Disney unveils ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’

Disney meticulously stuck to the script Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas: The entertainment giant unveiled footage for its upcoming films, “Indiana Jones and “The Little Mermaid,” without commenting on the legal battles and mass layoffs that have plagued its news feed.

• Also read: Disney is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing him of political “retaliation.”

• Also read: Disney World employee arrested for being photographed under petticoats

The group has just filed a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis, whom it accuses of waging “political revenge” by removing Disney World’s special status in Florida and appointing a new commission to oversee the theme park’s future.

The company also began a new wave of layoffs this week, as part of a plan announced in February that would allow it to cut 7,000 jobs.

But in the face of insistence from movie theater owners assembled in Las Vegas, the group focused on its catalog of cinematic releases. Starring in a new episode of “Indiana Jones,” Disney revealed an excerpt from a breathtaking chase through the alleyways of the Moroccan city of Tangier.

Playing the adventurer for more than forty years “means a lot to me,” explained Harrison Ford, who finds his hat and whip in Part V titled “The Dial of Destiny” in a video message.

“These films are full of adventure, heart,” continued the actor, who will present the remake of “Indy” at the Cannes Film Festival in May ahead of its summer release on the big screen.

In this new adaptation, actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays the beloved daughter of Indiana Jones, who does not hesitate to piss off the archaeologist by calling him an “elderly grave-robber.”

Artificial intelligence

Disney also unveiled new clips from its “The Little Mermaid” remake, for which it chose live-action rather than animation.

We see the sea witch Ursula, played by Melissa McCarthy, manipulating the heroine Ariel – African-American actress Halle Bailey – into agreeing to assume human form for three days, as part of a devilish bargain.

“She’s cute, she’s a dishonest chick. Maybe that’s why I’m into her,” explained Ms. McCarthy, the only actress on stage in the entire Disney show.

Along with these two great movies, the group discussed a new sci-fi movie in which humans fight against artificial intelligence in a post-apocalyptic future.

Renamed “The Creator,” that feature film is set for a September release, and benefits from “extremely timely” according to Disney, at a time when the potential of programs like ChatGPT and Midjourney is sparking widespread public debate about artificial intelligence.

The group also introduced “Elementary,” a new Pixar cartoon, a new adventure by detective Hercule Poirot called A Haunting in Venice, and “The Haunted Mansion,” a fantasy starring Owen Wilson.

As for Marvel superheroes, the group is set to release a third installment of “Guardians of the Galaxy” in May and “The Marvels” in November.

Finally, that same month, “Wish” will celebrate Disney’s 100th birthday “with an original animated musical adventure that draws inspiration from the classics.”

The film stars Ariana DeBose as a young woman who lives in a magical kingdom “off the Iberian Peninsula”, where “wishes come true”.

CinemaCon runs through Thursdays in Las Vegas.