James Gunn’s Opportunity, Disney’s Loss

 by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 25, 2022

 

News broke tonight that director James Gunn will be the co-CEO of DC Studios, along with producer Peter Safran. The duo will lead the film, television and animation division, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

DC Studios will replace DC Films at Warner Bros.

 

While the proof will be in the pudding, for now, this rates as a homerun hire for Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

 

According to the report, “Gunn will focus on the creative side of things, while Safran will focus on the business and production side.”

 

The deal starts on November 1, runs for four years, at least to start, and Gunn will be exclusive to DC Studios.

 

That puts an end to Gunn’s relationship with Marvel-Disney, with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special arriving on Disney+ on November 25 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 coming to theaters on May 5, 2023.

 

Gunn winding up at DC isn’t a surprise, given that Marvel had fired him as director of Guardians 3, with DC then hiring him for The Suicide Squad and subsequently the HBO Max spinoff Peacemaker. Of course, Marvel hired him back for Guardians 3, eventually. But it’s understandable not only where Gunn’s loyalties might lie, but also that Warner Bros. views Gunn as one of the premiere creators when it comes to superhero cinema.

 

Anyone who appreciates superheroes on the big screen should be pleased with this new DC Studios team, as it points to a potential step up in the quality and coherence of the DCU. Perhaps it might serve as something of a competitive jolt to the MCU, which has had more misses than hits in recent years.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Pre-Order Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Keating says, “I think Persecution might be the most action-packed of any of the Pastor Stephen Grant books so far.”

Signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/persecution  

Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHHJNNB4

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Guardians Holiday Special Trailer, James Gunn and More

 by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 25, 2022

 

Are you ready for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special?

 

Keep in mind what director James Gunn said in March: “The Holiday Special is the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s totally ridiculous, and every day we can’t believe that we’re making it. We all completely love it. It is unlike anything that anyone’s ever seen before. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

 

Well, that’s saying something … I think. Anyway, now we have a trailer released today by Disney, and yes, I’m all in. 

 

The special premieres on Friday, November 25, on Disney+. 

 

Disney notes that the Holiday Special stars “Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket. The special also stars Sean Gunn and The Old 97’s, with Michael Rooker and Kevin Bacon.” Yes, the legendary Kevin Bacon!

 

If Gunn scores with this special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is scheduled for release on May 5, 2023, it’s pretty clear that within the MCU movie realm, Gunn and the Guardians will have earned the top position in terms of consistent quality. But we have to wait and see. Oh yeah, and there’s the fact that the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride at EPCOT ranks as the best roller coaster ride I’ve ever ridden. 

 

Merry Christmas, Star-Lord! (Too early?)

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Pre-Order Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Keating says, “I think Persecution might be the most action-packed of any of the Pastor Stephen Grant books so far.”

Signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/persecution  

Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHHJNNB4

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Want to Ride the New Guardians Ride at EPCOT? Make Sure Your MDE is Ready Now!

 by Beth Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 19, 2022

 

While some EPCOT guests, such as annual passholders and D23 members, have been able to get a sneak peek at the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride, the coaster will officially open to the general public in just a week, on May 27.  (By the way, see Ray Keating’s DisneyBizJournal.com review of the ride here.) If you want to maximize your chances of getting to save the galaxy with the Guardians, there are a few things you need to know before hitting up the park.

 

For starters, when the ride opens, there will not be a stand-by line, which means that you will either have to buy your way onto a Starjumper via a limited number of Individual Lightning Lane openings, or you will have to snag one of the free virtual queue spots, either at 7 am or 2 pm. 

And, no doubt about it, those seats will go faster than a jump to lightspeed. So, if you show up at EPCOT expecting to stroll over and hop on a line and shuffle your way to the front, you’ll be disappointed if you haven’t booked a ride in advance. Best to make your acquaintance with the ins-and-outs of your My Disney Experience (MDE) app now, so that you are not let down on the morning of your visit. You can’t waste time fiddling with setting up links when everyone else is blazing their way through the virtual queue request that day.

 

This week, Disney Parks Blog released information on how the virtual queue system will be set up for this ride.  (By the way, make sure you have both a valid ticket and a park reservation for the day and for EPCOT before attempting the process.)

 

Virtual Queue  

 

Beginning at 7 am on the day of your park reservation, you will be able to check for an available (free) boarding group via the My Disney Experience app, and request access to the virtual queue. (Go find this spot on your app NOW, so you don’t waste precious time that morning!)  You can actually request access before you leave your resort, or on your way to the park, but the countdown begins precisely at 7 am. If Remy’s Ratatouille and Rise of the Resistance, both of which used virtual queues upon their opening, are any indication, the spots will be gone in mere seconds. No kidding.  

 

If you and your travel party are successful in obtaining a boarding group, the MDE app will assign you a boarding group number, and you will wait for that group to be called before making your way back to the ride, sometime later in the morning. (You’ll get a notification on your phone via the My Disney Experience app when it’s time to come back, but keep checking so you know when your time is getting close, so that you don’t get on line for a different ride or sit down to eat and miss your window accidentally.)

 

If you weren’t successful in getting one of those coveted spots at 7 am, you can try again in the afternoon.  At 1 pm, you can again request a boarding group on the MDE app via the virtual queue, through the same process, but the only catch is that for the afternoon requests, you must actually be inside of EPCOT to join the virtual queue.  (And if you already rode in the morning, you can’t request a second ride during the afternoon boarding groups.) 

 

One last shot at a boarding group exists at 6 pm, but only if you are staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels. On certain dates, Disney offers extended evening theme park hours to those guests, and Deluxe hotel guests can make use of the third shot at getting a boarding group on those days. (Deluxe hotel guests do not need to be in EPCOT to request to join during the 6 pm boarding group process).   Additional information, including tips for getting into the virtual queue, is available at disneyworld.com/virtualqueue.  

 

Individual Lightning Lane 

 

If you don’t mind shelling out the additional cash, you can also try for an “Individual Lightning Lane” entry.  Guests can purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry in the My Disney Experience app by using the Disney Genie service on the same day of their visit. (Prices weren’t released yet for the ride, and they do vary by day and season, but as a comparison, the top tier Rise of the Resistance is currently $15 per person.)  Individual Lightning Lane is subject to limited availability, and again, those seats go – well, lightning fast.  Guests at Disney resort hotels can purchase Individual Lightning Lane rides starting at 7 am on the day of their visit.  Other guests can make their purchase when the park opens. For more information on Lightning Lane access, go to disneyworld.disney.go.com/genie/lightning-lane/. 

 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is billed as a “family-thrill attraction” that is a completely new generation of storytelling rollercoaster, with the “first ever reverse-launch.” Located in World Discovery at EPCOT, it’s also one of the largest indoor coasters in the world, and the Starjumper cars rotate 360 degrees in the dark to direct guests’ attention to the action going on around them in both projections and set pieces during their intergalactic chase. A selection of six different songs provide the soundtrack to the ride, and guests don’t know in advance which song they’ll be treated to.  Kids must be at least 42 inches tall to ride.

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

What’s the Deal with “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind”?

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 15, 2022

 

Okay, let’s just state this right upfront: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the greatest roller coaster I’ve ever ridden.

Cosmic Rewind in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT pulls together everything one could ever want in a thrill ride. Though it doesn’t officially open until May 27, 2022, annual passholders were able to take early rides. My family had a slot on Sunday (May 15), and I was perhaps never so happy to have my annual pass.

 

First, it offers a story that not only makes sense, but integrates Guardians of the Galaxy characters in such a way that this theme park ride fits in neatly with the movies. Characters from the movies appear, as does a delightful addition. The ride captures the same feel of adventure and humor. 

Second, great music is such an important part of the Guardians movies, in particular, in the story of Peter Quill, or Star-Lord. The imagineers who created the ride wisely understood this, and music is central to the Cosmic Rewind ride. When saying that this ride rocked, it literally rocks. My adventure played out to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” Have you ever wanted to sing along while riding a roller coaster? I did on Cosmic Rewind. It was pretty much perfect. The other five songs in the mix (riders are unaware which tune they’ll ride to) are “Disco Inferno,” “Conga,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “I Ran” and “One Way or Another.”

 

Third, this is an incredibly smooth roller coaster ride – even as you're twisting, turning, ascending and descending in one of the largest indoor coasters in the world. For good measure, riders are being rotated 360 degrees to keep their focus on the action. And yes, the special effects riders travel through are immersive. And it all flows together beautifully.

Fourth, given that this was a special event for annual passholders, the wait was not as long as would normally be the case, but what I took in while traveling through the queue was delightful – expanding on the story undergirding the ride.

 

Did I have any complaints? Just one: The merchandise store was not yet open. If it had been, I likely would have emerged with my wallet considerably lighter.

 

What will happen when May 27 rolls around? Disney explains, “When Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens, a virtual queue will be in place. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to enter the attraction. A standby queue will not be available. Each Guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.”

 

Bottom line: When you visit Walt Disney World, you must ride Cosmic Rewind.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Two great ways to pre-order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Get all of Ray Keating Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries in paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Get more out of the rest of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. It’s on sale and shipping is always free!

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opening Date Revealed? Ooops!

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 23, 2022

 

In December, Disney appointed Geoff Morrell as chief corporate affairs officer, which includes oversight of corporate communications. But Morrell's first splash in that office might have been an “Ooops!” moment on February 22 when he appeared to have revealed the opening date of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster at EPCOT … when he wasn’t supposed to do so.

 

According to several reports, Morrell tweeted that he had just experienced a test ride, and that the rest of us would be able to “Check it out starting Memorial Day weekend!” InsidetheMagic.com offered the following screenshot of the tweet that has since been taken down.

The Walt Disney World website notes that the ride will open in the summer 2022, and describes Cosmic Rewind as follows:

 

Begin your adventure by touring the Galaxarium—a planetarium-like exhibition showcasing the similarities and differences between Xandar and Earth’s galaxies. You’ll even get to discover some of the incredible wonders of Xandar and learn about their technology.

 

Just as you are about to reach the culmination of the tour, everything goes sideways, and you are called into action to help the Guardians of the Galaxy. Are you ready to rock out on an awesome quest across the cosmos to save the galaxy? It’s all up to you!

 

This family-friendly attraction features the first ever reverse-launch on a Disney coaster and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world! A new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering—this coaster rotates 360 degrees so you can focus on the action!

 

I’m certainly looking forward to rocking out with the Guardians of the Galaxy … perhaps on Memorial Day weekend?

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Star-Lord and Opportunity

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #46: Star-Lord and Opportunity – Life offers opportunities. The question is: What do you do with them?

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Big Message Coming Out of D23: Disney Investing, Innovating and Creating

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 26, 2019

No matter which part of the Disney universe one might be interested in, there seemed to be something announced at D23 over the weekend to provide excitement. That speaks to the Walt Disney Company’s aggressiveness and confidence in what they’re doing, and the fact that they’re not shy about investing in their vision.

Consider developments in key areas.

Walt Disney World

The announcement that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be much more than a themed hotel, but rather, as noted on the Disney Parks Blog, “a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship.” Rather than guests being at a hotel, this promises to be more of a cruise – but on board a starcruiser. If done well, this promises to be a gamechanger for theme park hotels. Watch other theme parks, including those in the Disney family, follow suit with this kind of uniquely immersive experience.

Source: DisneyParksBlog.com

And EPCOT will be undergoing a dramatic transformation in coming years. As Disney puts it, the new experiences in EPCOT “will make the park more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant to the millions of guests who visit each year.” Among the changes coming, Future World will give way to new “neighborhoods – World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature. 

World Celebration will include Dreamers Point, identified as having “lush gardens, a wishing tree, an interactive new fountain and a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney.” 

As for World Discovery, it will feature the storytelling coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which will claim “the first reverse launch into space” that “rotates to focus on the action – wherever it may be.”

Source: DisneyParksBlog.com

Also, the expansion of Mission: Space will include the new restaurant, Space 220, that opens this coming winter. Its name comes from the fact that diners will be treated to views of Earth from 220 miles up.

And among the changes coming to World Showcase will be an attraction inspired by Mary Poppins joined with the United Kingdom pavilion. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens in the France pavilion in the summer of 2020.

In addition, the Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, will arrive in the World of Nature.

In addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening late this month in Hollywood Studios, and the aforementioned Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Hollywood Studios will be welcoming Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in spring 2020.

And at the Magic Kingdom, TRON Lightcycle Run willsee “riders board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles and experience the energy, lights and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe.”

Disneyland

Among the announcements about the Disneyland included those related to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, including Worldwide Engineering Brigade housing the Spider-Man experience, which will be “the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature” Spidey; and the Pym Test Kitchen “using the latest innovations to grow and shrink food at this eatery.” Perhaps most intriguing, during phase two, Disney Parks Blog reported that Avengers Headquarters 

“...will become the future entrance to a brand-new E-Ticket attraction where you will step on board a Quinjet and fly alongside the Avengers in an epic adventure to Wakanda and beyond! You will team up alongside the Avengers in a battle to save our world against one of the most powerful villains they have ever faced. Imagineers are hard at work conceiving an all-new innovative ride system to put you in the middle of this action.”

Source: DisneyParksBlog.com

Disney Cruise Line

Disney also announced the name of its fifth cruise ship – the Disney WISH – which will set sail in January 2022. The WISH joins two other new ships on the way.

Marvel Movies and More

As for Marvel Studios announcements at D23, they included Black Panther 2being released on May 6, 2022; and The Eternals coming on November 6, 2020. Also, three more shows were announced for the Disney+ streaming service – Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She Hulk.

Star Wars

As for the Star Warsuniverse, D23 saw the release of a new trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the first trailer for the Disney+ series The Mandalorian – and both, by the way, look awesome! 

Source: DisneyParksBlog.com

For good measure, it was announced that new episodes of The Clone Wars will debut on Disney+ on February 20, 2020.

And there was more at D23. But again, what all of the news and fun tells us is that Disney is aggressively investing in its intertwined businesses, including theme parks, movies, streaming service, cruise line, and more.

Keep in mind what the New York Times reported in November:

“Each of Disney’s six theme park resorts around the world is undergoing major expansion, along with Disney Cruise Line. Michael Nathanson, a longtime media analyst, estimates that Disney will spend $24 billion on new attractions, hotels and ships over the next five years. That’s more than Disney paid for Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm combined.”

Disney has become the big kahuna in the world of entertainment. One of the dangers of being a big business is that innovation and creativity can falter. That’s not the case with Disney now or for the foreseeable future, given the enormous investments the company is making.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Guess Who Just Rehired James Gunn?

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 15, 2019

News just broke from Deadline.com that the Walt Disney Company has rehired James Gunn to direct Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

That’s completely justified. DisneyBizJournal looked at the Gunn firing back in July, and concluded: “Disney should rehire Gunn for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and at the risk of stating the obvious, free speech and redemption matter deeply to each one of us.”

So, now Gunn is lined up to direct a new Suicide Squad movie for Warner Bros and DC, and then Guardians 3 for Disney/Marvel. Fans of quality superhero films should rejoice.

Investors should be happy as well, given that Guardians of the Galaxy raked in $773 million at the box office, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 $864 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story– published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novelwas published in January 2019. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.