The House of Mouse certainly knows how to deliver quality content – it’s been doing it for 100 years.
This August there’s a whole range of new shows and films coming onto Disney+ for people to enjoy. From an excellent docuseries about our mysterious ocean floor, to the return of Only Murders in the Building, take a look below to find your next obsession.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – August 2
Wes Ball’s stand-alone sequel to War of the Planet of the Apes (2017), the 10th installment of the franchise, is now landing on Disney+. Set about 300 years after the death of ape army leader Caesar (which happened in the last film), young chimpanzee Noa (Owen Teague) embarks on a voyage that will force him to question all he has been taught about the past – and make decisions that may shape the future for both apes and humans. A hit at the box office, it’s a must-see film… we heard it through the gr-ape vine.
Star Wars Young Adventures shorts – August 2
Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace (the first of the largely-criticised prequels), this series has been created for young children so the stakes are somewhat lower than with the original films. The shorts tell the story of three young Jedi – Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs – as they come to grips with the ways of the force. We witness the trials and tribulations that they face while exploring the galaxy, helping citizens and creatures in need – learning valuable skills that are necessary to become Jedi along the way.
To Catch a Smuggler – August 7
This long-running documentary series follows the Department of Homeland Security as they use their best resources to catch smugglers and contraband (but not always at the same time) at US airports. Catching a smuggler is quite the challenge, and this series provides us with an insight into the complexities that arise from successfully discovering one.
Are You Sure?! – August 8
This behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jimin and Jung Kook (from record-breaking Korean boy band BTS) is set to be a hit: the series follows the pair as they set off on a trip together looking to enjoy summer in the US, autumn on the South Korean island of Jeju and winter in Japan’s snowy Sapporo. The trailer teases sweet scenes of the bandmates doing outdoor activities (such as kayaking, snowboarding and fishing) and fans are on tenterhooks as they wait to see the superstars having fun in their downtime.
OceanXplorers – August 19
Director James Cameron, a keen oceanographer, has spent the past decade leaning into his interests, making documentaries about whales, octopi and the ocean floor. Now in another fantastic National Geographic series, done alongside the makers of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II, the celebrated filmmaker documents the activities of scientists aboard the OceanXplorer, a ship which describes itself as “the most advanced exploration, research, and media vessel ever built”.
Only Murders in the Building, Season Four, Premiere – August 27
Season four reintroduces Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) as they deal with the dreadful circumstances surrounding the death of Charles' stunt double, and friend, Sazz Pataki; the investigation turns on whether it was Charles or Sazz who was the intended victim.
The friends have to travel to Los Angeles, where a Hollywood company is getting ready to create a movie based on their Only Murders podcast. It’s on their return trip that the amateur detectives embark on an even more ambitious mission: it is now time for the gang to investigate the sinister lifestyles of the Arconia's West Tower occupants. What could they possibly uncover?
