Walt Disney Animation has set four filmmakers to develop four new original animated features for the studio. Those filmmakers? Carlos Lopez Estrada (“Blindspotting”), Suzi Yoonessi (“Daphne & Velma”), Josie Trinidad (“Zootopia”), and Marc Smith (“Big Hero 6”).
Lee has been working to increase Disney’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, touting Adele Lim’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” starring Awkwafina as one of its high profile early works in that initiative. That film opens next Thanksgiving.
Walt Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee says: “We aim to have Walt Disney Animation Studios serve as the premiere home for filmmakers interested in telling engaging stories within the limitless animation medium. Carlos and Suzi are two incredible, inventive filmmakers who have both received acclaim for their work. Josie and Marc, master, lead story artists, have been instrumental in shaping such films as Zootopia and Frozen 2. We are so thrilled to have these four talented artists join our 96-year-old studio as directors and help us build the stories of our future – adventures in completely original worlds, stories from around the globe, and the next generation of musicals.”
Speaking of Disney and inclusion, the executive producers of the animated Disney series “Star Wars: Resistance” have confirmed the “Star Wars” franchise has finally scored its first bit of in-canon LGBT representation.
Specifically they’ve confirmed that Orka and Flix, the partners who own the Office of Acquisitions on the Colossus, are “absolutely a gay couple and we’re proud of that” says EP Brandon Auman on the Coffee with Kenobi podcast. SNL alum Bobby Moynihan and “Community” scene-stealer Jim Rash voice the pair.
“Star Wars: Resistance” returns for its second and final season on October 6th.
Source: Variety
