As the official voice of Mickey Mouse, Bret Iwan doesn’t just bring the world’s most iconic character to life—he fills him with heart, history, and a touch of his own personal passions. D23 sat down with Bret to dive into one of his greatest loves—trains—and how this fascination seamlessly connects to his work, including the holiday special Mickey and the Very Many Christmases.

Premiering December 1 on Disney Jr. as part of the channel’s “Magical Holidays” programming (and streaming the next day on Disney+), the special follows Mickey as he discovers the magic—and mayhem—that unfolds when his wish for a never-ending Christmas comes true!

D23: The holiday season must be a busy time for you. What’s it like working on projects like Mickey and the Very Many Christmases?
Bret Iwan (BI): What’s funny about the holiday season is that all the holiday projects are usually completed at least six months—if not a year—before their release. That said, voicing Mickey Mouse means there’s rarely a slow period. Mickey is such a beloved character, and there’s always something in production, whether it’s TV specials, theme park experiences, or new animated shorts.

For this specific project, I believe we recorded it last summer, which is always a unique experience. Imagine trying to channel the Christmas spirit while it’s a sweltering heatwave outside! Before becoming a voice actor, I was an illustrator and graphic artist at Hallmark greeting cards. There, I became accustomed to working on holiday-themed content far ahead of the actual season. I remember designing Christmas cards while pumpkins and Halloween decorations were rolling out at the office, which felt surreal. That schedule prepared me for the unusual timelines in animation and voice-over work.

D23: Your love of trains has become a significant part of your life. Where did that passion begin?
BI: My passion for trains runs deep—it’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad was an avid model railroader, so I grew up surrounded by trains. There was even a small train that ran along the ceiling of our family room! Our family vacations were often centered around visiting railroads across the country, whether it was riding through Colorado or visiting a miniature railway in northern Washington.

My connection to Disney added another layer to that passion when I learned Walt Disney himself was a train enthusiast. Realizing that someone I admired shared this interest was a lightbulb moment. Over the years, I’ve delved deeper into trains, from building a garden railroad in my backyard to becoming a licensed locomotive engineer working with full-sized steam trains. Today, I’m working on restoring my very own steam locomotive, which feels like a full-circle moment.

D23: There’s a personal connection between your train and Mickey and the Very Many Christmases. Can you share more about that?
BI: Absolutely. The train featured in the special holds a deeply personal significance for me, as it’s inspired by my very own half-scale steam locomotive. This train isn’t just a pivotal element in Mickey’s journey—it’s also tied to my family’s history.

The locomotive in the photos is the same one I grew up riding on family vacations. It was originally built in the 1960s by a passionate railroad enthusiast named Tommy Thompson, who turned it into a summer excursion train in the town where my family often vacationed. Riding that train was a childhood favorite for my brothers and me, and now, I’m honored to be its steward, preserving its story and legacy.

When I first read the script for Mickey and the Very Many Christmases, I was thrilled to see that a train was central to the plot. After we finished recording, I shared the story and photos of my locomotive with the producers, who loved the connection. They even added a special Easter egg to the train in the animation: the number plate on the locomotive—a gold circle with a red center and a gold “1”—is a direct nod to my personal train.

This detail is not only meaningful to me but also to the family who entrusted me with the train. It’s a beautiful way to honor their legacy, and I’m so excited to share this connection with them—and with audiences—through the special.

D23: Voicing Mickey Mouse for so many years must have taught you a lot. What have you learned about yourself through this role?
BI: That’s a great question and a tough one to answer, even after 15 years in the role. My predecessor Wayne Allwine once said, “It’s less about how you influence the character and more about how the character influences you.” That’s been my experience as well. Mickey’s optimism, kindness, and curiosity inevitably seep into my own life. He’s everyone’s best friend, which reminds me to approach the world with the same open-hearted enthusiasm. One of the most rewarding aspects of this job is seeing how Mickey continues to bring joy to people of all ages. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and it’s shaped how I carry myself, both personally and professionally.

D23: What do you think makes Mickey Mouse such an enduring character?
BI: Mickey’s longevity stems from his ability to evolve while staying true to his core values. He’s a symbol of friendship, resilience, and joy. What makes him unique is that he’s relatable to everyone. Whether he’s solving problems with ingenuity or being a loyal friend, Mickey embodies qualities that inspire people around the world.

As someone who grew up admiring him, I feel incredibly lucky to help carry that legacy forward. Mickey’s stories remind us to stay connected to our inner child, to find joy in the little things, and to never lose sight of the power of imagination. That’s a lesson I think we can all use, no matter how old we are.

D23: Are there any exciting projects you’re working on that fans can look forward to?
BI: Absolutely! Just like voicing Mickey, my artistic pursuits never stop. Recently, I had the incredible honor of designing the Disney100 cover for the magazine [Disney twenty-three], which later inspired Mickey’s 95th anniversary portrait—a piece I was commissioned to paint.

Beyond that, I have several exciting projects in the works, though I can’t share specifics just yet. What I can say is they involve Mickey and art—two of my greatest passions. For fans attending the Festival of the Arts at EPCOT this coming spring, I’m planning to debut some new pieces, so stay tuned! I’ll be making announcements as those plans come together.

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Adventure is calling—and it’s music to our ears!

We’re mere days away from the premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2, which picks up with the tenacious wayfinder (voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) three years after the events of the first beloved film. An unexpected call from her ancestors sends Moana on a journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters. With the help of Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) and a motley crew of unlikely seafarers, she faces a truly life-changing quest…

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club recently had the chance to chat exclusively with Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear—the Grammy^®Award-winning duo (The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical) who penned five brand-new songs for the film! (Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i and three-time Grammy winning composer Mark Mancina—whose music was heard in the first Moana—return and provide three new songs as well.) See what they have to say about joining the world of Motunui; working with the likes of Cravalho, Foa‘i, and Johnson; what they hope audiences take away from the film; and so much more:

D23: What excites you both about this story? And about helping bring Moana and Maui’s latest adventures to musical life?

Emily Bear (EB): What I love about Moana is that her journey is wholly her own. In the first movie, there was a journey of self-identity and self-discovery, and that continues in the second one. So to be able to share the story of such an inspiring and powerful young woman—who is not defined by anyone else around her; she’s her own person—is really cool.

Abigail Barlow (AB): I agree—she is a true Disney heroine. And I also love that on this journey, she has a new crew; she really gets the chance to be a leader. Seeing that, and getting to represent that in music—and getting to explore new voices that are added to this story—has been really fun too.

EB: Oh, and the Pacific Islands culture and the music—and working with Opetaia—have been so insanely cool! To learn so much about how music is such a huge part of the way that the peoples of the Pacific and their stories live. It just makes the whole thing so much more meaningful.

D23: I was just about to ask—how was it working with Foa‘i and Mancina, as the “veterans” of Moana-related music?

AB: Magical!

EB: The way their brains work is so cool. And that’s what I love about collaboration, too—they view music in a completely different way than we do. The stuff that they come up with, it really is just magical; it’s something that we would have never, ever thought of. We told them this during a [recording] session, but all we hoped for is that our songs were a beautiful vehicle for them to share their voice.

D23: Was there something you set out to accomplish, specifically, with your songs for the film? Anything you felt was crucial to illustrate, or emphasize?

AB: There was a poster that was in the Moana 2 story room two years ago, when we first started on this project, and it said, “You never stop discovering who you are.” And I think that still rings true now that we’re getting close to releasing this movie. I think that really was the main goal of the music—to continue Moana’s journey of discovering herself, discovering her people, her culture, and also remaining in the world that has already been built of beautiful music from the first film.

EB: Our world gets so much bigger in this movie; the scope is so much larger—and I think we wanted our music to reflect that. So the music is bigger, it branches out more… and also giving Moana a more mature voice. She’s older, she’s grown in her views, and the world has changed. So especially with her big song, we really wanted to show that growth and that vulnerability, and her new awareness that she didn’t have when she was 16. She’s almost 20 now—a lot can happen in three years. Trust me, we know! We were there not that long ago. I felt like a whole new person from 16 to 19.

D23: Speaking of Moana—what was the collaboration like, working with Cravalho?   

AB: She is so talented; just so incredibly poised and a joy to work with. She really brought Moana to these songs. They didn’t come alive until she sang them. And getting to collaborate, getting to find the direction of her vocal performance—it was such a joy. Magic all around. 

EB: It’s rare that we get to work with someone who’s close to our age, writing for a character that’s also close to our age. So I think we were able to communicate in a way that maybe we couldn’t do with someone who’s a different generation or different demographic or whatever. I feel like when we were working with her, we were able to push each other in a way that was really very cool. And the camaraderie was amazing. And she’s just undoubtedly amazing.

D23: And what about the directors—David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller?

AB: This team cares so much about this film, and about the culture. It’s been so wonderful to learn; I feel like life has been a classroom for the past two years. Getting to sit in on story trust meetings—where they take apart the storyline and then put it back together, and ask and answer questions constantly, to make this movie the best it can possibly be—was just glorious.

EB: Yeah—I mean, the care that they had for the world and the story and the history and the connection to heritage was incredible. I remember David was showing us how much detail and care and research went into every little thing you see on that screen—from the way that Moana’s hair is parted to the etchings on the side of a canoe that few might notice. But it’s all there.

AB: And handled with care.

EB: So much care.

D23: Do you have any particularly standout memories from the whole process?

 AB: So many beautiful ones. I guess one that stands out was when Dwayne heard his song for the first time. We got a FaceTime call that we thought was coming from Jared [Bush, co-writer/executive producer of Moana 2 and Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer], so we answered, but it was Dwayne. And I called him “Mr. The Rock”—because I was so overwhelmed, and I’m in my Barbie robe getting ready for a Broadway show. And Emily was in the car…EB: He starts saying “Don’t crash, don’t crash!”

AB: And then he said he got chills, listening to the song. That was all we needed to hear—that he loved the song and that he was excited to record it. It was a magical moment that also made it feel that much more real. Although it still doesn’t feel real, and I don’t think it will feel real until it’s in the theaters and we’re sitting there watching it. But his response was everything.

EB: I’ll also never forget the first time that we presented the music to the team. It got easier after that first time, but—you’re working with all new people, you’re in a new story with new characters, and you’re just hoping and praying [they like it]. The first time that you play something for someone, it’s very scary. Of course, we wanted this to work really well. So seeing their reactions—the story team’s faces—after we played the song will be forever burned into my brain; it was amazing. To know that, from the start, we had a connection to Moana that other people resonated with was very special. It gave us a lot of motivation and trust in ourselves to keep going.

D23: How do you feel now that the movie’s about to premiere? And what do you hope audiences take away from Moana’s journey in this film?

AB: This whole process from beginning to now has been so wonderful. There’s nothing else quite like animation—and Disney Animation at that—and the creation of the films that are so beloved by the culture; that have cemented themselves in culture. I hope that audiences come away from the film feeling that, like the poster on our wall, “You never stop discovering who you are.” That would be a great message for little girls to take away from the film, especially.

EB: It’s truly been the honor of a lifetime, working at Disney. And we hope that everyone loves the movie as much as we do!

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By the D23 Team

It’s time for D23 Gold Members to get a generous serving of insider scoop! This summer, The Walt Disney Company is releasing an unparalleled lineup of films and shows from across its many award-winning studios, and the Summer 2024 issue of Disney twenty-three has them all covered, including titles from Marvel Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios.

Inside Disney twenty-three, D23 Gold Members will get a first look at the innovative storytelling and behind-the-scenes moments from beloved franchises and brand-new titles. It starts with the publication’s cover: On June 14, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are back and ready for a bumpy ride in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 as Riley navigates the roller coaster of emotions that comes with being a teenager. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2015 Academy Award^®-winning film Inside Out will introduce moviegoers to four new Emotions arriving in Riley’s mind—including Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), who appears on the cover with Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler). Disney twenty-three talked to both Hawke and Poehler as well as director Kelsey Mann and cast members Tony Hale (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger), and Phyllis Smith (Sadness). They share the inside scoop on the next chapter of Riley’s life and look back at the iconic movie that started it all.

On July 26, the dynamic duo of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) will team up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest blockbuster. In the Summer issue, director, producer, and writer Shawn Levy and executive producer Wendy Jacobson share how this explosive matchup came together—and what moviegoers can expect from Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine. Another celebrated franchise—Planet of the Apes—that has enthralled fans for generations has unveiled its next chapter with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, now available in theaters. Disney twenty-three readers will learn behind-the-scenes secrets shared by the stars and filmmakers who are bringing this story to fans.

Over on Disney+, Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to learn what life was like before the rise of the Empire when Star Wars: The Acolyte debuts on June 4. In the Summer 2024 issue, D23 Gold Members will get a preview of the show from executive producer Leslye Headland and stars Amandla Stenberg and Dafne Keen.

D23 Gold Members will also have the chance to get an exclusive look at Disney Parks’ largest park expansion, Fantasy Springs, the extraordinary new port of call at Tokyo DisneySea within Tokyo Disney Resort. Inspired by the worlds of Peter Pan (1953), Tangled (2010), and Frozen (2013), Fantasy Springs creates all-new immersive experiences for parkgoers. D23 Gold Members will be the first to see all-exclusive photographs and read interviews with the Walt Disney Imagineers who created this magical port in collaboration with Oriental Land Company.

In anticipation of the upcoming D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Presented by VISA, the Summer issue takes a look at the specially curated exhibition from the Walt Disney Archives coming to the show floor of this sold-out event, set for August 9, 10, and 11 in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney Archives Presents: A Great Big Beautiful Car Show will feature an amazing display of iconic Disney vehicles from classic movies, shows, and Disney Parks. In this Disney twenty-three preview, readers will take a tour of the secret warehouse where so many Disney artifacts are stored and learn the stories behind the vehicles that captivated fans on the silver screen and in real life.

The new issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also introduces readers to the debut of a surprising feature from the Walt Disney Archives titled Down the Rabbit Hole; dives under the sea with Disney Jr.’s Ariel, the upcoming series featuring the little mermaid; and plunges into the heroic, true tale told in Young Woman and the Sea (in theaters May 31) with star Daisy Ridley, who plays American swimming champion Trudy Ederle, and director Joachim Rønning.

Also in the Summer 2024 issue of Disney twenty-three:

• Previously untold tales from retired Walt Disney Imagineer Bob Weis, the former president of Walt Disney Imagineering
• A closer look at the Voices of Liberty a capella group, who have been singing at The American Adventure pavilion in EPCOT since Opening Day
• Regular features including D Society, By the Numbers, Character Analysis, and Ask the Walt Disney Archives

Disney twenty-three is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps and is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving before the end of May.

Along with this one-of-a-kind magazine, D23 Gold Members enjoy additional benefits such as discounts on tickets, hotels, stores, and venues, as well as access to special events that provide fans with distinctly Disney experiences.

New offers include discounts to select Disney Theatrical touring productions; The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington; Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil and Disney in Orlando, FL; The Anaheim Hotel in CA; a National Geographic Kids Subscription and the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel and Swan Reserve. For more offers, click here.

This summer, fans of The Princess and the Frog (2009) can celebrate the rich legacy and exciting future of this treasured story with D23 Member events at the Walt Disney World Resort! A 15th Anniversary theatrical screening of the film at Disney Springs is first on the menu, where fans can enjoy the feature on the silver screen, accompanied by a special Mardi Gras-inspired cookie from the fan-favorite Gideon’s Bakehouse.

In the evening at a separately ticketed event, D23 Gold Members will have the opportunity to be among the first to enjoy the new Walt Disney World attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, at Magic Kingdom Park. D23 Gold Members will be able to ride the attraction again and again, then take some time to enjoy the enchanting evening ambiance of the bayou with live jazz performances and tasty treats available during this celebration of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

More details on these events and others will be served up very soon and can be found here! All events, dates, and discounts are subject to change.

Access Your D23 Benefits Anytime, Anywhere
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The post Summer with D23: Exclusive Events, Offers, and <em>Inside Out 2</em> on the cover of <em>Disney twenty-three</em> appeared first on D23.

By the D23 Team

What happens when the world’s wealthiest duck teams up with Marvel Comics? It’s a legendary pairing that means one thing for certain: comic fans are in for a treat! For the first time ever, Scrooge McDuck is getting his very own Marvel Comics one-shot, Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1, helmed by prolific Marvel writer Jason Aaron—known for penning some of the X-Men and Avengers’ most iconic stories. Aaron is teaming up with established Scrooge artists to bring together the world of Uncle Scrooge with the hallmarks of Marvel Comics storytelling.

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 sees Scrooge embark on a time-honored Marvel adventure as he explores the Multiverse to stop a twisted alternate Scrooge from becoming the all-powerful and incomprehensibly rich Scrooge-Above-All! Along the way, the story will introduce exciting new takes on the iconic tycoon with a heart of gold and feature appearances by Scrooge’s nephew, Donald Duck; grandnephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie; and a supporting cast of characters, including Gyro Gearloose.

The comic hits stands June 19, but you can get a taste of the action now with a first look at three variant covers for the comic, created by artists Pepe Larraz, Skottie Young, and Frank Miller.

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Skottie Young

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Pepe Larraz

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Frank Miller

Learn more about this historic collaboration at Marvel.com, and look for Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 at your local comic book shops in June!

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By the D23 Team

In celebration of our 15^th anniversary, D23 is bringing even more Disney magic in 2024 with a new issue of Disney twenty-three, a slate of uniquely Disney events, a special Member Appreciation Month, and a spellbinding Gold Member Collector Set.

DISNEY TWENTY-THREE SPRING 2024 ISSUE
Inside the Disney twenty-three Spring 2024 issue, readers can enjoy exclusive content including behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of both the new and immersive Zootopia land at Shanghai Disney Resort and World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Additionally, readers will get a first-ever comprehensive look back with the Walt Disney Archives at the beautiful storybooks created for the opening sequences of classic films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), The Sword in the Stone (1963), as well as more recent stories such as Enchanted (2007) and Wish (2023). Plus, the 30^thanniversary of Disney on Broadway takes to the stage with intimate, first-person stories from Broadway magic makers including Susan Egan (the original Broadway Belle), Ashley Brown (the original Broadway Mary Poppins), James Monroe Iglehart (the original Broadway Genie), and many more.

Disney twenty-three is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps and is included as a benefit of their D23 Gold Membership. The latest issue will begin arriving by the end of February. Plus, as a special gift to D23 Gold Members and D23 Charter Members, the Disney twenty-three Spring 2024 issue will include a magnet celebrating the official fan club’s 15^th anniversary.

D23 15^th ANNIVERSARY EVENT
On March 10, 2024, D23 is commemorating 15 years of fandom, fun, and favorite memories with a special Gold Member-exclusive event at The Most Magical Place on Earth: Walt Disney World® Resort! The event will include exclusive access to Splitsville Luxury Lanes, where guests can enjoy entertainment and games, festive food, photo spots, and specialty merchandise. For availability and tickets, visit the event page here.

D23 DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS
To celebrate the 15^th anniversary of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film The Princess and the Frog (2009), D23 is inviting members to reexperience the story with a Big Easy theatrical screening of the beloved film and a D23 “Dreams Do Come True” Grand Finale event at The New Orleans Jazz Museum featuring an exclusive reception, themed photo opportunities, live jazz performances, and a commemorative gift. For availability and tickets, visit the event page here.

D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT
Join D23 and the entire Disney family in Anaheim, California, for a one-of-a-kind fan experience that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more! Tickets for the event will go on sale beginning March 26. For more information, visit UltimateFanEvent.D23.com. Highlights of the event include:

• Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium
• Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland® Resort
• Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Enjoy exclusive shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations at the Anaheim Convention Center, along with marquee shows every evening at the Honda Center.

THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS OFFICIAL TOUR – PRESENTED BY D23
D23 welcomes guests to The Walt Disney Studios Lot, giving members the opportunity to visit the world-famous studio in Burbank, California. These tours offer fans a unique perspective on historic moments from Disney films, television series, and theme parks—along with the chance to look inside the Walt Disney Archives and draw inspiration from Walt Disney’s office suite. For availability and tickets, visit the events page here.

SIGNATURE EVENTS
Throughout the year, D23 Members can look forward to exclusive events such as previews of upcoming traveling exhibitions around the world from the Walt Disney Archives. Members will get the opportunity to enjoy advance and opening night screenings of the latest Disney movies at locations across the country. Employee-exclusive merchandise stores, including The Walt Disney Company Store and Walt Disney Imagineering’s Mickey’s of Glendale, will open their doors to members for both online and in-person opportunities. Also, look out for the return of holiday magic at The Walt Disney Studios Lot. In November, fans will get the opportunity to enjoy a D23 experience like no other with a multi-day event coming to São Paulo, Brazil.

2024 GOLD MEMBER COLLECTOR SET – THE D23 MAGIC & MYSTERY BOX
Celebrating the stories that foster classic Disney magic and paying tribute to magician kits of yesteryear, the D23 Magic & Mystery Box Collector Set boasts an illustrious lineup with a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse collectible figurine, a mystery companion collectible figurine, a deck of playing cards, and a mystery pair of beautifully sculpted pins, as well as a Membership Card and Certificate—which will be available to all new and renewing D23 Gold Members in 2024! Delight in magical companions and enchanted objects from beloved Disney films including The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Coco (2017), Encanto (2021), and more. The 2024 Gold Member Collector Set will begin shipping this spring.

D23 MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH
Throughout March, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be celebrating its 15^th anniversary as part of Member Appreciation Month. D23 will share exclusive offers, fun downloads to showcase the beloved fandoms of The Walt Disney Company, and a truly magical sweepstakes. D23 Gold Members will be able to flaunt their fandom with brand-new exclusive merchandise that features some fan-favorite characters. Member Appreciation Month announcements and details will be available right here on D23.com.

Ticketing information and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2024 special events are available here. All events and dates are subject to change.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, premiering on Disney+ today, is a hilarious and heartfelt animated film that follows the holiday misadventures of Greg Heffley (voiced by Wesley Kimmel). After Greg accidentally damages a snowplow while making a snowman with best friend Rowley Jefferson (voiced by Spencer Howell), he worries he won’t get the new video game console he so desperately wants for Christmas. To make matters worse, he gets snowed in with his family, including his grumpy older brother Rodrick (voiced by Hunter Dillon) and annoying younger brother Manny (voiced by Gracen Newton).

The film is based on the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, from the wildly successful Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, who also serves as the writer and executive producer of the new film. Lucky for D23, we had a chance to chat with Kinney about the making of the holiday movie. (Spoiler alert: the conversation discusses plot details.)

“I tried to sort of invert these Christmas stories that are usually about the joy of being together, in this story,” Kinney tells D23. “The last place that Greg wants to be is snowed in with his family, but he can’t do anything to get out of it and it gets more and more stressful for him.”

Greg’s mom’s perspective is especially reflected on-screen as she wants everyone to have a picture-perfect holiday together, juxtaposing Greg’s hopes for the holidays. “I think that she represents a kind of optimism—and Greg represents opportunism,” he explains.

Although the film does show a “nightmarish” side of Christmas, Kinney tried not to be too nihilistic. “You really can’t get away with telling a holiday story without it being really heartwarming,” the author says.

Kinney drew inspiration from a childhood experience: “There was a gift that I really coveted one year, and I found it in the linen closet,” he shares. “There is a big twist in the middle of the story where Greg finds the gift that he wasn’t sure he was going to get and that puts a different twist on things—because now [he’s] going to get it as long as [he’s] good, and that kind of thing did happen to me.”

When adapting the book for film, it was especially important for Kinney to touch upon the irony of Greg being bad, although this is the time of year he is really supposed to be good. He also wanted to include Elfriendo, a stuffed animal elf that watches Greg to ensure he is on his best behavior, to add a horror element to the film.

Kinney wrote the original story when he was in his early 30s and knew little about writing for the screen. In the years since—which have included adapting several of his books for film—Kinney says he’s learned how best to tell a story onscreen.

“What was really great about adapting [Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever] is I can go back to something where I had some good ideas but make it into a really good story,” he admits.

The first book in the Wimpy Kid series, titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was published in 2007—and the first film adaptation, of the same title, was released in 2010. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever was published in 2011 and Kinney started developing the film shortly after, though it took 10 years to come to fruition. Around the same time Kinney was asked to create a special for Fox Animation. Thus began a partnership with Fox and then The Walt Disney Company following its acquisition in 2019. In total, Kinney has made seven Diary of a Wimpy Kid films—four live-action films and three animated films.

“I think that Disney films have a certain tonal quality,” Kinney says. “Theirs is a brand that’s really strong and understood by families, and it’s fun for me. It’s a fun challenge.”

He continues, “I think the stories are kind of universal in a way, because they’re the stories of childhood. This story in particular is a whole family story. So, everybody’s experience is reflected on the screen. And I think that the more universal the stories are, the better that they work, not just in the United States, but around the world.”

When making the three animated films based on his books, Kinney wanted to ensure the artistic integrity of the original sources were carried over onto the screen. “We saw the live-action movies where the audience had to make this leap from the page to the actors,” he explains. “[With this film], we wanted to make it feel like Greg’s diaries became real—and I hope that we’ve achieved that.”

For the latest animated Christmas-themed chapter in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Kinney says he has one particular wish: “The hope of anybody that ever puts together a holiday movie,” he admits, “is that it will become a classic.”

The post Bestselling Author Jeff Kinney Shares Behind-the-Scenes Stories About <em>Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever</em> appeared first on D23.

By Peyton Liebler

Whether you hail from Halloweentown or Halloween Town, you can bet your bottom bones these all-new collectibles are sure to make you scream with frightful delight! Witch-ever way you spend your spooky season, these intrinsic items of enchantment are ready to mobilize your thrills and chills as fast as a bewitched bus, coffin sleigh, or your preferred method of levitating cleaning supplies!

D23 is proud to offer several blood-curdling keepsakes skele-brating three monstrously monumental anniversaries this year! Each of these spine-tingling trinkets will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney this Tuesday, October 24, at 8 a.m. PST.

D23-Exclusive Hocus Pocus 30th Anniversary Pin – $17.99
Bewitched fans long since dead, deep asleep in thy wormy bed, wiggle thine toes, open thine eyes, and spell-ebrate 30 years of Halloween havoc with Hocus Pocus! D23 Gold Members can take part in the sinister Sanderson deeds and wake the dead with this pin resembling the gravestone of one William Butcherson, also known as everyone’s favorite zombie: Billy! This pin is a special, shopDisney-exclusive color variant; attendees of the D23 Black Flame Ball were fortunate enough to snag its light-colored counterpart as an event-exclusive gift!*

This pin is inspired by Hocus Pocus... In 1993, the Black Flame Candle was ignited by an unsuspecting group of kids, inadvertently unleashing the wrath of three witches on the storied city of Salem, Massachusetts. Sinister sisters (Disney Legend Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker) with talents of unfathomable magic (and questionable teamwork skills) mounted brooms, mops, and vacuums in a dastardly plot to retain eternal youth. Though ultimately foiled, the Sandersons returned in 2022 in their long-awaited sequel---Hocus Pocus 2. These beloved films have garnered a cult following, with Hocus Pocus especially becoming a forever-celebrated Halloween classic.

D23-Exclusive Halloweentown 25th Anniversary Pin – $17.99
Celebrate 25 years of magic and enchantment with Halloweentown! D23 Gold Members are invited to leave behind the mundane of the mortal world, hop on a bewitched bus, and make themselves at home in a town where “being normal is VASTLY overrated”! This unique pin is the perfect way to reflect on over two decades of the beloved Disney Channel Original Movie, with the iconic town square Jack O’ Lantern serving as inspiration. This is a special, shopDisney-exclusive variant of this bewitching pin; attendees of the upcoming “25 Years of Halloweentown with D23” event can look forward to procuring the accompanying variant of this pin as an event-exclusive keepsake.*

This pin is inspired by Halloweentown: The worlds of the mortal and the supernatural were introduced to Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) and the rest of the Cromwell clan, 25 years ago, in one of the most beloved Disney Channel Original Movies of all time. After following their grandmother, Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), into her magical homeland of Halloweentown, Marnie and her siblings discover they come from an illustrious line of witches. Halloweentown is not only a haven for supernatural beings, but it’s also in jeopardy—and  Marnie and her siblings must discover a way to make sure this wondrous realm is protected from the mysterious forces of evil which threaten the safety of Halloweentown and the eclectic citizens which inhabit it.

 

D23-Exclusive Tim Burton’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas 30th Anniversary Pin – $17.99
It’s been 30 years since we journeyed into the holiday worlds of old with Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas! D23 Gold Members can join in the fun with this adorable pin, fit for the Pumpkin King himself! Featuring Jack Skellington’s spirited dog Zero and his doghouse, this is the perfect way to “make a scene” for all fans of frights and fun!*

This pin is inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas... Three decades ago, the king of Halloween Town—Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon)—accidentally stumbled into the dazzling world of Christmas Town. Determined to capture the wonder of this wintery land, Jack took matters into his skeletal hands and mobilized the town’s citizens of his to nab “Sandy Claws” and take the holiday for themselves. Though he has the unfailing support of his creepy community—and his loyal ghostly canine—Jack ultimately discovered the chaos that ensues when these two vastly different worlds collide.

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The post Scream-Worthy D23 Halloween Collectibles—On Sale Soon! appeared first on D23.

By Peyton Liebler

Crack open those fortune cookies and tune up those electric guitars, Freaky Friday (2003) is turning 20 years old this year! And D23 Gold Members can celebrate this beloved comedy in style, with a Gold Member exclusive pin themed to Anna Coleman’s band Pink Slip. We know you’re excited, but could you, like, chill for a sec? We have even more special details to share about this fun and FREAKY pin!

Inspired by Freaky Friday (2003) - Dr. Tess Coleman and her teenage daughter Anna have one thing in common—they don’t relate to each other about anything. Then one night a little mystic mayhem changes their lives and they wake up to the biggest freak-out ever. Tess and Anna are trapped inside each other’s bodies! But Tess’ wedding is Saturday and the two must find a way to switch back—fast! Forced to literally walk in each other’s shoes, will they gain respect and understanding for the other’s point of view?

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D23-Exclusive Freaky Friday 20th Anniversary Pin
Freak out with the body-swapping hilarity of this punk rock pin! This D23 Gold Member exclusive pin will “take you away” to the nostalgia and magic of Freaky Friday. The pin features the insignia for Pink Slip, Anna Coleman’s grungy garage band, marked with a “Live in Concert” guitar pick. Get up, get out and get this jamming pin now!

Our D23-Exclusive Freaky Friday 20th Anniversary Pin, offered in a limited edition of 750 is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PT on shopDisney, Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

The post Rock On with this D23-Exclusive Pin Celebrating 20 Years of <em>Freaky Friday</em> (2003) appeared first on D23.