Disney's live-action Moana has already generated plenty of excitement thanks to Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia stepping into the title role. But one of the coolest creative decisions behind the remake involves the original voice of Moana, Auli'i Cravalho. The idea to involve her in the new movie apparently came from Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the story of how he incorporated her is pretty great.

In a behind-the-scenes clip shared on Disney Studios' Instagram, Miranda explained how the creative team found a way to include both Moana actresses in the movie's musical storytelling. He shared:

Honestly, that feels like a pretty elegant solution. For years, fans wondered whether Cravalho would appear in Disney's live-action remake after she announced she would not reprise the lead role. Instead, Disney cast newcomer Catherine Laga'aia as Moana while keeping Cravalho involved behind the scenes as an executive producer. At the time, the original voice actress said she wanted to help open the door for another young Pacific Islander performer to experience what she had experienced nearly a decade earlier.

Now, it sounds like she still found a way to leave her mark on the movie. Rather than giving the Mean Girls actress a quick cameo in the 2026 release, the filmmakers came up with something more meaningful. According to Miranda, the idea became a musical exchange between the Moana audiences first fell in love with in 2016 and the new version making her theatrical debut in the live-action adaptation.

That idea feels particularly fitting given how important legacy and identity have become to Disney's recent remakes. Instead of replacing one performer with another, Moana appears to be acknowledging both. I think that’s an idea most fans can get behind.

The animated Moana became one of Disney's most enduring modern hits, and Cravalho's performance played a huge part in that success. Songs like "How Far I'll Go" helped turn the film into a phenomenon, while the movie itself remained one of the most-streamed titles in the world years after its release (you can watch it with a Disney+ subscription).

The behind-the-scenes video shared by Disney also gives fans a brief taste of the new song, "Along the Way." While only a snippet is heard, it offers an early preview of how the two Moanas will connect musically. Check it out below.

Miranda has been closely tied to Moana since the original film, having co-written its songs, including "How Far I'll Go." Though he did not return for Moana 2, his involvement in the live-action adaptation has allowed him to revisit the world he helped create while also finding new ways to honor the legacy of the animated movie.

Bringing Cravalho back alongside Laga'aia appears to be one of those ideas, giving longtime fans a connection between the original film and its new incarnation. There is always pressure attached to remaking beloved animated classics, especially one as cherished as Moana. But finding a way to honor Cravalho while also introducing Laga'aia feels like exactly the kind of bridge longtime fans hope to see.

After all, Moana has always been about understanding where you come from while finding your own path forward. Apparently, the live-action version took that lesson to heart.

Moana sails into theaters July 10.

Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Merrily We Roll Along is not the first time the director has taken on a monumental task of producing a movie over a long period of years. His first effort in this style, Boyhood, was filmed over 12 years. For this latest production, he’s going even longer, as filming is planned to take 20 years, with 15 more years or so to go after production officially began in 2019. Boyhood was a monumental achievement, but I have to wonder if trying it again will work again. There has already been a major issue, which I’ll address.

Two Decades Is A Long Time

I completely appreciate that Linklater pulled this trick off with Boyhood, but there are some differences here. Notably, it’s almost twice as long a shooting schedule. A lot can happen over two decades. Like Boyhood, Merrily We Roll Along has a small cast that includes Paul Mescal, Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt, Mallory Bechtel, Hannah Cruz and Lin-Manuel Miranda. This works in favor of the director, as there are fewer chances for something to happen to one of the cast members.

However, that very thing has already happened. When filming began in 2019, Blake Jenner, who previously worked with Linklater in Everybody Wants Some!!, was cast to play the lead, Franklin Shepard. After wrapping the initial production, Jenner was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife (and Glee co-star) Melissa Benoist. In the fallout from that, Paul Mescal replaced Jenner in the cast, forcing reshoots to happen in 2021. Not to make light of the situation by any means, but it’s a stark example of something happening that is out of Linklater's control.

I don’t expect anything like that to happen again, but that doesn’t mean that something won’t happen to a cast member. People get into disagreements, people’s priorities change, God forbid someone gets sick… There are just so many variables. Think about where you were in 2006 and where you are today. It’s been a long time. This time, it meant reshoots early in the process, so what if something happens at the end of the full production?

If Linklater And Company Pull It Off, It Could Be Epic

If you don’t know the story of Merrily We Roll Along, it’s perfect for this kind of ambitious project. It takes place over 20 years and is presented in reverse chronological order, so presumably, the first part of the production in 2019 and 2021 was covering the end of the movie, when the cast is at their youngest. Shooting it in “real time” is very cool, and it means there won’t be a need for heavy makeup or weird CGI de-aging.

It’s also a well-known property, but it wasn’t an immediate hit. In fact, the original Broadway production, which opened in 1981, flopped almost immediately. It was panned by critics and audiences alike, and though its reputation has been re-examined over the years, it’s still a divisive entry in Sondheim’s canon. The movie, and the production style, could solve the biggest complaint critics have had over the years, that the story is a bit confusing and hard to follow because of the reverse chronology. Having family actors playing the roles across the entire two decades would make it much easier to follow.

I have no idea if Linklater and the cast will pulls this off, but if they do, they will deserve a huge amount of praise for the ambition alone.

Spooky season didn’t disappoint this year. Halloween 2025 might go down as the year celebs really committed, whether it was for laughs, screams, or a nostalgic costume throwback. From DIY looks to full FX transformations. Nevertheless, I did not have Ed Sheeran dresses as the iconic scary movie clown Pennywise on my costume bingo card.

From professional photo shoots to blurry mirror selfies. Here’s a closer look at the celebrity costumes that went all in, listed in no particular order, but all worthy of at least a scroll-by double-tap.

Ed Sheeran Dresses As Pennywise

We have to start here. Ed Sheeran showing up as a terrifyingly convincing Pennywise has to be one of my favorites. The singer's face paint, wig, and unsettling smile screamed new horror movie vibes more than pop star party. But what was particularly hilarious was how he showed off the look on his Instagram. The singer shared a carousel of images and videos of him sitting down and enjoying tea in a busy cafe and trying to enjoy a slice of pizza while being nearly blown away by the wind. He nailed it:

This look might not have been on my bingo card, but it stole my heart. Down here, you'll float too, because Sheeran does.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Channels A DIY Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda gave us budget brilliance in the best way. In a series of images posted to social media, Miranda donned his Hamilton look using only items from his wife’s closet and a few paper towels; he dubbed it "Hamilleween." Check it out below:

The Grammy winner gets bonus points for the earnest pose. Theater kids everywhere will surely feel seen.

Kerry Washington Dazzles As Django

Kerry Washington dressed as Jamie Foxx’s character from (the deeply satisfying) Django Unchained and, in her pics below, she reminds us “the D is silent…” and somehow makes frontier Western wear look like high fashion:

From the cowboy hat to the green coat and pistol, it was a powerful twist on a gritty classic.

Janelle Monáe Transforms Into A Terrifying Vampire

For the annual Wondaween bash, Janelle Monáe took to her Instagram and was all in on her "Vampires at the Beach" theme. As you can see for yourself, she's dressed in full garb and absolutely crushed this look:

Monáe looks horrifying, but also makes the undead look ready for a poolside brunch.

Paris Hilton Has Nine Lives And Zero Regrets As Catwoman

Paris Hilton went as my favorite Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer's, and no detail was spared. From the stitched leather bodysuit to the crimson lipstick and whip, it was pure '90s Gotham glam. Selina Kyle would be proud of the fantastic photo spread, as well as the video showing the pop culture icon suited up and swinging her whip in the posted videos and pics. See the full photo shoot below:

Needless to say, this costume is the cat's meow! (Sorry, I'll see myself out now.)

Mindy Kaling Channels Andie Anderson

Mindy Kaling brought rom-com realness, channeling Kate Hudson’s Andie from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in a great transformation video. Watch her transition game to see how charming it is:

That iconic yellow dress? Recreated. The updo? Nailed. The vibe? Peak 2003.

Keke Palmer And Her Son Become Snoop & Bow Wow

Keke Palmer and her son, Leodis, delivered one of the cutest (and coolest) sets of images of their family costumes. As can be seen below, the images show the two stepping out as Snoop Dogg and Lil' Bow Wow in full throwback fashion. The mini sunglasses alone deserve their own award:

It's cool when parents and their kids have coordinate costumes, but this one takes the cake.

Rei Ami Goes Straight K-Pop Demon Hunters

REI AMI dressed as her own animated character from one of the biggest hits of the year, Netflix’s record-breaking K-Pop Demon Hunters, complete with blades and vibrant armor. Her TikTok video is a perfect cross between cosplay and self-promo — and it worked. Don't believe me, watch it below and make up your own mind:

The hype around this movie is surely alive and well, and, with others likely dressing up like the characters for cosplay, I don't see that stopping anytime soon.

Hailee Steinfeld Goes as Her Sinners' Character

Sinners is one of the best horror movies of recent years, and thanks in part to the incredible performance of its cast, including Hailee Steinfeld. The actress slipped into her character's 1990s signature jacket and fangs from the final moments in Sinners, and in her posted pics (see below), she’s giving a low-key but instantly recognizable nod to her cinematic alter ego:

Chic, sharp, and with just a hint of menace. Hailee Steinfeld understood the assignment and completely slayed.

Heidi Klum Dominates As Medusa

The undisputed Queen of Halloween, Heidi Klum, outdid herself yet again—this time transforming into a full-bodied Medusa for her annual Halloween bash. With coiled snakes, textured scales, and a dramatic mermaid-length tail, the look was nothing short of mythical. In a video interview with Entertainment Tonight shared to their Instagram, Klum revealed the transformation, which you can see in her Instagram post below, took five months to design and build. Now that’s commitment.

As spooky season fades, these celebrity looks are sure to linger far beyond the candy haul. Sure, stars might be “just like us,” but when Halloween rolls around, they come armed with full glam squads, prosthetics, and apparently—zero fear. So let's tip our hats to Ed Sheeran and co. for their work this spooky season.

Ever since Hamilton became available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, it’s been part of the regular rotation in my household. It’s something to throw on while doing laundry or when we just can’t agree on what to watch. That’s why it was a no-brainer to snatch up tickets when the Broadway production hit the big screen in celebration of its 10th anniversary, and I was surprised that the experience made me realize something new.

Seeing Hamilton On The Big Screen Made Me Experience It Differently

In addition to watching Hamilton on Disney+ a million times, I was also fortunate enough to get tickets to the touring theatrical production a couple of years ago, and it was like I was seeing the story again for the very first time. However, because I'm so familiar with the original cast's recording that's available to stream, I had no such expectations for a life-changing experience in the movie theater, regardless of the bigger screen.

I figured my daughter and I would enjoy our favorite Hamilton songs while munching on popcorn and singing along as loud as we deemed appropriate. Those things did happen, but I also noticed details of the play that I hadn’t before. Imagine my surprise when my teenager leaned over and whispered that she, too, had only just realized that the choreography during the music-less portion of “The World Was Wide Enough” took movements from “My Shot” and other numbers.

Now, I’m sure this is not news to many Hamilton fans out there, but I was honestly shocked that not only had this big-screen experience allowed me to see the familiar production differently, but that my daughter had the exact same experience. Why?

My guess is that when I’m watching the movie at home, I’m less dialed in by the two-and-a-half hour mark. In the theater, however, there was nothing else fighting for my attention, and this newfound detail I’d come upon renewed my passion for the play all over again.

I Went Down A Rabbit Hole Following My Hamilton Experience

Just like in the days following my first viewing of Hamilton on Disney+, my movie theater experience inspired me to learn more about the production. I really wanted to confirm what we had noticed about “The World Was Wide Enough,” so I threw on the first of three episodes of The Hamilcast that featured choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler.

There was definitely some Hamilton sorcery happening because my question was answered — in detail — in the first 15 minutes of that podcast episode. The choreographer explained that not only were movements taken from “My Shot” for that Act II number but from “Right Hand Man” and “Helpless,” as Alexander Hamilton’s life flashes before his eyes.

OK, consider me officially down the rabbit hole, because apparently — despite so many repeated viewings of Hamilton — there’s so much more that I haven’t seen yet.

While my daughter and I had our own experience in the movie theater, I’d like to think that others who have streamed the movie regularly for the past five years also were able to walk away with something new. And I really wonder how anyone is able to watch this movie just once.

Hamilton is available to stream on Disney+, and check your local theaters to see if a 10th anniversary screening is playing near you.

With Hamilton celebrating its 10th anniversary, the original well-received Broadway pro-shot, which dropped on streaming for everyone with a Disney+ subscription back in 2020, is now in theaters for a limited run. That means talk around a full-scale movie adaptation has fired back up. However, if you’re holding out for a cinematic retelling of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical… don’t hold your breath just yet.

While attending the premiere event for Hamilton: The Movie Experience, Miranda addressed the ongoing speculation in a red carpet interview shared by The Hollywood Reporter’s TikTok. And while he didn’t slam the door entirely shut, his response made it clear that the bar is high enough that a film adaptation would need to “rise up” to the occasion to really happen. He responded:

The “this” Miranda is talking about is the 2020 pro-shot of Hamilton—directed by Thomas Kail (who also directed the stage musical) and captured with the original Broadway cast during the show’s cultural peak. First released on streaming five years ago and now back on the 2025 movie schedule in select theaters, the production has been widely praised not just as a filmed stage show but as a compelling and cinematic experience in its own right.

Broadway musical adaptations don’t always translate well to the big screen. For every Chicago or Wicked (which I loved), there is a horrifically reviewed Cats or Dear Evan Hansen. So it’s hard to argue that the team behind Hamilton is throwing away their shot here, because Miranda makes a solid point. Still, it would be fun to see them take another swing at the story, “One Last Time.”

And Miranda’s not wrong, Hamilton's pro-shot may be the rare case where the filmed stage version already feels like the definitive adaptation. That’s part of what makes his hesitation so understandable. Unlike traditional stage-to-screen adaptations and other offbeat musicals, which often rework the narrative structure or recast for big-name appeal, Hamilton already captured lightning in a bottle.

Kail’s filmed version of the musical he also directed for the stage, let audiences around the world witness the original Broadway cast -- which featured Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and more -- at their peak. It’s a time capsule and a masterclass in performance, staging, and storytelling. For many fans, that was enough to say, “Satisfied.”

So, what would it take to top the pro-shot? That’s the question Miranda seems to be wrestling with, and so far, it sounds like no one’s found the answer. His comment doesn’t come from a place of reluctance or fatigue; it comes from artistic respect. Why mess with something that already works perfectly?

That said, the In the Heights creator hasn’t ruled it out entirely. But any new version of Hamilton would need to be more than just a flashy studio remake. It would have to innovate and justify its existence.

In the meantime, fans can enjoy Hamilton back where it belongs, either on the stage or on the big screen, with the music booming through speakers, and reminding us why it became a cultural phenomenon in the first place, and continues to run on Broadway. After all, this show’s legacy proves it will be “Non-Stop.”

Hamilton: The Movie Experience is now playing in select theaters, so check your local listings.

As we celebrate Hamilton’s tenth anniversary, I’m realizing that it’s hard for me to imagine a time before it. This musical changed my brain chemistry, and after seeing it live twice, watching Hamilton’s well-reviewed proshot with a Disney+ subscription over and over again, and singing along to the cast recording countless times, I’ve realized how much my feelings about the show have changed, especially when it comes to which songs I consider my favorites.

When Hamilton Came Out, I Was More Into The Bigger Hits

I was 16 when Hamilton opened on Broadway, and I became utterly obsessed with it in high school by way of Jonathan Groff being in it (what can I say, I loved Glee). Then, like many who became transfixed by the show that’s still running on Broadway, I couldn’t stop listening to it, and I quickly learned and loved all the big hits like “You’ll Be Back,” “Wait For It” and “My Shot.”

Of course, these were and still are some of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s best songs. However, they’re also what I would consider the radio hits of Hamilton. So, as I got older, understood the history better and really started to memorize the musical word for word, my favorite songs have changed dramatically.

As I Got Older And Finally Saw The Show Live, The Act II Deep Cuts Became My Favorite

Truly, Hamilton is a no-skip album, and if I watch the great Disney+ movie of the stage production, I’m glued to the screen the whole time. However, I’d be lying if I didn't note that as I got older, my ears started to perk up more when we got to Act II and songs like the two “Cabinet Battles,” “Washington On Your Side” and “One Last Time.”

I’ve realized that in my goal to memorize all of Hamilton (which took years), my appreciation for the intricate and fast rap songs took priority when I started to think about my favorite tracks. After singing along to “Wait For It” and “Satisfied” for years, I started to lean further into the aforementioned tracks to really nail down the lyrics.

Now, anytime I listen to the show, I can’t help but smile and scream lines like this one from “Washington On Your Side:”

I wanted to perfect these moments, and as I did, I also found a new appreciation for the politics portrayed in Hamilton. The push and pull of the battles between characters like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson fascinates me, and it’s thanks to songs like this and an interest in the musical that is constantly evolving and changing.

‘One Last Time’ Is My Favorite Song Because Of How Much Life I’ve Lived In The Last Decade

However, when it comes to my all-time favorite song in Hamilton, the reasoning is personal and emotional. While I always liked “One Last Time,” which is George Washington’s goodbye song, I didn’t truly love it until I had to bid farewell to vital chapters of my life.

Over the years, as I’ve had more chapters open and close, my connection to this song and its meaning grows deeper. Graduating from high school, I felt the shift in my love for the song. Moving across the country, the words rang true again. Graduating from college, it became even more relevant in my life.

Knowing when to move on and say goodbye is a tough skill to have, but it’s one we’re all forced to develop. Sometimes, farewell is also inevitable. This song perfectly encapsulates the lesson of learning how to say goodbye and how bittersweet it can be. Plus, when you mix in Christopher Jackson’s effortless vocals, you land on a perfect, tear-jerking, and wonderfully catchy song.

Over the last ten years, every time I’ve watched or listened to Hamilton, I pick up on something new I love. It’s wonderful how my relationship with the musical has evolved, and I can’t wait to see how that continues. And I know it’s going to, because in celebration of the musical’s tenth anniversary, it got a place on the 2025 movie schedule, and will be released in theaters on September 5.

So, let’s all get ready to sing our favorite songs again, and look out for more moments that could become future favorites.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some pretty famous people in this job, but one star I would love to meet that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of crossing paths with is Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m a big fan of basically everything he’s ever done, and it would be wonderful to be able to tell him that in person.

One person who I now know feels the same way is Disney Dan. The man who is best known for his in-depth videos on theme park costumed characters recently had the opportunity to meet the Hamilton and Moana songwriter. So, of course, he did not throw away his shot. In pure Disney Dan fashion, he met Miranda while dressed in a giant chicken costume, and the only thing better is the look on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s face when he spies Hei Hei from across the room. Check it out.

That's priceless, no notes. First, you can see Lin-Manuel Miranda's reaction looking like he can’t believe what he’s seeing, then he walks over to meet “Hei Hei.” It’s just the most cordial exchange in the world, like he’s not shaking hands with a giant chicken. [Insert Animaniacs joke here.]

While Dan’s trademark laugh is on full display here, you can still tell he’s truly honored to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda in person. Miranda seems to understand that he's talking to a true fan and treats the experience that way.

If you're in the theme park sphere, then you likely know Disney Dan. His YouTube channel covers a variety of theme park-related topics, but is primarily focused on the history and evolution of character costumes in theme parks.

Dan’s passion for the massive costumes that are worn in theme parks has led to a love of costumes in general for him. He’s previously visited Epic Universe dressed as Toothless and ridden Universal’s Cat in the Hat ride as the Cat in the Hat.

This is far from the first time that Disney Dan has gotten a strong reaction from a costume. This is the same guy who showed up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the last day of Muppet*Vision 3D in a Monsters Inc. mask and trolled guests watching the show one last time, with the IP that is set to replace the attraction. To my knowledge, he didn’t show up at the closure of the Rivers of America in a Cars-themed costume, but he did threaten to do so.

Honestly, this whole exchange just makes me want to hang out with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney Dan together. They both seem like people who would have a good time together and are more than willing to have a little fun at their own expense.

I can't believe we have to wait until the end of the 2025 TV schedule to catch the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, because wow, does it look good! San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H panel for the show just happened, and it concluded with the first trailer that gives us a taste of what to expect from the TV adaptation of Rick Riordan's Sea of Monsters.

From the return of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hermes to the first look at Daniel Diemer's Tyson, there's a lot I'm already looking forward to after seeing the trailer. Take a look:

I'll be honest, I really wasn't sure that the Hamilton creator and star would be back for Season 2, given how big of a get he was, but this trailer definitely just proved me wrong. The producers of the series previously told CinemaBlend that he got on board because he wanted to look cool in the eyes of his kids. He's definitely important to The Sea of Monsters book, and now we'll officially get to see him back with Percy and the gang for their latest perilous adventure.

The trailer actually teases all sorts of new characters we've been excited to see, from Timothy Simons' Tantalus, who will serve as the new activities director over Chiron, and the Gray sisters, set to be played by comedians Margaret Cho, Kristen Schaal and Sandra Bernhard. One character fans of the books have been especially excited for is the debut of Percy's half-brother, Tyson. Here's a first look, as shown in the trailer:

I'll be honest, it still kind of lives in the uncanny valley to see a massive eyeball on a person, but I'm sure Daniel Diemer's performance will work. I loved Percy and Tyson's brotherly relationship in the books, and it's really exciting to be one step closer to seeing it come to life.

Another element of the trailer that has me really excited is seeing Percy and Annabeth continue to form their relationship, which is heading to romance at some point. I know other fans of the books are internally screaming over the part in the trailer where Percy puts his hand out for Annabeth, or when the Gray Sisters call Percy her boyfriend, and she nervously tries to shut it down while she is practically blushing.

There's so much more than that. The trailer packs a big punch, showing the chariot races that will occur on Camp Half Blood this season, some more sword fights between Percy and a variety of characters, including Charlie Bushnell's Luke, and so much more. I have not been looking forward to the season tearing the trio apart, considering the main plot line revolves around Percy and Annabeth trying to track down Grover, but now I need it now.

The panel also announced the official premiere date, which is December 10. It's one of those upcoming book adaptations I will not be missing.

It’s a wonderful thing that, thanks to my Disney+ subscription, I can watch a full production of Hamilton with the original cast anytime I want. Having said that, being able to see the show with any cast live on a Broadway stage would still be a bucket-list-level experience for me. It’s now got me checking my schedule and my bank account because fans will once again have the chance to see Hamilton with one of its original stars, but not for long.

This morning, the official X account of the Hamilton musical announced that Leslie Odom Jr., who originally won a Tony Award for his role as Aaron Burr, will be returning to “the room where it happens.” Unfortunately, fans who want to see him will only have a limited amount of time, as he’ll only be appearing at shows between September 9 and November 23 of this year.

Not surprisingly, fans are freaking out a little. Odom left the show in the summer of 2016, alongside two of the other original Hamilton cast members, Phillipa Soo and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda reprised his role as Alexander Hamilton a couple of times after officially leaving Broadway, most recently for some shows in Puerto Rico as part of a fundraiser in the wake of Hurricane Maria back in 2019.

For those of us who can’t make it to a Broadway stage, at least we have Hamilton on Disney+. The filmed production was originally designed to be a theatrical release, but during the global pandemic, the decision was made to move the release date up and put it on Disney+. The show debuted on July 3, 2020.

Interestingly, that show also included an original cast member reprising his role. Jonathan Groff, who played King George III, had already left the show prior to the filming of the production. He returned to play the role for two nights just to make sure the entire original cast was united. I’m sure everybody was quite excited to see the cast together again, except possibly the first two rows, whom Groff accidentally spit all over.

Hamilton celebrates its 10th anniversary on Broadway this year, and it appears that Odom’s return is at least in part meant as part of an anniversary celebration. Most Broadway shows don't last this long. The fact that Leslie Odom Jr. can even return to the role after a decade is a testament to the show's strength. Even without its star-studded original cast, it has remained popular enough to continue to run.

Tickets for Hamilton through the end of Odom’s return are now on sale. Tickets for Odom’s first night back, September 9, appear to already be sold out. They currently run around $200, which is about $50 more than what you can get them for shows taking place before his return.

The Lion King is one of the best Walt Disney Animation Studios films ever. It’s hard to understate the success of what became the highest-grossing animated movie ever upon its release. Its success spawned both a remake and a prequel, but the entire franchise's success may come from its iconic trailer. Even Lin-Mauel Miranda agrees about this.

The first trailer is unique among trailers because it isn’t just a collection of scenes. It’s actually just one scene. The first trailer for the film was simply the movie’s opening scene, the entire “Circle of Life” sequence and it was such an iconic moment that Mufasa: The Lion King songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda remembers it to this day. In a post on Instagram, he said…

It's a big flex, but one that the filmmakers clearly knew they could back up. The opening of The Lion King is arguably one of the best opening movie scenes in the history of cinema. The song is perfect, the animation is gorgeous, and it transports you to the movie’s world in an incredible way.

It's a significant risk too, of course, which is what makes it such a confident move. If the filmmakers are wrong and the opening song of the movie isn't enough to draw in an audience, your movie is dead. A standard trailer can show you a movie's highlights, and however inadvertently, that can draw in an audience, even if that audience doesn't end up loving the complete product. Using the movie's opening scene makes it clear just what the movie is.

It's quality is at such a high level that it does exactly what every trailer is supposed to do: it makes you want to come back and watch the whole movie. If this is how the movie starts, just imagine what could happen next. It lights the imagination on fire. Imagine being in a movie theater watching standard trailers, and then seeing this for the first time.

It was such an iconic trailer that Jon Favreau said he wanted to recreate it when The Lion King remake debuted at D23. Unfortunately, the CGI work wasn’t completed in time, so it couldn’t be done. It would have been a fitting way to show off the impressive technology behind the remake by presenting the recreated sequence just as it had been seen before.

The Lion King’s success, spurred on by that original trailer, would lead to the spawning of a franchise. The film got sequels on DVD, animated series follow-ups, the remake that made $1 billion at the global box office, and, most recently, the prequel to the remake in Mufasa: The Lion King, which has become a global hit in its own right.

Remember your lines and don’t start laughing. Those are probably the two most straight-ahead, common sense pieces of advice celebrities get before appearing on Saturday Night Live. They sound easy enough, but when those lights come on in Studio 8H, it’s not always so easy. Lin-Manuel Miranda found that out last night, as the Hamilton star made a fun cameo in a Founding Fathers cold open sketch starring President Trump, and by the end, he was fighting for his life not to start laughing.

The basic premise of the sketch in question is about how the Founding Fathers set up the government in such a way that we’d never have a king. After about a minute of background and John Hancock bragging about how big his signature is on The Declaration Of Independence, Miranda appears from the back as Alexander Hamilton and starts to go into a musical performance when suddenly James Austin Johnson shows up with his fantastic President Trump impression and starts bragging about how he’s in his “King era.”

Everyone else freezes in the background while Trump is doing his thing, but near the end, he approaches Miranda, who is supposed to be frozen, and starts talking about how the audience is never gonna get to hear his rap, even though they would have eaten it up. He says he’s in “sniffing distance of an EGOT” and then starts riffing on his name, calling him Laura Linney and Lin-Manuel Miranda Cosgrove.

Each time, Miranda starts smirking and looking like he’s about to laugh, which he later seemed to confirm by reposting an Instagram story about how close he was to laughing. Fortunately, he never totally breaks. You can watch the magic below, which ends with Miranda emerging from the shadows to help with the Live From New York bit…

It might sound like I’m giving Lin-Manuel Miranda a hard time with this article, but I want to make it clear, I absolutely am not. You can tell he’s spent a lot of time doing live theater because he’s able to keep it together. Typically, Hollywood actors who are used to filming have a much harder time if they want to laugh or break character because they’re used to just being able to do another take. If you’re on Broadway or even off-Broadway and you start to lose it, there’s no calling cut. You need to figure out how to power through and get back in character, which he very clearly does here.

Shoutout to James Austin Johnson for almost getting him though. SNL fans talk a lot about the cast members who have had trouble keeping a straight face during sketches over the years. Jimmy Fallon is definitely the most talked about example of that, but there are also a few Not Ready For Primetime Players who have been particularly good at getting other people to break including Amy Poehler and Kate McKinnon who almost seemed to relish getting other people to lose it. They’d push in just a little bit harder when they saw someone about to break, as Johnson seems to do here when he just keeps going with the nicknames.

Fortunately, Miranda will likely have more chances to appear on SNL again. The mega-star has hosted SNL before and including last night, has cameoed an additional three times. It helps that he works in New York and is always willing to mobilize on short notice, as we saw last night, as showrunner Lorne Michaels apparently didn't even ask him until Friday night. Hopefully he gets another crack at hosting at some point. Maybe it'll even be later this season as all the upcoming hosts haven’t been announced yet. Fingers crossed they actually let him finish a song next time.

Lin-Mauel Miranda is an incredible talent, that much goes without saying. Following his success on Broadway with Hamilton, he has become one of the most in-demand composers in Hollywood, but according to actor Andrew Rannells, Miranda’s greatest talents may be in things we never hear on screen.

Rannells is best known for co-starring with Josh Gad in the original Broadway run of The Book of Mormon. However, he also briefly took on the role of King George from Jonathan Groff back in 2015 when Groff had other commitments. Ranells shared his dressing room with Miranda at the time, and he revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that while playing the lead in one musical Miranda was writing another while listening to a third. He explained…

Speaking as somebody who can’t write while also trying to watch TV at the same time, I am in awe of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ability here. To be writing original music for Moana while also listening to the music of Les Mis and, you know, performing the lead in an entirely separate stage musical shows an incredible amount of focus.

Also, how cool is it to be able to get a live audio feed of Les Mis every single night? Did other theaters get the audio feed for Hamilton every night? That only seems fair. Hilariously, Lin-Manuel Miranda responded to the Instagram post of Andrew Rannells' comments saying…

The secret is out. Of course, now everybody working on Broadway is going to try and get a special audio feed of their favorite show piped into their dressing room, and it's all thanks to Andrew Rannells spilling the beans. Check out his full comments below.

Of course, it has to be said that playing Alexander Hamilton and listening to Les Mis every night must be worth something, because the music Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote for Moana was incredible. The music has made the movie one of the most streamed films on any platform for years. It earned Oscar nominations and got itself a sequel. In fact, the biggest criticism of Moana 2 was that the music, not written by Miranda this time around, simply didn’t live up to the original film.

Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't work on the Moana sequel, but he did take his Moana success into other Disney projects, writing songs for Encanto and the live-action version of The Little Mermaid. His newest music can be heard in Mufasa: The Lion King.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has managed to become a household name over the past 10 years due to his accolades in the worlds of film, stage, TV, and music. But if you were to describe the multi-hyphenate, how would you? Is he an actor or a musician? A film director or a playwright? I asked the man himself, and it turns out he didn’t see his career going in its current direction.

Right now, it seems that a lot of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work is as a composer, such as his effort writing the original songs of the recently released film Mufasa: The Lion King. However, this wasn’t the dream. He explained in our interviews about Mufasa that he had always wanted to be a filmmaker, and composing was just his way in the door. Said Miranda,

Let’s crunch the numbers. Lin-Manuel Miranda has been nominated for five Tony awards, and although two of those were for his lead performances in Hamilton and In The Heights, his three wins were for composing. His work as a musician also resulted in his only two Oscar nominations, despite wearing many hats in the world of film. Acknowledging all of this, despite his wide array of talents, it’s probably most accurate to say that Lin-Manuel Miranda is, first and foremost, a famous American composer.

Lin-Manuel Miranda mentioned that music was his path to film, which makes sense considering the Hamilton of it all, but let’s not forget that he directed 2021’s Tick, Tick… Boom! The film about Jonathan Larson’s life is an incredible accomplishment, and although he personally didn't get attention from the Academy Awards, the work did receive three nominations.

More recently, Moana 2 found new composers as Miranda jumped ship to work on Mufasa instead. Many are saying that this move hurt the Disney sequel, leading us to believe that the iconic success of the first Moana was in large part due to the Hamilton creator's contributions. Despite this, his original tracks for Moana didn’t even crack our list of his best movie songs, which is really just to say that Lin-Manuel Miranda isn’t only primarily a composer, but he’s a damn good one.

Lin-Manuel Miranda may not be doing a lot of directing right now, but he always has something in the works, and you can hear his original songs for Mufasa: The Lion King, in theaters right now. He approached the project with some trepidation, but the end result is something the whole cast and crew can be proud of. We also have the whole 2025 movie release schedule to look forward to, so keep it right here at CinemaBlend for the latest news.

During production on 2021’s In The Heights, the musical’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the film’s director Jon M. Chu became close friends. The two are powerhouses in the movie industry, so it’s little surprise that they’ve both had huge films come out at the tail end of the 2024 release schedule. Miranda wrote original songs for Mufasa: The Lion King and Jon M. Chu directed the musical phenomenon Wicked. Even though they’re not working together on said projects, it seems that Chu lifted some choreography from In The Heights, and after Lin called him out in spectacular fashion, the director responded to his “sassy” friend.

I had the privilege of speaking with both men on behalf of their respective projects, and after Lin-Manuel Miranda gave me a message to deliver Jon M. Chu questioning this “homage” in the choreography, I gave the Wicked director a chance to respond:

Sassy indeed! And since the Crazy Rich Asians director was being coy about this specific Wicked choreography, I took his advice, and delivered Lin’s message to Wicked and In the Heights' choreographer Christopher Scott, who said the following:

Of course, the two make solid points, and they both own the somewhat repetitive choreography as an homage to their own work. In all fairness, both scenes take place in a nail salon, and if you have the same choreographer and director shooting nail choreography, it’s going to feel similar. The real question is, did they think anyone would notice or were they trying to slip it under the radar?

That’s the question Lin-Manuel Miranda wanted answered, anyway. If you didn’t catch it when the story first broke, here is what Lin had to say to his buddy and collaborator during my interviews for Mufasa: The Lion King:

Of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda was just teasing Jon M. Chu and Christopher Scott, and they were both good sports about it. Anything else would simply register as jealousy considering that Wicked has become a worldwide sensation! Our own Wicked review gave the film a perfect 5 stars, and now that the year is coming to an end, we can look forward to Wicked: For Good, which will be coming our way at the tail end of the 2025 movie schedule. With that coming, Jon M. Chu cannot stop teasing what’s to come, which seems to include a huge crossover to The Wizard of Oz through Dorothy. Now, I'm wondering if there will be more choreography parallels too...

However, you don’t have to wait for the sequel to get more Glinda and Elphaba, as you’ll be able to purchase or rent Wicked at home starting December 31! Happy New Year indeed!

Hey, Jon M. Chu, Lin-Manuel Miranda has a message for you. With both Chu’s film Wicked and Miranda’s Lion King prequel Mufasa on the 2024 movie schedule, the In The Heights collaborators are both on press runs and talking a lot about their respective musicals. However, the Hamilton star’s message has to do with the 2021 movie they worked on together and the choreography that is seemingly featured in both it and Wicked.

During an interview with CinemaBlend about Mufasa, Jeff McCobb told Miranda that he had an interview with Chu coming up, and he asked if the songwriter had a message for the director. In response, he decided to hilariously call his friend and collaborator out for a similarity Wicked shares with In the Heights, saying:

So, here’s the deal. Miranda was referring to the “No Me Diga” number in In the Heights (which you can stream with a Max subscription). The scene takes place in a hair salon, and shows Leslie Grace’s Nina getting a makeover from the salon ladies as they gossip. Toward the end of the song, there’s a moment where a bunch of gals are getting manicures and there’s some very intricate nail choreography.

Meanwhile, in Wicked, during “One Short Day,” Elphaba and Glinda end up in a salon, and there’s also some great and intricate nail choreography.

Are they the same, was it an homage? That’s unclear at the moment. However, it is obvious that Miranda was entertained by the similarities, and he made a great joke out of it.

Notably, both In the Heights and Wicked were directed by Chu and choreographed by Christopher Scott, and the two have been collaborating for a very long time. And while these two films are wildly different outside of both being musicals, they feature choreography and dance that is similar -- and let me tell you, as a longtime fan of Scott, I feel like I can spot his choreo quickly.

Of course, Wicked killed at the box office while, despite wonderful reviews, In the Heights sadly flopped (in great part because of COVID). So, the nail choreo was definitely seen by more people recently, and it’s certainly possible that it was similar or the same to the moment in the 2021 film. Personally, I like to think it’s a sweet homage to the other Broadway adaptation Chu and Scott are best known for, and I hope Lin-Manuel Miranda feels the same way.

Now, I need to hear Jon M. Chu’s response to this call out from his colleague, because I need to know if it was a copy and paste or homage situation. In the meantime, I’ll be seeing Miranda’s latest project Mufasa in theaters and going back to see the wonderful film he made with Chu and Scott, In the Heights.

Then, I’m gonna start getting excited about Wicked: For Good’s release on the 2025 movie schedule, and you better believe I’ll be looking for more similarities between its choreography and the dancing in In the Heights and the first Wicked.

It’s been 30 years since a generation of children were traumatized by watching the mighty king Mufasa falling to his death at the hands of his brother. Simba and the rest of us may have been robbed of the precious wisdom the king had to share, but with Mufasa: The Lion King’s release, the story of Mufasa and Taka will come to life on the 2024 movie calendar. The musical is one of the several upcoming family friendly films, and after catching early screenings, critics are hitting social media with their first reactions.

Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel, since it tells the origin story of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the lion who will come to be known as Scar. It also serves as a sequel to the 2019 remake, with Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprising their roles. Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter makes her feature film debut as Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara, and with Barry Jenkins directing and songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, anticipation is high for this one. According to Jazz Tangcay of Variety, it doesn’t disappoint, either, as the critic writes on X (Twitter):

It’s not surprising but definitely comforting to hear good things about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s soundtrack, especially following another Disney movie’s release. Moana 2 has been a huge hit at the box office, but many feel not having Miranda hurt the sequel.

Film critic Dempsey Pillot echoes that sentiment, saying that the sequel/prequel is visually stunning and will definitely keep audiences entertained. Pillot says:

Dana Abercrombie of the Koalition loves the way Mufasa: The Lion King adds more depth to the characters who we’ve been familiar with for decades. She was left without words but was still able to write:

Critic Joaquín Teodoro enjoys how the upcoming live-action Disney remake not only brings us a new story from the familiar universe, but it takes the opportunity to correct things from the 2019 offering. Teodoro says:

The news outlet Atom was over the moon (or maybe over Pride Rock?) after catching an early screening, lauding the cinematography and visual effects in a thread on X. Congratulations are given to the “magical wizards” who make up Mufasa: The Lion King’s crew. In their words:

The feedback doesn’t get much more enthusiastic than that, though there’s not much word about whether or not it will help us millennials get past our decades-old trauma. Thankfully we don’t have to wait too long to grab a Pride Rock popcorn bucket and catch a screening for ourselves. Mufasa: The Lion King hits the big screen on Friday, December 20.

Disney is known for its beloved animated blockbuster movies, including golden era titles like Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King. But there's also been some great modern classics in recent years, including Frozen, Encanto, and Moana (all of which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). The latter's sequel just arrived in theaters, and while I enjoyed Moana 2, losing Lin-Manuel Miranda's music really hurt the blockbuster.

What we know about Moana 2 was limited ahead of its release, but now it's finally arrived, and expected to make a ton of money over Thanksgiving weekend. I got to see an early screening of the movie (see CinemaBlend's Moana 2 review here) and had a good time. Unfortunately, the original music ended up being one of the weaker parts of the animated sequel.

The 2018 original Moana movie featured music written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also worked on the music for Encanto). In addition to the movie's anthem "How Far I'll Go" there were also a number of other bangers in the soundtrack like "Where You Are" and Maui's song "You're Welcome." Unfortunately, the music for the sequel is far weaker.

While Auli'i Cravalho's gets to belt out her new song "Beyond", that's really the only song of quality in Moana 2. The songwriters of the new movie were worried Dwayne Johnson hated his new song, and I ultimately have to agree with that assessment. “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?" simply doesn't have as catchy of a melody as "You're Welcome". The latter was a song that really had staying power since the OG Moana hit theaters back in 2018, so the pressure was on for the sequel to deliver. Unfortunately it failed to do that in my opinion.

Obviously Lin-Manuel Miranda is a very busy person, and Disney has been keeping him busy over the years by writing the music to Moana, Encanto, and adding new material to for the live-action The Little Mermaid. He can't be expected to be everywhere at once, but Miranda's musical sensibilities were a big reason why audiences connected so much with the OG Moana film. Unfortunately, he was too busy writing music for the Mufasa prequel movie to return to the animated franchise.

Overall I enjoyed Moana 2 and was glad to see it on the big screen, where the aquatic action sequences could have their full power. But I think a big reason why fans might be disappointed when compared to the original is the lack of bangers on the soundtrack. Indeed, I left my screening humming songs from the original movie, mostly because there was a distinct lack of earworms in the sequel.

Moana 2 is in theaters now. Check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

It’s been eight years since Auliʻi Cravalho made her acting debut in Moana, capturing young hearts as the chief’s daughter discovered her identity with the help of demigod Maui. Now fans are highly anticipating the release of Moana 2, where she will be called by her wayfinding ancestors to break the god Nalo's curse on the hidden island of Motufetu. The new movie is set to hit the 2024 movie calendar on November 27, and critics are taking to social media with their first reactions to the Disney animated sequel.

Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson are both reprising their roles for the film, and not only does the trailer for Moana 2 give us a look at the villain Moana and Maui are up against, but it looks like we’ll be seeing more of the adorable pig Pua. CinemaBlend's own Sarah El-Mahmoud was apprehensive about several aspects of the movie, but she changed her mind about the sequel after seeing the first 30 minutes. What are other critics saying? Grab your next-level Moana 2 popcorn bucket and let’s find out!

One of the aspects of the movie that had our critic concerned was Lin-Manuel Miranda not being involved in Moana 2’s soundtrack like he was the first time around, as he’s been replaced by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. That also seems to be a sticking point with Chris Killian of ComicBook.com, although he says he enjoyed the movie overall, writing:

Another big change in this upcoming Disney movies is that Moana has a sister in the sequel, and apparently Simea, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, is quite the scene-stealer. Joseph Deckelmeier of ScreenRant says:

Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky agrees that Moana 2 is a success, and despite a number of delightful new characters, the movie shines the brightest in its scenes between Moana and Maui. Smith continues:

The Hollywood Handle notes that this world is just as wonderful as we remember, though the music doesn’t quite live up to the 2016 animated feature. They said on X (Twitter):

Another fan who was able to attend an early screening was lanyfilm, who enjoyed the songs, though they admit they’re “definitely not as good as the first film,” writing about the upcoming kids movie:

The soundtrack was a huge part of what we loved about Moana, so with Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear taking the reins from Lin-Manuel Miranda, it’s not surprising that many will be comparing the two. It sounds like — from the first impressions at least — the songs are still plenty catchy and enjoyable, even if they don’t live up to LMM’s 2016 playlist.

We’ll learn more about what critics think when full reviews come out next week, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

As far as I’m concerned, The Warriors is one of the best ‘70s movies, and remains a timeless cult classic that showcases the streets of New York City better than any other film. So imagine how stoked I was upon learning that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man who gave the world the Tony-winning phenomenon Hamilton, created a concept soundtrack album alongside Eisa Davis based on the gritty crime drama. And you can imagine how bummed I was upon reading that the Tony Award winner doesn’t plan to bring Warriors to Broadway at this time.

Ever since I started listening to the album, which features performances from the likes of Phillipa Soo, Nas (who produced), Ms. Lauryn Hill, Colman Domingo, Ghostface Killah and more, I’ve been thinking that this would not only be a great stage production, but it would also make for a fantastic musical film. Let me explain…

I Totally Get Why Lin-Manuel Miranda Turned Warriors Into A Concept Album Instead Of A Broadway Musical

When speaking with Playbill ahead of the album’s release, Lin-Manuel Miranda explained that one of the biggest challenges of making a musical that has a lot of action in addition to songs was the fact that those elements take up the same storytelling real estate on stage, something that’s not as big of a problem with an album:

And it makes total sense, especially with a story as complex as Warriors with all its wild musical numbers, massive cast, and reinterpretations of one of the best action movies of all time. However, I’d still love to see this go from a concept album to joining the list of offbeat musical films down the road.

There Has Long Been Talk Of A Warriors Remake, And Think This Musical Approach Is A Great Way Of Doing That

The Warriors is one of the great action movies that never got a sequel, but there have been all kinds of remake-related talks over the years. (Including one that was in the works from Tony Scott a few years before the Top Gun director’s 2012 death.) However, at the time of this writing, the only official continuation of the property was the 2005 video game, The Warriors, from Rockstar Games, the same studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise. That game, by the way, is amazing and one of the best of its kind.

After listening to Warriors, I’m convinced this could be the perfect avenue for a remake to happen on the big screen. But instead of being a lifeless remake that vastly changes the story, with muted easter eggs for longtime fans, the concept album keeps the main story mostly the same – The Warriors are framed in the murder of Grammacy Riffs leader Cyrus and have to make their way back to Coney Island. It’s just that the titular gang is portrayed as an all-female outfit this time around.

This new spin on Walter Hill’s beloved adaptation of Sol Yurick’s novel of the same name would be so much fun to experience on the big screen and could breathe new life into the story in the process.

The Performances By New York Rappers And Broadway Stars Would Be Awesome On Screen (And Stage)

One aspect of Warriors I love the most is the outstanding cast that combines the best of Broadway and New York City hip-hop to create a massive and talented ensemble where everyone fits perfectly. The titular gang, portrayed by the likes of Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Amber Gray, and Anessa Folds, all shine in their respective roles and add a new dynamic to the story.

The same goes for iconic rappers like Busta Rhymes, Cam’ron, Nas, Chris Rivers, Ghostface Killah, and RZA, who serve as the voices of the five New York boroughs (the Wu-Tang Clan members share Staten Island). Even the Tasmanian-born Tik-Tok-famous metal singer Kim Dracula feels like a natural fit, which speaks to Miranda's keen vision. Seeing all those performances on screen (and on stage) could be incredible and introduce the story to a whole new generation.

Only time will tell if we’ll see Warriors take to the big screen or a Broadway stage, but there are plenty on the 2024 movie schedule to look forward to while we wait.

After Lin-Manuel Miranda became a household name for his massive Broadway musicals, Hamilton and In The Heights, the composer has been the latest big name to contribute to a ton of Disney music. Miranda previously composed original songs for Moana, Encanto and the live-action The Little Mermaid. Now, his talents have been put to use on another one of Disney's upcoming movies – Mufasa: The Lion King. However, apparently, he wasn’t singing “Hakuna Matata” when he was first offered the gig.

Lin-Manuel Miranda recently talked about the experience writing for Mufasa while speaking onstage at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024 in New York City. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the composer initially felt “great trepidation” toward being part of The Lion King prequel at first. Why? Well, because the original movie with songs by Elton John and Tim Rice is such a behemoth. As he explained it, it has “five songs, all bangers.”

However, then something changed his mind. Or, someone anyway. It was Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins. As Miranda commented:

Jenkins is the filmmaker behind the Best Picture winner Moonlight along with 2019’s If Beale Street Could Talk. He is one of the most acclaimed Black filmmakers of our time, and he's helming a massive big-budget blockbuster for the first time with Mufasa. Lin-Manuel Miranda comparing him and The Lion King prequel to Greta Gerwig and Barbie seems to be in relation to the filmmakers having distinct voices and huge properties to bring their visions to.

Prior to Gerwig making Barbie, she had directed other passion projects like Lady Bird and Little Women, both of which earned a lot of awards buzz. When it came to last year’s biggest movie, she found a way to make a film about a huge commercial brand by having the story focus on the power of girlhood and womanhood. That, and she had Margot Robbie as producer on her side.

As the Mufasa: The Lion King release date draws closer, we know that the movie will follow the origin story of Mufasa and his brotherhood with Scar prior to their falling out. With the film almost here, surely there will be some conversations regarding how Moonlight’s attention to telling the story of a Black man’s life from childhood to adulthood compares and differs from what is told in Mufasa.

You can check out the Mufasa trailer here:

The movie stars Rebel Ridge’s Aaron Pierre as the voice of Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Scar along with the return of Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, John Kani as Rafiki, Donald Glover as Simba and Beyoncé as Nala. You can look forward to seeing Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa and the songs Miranda composed when the movie premieres on the 2024 movie schedule on December 20.

On January 30th tragedy struck when Broadway legend Chita Rivera passed away due to a brief illness. A pioneer for other Latina stars on the Broadway stage, Rivera was known for originating the role of Anita in the original 1957 West Side Story production and starring in other hit shows where she made a name for herself. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who you recognize from the original cast of Hamilton, penned a tribute to the late theater star along with President Biden and more.

Not only was Lin-Manuel Miranda a huge fan of Chita Rivera’s Broadway accomplishments, but he was lucky to have the chance to direct her in one of the best movie musicals of 2021, Tick, Tick…BOOM! In an Instagram post, the Hamilton actor penned a touching tribute to the Tony Award winner that will show you what a profound effect this trailblazer had on him.

In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s beautiful tribute, he posted photos of himself and Chita Rivera all smiles working with each other. There’s also a throwback photo of the Latina dancer during her time on stage. She and a number of stage musical icons were part of the cast of Tick, Tick…BOOM! for the “Sunday” scene to show the Broadway influences that shaped Rent creator Jonathan Larson. This moving scene was filled with Easter Eggs that would make any theater fan filled with joy. I love that Miranda said he planned on playing her classic tunes to further honor her.

There’s another collaborator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s who thought of the Bye, Bye Birdie star. Leslie Odom Jr., who worked with Miranda in the stage version of Tick, Tick…BOOM! and Hamilton, wrote two words in the comments to describe the triple-threat star perfectly. 

Yes, she was. At a young age, Chita Rivera trained as a dancer and won a scholarship at 16 for the School of American Ballet. At a time when few Latina actresses had a place on the stage, Rivera showed them all for her roles in West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and more. Her accomplishments will never be forgotten. Another prominent figure who sent his praises to the talented performance was President Biden who issued a statement released by the White House via Deadline. Read the President’s inspirational words:

This is how you know Chita Rivera was such an inspiration when the President of the United States was willing to take the time to pen such an effective tribute. Ariana Debose, who played Anita in the cast of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and made LGBTQ+ Oscar history with her win, had some emotional words to share about the Kennedy Center Honor recipient. Choking back tears, here's what the Wish actress said on LIVE with Kelly & Mark:

Ariana Debose was incredibly lucky to have the privilege to present with her at The Tonys and get to play the role she originated for the Steven Spielberg remake. One more incredible tribute made for Chita Rivera was by Rita Moreno who portrayed Anita in the 1961 musical film West Side Story and won Best Supporting Actress for it. In her Instagram tribute, here’s what she had to say about the woman she said people constantly compared her to.

It’s a beautiful thing when celebrities take the time to honor an incredible talent who broke the mold for Latina stars like Rita Morena, Ariana Debose, and other upcoming actresses on the Broadway stage. Her accomplishments and legacy will hold dear to those who worked with her as well as her fans. You can watch her latest film performance in Tick, Tick…BOOM! on your Netflix subscription.

The Disney Treasure is shaping up to be an incredible ship. The Disney Wish just launched back in 2022, and I was incredibly impressed with everything about it, but the next brand new Disney Cruise Line ship, the Treasure, is set to launch later this year, and it’s going to have an incredible stage show that may outdo anything we’ve seen before. And it'll have even more Lin-Manuel Miranda music.

Today Disney Cruise Line released some brand new details about Disney’s The Tale of Moana, a brand new Broadway-style stage show that will debut when the Disney Treasure launches in December. It will be an adaptation of Moana the animated movie, but it will include at least one thing the movie never had. “Warrior Face” a song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the film, that was ultimately never used, will be included in the new show.

What Is “Warrior Face?” 

An outtake of “Warrior Face” was included on the Moana soundtrack and a rough animation sketch with music, from Hamilton's Christopher Jackson and Phillipa Soo, can be found on the Blu-ray and Disney+, so we know a bit about the unused song. It appears to have taken place just before the attempt to get Maui’s hook back, and it sees Maui try to inspire Moana to be more like a warrior. Lin-Manuel Miranda says in the Blu-ray extra that it was inspired by the haka, a Maori warrior dance.

Speaking with CinemaBlend back in 2016, director John Musker said that “Warrior Face” was cut because it was a bit too similar to other songs in the film, and that the song, which is ultimately Maui and Moana’s bonding moment, came too early in the story. It’s a good song, so it’s wonderful that it will finally get some time to shine. Hearing the song is certainly one reason that the new Moana show will be worth watching, but it’s not the only one.

The Tale Of Moana Will Include A Massive Te Ka Puppet 

The other big piece of information regarding The Tale of Moana is that it will include some incredible puppetry. Michael Curry, who created some of the puppets for The Lion King on Broadway, teamed with Jeff Conover of Disney Live Entertainment to create the puppets, which include a Te Kā puppet that will be “of a scale Disney Cruise Line has never before produced.” Now I need to see this show.

If you’ve seen The Lion King on stage or even been to a Broadway-level show at Disneyland or Walt Disney World that used puppets, you’ve seen some of the creative work that Disney can do. Some of these creations are huge, and seeing them on a cruise ship sounds incredible. A piece of concept art revealed today shows the puppet work on a much smaller scale, as Moana as a toddler will be portrayed by a puppet.

The Tale of Moana is just one of dozens of new offerings that will be on board the Disney Treasure. From a lounge modeled after the Haunted Mansion to a new Worlds of Marvel restaurant show, perhaps with an equally impressive director. the ship is really taking shape. Its maiden voyage is scheduled for December, and bookings for the Disney Treasure are already available.

Attention, Demigods! Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is less than a week away, which means it’s almost time to see Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief come to life for the first time as a TV show. Part of the excitement that comes with following the adaptation week to week is seeing which actors will embody them, including in incomparable Lin-Manuel Miranda who is set to play Hermes, the messenger of the gods. 

The Hamilton playwright and star joined the Percy Jackson cast last November amidst the show being shot. When CinemaBlend sat down with two of the producers of the Disney+ series, they shared the story behind how the big name joined the show. In Jon Steinberg’s words: 

As Steinberg shared during our interview, Miranda was one of a few actors they cast who joined the project because of their ties to the novels alongside their own kids. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series has been consistently read by kids and adults alike since The Lightning Thief was first published in 2005 and became a bestseller. Miranda’s eldest son, Sebastian, is nine, the perfect age for his father to get bragging rights to him over being part of the Percy Jackson world. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda is undoubtedly a busy man who has obtained the notoriety to pick and choose which projects he absolutely feels like he wants to be in, rather than being a starving artist. In recent years, he has been working closely with Disney to bring new music to its films like Encanto and the live-action The Little Mermaid. (He’s amassed a ton of great movie songs already.) It’s not typical for him to guest star in a Disney+ series, but clearly he was passionate about the material! 

Miranda plays a rather pivotal role to the first season of the series as Hermes, the messenger of the gods and father to Luke Castellan. The character was previously played by Nathan Fillion in the movies that were among the franchises that got cancelled before all the movies were made. The character is part of Percy’s journey throughout the book series, so it’s quite the investment for Miranda to have joined the project. Of course it’s such a beloved franchise; why would he say no? 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ first two episodes are set to premiere for those with a Disney+ subscription on December 20 and continue to roll out new episodes in the season on Wednesdays. The first episode will also be screened on Hulu. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more exclusive coverage about the new series. 

Ariana DeBose just reached a major career milestone by being the lead voice actress behind Disney’s Wish. The latest of the upcoming Disney movies has the Hamilton and West Side Story actress singing original Disney songs as the House of Mouse celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Considering both DeBose and Lin-Manuel Miranda share being part of the Hamilton-to-Disney Animation pipeline, we asked the Wish star if they’re geeking out off to the side about their parallel journey. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda, of course, created Hamilton before becoming a frequent collaborator at the Walt Disney Company since hanging up his coat at the Broadway hit. Miranda made music for Moana, Encanto and the live-action The Little Mermaid, along with starring in Mary Poppins Returns. With DeBose joining the Disney family herself as Wish’s Asha, here’s what she told us when I made the connection: 

You can check out the CinemaBlend interview moment in the video above. When I followed up the question by sharing my hopes that the talent may collaborate with Lin-Manuel Miranda again someday, she started sending some kind of message with her eyes that makes me think there’s something cooking between these two already. 

While Hamilton is a big part of Ariana DeBose’s journey to becoming a Disney lead, the actress, singer and dancer had a rather small part in the Broadway musical. She played the role of “The Bullet” in the original ensemble. She didn’t get to be center stage for that part, but The Bullet is one of those cool background details about Hamilton that really speaks to the intricacies of the award-winning musical. 

DeBose and Miranda have remained friends since going separate ways after Hamilton, and as soon as I mentioned his name, the actress was eager to speak to her collaborator to geek about their Disney journeys. Now that I’ve seen DeBose light up about Miranda as soon as I mentioned him, I’m hoping the intriguing look she flashed my way does mean they are planning on working together in another way after Hamilton. I love when the Hamilton original cast teams back up, and I know they’d be an electric pairing. 

Wish just hit theaters just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. You can check out the first reactions following the Wish premiere and our Wish review here on CinemaBlend. 

While we’ve come to know Utkarsh Ambudkar for his roles in Ghosts and Free Guy, before he was on screen, he was part of the freestyle rap group Freestyle Love Supreme. The crew also included Hamilton OGs like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson too. These days all these talented performers and producers have gone on to create their own projects. Although, when Ambudkar made his film on the 2023 movie schedule, World’s Best, he got a few of the FLS crew back together, and he opened up about how the rap group influenced his Disney+ movie. 

World’s Best is a movie about a kid who learns that his late father was an emcee, and it has a couple of FLS members featured in it with Christopher Jackson and beatboxer Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan both popping up. On top of the cameos, Thomas Kail, who directed Hamilton and was a co-creator of the freestyle rap group, produced the new Disney+ movie. Speaking about these connections, Utkarsh Ambudkar explained how his time with Freestyle Love Supreme impacted his movie, telling CinemaBlend: 

This Disney+ movie 100% has the joyful energy that you can feel watching Freestyle Love Supreme do their thing. In their documentary, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme (which is available with a Hulu subscription), that love radiates off the screen, and their adoration for what they do is infectious. You can see the crew, including Ambudkar, perform below: 

There’s a similar FLS energy in World’s Best, and as Ambudkar said, that’s in part thanks to his time working with folks like Miranda, Kail, Jackson and Sullivan. 

Freestyle Love Supreme is made up of lots of theater names you’ll likely recognize. Along with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson, another Hamilton star who was featured in the improv crew was Daveed Diggs who went from experimental hip-hop to Broadway, and has now appeared in massive projects like The Little Mermaid. Utkarsh Ambudkar’s career has also flourished since he started off in the freestyle troupe, and now he’s marking another professional milestone with World’s Best being the first project he’s simultaneously written, produced and starred in. 

Along with his sincere answer about how FLS influenced his new movie, Ambudkar also threw some light-hearted shade at his pals, proving that they are all really great friends as he joked: 

As a Hamilton fan, this made me crack up. This is mostly because Thomas Kail is probably the last person who needs a job. He not only directed the smash hit historical musical, he also helmed the revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on Broadway, and he’s set to direct the live-action version of Moana…and that’s just scratching the surface of what the producer has done. 

Overall, there’s a stellar team supporting Utkarsh Ambudkar for this film that's all about the joy and love a father and son share as they bond over their rap. Knowing this makes World’s Best even more meaningful because it’s clear that a lot of care and adoration went into the film considering the actor/writer/producer’s history with Freestyle Love Supreme. 

To stream this fun movie that features some epic rap numbers all you need is a Disney+ subscription, because World’s Best premieres on the platform June 23. 

Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is (finally) almost here, which means audiences will finally get to see the all-star cast led by Halle Bailey bring their own takes to the iconic animated characters that we’ve loved for over 30 years. As many of the first reactions to The Little Mermaid tour Daveed Diggs as a standout with his version of Sebastian, CinemaBlend sat down with the Hamilton icon about playing the role. 

Sebastian is such a key character to Disney’s The Little Mermaid, especially considering the crab sings two major musical numbers with “Under the Sea” and “Kiss The Girl.” During our interview with Daveed Diggs (in the video above), the talented singer and actor spoke about making his own mark on the beloved character. In his words: 

The original voice of Sebastian, the late Samuel E. Wright, certainly didn’t make Diggs an easy act to follow considering how absolutely iconic those original tunes are to our pop culture. As the original Hamilton cast member has spoken about before, he ended up working harder on Sebastian than any other role in his life due to the nerves to bring The Little Mermaid justice. 

Now that the movie is finished and soon ready to reach wide audiences, Diggs shared that he is proud of the work he did on the film especially in terms of how he could inject more calypso, which is a style of Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 17th century. Check out a segment of “Under The Sea” via Walt Disney Studios’ YouTube: 

In anticipation for the role, Diggs went to Jamaica to research the role of Sebastian and worked with voice coaches to get the Caribbean accent right. As the Hamilton star shared with us, he was “terrified” to take on the Disney character, but he certainly worked very hard behind the scenes to bring him to life in photo-realistic live action. 

Daveed Diggs re-teamed with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and original The Little Mermaid composer Alan Menken on the music for the latest of upcoming Disney movies. Diggs’ Sebastian even gets an additional song with “Scuttlebutt,” which he joins Awkwafina’s Scuttle on. The new number brings Miranda’s classic rap stylings to The Little Mermaid. Additionally, Menken and Miranda worked together on a new solo for Ariel called “For The First Time” and Prince Eric’s own song called “Wild Uncharted Waters.” 

The Little Mermaid is heading to theaters on May 26 with box office predictions set to rival the billion dollar success of 2019’s Aladdin.  

May the 4th has come yet again, and everyone seemed to celebrate the annual holiday a little differently. Some watch the Star Wars movies in order, and others might hop on social media and post a message or meme to commemorate the day. A number of notable celebrities chose the latter route, as James Gunn, Mark Hamill and more decided to acknowledge the day, and it's giving me all the feels. 

Gunn showed some love to Star Wars, even though he's only hours away from the release of one of his biggest movies to date. Fortunately, we already know a good deal about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, so now was as good of a time as any for him to drop some personal thoughts about how his Marvel franchise was influenced by Star Wars: 

Guardians of the Galaxy isn't Star Wars, but I think many readers can appreciate that James Gunn did his best to deliver something he felt evoked the same emotional response just as well. In any case, I think it's a great tribute, especially from a guy who will soon be dealing with upcoming DC movies more than any future Disney project he might have. 

Gunn's response must've been appreciated by the folks at Lucasfilm, as the Star Wars account on Twitter said the following in response to his message: 

Mark Hamill, of course, is going to celebrate May the 4th. The Luke Skywalker actor paid tribute by mentioning another worthy Star Wars event happening today. Today, Carrie Fisher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Along with attending the event itself, Hamill reacted on Twitter to Fisher's star news when he first heard about it and reacted again today to remind people of the reason for the season: 

Carrie Fisher's Walk of Fame ceremony was extra special, thanks in part to an appearance by her daughter, Billie Lourd. She showed up in a gorgeous dress honoring Leia, and then sprinkled some of Fisher's glitter over the top of the star:

Even the Star Trek actors couldn't help but get in on the fun of May the 4th. LeVar Burton, fresh off celebrating his reprisal as Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: Picard Season 3, used his iconic character and an assist from Mark Hamill to give fans a new catchphrase:

Lin-Manuel Miranda also had a creative contribution to May the 4th, with an assist from the one and only J.J. Abrams. The duo introduced Miranda's Cantina song, which he then performed in Hutteese: 

Even The Muppets, currently prepping for the release of The Muppets Mayhem, took some time to show some love for Star Wars. Granted, they had Robin do the video, and he didn't even crack the list of CinemaBlend's top 25 Muppets, but I'll personally advocate for his inclusion after seeing this great video:

I'm not sure I could've recapped the movie any better myself. All of these tributes always make what would otherwise be a regular day in May a little more special, so I'm hoping that the Star Wars celebrations continue for every May 4th to come!

Snag a Disney+ subscription and stream all of the Star Wars content to your heart's content right now. I would personally suggest celebrating with the latest season of Star Wars: Visions, or something like Rebels to prepare for other live-action shows in the franchise coming up later this year. 

In the past few years, Disney has invested heavily in live-action remakes of their classic animated features. Beginning in 2010 with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, to most recently Pinocchio, the live-action reimaginings have received mixed reviews, but they have earned relatively big box office paydays for the House of Mouse and show no signs of slowing down. There are two such upcoming Disney movies getting on the docket, Peter Pan & Wendy (which sees Jude Law play Captain Hook) and The Little Mermaid. Perhaps no animated children’s classic has as beloved a songbook as the latter property, and no one knows that better than producer and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Hamilton star, who is working as a producer and songwriter on the film, says he knows how much fans love the song "Under the Sea" in particular, and you can consider him “Chairman of the Don’t F-k it Up” committee. 

The Tony winner. who agreed to compose three new songs for the upcoming Rob Marshall film, humorously told Empire in that besides being a producer, he also took on another role. According to the self-proclaimed fan of the classic animated version of The Little Mermaid, he is like every other die-hard Disney fan and just wanted to make sure the remake wasn’t ruined. He said:

He acknowledges that there is room for new songs and fresh perspectives in the remake, but he approached the project with a focus on staying true to the original story and its music. And based on his sentiments, he toed the line very cautiously in that regard. He continued:

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s comments are likely reassuring to fans eagerly anticipating the new movie but are feeling trepidatious over filmmakers toying with something they already love. With a talented cast that includes Halle Bailey (who has been channeling her inner mermaid), Jonah Hauer-King and Melissa McCarthy (and the involvement of respected figures like Alan Menken and Miranda handling the music) there is reason to believe that the remake could be a wild success.

The OG Little Mermaid movie was released in 1989 and was a critical and commercial hit, winning two Oscars and launching a new era of Disney animated musicals. The film’s iconic songs, including “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea,” have remained popular and beloved over the years. So, Lin-Manuel Miranda and co. have their work cut out for them concerning not fucking it up, because Disney fans will be watching and taking notes. 

Devotees will get a chance to see whether or not the musical talent was able to stay true to the spirit of the classic animated film or if they indeed fell short when The Little Mermaid swims into theaters on May 26. Until then, check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to plan your next adventure at the theater. You can also stream the original animated flick using a Disney+ subscription.

When you think of some of the best television shows of all time, what are the ones that instantly come to your mind? For me, there are a solid three – Breaking Bad, the phenomenal Game of Thrones (and its wonderful cast), and last but not least, The Sopranos. 

The famous HBO series seriously changed television forever, and The Sopranos cast has gone on to do many things in the world of Hollywood and beyond. But today, we’re going to go over the guest cameos that you might have forgotten about – that’s right, the “blink and you’ll miss it” kind, because believe it or not, there have been many big stars that we know of now who started off small and appeared in guest roles on The Sopranos. Let’s get into it. 

Lady Gaga (Classmate)

Lady Gaga is primarily known for her singing career, as she has had several number one hits and even performed at the Super Bowl like many other pop stars such as Rihanna, The Weeknd, and more. However, she’s also now known for her acting career, which really started taking off in the last several years, with roles in movies such as A Star is Born and TV shows like the Ryan Murphy-created American Horror Story. 

But, Lady Gaga had humble beginnings in the world of television and had a small guest role in The Sopranos during the episode “The Telltale Moozadell.” She isn’t even credited in the role, but any die-hard Gaga fan can see her from a mile away. This was way before she was famous, so it’s so cool to see her in something such as this. 

Cristin Milioti (Catherine Sacrimoni)

Cristin Milioti has certainly made a name for herself over the last several years. In terms of movies, she’s appeared in the hilarious rom-com, Palm Springs, as well as the Leonardo DiCaprio-led film, The Wolf of Wall Street, among others. She also portrayed Tracey McConnell in How I Met Your Mother, and had the main role on Made for Love on HBO Max, and many more. 

Before all this, she portrayed Catherine Sacrimoni for three episodes of The Sopranos during the last season of the show. She has done so much since then, that it might be hard to recall her role, but she was a pretty important part of the last season, and it’s so cool to see what she has done since then. 

Will Arnett (Mike Waldrup)

Before Will Arnett starred in the casts of big shows such as Arrested Development, and voiced a main character in The Lego Movie, its sequel, and led The Lego Batman Movie, he was also among the people who guest starred on The Sopranos. During Season 4, he played Mike Waldrup, who was actually a serious character in comparison to many of his other comedic roles. 

It’s a bit strange to see him in such a dramatic role, but it shows that Arnett has some great range, and I’d be down to see him in more serious parts in the future.

Michael B. Jordan (Rideland Kid)

Before he was kicking butts and taking names in the Creed franchise, or becoming one of everyone’s favorite villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Killmonger, Michael B. Jordan began his career as a young child actor. Like many people, he ended up having small roles in TV shows – and one of his first was this one in The Sopranos, Season 1, during the episode, “Down Neck.”

His character doesn’t even have a name, simply known as “Rideland Kid,” and he appears in a flashback to Tony’s past as one of the only people who went head to head with Tony before he became what he became. He barely has any lines but it’s so funny to see him so young in a role such as this after seeing what he has done since. 

Chandra Wilson (Evelyn Greenwood)

Out of every single medical drama out there, I’m pretty sure there isn’t one quite as popular as Grey’s Anatomy. The show has gone on for several seasons and many cast members have come and gone, but Chandra Wilson has remained one of the few who has been on the show since Season 1 – that’s right, Dr. Miranda Bailey has stuck it out for this long. 

But, before she was on the hit medical series that has earned her several award nominations, Wilson had a small guest role on The Sopranos during Season 5, where she played Evelyn Greenwood. It’s not particularly memorable, but it’s cool all the same to see her before Grey’s.  

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Bellman)

Before he took the world by storm through his musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, and ended up working on the soundtracks for movies such as Moana and Encanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda did plenty of small roles in television. He was once a guest star on Modern Family, and was also a guest star on The Sopranos, during the episode, “Remember When.”

It’s, again, a very small guest role, where all he plays is a bellman who helps with luggage in a hotel and has very few speaking lines, but to see him before In the Heights blew up and then, of course, Hamilton, is so much fun.  

Perez Hilton (Male Student)

If you don’t know who Perez Hilton is, then you definitely have never paid attention to celebrity gossip. Hilton has run one of the most popular celebrity gossip sites since back in the early 2000s, but he started as an actor, too. And, he had a tiny guest role in The Sopranos during the episode, “Fortunate Son.”

Again, all he’s credited as is “Male Student,” and he wasn’t credited as Perez Hilton but rather under his real name, Mario Lavanderia, but this was before he even took on the name of the gossip maven, so it makes sense. 

Paul Dano (Patrick Whalen)

Last but not least, we need to talk about Paul Dano, who was on The Sopranos for a few episodes, more than many of the others on this list. 

Dano is primarily known for his great character acting, and he’s appeared in big movies such as The Batman, 12 Years A Slave, Prisoners, The Fabelmans in 2022, and so many more, but he also had the role of Patrick Whalen in The Sopranos during Seasons 4 and 5. The character appeared in three episodes before he was never seen again. 

Truly, these are the “before they were famous” roles for these stars, and it’s so awesome to see how far they have come in comparison to their small beginnings. I can’t wait to see what they do next.  

The last decade has truly been great for movie music, but one person that always seems to pop up in my mind – or on my playlist – pretty regularly is Lin-Manuel Miranda. From his start on Broadway to everything he has done thus far in the world of movies, the talented song-writer has come up with some truly amazing music. 

But what are his best? There are so many Lin-Manuel Miranda movie songs, with soundtracks that I could listen to for hours, but these, hands down, are some of the best. For those who want to know – and even those who don’t – these are my top 10 favorite of his songs, starting off with one I’m sure we all know very well. 

10. We Don’t Talk About Bruno (Encanto)

I’m going to be honest – I’m not even a huge fan of Encanto. While it felt like the entire internet was loving it in the fall/winter year of 2021, it didn’t sit as well with me as some of the other recent Disney movies. However, it still had some great music in it and a great story – including “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

Was the song played to death? Yes. So much yes. I can’t listen to it now without thinking how I basically lived in this song in early 2022. However, just because it was overplayed doesn’t take away the fact that the tune itself is a lot of fun, blending every character from the movie effortlessly and using super fun lyrics. It’s still a bop – regardless of how much it was overplayed. 

9. 96,000 (In The Heights)

I loved the musical In The Heights. I loved it so much and I hated that it came out during the pandemic, because it didn’t get the love that it deserved. That means I can give it the love it deserves now. As a fan who has seen the original musical, I adore “96,000.”

While we all know what happens to people who win the lottery (meaning taxes), there’s something so thrilling and fun about hearing what people plan to do with that money and how they would use it to improve their lives. Plus, the blending of all the different musical styles at one point really does it for me at the end; the harmonies sending goosebumps up my arms.

8. You’re Welcome (Moana)

Who doesn’t love to listen to Dwyane Johnson rap?

Jokes aside, Moana is my favorite Disney soundtrack that Lin-Manuel Miranda has done, hands down, because the songs are just so memorable. This one, “You’re Welcome,” in particular, is one of the best ones, because it flows so damn well. The story of Maui is a great one, filled with catchy rhymes and an unbeatable rap bridge that gets me pumped every time. 

I needed to see more of this in Encanto, because it was just so much fun. 

7. Non-Stop (Hamilton)

The first of a few Hamilton picks on here. While Hamilton is technically a filmed stage production, it's still one of the best movies to watch on Disney+, so it counts here. And, “Non-Stop” is a bop – rhyme intended. 

It’s the perfect way to close out the first act of Hamilton, using the story we’ve seen thus far and demonstrating Hamilton’s need to keep climbing up in the world; constantly trying to improve the country and show that he’s more than just some little immigrant. This, paired with the amazing harmonies and the blending of several songs from the first act, is just the song to get you hyped for Act 2. 

6. Paciencia Y Fe (In The Heights)

Ugh, this song.

If Miranda hadn’t written so many amazing songs already in his life, this would be number one, because I have a personal connection to “Paciencia y Fe” from In the Heights. The song, sung by Abuela Claudia, is all about having patience and faith that what you put into the universe will be paid back to you and that everything you do now will be worth it with patience and faith – at least, that was always how I saw it. 

And, wow, did this song hit me so hard as a young adult. I struggled a lot for a while where I felt that what I was doing with my life wasn’t going anywhere but this song was seriously what helped me through it and reminded me to have “patience and faith” to get through the hard times, and I did. I know I will carry that motto with me to the grave.

5. In The Heights (In The Heights)

This was the best song to start off a musical. “In the Heights,” obviously from the titular movie, introduces us to all the characters and their stories and personalities, but it’s done in such a way where it doesn’t feel like an exposition dump. It feels authentically told – as if Usnavi is just speaking to a regular at his corner store, telling them all the gossip about the block. 

I love it. I know all the lyrics to it. And refuse to skip it any time that it is on my playlist. It’s just so good and makes me want to re-watch In the Heights over and over. 

4. How Far I’ll Go (Moana)

While Moana is not a princess in Moana, this song is one of the best “Disney princess” songs there is, where it introduces you to the main female protagonist and her dreams for the world. And Miranda put everything he had into the lyrics of this song. 

“How Far I’ll Go” was my obsession when I began college in 2016, talking about how destiny calls you and while at first, it might be scary, you just have to take that plunge to see how far you’ll go; to see where “the wind in your sail” takes you. You don’t know what’s lies beyond, but you’re willing to try. It’s so inspiring and I can imagine millions of little girls singing it. 

3. Surface Pressure (Encanto)

Overall, I love Moana more than Encanto. I feel like the animation is better, the characters are better, and the overall songs are more memorable. 

But damn, “Surface Pressure” is amazing. 

I didn’t think that Luisa was going to be the sibling that I related to the most out of everyone in Encanto, but her song about feeling this pressure as the eldest sibling, always having to be perfect, and admitting to Mirabel that she genuinely is nervous about showing her true colors or how scared she actually is, is so real. 

Every eldest sibling has probably felt this pressure where, under the surface, we don’t want to be held to this high standard but we are, we feel that we must perform. Like, damn. I wasn't expecting Luisa, of all people, to be that deep but she really blew me away. 

2. Satisfied (Hamilton)

Renée Elise Goldsberry sang her head off with this song and yes, “Satisfied” from Hamilton is one of my go-to karaoke songs. It’s just written so incredibly well that I can’t help but put it at number two. 

The song is all about her never being satisfied with her life because she’s the eldest sibling (I see a trend here, Miranda) and how she has certain responsibilities that her younger sisters don’t. Enter Hamilton, a man she actually wants but can’t have because he A) doesn’t have any money and B) doesn’t have a place in society. But she is so heartbroken about it. 

The least she can do is sacrifice her own love for Hamilton and give him to her sister, so that way she’d always see him. Just amazing. 

1. Wait For It (Hamilton)

I had to put “Wait For It” at number one. That one line, “I am inimitable, I am an original,” just sits with me. It’s all about Aaron Burr, who has had a tough life, waiting to see how the wind changes and figuring out what to do with his life from there, deciding that he is going to take control of what he wants to do. 

It’s like speaking to us, saying we don't have to wait for these opportunities in life where we can really shine; that was what Burr was doing for so long – which ultimately led to his downfall. It’s a song that really builds and is unskippable – which is why it needs to be number one. 

While I would include Vivo on this list, as that has some fun songs, these are only the absolute best Lin-Manuel Miranda songs, but be sure to check out that movie on Netflix. Either way, maybe you now have a new song to listen to over and over again – just please, don’t let it be “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” 

“We Don’t Talk about Bruno” became one of 2022's most viral hits. Encanto’s signature tune was the hit no one saw coming, including the song’s writer Lin-Manuel Miranda. The animated movie and the hit song did modestly well in the theaters, but it wasn’t until the film popped up on Disney+ that things took off. Upon the Oscar-winning film’s streaming debut, Miranda got inundated with messages from others after social media got hold of the song. One of those messages came from an unexpected fan as the Tick, Tick… Boom! director recalled a funny direct message he got from fellow director Taika Waititi.   

The viral sensation was an instant earworm even before the Disney animated film found a second life online. Miranda revealed to Variety that his father-in-law found the song catchy upon hearing the demo version. He mentioned his in-law recalled singing the inescapable hit for three days. Before the musical comedy dropped on Disney+ (currently available through a subscription), the multihyphenate went on vacation with his wife. The Hamilton star recalled the flurry of messages he received, including Taika Waititi, after the film took over the world.

Miranda knew “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was an earworm, but didn’t think he would have a viral worldwide hit. You know the musical number was ubiquitous even Waititi sends you a direct message. But the song’s popularity went beyond the internet as it stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks following tremendous radio play and streaming numbers. The hit song inspired numerous online dance and cover videos. The Broadway-style number’s impact led to the Encanto cast opening this year’s Oscars (despite not being submitted for Best Song). Its presence is still felt as kids (and adults) continue watching the animated movie a year after its theatrical release despite his son being over the hit song.

Before taking off on social media, Miranda admitted Disney wasn’t pushing the song as they did with the big hits of the Disney Renaissance. The multihyphenate credited TikTok and social media for causing the song to become a worldwide sensation. Despite the song’s catchiness and signature hook, he didn’t see it becoming the movie’s biggest hit, referring to the Grammy-nominated song as “a collection of a lot of different moments.” The 42-year-old entertainer knew the viral hit didn’t follow a typical pop song structure, which is why its virality caught him off guard. Even after the signature tune reached pop culture status, he didn’t dream “it would be a hit.”

The viral hit is still raking up the awards nomination as it is up for a Grammy, which will be present at the 2023 ceremony. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” helped the Encanto soundtrack hit a massive milestone, becoming the sixth animated soundtrack to hit number one on the Billboard 200. Hopefully, the film’s consistent replay value will lead to a possible sequel or other avenues to revisit the Madrigal family.

The adage goes never meet your idols, but Encanto songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda sidestepped that warning. Growing up on Weird Al Yankovic’s iconic parody songs helped to inform Miranda as a composer and songwriter. So getting the chance to meet Yankovic after becoming a Broadway success was a childhood dream come true. Or he wanted it to be. Things took a turn as the Tick, Tick… Boom! director recalled ‘pooping the bed” while trying to get the Grammy winner to work with him.

The Hamilton creator opened up about his less-than-stellar first meeting with the Grammy winner during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Miranda was hot off the success of his first hit musical In the Heights when he got the chance to meet his childhood idol. Yankovic was meeting with different writers for a potential Broadway musical. The music composer was giddy to meet the comedy icon and pitch himself for the stage musical. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned once Miranda arrived at Yankovic’s home.  

There’s nothing like self-sabotage to ruin a meeting with your childhood role model. Of course, Bobby Lopez is a great songwriter with accolades to match, but that was Miranda’s moment. But it seemed his nerves and self-doubt got the best of him. He just wanted to impress the “White and Nerdy” singer at this moment but pitched his close friend instead.

Miranda realized he had fumbled the opportunity before leaving Yankovic’s home. The In the Heights composer recalled never having a nervous episode before meeting the comic musician. A wave of self-doubt washed over the filmmaker once he got in his car.

Comparing his car breakdown to a Boogie Nights scene illustrated Miranda's miserable feelings after meeting Yankovic. He felt like blowing the chance to work with the comedy icon ever again. But meeting his idol made him nervous and overexcited. Luckily, he redeemed himself later as the two men became friends. He even hinted at appearing in the musician's star-studded biopic satire Weird.

Despite their horrible meeting, Miranda finally got the chance to work with Yankovic on the medley “The Hamilton Polka” for the Hamilton Mixtape. The comedy legend’s influence on the multihyphenate pre-dated his success on stage and in film. He recalled crafting a song in the style of Weird Al’s parody songs for his high school math class. So the first meeting between the pair was a childhood dream-turned-nightmare for Miranda.

Moviegoers will hear Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work (sans one sacred classic) when the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid arrives in theaters on May 26, 2023. He composed and produced the music for one of 2023’s new movie releases. In the meantime, you can watch the live recording of Hamilton through a Disney+ subscription.

While some may still know him as the brain behind the Broadway hit Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda has established himself quite useful at Disney in recent years. Along with starring opposite Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns, he worked behind the scenes on Moana and Encanto, and he’s also involved in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. The upcoming Disney movie has been catching attention recently for racist comments directed at Halle Bailey’s Ariel, prompting Miranda to share why he’s not giving any “oxygen” to these words.

Halle Bailey was announced to be playing Ariel back in July 2019, but her casting has gained renewed attention following the release of the first Little Mermaid trailer, which saw the grown-ish actress belting out “Part of Your World.” Various people on the internet have taken issue with a Black actress being cast as a character who was originally depicted as white, to the point that the #NotMyAriel hashtag was created. Lin-Manuel Miranda put those haters on blast while speaking at the L’Attitude conference in San Diego (via Variety), saying:

Prior to saying the above statement, Lin-Manuel Miranda advised the people who don’t like that Halle Bailey is playing Ariel simply because she’s Black to watch the 1997 TV movie Cinderella, which not only starred Brandy as the title protagonist, but boasted a racially diverse cast also including Whitney Houston, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber. among others. Miranda said he’s “old enough to remember that being a game changer” for his generation, so for him, Bailey leading The Little Mermaid is more of a good thing when it comes to opening up acting opportunities to all sorts of people, regardless of the color of their skin.

Beyond that, since Lin-Manuel Miranda has been part of the creative process on The Little Mermaid, he’s seen footage of Halle Bailey playing Ariel and is confident that she’s going to impress the general public with her performance. Miranda isn’t the only celebrity to offer supporting words for Halle Bailey in the wake of these racist comments. Snow White lead Rachel Zegler didn’t hesitate to defend her fellow Disney Princess, and Splash’s Darryl Hannah also hit back against the detractors. On a more positive note, there have been a lot of videos posted online of young Black girls joyfully reacting to the Little Mermaid trailer, which left Bailey “truly in awe” and made her “so emotional.”

The Little Mermaid’s cast also includes Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Awkwafina as Scuttle. Lin-Manuel Miranda teamed with composer Alan Menken, who worked on the animated version of The Little Mermaid, to write new songs for the remake. You can see how this 2023 movie came together when it opens on May 26, 2023.

Both movie and musical fans should "start spreading the news," as Liza Minelli once sang. Why? Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda has landed his next Broadway project and it's an adaption of a Martin Scorsese movie this time around. 

The new project will be a take on Martin Scorsese's 1977 flick New York, New York. According to Deadline, the show will open in April under the direction of Susan Stroman, who has won both Tony and Olivier Awards for musicals like The Producers, Crazy For You, Oklahoma! and Contact. The musical will feature songs from the original film written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, who wrote lyrics for iconic musicals like Chicago and Cabaret.

As Scorsese-files may already know, the original film stars Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro who play a USO band singer and a saxophone player, respectively. They create a duo and fall in love, however that relationship becomes volatile causing them to break it off. But, it seems like this plot won’t be closely followed. 

Like the movie, Miranda's version will be set in 1946 after the events of WWII. Deadline also notes it will be about a "city in recovery." It will also feature "inclusive casting." 

Taking all this information into account, there are oh so many reasons to get excited about New York, New York whether you are a film or musical fan. 

The biggest thing I’m excited about is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s involvement. He has made waves on both stage and screen in the past ten years, making his return to Broadway extremely exciting.

Most notably he wrote and starred in Hamilton. Since its opening in 2016 on Broadway, it has swept up basically all the awards, has three tours going around North America, and is also widely available for everyone to watch on Disney+, a decision that only increased Hamilton's popularity.

He also has a widely impressive movie musical resume. He was part of the team that created one of the most successful Disney songs “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto. He made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Netflix film Tick, Tick…Boom!. The musical stars Andrew Garfield in the lead role of Jonathan Larson, the mind behind the musical RENT, a topic that Garfield discussed with CinemaBlend. If that wasn’t enough, his first musical In The Heights was released as a feature film, which can be streamed on HBO Max. 

Between his success on the stage and the screen, turning this movie into a musical feels like a perfect project for him to be involved in. Lin-Manuel Miranda may be the hot new talent in town, but Martin Scorsese is still churning out well-reviewed movies like The Irishman decades into his own career and also has a fanbase built in. Having one pay homage to the work of the other should be the icing on the cake for many fans. 

Plus, Miranda will be complementing the work of iconic lyricists John Kander and Fred Ebb. And, to have someone in New York, New York singing like Liza Minnelli in either the stage version of Chicago or in the film Cabaret brings me immense joy. 

What it comes down to is this musical adaptation is in the hands of a modern pioneer of both stage and screen, and that alone should have film and theater fans excited. But it helps that it's based on a Scorsese project to boot. 

After receiving backlash from Hamilton's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Dramatists Guild and others, the Christian Fellowship McAllen Church has released an apology and agreed to pay damages.  The church was called out for putting on a “Christianized” version of the hit musical Hamilton. They altered the original text by changing lyrics to be biblical references and at the end, a pastor gave a sermon comparing homosexuality to drug addiction. 

In a statement, Lin-Manuel Miranda said he was "grateful" for everyone who got the "illegal, unauthorized production" on his radar, also noting on Twitter  "now lawyers do their work." It looks like that's exactly what happened, as the church has been issued fines and released an apology on Instagram:

The post goes on to say that the church did not ask for a license to produce the show and did not get permission to alter the work. They acknowledged that what they did violated federal copyright law and agreed to never stage a performance of the production again and destroy all video or sound recordings of it. They also said they will pay the damages issued to them.  

A statement was also issued by the Dramatists Guild, which represents playwrights, composers and lyricists. That group posted on Twitter to share its point of view on the matter, as well. The longer statement read that Door McAllen Church's "infringement" was "brazen" and shone a light on a recurring issue in the industry. The crux of their statement being:  

Under federal copyright law, churches are allowed to perform copyrighted music during services. However, this does not apply to public performances, making their production of Hamilton subject to damages. 

According to The New York Times, Hamilton spokesperson Shane Marshall Brown all the damages will be donated to the South Texas Equality Project, which supports the local LGBTQ+ community. 

The smash Broadway hit opened in 2016 and is still open in New York and has three touring companies that travel around North America. In the summer of 2020, a recording of the show with the original cast was released on Disney+, which helped increase demand for the live show. Along, with the success of Hamilton, many of the stars including Miranda, the show's creator, have found great success. Miranda has written the music for Disney’s hit movies Moana and Encanto and is responsible for the most popular Disney song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno." 

Hamilton can be viewed as it was intended with a Disney+ subscription or live on stage in New York City or any of the cities the tours visit. 

Last Friday, The Door Christian Fellowship Ministries in McAllen, Texas livestreamed their own production of Hamilton with several changes to the script and lyrics relating to biblical references not from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, as well as a moment at the end where a pastor compared homosexuality to drug addiction. Following the recent production being staged and the backlash that followed, Miranda has broken his silence. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda took to Twitter to thank fans for calling to attention to the “illegal, unauthorized” production of his Broadway musical, and referred to a statement by the Dramatists Guild, which “condemns” the production being staged. The Dramatists Guild is a professional membership trade association of theatre writers that supports causes such as this one. You can read Miranda words and the Guild’s statement below: 

A musical such as Hamilton cannot be reproduced on stage without official approval by the artists, and The Door Christian Fellowship Ministries did not have permission from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Changing the musical, in addition to putting it on without permission, could land the church in legal penalties for its production for copyright infringement. As Miranda said in his tweet, “now lawyers do their work.” 

The video of the two-hour performance has since been taken down. According to NBC News, which obtained a copy of the unauthorized Hamilton production, the actor who played Alexander Hamilton at one point said “What is legacy? It’s knowing that you repented and accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ that sets men free. You sent your sinless son of man on Calvary to die for me,” showcasing how the Texas church transformed the secular musical into something religiously focused. 

Following the backlash, The Door Christian Fellowship Ministries responded that the church is not anti-LGBTQ after associate pastor Victor Lopez compared being gay to struggling with drug addiction in a sermon at the end of the Texas unauthorized Hamilton production. The church also claimed it received legal permission to produce Hamilton. It’s clear from Miranda’s response, and the content within the musical, that this was unauthorized, but no documents have reportedly been filed as of Wednesday evening. 

Hamilton has been on Broadway since 2016 and continues to tour across the U.S. In summer of 2020, the taped version of the musical with the original cast hit Disney+. Miranda believes this Hamilton release only amplified demand for the show. While the Hamilton show has faced some controversies as it's become more popular, it remains a hot ticket, so much so that one cast member is ready to continue the story. 

Following Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda has found success with other projects like Encanto and its viral song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Both Hamilton and Encanto can be viewed with a Disney+ subscription. 

While Disney's live action films from Marvel and Lucasfilm might be the biggest players at the box office for the company, as Walt Disney said, it was all started by a mouse. Animation is still a big part of what Disney does, and Walt Disney Animation Studios continues to release massive hits one after another. It's like Marvel Studios, just a bit smaller. Whether it's popular films like Zootopia or recent pop hits like Encanto, animated Disney films are still incredibly popular. When you put them together with the billion dollar success of films like Frozen II, the last few years have been incredible for Disney.

We can only imagine what the studio is going to do next. Well, in many cases we have to imagine what is going to come next because we don't really know and details are still mostly under wraps... Although, in other cases, we know exactly what is being planned.

Walt Disney Animation Studio as well as Pixar, have several films announced to be coming over the next couple  years. Some of them are still fairly secret, but we have a few hints about what might be coming, and then of course, there are the big movies that we know for sure are on the way. Here's all the details we have about what we know is coming, and what seems quite likely, in the future of Disney animation.

Strange World - November 23, 2022 

Thanksgiving weekend is a popular release date for animated Disney movies and 2022’s contribution to this will be Strange World. The movie has put together an impressive voice cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu. Strange World borrows its vibe from the classic pulp adventure stories of the early 20th century and follows a family of adventurers as they travel to a mysterious world underneath the surface of the earth. Directed by Don Hall, who previously brought us Big Hero 6 and Raya and the Last Dragon, expect this one to be an action heavy Disney adventure. 

Elemental - June 16, 2023 

If Pixar has one particular theme that it likes to tackle again and again, it’s the question, “what if this thing that is not alive, were actually alive?” We’ve seen it with toys, cars, and even emotions. We’ll see it addressed once again with Elemental, a movie that personifies the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. The elements all live in a bustling city together, and the story will follow two characters, fiery Ember and watery Wade as they meet and begin a relationship despite their differences. Peter Sohn, director of The Good Dinosaur, will helm the film.  

Untitled Disney Animation - November 22, 2023 

The next feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios after Strange World is currently unknown. Rumors have indicated the movie could be called Foster, but even if the title is correct, nobody knows what it means or what the movie itself will actually be about. We may get some details about the new movie at the 2022 D23 Expo, if not then, then around the release of Strange World.

Untitled Pixar Animation Movies - March 1, 2024, June 14, 2024 

In 2022 Pixar gave us two great movie releases in quick succession with Turning Red and Lightyear both within just a few months. 2024 will give us a similar schedule, with one Pixar feature set for March, and another in June. The only other thing these two movies currently have in common is that we don’t know anything about either of them. They could be original ideas like Turning Red, sequels to existing franchises, or maybe they’ll follow the Lightyear model and be something familiar, but also different.

Previously Released 

Lightyear (June 17, 2022)  

In the summer of 2022 Pixar released what was possibly the studio’s most risky film, despite that it wasn’t entirely an original story. Lightyear purported to be the action-adventure movie that the Buzz Lightyear toy from the Toy Story movies had been based on. Chris Evans voiced the title character instead of Tim Allen. It was by far one of Pixar’s most ambitious films and a pure science fiction adventure.

Bob's Burgers (May 27, 2022)

After years of representing the competition, Bob’s Burgers eventually joined the Disney family after the merger with Fox. The complexities of the merger, combined with the global pandemic that followed after, delayed this project for some time, but it was finally released in theaters in early summer 2022 and among fans there was no better news.

Turning Red (March 11, 2022) 

Pixar’s Turning Red on paper sounds like a modern adaptation of Teen Wolf what with its lead character who transforms into a red panda when she becomes emotional, but this breath of fresh air is actually a great deal more, especially if you are a lover of boy bands, and it may be the most fun movie Pixar has ever made. 

Encanto (November 23, 2021) 

People were already excited for Encanto before they even knew what it was. When it was revealed that Lin-Manuel Miranda, who had already worked with Disney on the soundtrack for Moana, and Byron Howard, director of Zootopia, were combining forces on a new animated musical. That movie became Encanto, and  while the movie had a solid box office release, when more people saw the film on Disney+, and more importantly, heard Encanto’s incredible soundtrack, this one became one of Disney’s most popular recent films. 

Ron's Gone Wrong (October 22, 2021)

Ron’s Gone Wrong, not unlike the Bob’s Burgers movie, was a film already in production at Fox when Disney picked up the studio, a holdover from a partnership between Fox and U.K. animation studio Locksmith. A tale of a young boy and his malfunctioning robot pal, the movie was largely overlooked by virtue of being a family movie released at a time when families weren’t really going to the movies. Still, it’s a cute little movie that’s worth checking out now if you have the time. 

Luca (June 18, 2021) 

Luca was a movie that took a lot of fans on a very emotional journey, The story of two young boys, who are actually sea monsters exploring the surface world, the film is beautiful in every sense of the word. The setting on the Italian Riviera makes for some of the most lovely scenery ever animated by Pixar, while the relationship between the title character Luca and his friend Alberto was one that many fans were able to connect to on a personal level.  

Raya and The Last Dragon (March 5, 2021)  

Raya is a human warrior searching for the last dragon, and Sisu just happens to be a water dragon that holds that distinction. Together, they became friends in Raya and The Last Dragon. While the movie wasn’t a runaway smash, largely due to being Disney’s second theatrical/Disney+ Premiere Access release during the pandemic, it is the best pure action movie released by Disney, and it doesn’t sacrifice a moment of its heart to get there. 

The future of Disney Animation may be largely secret, but you can be sure that with the success the studio has had in recent years, Disney has every intention of keeping that train moving.  While there are many questions regarding Disney’s future release plans for animated features, whether they’ll remain in theaters or see more projects shuffled directly to Disney+, what is clear is that Disney Animation isn’t going anywhere.

Audrey Hepburn. Andrew Lloyd Webber. John Legend. Whoopi Goldberg. What do these people all have in common?

They’ve all earned their EGOT — that is, they’ve won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. It’s known as the “grand slam” of show business, and it’s incredibly difficult to achieve (despite how easy John Legend made it seem). But, who will be the next actor, composer, singer, director, or producer to join these EGOT winners? 

For this list, we’ll be focusing on artists who seem likely to complete their EGOT during their career — so, unfortunately, that eliminates some of the greats like Bob Fosse or Stephen Sondheim who won’t get the chance to complete their grand slam. Instead, we’ll focus on people who are contenders for the very next EGOT and speculate wildly about which of them it’ll be.

Common - Missing A Tony

Common won an Emmy for his song “Letter to The Free” from the documentary 13th and earned both an Oscar and a Grammy for his song “Glory” from the movie Selma (as well as two additional Grammys he snagged in the early 2000’s).

This one seems like a shoo-in to me. We already know Common can rap, and he’s flexed his musical theater chops in movies like Smallfoot. Plus he’s got a chance to win that Tony by writing, rapping, or acting.

Cher - Missing A Tony

Miss Cher earned her first major award in 1988 when she won an Oscar for Best Actress in Moonstruck, followed by a Grammy in 2000 for her dance recording “Believe” and an Emmy in 2003 for Cher: The Farewell Tour.

Some people might say that Cher is past her prime…and some people would be wrong. We all saw her in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. In reality, Cher is only in her mid-70s and still just as fabulous as she always was, so don’t count her out just yet. I could definitely see her on Broadway…

Jennifer Hudson - Missing A Tony

The talented Jennifer Hudson has already earned two Grammys and won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls. Hudson also earned an Emmy just last year for Baba Yaga, a childrens’ film she produced.

Here’s the thing: Jennifer Hudson is nominated for a Tony this year. As one of the producers of A Strange Loop, she actually has a chance to complete her EGOT at the awards ceremony this summer.

Kate Winslet - Missing A Tony

Unsurprisingly, Kate Winslet has already won an Oscar (for Best Actress for The Reader) and multiple Emmys (for Mildred Pierce in 2011 and Mare of Easttown in 2021). But, many don’t know she actually earned a Grammy all the way back in 2000 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, called Listen to the Storyteller.

Kate Winslet winning a Tony doesn’t feel far-fetched at all. She's acted in several plays early on, so taking to the stage wouldn’t be brand new to her.

Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross - Missing A Tony

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (yes, from Nine Inch Nails) are one of the most sought after composing teams in all of Hollywood at the moment, earning accolades from the Academy for their Best Original Scores in The Social Network and Soul. They also earned two Grammy awards for Score Soundtrack, again for Soul, and for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (in addition to the Grammys they won years ago with Nine Inch Nails). Add in their Emmy for Music Composition in A Limited Series for Watchmen and you have three prongs on the quadruple crown.

These two are definitely capable of writing the score for a Broadway musical. Crazier things have definitely happened. I mean, if the guys from South Park can write a musical…

Viola Davis - Missing A Grammy

Viola Davis started out as a stage actor, earning Tony awards for King Hedley II and Fences. She then earned an Oscar for the movie version of Fences, and as we all know, won an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away With Murder.

Viola Davis is not known for singing. But, as we’ve learned from some of the other Grammy winners on this list, there’s more than one way to earn a Grammy. I’d love for Viola Davis to narrate a spoken word album.

Elton John - Missing An Emmy

This is another EGOT that feels inevitable. Sir Elton John has won many Grammys, and earned a Tony for Best Original Score for the musical Aida. He also won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, and more recently, earned another for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman.

All Elton John has to do is compose one perfect song for an HBO show and that Emmy is his. I could also see potential Emmy nominations for a live action musical or Elton John documentary.

Cynthia Erivo - Missing An Oscar

And now for my personal pick for the next EGOT — Cynthia Erivo. She’s won an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy, all for her performances in The Color Purple, so she’s just missing an Oscar.

But, Erivo has already been nominated for two Oscars (Best Actress for Harriet in 2019 and Best Original Song for “Stand Up” from Harriet). Half of the people on this list haven’t even been nominated for the award they’re missing, so she’s right on track to earn an Oscar soon. Keep in mind that Cynthia Erivo is also set to play Elphaba in the Wicked movie in 2024, so at least one future Oscar nom seems eminent.

Hugh Jackman - Missing An Oscar

I can’t believe the only award Hugh Jackman is missing is an Oscar. That seems impossible, probably because most thought he would win one when he was nominated for Best Actor for playing Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

Jackman already won an Emmy for his hosting gig at the 58th Tony Awards, a Grammy for The Greatest Showman soundtrack, and a Tony for Best Leading Actor in The Boy from Oz. He’s also nominated again in 2022 for The Music Man, a role that's earned huge applause from audiences, so this could be his year.

Audra McDonald - Missing An Oscar

Just because she hasn’t won an Oscar doesn’t mean she can’t act — Audra McDonald has won six Tony awards, as well as an Emmy award for Outstanding Special Class Program for Sweeney Todd (Live from Lincoln Center). She also has two Grammy awards for Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording.

I’d love for Audra McDonald to earn her Oscar starring in a movie musical, but she also could earn a nomination for writing an original song for a movie.

Lin Manuel Miranda - Missing An Oscar

Like Hugh Jackman and Cynthia Erivo, Lin Manuel Miranda is only missing one award, and he’s already been nominated for it. His EGOT was put on hold when he lost the Oscar for Best Original Song for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, and again for “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto. 

Previously, Lin Manuel Miranda won two Tony awards for In The Heights and Hamilton, as well as Grammys for each soundtrack. He earned his Emmy for writing the opening number of the 67th Tony Awards, “Bigger!” and again for Hamilton.

Miranda’s obviously not done writing forever, although he did say he’s looking forward to taking some time off to spend with his family. Whether it's as an actor or composer, he'll eventually get redemption for Moana and Encanto and earn that Oscar. It could even be for a sequel to Encanto, which Miranda has mentioned he'd like to do.

Trey Parker And Matt Stone - Missing An Oscar

Oh, right. The guys from South Park did write a musical.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone won four Tony Awards for their musical, The Book of Mormon, in addition to a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. When you include their Emmy awards from South Park, the pair are only one away from an EGOT.

Again, this one feels destined to happen. Whether it will be a South Park movie or maybe a new movie musical, these guys definitely have the skills to earn their Oscar.

Ben Platt - Missing An Oscar

Ben Platt snagged his E-G-T for his work in Dear Evan Hanson and its soundtrack. Since he’s the youngest person on this list at only 28, he has more than enough time to earn plenty of nominations for Academy Awards.

Consider the fact that Ben Platt became the youngest person to win Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the age of 23, and you’ll understand why I’m not concerned that he’ll ultimately complete his grand slam. Let's continue the tradition of Dear Evan Hansen and cast Platt in one of the many other modern musicals that should be made into movies.

Billy Porter - Missing An Oscar

Billy Porter is going to win an Oscar soon, I can feel it. He already won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in Pose, as well as a Tony for Best Actor in Kinky Boots. He might even earn another Tony this year as a producer of the Best Musical nominee, A Strange Loop.

Porter earned his Grammy for Kinky Boots, as well, so I’m wondering if it’s time for another Kinky Boots movie. Whether that happens or not, Billy Porter is an extremely talented actor and definitely on track to complete his EGOT.

Lily Tomlin - Missing An Oscar

Finally, comedy legend Lily Tomlin has won six Emmys for her comedy and variety specials, one Grammy for Best Comedy Album, and even won a Tony for Best Actress in a Play for The Search of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

The Grace and Frankie actress has nothing to prove, but definitely has the ability to take on a dramatic role or maybe even provide some comic relief in an Oscar-worthy movie. 

Again, my money is on Cynthia Erivo getting a full EGOT first, but Jennifer Hudson does seem to be walking away with this one. To keep up with the progress of these EGOT contenders, tune into the 75th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12.

Although Leslie Odom Jr.’s career dated back nearly 20 years before its explosive success, when Hamilton came along, it quickly became the actor and singer’s most famous role. With years having passed since his exit as Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical, Odom has shared that he still has the role on his mind and even has an idea about how Aaron Burr could be further expanded in a future project. Lin-Manuel Miranda, are you reading this? 

As Hamilton continues to be played all over North America following the original cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr., leaving the great musical in summer 2016, Odom shared his thoughts on reprising the iconic role in another capacity. In his words: 

While speaking to PopCulture ahead of returning to the stage for a set of performances with the Nashville Symphony this week, Leslie Odom Jr. revealed he’d very much entertain the possibility of playing Aaron Burr again. As he shared, the story ends where Alexander Hamilton’s life does, but it doesn’t wrap up things for Burr. 

At the end of the musical, which you can see Leslie Odom Jr. perform in with a Disney+ subscription, Burr fatally shot Hamilton in 1804 during a duel between the two and longtime tension between them, but the politician lived until 1836, passing away at the age of 80. All his charges were dropped for the illegal duel, but ended his political career, and Burr subsequently travelled west to the American frontier to seek new economic and political opportunities. 

Among Burr’s next actions was something known as the Burr conspiracy, which was an alleged plot that he wanted to create an independent country. Burr later moved to Europe  before going back to the United States to practice law in New York City, along with a second marriage and more scandal in his life. There’s definitely some material here for Odom to tackle if someone decided to. 

Odom, of course, wouldn’t return to the role unless there was "good enough writing and collaborators." Over the course of 500 shows, which became the actor’s longest job ever, he certainly enjoyed himself and found it difficult to leave behind the role. Since moving on from Hamilton, Odom played Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami, starred in The Sopranos movie The Many Saints of Newark and is set to star in the upcoming Knives Out sequel. 

We’re certainly curious about Leslie Odom Jr’s idea to reprise his most famous role. Maybe someday we’ll be in the room where it happens seeing the actor back as Aaron Burr.  

It’s no secret that Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest feature film, Encanto, was a massive success and this year’s Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature. And as we’ve come to know well from the studio in the past, once Disney creates something popular audiences want more of, we’ll get it somehow and someday. The question regarding Encanto is how the Madrigal family will return. If you ask Lin-Manuel Miranda, he’s set on what should be next for the animated musical: a Disney Parks attraction, of course! 

It’s been less than six months since Encanto hit theaters, yet since its release, there’s been talk of the movie spawning into a sequel, Broadway show or Disney+ spinoff series (perhaps starring Bruno?). Here are Miranda’s most recent thoughts about it: 

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who worked Encanto's on the story and music, recently told Insider that he’s hoping for a Disney Parks attraction for the movie before any sequel, spinoff or show. The good news here is it sounds like Imagineers are already working on a concept based on Encanto. 

Back in February, Lin-Manuel Miranda revealed that while he was at Disney's California Adventure and riding The Little Mermaid ride, he started imagining a dark ride based on Encanto and even told the Disney CEO about his idea. In his words: 

Yeah, this needs to happen. There’s so much beautiful imagery in Encanto that would translate well to a ride. Guests could venture into the various rooms of the Madrigal family within the casita and have a magical experience. Plus, there’s a number of great songs that could soundtrack the ride as they go through it. 

Disney has already added Mirabel to its park over the spring during California Adventure’s Festival of Holidays for fans to greet. Additionally, following the movie’s Oscar win, the company decided to bring a two-minute Encanto projection show at Disneyland’s “It’s A Small Qorld” for a limited time. 

Encanto was among 2021’s top 20 highest-grossing movies and made a huge splash on Disney+ when the movie began streaming on the platform. Even though Lin-Manuel Miranda is rooting for a Disney Parks attraction first and foremost, the Hamilton creator has also shared that he is “down to explore” a sequel for the movie as well. 

Miranda feels that because there are so many characters within Encanto, there are plenty of opportunities to build it further. However, he has not decided what medium he’d most like to do that with chiefly. While fans imagine their hopes for more Encanto stories, you can check out the movie with a Disney+ subscription. 

Today, Lin-Manuel Miranda is widely known as an award-winning playwright, singer, songwriter, actor and director. But long before the writer of the hit Encanto song “We Don't Talk About Bruno” birthed the highly profitable Hamilton, he was an actor simply trying to make his way in Hollywood. Miranda snagged a number of roles during those early days, but his most high-profile gig came in the form of a role on The Sopranos. The actor still remembers the experience quite vividly and, according to him, those who are now finding out about the part shouldn’t consider it a “cameo.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared during the final season of the acclaimed mob drama (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription). In the Season 6 episode, titled “Remember When,” Miranda appears as a bellman working at a hotel that Tony Soprano and Paulie Gualtieri stop by during a road trip. The actor is only a screen for a brief amount of time, which is why he said, while being interviewed for the Judd Apatow-written book Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy (via IndieWire), that he doesn’t even think it can be classified as a cameo:

Given his star status today, it’s only natural that fans would now note that the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda cameoed on HBO’s The Sopranos. In the context of 2007 though, his appearance wasn’t nearly as significant as the cameos Martin Scorsese, Annette Bening and others made on the series during its run. Check out his performance on the show in the clip down below:

Regardless of the size of the role, Miranda was just happy to have the work, and he relished his time on the set. In the same interview, he even went on to divulge a sweet memory of the show’s leading man, James Gandolfini:

The late James Gandolfini may be known for his acclaimed TV work and successful film career but, in the years since his death in 2013, many have also made note of his immense kindness. Fellow series alum Drea de Matteo once revealed that Gandolfini personally saw to it that his co-stars were reimbursed after being screwed out of money. But aside from gestures like that, it seems the cast of The Sopranos simply loved working with him and appreciated his collaborative spirit. Based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s comments, he was the beneficiary of such support as well.

It’s amazing to see how things have unfolded for the man who crafted the critically acclaimed In the Heights, and he’s still showing no signs of slowing down. He’s had a number of great moments in the years since his TV debut, though one would think that he’ll continue to hold his time on the set of David Chase’s iconic show close to his heart, regardless of whether his role is considered a cameo.

Disney is known for its animated blockbusters, and the latest release to truly pierce the pop culture landscape is Jared Bush and Byron Howard’s Encanto. With hit songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the movie went from popular to a full-blown sensation thanks to its release on Disney+, and the public’s love for “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Fans have been wondering if Encanto might be getting a sequel, and Bush recently responded to those calls.

Disney is known for making animated blockbuster sequels, with Frozen II being the recent exception in a catalog full of straight-to-video follow-ups. But Encanto is wildly popular, and has the ability to win an Academy Award. Jared Bush recently addressed a possible follow-up project on his Twitter, posting:

Well, that certainly seems hopeful. While Jared Bush is keeping his cards close to the chest, he’s definitely heard the calls for more Encanto content. Whether this'll happen in a short, movie, theme park attraction, or even a Broadway adaptation remains to be seen. But hopefully Disney will move forward and make the Family Madrigal a full-fledged franchise.

Jared Bush addressed the many Encanto fans out there over on his personal Twitter, specifically mentioning the calls for a sequel and/or stage show. He seems thrilled that audiences have become so attached to the Madrigals, and that they want to see more content. While he doesn’t offer any timeline or confirmation of that occurring in the future, at least the fan campaigns are finally being addressed.

During his tweet, Jared Bush mentions talks that have been happening for both an Encanto sequel, and a stage musical. Given that the Disney movie’s hit soundtrack was written by Broadway visionary Lin-Manuel Miranda, fans immediately began hoping that the movie would make it to the Great White Way. This has already happened in the past with Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, and the recently closed production of Frozen. And with Miranda attached, it would presumably be a hit Broadway show.

Then again, other fans would prefer we get Encanto 2, rather than a stage adaptation. This would offer the opportunity to tell a new story about the Madrigal Family, and tell a new story with the beloved cast of characters. We’ll just have to see if the burgeoning franchise follows in the steps of Frozen II and expands the narrative of the universe.

As previously mentioned, Encanto is nominated for a few Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Song. The latter has the potential to complete Lin-Manuel Miranda’s EGOT, which definitely adds stakes to the upcoming Awards Ceremony. Plus, it’ll feature the first live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” If it wins big, perhaps we’ll see a sequel or stage musical. Fingers crossed.

Encanto is available to re-watch and sing along to over on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda became a household name thanks to his prolific work on Hamilton, with a career that’s also extended to the big screen and even the director’s chair. One of his most recent hit is the Disney animated blockbuster Encanto, to which Miranda wrote the beloved songs. Now he’s opened up about how wild it is that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” became the movie’s biggest hit, calling it the “least likely candidate.”

While there are plenty of bops throughout Encanto’s 109-minute runtime, the quirky ensemble number “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has surprisingly become the fan favorite. This song features member of the supporting cast, gossiping about a character that we don’t really know. But despite this, it’s an ear worm that’s been made into countless TikToks and memes since Encanto arrived on Disney+. Lin-Manuel Miranda spoke about how remarkable it is that the variety number ended up resonating with the public, saying:

Well, there you have it. It looks like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was key to the crafting of Encanto’s story and soundtrack, according to Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Family Madrigal is a big one, and there’s a large ensemble cast to service throughout the movie’s runtime. “Bruno” was a chance to flesh out the supporting characters, and prove that said cast could function properly throughout the animated flick.

Lin-Manuel Miranda revealed how the sausage gets made while in conversation with Collider about his work on Encanto. He has the potential to complete his EGOT with the upcoming Academy Awards, where he’s nominated for Best Original Song. But rather than “Bruno”, it’s the far more emotional track “Dos Oruguitas.” Luckily for fans of the movie, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is expected to be performed at the upcoming ceremony.

Indeed, many of the lead characters of Encanto aren’t featured in “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”, instead being given a solo elsewhere in the movie’s runtime. In fact some of the soloists heard in the track are nameless members of the ensemble. In the same interview, Lin-Manuel Miranda explained how the song ended up making fans of side characters like Camilo or Dolores. As he put it,

He’s not wrong, as that’s exactly what has happened in the months since Encanto’s release. Personally I’m a Dolores stan, and will usually take her track when singing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” in the car with friends. As a reminder, you can see the beloved musical number in its entirety below,

Having so many characters singing at the same time is a long standing tradition in musical theater. Affectionately called the revolutionary number in a reference to Les Miserables, Lin-Manuel Miranda has put his own take on the tradition with In The Heights’ “96,000” and Hamilton’s “Non-Stop.” We’ll just have to wait and see when Miranda writes another one of these bops.

Encanto is streaming on Disney+ now, as is Hamilton and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work on Moana. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an accomplished multihyphenate who has already earned countless awards for his songwriting work. With just one Academy Award away from an EGOT, Miranda made his directorial debut with Netflix’s Tick, Tick…BOOM! And now the movie musical has released a deleted song just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Adapting Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…BOOM! for film likely brought a ton of challenges for Lin-Manuel Miranda and company, especially deciding which songs ultimately made it into the movie. One track that got the chop was “Green Green Dress” which was instead heard in the background of a scene shared between Andrew Garfield and Alexandra Shipp. But the duo filmed a full version, and we can see it below courtesy of the folks behind the movie.

Suddenly, my musical FOMO is cured. While the Tick, Tick…BOOM! movie made a few musical changes to the source material, cut songs like “Green Green Dress” and “See Her Smile” were definitely missed by the hardcore fans out there. Luckily we were treated to this delightful deleted scene in time for an appropriate holiday.

The above video comes to us from the official Instagram or the Tick, Tick… BOOM! movie. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the fans, the public was finally treated to the full version of “Green Green Dress” by Alexandra Shipp and Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield. And the both killed it in the clip, showing off their chemistry and lovely singing voices. Let’s break down what we’re being shown here.

From the looks of it, “Green Green Dress” would have happened early in the runtime of Tick, Tick…BOOM!, just like the source material on stage. Here we see Jonathan Larson and his girlfriend Susan in the blooms of love, before things get gradually more complicated for the pair. Ultimately it was cut out of the theatrical cut, likely so Lin-Manuel Miranda’s movie could remain at a brisk 121-minute runtime. Although Susan’s outfit is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

While Tick, Tick…BOOM! didn’t have a wide theatrical run, it seems plenty of Academy voters turned in either on Netflix or via exclusive screeners. Andrew Garfield was nominated for Best Actor as a result, which is the only Oscar nomination the movie musical received. But fear not, Lin-Manuel Miranda is still nominated for the Encanto song “Dos Orugutias.” We’ll just have to see if the musical theater visionary manages to become an EGOT in the process.

As for Andrew Garfield, he’s been on a roll lately. In addition to his Oscar nominated performance in Tick, Tick…BOOM!, he’s been involved in a few other major movie releases. This includes The Eyes of Tammy Faye, with his co-star Jessica Chastain nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Finally, fans were disappointed that Spider-Man: No Way Home wasn’t given any nominations, despite its record-breaking success at theaters. Moviegoers in particular responded to Garfield’s return as Peter Parker, and are hoping to see Amazing Spider-Man 3 finally come together.

Tick, Tick…BOOM! is currently streaming on Netflix, and you can catch it before the Oscars. In the meantime, be sure to check the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios has found itself with another major hit on its hands thanks to Encanto. While the movie was not the massive box office blockbuster of a Frozen movie, once the film arrived on Disney+ and more people got a chance to see it, it took the world by storm. Fans love the characters and the music as much as anything Disney has done in recent years, and so like the successful Frozen, one has to wonder if we could see a sequel. Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda thinks it’s quite possible.

To be clear, Lin-Manuel Miranda absolutely believes that we will get more Encanto in the future. His only question is what form it will take. Miranda recently told Collider that he thinks a movie is sequel is just one of several possible forms more stories with the Madrigal family could take. Miranda said…

Lin-Manuel Miranda is almost certainly right that there is an appetite for more from Encanto. There were so many characters that the story dealt with that even the movie made jokes about all the people the movie was trying to juggle. A few of the characters got short-changed when it came to screen time and development, Dolores and Camilo, two characters Miranda mentions specifically here, would certainly qualify. More Encanto would potentially give those characters and others room to do more. 

There are also more than a few questions left unanswered by the film. The biggest one that many fans want to know is why Mirabel was never given magic. Considering that the last animated Disney sequel, Frozen II, dealt with explaining where a character’s magic came from, after the first movie never dealt with that question, it certainly wouldn’t be shocking to see a sequel film do a similar thing here.

But considering that Encanto wasn’t a huge theatrical success, maybe another movie isn’t the answer. Perhaps Encanto gets a Disney+ series, since the Disney+ audience is the one that made the movie so popular. Alternatively, since Lin-Manuel Miranda knows a thing or two about writing for Broadway, maybe an Encanto stage musical is the answer.

And even that’s not the end of it. Miranda has apparently also broached the idea of an Encanto theme park attraction, so that’s yet another way we could see Encanto grow as a franchise. Of course, there’s honestly no stopping Disney from doing all of these things. We could see a movie sequel, a stage show and a streaming series all get made over the next several years. If the audience is there for it Disney certainly won’t stop making it. 

There are hit Broadway musicals, and then there’s Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. The hip hop take on America’s founding has become a global sensation, and was shared with even more people thanks to the filmed performance on Disney+. Hamilton is still running on the Great White Way, and current cast member Nik Walker is super psyched about the show fixing one thing during the pandemic.

The theater industry was hit hard as a result of COVID, with theaters closed for months leaving countless cast and crew members jobless. But Hamilton is back on Broadway, but with some small changes. This includes some of the set and props, as actor Nik Walker noticed when rehearsing an iconic moment in the song “The Room Where It Happens.” As he shared on social media,

Click, boom. While Hamilton opened on Broadway back in 2015, it looks like the stage musical is still innovating. Because according to Nik Walker, it’s now much safer to do Burr’s GIF-worthy jump on the table during “The Room Where It Happens.” Now I’ve got that iconic track from Act 2 of Hamilton in my head for the foreseeable future.

The above post comes to us from Nik Walker’s personal Twitter account, and helps to show what it’s really like to be in the cast of Hamilton. While they make it look easy on set, there's a ton of moving pieces (including a rotating set) for the performers to be aware of. And for Aaaron Burr, that also includes one specific stunt. 

Nik Walker is returning to the Broadway cast of Hamilton as Aaron Burr after being away from the show for a few years. He played various members of the ensemble previously including Hercules Mulligan and George Washington. But that run ended back in 2017, making room for Walker to star in other shows like Ain’t Too Proud. 

Hamilton continues to be a Broadway blockbuster now that it’s reopened, seemingly buoyed by the filmed version on Disney+. While some naysayers worried that this would detract audiences from shelling out for tickets, the Broadway show keeps on selling at high prices. Lin-Manuel Miranda himself was proud to make the show accessible for those who might not be able to afford tickets/travel. 

As previously mentioned, the original cast of Hamilton debuted the show on Broadway back in 2015. The show proved a star-making moment for many members of the talented ensemble, with actors like Anthony Ramos, Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., and Renee Elise Goldsberry going on to a variety of TV and film projects. And now their performances are immortalized forever thanks to the Hamilton movie.

Hamilton is currently streaming on Disney+, while Lin-Manuel Miranda continues working on acclaimed movies like Encanto and Tick, Tick… BOOM! Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s been months, and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has never stopped not only being stuck in my head, but being a straight up jam. Since Encanto hit Disney+ at the end of the year, the whole world has been catching on to the catchy banger, sending it to the top of music charts and making it one of the most popular Disney tracks of all time. There’s a mixture of reasons why “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” became a hit, but what I want to get into now is Bruno himself and why we need to talk about him more. 

As seen in Encanto, Bruno is a member of the Madrigal family who is cast out by his family members and the great community he is a part of when his gift for seeing the future angers them. He’s able to see the misfortunes that will come up in their lives and after a few unfortunate events, Bruno disappeared –  but remained a spicy story for the Madrigals to tell in his absence. Following the film, I believe Bruno would be a great central character to continue the movie’s story. I’ll get into why: 

Bruno Is The Best Character In Encanto

Bruno, who is voiced by John Leguizamo in Encanto, may be the “black sheep” of the Madrigal family, but he’s also the most interesting and best character in the Disney flick. While Mirabel serves the purpose of being a relatable protagonist who feels like she cannot live up to her family’s other gifts, Bruno was dealing with similar circumstances a generation before in a different way. Bruno and Mirabel strengthen each other as characters because they represent the cycle within the Madrigal family of intense pressure being put on each other and feeling not good enough to be part of the clan. 

Once John Leguizamo’s Bruno arrives on the scene in Encanto, he ties together the movie – both because he is the missing piece needed to save the family, and also because so many fun and unique things are done with his character. Disney depicts this isolated, lost man who hangs out with rats and sits at the table with his family through the walls in a way that is both affecting and hilarious.  

Another Encanto Movie Could Explore The Family’s Past

While there are some Disney movies that don't need a sequel or spinoff, there’s so much of the world left to be explored after Encanto  – and Disney chief Bob Chapek has already been caught calling it a franchise. Rather than developing a straight sequel with Mirabel as the core protagonist, however, a more exciting follow up would be seeing the spotlight move over to Bruno. Doing so would expand on the character's charisma and musical potential, and it would also provide opportunity to add more depth to the Madrigals. 

Encanto ends with the family welcoming Bruno back into the fold. In another installment of the story, Bruno could be the perfect vehicle to explore the supporting characters further. We’ve explored Mirabel’s point of view, but through Bruno’s eyes we’d learn more about his relationship with his sisters, parents and perhaps he could learn more about his nieces – including some classic Disney flashbacks of the family in their younger years, perhaps including the birthday when Bruno gets his powers. 

How Bruno Adapts His Powers Has Yet To Be Seen 

Speaking of powers, Bruno’s powers are perhaps the most powerful of the family, and wouldn’t we like to see another instance of the character seeing the future following Encanto? The animated movie we’ve seen explores how his powers estranged him from his town, but what happens after he is embraced? It’ll likely still be a bit of a tender spot for Bruno, and it would be a blast to see how Bruno’s next big vision would affect him in real time. 

Additionally, Encanto is a unique Disney movie in the sense that it does not have its main characters going on an adventure. The Madrigal’s conflicts lie in the home very purposefully to tell a story about how a broken family can mend together from the inside out rather than needing an expansive adventure to go to in order for them to heal. That being said, the world that has been built here feels meant to be explored, and there seems like there could be some Colombian mythology and generally more magic to the Madrigal’s story. I'd love to sit alongside these characters for longer, but putting Bruno’s powers at the center of the plot could provide the most entertainment value. 

Bruno Could Be The Key To Exploring The Encanto’s Origins

Encanto sets up a fascinating story about a family who become blessed with an “encanto,” which means “charm” in English, which gives their entire family special abilities that they use to better their home and community. Much like Frozen, the first movie does not explore how and why Elsa had her ice powers – but the second movie allowed the audience to grasp a deeper understanding of who she is. In terms of Encanto, there could very well be an intriguing secret about the root of the magical gifts, or an exploration of what would happen if outsiders discovered the Madrigals and wanted to harness the powers for their own purposes.

An Encanto sequel/spinoff centering on Bruno could also further explore the culture and country of Colombia. The South American country, and our world, is really grappling with deforestation in the Amazon, among other issues. It would be interesting if Bruno foresees a future where an aspect of their natural land is at stake, and once the family comes to grips with his fortune, they find a way to help mend their natural world.

In this house we absolutely do talk about Bruno and hopefully there’s a bright future ahead for these characters following Encanto's major success. You can watch the film again with a Disney+ subscription and tune in at the Oscars on March 27 to see if the Disney movie wins for Best Animated Feature. 

Every year, Oscar nominations are heavily debated, as many like to discuss the chosen nominees as well as the surprises and the snubs. Of course, this year was no different, and the music of Disney's Encanto has been a major part of the discussion. The film's “Dos Oruguitas” was nominated for Best Original Song, while mega-hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was not submitted for awards consideration. The choice has left many fans scratching their heads and, now, the writer of the songs, Lin-Manuel Miranda, explained why the latter wasn’t submitted.

Of course, “Dos Oruguitas” was an important song in the extremely popular Disney movie, as it represented Mirabel and her grandmother, Alma, finally mending their relationship after a major blow-up. Still, it was the earworm “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” that took the world by storm. So it’s understandable that people would wonder why the catchy tune wasn't thrown into the awards mix. But the reason for the former song becoming the Oscar contender had more to do with the film’s overall message, according to Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Tick, Tick… Boom! director said to Variety's Awards Circuit podcast:

The Hamilton creator did hit the nail on the head when explaining why that song was chosen over the chart-topping hit. Potential Oscar contenders must be submitted by Nov. 1 to be considered nominees for the awards ceremony, which leads to some tough decisions on the studios’ part. In Encanto’s case, the movie hadn’t been released yet, but Disney, of course, wanted to make sure it had a horse in the race. So the multihyphenate chose the song that best fit the overall narrative of the animated film.

This wasn’t the first time Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney went with the most fitting option over the obvious choice. Miranda wrote music for another Disney musical animated hit, Moana, including signature tunes “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome.” Unlike Encanto, both were viral hits, but it was the first one that became an awards season contender. The beloved song ended up getting a Best Original Song nod in 2017. The actor-playwright thought it would’ve been fun to see Dwayne Johnson perform the former on the Oscars stage. But it was in Miranda's best interest to choose the song that best fits the overall theme of the story.

Between the soundtrack and its streaming success, Encanto has become a worldwide hit, with viewers rewatching the film and indulging in its strong soundtrack. And Lin-Manuel Miranda is aware of the animated musical’s cultural status, as he revealed his son is over the ubiquity of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

The animated film’s tremendous success may lead to a new franchise as alluded to by Disney CEO Bob Chapek during a recent earnings call. Could that mean a sequel, a Broadway show (which the songwriter thinks the music lends itself to) a tie-in theme park attraction or all the above? Only time will tell, which is the same that can be said for how the film's chosen song will perform at the Oscars.

In the meantime, you can listen to both “Dos Oruguitas” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and see where they ranked among the Encanto songs. You can also stream the Oscar-nominated film, which is one of the best movies on Disney+.

One of the main reasons that people love Disney theme parks is that they allow people to experience their favorite stories in a different way, one that's more physical and more “real.” Right now, Disney has found itself with yet another major hit with Encanto. Since the movie hit Disney+ at Christmas the film, and its chart topping music, has built a massive fan base, and when you see movies get embraced like this, it’s not uncommon to see theme park attractions follow. Encanto songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is one person who wants to see that happen, and he’s already spoken to the CEO of The Walt Disney Company about it.

In an interview with The Wrap, Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about the surprising success of Encanto, the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” hitting number one on the Billboard charts, and just the general popularity this one movie has already gained. We could very easily see Encanto become an even bigger franchise, and Miranda says he already knows how he would like to see Encanto represented in the Disney Parks, he wants to see the casita brought to life for guests to explore. Miranda says…

The first question that would arise when trying to blue sky an Encanto theme park attraction is just what sort of a ride would it be? You could make an Encanto roller coaster if you wanted to, but most would agree that simply wouldn’t feel like the right sort of attraction for that story. 

Instead, something like the Haunted Mansion, which was initially conceived as an attraction guests would walk through, but with the ghosts replaced by the magic of the house, sounds absolutely perfect. Walt Disney Imagineering would be able to make the casita do all sorts of incredible things.

Whether this theoretical attraction is something you walk through or ride through, the basic structure sounds perfect. Lin-Manuel Miranda compares it to The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure found at Disney California Adventure, which is a traditional dark ride that takes guests through the events and musical moments of the film, the same one that Miranda is part of transforming into a live-action remake. Miranda continues…

Of course, the next question that one would ask after deciding what the Encanto attraction should be is where the attraction should go. It’s been suggested that perhaps Epcot should get a Colombia pavilion in the World Showcase that includes this attraction. South America is still entirely unrepresented there, and so it’s a piece of diversity the area could certainly use. Encanto’s representation is one of the reasons the film is so beloved. It’s also been suggested that Disney’s Animal Kingdom could use a South America section, though Encanto doesn’t really fit with that park’s themes of animals and conservation.

Of course an Encanto attraction could easily go in Fantasyland at Disneyland or Magic Kingdom, this is where all the other magical storybook rides exist, and Encanto is certainly one of those. 

Wherever it goes and however it works, an Encanto attraction is something that Disney should certainly consider. The casita is a place many fans would love to visit and with Walt Disney Imagineering in charge the magic we could experience is nearly limitless. 

Disney is a behemoth force in the entertainment industry, although it’ll always be known for its beloved animated blockbusters. The latest of these hits is Encanto, which features killer songs by the great Lin-Manuel Miranda. But is Encanto getting a sequel? Disney may have hinted at another movie.

While there are countless animated Disney movies that remain engrained in pop culture, very few of them are given actual theatrical sequels. Encanto had a strong run in the box office, with the movie only getting more popular since it was released on Disney+. At Walt Disney Company’s recent earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek recently spoke about the success of Encanto as the “launch of a new franchise.” But does that mean a sequel could be on the way with Lin-Manuel Miranda and company?

The Disney earning call comes to us from BusinessWire, along with information and numbers that were included in that presentation. These calls are often devoured by the public, who try to look for clues regarding the future of properties like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And with Encanto’s soundtrack trending on the billboard charts, fans are eager for any information about a possible sequel.

Of course, it’s more than possible that Bob Chapek simply misspoke. Or perhaps by calling Encanto a “franchise,” he was referring to ventures like digital shorts, theme park tie-ins, and merchandising. We’ll have to wait and see, but it would definitely make sense to strike while the iron is hot for Encanto, which is managing to break records. 

Disney might not have produced a ton of theatrical sequels, but the studio dipped its toes into the water with Frozen II. That blockbuster ended up being a massive success, even living up to the hype of the original. Given that sequel’s critical and box office performance, perhaps we’ll see more of these projects moving forward.

As previously mentioned, Encanto has only increased in popularity since arriving straight to homes via Disney+. The surprise hit song has definitely been “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” which has managed to outperform Frozen’s “Let It Go.” That being said, the entire soundtrack is trending on the charts. What’s more, Lin-Manuel Miranda was just nominated for an Oscar for the song "Dos Oruguitas."

Aside from a movie sequel, there’s another Encanto follow-up that fans would be delighted to see. Namely, a new Broadway show. Given Lin-Manuel Miranda’s roots in the theater, it certainly seems like a match made in musical heaven. For his part, Miranda recently revealed that he’s got a longer finale number already written, should such a plan move forward. After all, Disney has previously brought movies to the stage like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen.

Encanto is streaming now on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.