The Walt Disney Company has released details about a big list of 10 commissioned, unscripted TV series for its Disney+ subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service that it plans to launch in late-2019, besides multiple live-action drama series and animation series in the works.
Disney will make a Disney+ presentation on Thursday to investors in Burbank, California in the United States, but has so far been quiet about what Disney+ exactly will entail and how it will work.
Also unclear is the Disney+-effect's impact for South Africa and Africa where linear Disney channels like The Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior are carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
It's not clear whether Disney+ and its raft of planned shows ranging from several live action Star Wars series and Marvel's Loki to the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Monsters at Work and even a High School Musical teen series, will be made available or accessible in South Africa and Africa - or, if not, whether and how this content might then be funnelled to local viewers as either being placed on Disney's existing channels or sold on through traditional international distribution to channels like M-Net (DStv 101) or FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201).
What is a definite is that Disney plans a large number of announcements on Thursday during its webcast presentation.
Late on Wednesday Disney+ revealed 10 unscripted, non-fiction series that have been commissioned for the new video streamer:
Marvel's 616 (working title)
Told through the lens of a diverse group of filmmakers, each documentary will dive into the rich historical, cultural and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe.
The series is produced by Marvel New Media in partnership with Supper Club. Executive produced by Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, John Cerilli, Harry Go and Sarah Amos for Marvel and David Gelb, Brian McGinn and Jason Sterman for Supper Club.
Earthkeepers (working title)
From the award-winning creators of Netflix's Chef's Table this series is a cinematic documentary series that centers on the adventurous lives of the people changing the way we see the animal kingdom.
The episodes focus on conservationists and the animals they've devoted their career to studying, diving deep into the personal trials and professional breakthroughs of protecting the planet's most endangered species.
The series is executive produced by Brian McGinn, Jason Sterman and David Gelb for Supper Club and Cristina Colissimo and Jordana Glick-Franzheim for Wellworth Pictures.
Be Our Chef
This show asks the question of what if your family had the chance to create the next great Disney Parks dish?
With Angela Kinsey as presenter, Be Our Chef invites families from diverse backgrounds to join a positive and playful Disney-inspired cooking competition at Walt Disney World.
In each episode, two families will participate in a themed challenge based on their family traditions and the magic of Disney.
The finalists will apply what they have learned to create a dish that represents their family through a Disney lens. The winner's magical food creation will become a signature dish or treat served at Walt Disney World. Produced by INE Entertainment with Eric Day and Mark Koops serving as producers.
Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies (working title)
A anthology series that takes a unique look at beloved films through the props and costumes (now modern "artifacts") that made them unique - from craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them and the collectors/archives who own and cherish them.
The show will be hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan. Among the films featured in the first eight episodes are Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mary Poppins, The Muppet Movie, Tron and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Produced by ABC Studios and executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan.
Encore!
With executive producer Kristen Bell who brings together former castmates of a high school musical, tasking them with re-creating their original performance in a high school reunion like no other. Emotions run high as the former students face faded friendships, former flames, self-doubt and killer choreography.
Through it all, these unlikely groups of friends - with the help of Broadway's best - just might pull off a standing-ovation-worthy performance of beloved musicals like The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Annie and more.
Created by Jason Cohen and executive produced by Cohen, Bell, Alycia Rossiter, Will Gluck, Richard Schwartz, Jim Roush and Chris Wagner.
Marvel's Hero Project
This show will reveal the remarkable, positive change several young heroes are making in their own communities.
These inspiring kids have dedicated their lives to selfless acts of bravery and kindness, and now, Marvel celebrates them as the true superheroes they are.
Produced by Marvel New Media in partnership with Maggievision Productions. Executive produced by Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, Liza Wyles and Sarah Amos for Marvel and Maura Mandt and John Hirsch for MaggieVision Productions.
(Re)Connect
Each episode will feature one family with a modern day, relatable issue that's driving a wedge between them.
Issues range from workaholic parents, overly competitive siblings, technology addiction or a family secret that has recently been revealed.
All of these families have reached a breaking point, and it's time for them to disconnect from their busy lives, devices and outside influences in order to address their issues head-on. With the help of a specialized expert, each family will go on a unique journey that organically ties to the issues they are facing in order to confront the family's dilemma head-on.
Can they finally come together as a family to overcome their obstacles … and reconnect?
Produced by Milojo Productions and Talos Films. Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa and Albert Bianchini of Milojo Productions, and Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami of Talos Films serve as executive producers.
Rogue Trip
A travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the roguish, often misunderstood and frequently overlooked corners of the world whose hidden corners surprise, amaze and inspire.
This is the family vacation most of us are unlikely to take – but we do so vicariously with the intrepid Bob Woodruff and his 27-year old doppelgänger son, Mack.
Executive produced by Jeanmarie Condon and Mack and Bob Woodruff for Lincoln Square Productions.
Shop Class (working title)
A competition series that features teams of inventive students who are tasked with designing, building and testing new contraptions.
In each episode, a panel of experts will rate their work based on engineering, design and the final test of the build. In the last episode, one team will be named Shop Class Champs.
John Stevens and Spike Feresten of Hangar 56 Media and Richard Rawlings of Production Monkey are producing.
Untitled Walt Disney Imagineering documentary series
Chronicles the 65-year-plus history of Walt Disney Imagineering with parallel storylines of the people, the craft and the business.
Created by Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated director and producer Leslie Iwerks, the series includes exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage from Disney's parks around the world.Produced by Iwerks & Co. and directed by Leslie Iwerks.
