Hulu’s take on the catfishing game show mixes celebrities with everyday players, and viewers get a vote. Plus, Disney+’s Spaceship Earth adds 3 actors, and new Disney merch drops.
The Circle is back, and this time it’s on Hulu.
The social media competition show premieres on Hulu on Tuesday, Nov. 17, with author and SiriusXM host Tinx as host, Laughing Place reported Wednesday, Oct. 21. Netflix didn’t renew The Circle after Season 7 in October 2024.
Here’s what’s different this time, plus more Disney+ and Disney merch news from this week.
How is Hulu’s The Circle different?
It moves faster, and you get a say. Hulu’s version is filmed in real time, so viewers see twists and player ratings as they happen, according to Laughing Place.
For the first time, audience votes will shape the game. Everyday players will also compete side by side with celebrities.
The core idea is the same. Players live in separate apartments and only talk through an app, where they can play as themselves or as someone else entirely.
When do new episodes of The Circle come out?
Three a week, Tuesday through Thursday, for five weeks. The season finale streams Friday, Dec. 18, Laughing Place reported.
Tinx’s real name is Christina Najjar. She’s a New York Times bestselling author and hosts “It’s Me, Tinx” on SiriusXM.
Who’s in the Disney+ Spaceship Earth series?
Three more actors just joined the pilot. Maeve Touhey, Ta’imua and Freddie O’Donahue are in the cast, Laughing Place reported, citing Deadline.
They join Catherine Laga’aia, who played Moana in Disney’s live-action movie, and Deacon Phillippe. Disney hasn’t said who anyone is playing.
The show is inspired by the EPCOT ride. It follows teenagers from Earth’s past and future who team up after a mission to stop a global disaster goes wrong.
Touhey, a singer who goes by Maeve, makes her acting debut in the pilot. Ta’imua was in the Oscar-nominated 2026 short Jane Austen’s Period Drama.
Jason Fuchs is writing the series and serving as showrunner, MickeyBlog reported, and Loki showrunner Michael Waldron is part of the creative team. Disney also announced a Spaceship Earth reimagining for the ride itself at D23 in August, as PNP reported.
What is the Zara Larsson Little Mermaid collection?
A pop star take on Ariel. Singer Zara Larsson teamed up with Complex on a Little Mermaid line that drops Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9 a.m. PT on Complex.com, Laughing Place reported.
It’s inspired by her “Blue Moon” music video, where she plays a mermaid. Prices run from $40 for a tote to $120 for a zip-up hoodie, with tees, a long-sleeve shirt and a three-pin set in between.
What are the Orbitkey Disney Villains bags?
Five crossbody slings for $79 each, featuring Cruella, Hades, Maleficent, Scar and Ursula, Laughing Place reported. They went on sale Oct. 21.
Only 1,000 of each design were made. The Cruella bag hides a tiny Dalmatian in the back corner, and Scar’s tail peeks out from the back of his.
What else is new in Disney merch?
There were a few more finds this week.
Marc Jacobs has a 20-piece Mickey and Friends ski collection for kids ages 2 to 12, with shirts from $100 and sweatshirts at $150, Laughing Place reported. It’s sold online and at Disneyland Paris.
A $129 replica of Walt Disney World’s dedication plaque is at Box Office Gifts in Magic Kingdom’s Town Square Theater. Roy O. Disney dedicated the resort on Oct. 25, 1971.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition hits Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 5. The game’s fictional Star-Lord Band has a new song, “Encore,” out now.
What is D23 Night at The Lion King?
A special night for D23 members at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2027, Laughing Place reported. Members get 10% off tickets.
After the show, cast members including Gilbert Domally (Simba) and Syndee Winters (Nala) will do a talkback. The Lion King won six Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical.
So if you’ve got Hulu, mark Nov. 17. Just don’t believe everything your fellow players type.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Laughing Place (Oct. 21, 2026), The Circle, Spaceship Earth’s new cast, the Zara Larsson and Orbitkey collections, the plaque, Encore Edition and D23 Night
Laughing Place (Oct. 22, 2026), the Marc Jacobs ski collection
MickeyBlog, Justin Hermes (Oct. 22, 2026), the Spaceship Earth creative team
Pirates & Princesses (Aug. 16, 2026), the Spaceship Earth ride reimagining
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