The House of Mouse celebrated its centennial in 2023 through monumental film and television releases and Disney Parks experiences, while dealing with real-world repercussions during historic writers and actors’ strikes. And then, of course, there was the whole ongoing skirmish with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Disney100 was one for the books with incredible peaks and challenging valleys for the Walt Disney Company as Bob Iger returned to lead the studio into the waters of 2023. This year, Star Wars took over streaming, Marvel adjusted to a new phase, Frozen-inspired lands opened overseas, and Walt Disney Animation unveiled a feature-length homage to its 2D and storytelling roots with Wish.
Leadership saw a change in public perception as the year went on. The head of the studio charged the company through its centennial anniversary with aplomb that was met with varying reactions online; Iger helped keep DeSantis on his toes, but he stuck his own foot in his mouth while speaking about the strikes. Thankfully, creatives are now returning to being the lifeblood of the company with their better deals—but it’s safe to say nobody at Disney will soon forget the events of 2023.
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For Disney100, Disney Animation released a love letter to its own fairytale mythology in Wish.
Disney’s Wish Illuminates a Century of Magical Animated History
Disney’s Jennifer Lee on World of Frozen and Co-Creating a New Heroine in Wish
Wish Directors on Crafting a Modern Fairytale to Celebrate Disney100
Frozen Celebrates 10 Years With Sequels and Disney Parks Lands
Disney Is Already Planning On a Frozen 4
Disney’s Robin Hood Is My Wife’s Favorite Movie, But Far From Mine
Disney’s Unsolved Mystery: Who Is Max Goof’s Mom?
Disney Sets Its Sights on Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia Sequels
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Marvel Studios might be having an off year but there was considerable fun and standout performances all around, particularly from our Ms. Marvel, Iman Vellani.
The Marvels Delivers a Cosmic Punch of Fun and Avenging Action
The Marvels’ Nia DaCosta Explains Why She Made a Family-Powered Movie
Damn, What Does Disney Have Against Nia DaCosta?
Loki’s Finale Fulfills a Destiny Burdened With Glorious Purpose
Loki Season 2 Brings New Faces and New Dilemmas to the Sacred Timeline
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is a Heartbreaking, Breathtaking, Action-Packed Roller Coaster
James Gunn on That One Shot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
How Kang Became Marvel’s Next Supervillain and Why Phase 4 Sets It All Up
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Is a Slick, Slightly Empty, Sci-Fi Adventure Film
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In 2023, Star Wars further established its streaming footprint under Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau with The Mandalorian’s expanding universe and Ahsoka as its break from theatrical releases continues... for now.
Kylo Ren Wasn’t Originally Supposed to Become Ben Solo Again
Dave Filoni Is Right Where Star Wars Needs Him to Be
The Next Three Star Wars Films Go to the Past, Present, and Future With Daisy Ridley
Ahsoka’s Democratization of the Force Is Exactly What Star Wars Should Strive For
Ahsoka’s Finale Provided Emotional Endings and Tantalizing Teases
Ahsoka Dropped One Last Major Star Wars Mystery on Us
There’s a Big Update on the Lando Disney+ Series
Kevin Feige’s Star Wars Movie Is Really, Really Dead
The Origin of Star Wars’ Upcoming Dawn of the Jedi Movie
Guillermo del Toro on Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Jabba the Hutt
The Mandalorian Finale Was a Satisfying, Straightforward End to a Sloppy Season
The Mandalorian Gave Bo-Katan a Story Like No Other
Let’s Recap Baby Yoda’s Day Out With Dutchess Lizzo on The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian’s Relationship With Droids Is Completely Messed Up
The Mandalorian’s Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau Talk Luke, Boba, and Star Wars’ Future
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Halle Bailey was a revelation as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, while Harrison Ford donned the fedora one last time in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
The Little Mermaid’s Main Attraction Is Its Magical Lead Performance
Why Is Halle Bailey This Generation’s Ariel? | io9 Interview
The Little Mermaid Posted Big Streaming Numbers That Apparently Can Be Reported
Haunted Mansion Director Justin Simien on Honoring the Ride, the Cast, and New Orleans
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Delivers
The Shocking Ending of Indiana Jones 5 Wasn’t Always What’s in the Movie
How the Dial in Dial of Destiny Came to Be | io9 Interview
How Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Learned From Crystal Skull’s Mistakes
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Initially dismissed at the box office, Elemental became a surprise Pixar hit through word-of-mouth. Later in the year, Disney decided to bring some of its straight to Disney+ successes to the big screen, including Turning Red.
Soul, Turning Red, and Luca Are Coming to Theaters for the First Time Ever
Pixar’s Leader Talks Balancing Originals and Sequels
Pixar’s Elemental Has Gone From Cold to Hot, Crossing Another Box Office Milestone
Elemental Proves Pixar Is at Its Best When Taking Big Swings
Director Peter Sohn on How Pixar’s Elemental Creates Its Own Cultures
Pixar’s New Up Short Bids Farewell to Ed Asner’s Carl Fredricksen
Disney’s Recent Job Cuts Include Galyn Susman, Toy Story 2's Savior
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A Guide to Disney Parks Halloween, More Holidays, and the Frozen and Zootopia Lands
Disney Parks’ First Frozen-Themed Land Opens This Fall
15 Facts You Need to Know About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disney World Shut Down Half of Magic Kingdom After Actual Bear Snuck In
Tron Stars Celebrate Movie at Disney World’s New Lightcycle Ride
Rogers: The Musical Succeeds From Screen to Stage at Disney Parks
Disney’s Dancing Baby Groot Robot Prepares for World Domination
How Disney World’s New Tron Lightcycle/Run Coaster Uploads Users to the Grid
The Disney100 Begins With Dazzling Cinematic Experiences at Disneyland
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And finally, here are the biggest news highlights from the corporate and industry side of things that hit the Walt Disney Company in 2o23. Ron DeSantis versus Disney is set to continue into 2024.
Disney’s Bob Iger Thinks Disney Movies Got Worse Under Other Disney Bob
Disney+ Adds Nearly 7 Million Subscribers, Still Loses Money
Disney Will Soon Officially Own All of Hulu
The 2023 Hollywood Strikes Are Officially Over After SAG-AFTRA’s Contract Vote
Writers Guild Members Have Officially, Resoundingly, Ratified Their New Deal
Disney VFX Artists Unanimously Vote to Unionize
Disney Shifts Focus on DeSantis Lawsuit to First Amendment Violation
Ron DeSantis and His Board Want To Toss Out Disney’s Counterclaims
Disney’s Bob Iger Joins the Camp of Wanting the Strikes to End ‘Quickly’
Disney CEO Bob Iger Can’t Seem to Find the Right Thing to Say
Here’s a Breakdown of the Ongoing Disney Vs. DeSantis Battle—and the Latest Updates
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Source: Gizmodo