The Walt Disney Studios thrilled 2023 CinemaCon Convention attendees with an exclusive look at its upcoming theatrical slate earlier today. The company is celebrating 100 Years of Wonder as it enters its second century.

Alan Bergman, co-chairman Disney Entertainment and Tony Chambers, executive vice president and head of theatrical distribution, took to the Colosseum stage at Caesar’s Palace to share a look at the Studio’s upcoming exclusive theatrical releases, including casting news and content sneak peeks. This year, the Studio will be releasing films from all its famed production studios (Disney Live Action, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures) for the first time since 2019.

Bergman thanked exhibitors for their ongoing partnership and for helping make “Avatar: The Way of Water” a $2.3 billion global success. He then acknowledged Disney’s 100th anniversary and its legacy of iconic storytelling before turning the stage over to Chambers, who emphasized the singular experience of enjoying a great story in the cinema and guided the audience through a jam-packed presentation of must-see movies that will land in theatres over the next several months.

Up first, the audience was treated to an exclusive clip from Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which opens in the U.S. and Canada on May 5. The new installment is directed once again by James Gunn and features the all-star cast led by Chris Pratt. The brand-new trailer for “The Marvels,” opening November 10, was screened as well. The sequel to “Captain Marvel” stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Looking ahead to one of the most anticipated releases this fall, Chambers announced that Chris Pine (“Into the Woods,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”) has joined the voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish,” as King Magnifico opposite Academy Award® winner Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) as Asha. Blending beautiful watercolor style with groundbreaking CG animation, “Wish” is an original, animated musical adventure that draws inspiration from the classics to tell a story for the ages. An exclusive scene featuring “This Wish,” one of the film’s original songs performed by DeBose, was unveiled. “Wish” opens in theatres nationwide November 22.

Two-time Oscar® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”), who plays Ursula in Disney Live Action’s reimagining of “The Little Mermaid,” joined Chambers onstage to introduce an exclusive first look at her performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from the film. The actress is set to be honored with CinemaCon’s Cinema Véritê Award. “The Little Mermaid” is directed by Academy Award® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) and features music by eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,’ “Aladdin”) and three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “In the Heights”). In addition to McCarthy, the film also stars Halle Bailey, Awkwafina, Tony winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”). Tickets for the film went on sale today ahead of its May 26 debut in theatres.

CinemaCon attendees were then treated to a special look at Disney Live Action’s “Haunted Mansion,” which highlighted the mythology and scope of the film. The beloved theme park attraction comes to life in a comically creepy adventure directed by Justin Simien that stars an ensemble cast featuring Lakeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost. “Haunted Mansion” is set to thrill audiences when it hits theatres July 28.

Up next, 20 minutes of exclusive footage from Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental” was screened in 3D for the audience. A story about finding connection, celebrating differences, and discovering your place in the world, “Elemental” features stunning visuals from the artists at Pixar, who continue to push the limits of both animation and technology. The film will premiere in its entirety at the upcoming Cannes International Film Festival before opening in theatres nationwide June 16.

An exclusive reveal of the brand-new trailer from Searchlight Pictures’ “Next Goal Wins” was next. Directed by Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit,” “Thor: Ragnarok”), the film follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup Qualifiers approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team around in this heartfelt underdog comedy. In theatres November 17, 2023.

“A Haunting in Venice,” 20th Century Studios’ latest Agatha Christie adaptation from Oscar®-winning filmmaker Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”), doesn’t hit theatres until September 15, but CinemaCon attendees were treated to the teaser trailer for the supernatural horror-thriller which features an all-star cast including Branagh, Tina Fey and recent Academy Award® winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”).

The first footage from 20th Century Studios and New Regency’s “The Creator” was also screened exclusively in the room, showcasing the ambitious scope and cinematic visuals of the film. The epic sci-fi action thriller directed by Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”) starring John David Washington (“Tenet”) and Gemma Chan (“Eternals”) opens in theatres September 29.

Chambers then shared a special greeting from the star of Lucasfilm’s eagerly awaited “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Harrison Ford, who introduced an action-packed clip just for CinemaCon. The film, which also stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen and is directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari”) will premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival before hitting theatres June 30.

The Studio closed out the presentation with an exclusive screening of 20th Century Studios’ “The Boogeyman” in DolbyVision and Dolby Atmos. The horror-thriller from the mind of Stephen King, which is directed by Rob Savage, opens in theatres June 2.

Chris Pine (“Into the Woods,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”) officially kicked off his reign today as King Magnifico in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new musical-comedy “Wish,” opening in theatres on Nov. 22. Joining Academy Award®-winning actress Ariana DeBose, who voices a young woman named Asha in the film, Pine lends his voice to the ruler of Rosas, a magical kingdom where wishes really do come true. “As the most powerful person in the kingdom, King Magnifico needed to be played by someone who could give all the charm, cleverness and charisma to this magnanimous character, and Chris is beautifully bringing all of that and then some,” said Jennifer Lee, “Wish” executive producer and one of the writers for the film.

Tony Chambers, executive vice president and head of theatrical distribution for The Walt Disney Studios, revealed the casting coup moments ago at CinemaCon 2023, highlighting that “Wish” continues Disney Animation’s tradition of bringing epic tales to the big screen for families to experience together in November to kick off the holiday season. The film also helps mark the culmination of Disney100, a yearlong celebration honoring the legacy of Walt Disney while continuing to push the boundaries of storytelling and innovation for the next 100 years.

“Wish” introduces Asha, a sharp-witted idealist who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star set out to prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Also featuring the voice of Alan Tudyk as Asha’s favourite goat, Valentino, the film is helmed by Oscar®-winning director Chris Buck (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (“Raya and the Last Dragon”), produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and co-produced by Juan Pablo Reyes (“Encanto”). Jennifer Lee (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) executive produces—Lee and Allison Moore (“Night Sky,” “Manhunt”) are writers on the project. With original songs by Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, plus score by composer Dave Metzger, “Wish” opens only in theatres on Nov. 22, 2023.

The chilling teaser trailer and poster for Kenneth Branagh’s “A Haunting in Venice,” which just screened for convention attendees at the 2023 CinemaCon Convention in Las Vegas, is available now. The unsettling supernatural thriller based upon the novel “Hallowe’en Party” by Agatha Christie and directed by and starring Oscar® winner Kenneth Branagh as famed detective Hercule Poirot, will open in theatres nationwide September 15, 2023.

In addition, Branagh announced that Hildur Guđnadóttir, the acclaimed composer from Iceland who won an Oscar, Golden Globe®, GRAMMY®, and BAFTA for “Joker” and an Emmy® and GRAMMY for “Chernobyl,” and who most recently scored “TÁR” and “Women Talking,” will compose the score.

“A Haunting in Venice” is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Reuniting many of the filmmakers behind 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile,” the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Oscar® nominee Michael Green (“Logan”) based upon Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party. The producers are Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Ridley Scott, and Simon Kinberg, with Louise Killin, James Prichard, and Mark Gordon serving as executive producers. A brilliant acting ensemble portrays a cast of unforgettable characters, including Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen (“Rosaline”), Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Jude Hill (“Belfast”), Ali Khan (“6 Underground”), Emma Laird (“Mayor of Kingstown”), Kelly Reilly (“Yellowstone”), Riccardo Scamarcio (“Caravaggio’s Shadow”), and recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”).

An artist who defies classification and disregards traditional generic boundaries, Icelandic cellist, singer and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has earned a unique place on the contemporary music scene thanks to her virtuosity, versatility and originality. Now based in Berlin, she is currently enjoying unprecedented international recognition for her work, having become the first female composer ever to win the Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards in the same season. She has also set a new record for the highest number of awards ever received in a single season by a composer. Her body of work includes scores for films such as “Tom of Finland,” “Journey’s End” and 20 episodes of the Icelandic TV series “Trapped.” With Sam Slater she co-composed the video game score “Battlefield 2042” for Electronic Arts’ massively successful Battlefield franchise. The score won a Society of Composers & Lyricists Award. Gudnadóttir began playing cello as a child, entered the Reykjavík Music Academy and then moved on to musical studies/composition and new media at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and Universität der Künste Berlin. She has released four critically acclaimed solo albums: Mount A (2006), Without Sinking (2009), Leyfðu Ljósinu (2012) and Saman (2014).

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release EVERY BODY in-theatres on Friday, June 30. 2023 following its Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Director: Julie Cohen
Producers: Tommy Nguyen, Molly O’Brien and consulting producer Shana Knizhnik
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Fischer, Liz Cole, Andy Berg, Noah Oppenheim
Story: EVERY BODY is a revelatory investigation of the lives of intersex people. The film tells the stories of three individuals who have moved from childhoods marked by shame, secrecy, and non-consensual surgeries to thriving adulthoods after each decided to set aside medical advice to keep their bodies a secret and instead came out as their authentic selves. Actor and screenwriter River Gallo (they/them), political consultant Alicia Roth Weigel (she/they), and Ph.D. student Sean Saifa Wall (he/him) are now leaders in a fast-growing global movement advocating for greater understanding of the intersex community and an end to unnecessary surgeries. Woven into the story is a stranger-than-fiction case of medical abuse, featuring exclusive footage from the NBC News archives, which helps explain the modern-day treatment of intersex people.

Focus Features release EVERY BODY June 30, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

Advance tickets for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” the live-action reimagining of the studio’s animated musical classic, are now available for purchase wherever tickets are sold. This includes tickets for “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Early Access Screening” taking place on Wednesday, May 24 in IMAX® and Premium Large Format theatres nationwide. Every guest will receive a commemorative poster with special music offer to add to their collection. Now fans, can purchase tickets by visiting: https://www.thelittlemermaidmovie.ca/.

The “Part of Your World” single is available today at Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music and the visualizer video can be seen on YouTube. The brand new soundtrack for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is available now to pre-add at Apple Music, for pre-order on vinyl at Disney Music Emporium and for pre-order on CD. To celebrate, check out a new TV spot and character posters for the film. “The Little Mermaid,” helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, opens exclusively in theatres nationwide May 26, 2023.

“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.      

“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “In the Heights”). The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt, (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca, (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer. 

The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and the Sobey Art Foundation today announced the 25 artists longlisted for the 2023 Sobey Art Award, Canada’s preeminent contemporary art award. With prize money totalling $400,000, this is the richest award for contemporary visual arts in the country for artists of all ages, and one of the most generous in the world. The annual prize is funded by the Sobey Art Foundation.

The 2023 Sobey Art Award longlisted artists are:

Atlantic:
Miranda Bellamy and Amanda Fauteux
Séamus Gallagher
Will Gill
Alan Syliboy
Aislinn Thomas

Quebec:
Anahita Norouzi
Geneviève & Matthieu
Laura Acosta and Santiago Tavera
arkadi lavoie lachapelle
Renée Condo

Ontario:
Alvin Luong
Barry Ace
Michèle Pearson Clarke
Pejvak (Felix Kalmenson and Rouzbeh Akhbari)
Rah Eleh
Prairies & North:
Keeley Haftner
Kablusiak
Wally Dion
Marigold Santos
Catherine Blackburn

West Coast & Yukon:
Justine A. Chambers
Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill
Woojae Kim
Christine Howard Sandoval
Douglas Watt

“Congratulations to the longlisted artists whose works present a wide range of media, perspectives and lived experiences that reveal new ways of seeing ourselves, each other, and our diverse histories,” said Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, National Gallery of Canada, and Chair of the 2023 Sobey Award Jury. “The Gallery’s long-lasting partnership with the Sobey Art Foundation is strengthening the futures and community of the visual arts in and across Canada, and brings well-deserved national and international recognition to many of this country’s most thoughtful and innovative artistic voices.”

“On behalf of the Board of the Sobey Art Foundation, I extend our warmest congratulations to the 25 remarkable artists selected for the 2023 longlist. We are grateful to them and all 2023 nominees who have shared their practices with this process. Collectively, the Sobey Art Award nominees reflect the dynamic diversity and the shared experiences that make up the Canadian identity. Each year, the longlist demonstrates truly unique and inspiring perspectives from artists across the country, including this time a number of collaborative artistic practices,” said Bernard Doucet, Executive Director, the Sobey Art Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating all of these practices with audiences from across Canada through our esteemed partner, the National Gallery of Canada.”

The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, and the winner on Saturday, November 18, 2023, during a special evening celebration at the NGC. Works by the five shortlisted artists will be featured in a special exhibition at the NGC from October 13, 2023 to March 3, 2024.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada presents “The Flash,” directed by Andy Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”). Ezra Miller reprises their role as Barry Allen in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film.

Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

“The Flash” ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon (“Bullet Train,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), Ron Livingston (“Loudermilk,” “The Conjuring”), Maribel Verdú (“Elite,” “Y tu mamá también”), Kiersey Clemons (“Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “Sweetheart”), Antje Traue (“King of Ravens,” “Man of Steel”) and Michael Keaton (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Batman”).

“The Flash” is produced by Barbara Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”) and Michael Disco (“Rampage,” “San Andreas”). The screenplay is by Christina Hodson (“Birds of Prey,” “Bumblebee”), with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”) and Joby Harold (“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” “Army of the Dead”), based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.

Joining director Muschietti behind the camera are director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “The Suicide Squad”), production designer Paul Denham Austerberry (“IT Chapter Two,” “The Shape of Water”), editors Jason Ballantine (the “IT” films, “The Great Gatsby”) and Paul Machliss (“The Gentlemen,” “Baby Driver”), and costume designer Alexandra Byrne (“Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”); the score is by Benjamin Wallfisch (“The Invisible Man,” the “IT” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory production of an Andy Muschietti film, “The Flash.” It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theatres in North America on June 16, 2023 and internationally beginning 14 June 2023.

If you love TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, the sparks continue in upcoming Netflix series XO, KITTY!

Synopsis:

A new To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before story begins in the official trailer for XO, KITTY. Back for another adventure, this time her own, Kitty Song Covey thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. She’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.

Cast:

XO, KITTY arrives May 18, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), today announced the performers and presenters set to take the stage at the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Presented by Music Canada. The second iteration of the event, which was put on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, takes place in Calgary, Alberta on May 18, 2023 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC), and streams live at 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET on CBC Gem, CBCMusic.ca/junos and on CBC Music’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased now at junoawards.ca

Legendary Canadian artists, Jann Arden and Ranee Lee will be among the presenters of the prestigious plaques. Multi-platinum singer-songwriter and 2021 Canadian Music Hall of Fame award recipient Jann Arden will induct country music superstar Terri Clark, who featured Arden on her song “Leavin’ On Your Mind,” and distinguished vocalist Ranee Lee will honour fellow jazz sensation Dr. Oliver Jones. Additional details on this year’s roster of presenters will follow in the coming weeks.

Three of this year’s inductees – Diane Dufresne, Terri Clark and Trooper – will grace the stage to perform the music that defines their decades-long careers. Ranee Lee and Robi Botos will perform a harmonious tribute to Dr. Jones, who will also be joining the festivities in person.

After an explosive Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction and performance at The 2022 JUNO Awards Broadcast in Toronto, renowned R&B and pop powerhouse Deborah Cox will make a special appearance during the plaquing ceremony to commemorate last year’s honour.

“The breadth of talent involved in this year’s event is a true testament to what Canadian musicians are capable of – global influence, record-breaking success and immense creativity,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “The festivities on May 18 is a moment to pause and reflect on the incredible musical achievements of our country and the role that this year’s inductees, presenters and performers have played in telling that story.”

“It’s an honour to be a part of this year’s Induction Ceremony, where we commemorate some esteemed musicians who have helped to put Canadian music on the map,” said Patrick Rogers, CEO, Music Canada. “We can’t wait for future music makers and fans to fall in love with the enduring history of the artists being celebrated this fall.”

“Having a place to celebrate Canada’s music icons, history and stories is exactly what the National Music Centre was built to do,” said Andrew Mosker, President & CEO, National Music Centre. “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome the Canadian music industry back to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, and pick up our Hall of Fame ceremonies where they left off four years ago.”

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences strives to support and amplify Canadian music and artistry at every point of a musician’s career. This begins with MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS/the JUNO Awards, which paves the way for the next generation of talent through instrument and equipment grants for schools and community groups, scholarships, and teaching resource programs. For the first time, MusiCounts Legacy Grants, presented by the Lewitt Family Foundation, will be awarded to honour and recognize the inductees’ achievements and impact. These grants of up to $25,000 can be used to purchase instruments and gear, and will be disbursed to schools in the inductees’ home provinces or in remote regions of Canada, where the need is often the greatest. In the 26 years since its inception, the MusiCounts Band Aid Program has invested over $12 million worth of instruments, equipment, and resources to schools across the country, supporting all approaches to music education for the kids who need it most.

Established in 1978, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge artists who have made a remarkable contribution to the recognition of Canadian music globally. Dufresne, Clark, Jones, and Trooper will join the ranks of Canada’s most esteemed talent including Alanis Morissette, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Barenaked Ladies, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.

The fun continues this Summer with “Vacation Friends 2,” 20th Century Studios’ laugh-out-loud sequel to the 2021 hit comedy “Vacation Friends,” set to debut August 25, 2023 exclusively on Disney+ in Canada. Director Clay Tarver and stars John Cena, Lili Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji and Meredith Hagner all return for the follow-up, along with new co-stars Carlos Santos, Ronny Chieng, Jamie Hector and Steve Buscemi. The producers are Todd Garner and Stuart Besser.

Picking up a few months after the end of “Vacation Friends,” this uproarious sequel finds newly married couple Marcus (Howery) and Emily (Orji) inviting their uninhibited besties Ron (Cena) and Kyla (Hagner), who are also newly married and have a baby, to join them for a vacation when Marcus lands an all-expenses-paid trip to a Caribbean resort. His reason for traveling there in the first place is to meet with the owners of the resort to bid on a construction contract for a hotel they own in Chicago. But when Kyla’s incarcerated father Reese (Buscemi) is released from San Quentin and shows up at the resort unannounced at the worst possible moment, things get out of control, upending Marcus’ best laid plans and turning the vacation friends’ perfect trip into total chaos.