With the streaming wars happening in full swing, there’s no denying that Disney+ subscribers will benefit from a myriad of up-and-coming TV shows and movies, as well as returning seasons and sequels. Read below to discover the 10 best Disney+ projects coming in 2020.
WANDAVISION
Marvel Studios’ WandaVision was originally slated for a 2021 release. However, the TV show has since been moved to 2020.
Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprising their respective roles as Scarlet Witch and Vision, WandaVision has been described as half a traditional sitcom, half a Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure. The series was created by Jac Schaeffer, who has been credited as a co-writer in 2019’s Captain Marveland 2020’s Black Widow.
With the new reports of a 2020 release, WandaVision becomes one of the first projects from Marvel Studios to be made for television. That is because the previous (and separate) TV division inside Marvel Entertainment was absorbed by Marvel Studios (responsible for the MCU movies) in 2019.
THE MANDALORIAN - SEASON 2
The Mandalorian was a huge, undeniable hit for Disney+, Lucasfilm, and the Star Wars franchise as a whole. Not only did the Internet fall in love with Baby Yoda (which is still officially referred to as The Child), but critics and audiences alike also seemed to genuinely enjoy the series as a whole.
Created by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal in the titular role, The Mandalorian was available on Disney+ during launch day and became the streaming service’s first mainstream hit series. To the surprise of no one, there will be a season 2 of The Mandalorian in 2020, with most of the team behind and in front of the cameras slated to return.
THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER
When the Disney+ slate of Marvel shows was originally announced, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was going to be the first project to premiere on the streaming service. With the news that WandaVision is also premiering in 2020, however, there is now no confirmation regarding which series will come out first.
As the title suggests, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will follow these two MCU heroes on a self-contained journey that will unfold throughout 6 episodes. Marvel Studios has already confirmed that Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will be featured in the limited series reprising their respective roles, which means that these Disney+ TV shows will be officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
LOVE, SIMON
There is no doubt that Disney purchased 20th Century Fox for its large catalog of films and TV shows, but it certainly came as a pleasant surprise when Disney+ announced that it would develop an original TV series based on the Fox 2000 film Love, Simon.
The Love, Simon show has been described as a sequel to the 2018 movie, but it will follow a different character called Victor. In turn, actor Nick Robinson (who played Simon in the film) will narrate and produce the Disney+ series. Much like the original movie and the book that it was based on, this show is meant to follow a teenager who is struggling with coming out.
MONSTERS AT WORK
One very unexpected (but promising) project coming to Disney+ is Monsters At Work, which is taking Pixar to television. Of course, hardcore Pixar fans might remember the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command TV show that aired on ABC in the early 2000s, but Monsters At Work actually features computer-generated animation like the Pixar films, not resorting to 2-D animation styles due to budget constrictions.
As such, Monsters At Work will look and feel like a legitimate Monsters, Inc.spin-off that just so happens to be episodic and on Disney+. According to producers Bobs Gannaway and Ferrell Barron, the series will take place six months after the events of the original 2001 movie and will follow a brand-new monster character called Tylor Tuskmon.
DIARY OF A FUTURE PRESIDENT
If you’re a fan of the Disney Channel sitcoms, then Diary of a Future President may be your favorite 2020 release on Disney+. Unlike the Disney Channel projects, Diary of a Future President will actually be a single-camera comedy series. However, it will include many of the familiar tropes from those shows, telling the story of a 12-year-old protagonist who is navigating different obstacles with the support of her family.
Created by Ilana Peña, the Diary of a Future President show will follow the Cuban-American family of middle-schooler Elena, who wants to become the President of the United States. The cast will feature actress Selenis Leyva, known for playing Gloria on Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - SEASON 7
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the most successful animated TV show to have come out of the Star Wars franchise. Since its theatrical release in 2008, the series has gone on to air for 6 seasons on TV. In 2020, Disney+ is breathing new life into this beloved property, giving it a much-anticipated season 7.
According to supervising director Dave Filoni, season 7 will be the definite final season of The Clone Wars. All in all, this seventh and final season is expected to be released on February of 2020.
MUPPETS NOW
Ever since acquiring The Muppets in 2004, Disney has been trying to figure out how these characters can fit into the current entertainment landscape. In 2020, Disney will try again with Muppets Now, a brand-new original series for Disney+.
In many ways, the Muppets Now short-form TV show looks and feels very similar to the original The Muppet Show from the late 1970s and early 1980s. While it is not a format that has stuck around on television, it may find an audience on a streaming service like Disney+. Bring on all the Jim Henson nostalgia!
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES - SEASON 2
While it was definitely not a hit series in the same way as The Mandalorian, there was undoubtedly some buzz surrounding High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. In many ways, this show recaptures the magic from the High School Musical franchise and also fills the void left by TV shows like Glee.
In 2020, we’re getting a second season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, proving that the show was successful enough to come back for another year. With fun original songs and LGBTQ representation, it is exciting to watch this property succeed on Disney+.
LIZZIE MCGUIRE - SEASON 3
Lizzie McGuire, the original Disney Channel queen, is returning to TV for a third season on Disney+. This time, Lizzie (with Hilary Duff reprising her iconic role) is a 30-year-old living in New York. According to a synopsis of the season, Lizzie McGuire is also engaged to a chef and working for an interior designer.
Besides Hilary Duff, actors Adam Lamberg (Gordo), Hallie Todd (Jo), Robert Carradine (Robert) and Jake Thomas (Matt) are all also returning to season 3 of Lizzie McGuire. The sequel series is slated to premiere on Disney+ in 2020, but we’re still waiting for an actual premiere date.
