Before you even ask, “Strange World” is not a Marvel property and has nothing to do with Doctor Strange or his questionable behaviors, sorry. That said, Disney’s upcoming animated feature is shaping up to be an interesting one if you’re into sci-fi, adventure, and Disney’s current trend of exploring the specific issues that can arise when dealing with the complexities of familial bonds and conflict. If that sounds like your jam, keep reading to learn everything we know so far about “Strange World.”
What Strange World is about
“Strange World,” formerly entitled “Searcher Clade,” will feature a family of adventurers doing presumably adventurous things in cool, sci-fi settings. Specifically, this family is known as the Clades, and according to the plot details thus far, they’re experiencing some serious turmoil that may get in the way of a very important mission. This falls in line with the recurring theme of familial conflict that seems to characterize many of Disney’s most recent animated features, such as “Turning Red” and “Encanto.”
While there aren’t many other plot details available just yet, we do know from the casting that one of the characters is named Ethan Clade. Ethan is described as a biracial 14 year old boy who is “very typical as far as teenagers go. Playful and quick-witted, but can also retreat. He can be a wise guy, but he isn’t particularly tough.”
In addition to this information, a post from December 2021 on the official Disney Animation Instagram account gives us an idea of the fantastical art style and aesthetic for the upcoming animated feature.
Strange World cast & crew
Now that we have an idea of what Strange World will be about, let’s take a look at some of the people behind it. Don Hall will be co-directing “Strange World” alongside Emmy-award winning screenwriter Qui Nguyen, who will also serve as the writer for the film. Both Hall and Nguyen worked on Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” where Hall served as a co-director and Nguyen co-wrote the script. In addition to “Raya,” Hall has co-directed numerous other Disney films including “Winnie the Pooh” (2011), “Big Hero 6,” and “Moana.”
As for the cast of “Strange World,” actor Alan Tudyk has been reportedly cast in an as-yet-unspecified role. Like Nguyen and Hall, Tudyk is no stranger to Disney’s animated features, having voiced King Candy in “Wreck-It Ralph” as well as numerous other characters in Disney’s animated features since then, including the character Tuk Tuk in “Raya and the Last Dragon.” That’s three members of the “Raya” gang, for those keeping score at home, and that’s pretty neat.
When and where to watch Strange World
As far as when we can expect to see “Strange World,” the film has a current release date of November 23, 2022. However, there is not yet any official word on where to watch the movie. Although Disney has fallen into the curious habit of debuting the majority of its animated features on the Disney+ streaming platform in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic — even as its live-action fanfare continues to enjoy theatrical releases — another one of Disney’s upcoming films, the Pixar-produced “Lightyear,” is set to be released exclusively in theaters in June 2022. Given this information, there is a chance that “Strange World” will also be playing on the big screen. In the not-so-distant past, Disney has been subject to scrutiny and criticism for seemingly failing to fully get behind some its more diverse animated films with proper theatrical runs, so it will be interesting to see how things play out with “Strange World” considering its biracial protagonist.
