News & Press Releases
Vanguard signs Kung Fu Panda co-director John Stevenson to long-term deal


For Immediate Release
JOHN WILLIAMS’ VANGUARD FILMS ANNOUNCES OVERALL PRODUCING/DIRECTING DEAL WITH KUNG FU PANDA DIRECTOR JOHN STEVENSON
Former Lakeshore International President Peter Rogers Heads Up Financing and Distribution Plan For Vanguard’s Eclectic, Multi-Format Animation/Live Action Film Slate
(Santa Monica, CA; November 8, 2010) – John Williams, the original producer of Shrek and President and CEO of Vanguard Films, announced today an overall producing/directing deal with Kung Fu Panda co-director John Stevenson. In addition, Vanguard has formed a strategic alliance with former Lakeshore International President Peter Rogers’ new company, Moviemill, to arrange financing and distribution for Vanguard’s impressive projects. Vanguard comes to AFM with an eclectic production slate featuring CG, live action and CG/live action hybrids.
“I’m thrilled that Vanguard’s exciting new range of projects is attracting such top filmmakers and business partners as John Stevenson and Peter Rogers,” says Williams.
Stevenson’s first directing project for Vanguard will be the live action/CGI hybrid Alien Rock Band with musician Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) attached as a producer. Plot revolves around a garage band from Earth which journeys across the Universe to qualify for a shot at superstardom in an Intergalactic Battle of the Bands. It won’t be easy – the band will have to out-shred four-armed alien guitarists, face-down tentacled, punker octo-drummers, and fight snarling alien monsters – with music as its only weapon.
“I have been attracted to the slate of existing and new ideas that are coming out of Vanguard,” says Stevenson. “I have had a great time working with John Williams and the gifted creative teams involved in these projects.”
Stevenson, whose credits include such seminal animation projects as Shrek, Madagascar, and James and the Giant Peach, will also direct Vanguard’s CG-animated film Rotten Island, based on the book by Shrek author William Steig about an island where monsters reign free until a beautiful flower changes everything. Newsday called it, “A gorgeously colored picture book, full of monsters, mayhem and a message about the redeeming power of Nature.” People magazine raved, “Not since Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are has there been such a glorious nightmare of a book.”
Among the Vanguard titles that Williams and Stevenson will produce are Buzby, the world’s first high speed animated romantic comedy starring fruit flies, written by Jason Mayland with Annie Award-winner Phil Robinson (Hubert’s Brain) attached to direct; City of Dragons a live-action martial arts movie in the spirit of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with supernatural elements set in modern day Shanghai, written by Rob Moreland (Space Chimps), and Atomic Circus, a live-action fantasy adventure story featuring a fast-talking con-man in a post-apocalyptic world, written by Athena Gam.
During Peter Rogers’ seven-year tenure as President of Lakeshore International, the sales and distribution arm of Lakeshore Entertainment, the company produced, financed and distributed over 40 films including the Academy Award™ winner Million Dollar Baby, Runaway Bride, The Exorcism of Emily Rose,
Autumn in New York, Crank, The Gift, Arlington Road and The Mothman Prophecies. Before forming Moviemill, Rogers was most recently President of Omega Entertainment, whose film, Conviction, has Oscar-watchers buzzing about the performances of Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell.
“Vanguard is particularly adept at painting a bull’s-eye on entertainment properties that resonate with global audiences,” says Rogers. “I can’t imagine a better pairing than the prowess of the Vanguard production team and the creative and technical firepower of a filmmaker such as John Stevenson. They are a great match.”
Vanguard Films is a leading independent animation company and the producer of the independently financed films Space Chimps, Valiant and Happily N’ever After, as well as the live action films Seven Years in Tibet and The Tuxedo starring Jackie Chan. Vanguard’s On the Road, a collaboration with American Zoetrope directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries), has just wrapped principal photography. Its rock ‘n’ roll comedy film Vinyl, shot on location in Wales, is co-written (with Jim Cooper) and directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen). The film is now in post-production.
The deals were repped by Jon Levin at CAA.
News & Press Releases
Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

Expanded Disney Fan Experience Will Feature New and Exciting Events Across Multiple Locations, Including a D23 Takeover of the Happiest Place On Earth, Evening Entertainment at the Honda Center, D23 Day at Angel Stadium, and Much More
Fan Favorites Including Exhibits, Panels, Shows, and Shopping Will Dazzle Disney Enthusiasts at the Anaheim Convention Center
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more!
Highlightswill include:
- Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game.
- Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
- Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.
Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.
You can get updates by staying connected to D23 via social media (@DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X), D23.com, and our weekly D23 FanFare email (sign up for free as a D23 General Member at JoinD23.com).
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s nearly 100-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; the latest news and stories on D23.com; member-exclusive offers and discounts; the popular D23 Inside Disney podcast; and special experiences for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
News & Press Releases
Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

Sure, Star Wars is cool and all. But let’s not forget about that other multi-part sci-fi cinematic spectacular, “Space Robots in Outer Space.” In fact, Hank Lonely (Hollywood’s ultimate hyphenate — actor / producer / director / writer / guy who makes sure the Porto Potties are kept squeaky-clean) just announced that there’ll soon be a 10th installment of this … Well, not exactly beloved. How about we say “admired from afar” instead? … series coming to a theater near you. In fact, here’s the highly anticipated teaser trailer for that project. Which is supposed to be titled “Space Robots in Outer Space X — Battle for the Halycon: The Last Starcruiser.”
Okay. Now the real story … In honor of Star Wars Day (i.e., May 4th. As in “May the Fourth Be With You”), Len Testa and I are sharing something that we produced with the help of all the nice folks who joined us last month aboard the Halycon.
We turned the Galactic Starcruiser as well as Black Spire Outpost into the backdrop for an affectionate send-up of all things Stars Wars. We hope that you (more importantly, the legal team at Lucasfilm) take this faux trailer in the spirit with which it was intended. Special thanks to Aaron Adams for so skillfully stitching all of this footage together. Also thanks to the team at Storybook Destinations, Touring Plans and the talented cast & crew aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” for making this “Disney Dish” fan event so memorable.
News & Press Releases
Disney’s New Trailer Reveals How Ralph & Vanellope Get to the Internet in “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2”


When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Now Disney is hoping Ralph will not only break the Internet but the 2018 Thanksgiving boxoffice records as well.

The film re-teams the original director, producer and co-writer behind “Wreck-It Ralph.” The screenplay is currently being written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Director Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and co-writer Phil Johnston partnered with fellow director Byron Howard and co-writer/co-director Jared Bush to create the Academy Award®-winning blockbuster feature “Zootopia.”

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz-along with her best friend Ralph-ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film (below), features several of the original princess voices, including Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018.
“RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2”
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS
https://disney.com/ralphbreakstheinternet
https://www.youtube.com/user/disneyanimation
https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph/
https://twitter.com/wreckitralph
https://www.instagram.com/wreckitralph/
U.S. Release Date: Nov. 21, 2018
Voice cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk
Directors: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston
Producer: Clark Spencer
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