Prior to the release of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Disney has released an interactive digital book version of the movie, narrated by none other than main character Milo Thatch himself, Michael J. Fox. The book will be available through Friday at Random House and Radio Disney‘’s web sites.

Atlantis already has a spin-off television series in the works entitled, Team Atlantis. Roughly six episodes are already complete, with another 33 or so in the works. The show will feature all the same voice talents as the movie minus Michael J. Fox, who will be replaced by a man named James Taylor. The program will premiere in 2002.

Disney’’s new film, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, is opening this weekend and has much talk surrounding it regarding its un-Disney-like format.

Disney is straying away from their standard film structure for Atlantis. You won”t find talking animals or singing characters in this adventure movie. “We”ve made the equivalent of a fun ride at Disneyland. There is danger, there is movement and there is excitement,”” said co-director Kirk Wise. At one point, the main character, Milo Thatch, voiced by Michael J. Fox, was going to have a pet sidekick rat, but that idea was scrapped because it was a step backwards. However, don”t let this make you think that Disney has stopped production on musicals altogether. Disney is currently working on a new animated feature entitled “Sweating Bullets.” With regards to this in-production film, Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney feature animation, said, “Is the musical coming back? Why yes. We”ve got musical cows.

Pupils at the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, on the Island of Lewis (off the coast of Scotland), are being being forced to cancel their sold-out school play of the Lion King.

According to Disney officials, the school can sing the songs but not re-tell the story.

The school is offering refunds on all tickets sold.