The Walt Disney Studios have released their official 2017 feature release catalog, full of fresh titles, hotly anticipated sequels, a royal revamp … and pandas!
Details below in order of release date:
Walt Disney Studios 2017 feature films
March 17
Beauty and the Beast
The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast, a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within.
Stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as Beast, Luke Evans as handsome but shallow suitor Gaston; Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s father; Josh Gad as LeFou, Gaston’s sidekick; Ewan McGregor as Lumiere the candelabra; Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza the harpsichord; Audra McDonald as Madame de Garderobe the wardrobe; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette the feather duster; Hattie Morahan as the enchantress; and Nathan Mack as Chip the teacup; with Ian McKellen as Cogsworth the mantel clock and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts the teapot.
Directed by Bill Condon. Screenplay by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos. Produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, with Jeffrey Silver, Thomas Schumacher and Don Hahn as exec producers. Score by Alan Menken includes original songs by Menken and Howard Ashman for the animated film, and new songs by Menken and Tim Rice.
April 21
Disneynature Born in China
Narrated by John Krasinski, Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film Born in China takes an epic journey into the wilds of China to follow the stories of three animal families. Meet a doting panda bear mother and her growing cub, a two-year-old golden monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister and joins a group of outcasts, and a mother snow leopard raising her two cubs in one of the harshest environments on the planet.
Directed by Lu Chuan. Produced by Disney’s Roy Conli and nature filmmakers Brian Leith and Phil Chapman.
May 5
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.
Stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock and Kurt Russell.
Directed and written by James Gunn. Produced by Kevin Feige; executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Jonathan Schwartz, Victoria Alonso, Nik Korda and Stan Lee.
May 26
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea — notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth, a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry, a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.
Stars Johnny as Jack Sparrow, Javier Bardem as Capt. Salazar, Kaya Scodelario as Carina, Brenton Thwaites as Henry, Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as Shansa the sea-witch, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum and Geoffrey Rush as Capt. Hector Barbossa.
Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg. Screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer; executive produced by Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Joe Caracciolo, Jr., Terry Rossio and Brigham Taylor.
June 16
Cars 3
Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win, plus inspirations from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving tha #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist, Cars & Cars 2). Produced by Kevin Reher (A Bug’s Life, La Luna short).
November 3
Thor: Ragnarok
In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok — the destruction of his homeworld at the end of Asgardian civilization — at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger — the Incredible Hulk!
Stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.
Directed by Taika Waititi. Story by Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost; screenplay by Eric Pearson. Produced by Kevin Feige; executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee.
November 22
Coco
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael Garcia Bernal) and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist, Monsters University) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3).
December 15
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Having taken her first steps in The Force Awakens, Rey continues her epic journey, with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker.
Stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, with the late Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Billie Lourd at Lt. Connix, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Gwendoline Christie as Capt. Phasma, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Jimmy Vee as R2-D2 and Benicio Del Toro a a new villain.
Directed and written by Rian Johnson, based on the characters created by George Lucas. Executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Ram Bergman, Tom Karnowski, Kathleen Kennedy and Jason D. McGatlin.
