Fine Tuning Episode 190: D23 Expo, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Remembering Ralph Eggleston

Warner Bros. Discovery Uncertainty

• ⚠️ The prevailing theory is that David Zaslav is preparing Warner Bros. Discovery for sale or acquisition, which explains recent puzzling decisions like shelving completed projects.
• 💡 This strategy suggests that Comcast might be waiting until April 2024 for regulatory reasons before attempting a merger with NBC Universal.
• 📌 The potential sale raises concerns about the future of content, such as the Batman: Caped Crusader show, which is being shopped to other platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

Pixar's Upcoming Slate and Promotions

• 🚀 Jonas Rivera has been promoted, a significant move given his long-standing collaboration with Pete Docter, particularly on "Inside Out."
• ✨ "Elemental" is described as a personal story inspired by Docter's parents, featuring personified elements with a focus on creating emotionally resonant characters.
• 👽 "Elio," directed by Adrian Molina, features a boy who becomes an ambassador from Earth after his mother's high-tech facility attempts to decode an extraterrestrial signal.
• 🎬 "Inside Out 2" is confirmed, with Kelsey Mann directing and Meg LeFauve writing, though there's trepidation about its potential to live up to the original, especially with reports of pay disputes affecting the return of some voice actors.
• 🚗 "Cars on the Road" is praised for its charm and animation, with the series feeling like a natural extension of a previously pitched fourth "Cars" movie.

Honoring Ralph Eggleston and "Wall-E"

• 🎨 The passing of Ralph Eggleston, a pivotal production designer at Pixar, is mourned. He was instrumental in films like "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo," "WALL-E," and "Inside Out."
• 🌟 "WALL-E" is set to join the Criterion Collection with a brand new 4K remastered version and extensive new features, including a never-before-seen Stanton student film.

Disney Parks and Animation Updates

• 🏞️ Updates on Ghibli Park in Japan highlight its eco-friendly design and faithful recreation of Miyazaki's film worlds.
• 🎢 Discussions around new Disney Parks lands like Moana and Zootopia reveal that many are in very early stages of development, with some concepts being explored for years.
• 🗺️ "Strange World" is highlighted for its unique visual style and a premise described as "Journey to the Center of the Earth" with a Griswold-like family, and its three-legged dog, Legend.
• ⭐ "Wish," the studio's 100th-anniversary film, explores the origin of the wishing star, aiming for an original story with watercolor backgrounds and numerous Easter eggs.
• 🧜‍♀️ The live-action "The Little Mermaid" is praised, particularly Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel, with the hope that the "Part of Your World" sequence will silence critics.
• 🎬 A critique of Disney's focus on remakes, prequels, and sequels over original content is noted, alongside the controversial use of the term "content" instead of "films."
• 🤥 The live-action "Pinocchio" is described as a terrible film, with the filmmaker seemingly distrusting the source material and making unnecessary additions.

"Top Gun: Maverick" and "Lightyear: The Fuse"

• ✈️ "Top Gun: Maverick" is lauded as a ridiculously entertaining film that honors the original while being exceptionally well-made, with a strong supporting cast and direction.
• 🎙️ A special three-part "Lightyear: The Fuse" podcast series with Angus MacLane and Jeremy Laskey is recommended for its deep dive into action cinema and its connection to "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."