2021 is gearing up to be a stellar year for Disney+ with the streamer’s slate of upcoming movies and TV shows. After launching in late 2019, Disney has vowed to build up its streaming presence by directly competing with the industry’s top services. With the help of brands like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, Disney+ certainly has the attraction factor, but in the end, it all comes down to quality content and market availability.
Aside from a packed back catalog of Disney classics, Disney+ celebrated its long-awaited launch by debuting the first-ever Star Wars live-action series, The Mandalorian. While the introduction of Baby Yoda stole headlines among the 2019 titles, the streaming service continued expanding its original content through 2020 with releases such as Diary of a Future President, The Right Stuff, Marvel’s Hero Project, and SparkShorts. The service also welcomed new feature films like Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Stargirl, Black Beauty, Hamilton, and Soul. In addition, Disney+ subscribers were given the chance to view Mulan through Premier Access as it bypassed theaters.
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While Disney+ failed to reach promises when it came to a handful of scheduled releases, much of the blame was put on the delays as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Like the rest of the entertainment industry, Disney was forced to shuffle its release calendar, and a few more changes are likely on the horizon. The situation has caused many viewers to turn to streaming, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a company looking to grow its subscription content. Whether or not streaming is the future for Disney, here’s what subscribers can expect on the Disney+ platform in the months to come.
Marvel Studios: Legends – January 8
Disney+ isn’t wasting time when comes to debuting new Marvel-related titles considering the start of Marvel Studios: Legends. The series, categorized as a clip show, will highlight different Marvel Comics’ characters featured in the MCU. By showcasing iconic moments in the franchise, Legends will serve as the perfect recap ahead of the stacked Phase 4 slate of programming. First up is an episode dedicated to the best moments centered around Scarlet Witch and Vision.
WandaVision – January 15
After various delays due to the pandemic, Phase 4 of the MCU is officially set to begin with the arrival of WandaVision. Not only will the miniseries mark the first live-action Marvel series to debut on Disney+, but it also reunites Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch with Paul Bettany’s Vision. The superhero couple will embark on a suburban journey spanning decades in a series of events that will supposedly set up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Aside from returning MCU vets like Kate Dennings and Randall Park, the cast includes Teyonah Parris, Kathyrn Hahn, and Jolene Purdy.
Flora & Ulysses – February 19
Flora & Ulysses serves as the first Disney+ original film of 2021, premiering at the end of February. Based on the children’s book of the same name, the movie follows a young girl named Flora Buckman (Matilda Lawler) who adopts Ulysses, a squirrel that happens to have superpowers. The movie is directed by Lena Khan and features a superb adult cast that includes Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Danny Pudi, Kate Micucci, and Bobby Moynihan.
Raya and the Last Dragon – March 5
While Raya and the Last Dragon was not originally intended to debut on Disney+, it will be released on the streamer through Premier Access at the same time the film drops in theaters. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, the animated movie centers on the world of Kumandra, a mystical location where humans and dragons once lived together in peace. Centuries later, a brave warrior princess, Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), attempts to find the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina). Following a limited release through Premier Access, Raya and the Last Dragon is expected to be available to all Disney+ subscribers.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – March 19
Originally meant to launch Disney+’s slate of Marvel miniseries, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will arrive in the spring. Following the events after Avengers: Endgame, the show centers on Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) taking over the mantle of Captain America. When an anarchist group known as the Flag-Smashers starts causing problems, Sam enlists the help of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). Daniel Brühl and Emily VanCamp are reprising their MCU roles as Baron Helmut Zemo and Sharon Carter while Wyatt Russell joins as John Walker, aka U.S. Agent.
Monsters at Work – Early 2021
Monsters at Work, the sequel spinoff to 2001’s Monsters Inc., will finally arrive on Disney+ in 2021 after being announced in 2017. Set six months after the events of the Pixar film, Monsters at Work follows Tylor Tuskmon, a recent Scare Major graduate from Monsters University, that has aspirations of working alongside legends James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski. John Goodman and Billy Crystal are returning to voice Sulley and Mike, respectively with Ben Feldman joining the cast as Tylor. The rest of the voice cast consists of new and returning figures like John Ratzenberger, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, Kelly Marie Tran, Henry Winkler, and Lucas Neff.
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers – Early 2021
Based on the popular film franchise from the ’90s, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers follows a 12-year-old boy named Evan (Brady Noon) who tries to form a new hockey team after being cut from the Mighty Ducks. The team has since become a junior hockey powerhouse since its appearances in the film franchise. Evan’s mother, Alex (Lauren Graham), enlists the help of the Ducks’ original coach, Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), to put the team together. So far, there’s no release date, but the sequel series is expected to arrive in the early months of 2021.
Loki – May 2021
Coming off of the heels of WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Disney+ will keep the ball rolling with Loki. Like the other titles, Loki will be set after the events of Endgame, centering on the new timeline that Tom Hiddleston’s character created. Along with the power of the Tesseract, Loki will travel through time, altering history along the way. The rest of the cast of the six-episode miniseries is highlighted by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, and Richard E. Grant.
What If…? – Mid 2021
Marvel will also be diving into the anthology format with What If…?, an animated series consisting of 10 episodes. Created by A.C. Bradley, the show will explore certain moments within the MCU if they occurred differently. Not only will major franchise stars be returning to voice their respective roles, but Jeffrey Wright has also joined the voice cast as The Watcher, who serves as the narrator. What If…? has already been renewed for a season 2, consisting of another 10 episodes.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Mid 2021
After releasing season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2020, Disney+ is gearing up to air a spinoff titled Star Wars: The Bad Batch. The animated sequel, developed by Jennifer Corbett, will focus on members of Clone Force 99, aka “the Bad Batch.” Dee Bradley Baker is set to voice the mercenary clones while Ming-Na Wen reprises her role as Fennec Shand from The Mandalorian.
The Book of Boba Fett – December 2021
Ming-Na Wen will also be back as Fennic Shand to reunite with her Mandalorian co-star Temuera Morrison for the spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett. Morrison will reprise his role as the titular bounty hunter for a special series tied into The Mandalorian and other planned spinoffs. Set to release in December 2021, the title was officially announced through a post-credits scene in The Mandalorian season 2 finale. Following the limited series event, the characters of Boba and Fennec are expected to reappear in the mothership series.
Hawkeye - Late 2021
Jeremy Renner’s Clint barton will finally get a chance in the spotlight with Disney+’s development of Hawkeye. The series, created by Jonathan Igla, will focus on Clint as he hands over the Hawkeye mantle to Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). While subscribers aren’t sure when Hawkeye will officially appear, Marvel and Disney have provided more cast details. Florence Pugh’s character from Black Widow will appear in addition to newcomers like Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, and Brian d’Arcy James. Hawkeye will also feature the live-action debut of Lucky the Pizza Dog.
Ms. Marvel – Late 2021
The later months of 2021 will also see the arrival of Ms. Marvel, a Disney+ series introducing Kamala Khan as a live-action hero. Iman Vellani is set to portray the 16-year-old Muslim Pakistani-American who obtains shape-shifting powers. With Bisha K. Ali at the helm, Ms. Marvel will also feature cast members such as Saagar Shaikh, Aramis Knight, Matt Lintz, and Rish Shah. Like the above mentioned Marvel series, Ms. Marvel will be set within Phase 4 of the MCU.
Dug Days – Late 2021
Written and directed by Bob Peterson, Dug Days will feature animated shorts following the adventures of the beloved dog Dug from Pixar’s Up. The shorts will center around the various events that take place in or around Dug’s backyard. Carl is also expected to appear in Dug’s shorts set to debut around the fall of 2021.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder – TBA
Disney+ is reviving a beloved Disney Channel animated series with the debut of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Originally airing from 2001 to 2005, The Proud Family season 3 will feature the return of all cast members reprising their voice roles of the family led by Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt). Keke Palmer has also joined the cast as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, a teenage activist.
Big Shot – TBA
John Stamos has been tapped to star in an upcoming sports comedy-drama titled Big Shot. The actor stars as a basketball coach who gets fired before ending up at an elite all-girls private school. Yvette Nicole Brown will play the dean of the high school alongside a cast that also includes Jessalyn Gilsig, Richard Robichaux, Sophia Mitri Schloss, Nell Verlaque, and Monique Green. The show, developed by David E. Kelley and Dean Lorey currently doesn’t have a release date.
Turner & Hooch – TBA
Based on the 1989 comedy film of the same name, Disney+’s Turner & Hooch will serve as a reboot that follows a U.S. Marshal named Scott Turner (Josh Peck) that acquires an unruly dog named Hooch. While training the dog, Scott begins to realize the truth surrounding his father’s “accidental” death. In addition to Josh Peck, the rest of the cast will include Lyndsy Fonseca, Carra Patterson, Vanessa Lengies, Anthony Ruivivar, and Brandon Jay McLaren. The comedy series doesn’t have a premiere date just yet, but it’s expected to air before 2021 comes to a close.
The Mysterious Benedict Society – TBA
Disney+ is adapting Trenton Lee Stewart’s YA series The Mysterious Benedict Society, and it will arrive by the end of 2021. Starring actors like Tony Hale, Kristen Schaal, MaameYaa Boafo, and Ryan Hurst, the mystery series focuses on four orphans who return to a boarding school known as the Institute to thwart a plot that puts the whole world in danger. The series was originally intended to premiere on Hulu before moving to Disney+ for a 2021 premiere.
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again – TBA
Three Night at the Museum movies have been released thus far, and Disney will be expanding the franchise with an animated fourth installment. Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again will follow Larry’s son, Nick, as he takes over as the nightwatchmen. Aside from the titular figure, the movie will feature returning characters like Jedediah, Octavius, and Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, who was previously played by Robin Williams. While a voice cast hasn’t been announced, the news should be released early in the year as production began before 2020 came to an end.
Sneakerella – TBA
A re-imagining of Cinderella is coming to Disney+ by the end of 2021 in the form of Sneakerella. Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, Sneakerella follows El (Chosen Jacobs), a young aspiring sneaker designer that falls for Kira King (Lexi Underwood), the daughter of a star basketball player/sneaker tycoon. El tries to achieve his dream as a professional designer with the help of his best friend and a Fairy Godmother. The cast of the upcoming movie also includes John Salley, Yvonne Senat Jones, Devyn Nekoda, Juan Chioran, and Bryan Terrell Clark.
Everything Else Coming To Disney+ In 2021
Though Disney+’s 2021 schedule is already turning out to be something to celebrate, there are a few other titles expected to drop within the year. While the streamer has been hard at work at releasing details about upcoming projects, several planned titles are still shrouded in secrecy in terms of plots, casts, and release dates. On January 22, Disney+ will debut Pixar Popcorn, a series of shorts featuring well-known characters. Following the animated format, a new version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid is coming according to Disney’s slate announcement for 2021 and beyond. As for TV shows, Disney+ is currently producing Just Beyond, based on R.L. Stine’s comic book series, a Star Wars anime series titled Visions, a new Chip N’ Dale title, and a Doogie Howser, M.D. reboot titled Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., which will follow a 16-year-old doctor from Hawaii.
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