Top 10 Disney Projects to Look Forward to in 2019

Ever since hitting store shelves in 2001, fans have wondered when Eoin Colfer’s best-selling young adult fantasy novel would arrive on the silver screen - well, after nearly 2 decades, we’ve gotten our wish. Disney has entrusted directorial duties to Kenneth Branagh, who previously brought us 2015’s “Cinderella” and the original “Thor.” Newcomer Ferdia Shaw is filling the shoes of Artemis Fowl II, acting opposite a promising cast that includes Dame Judi Dench as Commander Root and Josh Gad as Mulch Diggums. Considering how more recent Disney films have strived to blur the line between good and evil, Artemis Fowl seems like an ideal protagonist for the studio to tackle.

It’s no secret that “Kingdom Hearts III” has been in development limbo for a while. Heck, it’s endured so many delays that we actually included the game on last year’s list of Disneyprojects to look forward to! Assuming Square Enix doesn’t push its release date back, players will be catching up with Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy by early 2019. Of course, those aren’t the only familiar faces you can count on seeing, as this RPG is packed with worlds based on “Toy Story,” “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” and “Monsters, Inc.,” amongst others. If you’re a Disneyholic, there’s little doubt that this is your most anticipated game of the century.

As much as we love Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, we’ve always felt that Disney parks could do even more with the sci-fi franchise. After nearly three years of construction, fans will be able to visit a galaxy far, far away like never before. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open at Disneyland first in the summer, and Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios iteration following in the fall. Whether you wish to fly aboard the Millennium Falcon, get caught up in a battle between the First Order and the Resistance, or have a boozy beverage at Oga’s Cantina, this is definitely the park you’re looking for. Let’s just hope the lines aren’t too long.

With brands like Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm under the company’s umbrella, it was only a matter of time until Disney joined the Streaming Wars. As Disney’s distribution deal withNetflix officially ends in 2019, their new streaming service, Disney+, will reportedly house 400-500 feature films and 7,000 TV episodes. Along with older content, original movies and shows will also be created, which almost warrant their own list! In the “Star Wars” realm, there’s the seventh season of “The Clone Wars,” a series around “Rogue One”’s Cassian Andor, and “The Mandalorian,” a show written by Jon Favreau and starring “Game of Thrones”’s Pedro Pascal. Then there’s a new series surrounding Loki, a live-action (xref) “Lady and the Tramp” remake, and multiple docuseries.

What’s even better than a live-action “Star Wars” TV show? How about a big-screen adventure that’ll bring the sequel trilogy and the Skywalker Saga to a close! Between the mixed reception to “The Last Jedi” and the financial disappointment of “Solo,” “Episode IX” will mark a crucial moment for the “Star Wars” franchise. This sequel has faced its fair share ofissues behind the scenes, with director Colin Trevorrow departing from the project and Carrie Fisher passing away before shooting - though she’ll still be in the film through unreleased footage from the first 2 sequel films. Director J. J. Abrams has overcome great odds before, however, and we believe he can deliver a satisfying finale.

Of all the Disney animated classics that’ve been given the live-action treatment, many consider Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” to be the best. Having proven himself, we “just can’t wait” to see Favreau’s adaptation of “The Lion King,” which brings the Pride Lands to life with photorealistic animation. While James Earl Jones will return to voice Mufasa, the cast is otherwise comprised of new players, including Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar. If you grew up in the ‘90s, chances are you saw “The Lion King” in the theaters multiple times twenty-five years ago. So, “be prepared” to rewatch this new one over and over again.

Outside of Pixar, Disney has rarely delved into theatrical sequels when it comes to their animated classics. Since “Frozen” became the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, though, it’s not surprising that Disney is bringing Arendelle back to the big screen. Having inspired a Broadway show, multiple short films, and a blizzard of merchandise since its 2013 release, it’s easy to understand why some feel “Frozen” is overexposed. Of course, it’s even easier to understand why fans won’t let “Frozen” go, what with its infectious soundtrack, empowering characters, and meaningful messages. Aside from doubling down on everything we loved about the original, “Frozen 2” could be a revolutionary family film if Disney gives Elsa a girlfriend.

In addition to being Marvel’s most ambitious crossover to date, “Avengers: Infinity War” left audiences emotionally drained with its jaw-dropping cliffhanger. We all needed some time to collect ourselves once the credits rolled, which burned the words, “Thanos will return,” into our minds. Since then, we’ve been losing sleep over “Avengers 4,” theorizing how our heroes will restore order to a universe literally in ashes. Whatever happens next, this 22nd entry in the MCU will likely act as a swan song for several prominent players. While we may be in the endgame, we can at least take comfort in knowing that this cinematic universe still has so many more stories to tell.

“The Lion King” isn’t the only Disney remake coming out in 2019, as (xref) Dumbo will fly again under Tim Burton’s direction and Guy Ritchie is hopping aboard a carpet for another Arabian night. The cast is refreshingly comprised of lesser known actors, with Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine. Will Smith is still bringing plenty ofstar power to the equation as the Genie, however. While nobody can ever replace the late Robin Williams, we have faith that Smith can make the role his own, just as Tony-winner James Monroe Iglehart did on Broadway. If we had three wishes, we’d definitely use one to make May 24th get here faster.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Captain Marvel” (2019)
Release Date: March 8, 2019 (US)

“Kim Possible” (2019)
Release Date: TBD

“Descendants 3” (2019)
Release Date: Summer 2019

Since “Toy Story 3” gave us a pitch perfect ending, people generally have mixed thoughts about this fourth film. But if sequels like “Incredibles 2” and “Finding Dory” are any indication, Pixar would only return to this franchise if they felt there was a story worth telling. Based on the teasers that’ve been released, they’re bringing some fresh voices to the mix to keep things interesting, but we’re still expecting to feel some feels. Seeing how both Tim Allen and Tom Hanks have already praised the latest film for its “emotional” impact, we’re optimistic that “Toy Story 4” will be a more than worthy addition the series.