Disney+ Reportedly Planning To Add TV-Style Channels
The Disney+ experience was recently upgraded to include everything from Hulu through the same app if you subscribe to both services. But that may not be the only change coming to Disney+. The Information is reporting that Disney is planning to introduce new ad-supported TV-style channels that have a constant stream of programming 24/7.
The channels in question would follow the F.A.S.T. (Free ad-supported streaming television) model that has been popularized by Pluto TV and Tubi. The Information’s report suggests that the channels will be centered on the major brands of Disney+: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. However, there could also be more specialized channels devoted to older and modern Disney shows, as well as genre-specific channels.
Although the F.A.S.T. channel services are typically free to watch, it’s expected that a Disney+ subscription would still be required to watch these new channels. The whole point of adding them is to keep Disney+ users engaged on the platform, especially since the streamer has dramatically cut back on original programming in the last year.
If you think this sounds more and more like cable, then you’re not wrong. Streaming may allow fans to make their own programming lineup, but there’s still a segment of the audience that just wants to turn the TV or computer on and let it play without making any choices. For now, Disney hasn’t commented on The Information’s report.
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live Concert Tour Coming This Fall
Daniel Pemberton’s energetic score for 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse led to a national concert tour for the film. Pemberton also returned for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which currently has a concert tour in the United Kingdom. However, fans in the US won’t be left out. Via The Hollywood Reporter, Pemberton has revealed that the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert tour is launching its American run this fall.
“I always thought it’d be impossible to do live, because they jump between so many different ideas and genres,” Pemberton told THR. “But a long time ago, I did a couple of cues at a one-off film music festival, and I was really surprised at how effective it worked. So that got my brain thinking about trying to do the whole film live, and we did a couple of tests that went down phenomenally.”
Pemberton noted that he won’t be on hand for every appearance in the concert tour’s 50-plus dates in the United States. But he will try to be present for at least a few.
“I’m definitely going to do the London show [June 30th’s Royal Festival Hall] for a number of reasons,” said Pemberton. “It’s also conveniently close to my house. It’s a 10-minute ride. But when we do a really big show and they can get me there, I’ll try and do it. So I’ll definitely be at the world premiere, and I’d hope to be at some of the bigger ones in America. But it’s really about the schedule and all those kinds of things. I’m also not the world’s greatest guitarist, but I’m probably one of the best face slappers you can get.”
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert will start its US run on September 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. Additional dates for the concert series can be found on the show’s official site. Pemberton is also expected to return to compose the music for the next film, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which doesn’t currently have a release date.
Studio Ghibli’s The Boy And The Heron Limited-Edition 4K Blu-Ray Preorders Are Live
The Boy and the Heron is the newest film from the vaunted Studio Ghibli. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the animated movie arrived stateside last December–and if you’re looking to add it to your movie collection, you’ll be glad to hear that The Boy and the Heron Blu-ray preorders are now available at Amazon. Three different versions are up for grabs, including a fancy 4K steelbook edition. The steelbook matches the aesthetics of previous Studio Ghibli limited-edition releases, but unlike the vast majority of its predecessors, The Boy and the Heron is a 4K Blu-ray instead of a 1080p Blu-ray.
Everything related to Studio Ghibli is always popular, so if you’re looking to get your hands on any version of the film, we’d recommend preordering soon, as there’s a good chance they’ll sell out ahead of their summer launch date.
$45
The 4K UHD Blu-ray with steelbook is available to preorder for $45 at Amazon. For $40, you can get the 4K Blu-ray without the steelbook. Both 4K editions come with standard Blu-ray discs, too. Alternatively, you can preorder The Boy and the Heron on standard Blu-ray for $35. This version contains a DVD version of the film, too.
All three versions include heaps of bonus features, such as feature-length storyboards, interviews with team members, and more. All three launch on July 9.
As for the full list of special features, here’s what you’ll get.
The Boy and the Heron Special Features
- Feature-Length Storyboards
- Interview with Composer Joe Hisaishi
- Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki
- Interview with Supervising Animator Takeshi Honda
- Drawing with Takeshi Honda
- “Spinning Globe” Music Video
- Teasers and Trailers
If you want to add more Studio Ghibli films to your collection, you’ll find plenty of great deals at Amazon. Here’s a look at some of our favorites that are currently on sale, including some steelbook editions of the best Studio Ghibli films.
Studio Ghibli Deals
The Finals Gets Limited-Time Mode Without Respawns This Week
Embark Studios has announced that it is adding a new limited-time mode to The Finals on May 2.
The new mode is called Terminal Attack, and it’s a 5v5 tactical affair where two teams face off against each other. The attacking side must deliver a decryption key to a terminal and deposit cash, while the defending side must protect the terminal in a best-of-seven-rounds showdown, with no respawning during each round. Health regeneration is limited, Both healing beams and defibrillators are disabled.
This isn’t the first limited-time event The Finals has had. Back in January, the 1.6.0 update introduced the Steal the Spotlight event. Here, players loaded into a night map with a predetermined build and loadout in order to get past a series of tripwires and turrets defending the station.
The Terminal Attack mode will be included in the 2.6.0 update. In GameSpot’s The Finals review, we said, “The Finals mixes solid shooting with dynamic destruction and game-show-infused presentation to create a thrillingly chaotic concoction.”
The Finals was first released on in December 2023, and is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Save On Princess Peach: Showtime And More Mario Games This Week
Princess Peach: Showtime is on sale for its lowest price yet at a major retailer. Both Amazon and Walmart are selling the new Nintendo Switch exclusive for $51.54 roughly a month after its release in March. Though it’s not a massive discount by any means, for a Nintendo game, $50 tends to be the best price in the months after launch.
Our Princess Peach: Showtime review gave it a solid 7/10, thanks to its engaging visual design and gameplay variety.
“Princess Peach Showtime is a friendly, inviting game that’s made to be easy to digest,” wrote critic Steve Watts. “Some of the genres work better than others in this format, but none of them are too tricky or off-putting, and most of it will come down to personal taste. None of these stages are fleshed out enough to support their own game, but they’re an invitation for novice gamers to explore a bunch of different game types, with a charming (and apparently polymath) princess offering her gloved hand to welcome them in.”
Princess Peach: Showtime isn’t the only Nintendo Switch-exclusive game featuring Mushroom Kingdom characters you can save on right now. You can also grab Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario RPG for $45 each.
24-Film James Bond Collection Is Super Cheap At Amazon
Amazon has a tremendous deal on The James Bond Collection on Blu-ray. For a limited time, you can get the 24-film Blu-ray box set for only $51.19, which is over 50% off its $115 list price. Every Bond film except for No Time to Die is included in this collection. That said, there is a fantastic “No Time to Die” deal available, too. The 648-page James Bond Archives is discounted to only $60 at Amazon, down from $100. The James Bond Archives pulls back the curtain on the legendary franchise and is a very cool (and gorgeous) hardcover book that longtime fans will appreciate.
Back to the Blu-ray collection: Amazon’s box set deal is actually in response to Target’s offer. If Amazon sells out, just know you can also snag the collection for the same price at Target. The James Bond Collection is just one of a bunch of Blu-ray box set offers at Target. Another notable offer is the four-film John Wick collection for only $20.47.
The James Bond Collection at this price breaks down to about $2.13 per movie, which is quite the deal. The collection comes in a white box with images of all six of the men who have portrayed the iconic character over its 50-year run.
This box set is particularly good for longtime fans considering most Bond movies were released before the days of high definition. All 20 movies prior to Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond have been digitally remastered and run in high definition.
Alternatively, if you only care about Craig’s run as Bond, want even higher-quality visuals, or really want what you’re buying to include No Time to Die, Amazon has also discounted the 4K Daniel Craig collection. This includes all five of the movies he starred in (and, to some degree, tell a more interconnected story than we’re accustomed to seeing from Bond). You also get Blu-ray copies and digital codes to stream the five movies.
Disney Debuts First Trailer For Mufasa: The Lion King
The original Lion King wasn’t designed to be the start of an animated franchise, but that’s never stopped Disney from making sequels and and spin-off TV shows before. However, the upcoming film, Mufasa: The Lion King, is the first true prequel in the franchise, as the focus shifts to Simba’s father, Mufasa. The first trailer for Mufasa has arrived, and you can watch it below.
Although the trailer doesn’t make it clear, this is both a sequel and a prequel to the 2019 remake of The Lion King, and both Donald Glover and Beyoncé will reprise their respective roles as Simba and Nala, the proud parents of a daughter named Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter). The other returning characters, Rafiki (John Kani), Timon (Billy Eichner), and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), will be relating the legend of Kiara’s grandfather, Mufasa, to the young lioness.
Aaron Pierre is taking over the role of young Mufasa, who was previously portrayed by James Earl Jones in both versions of The Lion King. Kelvin Harrison Jr. will voice a younger version of Scar, who is called Taka in this film because he doesn’t yet have his signature scar on his face. In this version of the story, Mufasa and Taka aren’t brothers, but their fates are linked together. And perhaps we’ll learn why Taka felt so much enmity towards Mufasa later in life.
Thandiwe Newton and Lennie James co-star as Taka’s parents, Eshe and Obasi. Keith David and Anika Noni Rose also lend their voices to Mufasa’s parents, Masego and Afia. The film was directed by Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins and will feature new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Mufasa: The Lion King will hit theaters on Friday, December 20.
