D23 EXPO: NOTES & QUOTES
The latest on Mary Poppins Returns, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and more
Writer-director Rian Johnson introduced some scenes from Star Wars: The Last Jedi to a deafening salute at the recent D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif., where upcoming Disney, Pixar and Lucasfilm projects enjoyed showcases.
After the roar over Star Wars, Johnson, who was with key members of his cast, tried valiantly to explain what it’s like to write a Star Wars script.
“I wrote something, and it was terrible,” he said of his first draft. “And then I was watching one of the behind-the-scenes things and (Star Wars creator George) Lucas said, ‘It’s like writing a haiku.’”
In other words: “It’s like a poem — there’s very little room for error in trying to get it just right.”
Fans are hoping he did. Johnson reported that he finished his Star Wars opening crawl and locked the film late in June for its muchanticipated opening in December.
Here are more D23 highlights:
IN MARY POPPINS WE TRUST
Mary Poppins Returns hits theatres next December, but the new version isn’t like the 1964 Mary Poppins film starring Julie Andrews that families of multiple generations know so well.
In fact, there are seven other Poppins books written by P.L. Travers. And the new Mary Poppins, Emily Blunt, admitted during a panel that there is only one Julie Andrews.
“So I just had to do my version of her, and I think we were very loyal to the books,” Blunt said. “I think (Poppins) is a little more acerbic and odd and vain and weird in the books.”
And yes, original star Dick Van Dyke has a cameo in the updated movie, which is still a musical set in the Depression but will feature a 21st-century approach, according to director Rob Marshall.
FUNNY IS AS FUNNY SAYS
Favourite line: At the Avengers: Infinity War presentation, 14 of the all-star superheroes and a few super-villains were introduced. Incredibly, they all are part of the Marvel cinematic universe. Robert Downey Jr., a.k.a. Iron Man, said while acknowledging Marvel boss Kevin Feige, “We figured all of this out at Randy’s Donuts shooting Iron Man 2.”
Favourite scene: It’s from Ralph Breaks the internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, when Vanellope (voiced by Sarah Silverman) invades the lounging area of Disney’s seven famous princesses who are not what they appear to be.
WHO BECOMES A LEGEND MOST
The Disney Legends Hall of Fame is getting bigger: Oprah Winfrey is now a member. She earned an Oscar for her performance in The Color Purple and just wrapped her role as the all-powerful Mrs. Which in next year’s film version of the 1962 fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time. Winfrey stole the show with an announcement that explained she was giving away — not cars — but A Wrinkle in Time movie posters.
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher picked up Legend honours as well. Both are featured in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi. During his thank-you, Hamill noted that over the decades they had a complicated relationship, just like a real brother and sister.
“We were like siblings, good and bad,” said Hamill, who said that if Fisher were in the audience “she would have flipped me the bird at least twice.”
FROM THE NEW-ANDNOT-YET-PROVEN FILE
Disney trusted Tim Burton with Alice in Wonderland, so why not the live-action redo of Dumbo? Burton’s collaborating with Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Michael Keaton and competing with nostalgia for the original film. It’s the same trust factor with Jon Favreau, who will bring life to The Lion King after having huge success with The Jungle Book. Favreau will work on both The Lion King and his Jungle Book sequel at the same time.
Whale Rider director Niki Caro confirms she will cast Asian actors and actresses for the Mulan liveaction makeover.
Guy Ritchie’s directing the humanoid Aladdin, with Will Smith playing Genie. Obviously, expectations are higher for Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes reinvention than his recent King Arthur flop.
Finding Neverland director Marc Forster replaces Alex Ross Perry for the task of a live-action Winnie the Pooh.
Skyfall director Sam Mendes may or may not take on the equally difficult task of getting real with Pinocchio. Ditto Oliver Twist, James and the Giant Peach, Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid. Mermaid features songs from Lin Manuel-Miranda, who is also featured in Mary Poppins Returns.
Back in toon world, maybe a fourth time can be just as charming. Toy Story 4 will be in theatres by June 2019 and Disney-Pixar boss John Lasseter is trusting his Toy Story cinematic introduction to first-time feature film director Josh Cooley, who impressed with the short Riley’s First Date?. Cooley will have Inside Out producer Jonas Rivera for support and, of course, Lasseter.
Worst-kept sequel secret is Frozen 2, which is scheduled to hit theatres on Nov. 27, 2019. Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Idina Menzel are back with directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. Time will tell whether the second one will win an Oscar as well.
Animation gets a supersonic look into the future of aviation with lots of 3D special-effects help from directors Klay Hall and Roberts Gannaway. Their as yet untitled film is scheduled to be ready in April 2019.
Director Dan Scanlon is working on an animated fantasy focusing on two teenage elves who embark on a journey to spend a day with their long-lost father.