Upcoming streamer, Disney+, has added several new titles to their rapidly growing nonfiction slate. A Mickey Mouse centered documentary is in the works and is expected to explore the cultural impact of the beloved Disney character.
The yet to be titled documentary will be produced by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) and directed by Jeff Malmberg (Shangri-La, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?)
The announcement of the streaming service’s diversification was part of the Disney+ nonfiction showcase event, hosted in collaboration with the International Documentary Association. They revealed their big plans for the nonfiction division at the event in Los Angeles, on Oct. 18, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Disney has a rich history in nonfiction storytelling that dates back to the 1940s,” president of Disney+ content and marketing Ricky Strauss said. “The projects announced and showcased here today reflect Disney+’s commitment to building on Walt’s storytelling ethos and core values of creativity, innovation and exploration.”
The Mickey Mouse documentary is just one of the many new Disney+ acquisitions. The forthcoming streamer has also secured the worldwide rights to a documentary entitled Howard, based on songwriter Howard Ashman. Ashman penned the lyrics for major productions like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Little Shop of Horrors, before tragically dying at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1991.
Joining the nonfiction slate is the Oscar-winning 1950s documentary series, People & Places, which follows real stories of extraordinary people. The streamer announced the relaunch of the renown series along with the news about Wolfgang, a documentary based on Austrian-American chef and actor Wolfgang Puck.
Actress Gillian Jacobs (Community, Life of the Party) will also be contributing to the expansion of this sector. Jacobs previously made an announcement that she will direct the first episode of Marvel’s 616, a documentary series highlighting the revolutionary women behind Marvel Comics, slated to be released in 2020.