Disney Headlines for April 27th, 2026
Star Wars fans had plenty to process last week.
A deposed actress from The Mandalorian indicated she was welcome back.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Meanwhile, a failed Disney+ program shockingly surged in viewership.
Also, Disney earned several Peabody Awards and thrilled San Diego businesses.
Photo: Peabody
We have tons of stories to cover in the latest batch of Disney Headlines.
A Strange Week for Star Wars
The Mandalorian & Grogu debuts in theaters in three weeks, and it’s a hot topic right now.
Tracking has been all over the place, suggesting any number of outcomes.
Photo: Star Wars
The low-end estimates are in the $70 million range, with some at $100 million.
That’s low for a Star Wars movie, but it should still make tons of money for Disney.
Photo: Lucasfilm
I say this because the prevailing belief is that its budget is less than $170 million.
So, as long as Baby Yoda’s big screen debut earns half a billion, it’s fine.
Photo: Star Wars
I’d be surprised if that didn’t happen, but Disney senses a trap here.
Coincidentally or not (it’s not), Gina Carano recently said something unexpected.
THE MANDALORIAN (Left to right) Gina Carano is Cara Dune, Pedro Pascal is the Mandalorian and Carl Weathers is Greef Karga
After famously being fired from Star Wars for some ill-considered comments, she’s back in the news.
Carano, who is preparing for an MMA fight against Ronda Rousey, claimed something surprising.
Photo: UPI.com
The celebrity states that she has spoken with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.
She says, “After we settled the lawsuit, we got on a Zoom call. It was really nice.”
Photo: Lucasfilm
Apparently, Favreau joked, “So, where did we leave off?”
This story is important because it’s Disney demonstrating a learning curve.
Photo: NICK AGRO/AFP via Getty Images
Were Carano still speaking evil of her former employer, that would be an issue.
Star Wars doesn’t need additional drama right now. Thus, it’s smart to make amends here.
‘The Acolyte’ Rises
Then, we have the flip side of the story, the unexpected ascension of The Acolyte.
Widely decried during its release, the single-season series has recently found new life.
Photo: Disney
In 2024, The Acolyte barely made a dent in the Nielsen Streaming Ratings.
So, we certainly wouldn’t expect it to reappear in 2026…but it has.
Photo: EW
A different streaming ratings tracking service, Flix Patrol, is making this claim.
According to their data, The Acolyte has finished in the top ten on Disney+ for 27 straight days.
(L-R): Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) and Tasi Lowa (Thara Schöön) in Lucasfilm’s THE ACOLYTE, season one, exclusively on Disney+. ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
As I’m typing this, the show is slotted just behind American Idol and Perfect Crown.
The latter is a wildly popular Korean series, and American Idol is an institution.
Photo: ABC
The Acolyte is apparently performing on a level with these shows, which is…pretty shocking.
Polygon believes that the explanation for the rise involves Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.
Photo: Lucasfilm
Once the new episodes of this show ended, Disney+ redirected viewers to The Acolyte.
Now that the entire season is live, it only does this for the season finale.
Photo: Lucasfilm
If Gizmodo is correct, these gains are short-lived but still a win for Disney.
It would suggest that fans are trusting the algorithm to pick their next show.
(Center to right): Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and Master Lakshay (Paul Bullion) in Lucasfilm’s THE ACOLYTE, exclusively on Disney+. ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Otherwise, people have clearly decided to give The Acolyte another chance.
I know that when it was canceled, multiple MickeyBlog writers said they loved it.
Photo: Lucasfilm
Maybe this show is on its way to becoming a cult classic?
Either way, this has been a fascinating week for the people running Star Wars.
(L-R): Olega Master (Nick Court), Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen), Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) in Lucasfilm’s THE ACOLYTE, season one, exclusively on Disney+. ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Fans of Carano and fans of The Acolyte are diametrically opposed politically.
So, it’s a great sign for Dave Filoni that everybody seems happy right now.
Source: wired.com
Is Baby Yoda bringing us all together in these trying times? (Still not calling him Grogu.)
Disney Wins Several Peabody Awards
The grandiose description for the Peabody Awards will make you want to win one.
They’re the “most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in all of television, radio, and online media.”
Photo: Variety
Hollywood studios covet their Peabody Awards, as they’re true signs of excellence.
Now, we know this year’s winners, and a couple of them capture the zeitgeist.
Photo: Peabody
For example, Heated Rivalry and Pluribus are two of the winners.
That’s why Dana Walden and her team must be dancing on air right now.
Photo: HBO Max
Disney content won six national Peabody Awards and two local news ones.
This year’s winners include some obvious choices like Andor and the buzzy Dying for Sex.
Photo: Lucasfilm
So, that’s Disney+ and Hulu content that each excelled, and ABC won, too.
Notably, Jimmy Kimmel Live! earned a Peabody after its controversial 2025.
JArmani White. (Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images)
JIMMY KIMMEL
So, the talk show host appears to be having the last laugh after a rough year.
Disney also won for Sly Lives! a.k.a The Burden of Black Genius on Hulu.
Photo: Hulu
ESPN earned a Peabody for its excellent Southpaw – The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott, too.
As usual, Disney garnered acclaim for children’s entertainment as well.
Photo: ESPN
The adorable Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is a 2026 winner, too.
On the local front, ABC News and KABC won for Los Angeles Burning and Restrained.
Photo: Disney
One was for coverage of the January 2025 wildfires, while the other investigated prison restraints.
All in all, this was a huge year for Disney in terms of producing high-quality content.
The Disney Cruise Headline
My late father joined the Navy just in time for the Korean War.
He was barely old enough to enlist at the time, and it formed his personality.
Disney Wish
He grew up quickly while serving in combat, and he was renowned for his crisis skills throughout his life.
Throughout his life, he spoke fondly of the two years he lived in San Diego.
Disney Wish
I suspect they were the happiest days of his life, and it’s why I’ll always love the city.
I’ve actually never been there despite spending time in Southern California.
Disney Cruise Line
However, I suspect that will soon change due to a Disney Cruise Line announcement.
DCL was already sailing from the Port of San Diego, but it’s been a modest effort to date.
Disney Cruise Line
As you know, Disney will vastly expand its cruise fleet by 2031, though.
In anticipation of this move, DCL just extended its partnership with the port.
Disney Cruise Line
Plans call for Disney to double the number of sailings from the Port of San Diego.
If that sounds familiar, it’s what we’ve recently witnessed in Fort Lauderdale.
Pixar Day at Sea
The Disney Destiny and Disney Dream primarily sail from Port Everglades.
Presumably, Disney will make San Diego the home port for one of its upcoming vessels, too.
Disney Cruise Line
So, I plan to take a Disney cruise from San Diego one day and see what the fuss is about.
