after we sprang forward.

The end of daylight saving time is fast approaching, and with it comes an "extra" hour of sleep and the slow disappearance of early-evening sunlight.

Unless you reside in the states of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) or Hawaii or the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, adjust your clocks back one hour Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. – lest you wake up an hour early to everything in the days ahead.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which established daylight saving time from the last Sunday in April through the last Sunday in October.

After one change in to the start date in 1987, another extension was made in 2005. That year, President George W. Bush extended daylight saving time even further, changing it to the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday of November. The change was made official in 2007.

The law also allows states to remain in standard time all year and does not require states to adhere to daylight saving time. However, it does require that states get approval from Congress before making daylight saving time permanent.

In fact, those against changing clocks during the year include President Donald Trump, who tweeted in March that making DST "permanent is O.K. with me." Other advocates argue that shifting time twice a year can cause an increased risk of stroke and heart attack, as well as affecting adults 65 or older more drastically.

Those in favor of shifting time include the National Parent Teacher Association, which says that children would have to commute to school in the dark with year-round daylight saving time, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, which says that the time changes save energy and cut crime.

Seven states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington – have approved legislation to make daylight saving time permanent. These states still need the OK from the federal government to enact the change, however.

A handful of other states, including Alaska, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah and Vermont have introduced legislation to make changes to how they observe daylight saving time.

Some of those states in New England, rather than introduce permanent daylight saving time, are proposing a workaround by using a year-round Atlantic Standard Time (AST) — a time zone one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. In doing so, these states would effectively be observing daylight saving time permanently without having to put it to a vote in Congress.

Other states, such as Texas, are considering moving to permanent standard time altogether rather than daylight saving time.

To make matters more complicated, some states considering switching to a form of permanent daylight saving time, including Delaware and Oregon, require that the other states in their time zone switch with them, meaning that their proposals may be indefinitely postponed.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, Ashley May, USA TODAY; Andrew Clark, Indianapolis Star


'Mulan' trailer: Fans get to see Yifei Liu in action for Disney remake

Disney released a new trailer on Thursday for its upcoming live-action "Mulan," where fans get to see Yifei Liu in action as the titular character.

The new trailer, which follows July's teaser, takes a serious approach to the Disney animated original. Fans will notice there is no "good luck" cricket or talking Mushu dragon in this live-action remake, at least as far as this trailer shows.

We still see Mulan stepping in to take the place of her father to serve in the Imperial Army against the country's invaders.

"It is my duty to protect my family," Mulan says in the trailer, before footage shows her riding off to join the men in the military.

More:First 'Mulan' trailer retains spirit of the animated original, but without singing or Mushu

What ensues is a myriad of thrilling action scenes with Mulan training alongside her fellow army men, wielding a sword, dodging arrows and fighting.

Slated for release March 27, and directed by Niki Caro, the live-action adaptation follows Hua Mulan, the fearless young daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou. Mulan impersonates a man to take her father's place during a Hun invasion and becomes one of China's greatest heroines.

The film's star (also known as Crystal Liu) was announced for the lead role in November, following a yearlong search of five continents that looked at nearly 1,000 candidates.

Joining Liu in "Mulan" is “Star Wars: Rogue One” standout Donnie Yen as the warrior's mentor Commander Tung. Jason Scott Lee stars as the villainous warrior Bori Khan. Gong Li (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Raise the Red Lantern”) will portray a villainous witch and Jet Li (“Shaolin Temple,” “Lethal Weapon 4”) stars as The Emperor who calls up the troops.

Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff, Bryan Alexander

'Indiana Jones 5': Harrison Ford reveals first trailer to fans at D23

Harrison Ford showed off the first trailer of "Indiana Jones 5" at Disney's D23 fan expo.

The emotional Ford said it is the last time he will play Indiana Jones, saying, "This is it."

Christian Slater will join Disney's "Willow" series.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Harrison Ford lit up the stage Saturday at D23, the Disney fan expo, appearing with his "Indiana Jones 5" co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge and showing the first trailer for the highly anticipated movie.

"I am very proud to say this is fantastic," said Ford, and pointed to Walter-Bridge. "And this is one of the reasons."

Often holding back tears, Ford, 80, was emotional in his speech, hinting that this would the last time he would appear in the hallowed series. "This is it," he said, waving his arm dramatically.

"I will not fall down for you again!" the "Star Wars" icon added, laughing.

The footage shown also confirmed the return of beloved character Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Indy's trusted friend from the original "Raiders of the Last Ark."

Also at D23:Disney shares first look at 'Little Mermaid' Halle Bailey singing, 'Lion King' prequel 'Mufasa'

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Ford welled with emotion and hit his chest talking about having a story with "heart" and promised "this movie will kick your (butt)." The stirring trailer certainly had the D23 crowd cheering wildly.

Little is known about the plot of the new movie, but the footage, which hasn't been released online yet, shows Ford's retired adventurer Jones lamenting about his return to staid academic life with Sallah.

"I miss the adventure," Indy says.

But he's quickly pulled into action with Waller-Bridge's Helena, riding a horse through New York City (and the subway). Indiana Jones naturally dons the famous fedora and wields the whip, telling a group of gunmen to "Get back" only to be shot at (a callback to a famed "Raiders" scene). Another trailer moment shows star Mads Mikkelsen, whose role is still mysterious, in a Nazi uniform.

"Indiana Jones 5" is directed by James Mangold and is out June 30, 2023. The legendary composer John Williams, who started the series' musical immortality in "Raiders," returns to write the score.

"I had the time of my life" making this movie, Waller-Bridge said. "And keeping up with this guy is exhausting."

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Christian Slater joins Disney +'s 'Willow' TV series

Christian Slater is now part of the "Willow" family, appearing onstage with Warwick Davis, who plays Willow in the TV series based on the 1988 film.

No details were given about Slater's role, but the "Mr. Robot" star said he enjoyed shooting the series.

"Surprisingly, we got to do some improvs, we came up with some stuff on the spot," said Slater. "This is a fun character."

Davis premiered a new trailer for the series, which arrives Nov. 30.

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Jude Law joins 'Star Wars' universe in TV's 'Skeleton Crew'

Jude Law appeared at D23, a new member of the "Star Wars" Disney+ series "Skeleton Crew."

"I can't quite believe I'm part of the 'Star Wars' universe," said Law, who stars as Dumbledore in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise.

No details were given about his "Skeleton Crew" role. The series, which follows a group of kids lost in the "Star Wars' universe, does not have a release date.

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Halle Bailey's live-action 'Little Mermaid' debuts first full trailer at the ...

Halle Bailey's version of "The Little Mermaid" will soon be part of our world.

The upcoming live-action Disney film, coming to theaters May 26, debuted its first full-length trailer during the Oscars on Sunday, giving fans their first real glimpses at Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), King Triton, (Javier Bardem), and Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) – tentacles and all.

"It has been such an honor to step into the iconic role of Ariel," Bailey said on stage at the Dolby Theater, joined by co-star McCarthy. "It's been an extraordinary experience; a dream come true for me."

McCarthy added: "For 100 years, the Walt Disney Company has produced some of the best heroes, villains and stories of all time. And this amazing legacy would not be complete without 'The Little Mermaid.'"

She noted 1,735 "remarkable film artists, technicians and craftspeople came together to tell this new story. I may be biased, but I have enjoyed making this film and it has been a complete joy."

The trailer includes several recognizable scenes out of the 1989 animated film: the shipwreck that nearly drowned Prince Eric, Ursula inviting Ariel to trade her voice for human legs, Ariel and Prince Eric's romantic "Kiss The Girl" boat ride and Ariel singing "Part of Your World."

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Bailey, 22, stepped out on the Oscars red carpet in a custom teal tulle Dolce & Gabbana gown fit for an incoming Disney princess. Earlier in the evening, she hinted at an Oscars trailer drop.

"I'm here for a reason is what I'll say," Bailey teased to Laverne Cox on the E! red carpet.

"You're here for a reason: because you're a superstar, darling," Cox replied.

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'The Little Mermaid' teaser trailer, Ariel doll spark excitement

Fans got a first glimpse at Bailey's Ariel in September at Disney fan expo D23, where director Rob Marshall called Bailey's performance "a tour de force."

"It’s the range of what Halle brings, full and emotional and so joyous and fighter. You see all the sides of her," Marshall said.

Marshall said there would be four new songs in the movie from the team of Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda – the first time the duo have collaborated together.

"And it's magical," Marshall added.

Another teaser released last month offered the first (tiny!) glimpse of Melissa McCarthy in character as the iconic villain Ursula.

After some quick shots of Halle Bailey's Ariel gracefully swimming through the sea, the 42-second teaser ends with a shadowy shot of what seems to be McCarthy's Ursula looking menacingly at the camera over one of her tentacles. At the end of the teaser, McCarthy lets out her character's signature, villainous laugh.

Last week, Bailey unveiled a new doll based on her turn as the famed red-headed mermaid.

“I have something really exciting to reveal to you all. I am going to cry,” she said in an Instagram video, before holding up the toy. “This is the new 'Little Mermaid' doll. I am literally choking up, because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that’s my favorite Disney character, is very surreal."

Bailey also marveled at the detail that went into making the doll look like her.

"She even has my mole, see?" she said. "The hair and the tail... I’m just stunned, so I don’t quite know what to do with it, but I’m going to steal this and take it home and hide it forever."

In the video's caption, Bailey added that "the little girl in me is pinching herself right now."

Contributing: Bryan Alexander and Charles Trepany

'brb gonna go cry':Halle Bailey tears up unveiling new 'Little Mermaid' doll based on her

More:'The Little Mermaid' teaser trailer gives first glimpse of Melissa McCarthy as Ursula

No magic for Disney investors | CNN Business

New York CNN Business —

Disney investors aren’t having as awful a year as Netflix shareholders. But that’s not saying much.

Netflix’s stock (NFLX) has plunged more than 40% this year, ahead of its first quarter earnings release after the closing bell Tuesday. Meanwhile, shares of Disney (DIS) have dropped nearly 15% so far in 2022. That makes Disney (DIS) one of the worst performers in the Dow, which is down just 4% this year.

Both companies have been plagued by concerns about streaming competition and the fierce battle for subscribers.

Inflation is a problem, too. A recent report from the United Kingdom showed that consumers are cutting back on streaming services due to worries about rising prices, and UK customers were dropping Disney+ at a faster rate than Netflix and Amazon’s (AMZN) Prime Video. (Disney also owns Hulu and the sports streaming service ESPN+.)

Stream dreams have turned to profit nightmares

Despite Disney’s massive library of movies and shows thanks to its own branded studio, as well as Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars creator Lucasfilm, investors are worried that this abundance of content won’t boost streaming subscription growth enough to offset slowdowns in its traditional broadcast and cable TV businesses.

“Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ have the scale and management conviction to over time be a massive global streamer,” said JPMorgan analyst Philip Cusick in a report Tuesday. But he added that “this isn’t necessarily as good a business as Disney used to have in TV.”

Traditional media companies like Disney used to rely a lot more on lucrative advertising sales and affiliate fees from cable companies to carry their channels, but the shift to streaming has upended that model. Investors now are more interested in streaming margins and not merely the bragging rights that come from how many subscribers a company has.

“The market appears to be moving past rewarding media companies, as it did in 2020 and 2021, simply for their forecast of future streaming subscriber growth,” said MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson in a report last month.

“Now it seems that investors are looking further down the income statement — and also, finally, digging through the cash flow statement — to try to determine the underlying steady state profitability of the pivot to Direct-to-Consumer content delivery,” Nathanson added.

Nathanson lowered his price target on Disney in March from $165 a a share to $150 due in part to worries about lower profit margins.

Florida controversy still an issue for Disney

Disney has also come under fire after CEO Bob Chapek initially refused to speak out against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which bans schools from teaching students from kindergarten through the third grade about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Following criticism from Disney workers, Chapek eventually did condemn the law. But some Republicans are now threatening Disney with boycotts while many Democrats feel Chapek’s response came too late and had some pining for the days of former Disney CEO Bob Iger, who was a more outspoken advocate for progressive causes.

Whether or not the Florida controversy is having an actual impact on Disney+ subscriptions, movie and theme park attendance and ratings for Disney-owned ABC and ESPN is up for debate.

However, one analyst noted that the “Don’t Say Gay” issue could also hurt the company in another way, if more liberal Hollywood celebrities decide not to work with the House of Mouse.

“The single most important [Disney] asset is its brand, next is its talent. If the controversy leads to a loss of key creative talent, it would clearly be a negative,” said Loop Capital’s Alan Gould in a report earlier this month.

Whatever happens, it’s clear that Wall Street is not happy with how Disney has performed since Chapek took over from Iger in February 2020.

Disney shares are now hovering near their lowest levels since November 2020. To be sure, Chapek was dealt a bad hand since the start of his tenure coincided with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, an event that led to a dramatic slowdown in tourism and leisure activities like going to see movies.

Disney should have a big 2022 at the box office

But some are hopeful that Disney will be able to soon turn things around.

Michael Morris of Guggenheim Securities wrote in a report late last month that the parks business should rebound thanks to new attractions like “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” and “Avengers Campus,” increased visits from foreign travelers to the flagship resorts in Orlando and California and a full reopening of international parks and cruise lines.

And JPMorgan’s Cusick noted Disney’s strong slate of movies this summer and later this year as a positive.

Box office revenue should start to bounce back thanks to the upcoming releases of sequels for Marvel’s Dr. Strange, Thor and Black Panther, the Pixar movie “Lightyear” about the inspiration behind the popular “Toy Story’ character. Also coming is the highly anticipated first sequel to the 2009 hit “Avatar.” (“Avatar 3” will follow in 2024.)

Disney’s Marvel, along with partner Sony, has already proven that film fans will return to theaters in droves for big blockbusters. Last year’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is the third-highest grossing movie ever in the US.

Analysis: Why racist 'The Little Mermaid' arguments don't hold up ...

CNN —

Ever since Disney released the first look for its 2023 live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” the internet has been sodden with wave after wave of racist critics complaining that Ariel, the completely fictional underwater fish woman, shouldn’t be Black. Hashtags like #notmyariel are bouncing around social media, and YouTube hid the dislike counter on the official video after it was bombarded with racist comments and more than 1.5 million “dislikes.” One group of critics went as far as to share a digitally altered version of the teaser that featured a White woman in place of the movie’s star Halle Bailey, who they called a “woke actress.”

By now, we know it’s not unusual to see racist responses whenever a person of color is cast in a role considered “traditionally” White. While there are plenty of legitimate reasons to dislike a movie, these critics often hide their discomfort behind other thin arguments, claiming historical or cultural accuracy or, of all things, science.

Here are some real arguments people have levied to protest the casting choice. The facts prove they just don’t hold water.

Claim: ‘The Little Mermaid’ is a Danish story, therefore Ariel should be White

The original “Little Mermaid” story was written by Hans Christian Andersen and first published in 1837. If we’re going to dignify this argument, according to the text, Ariel and the rest of her mermaid kin are from “far out in the ocean” (literally the opening lines of the story) at the “bottom of the sea.” So, not Denmark or anywhere near it.

If critics are truly worried about staying faithful to the original story, we shouldn’t gloss over the original ending where the mermaid is instructed to kill her prince, but throws the knife away in despair and dissolves into sea foam instead. Not to mention, while the 1989 Disney version has a Prince Eric with bright blue peepers, Anderson specifically described the prince as having “coal-black eyes” and “raven hair.” (Also “The Little Mermaid,” who doesn’t even have a name in the original story, isn’t real.)

Claim: Mermaids live under the sea and therefore would not have dark skin

Could be a mermaid, who knows. @adopamanatee

“From a scientific perspective, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to have someone with darker skin who lives deep in the ocean.” So says far-right pundit Matt Walsh, who opined about the “Little Mermaid” casting on “The Matt Walsh Show.” He claims he framed the comment as a joke, since he goes on to say that “not only should the Little Mermaid be pale, she should, actually, be translucent.” However, the context of his comment is still racially charged, and he still implies pale skin is closer to a “scientific” mermaid than dark skin.

Again, if we’re going to take an academic look at these unnecessary bits of discourse, not all abyssal creatures are pale. Not all underwater creatures are pale. Also, since mermaids also get close enough to the surface to see other humans, if you want to look at it scientifically, mermaids would probably have a specific type of pigmentation that allowed for both a deep sea and shallow water existence. We also know that, centuries ago, seafarers often mistook one particular animal for a mermaid: the manatee, which is not pale. (Also “The Little Mermaid” isn’t real.)

Claim: Mermaids are a European mythological figure and therefore Ariel should be White

Numerous Twitter scraps have cropped up with people trying to argue European folklore, or even Homerian epics like “The Odyssey,” have some sort of monopoly on the idea of mermaids. In reality, it’s fascinating to see how many different cultures throughout history have arrived at parallel folklorical themes. Humanoid creatures that dwell in the water are part of innumerable mythologies around the world.

East Asian and Oceanic folklore is replete with stories of underwater kingdoms and merpeople both good and evil, from the Magindara in some Philippine regions to the tale of the Indian Princess Suriratna or Hwang-ok that reached South Korea. Middle Eastern folktales compiled in the classic “Arabian Nights” collection, which dates back more than a thousand years, feature several accounts of sea-dwelling human creatures. In parts of continental Africa and among the African diaspora, folklore describing water spirits, oftentimes in the shape of beautiful women, are common. According to Shona mythology in Zimbabwe, the “njuzu” are mermaids who occupy lakes or rivers.

(Also, not all Europeans are White. Also, “The Little Mermaid” isn’t real.)

Claim: Making Ariel Black is ruining childhoods and changing the character

On message boards and comment sections across the internet, people are debating whether a new, dark-skinned Ariel somehow negates or erases the classic 1989 version.

Disney’s 1989 “The Little Mermaid” is still available to watch, own and share. The animated character of Ariel is part of Disney’s wildly profitable “Disney Princess” franchise and her name and image are valuable and heavily trademarked Disney properties. The red-haired, fair-skinned Ariel is here to stay.

Far from ruining childhoods, many fans think making a different iteration of Ariel will only increase the Disney magic. Just look at the sweet reactions of young Black children and the praise of Disney icons like Jodi Benson, the voice of the original Ariel.

Videos of young Black girls reacting to 'Little Mermaid' trailer go viral 01:07 - Source: CNN

More importantly, the remake of one film doesn’t erase the existence of the previous films: 1999’s Mr. Darcy and 2005’s Mr. Darcy live in harmony with every other character from the roughly 300 “Pride and Prejudice” film remakes. Pennywise looks different in every “It” iteration, as does Frankenstein’s monster. The story of “Cinderella,” which predates even the famous Brothers Grimm version, seems to have a different remake out every year. One notable version, 1997’s “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” featured a racially diverse cast that included singer Brandy as the first Black Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother. It aired on TV as part of the “Wonderful World of Disney.”

While Disney has produced a very famous iteration of “The Little Mermaid,” it isn’t the first, only, or universally definitive work. No one owns the concept of mermaids or what they look like. A White, red-haired animated teenager is not the only version of “The Little Mermaid” to exist.

Also – and this is very important – “The Little Mermaid” isn’t real.

Star Wars Celebration: Daisy Ridley returning as Rey in new movie

LONDON – New adventures are coming for Star Wars fans around the world.

Devotees dressed in cosplay, filmmakers and stars from the universe gathered Friday at Star Wars Celebration, the April 7-10 fan convention where filmmakers discussed the future of the franchise's films and TV series.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy took the Celebration Stage with featured guests to discuss what's next and revealed a new "Star Wars" movie, one of three, starring a returning Daisy Ridley.

As the stage filled with stars and Star Wars creators alike, a crowd of 10,000 cheered and clapped for a glimpse at previously unseen footage and insight from behind the scenes. Lightsabers raised, the audience welcomed teasers for "Ahsoka," "Skeleton Crew," "The Acolyte" and the new season of "The Mandalorian," celebrating the chance to see some famous faces.

Lucasfilm announces three new 'Star Wars' movies, one starring Daisy Ridley as Rey

New "Star Wars" movies are coming to the big screen: Kennedy announced that three films are on the way, with the goal of widening the cinematic timeline from past to present to a "rich" future.

"It's still very early days," Kennedy cautioned the crowd as people grew excited. She then invited several of the films' directors onto the stage. These include James Mangold, who will direct "Dawn of the Jedi," about the earliest era of "Star Wars."

Mangold, who is still writing the film, told USA TODAY he was inspired by the idea of a "biblical epic" that explains where the spirituality of the force originates. The film, which was not given a release or start date, will truly be about the "dawning of the religion that drives 'Star Wars.'"

"It gives you elbow room to create a world," he said, adding he's in the process of "designing" everything about this early world, from what characters wear to the ships they will travel in. "So many of the tricks of working within the tighter fabric of the (existing) movies is the realities that have already been set, which can create compromises. For me, it's about getting to a period of time that connects to the grand story" while standing on its own.

Mangold said he's excited to bring "Star Wars" back to theaters and reignite the community element of watching the films together.

Director Dave Filoni said his film will explore the New Republic Era, including an epic war.

Pulling threads together between the TV and film worlds is a "big tapestry that's being woven. I love to think of stories in that context. You're not bound at all. I hope you walk into that theater and whether you've seen a series or not, you enjoy the movie," he said.

That film will close out the interconnected stories of the Disney+ TV series, including "The Mandalorian," "The Book of Boba Fett" and "Ahsoka."

Ridley returns to 'Star Wars'

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy rounded out the directors' panel Friday and said she's spearheading a third film about a "new Jedi order" with a Jedi academy led by a "powerful Jedi master."

Who will this new master be? The crowd roared as Ridley took the stage. Ridley, Rey in the most recent film trilogy, will play this leader and told the crowd how excited she was to be stepping into the role. The film will be set after "The Rise of Skywalker," the last "Star Wars" movie.

No release dates were given for the three films.

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'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' unveils a new trailer

In a brief break from the "Star Wars" action, fans were also treated to a new trailer for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," with star Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge on hand to greet the crowd. The Harrison Ford film, the fifth in the series and also directed by Mangold, is due in theaters June 30.

New details revealed about Season 3 of 'The Mandalorian'

You may already be keeping up with Season 3 of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian," which debuted last month on Disney+ and features everyone's favorite helmet-wearing hero, The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), racing through the galaxy and intoning, "This is the way."

In the eight new episodes, Mando and Grogu (Baby Yoda) are back – although not without confusion for fans who may have missed "The Book of Boba Fett," which streamed in early 2022 and depicts what happened between Seasons 2 and 3 of "Mandalorian."

This season is all about showing different points of view of the world, said Filoni, who plays Trapper Wolf, especially exploring the idea of what happens when a Mandalorian removes their helmet.

This season is about "examining this idea of culture and what it means to be Mandalorian," said Rick Famuyiwa, who plays Jib Dodger and has directed and executive produced the season.

Cast members Giancarlo Esposito, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers and Emily Swallow joined the Celebration stage and eight minutes from upcoming episodes were shown to attendees.

'The Mandalorian':How Baby Yoda grows up in Season 3

'Ahsoka' to launch in August on Disney+ with Rosario Dawson

The first season of the series starring Rosario Dawson is coming in August.

Filoni, donning a T-shirt with his own custom "Ashoka" design, told reporters that he's known this character since she was 14, so he's excited to lead her story into its next chapter (and think about its connections with his upcoming film).

"I've had so many pinch-me moments," Dawson said of filming the show. Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who plays Sabine Wren, joined the stage in addition to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Hera Syndulla. First-look images of the actors in character were displayed on the massive screen above the Celebration stage before the audience watched the first trailer for the series.

'Skeleton Crew' shares first footage with Jude Law

A series about a group of kids with "a sense of wonder" is also on the way, Filoni said.

The idea came before Disney+ even launched, said head writer Jon Favreau. But he was inspired to make a show about young people and took it to Kennedy.

"It was meant to be," Kennedy said, adding past shows haven't been meant for kids as much as about kids. The show stars Jude Law, who took the stage to chat about working with young actors, and will be directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and Lee Isaac Chung.

'The Acolyte' arrives in 2024 with Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae

The "Star Wars" TV epic is also headed to the next chapter, with a new 2024 Disney+ project called "The Acolyte," created by Leslye Headland. The show explores the perspectives of the villains, Headland told fans, describing it as a "'Frozen' meets 'Kill Bill'" vibe set between the High Republic and the beginning of the prequels.

"This is such an exciting (part) of the timeline, but also when the bad guys are outnumbered. They are the underdogs," Headland said, promising "lots of Jedi."

The show is inspired by martial arts films and captures "the spiritual war" going on during this time in the universe.

"The show is female-led," said Jodie Turner-Smith, one of the stars. "There's a sense of how important it was ... that energy alone coming from behind the camera felt important."

Actor Amandla Stenberg ("The Hate U Give") told the crowd she was attracted to the show's "magical realism," and co-star Lee Jung-jae ("Squid Game") said he was "still shaking" from his first experience filming while holding a lightsaber.

Stenberg told USA TODAY she loves most that she plays a figure with "tenacity" and "ferocity."

Final season for 'Andor' set for August 2024

Also coming is Season 2 of "Andor." Director Tony Gilroy joined the stage with the series' cast and announced a planned August 2024 release date for what will be the show's final season.

"If you know your ending, it really helps," Gilroy said. "We know exactly where we're going."

Contributing: Brian Truitt and Kelly Lawler

'Lilo & Stich' live-action film's casting sparks colorism backlash

As production on a live-action remake of the Disney film “Lilo & Stich” gets underway, fans are sounding off on the casting of one of its stars.

Actress Sydney Agudong was cast in the role of Nani, the older sister of protagonist Lilo, in the sci-fi comedy that follows two orphaned Hawaiian sisters who unwittingly befriend an alien fugitive named Stich. Agudong was born and raised on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Despite Agudong’s Hawaiian descent, people have taken to social media to scrutinize the appropriateness of her casting given the actress’ light skin tone, which contrasts with the darker complexion of the original Nani from the 2002 animated film.

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Fans blast Sydney Agudong’s ‘Lilo & Stich’ casting on social media

A number of fans took to social media following Agudong’s casting as Nani in the upcoming adaptation of “Lilo & Stich,” many taking issue with casting a light-skinned actor for a dark-skinned character.

“If they’re not going to cast a thick brown skin Pacific Islander as Nani why bother even filming the live action Lilo and Stitch,” Twitter user @eureckah1 wrote. “They won’t be getting a penny from me.”

“The conflict occurring in Lilo and Stitch being about the colonialist state attempting to pull this tiny ‘broken’ native Hawaiian family apart is made more apparent by their both being darker skinned girls,” user @FaatiTheStreet tweeted. “Casting a lighter skinned Hawaiian to play Nani interferes with that.”

One Twitter user distinguished Agudong’s casting as Nani from the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”

“Nani’s character has a real human ethnicity relevant to the plot which should be represented by a dark skin native Hawaiian,” the user wrote. “Meanwhile mermaids aren’t real and can be anything.”

“Colorism really (messed up) Nani's casting for the live action Lilo and Stitch,” user @ello_bitty tweeted. “Yes the actress is a native Hawaiian, but she is also light skinned and white passing while Nani is not and never had been. She deserves better.”

“What is so difficult about casting Hawaiian actors with deep complexions?” user @isaiahbeenlost wrote on Twitter. “When will the colorism in Hollywood finally be addressed? It’s so sickening.”

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Halle Bailey’s casting in ‘The Little Mermaid’ draws controversy

The controversy over Agudong’s casting in “Lilo & Stich” isn’t the first time Disney has come under fire for the racial diversity of its casting.

News of Bailey’s casting as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” which is set for a May 26 release, similarly divided fans, who debated the accuracy of casting Bailey – a Black woman – in the role of Ariel, who appeared as a light-skinned, redheaded mermaid in the 1989 animated film.

“Ariel has been white with red hair for 50 years, keep it the way it was,” Twitter user @McKaylaRoseRed wrote.

Despite criticism from some, Bailey’s casting as Ariel also elicited an outpouring of love from young Black girls on social media, who reveled in seeing a Black woman portray the iconic mermaid.

'Brown Ariel is cute':Halle Bailey in 'The Little Mermaid' trailer thrills young girls

Disney's live-action 'Little Mermaid' arrives soon. Here's what to know.

Naomi Scott’s casting as Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ received criticism

Actress Naomi Scott, who is of English and Indian descent, was tapped to portray Princess Jasmine in the 2019 live-action adaptation of “Aladdin.” The film won a People’s Choice Award for favorite family movie and earned Scott a Teen Choice Award for best sci-fi/fantasy actress.

However, despite the film’s acclaim, Scott’s casting in the film about a dark-skinned princess living in the Middle East drew criticism.

“Naomi scott is half white and half gujarati ( indian ) while aladdin is a middle eastern story,” user @vaguetapes tweeted. “The casting wasn’t accurate at all.”

Disney agreed to redraw Princess Tiana after backlash for lightening skin

The depiction of Princess Tiana, who originally appeared in the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog,” in the 2018 film “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” drew the ire of fans who criticized the lightening of the Black character’s skin in the latter.

“I kind of thought people were overreacting at first about Tiana’s look in the last Ralph Breaks the Internet screencap, but I was so wrong,” user @disney__tasthic tweeted. “Looking at her beside the hand drawn Tiana, she looks nearly unrecognizable.”

Anika Noni Rose, the voice actress who plays Tiana, and racial advocacy group Color of Change reportedly met with Disney animators following the initial backlash. In the end, Disney agreed to redraw Tiana’s appearance in the film.

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Contributing: Sonja Haller, USA TODAY

Disney's 'Reflect' stars a young plus-size ballet dancer, exciting fans ...

CNN —

Disney finally has its first young plus-size heroine, and fans across the internet are elated.

“Reflect” is a short film now on Disney+ about a young ballet dancer named Bianca who struggles with her body image. Though the film was first released on the platform in September as a part of the studio’s Short Circuit Experimental Films series, many social media users are now celebrating “Reflect” as a win for representation among young girls.

“16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didn’t want to be the fat girl in class anymore,” one user on Twitter said. “I’m glad little ones will have this. 10/10 for Reflect!”

“I don’t think y’all comprehend, this is my Ariel,” a TikTok user said in a video, captioned “(Disney+) you really got me in my feelings.”

Disney did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.

Body positivity is something director Hillary Bradfield strongly believes in, she said in an interview featured at the start of the short. Making the film from the perspective of a dancer, she explained, felt natural.

“It’s a part of the craft to be looking at your posture and checking things in the mirror, so it just seemed like a really good way to put her in that environment where she has to look at herself and she doesn’t want to,” Bradfield said.

Eventually, Bianca is able to dance freely. From Disney Animation/Twitter

In the short, Bianca is able to overcome her negative feelings and dance freely. But body positivity and self-acceptance can be easier said than done, Bradfield said.

“When people watch the short, I hope that they can feel more positively about themselves and how they look, and feel okay about the tough parts of their journey,” Bradfield said. “Sometimes you go to the dark place to get to the good place. And that just makes the good place that much more beautiful.”

Disney has made multiple steps in recent years to improve the diversity of its characters in its animated films. Earlier this year, the show “Baymax,” a spin-off from “Big Hero 6” featured a transgender character. In 2020, Disney’s Pixar released its first animated feature starring a Black character, with “Soul.”

These recent depictions are a departure from those seen in many of the company’s prior movies. The Disney/Pixar film “Wall-E,” released in 2008, negatively portrayed obesity in humans as synonymous with environmental destruction – a lazy depiction that lacked nuance, according to some critics.

'Mulan': Disney's live-action teaser debuts without singing or Mushu

Our first real glimpse of Disney's live-action "Mulan" is here.

Disney unveiled an official teaser trailer on Sunday, introducing fans to Yifei Liu, who takes the title role in the remake of the popular 1998 animated film inspired by the legendary Chinese ballad. Missing from the footage: Any hint whether the new movie will be a musical or feature fan-favorite animated dragon Mushu.

In the trailer, Mulan's mother announces that a matchmaker has found Mulan "an auspicious match." Her father agrees that it's "what is best for our family."

"Yes," Mulan replies. "I will bring honor to us all."

"Quiet, composed, graceful, disciplined. These are the qualities we see in a good wife," the matchmaker narrates over an impressive action sequence of Mulan training as an army soldier. "These are the qualities we see in Mulan,"

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'Mulan' turns 20:Why the live-action version should replicate the animated musical

Subtle callbacks to the original "Mulan" are visible in the teaser: The matchmaker's base, reflecting pool and army camps are reminiscent of their animated counterparts. Mulan's matchmaker gown also looks similar, and notes from the instrumental music sound vaguely like "Honor to Us All" and "Reflection."

Slated for release March 27, 2020, and directed by Niki Caro, the live-action adaptation follows Hua Mulan, the fearless young daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou, who impersonates a man to take her father's place during a Hun invasion and becomes one of China's greatest heroines.

Liu (also known as Crystal Liu) was announced for the lead role in November, following a year-long search of five continents that looked at nearly 1,000 candidates. The part requires credible martial arts skills, the ability to speak English and, clearly, star quality.

Joining Liu in "Mulan" is “Star Wars: Rogue One” standout Donnie Yen as the warrior's mentor Commander Tung. Jason Scott Lee stars as the villainous warrior Bori Khan. Gong Li (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Raise the Red Lantern”) will portray a villainous witch and Jet Li (“Shaolin Temple,” “Lethal Weapon 4”) stars as The Emperor who calls up the troops.

Contributing: Bryan Alexander

How to watch 'Hocus Pocus 2'

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The Sanderson Sisters are back...again. Nearly 30 years after the cult-favorite film Hocus Pocus premiered, its original cast is reuniting for a highly anticipated sequel that is now streaming exclusively on Disney+ as of today, Friday, September 30.

“I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life," director Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, 27 Dresses) said in a press release. "[T]o be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”

The whole girl gang is getting back together as Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will return as Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson.

Here's everything we know about the film.

►Review: Beloved Halloween cult classic loses its magic in wretched sequel

Where to stream Hocus Pocus 2 online

You'll be able to stream the new Hocus Pocus sequel on September 30, 2022, on Disney+. You can stream the original Hocus Pocus, plus Pixar and Marvel films, as well as everything else Disney+ has to offer wherever you’re connected to the internet on Disney+. Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming service is available in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Channel Islands, France, Germany, India, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Disney+ is supported on desktop browsers, a wide range of mobile devices, smart TVs, and game consoles. The platform serves as the new home for Walt Disney Studios films as well as original, exclusive Disney+ content like the upcoming Hocus Pocus sequel, as well as Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series—including The Mandalorian and the final season of The Clone Wars—and a full slate of live-action Marvel shows.

What is Hocus Pocus 2 about?

The Sanderson Sisters can't stay dead for long. By the end of the 1993 film, the sisters have been turned to dust, outwitted by Max Dennison, his younger sister Dani and his classmate/love interest Allison. The Hocus Pocus sequel will see the sisters summoned back to life by Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), two young high-school students. The film will take place in Salem and follow the girls as they try to stop the witches.

Recently, Disney dropped a full-length trailer, teasing what's to come in the highly anticipated sequel.

Production on the film began in the fall of 2021 and Bette Midler took to social media in January to confirm that filming was complete. Adam Shankman (Disenchanted) was originally set to direct the sequel but has been replaced by Anne Fletcher. Shankman will stay on as executive producer.

“As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney+, due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work,” Shankman said in a press release. “I am still grateful and proud to help shepherd this ingenious project as executive producer alongside producer Lynn Harris, whom I have loved and admired as a colleague and friend since she helped get me the job choreographing ‘Boogie Nights.’”

How to sign up for Disney+

To watch the highly anticipated Hocus Pocus sequel when it drops, you can subscribe to Disney+ today for $7.99 a month or $79.99 per year. You can also opt to get the service as part of a special value bundle with ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99 a month in total.

Disney+ is available to watch through the following devices:

Roku streaming devices

TVs with built-in Roku

Apple TV iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch models

Android phones

Android TV devices

Google Chromecast

Xbox One

Xbox Series X

PlayStation 4

Playstation 5

Sony TVs with built-in Android

LG TV

Samsung

Chrome OS, MacOS, or any Windows PC

If you’re hoping to stream on another device in the future, you can sign up for email updates to stay in the know.

In addition to its all-new programming, Disney+ offers on-demand access to other classics like A Goofy Movie, Fantasia, High School Musical, Lilo & Stitch, The Sword in the Stone, Toy Story, Tron, Up and Wall-E. The extensive library also includes such beloved TV series as Boy Meets World, DuckTales, Kim Possible, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, That’s So Raven and 30 seasons of The Simpsons.

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