When Disney+ launched, it promised to be not only a repository of the deep catalog owned by the massive entertainment company, but new Disney+ series, as well, taking advantage of all the available IP the company has acquired. And we’ve seen a steady stream, not just from the Star Wars and Marvel universes, but continuations of beloved movies like Willow and National Treasure and originals from National Geographic, like the Anne Frank drama A Small Light. Here we’ll keep a running tab on all the latest shows from Disney+.
Here are seven of the newest Disney+ series:
1. The Muppets Mayhem
Release Date: May 10, 2023
Creators: Jim Henson, Bill Barretta, Adam F. Goldberg, Jeff Yorkes
Stars: Lilly Singh, Bill Barretta, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Saara Chaudry, Tahj Mowry
Genre: Comedy
Paste Review Rating: 7.7
For over 50 years, The Electric Mayhem––Dr. Teeth (Bill Barretta), Animal (Eric Jacobson), Floyd (Matt Vogel), Janice (David Rudman), Zoot (Dave Goelz), and Lips (Peter Linz)—delighted fans with their rock music and groovy positivity. But, as Disney+’s The Muppets Mayhem explores, despite their legendary status, the band never produced a complete album. Enter Nora Singh (Lily Singh), an ambitious yet low-ranking music exec at struggling record label Wax Records. When she learns that Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem owe Wax an album, Nora uses that as her ticket to success. In this 10-episode season, creators Goldberg, Yorkes, and Barretta cleverly use a simple premise as a foundation to finally add depth to each member’s personas, and also satirize the music industry in the goofiest way imaginable. As part of the journey to get the band back in the public’s eyes and ears, each episodic plot riffs on various facets of music culture: toxic fanbases, popularization of music documentary films, the music production process—you name it. Whatever’s relevant, they hit it via silly gags, celebrity cameos, and inside-baseball references that might leave adults laughing hysterically more than their kids. At its best, The Muppets Mayhem is like a family-friendly version of Spinal Tap or Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, minus the mockumentary format. Who knew that the Muppet magic Disney has been missing needed a little bit of mayhem to reinvigorate the franchise again? —Rendy Jones
2. A Small Light
Release Date: May 1, 2023
Creators: Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, William Harper, Ben Esler
Stars: Bel Powley, Liev Schreiber, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, Ashley Brooke
Genre: Historical Drama
Paste Review Rating: 9.5
While Anne Frank’s stirring story is well known, few are aware of the actions of those that helped her, her family, and four friends stay hidden in a Secret Annex for 761 days. That’s the compelling and emotionally jarring tale at the heart of A Small Light, a limited series based on the real-life of Miep Gies, who played a vital role in keeping the Franks safe. Full of drama, deception, heartbreak, and love, the series is sure to make audiences view a familiar story with even greater appreciation. And it all starts with the unlikeliest of heroes. –Terry Terrones
3. National Treasure: Edge of History
Release Date: December 14, 2022
Creators: Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Wibberley
Stars: Lisette Olivera, Zuri Reed, Antonio Cipriano, Jordan Rodrigues, Jake Austin Walker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lyndon Smith
Genre: Adventure
Paste Review Rating: 6.2
First they stole the Declaration of Independence. Then they kidnapped the President of the United States. Now the National Treasure franchise is attempting to pull off another nearly impossible feat: making a good legacy sequel TV show. Enter National Treasure: Edge of History. The Disney+ sequel series continues the story of the National Treasure franchise with a new cast of leading characters. Created by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, the screenwriters of the first two films, Edge of History exists purely because of the love people have for the original movies. It’s hard to create a new protagonist, especially when you’re following Nicolas Cage. But Lisette Olivera is a golden find. She stars as Jess Valenzuela, an aspiring cryptographer and devoted puzzle solver. The child of a treasure hunter father and Latin America historian mother, Jess gets caught up in a hunt for a lost Aztec treasure. Olivera’ charisma makes Jess an endlessly watchable character. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the new supporting characters. Jess’s friend group is the worst. They’re burdened with such heavy-handed attempts to be modern that it comes off as cringe-inducing. I wanted to get on board so badly, but so far the show isn’t a treasure worth searching for. Edge of History needs fun historic riddles with zany characters. But instead the show is just riddled with missed opportunities. — Leila Jordan
4. Willow
Release Date: November 30, 2022
Creators: Jonathan Kasdan, George Lucas
Stars: Warwick Davis, Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk
Genre: Fantasy
Paste Review Rating: 7.4
In the newest Disney+ revival, the fantasy movie Willow has been brought back to life. Having previously thought they’d destroyed the ancient evil, Willow and Queen Sorsha must continue to protect the prophesied child, Elora Danan. They decide the best course of action is to keep Elora’s true identity hidden away from everyone, including Elora herself. Complete with a new cast of attractive young people and passable, if generic settings and designs, Willow exists in its own little fantasy niche. In most ways, Willow doesn’t choose to compete with other legacy franchise series like House of the Dragon or The Rings of Power, and it’s all the better for it. It’s a lively fantasy show that will certainly have its admirers. —Max Covill
5. The Santa Clauses
Release Date: November 16, 2022
Creators: Jack Burditt
Stars: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Devin Bright, Austin Kane, Matilda Lawler, Rupali Redd, Kal Penn
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
After three movies, the last of which premiered in 2006, Tim Allen is back in this six-episode series which finds Allen’s Scott Calvin ready to retire from being the jolly old elf and focus on his family. Of course things don’t go according to plan and soon enough Scott will need to return to his sleigh. Elizabeth Mitchell is also back as Calvin’s wife Carol, aka Mrs. Claus, and Allen’s real life daughter Elizabeth Allen-Dick joins the cast as Calvin’s daughter Sandra. And, of course, David Krumholtz returns as Bernard the elf. —Amy Amatangelo
6. Tales of the Jedi
Release Date: October 26, 2022
Creator: Dave Filoni
Stars: Ashley Eckstein, Corey Burton, Janina Gavankar, TC Carson, Liam Neeson, Micheál Richardson, Bryce Dallas Howard
Genre: Animation, Sci-fi
Paste Review Rating: 8.2
Tales of the Jedi is just one of several spinoffs from The Clone Wars, Dave Filoni’s CG cartoon about the time between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. It’s an assembly of shorts: six distinct episodes, three focused on Ahsoka and three on Count Dooku. It’s also an anthology, like last year’s Star Wars: Visions, but shorter and less connected. Without spoiling anything you wouldn’t know from the trailers, I can say it shows small moments about Ahsoka’s early life and training that weren’t featured in The Clone Wars, and shows parts of Dooku’s backstory unknown to any of us except perhaps those who read Dooku: Jedi Lost. The animation here is in the style of The Clone Wars, but sharper, slightly closer to real life without losing style—in fact, adding texture. So it feels better and more grounded without losing the distinction that makes it a cartoon. Tales of the Jedi succeeds by saying exactly what it means to and then making its exit, sure to have viewers ready for more. Whether it’s ultimately a one-off season or the start of something greater, it’s worth Star Wars fans’ time to check it out. —Kevin Fox, Jr.
7. Andor
Release Date: September 21, 2022
Creators: Tony Gilroy, George Lucas
Stars: Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Joplin Sibtain, James McArdle
Genre: Sci-Fi
Paste Review Rating: 9.5
Despite being set in a fictional, Star Wars setting, Cassian Andor’s journey feels real. His home planet was abandoned after a mining disaster left it useless. He’s an immigrant on a planet scrounging for work and a way to move up. He’s lost his family and is beaten down by a lack of opportunities. All Cassian needs is a union card and a wedding coat and he’d be a Bruce Springsteen song. And through it all there is Diego Luna, who manages to channel rage, disappointment, and the will to keep fighting with either a skillfully delivered line or an adroit facial expression. Luna is masterful in Andor. It’s a performance inspiring enough to make me want to fight the Empire right along with him. —Terry Terrones