Better late than never. Here is a selection of streaming highlights from Disney+ in this last month of 2024, with new live-action and animated series featuring strongly.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Series)
Mixing up the live-action Star Wars series formula, to refreshing effect, is Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. In this family-orientated adventure inspired by 80s movies like The Goonies, four kids find themselves lost in the galaxy far far away, and pursued by space pirates who believe they hold the key to a legendary treasure. Fortunately, or perhaps not, our young heroes have Jude Law’s Force user and Nick Frost’s decrepit droid on their side.
Watch Star Wars: Skeleton Crew exclusively on Disney+ from 3 December, with the release of the first two episodes. The remaining six episodes will be released weekly thereafter, until 14 January.
For more insight into Skeleton Crew, you can also read our roundtable interview with show creators Chris Ford and Jon Watts.
Dream Productions (Animated Series)
This one seems to have come out of nowhere. Dream Productions is a limited series from Pixar that serves as a mockumentary-style prequel to Inside Out 2. The series centres on the studio inside Riley’s mind, which is responsible for processing memories through dreams. But as Riley enters her tween phase, acclaimed director Paula Persimmon (voiced by Paula Pell) finds her work isn’t proving as effective, and is forced to team up with Xeni (Richard Ayoade), a smug daydream director, to save her career.
All four episodes of Dream Productions are available from 11 December.
As a side note, if you’re looking for more animated entertainment this holiday season, check out the short film An Almost Christmas Story, which debuted on Disney+ in November, as well as 6 new minisodes of Bluey from 9 December.
Elton John: Never Too Late (Documentary Film)
Taylor Swift. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. Bon Jovi. Bruce Springsteen. Disney+ is absolutely killing it on the music documentary and concert film front. Joining this incredible selection in December is Elton John: Never Too Late. Filled with never-before-seen footage, this intimate feature sees the record-breaking singer-songwriter reflect on his 50-year career – all the highs, lows and personal struggles on his path to true happiness – as he prepares for his final concert at Dodger Stadium.
Watch Elton John: Never Too Late from 13 December
What If…? (Animated Series)
Just like last year this time, Marvel’s anthology animated series What If…? is releasing its latest season in the form of daily episode drops. Sadly, though, Season 3 is the last for What If..?, a multiverse-centred show where familiar characters take fresh forms, while The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) oversees all and narrates for the audience. Season 3 includes a Western-set episode with Shang-Chi, and a different set of Avengers teaming up to man a mech. Listen out for the all-star voice cast.
Unwrap a new episode of What If…? daily for 8 days, starting 22 December.
Doctor Who Christmas Special (TV Special)
Finally, fulfilling a much-loved holiday tradition is the Doctor Who Christmas Special, with the 2024 instalment titled Joy to the World. Steven Moffat writes this time-spanning adventure, where Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor is paired with Nicola Coughlan’s Joy, a woman who checks into a London hotel in 2024, and proceeds to open a secret doorway to the Time Hotel. Cue dinosaurs, another version of the Doctor, and a requisite threat to the world.
Joy to the World comes to Disney+ on 25 December, as well as BBC One and iPlayer in the UK.