On the opening weekend of its Blu-ray-turned 3D theatrical release “Planes,” Disney announced at the company’s D23 fan convention in Anaheim, Ca., this weekend that a sequel, “Planes: Fire & Rescue” is already planned for next year.
Disneytoon Studios produces the CGI animated “Tinker Bell” series of features made exclusively for Blu-ray, and “Planes” was created to be the same thing. But just as the quality and potential for big screen success prompted Pixar to elevate “Toy Story 2” from a DVD premiere to a theatrical release, Disney execs, including Pixar founder John Lassetter, also recognized the potential for “Planes,” and elevated it to a $50 mil. production for release in theaters. It already made $22.5 mil. in its first three days of release in the U.S. alone.
Already planned for the new “Planes” franchise was a sequel to be distributed less than a year from now from Disneytoon Studios, “Planes: Fire & Rescue,” scheduled for release July 18, 2014. The story returns Cook as the voice of Dusty, while adding “Modern Family’s” Julie Bowe as Lil’ Dipper, a spirited super scooper in a quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team that also includes heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
Meanwhile, Disneytoon’s next Tinker Bell episode in its fairy series for Blu-ray in spring 2014 from director Peggy Holmes (“Secret of the Wings”) is called “The Pirate Fairy,” starring Christina Hendricks as the voice of Zarina, and Tom Hiddleston, as a young James aka Captain Hook. When a misunderstood dust-keeper fairy named Zarina steals Pixie Hollow’s all-important Blue Pixie Dust, and flies away to join forces with the pirates of Skull Rock, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends must embark on the adventure of a lifetime to return it to its rightful place. However, in the midst of their pursuit of Zarina, Tink’s world is turned upside down. She and her friends find that their respective talents have been switched and they have to race against time to retrieve the Blue Pixie Dust and return home to save Pixie Hollow.
— By Scott Hettrick