Toy Story 4 confirmed for 2017

Disney CEO, Bob Iger, confirmed today via an investor call today that Disney and Pixar will release a fourth Toy Story film in 2017. John Lasseter will return to direct as will Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. And, naturally, the film will be released in 3D.

This isn't necessarily unexpected as Toy Story 3 was dynamite and kickstarted the franchise a bit. We have had Toy Story short films since Toy Story 3 and a fourth film has been rumored for a year or two already.
I personally find this somewhat disappointing because I think Pixar is turning into sequel territory and it's unfortunate. We have Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur coming up, but we also have Finding Dory and announced sequels for The Incredibles as well as a third Cars film. I don't like it. Pixar is best with original stories.

Frozen to become Disney on Ice show

This train just keeps rolling right along.

The newest update on Disney's expansion of Frozen is that they will integrate the film into a Disney on Ice show that will premiere this September in Orlando, FL. I have personally seen Disney on Ice and I will admit that this is probably the best way to expand this story.
Apparently this new ice show will require 39 skaters, nine tractor trailers, and 20 snow machines. Disney on Ice shows have been produced by Feld Entertainment since 1981 and the shows usually integrate several storylines and Disney characters. However, this new tour will be solely centered around Elsa and Anna as well as the supporting characters like Olaf and Sven.

Frozen became the highest grossing animated film of all time back in March when it surpassed the $1.063 billion mark. It also earned several Oscars including Best Animated Feature. Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced their intent to transform Frozen into a Broadway musical. Elsa is also being integrated into the ABC show, Once Upon a Time.

Star Wars Episode VII timeframe revealed

Disney CEO, Bob Iger, has leaked some information about the severely secretive Star Wars Episode VII plot. Iger stated that  the new Star Wars will take place 30 years after the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He also mentioned a trio of new lead characters will lead familiar characters. So far, the only official cast member announced is R2-D2 but it has been rumored for months that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill will be returning as well.

This is just more to add to the rumor pot regarding Episode VII. We literally know nothing about this movie other than the director, writers, R2-D2, and that filming starts in May.

Lionsgate developing a Hunger Games theme park?

This is some interesting news. Apparently Lionsgate has been approached regarding a theme park concept for The Hunger Games franchise. CEO Jon Feltheimer mentioned that he has been approached in two territories about possible theme parks. There is no telling exactly what these concepts would be about or where they would show up, but it would be awkward for sure. I don't know if many theme park guests would want to ride and attraction that focused on children killing each other. I also don't know what park this would appear at. I would assume Lionsgate would have to sell certain rights to the franchise to get it to appear inside Universal Studios and I doubt Disney would jump on it.

In other theme park news, Disney CEO Bob Iger elaborated on the rumors of a Star Wars takeover of the Disney Parks worldwide. He confirmed that concepts for more Star Wars attractions are in development at Disney Imagineering for Disneyland in California and Disneyworld in Florida, but there is nothing set in stone just yet. He also says once the domestic concepts are completed they will move on to include more Star Wars in the international parks in Paris, Tokyo, and Shanghai.

Planned SW spin-offs for Han Solo and Boba Fett?

Disney is about an inch away from making me go insane.

EW is claiming two of the Star Wars spin-offs Disney is planning will be a movie about a young Han Solo and a movie about Boba Fett. The Solo film would take place in the time between Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) and A New Hope (Episode IV). The Boba Fett movie would take place between A New Hope (Episode IV) and Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) or between Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) and Return of the Jedi (Episode VI).
Given the time frame of these apparent spin-offs this gives Disney the perfect opportunity to bring back characters like Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, Yoda, all the Stormtroopers and Rebels they want, etc.. I have no doubt they will, too.

Truth be told... we don't need any of this. We don't even need a new trilogy. This shit is all about money and it's disgusting.

Disney confirms stand-alone Star Wars films

Disney is sure having a field day with this new toy they acquired.

Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the rumor of stand-alone Star Wars films that will not be part of the new trilogy is in fact true. Disney is working on separate Star Wars films that are not going to be considered an "episode" that fits into the new Star Wars trilogy which is set to begin with Episode VII. Here is an excerpt from Iger's comments via CNBC:

"I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few standalone films, Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. We still plan to make Star Wars 7, 8, and 9 roughly over a six-year period of time, starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period, too."

Now... another rumor has surfaced that the first stand-alone film is going to be centered around Yoda but naturally Iger had nothing to say about that rumor. I personally hope that remains to be a crock of shit, but knowing what Disney is capable of it is most likely true. I wonder if everyone who was happy about Disney acquiring Star Wars is still happy.

Disney buys Lucasfilm: Star Wars Episode VII in the works for 2015

I am in shock. I don't want to live on this planet anymore. There is officially no happiness left.

Bob Iger... go fuck yourself. You too, George Lucas.

Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4 billion; Star Wars Episode VII will kick off new trilogy in 2015

George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy have met with writers for Episode VII

Bob Iger and George Lucas talk the acquisition of Lucasfilm.


EDIT: So I have had some time to calm down a little bit since first discovering this. If you didn't know already, I am a huge Star Wars fan. I have collectibles, I know all 6 movies like the back of my hand, I quote them, I have tattoos, etc.. I just love the hell out of Star Wars.
However, this is not good news for me. I love Disney, don't get me wrong, but Disney has become nothing but a cash cow. They do nothing but seek things that people love so they can squeeze every possible cent out of it. Take Marvel as an example. People have loved Marvel comics and characters for decades. The minute Disney gets their hands on it there is double the merchandise, double the Halloween costumes, they are putting Iron Man into Disneyland, and the list just goes on and on. Marvel is nothing but a coin bank for Bob Iger and it's to the point of disgusting at this point. It really is. Disney now owns and operates Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and some aspects of Apple. I swear by the time 2025 rolls around Disney will own the entire movie industry and/or DC Comics as well as Marvel. The biggest thing for them would be to also acquire characters like Batman and Superman.

Disney already had George Lucas to a point because of the Star Tours ride in Disneyland and Disneyworld. It was a great ride and I always loved it a lot. However, they completely ruined it by refurbishing it into this bullshit "Star Tours: The Adventures Continue" ride. It is in 3D, there are only 3 possible destinations despite them saying the possibilities are endless (it's a flat out lie), they jump from episode to episode to the point where it makes no sense, and they completely made it all about the damn prequels. When I rode the new version for the first time in March I knew it was all over when I saw Jar Jar Binks on the screen. I tried to unbuckle and exit the ride while it was in full swing. I just wanted nothing to do with it.
The point is after seeing what Disney did with Star Tours I have no confidence that they will do good things with the story and/or the characters. They will create stupid situations, stupid characters, and this new trilogy will be a piece of shit catered only to kids younger than the age of 12 because they don't know any better. They grew up with the crappy Clone Wars television show and the prequels being all they know. I feel sorry for any true Star Wars fan who is happy about this. I hope that I am wrong and will be surprised, but I'm not counting on it. I am so angry I could spit.