[08/08/25 - 08:37 AM] Disney Jr. Unveils New Slate at "Disney Jr. Let's Play!" Event Highlights included new series "Cars: Lightning Racers," inspired by Disney and Pixar's Academy Award-winning "Cars" films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles.
[via press release from Disney Branded Television]
DISNEY JR., THE POWERHOUSE BRAND BEHIND STREAMING'S TOP PRESCHOOL SERIES, UNVEILS NEW SLATE AT 'DISNEY JR. LET'S PLAY!' EVENT
New Series, Specials and Castings Expand the World of Fan-Favorite Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar Franchises
(Anaheim, Calif. - Aug. 8, 2025) After a record-breaking year, Disney Jr., which currently dominates preschool television with the top three shows on streaming for Kids 2-5 - "Bluey," "Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends" and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" - unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news and premiere dates today. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, at the "Disney Jr. Let's Play!" fan celebration at Disney California Adventure Park, which will also be taking place at Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California, throughout the weekend.
Highlights included new series "Cars: Lightning Racers," inspired by Disney and Pixar's Academy Award(R)-winning "Cars" films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles; "Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends," the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+," which debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date* and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.**
Said Davis: "Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins - and no one does it bigger or better. Our shows are often a child's very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again." She continued, "Today's announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation."
NEW SERIES, SPECIALS AND SHORTS
"CARS: LIGHTNING RACERS" (New Series)
· Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar
· Executive Producers: Travis Braun and Frank Montagna
· Story Editor: Dana Starfield
· Supervising Director: Nathan Chew
Building on Disney and Pixar's beloved "Cars" franchise, "Cars: Lightning Racers" follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis ("Elemental") and Yuri Lowenthal ("Marvel Rivals" video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Abbott Elementary") will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.
"MARVEL'S AVENGERS: MIGHTIEST FRIENDS" (New Series)
· Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
· Executive Producers: Sean Coyle, Bart Jennett and Harrison Wilcox
Evolving from the new "Marvel's Iron Man and his Awesome Friends" series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), "Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends" introduces kid versions of Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T'Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.
"MARVEL'S SPIDEY AND IRON MAN: AVENGERS TEAM UP!" (New Specials + First-Look)
· Two New 22-Minute Specials Debut: Special #1 premieres Oct. 16 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+; Special #2 premieres 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
· Executive Producers: Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox
· Co-Producer: Becca Topol
A first-look image was revealed and can be found here for the first special premiering this October, which sees Iron Man and the Avengers joining Spidey to stop Ultron and Green Goblin from taking control of the city's devices.
A second Halloween-themed special will premiere Fall 2026.
"MICKEY & MINNIE'S HOLIDAY SONGS: HALLOWEEN" (New Stop-Motion Shorts)
· Debuts Sept. 29 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 2 on Disney+
· Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.
Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV
These new sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Halloween mood.
"MICKEY & MINNIE'S HOLIDAY SONGS: CHRISTMAS" (New Stop-Motion Shorts)
· Debuts this December on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.
Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV
These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.
RETURNING SERIES
"MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE+" (New Season Orders - Seasons 2 and 3)
· Season 2 debuts 2027; Season 3 debuts 2028 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Disney Television Animation
· Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca
· Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran
A continuation of the beloved Emmy(R) Award-winning original series, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+" welcomes the next generation of preschoolers and their families to the iconic Clubhouse for all-new, plussed-up adventures with Mickey, Minnie and their pals. The first 10 episodes of Season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+, with additional episodes set to debut this fall.
"SUPERKITTIES" (First-Look)
· Season 3 debuts Sept. 22 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 1 on Disney+
· Produced by Sony Pictures Television - Kids in association with Disney Jr.
· Creator: Paula Rosenthal
· Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden
An exclusive first look of Season 3 was revealed today and can be found here for this Top 10 most-watched streaming series for preschoolers. "SuperKitties" is an adorable and action-packed series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens - Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy - who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and "pawesome" place. Season 3 introduces the new "Su-Purr Wild" story arc in which the SuperKitties travel into the Kittydale Wild Jungle to adventure with their wildcat friend, Willa, and new jungle critters.
CASTING NEWS
"SOFIA THE FIRST: ROYAL MAGIC"
· New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Disney Television Animation
· Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
As previously announced, Ariel Winter ("Modern Family") will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+.
Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady ("Let's Make A Deal") as Clover, Tim Gunn ("Project Runway") as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family") as Minimus, Sara Ramirez ("Grey's Anatomy") as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham ("The Legend of Vox Machina") as King Roland.
"Sofia the First: Royal Magic" follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.
"HEY A.J.!"
· Debuts 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Surfing Giant Studios
· Executive Producers: Martellus Bennett, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Michael Hodges
Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children's book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series "Hey A.J.!" is a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary.
As announced today, Amari McCoy ("Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends") will star as lead character A.J., Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty, and GRAMMY(R) Award-nominated Jhené Aiko voices her mom, Siggi. Rounding out the cast is Juliet Donenfeld ("Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures") as A.J.'s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie ("Bunk'd") as Jazz, and David Mitchell ("Phineas and Ferb") as A.J.'s bunny sidekick Theo. Pop superstar and GRAMMY Award winner Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.' s best friend Jessie's mom.
PREMIERE DATES
"DISNEY JR. ARIEL - THE LITTLE MERMAID" (Aug. 22)
· New 22-minute special debuts Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+
· Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.
· Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland
The new 22-minute special "Disney Jr. Ariel - The Little Mermaid: The Glow Crystals" will debut Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+, and will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.'s World Princess Week programming line-up (Aug. 24-30). It follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula's crystal ball sends her, Triton and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.
"FIREBUDS" (Sept. 15 on Disney Jr., Oct. 29 on Disney+)
· Season 3 to debut Sept. 15 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 29 on Disney+
· Produced by Disney Television Animation
· Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
"Firebuds" Season 3 will debut this September on Disney Jr. and October on Disney+, it was announced today. The series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new "Aquabuds" story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.
"STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES" - (Fall 2025)
· Season 3 to Debut this Fall on Disney Jr., then Disney+
· Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr.
· Executive Producers: Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes
The anticipated third season will debut this Fall. Set 200 years before "The Phantom Menace," during the High Republic era, "Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures" follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.
*Source: Disney Internal Streaming Data: Based on views after 6 days of streaming
**Source: Nielsen Media Research Streaming Content Ratings; 7/21-7/27/25 Live Streaming Live Streaming; Ranked on Avg Audience (hours/runtime) for streaming series tracked by Nielsen
About Disney Jr.
Disney Jr. is a global multiplatform brand expressly geared towards preschoolers aged 2-7 and their families. With stories and characters that encapsulate signature Disney qualities of magic, music, adventure and heart, the brand is home to some of the most cherished programming and franchises for preschoolers, including "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Doc McStuffins," "Sofia the First" and current hit series "SuperKitties" and "Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends." With content created by Disney Branded Television, Disney Jr. is available anytime and anywhere for families to watch and enjoy together ― from the popular Disney Jr. YouTube Channel, 24-hour #1 Disney Jr. preschool network and streaming on Disney+.
[09/01/26 - 03:16 PM] FOX IndyCar Continues Viewership Momentum 950,000 viewers watched Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward deliver the first of two victories from the Milwaukee Mile Sunday on FOX.
[09/01/26 - 03:01 PM] FOX Saturday Baseball Is No. 1 Among All Networks 3,161,000 viewers tuned-in for a two-game slate highlighted by the Yankees' 9-2 win over the Red Sox in most of the country.
[09/01/26 - 10:18 AM] Food Network Picks Up a Third Season of "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" In its sophomore season, the series notched year over year Prime ratings gains of 4% for Adults 25-54 and 15% for Adults 25-34 and reached more than 10 million total cross-platform viewers across linear, HBO Max and discovery+.
