Walt Disney Pictures will release several billion-dollar (grossing) franchise sequels and blockbuster series installments over the forthcoming two years. That includes the standalone comic book adaptations that make up Marvel Studio’s Phase 2, culminating with The Avengers 2 in May 2015; then, later that Summer, the Mouse House is planning to unveil Star Wars: Episode VII and Pirates of the Caribbean 5 in theaters.
We have release date updates for some noteworthy films that Disney will premiere before then, and they include the Into the Woods musical movie, the newly-titled sequel to The Muppets, Brad Bird’s sci-fi adventure Tomorrowland, the Mary Poppins making-of biopic Saving Mr. Banks, and the illustrated children’s book adaptation Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Into the Woods will open in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day (a.k.a. December 25th), 2014. Disney’s stage musical adaptation is being directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and the star-studded cast so far includes Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, Jake Gyllenhaal and Tracey Ullman is currently in talks.
Here is the studio’s description of the project:
INTO THE WOODS, based on the Tony-winning original musical by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, surrounds a baker and his wife’s quest to break a witch’s curse in order to start a family. Along the way, they encounter several well-known fairy tale characters, and together they learn what happens after “happily ever after”.
Meanwhile, Disney hasn’t moved the Muppets sequel from its scheduled March 21st, 2014 release date, but has officially changed the title from The Muppets… Again! to Muppets Most Wanted.
The human additions includes Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, and Ray Liotta, who participate in a storyline that “takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour where they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper” (you can read about additional plot details here).
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is slated to reach theaters on October 10th, 2014, and has so far cast Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner in lead roles. The Jim Henson Company is producing the movie, which is being scripted by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right) and relative newcomer Rob Lieber, and directed by Miguel Arteta (Cedar Rapids).
Here is the studio’s synopsis:
ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, based on the award-winning children’s book by Judith Viorst, follows young Alexander through the mishaps of a terrible day for his family after he wishes they all would experience the same troubles he does.
Saving Mr. Banks will now begin a limited theatrical release on December 13th, 2013, before going wide a week later. The film stars Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, B.J. Novak and Ruth Wilson; it is based on a script written by Kelly Marcel (co-coreator of Terra Nova) and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side).
Here is the synopsis:
Inspired by true events, SAVING MR. BANKS is the extraordinary, untold story of how Disney’s classic MARY POPPINS made it to the screen—and the testy relationship that the legendary Walt Disney had with author P.L. Travers that almost derailed it.
Lastly, Tomorrowland will start a wide theatrical release on December 12th, 2014 (up from the previous December 19th date), and features a cast headed by George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy and Thomas Robinson. Brad Bird is directing and Damon Lindelof is co-writing the script (you can learn more about the project’s origins here).
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Saving Mr. Banks begins a limited theatrical release on December 13th, 2013, before going wide a week later.
Muppets Most Wanted opens in U.S. theaters on March 21st, 2014.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day reaches theaters on Ocotber 10th, 2014.
Tomorrowland hits U.S. theaters on December 12th, 2014.
Into the Woods opens in theaters on Christmas Day 2014.
