D23 Expo 2017 may still be three months away, but news is beginning to trickle in about what is always the ultimate Disney fan event.
On Friday, July 14, Disney CEO Bob Iger will host the kind-of annual Disney Legends ceremony. This year’s inductees include:
- Mark Hamill || Luke Skywalker in Star Wars
- Carrie Fisher* || Princess Leia in Star Wars
- Stan Lee || Marvel Publisher
- Wayne Jackson || Walt Disney Imagineer (Audio-Animatronics and construction)
- Clyde “Gerry ” Geronimi* || Animator, 1931-1959; Supervising Director of Sleeping Beauty
- Manuel Gonzales* || Animator and Comics Artist, 1936-1981
- Garry Marshall* || Film Director (Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries)
- Julie Taymor || The Lion King Broadway Director
- Oprah Winfrey || Because why not?
*awarded posthumously
Ok, so Oprah voiced Tiana’s mother in The Princess and the Frog and will star in 2018’s Disney take on A Wrinkle In Time…but it should be said that her signature television program was not produced by Disney, and her Disney connections are rather thin regardless of her illustrious non-Disney career.
Noticeably absent is Harrison Ford, of course famous for not only Han Solo in Star Wars, but also Indiana Jones. It’s worth noting that D23 Expo 2015 saw a surprise induction for Johnny Depp, so Ford’s exclusion might just be a fake-out. It’s certainly odd given the inclusion of his Star Wars co-stars Hamill and Fisher. George Lucas was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2015.
2017 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Disney Legends program, honoring prestigious contributions to The Walt Disney Company across its many disciplines, from film and music to theme parks and business.
The Disney Legends ceremony will serve as the kick-off of the three-day D23 Expo taking place July 14-16, 2017, in Anaheim. 2017 will be the fifth D23 Expo, the first being in 2009. The event is known for its major announcements, behind-the-scenes insight, celebrity appearances, and celebration of the fandom of all things Disney.
What do you think of this year’s Disney Legends inductees? Who would you like to see at D23?
Edited by: MJ Edwards