Disney invited me to an all expense paid trip to Los Angeles in exchange for sharing it with you. As always, all opinions 100% my own. Disney Live Action Announcements & DIY Princess Leia Costume
Disney is really sinking its teether into the Marvel & Star Wars franchises. Over the next few years, there are tons of amazing Marvel, Star Wars and Disney films coming out. I could not be happier with the upcoming lineup. I know that I am not alone because tons of people came up to me at the D23 Expo to take a photo with me as Princess Leia. My DIY Princess Leia Costume was supper easy and almost everything from the look are wearable wardrobe pieces. Check out the upcoming lineup and DIY costume below.
Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE
(#DoctorStrange)
Kevin Feige gave D23 a quick look at Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE. It looks like it is going to be amazing with one of my faves, Benedict Cumberbatch. It is opening in U.S. theaters on October 26, 2016.
Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
(#Captain America & #CivilWar)
Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR is such an exciting film for the Marvel Universe with Iron Man versus Captian America. We got to see Chris Evans and Anthony Mackie to show us never-seen-before footage from the movie. Before the footage rolled, Feige revealed that there was a special “Easter egg” for fans to find. It was a nod to D23!
Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.
Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR opens in the U.S. on May 6, 2016.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
(#StarWars & #TheForceAwakens)
ROGUE ONE (#RogueOne)
Alan Horn told the ecstatic audience that there were only 124 days to the release of Episode VII, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, on December 18, 2015. Horn let the #d23Expo know that Colin Trevorrow (“Jurassic World”) will be directing STAR WARS: EPISODE IX, which is scheduled for release in 2019. The lineup of Star Wars movies is super exciting!
The “Untitled Han Solo” stand-alone film, slated for release on May 25, 2018 is such an exciting idea for the Han Solo fans like me!!
When Harrison Ford took the stage, I lost my mind. I am the hugest fan!! Han Solo and Indian Jones were my childhood dream husbands. I even named my dog Harrison Ford.
Horn then took the audience by surprise, announcing the cast for ROGUE ONE, the first of the standalone Star Wars stories to hit the big screen, which has commenced principal photography. Gareth Edwards(“Godzilla,” “Monsters”) is directing ROGUE ONE, which tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.
The filmmakers have assembled a stellar cast, including Felicity Jones, nominated for an Academy Award® for her leading role in “The Theory of Everything”; Diego Luna, who was featured in 2008’s Oscar®-winning “Milk” and the critically acclaimed “Killing Them Softly”; Ben Mendelsohn, recently nominated for an Emmy® for his leading role in “Bloodline” and co-starring in the upcoming “Mississippi Grind”; Donnie Yen, Hong Kong action star and martial artist who starred in “Ip Man” and “Blade II”; Jiang Wen, who co-wrote, produced , directed and starred in the award-winning “Let the Bullets Fly” and “Devils on the Doorstep”; Forest Whitaker, recently featured in the critically-acclaimed Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and winner of an Academy Award® for his leading role in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland; Mads Mikkelsen, who starred in “The Hunt” and was the memorable villain from 2006’s “Casino Royale”; Alan Tudyk, who plays a performance-capture character in ROGUE ONE, stars in the soon-to-be-released “Con Man” series and “Trumbo,” which releases this November; and Riz Ahmed, who was recently featured in “Nightcrawler” and starred in the BAFTA-winning film “Four Lions.”
The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and is slated for a December 16, 2016 release.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS releases in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2015. Are you guys as excited as I am? To really get into the excitement, I dressed up for the #D23Expo as Princess Leia and working on a family costume for Halloween.
Take the Star Wars Fun Home
- Get these free downloads – Star Wars Coloring Pages and these Han Solo Coloring Pages here.
- We read these 5 Minute Star Wars Stories before bed all the time.
- Then, take sword fighting to the next level with this light saber. It features glowing blue blade, motion-sensor sounds, and battle-clash rumble effects.
DIY Princess Leia Costume
Princess Leia Costume
Princess Leia Dress
Silver Sneaker Boots
Princess Leia Belt DIY
Princess Leia Belt Pieces (from an awesome creative Etsy seller)
Professional Super Glue
White Vinyl Fabric
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Start by making the belt by measuring it around your waste while you are wearing your Leia Dress. I made it so that the back is a corset type. This is the easiest way I found. I cut a strip of vinyl while I was cutting out the belt. If this does not work, you can use shoes laces or white ribbon.
After you measure, mark off the area that is your waist measurement.
Lay out the Belt Pieces so that the middle pointy one is in the middle with 2 rectangles in the front. Mark with a light pencil strokes where the belt pieces will go.
Spread the glue on the back of the belt pieces evenly making sure not use too much.
Place the piece down and hold for 2 minutes in place.
Re-do the same with the rest of the pieces. To make the corset in the back, use the scissor to make tiny holes for the lace to go though. Lace up the back of the belt.
Princess Leia Hair Tutorial
Bun Headband
Small Hair Bands
Bobbie Pins to Match your Real Hair
Root Mascara
Part your hair down the middle.
If needed, use the root mascara to blend the top of your hair to match the buns to your crown.
Make pigtails to back base of your head behind your ears.
Braid the pigtails.
Lay the braids against the back of your head securing with bobbie pins.
Place the Bun Headbands on top of your ears. 
THE FINEST HOURS (#TheFinestHours)
THE FINEST HOURS is based on the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. Chris Pine, who plays Bernie Webber, the captain of the rescue boat, joined Bailey on stage to give fans a peak at the heroic action-thriller.
THE FINEST HOURS storms into U.S. theaters on January 29, 2016.
THE JUNGLE BOOK (#TheJungleBook)
THE JUNGLE BOOK, welcomed to the stage newcomer Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of candidates to play man-cub Mowgli; plus Oscar® winners Ben Kingsley, who helps bring panther-turned-mentor Bagheera to life, and Lupita Nyong’o, who lends her voice to the protective mother wolf Raksha.
THE JUNGLE BOOK hits theaters in stunning 3D and IMAX 3D on April 15, 2016.
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (#DisneyAlice)
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories. Director James Bobin brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen in 2010 with “Alice in Wonderland,” in which Alice (Wasikowska) returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. The film, which once again features Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall, introduces several new characters as well: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father, and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.
Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, Disney’s ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS opens in U.S. theaters on May 27, 2016.
PETE’S DRAGON (#PetesDragon)
Bryce Dallas Howard joined Bailey on stage to talk about her starring role in PETE’S DRAGON, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film. The heartwarming adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon,
PETE’S DRAGON opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.
I am obsessed with this outfit. I found similar pieces to complete this look here:
Top (similar here too) // Skirt // Shoes
QUEEN OF KATWE (#QueenOfKatwe)
Bailey, with the help of Lupita Nyong’o, introduced the crowd to the upcoming film QUEEN OF KATWE, which is based on the inspirational true story of a girl from the poverty-stricken slums of rural Uganda who dreams of becoming a champion chess player. Directed by Mira Nair from a screenplay by William Wheeler based on the book by Tim Crothers, QUEEN OF KATWE stars Nyong’o, David Oyelowo and newcomer Medina Nalwanga.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
(#BeautyAndTheBeast)
The live-action musical, a retelling of the studio’s animated classic, stars Watson, Dan Stevens, Evans, Gad, Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald and newcomer Nathan Mack.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be released in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:
DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES
(#PiratesOfTheCaribbean)
A surprise visit by Johnny Depp, who showed up on stage completely decked out as Captain Jack Sparrow, brought down the house and thrilled fans at Sean Bailey’s presentation of the next exciting film in thePIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.
Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES releases in U.S. theaters on July 7, 2017.
Here is the D23Expo Video recap:
What films are you most excited to see in the next few years?