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Disney Archive

Archives for May 2023

The Little Mermaid is Disney’s most animated ‘live-action’ remake yet

Halle Bailey’s turn as The Little Mermaid’s Ariel is inspired, but the movie’s lackluster sense of visual magic does her very few favors.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Comcast is quarreling with Disney over its decision not to expand Hulu internationally.

After Comcast found out that Disney quietly blocked Comcast’s ability to make major decisions about Hulu, the WSJ reports they made a deal saying Disney would continue to “aggressively” expand the streaming service.

However, Disney never brought Hulu to international markets and only released the service under its Star branding in foreign countries. This reportedly set off an arbitration dispute, as the two also wrangle over a buyout to end their shared ownership and for how much.

Disclosure: Comcast is an investor in Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Disney’s third planned round of layoffs has started.

They’re expected to affect more than 2,500 jobs, according to Deadline. The second round happened in April, affecting approximately 4,000.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Disney is backpedaling on some yanked content.

After facing backlash, Disney is no longer removing Howard — a documentary about Howard Ashman, a legendary songwriter and gay man who helped write the songs for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

There’s a chance that Disney may spare some other shows and movies as well, as a Disney spokesperson tells Deadline that the slate of content getting removed from Hulu and Disney Plus “is still being finalized.”

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
ESPN is preparing for its “flagship” streaming future.

When Bob Chapek was still Disney’s CEO, he called the idea of a streaming ESPN channel (in full, not just ESPN Plus) “the ultimate fan offering that will appeal to the superfan who loves sports.” Chapek is gone, but the process of shifting ESPN from a cable channel that pockets nearly $10 from every subscriber is still underway, according to the Wall Street Journal:

Now, as consumers increasingly cut the cable-TV cord, the company is actively preparing for that shift under a project with the internal code name “Flagship,” the people said.

ESPN would continue to offer the TV channel after launching a streaming option

ESPN has begun securing flexibility in its deals with cable providers to offer the channel directly to consumers, the people said...The company is having similar discussions with pro sports leagues as those rights deals come up and has secured the same flexibility from at least two major leagues, the people said.

Loki season 2 hits Disney Plus this OctoberLoki season 2 hits Disney Plus this October
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Microsoft will give you a Zune, really.

In coordination with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (and calling back this deleted scene from the second movie), Microsoft is giving away this unopened 8GB “green” Zune to a US resident over the age of 18.

No, it’s not a big-boy Zune 80GB or OLED touchscreen-equipped Zune HD, and there are no promises it will even work, but if you want to join the Zune squad (a real thing that exists, I promise), then this is your ticket in.

Image: Microsoft (Twitter)
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Google says 50 of its own Android apps are ready for big-screen tablets (and presumably Pixel Fold).

Also, Spotify and Disney Plus. The Fold hasn’t been fully announced here yet. Stay tuned.

Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
Have you ever tried to take a screenshot of your favorite Netflix video?

What you’ll get is likely to be a blank screen. Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and HBO Max are understandably nervous about letting people make copies of their copyrighted stuff — but just as understandably, fans want photos and clips of their favorite scenes. Here’s how to get that screenshot you’re trying for.