The Book of Boba Fett: Star Wars characters who could make an appearance

Spoilers follow for The Mandalorian season 2. 

In traditional Lucasfilm and Disney style, The Book of Boba Fett is shrouded in mystery – aside from the return of the eponymous bounty hunter (played by Temuera Morrison) and his associate Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), The Mandalorian spin-off is playing its Sabacc cards extremely close to its chest. In fact, when it comes to solid intel on the characters who’ll be crossing paths with the galaxy’s most infamous mercenary, even Bothan spies would be pulling their hair out.

But when Fett killed Bib Fortuna to take control of Jabba the Hutt’s vast crime empire, he opened the door to potential encounters with numerous classic Star Wars characters – from fellow bounty hunters, to Imperials and veterans of the Rebel Alliance.

So, making the assumption that if a character isn’t dead they’re fair game for a return – and that even those who are deceased could appear in flashbacks – we’ve assembled a list of the Star Wars heroes and villains who may show up in The Book of Boba Fett.

Everything you’ll read below is based on official Star Wars canon – movies, TV, books and comics – unless we specify otherwise.

• The Book of Boba Fett: everything we know
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Fennec Shand – the one character certain to appear alongside Boba Fett. (Image credit: ©2020 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

Bounty hunters

“Bounty hunters: we don’t need their scum,” Admiral Piett sneered at an underling in The Empire Strikes Back, but it would be surprising if The Book of Boba Fett shared his point of view. Even before he hooked up with Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, Boba Fett had a long history of working with other mercenaries.

The famous usual suspects line-up from Darth Vader's Star Destroyer would seem a good place to start recruiting for the new show – because although it was disintegrations specialist Fett who eventually captured Han Solo, it’s likely that most of the other bounty hunters involved would still be in business six years later.

Both Bossk and Dengar have history with Fett, having worked with the aspiring bounty hunter during The Clone Wars (where Dengar was voiced by Simon Pegg). Both make brief background appearances in Return of the Jedi – Dengar in Jabba’s Palace, Bossk on his sail barge – so, assuming neither was on board the latter when it blew up above the Sarlacc, both could have lived to fight another day. In fact, a report in SlashFilm suggests Dengar survives through to The Rise of Skywalker – set three decades after The Book of Boba Fett – in the twisted form of cyborg Rothgar Deng.

IG-88, Zuckuss and 4-LOM completed the famous assortment of mercenaries hired to track down the Millennium Falcon. While it’s widely believed that Boba Fett defeated IG-88 before capturing Han Solo, leaving him for scrap on Cloud City, the droid ‘brother’ of The Mandalorian’s heroic IG-11 was resurrected in the Darth Vader comic book series, where he was hired to eliminate the Emperor’s right-hand man.

Zuckuss and his droid partner 4-LOM, meanwhile, both appear in the Star Wars: Bounty Hunters comic set after The Empire Strikes Back, so are presumably still looking for work by the time The Book of Boba Fett rolls around.

Cad Bane is yet to appear in live-action, but that didn’t bother The Mandalorian when it brought Clone Wars veterans Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze into the fold. Bane, a blue-skinned, Clint Eastwood-channelling bounty hunter, was a regular threat throughout The Clone Wars, and has also turned up in spin-off show The Bad Batch. He hasn’t made any canonical appearances beyond his recent Bad Batch appearance, but the fact he appears in some graffiti in Rebels suggests he was still infamous decades later. It therefore wouldn’t be a stretch for him to crop up in The Book of Boba Fett, especially as Bane’s a former associate of Boba’s dad, Jango.

Unless she gets some flashback scenes, one member of the Bossk/Dengar gang who won’t be showing up is Boba’s old mentor, Aurra Sing – during Solo: A Star Wars Story, it’s confirmed that Tobias Beckett killed her.

And if The Book of Boba Fett production team are looking for a seriously deep dive, there’s one other important Star Wars mercenary who’s long overdue a canonical appearance. “The bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell,” is casually referenced by Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, yet has never appeared on screen. Non-canon 1981 comic The Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell told the story of Skorr and his encounter with Solo – could this be the time he’s finally introduced into official continuity?

Other underworld figures

While Leia made sure that Jabba the Hutt was definitively dead – even before his sail barge exploded – we know that his master of ceremonies, Bib Fortuna, survived to take control of his old boss’s crime empire. Fett assassinated Fortuna in The Mandalorian season 2 finale, but who’s to say there aren’t other members of Jabba’s entourage out there? 

Cackling Kowakian monkey-lizard court jester Salacious B Crumb, for example, could have jumped ship after snacking on C-3PO’s eye. (That said, he’d be advised to steer clear of Nevarro, where roasted monkey-lizard is sometimes on the menu.)

Mad scientist Dr Evazan and his sidekick Ponda Baba survived their Mos Eisley bar brawl with Obi-Wan Kenobi, so could still be at large. And Ochi, the Sith assassin who killed Rey’s parents (as referenced in The Rise of Skywalker) previously had connections with criminal syndicate Crimson Dawn, whose interests could collide with Fett’s own black-market aspirations.

Any Crimson Dawn entanglements could be made even more intriguing if we see the return of Qi’ra, Han Solo’s ex (played by Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke) who became a major player in the organisation. The War of the Bounty Hunters comic reveals that Qi’ra stole the carbonite-encased Solo from Fett in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, eventually auctioning him off to the highest bidder. Boba Fett may still hold a grudge…

And on the less scummy and villainous side of the underworld there’s pirate queen Maz Kanata, whose castle on Takodana is also a haven for the morally flexible. She even has a Mandalorian flag outside the front door, so may welcome certain bounty hunting visitors.

Luke Skywalker is surely too busy training Grogu to worry about Boba Fett and his business... (Image credit: Lucasfilm/screengrab)

Rebel heroes

With Luke Skywalker busy training Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) in the ways of the Force, and Han Solo, Leia and Chewbacca probably having their hands full raising toddler son (and future Kylo Ren) Ben, it’s unlikely they’ll have a reunion with Boba Fett – even though there’s bound to be some residual animosity on both sides. There’s slightly more chance of a return for Lando Calrissian (who, like Fett, briefly worked for Jabba the Hutt), but we suspect The Book of Boba Fett will largely steer clear of Star Wars’ biggest names.

There are other Rebel Alliance veterans in play at this point in the timeline, however. Pilot Nien Nunb is a former smuggler, so has experience of the underworld, while fellow flying ace Wedge Antilles may have a few more years of action in him before retiring to a quiet life in the Outer Rim with his wife Norra Wexley – the mother of future Resistance pilot Temmin ‘Snap’ Wexley.

We also never found out what happened to former Clone Troopers Rex and Wolffe after the fall of the Empire. They’d surely be intrigued to meet their bounty hunting ‘brother’ Boba – the fact they’re all clones of Jango Fett (also played by Temuera Morrison) means the casting should be easy…

Cobb Vanth, keeping Boba Fett's armor warm in his absence. (Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Characters from The Mandalorian

With The Mandalorian season 3 storylines to consider, the destinies of Din Djarin (aka Mando) and Grogu are almost definitely separate from Boba Fett’s. There are, however, other characters from the parent show who could crop up in The Book of Boba Fett.

Cobb Vanth, the Mos Pelgo town marshal who kept Fett’s armor warm during his enforced absence, is also on Tatooine, and may have a part to play in the story of how Boba escaped from lunch-by-Sarlacc. And while Mandalorian princess Bo-Katan Kryze has little love for Fett – who she regards as an imposter and a disgrace to the armor – there are plenty of reasons their paths could cross once again.

Former Imperial sharp shooter-turned-career criminal Mayfeld pulled off a successful heist with Fett in The Mandalorian season 2 episode 7, so it may be mutually beneficial for them to work together again.

It’s also unlikely that the newly established New Republic will turn a blind eye to criminal activities across the galaxy, so don’t be surprised if pilots/space cops Carson Teva and Trapper Wolf stick their noses into Boba Fett’s business from time to time.

Carson Teva and the New Republic may take an interest in Boba Fett's affairs. (Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Imperial remnants and the First Order

After the Battle of Jakku – which took place four years before the events of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett – the remains of the Empire signed a peace treaty with the New Republic. According to Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath novels, Imperial bigwigs – including Admiral Rae Sloane and Commandant Brendol Hux (father of General Hux) – travelled to the Unknown Regions of the galaxy, where they went on to build the First Order.

While the Empire as we knew it is no longer in business, however, we know from The Mandalorian that there are sizeable, and dangerous, Imperial remnants making their presence felt across the galaxy – much like the one led by the now-incarcerated Moff Gideon.

The question is, how much will their operations come into Boba Fett’s orbit? The two sides do have a history of working together if their interests align, so don’t be surprised to see Fett joining forces with people dressed in Imperial uniforms once again.

The Book of Boba Fett streams on Disney Plus from December 29.

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UFC 267 live stream: how to watch all the Fight Island action online today

Coming from the Middle East, today's UFC 267 action is already well underway, with a card leading up to two title fights of Petr Yan vs Cory Sandhagen and main event Jan Blachowicz vs Glover Teixeira. Read on to discover how to find a UFC 267 live stream and watch the Abu Dhabi action from wherever you are - with ESPN+ having exclusive coverage in the US.

UFC 267 live stream

Date: Saturday, October 30

Main card time: 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST / 5am AEDT / 7am NZDT

Venue: Fight Island, Abu Dhabi 

Live stream: ESPN Plus (US) / BT Sport (UK) / DAZN (DE/IT/ES) / Kayo PPV (Aus)

In the first of two major MMA events in two weeks, the UFC cabaret heads back to Fight Island this weekend. Making just his second title title defence, Polish light heavyweight top dog Blachowicz takes on former title hopeful Teixeira.

After a superb defense against the much-fancied Middleweight champ Israel Adesanya last time out, its another tough test for the belt holder with a match-up against one of UFC's most seasoned performers.

The stacked bill also includes a second, big-draw fight, with Petr Yan taking on Cory Sandhagen for the interim Bantamweight Championship.

Follow our guide below as we explain how to get a Blachowicz vs Teixeira live stream and watch UFC 267 online - plus key details like the start time (note that it's on much earlier than usual) and the cheapest ways to get a UFC live stream on Saturday.

• Don't miss out: get a UFC live stream for every Fight Night and PPV event

UFC 267 live stream: how to watch Blachowicz vs Teixeira in the US 

See UFC 267 exclusively on ESPN+
The exclusive rights for US coverage is with UFC on ESPN Plus, meaning it is the one place to watch it. 

Unusually for numbered UFC events, Saturday's full card won't be a pay-per-view event and will instead be shown on the sports network's streaming service ESPN Plus at no extra cost to subscribers.

With the event taking place in the UAE, start times are earlier than cards in the US, with prelims for UFC 267 starting at 10.30am ET / 7.30am PT, followed by the main card at 2pm ET / 11am PT, with Blachowicz and Teixeira expected to enter the Octagon no earlier than 4.15pm ET / 1.15pm PT.

ESPN+ only costs $6.99 per month and allows you to watch online as well as via its mobile app and TV streamer apps on the likes of Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, PS4 and Xbox. You'll save even more if you pay for a year in advance - that costs $69.99 for 12 months.

But there's even better value to be had, if you grab ESPN+ as part of the big Disney Plus Bundle. As well as ESPN Plus live coverage and documentary action, you'll get access to the hugely impressive Disney Plus catalogue - which features Marvel movies, every Simpsons episode ever, the complete Star Wars canon, Pixar films, and much more - plus all the great shows and movies that Hulu offers.

And the cost is super reasonable - for all that content, you only have to pay $13.99 a month for the Disney Plus bundle.

• More great sport: how to watch NFL live streams the world over

How to live stream UFC 267 without PPV in Europe

As we say, you're kind of stuck if you're in the US. It's PPV or bust.

Not so in Europe. Instead, it's sports streaming specialist DAZN that has the rights.

So if you're a UFC fan in any of Austria, Italy, Germany or Spain, then get yourself over to the DAZN website.

Even better news...you can actually watch absolutely FREE in certain regions (we can confirm that is the case in Germany, Austria and Spain, for example). That's thanks to a 30-day free trial, that you can take advantage of if you've never had a subscription before.

How to watch Blachowicz vs Teixeira: live stream UFC 267 in the UK

BT Sport has exclusive broadcast rights to UFC events in the UK right now, and this weekend's UFC 267 action won't be a PPV event in the UK.

You'll need to tune into BT Sport 2 for all the action from Fight Island, with coverage beginning on the channel with  the prelims at 5pm ahead of the main show at 7pm. Blachowicz vs Teixeira are expected to enter the Octagon after 9.15pm.

Don't forget that you can now get BT Sport without a big commitment thanks to a BT Sport Monthly Pass. It costs £25 and gets you all of BT Sport's goodies - including Premier League football and Premiership rugby - for a whole month.

The broadcaster's coverage of UFC is also available via the BT Sport app and on its website, so you can live stream UFC on most devices these day.

You can also access your BT Sport subscription or monthly pass from overseas if you're away from home. To do that you'll need a VPN to relocate your IP back to the UK as per our guide above.

Blachowicz vs Teixeira: live stream UFC 267 in Canada

There are a host of pay-per-view providers offering a Blachowicz vs Teixeira live stream in Canada on Saturday.

You can head to the likes of Shaw, Bell, Rogers, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus or Eastlink with pricing at CAD$64.99. It's also available on the UFC Fight Pass PPV.

Tune into the main card from 2pm ET / 11am PT on Saturday, October 30.

UFC 267 live stream: how to watch Blachowicz vs Teixeira online in Australia

As per usual, you'll find UFC 267 and Blachowicz vs Teixeira available on PPV in Australia, setting you back AUD$54.95.

The main card is set to take place at 5am AEDT early on Sunday morning. Blachowicz vs Teixeira are expected to make their way toward the Octagon around 6.15am AEDT.

So to watch the fight, you'll need to sign up via the Foxtel site or Kayo Sports Main Event. Click the link where you can sign up to watch, where you'll then be able to live stream the whole event via your web browser and devices like Android, iOS, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Telstra TV and Chromecast.

You can also catch all the prelims and the main card using UFC Fight Pass.

Blachowicz vs Teixeira live stream: how to watch UFC 267 in New Zealand

Sky Arenais offering New Zealand viewers a Blachowicz vs Teixeira live stream - with the PPV priced at NZ$39.95 for all the main card action.

You'll want to make sure you're watching from at least the 7am NZST main card start time on Sunday morning to get all the action. 

The headline Blachowicz vs Teixeira fight is expected any time from 9am NZDT on Sunday morning, depending on how the rest of the card plays out.

When is UFC 267: date and time

Blachowicz vs Teixeira takes place at UFC 267, which is scheduled for Saturday, October. The UFC 267 main card is due to start at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST / 5am AEDT / 7am NZDT - with the two MMA stars expected to enter the Octagon from around 4.15pm ET / 1.15pm PT / 9.15pm BST / 7.15am AEDT / 9.15am.

Blachowicz vs Teixeira preview and predictions

This intriguing battle for the 205lb crown sees two fighters trying to pull off the seemingly impossible, with Blachowicz looking to match the heights of his last fight and Teixeira aiming to become the UFC's second oldest champion behind Randy Couture.

While Blachowicz already had the respect of his peers by the time he lifted the light heavyweight belt following his victory over Dominick Reyes last September, its fair to say the Polish star's standing in MMA circles went up several notches thanks to the manner in which he dispatched the much-fancied Israel Adesanya earlier this year.

With Blachowicz now 38, and Teixeira 42, this is a match up of two of the promotion's more seasoned pros, but the defending champ's greater skillset should prove to be the deciding factor over age and experience this evening. 

(Image credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Who is Jan Blachowicz?

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Jan Blachowicz claimed the light middleweight title in September during the co-main event of UFC 253, where he pulled off a second-round KO victory over Dominick Reyes.

The victory marked an incredible turnaround for the 38-year-old, who began his career in the big leagues with four defeats in his first six bouts.

He since gone on to win nine of his last ten since suffering consecutive defeats to Alexander Gustafsson and Patrick Cummins with Saturday's fight marking the second defence of his title.

Who is Glover Teixeira?

A consistent fixture at the top of the light heavyweight rankings since joining the UFC back in 2012, Minas Gerais-born slugger Glover Teixeira holds the UFC all-time record for most submissions and finishes in the Light Heavyweight division

Despite his consistent performances at the weight, the 41-year-old has only had one previous shot at the title, a disappointing showdown against Jon Jones seven years ago that ended in an unanimous decision defeat.

The veteran fighter has more than earned his second chance at glory, however, taking on a decent list of contenders that has seen him notch up a five-fight win streak.

Blachowicz vs Teixeira latest odds: who is the favorite to win?

Polish champ Volkanovski is marked out as the  favourite to successfully defend his crown, with odds with most bookies coming in at 2/7, while a victory for Teixeira currently hovers around the 5/2 mark.

Blachowicz vs Teixeira: recent results

Blachowicz's outing in the Octagon may well go down as his career highlight, with his first title defence back in March a controlled, calculated performance that handed middleweight champion Israel Adesanya his first defeat of his MMA career.

Its almost a year since Teixeira's last fight - a a third-round submission win over Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Fight Night 182 in Las Vegas last November. 

UFC 267 full card and highlights 

Alongside the much-anticipated main event, there’s an exciting bantamweight interim championship contest to look forward to between two of the most entertaining men in the division as Petr Yan takes on Cory Sandhagen.

The bill also sees Khamzat Chimaev makes a long-awaited return to action following a debilitating  battle with Covid-19 as he takes on Li Jingliang for welterweight honours, while British hopeful Lerone Murphy will be looking to further enhance his growing reputation as an emerging lightweight name to watch as he takes on Makwan Amirkhani.

Full UFC 267 card for Saturday, October 30

Main Card
Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira – Light Heavyweight 

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen – Bantamweight Championship

Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker, Lightweight

Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura, Heavyweight

Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Welterweight

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir, Light Heavyweight

Preliminary card
Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba, Women’s Strawweight

Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov, Featherweight

Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov, Middleweight

Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Shamil Gamzatov, Light Heavyweight

Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy, Featherweight

Yaozong Hu vs. Alen Amedovski, Light Heavyweight

Damir Ismagulov vs. Magomed Mustafaev, Lightweight

Tagir Ulanbekhov vs. Allan Nascimento, Flyweight

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Black Friday preview: LG's stunning 70-inch 4K TV gets a massive $450 price cut

Black Friday TV deals have arrived at Best Buy's early sale, and we've just spotted a massive discount on this gorgeous 70-inch 4K TV from LG. Right now, you can get LG's 70-inch NanoCell display on sale for just $749.99 (was $1,199.99) at Best Buy. That's a massive $450 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the premium big-screen TV.

If you're worried about finding a better price during the official Black Friday deals event, Best Buy has you covered. Today's offer comes with the Black Friday price guarantee, which promises that any product featured in today's sale will not go any lower in price before Black Friday – and if for any reason it does, Best Buy will refund the difference.

Black Friday TV deal: LG 70-inch 4K TV

LG 70-inch NanoCell 75 Series 4K UHD Smart TV: $1,199,99 $749.99 at Best Buy
Save $450 - Best Buy's early Black Friday TV deals include this stunning LG 70-inch 4K  TV on sale for $749.99. That's a massive $450 discount and the lowest price we've ever seen. LG's 75 series set features smart capabilities and delivers bright, bold colors with sharp contrasts thanks to the NanoCell display and Quad-Core processor 4K.

LG's 70-inch TV delivers a stunning picture with life-like images thanks to the 4K NanoCell display and powerful Quad-Core processor, which results in crisp images and bright, bold colors. The smart TV also features LG's ThinQ AI technology which allows your TV to become a smart home hub and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for hands-free control. You're also getting Active HDR, TV Sound Mode Share, Game Optimizer, and LG's all-new magic remote.

See more of today's best Black Friday TV deals below, which include record-low prices of Sony, Samsung, LG, and more.

More early Black Friday TV deals

TCL 75-inch Class 4 Series LED 4K TV: $899.99 $749.99 at Best Buy
Save $150 – Here's a massive 75-inch TV screen down to $749.99 at Best Buy's early Black Friday TV deals event. This TCL set isn't the most advanced out there but you're really paying for the sheer size of the thing here. That said, it does support 4K, HDR, and Dolby Digital+ audio – plus you get a voice remote and built-in Chromecast to access all top streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.

Sony 75-inch X80J Series 4K UHD Smart TV: $1,399.99 $1,149.99 at Amazon
Save $250 - One of the most popular early Black Friday TV deals, Amazon has this 75-inch 4K TV from Sony on sale for a record-low price of $1,098. The smart TV delivers a cinema-like picture experience thanks to Sony’s powerful X1 4K HDR processor and works with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for smart home compatibility and hands-free control.

LG C1 OLED (65-inch): $2,499.99 $1,896 at Amazon
Save $603 - The LG C1 OLED is the latest 2021 C-Series OLED TV from LG, and it's on sale today for $1,896 at Amazon - just $100 more than last week's record-low price. It's one of the best TVs you can buy, thanks to the stunning OLED display, Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, and virtual surround sound audio. If you're after the best price-to-performance ratio, the C1 OLED comes with our highest recommendation and is the best Black Friday TV deal we've spotted so far.

Samsung 75-inch Q80A Series QLED 4K UHD Smart TV: $2,699.99 $1,899.99 at Samsung
Save $800 - Samsung just released early Black Friday TV deals, and we've spotted a massive $800 price cut on this 75-inch QLED TV. That's the lowest price we've seen and an incredible deal on a big-screen QLED TV. This 2021 Samsung set delivers a brilliant picture with bright, bold images thanks to Full Array backlighting and a powerful 4K Quantum Processor.

See more of the best cheap TV deals that are happening now and the cheapest OLED TV deals and prices.

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College football on ESPN Plus: what games can I watch and how much does it cost?

Even more fervently supported than NFL in some households, and offering an early glimpse of tomorrow's gridiron superstars, it's never been easier - or cheaper - to watch live college football thanks to ESPN Plus.

The specialist sports streaming service's comprehensive coverage means college football fans in the US have access to more live NCAA action than ever before - coverage now extending to over 500 games over the course of this season.

• ESPN Plus: see the best deals and sign up on its website

Starting back in August, the campaign and will conclude with the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on January 10, 2022. 

Read on to find out the latest info on what ESPN Plus college football coverage gives you, as well as the cheapest way to subscribe to the service and whether the streaming device you own is compatible.

College football on ESPN Plus: what can I watch?

While live coverage of a large amount of college football games will be accessible on mainstream ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and FS1 networks, the reasonably priced ESPN Plus is promising more than 500 games from over 16 different conferences.

Among its picks, the service will stream teams from FBS conferences like the SEC and Big 12, The American, C-USA, MAC, and Sun Belt, and FCS schools from the Big Sky, MVFC, Patriot League, SIAC, MEAC and SWAC. 

This season marks the first time ESPN Plus will feature SEC games, more Big 12 games than ever before, plus there's the promise of a full slate of games from the Sun Belt, MAC and C-USA.

ESPN Plus also allows you to pause, rewind and replay every single live game offered. And in addition to the live action, you can also watch several college football original series including Eli's Places - a college football centric expansion of the Peyton's Places franchise hosted by Eli Manning.

(Image credit: Jason Sponseller / Shutterstock.com)

How much does it cost to watch college football on ESPN Plus? 

While the super-handy free trial ESPN Plus used to offer is sadly no more, the service is nevertheless currently still being offered at a pocket-friendly $6.99 a month or $69.99 yearly.

With ESPN jointly owned by Disney, there's also a big saving to be had by opting for  a bundle that gets you ESPN Plus, Disney Plus and Hulu for a knock-down monthly sum of just $13.99. You can sign up for the package by checking out Disney Plus's website here.

Going for this deal means that alongside all the college football and sports content provided by ESPN Plus, you'll also have access to a treasure Tove of family entertainment including Classic Disney Animations, Pixar movies, and documentaries from National Geographic plus the entire Marvel and Star Wars film library via Disney Plus. On top of that, you'll also have Hulu's films, TV shows and top notch originals on tap.

You'd be looking at a fee of $18.97 a month, or $24.97 if you opted for Hulu without ads, if you signed up for all three services separately, making the $13.99 monthly asking price for the bundle just about the best streaming service deal there is right now.

What other sport content can I watch on ESPN Plus?

On top of its excellent coverage of college football, an ESPN Plus subscription also puts on tap a wide array of live action from a multitude of sports. 

The fight fans, the unquestionable big attraction will will be ESPN Plus' exclusive coverage of UFC live streams, with the platform boasting the rights to live stream all of the MMA promotion's events in the US. That includes every Fight Night and numbered PPV event which are now shown on ESPN Plus (although the latter still requires viewers to pay a PPV fee for access).

(Image credit: ESPN Plus)

Subscribers also get streaming access to one NHL and MLB game per day during their respective regular seasons, every out-of-market MLS match plus a wealth of international and FA Cup soccer, top-tier boxing cars and select PGA Tour golf events.

On top of all this, an ESPN Plus subscription opens a vault that holds the 30 for 30 documentary library, with on demand access also available to a whole host of exclusive original sports programming including must-see programmes like The Fantasy Show and award-winning sports analysis series Detail.

• Discover more on watching NHL on ESPN PLus

What devices can I watch college football on ESPN Plus with?

It's super simple to watch ESPN Plus streams thanks to its wide-ranging support for a host of devices.

For those looking to watch on the go on a phone or tablet, simply, download the ESPN app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign up for the service there. 

You also can watch ESPN Plus via your web browser by heading to the service's website and signing up for the service.

For armchair sports fans, ESPN Plus is available on Apple TV, Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV platform - and now on the Roku platform, too.

Gamers are also well catered for, with dedicated apps for ESPN Plus available for most of the latest generation of consoles, including PS5 and Xbox Series S and Series X as well as older machines such as all Xbox One models and the PS4, (but not unfortunately the Nintendo Switch). 

• Fight fan? See how UFC on ESPN Plus gives you the key to more content
• Disney Plus Bundle: see how to combine ESPN with family entertainment
• Read our definitive guide to the best streaming services

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This Virgin broadband deal comes with rapid fast speeds and a big cash incentive

Whether its because you're working from home, you're an avid gamer or just have a lot of people under one roof, fibre broadband is going to be a necessary investment for a lot of people.

And if you're on the search for a plan which can keep up with a lot of activity, Virgin's M100 could be the way to go. It only costs £24 a month but that price will secure you speeds averaging 108Mb.

That is plenty for big gaming sessions, a full working from home set-up or simply a house filled with smart devices and lots of internet activity. Along with the fast speeds, you'll also get a £75 voucher to Amazon.

It is worth mentioning that Virgin isn't as widely available as some other internet providers. If you can't get it where you live, check out our best broadband deals guide to see the other great options currently available.

• Broadband deals: see the other fantastic offers available

Virgin's fibre broadband deal in full:

Virgin M100: 18 months | Avg speeds 108Mb | Line rental incl. | FREE activation | £24 a month + £75 Amazon voucher
This is a fantastic offer, especially if you need faster speeds in your house. You'll pay £24 a month while getting speeds averaging 108Mb. That will be plenty for gaming, HD streaming and working from home, all at the same time. On top of that, you will also get a £75 Amazon voucher with your order.

Read more:

• TechRadar's full guide to today's best broadband deals
• Want to try something different? How about 4G home broadband?
• Got a need for speed? Use our very own broadband speed test

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Microsoft Teams vs Google Meet: Which is best?

Microsoft and Google are two of the biggest technology companies around - so it’s hardly surprising that both have entered the video conferencing space. Microsoft Teams is the offering from the Redmond-based firm, while Google Meet is the solution developed by the firm originally known for its search engine services. 

Not too long ago, the communication and collaboration field was a more gentle environment, one in which many different services could happily co-exist. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic made face-to-face interaction more challenging, more and more organizations have been forced to rely on digital solutions. As such, competition between services has ramped up significantly. 

The good news is that both Microsoft Teams and Google Meet represent good examples within the video conferencing field. However, with their respective developers adding new features all the time, this is a dynamic ecosystem. For businesses and individuals looking to weigh up the respective merits of each solution, there are many things to consider.

In the following guide, we’ve collected all the information you need to decide whether Microsoft Teams or Google Meet is right for your business, comparing plans and pricing, features, security, and more.

Plans and pricing

Both Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are pretty generous when it comes to their free plans. Both allow you to use basic versions of each platform for an unlimited time and that will probably be sufficient for individuals that simply want to video call friends or family from time or time, or even sole traders that have infrequent video conferences. 

For larger companies, however, the limitations that are built into the free versions of both Teams and Meet may feel a little restrictive. For example, the free version of both platforms only allows for up to 100 participants in a meeting at any one time. While this may sound like a lot, it basically rules out company-wide meetings for medium and larger organizations. 

Teams

Microsoft Teams' pricing structure is tied into the company's Microsoft 365 plans. Microsoft 365 Business Basic, for example, is priced at $5.00/£3.80/AU$6.90 per user per month and comes with 1TB of OneDrive storage as well as access to Teams. Microsoft 365 Business Standard, meanwhile, is priced at $12.50/£9.40/AU$17.20 per user per month and also comes with desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. While Microsoft 365 Premium adds additional features for $20.00/£15.10/AU$27.50 per user per month. 

In particular, the ability to add up to 10,000 participants to a meeting with Microsoft 365 Premium is likely to appeal to large enterprises. However, even Microsoft 365 Business Basic increases the time limit from 60 minutes to 24 hours, which saves firms from the embarrassment of having to abruptly finish a call because they are using the free version.

Google Meet

Similar to Microsoft Teams, Google Meet is only offered for free as a standalone version but users can opt to pay for Google Workspace, which will provide additional Meet functionality and grant access to other Google tools. 

Google Workspace Standard costs $6 per user per month and increases the number of licences that businesses can use to 300. Google Workspace Standard, meanwhile, costs $12 per user per month and raises the allowed number of meeting participants from 100 to 150, while Google Workspace Plus, which costs $18 per user per month, takes this figure up to 250. The Enterprise version is priced on a bespoke basis, but adds noise cancelling features and enhanced support.

Features

For any business choosing to pay for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace packages, the most useful feature will certainly be integration with other applications. In terms of core features, however, there isn’t much to separate Meet and Teams. 

Some of Google Meet’s features include an audio and video preview screen, screen sharing, meeting host controls, and live captioning during meetings. In addition, users can access customizable backgrounds and connection quality adjustments that leverage AI capabilities. 

Microsoft Teams features, on the other hand, also include screen sharing and customizable backgrounds, but the option of more than 250 app integrations probably means that most businesses will get more from using Teams than they would Google Meet. It just seems to offer more collaboration potential. 

Security

For paid users, Google Meets offers complex meeting IDs that add extra protection against brute-force hacking attempts. Teams, meanwhile, offers fantastic security for businesses to employ internally. For example, team owners have a granular level of control, where they can act as administrators and restrict the actions of other users. Considering most data leaks occur because of the actions of internal staff, this feature is a welcome addition. 

Support

While Microsoft Teams and Google Meet both offer all the usual channels for customer support, there are a couple of small differences. Teams certainly has a great community of support around it, mainly comprising other users who are happy to lend a helping hand whenever you encounter issues. Conversely, Meet offers video tutorials and a free online course for users. If you prefer to self-learn, this is a great advantage of Google Meet. 

Verdict

Deciding whether Google Meet or Microsoft Teams is your best bet will likely depend on the size of your organization. If you’re a sole trader or small business, the simplicity of Google Meet will be difficult to improve upon. However, if you’re a larger company in need of more advanced collaboration features, or you already extensively use Microsoft 365, you’ll be better off going with Microsoft Teams.

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Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Which video collaboration service is best?

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the market for video conferencing and collaboration tools has exploded. With this creating such a competitive environment, these digital tools have had to carve out particular niches for themselves. Some have focused on improving productivity, for example, others have looked to prioritize ease-of-use. In this climate, two of the most popular communication platforms are Microsoft Teams and Slack.

With many organizations looking to adopt a hybrid working model that would allow employees to split their time between the office and home, remote communication tools like Slack and Teams could continue to play a major role in working life for years to come - their developers will certainly be hoping so.

But how should businesses choose between Teams and Slack, particularly with both platforms offering a high-level service. While the two programs may look and feel similar on the surface, a closer comparison reveals some key differences.

In this guide, we’ve collected all the information you need to decide whether Teams or Slack is best for your business, comparing plans and pricing, features, security and more.

Plans and pricing

For many businesses, price will be a deciding factor concerning which digital tools they use. The good news is both Teams and Slack offer free plans - although each comes with slightly different features thrown in. 

With Slack’s free plan, for example, businesses can add an unlimited number of users and messages. Microsoft Teams, on the other hand only allows up to 500,000 users with its free plan - although this is effectively unlimited for all but the largest enterprises. One major difference is the fact that users of the free Slack plan can only search up to 10,000 archived messages. While this may seem like a lot, losing access to important messages feels like a significant drawback.

Generally, the free version of Teams comes with fewer limitations. With users able to access screen sharing and small-scale video conferencing. These features are restricted for free users of Slack.

Teams
The way Microsoft Teams structures its pricing plans is a little different from most video conferencing tools. Rather than having set pricing for Teams alone, there are Microsoft 365 plans that each come with different versions of Teams. 

Microsoft 365 Business Basic is priced at $5.00/£3.80/AU$6.90 per user per month and comes with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage as well as access to Teams. Unfortunately, desktop versions of Word and PowerPoint aren’t included. 

Microsoft 365 Business Standard, meanwhile, is priced at $12.50/£9.40/AU$17.20 per user per month and doesn’t actually affect your available Teams features. Instead, desktop versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint are now thrown in.

Finally, Microsoft 365 Premium adds extra security and privacy features, as well as a greater range of device management options. This package will set your business back $20.00/£15.10/AU$27.50 per user per month. For that, you also get the premium version of Teams.

Slack
Slack’s Standard plan starts at $6.67/£5.25/AU$8.00 per user per month. This version gets rid of the searchable limit for archived messages and comes with 10GB of storage per user - which is a significant increase on the 5GB for the entire workplace that comes with the free plan. 

Standard users can also add guests and external collaborators, set compliance rules for messages and files, as well as create custom user groups. The Plus plan comes in at $12.50/£9.75/AU$15.00 per user per month and boasts 20GB of storage for each user, as well as additional security features. 

Features

Both Microsoft Teams and Slack offer users a sizable number of features. The main advantage of Slack is the way that it allows for collaboration with an unlimited number of external teams - a feature that is significantly limited when using Teams. 

A major advantage for users of Microsoft’s solution, however, comes in terms of its video conferencing functionality. Video conferences with up to 250 users or live events with up to 10,000 participants are available. This may only really be useful for larger organizations but, even so, the past 18 months have demonstrated the benefits of such features. Slack does come with channels, private messages and workflow tools, but it can’t compete with Teams’ Office integration. 

Security

The rise in popularity of collaboration tools like Teams and Slack may have benefits, but it has undoubtedly introduced new vulnerabilities too. Fortunately, both Teams and Slack definitely take security seriously, offering users two-factor authentication to help keep their accounts secure. 

Slack also offers compliance with most basic ISO certifications and can be configured to be HIPAA-compliant if necessary. However, Teams does provide better access control and has more advanced administration features, so probably comes out on top if security is a major dealbreaker for your organization. 

Support

Both Teams and Slack promise 24/7 support, but so do most tech firms. In practice, of course, things are a little different. With Teams, T-Bot is always on hand to offer assistance, while Slack’s help center provides an easy way to seach for common troubleshooting problems. If you want more bespoke support, Slack offers a four-hour response time with its pricier packages.

One benefit of Teams in terms of support that is too easily overlooked is the robust community of users that is always willing to offer a helping hand via forums and other informal chat platforms. They will mean that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be stuck dealing with a Teams problem for long.

Verdict

Both Teams and Slack, as well as a number of other digital workplace tools, have witnessed significant growth in popularity over the past 18 months. If your business has adopted either program, you’ll be enjoying a great range of collaboration and productivity features. 

In terms of which one is better, that will largely depend on your specific needs. Teams definitely has the edge in terms of its video options (particularly for free users) but Slack has a solid range of features and offers more functionality if you collaborate with a lot of external teams. Ultimately, your choice may come down to whether you use Office programs frequently. If so, Teams may be the way to go. 

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Microsoft PowerToys are getting a major Windows 11 update

Now that Windows 11 has been released, Microsoft has updated PowerToys with new UI changes so that it set of utilities now feature the same design as the latest version of its operating system.

First introduced with Windows 95 and then brought back for Windows 10 two years ago, PowerToys are a set of tools that are designed to make it more convenient to use the software giant's operating system to its full potential. The modern version of PowerToys includes nine tools that allow Windows users to do things like rename multiple files at once, resize images, pick colors or open applications even faster using a quick launcher.

Microsoft has also made it easier to start using PowerToys in Windows 11 as its utilities can now be downloaded and installed from both the Microsoft Store as well as GitHub.

With the release of PowerToys 0.49, the company has redesigned the settings menu in PowerRename which is a utility used to rename files faster and in bulk. It now features a new look to match the design of Windows 11. The edges of PowerRename's windows have been rounded and they are also more transparent.

Video Conference Mute and Find My Mouse

In addition to the new UI changes, Microsoft has also rolled out two new features with the release of version 0.49 of PowerToys.

Video Conference Mute is a new new feature that allows users to mute their microphone or disable their webcam globally across both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It can be binded to a keyboard shortcut and there is even a toolbar that appears when your webcam or microphone are being used. 

While Microsoft initially planned to launch Windows 11 with its own universal microphone mute button, the feature didn't make it into the final release of the operating system though it should be arriving in a later update. For now, power users can leverage Video Conference Mute to achieve the same outcome.

Finally, Microsoft has added a new feature called Find My Mouse to PowerToys. This feature makes it easier to find your mouse when working on multiple displays, an ultrawide monitor or a business monitor with a higher resolution. Simply double tapping the left CTRL key will dim your screen and highlight your mouse cursor with a white circle to make it much easier to find.

Microsoft has updated PowerToys a number of times over the past few years and if these new features are any indication, it's likely that the company will continue to bring new utilities to its operating system so that power users can make the most out of Windows 11.

Get even more done with the best productivity tools and speed up your Windows 11 experience with one of the best SSDs

Via The Verge

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New Witcher season 2 trailer shows Netflix isn't ready to give up its fantasy crown

The official trailer for The Witcher season 2 has arrived – and, judging by the latest footage, it proves that Netflix isn't ready to give up its fantasy crown just yet.

Released on Friday, October 29 (just in time for Halloween, no less), the video shows the grandiose nature of The Witcher season 2. There are plenty of sweeping shots, intricate camera work, tons of fantasy-horror infused action and an indication of how much the stakes have been raised for Geralt and company.

Check out the new trailer below:

The Witcher's second season will see Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) watch over Princess Ciri (Freya Allen) following the fallout from the season 1 finale. The titular character brings Ciri to his childhood home of Kaer Morhen but, unsurprisingly, it seems that the duo won't be as safe in this hideout as Geralt initially thinks.

Not only must he keep Ciri safe from the world's numerous monsters and other antagonists, Geralt must also protect her from something else entirely: the mysterious power that Ciri possesses.

Meanwhile, Yennefer of of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) is alive and well. Despite Geralt assuming that she was killed at the Battle of Sodden Hill, Yennefer finds herself a prisoner to the Nilfgaardians. Will she be able to escape and reunite with Geralt, Ciri and the other Witchers? Only time will tell. What we do know, though, is that The Witcher is likely to maintain its position as one of our favorite Netflix TV shows of all-time.

The Witcher season 2 will launch exclusively on Netflix on Friday, December 17.

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Analysis: Will Netflix continue to cast a spell on viewers with The Witcher?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix has high hopes for The Witcher season 2. The show's first season was one of the most-watched TV series on the streamer when it arrived in December 2019. With such a devoted following, too, it's likely that many people will be glued to their TV screens to watch the series' next installment later this year.

The Witcher, though, faces some serious competition in the fantasy genre towards the end of 2021. 

Amazon's TV adaptation of The Wheel of Time launches exclusively on Prime Video on November 19. And, while its season 1 finale will have aired by the time that The Witcher season 2 is released, it may still have a fight on its hands.

Why? Well, not everyone will have had the chance to watch The Wheel of Time as soon as it's released. Some TV fans may wait until all six episodes are out before they watch it. Others, meanwhile, will only hear about The Wheel of Time by word of mouth. If they don't learn about it until, say, its fourth episode has been released, some viewers might not finish The Wheel of Time until mid or late-December.

That would put it in direct opposition with The Witcher – a battle that Netflix may not have foreseen ahead of season 2's release.

Still, The Witcher has a loyal following from the novels and an established viewership from its TV adaptation. That gives it a distinct advantage over The Wheel of Time, which isn't as well-known as The Witcher.

So yes, Netflix should be able to see Amazon's threat when The Witcher season 2 arrives. Even if it doesn't, though, it'll make for a fascinating watch as the two biggest streamers around go head-to-head in the fantasy stakes. The more competition there is between studios and shows, the better it is for audience choice. Of that, we can be certain. 

• These are the best Netflix movies to watch right now

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Best Halloween movies and shows on Disney Plus to watch in 2021

It's a tough balance to strike trying to find something suitably spooky for the kids to watch over Halloween that won't completely scar them for life. But you need look no further. There are plenty of Halloween movies and shows on Disney Plus to stream and we've compiled a list of the best creepy delights.

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Disney's streaming service has an excellent selection of TV series, short-films, feature-length movies and October 31-themed specials, all available through its Halloween Collection hub. 

This includes brand-new Disney Plus Originals like the Muppets Haunted Mansion and fantasy series Just Beyond, in addition to creepy classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas – which was initially “too dark and scary” to be released by Disney.

There’s enough grisly entertainment and spooky fun here amongst Disney Plus' best shows to keep both young and older viewers happy this Halloween, and below we’ve rounded up 10 of the very best movies and TV shows on Disney Plus for all you ghouls and goblins to enjoy.

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Just Beyond (2021)

(Image credit: Disney)

This recent addition to Disney Plus promises lots of creepy mysteries with a twist in the tale. It’s an anthology series based on horror fiction writer R.L. Stine’s graphic novel of the same name, and features eight episodes in which school-age teens confront theater-dwelling ghosts, secret societies and alternative dimensions – something like a Young Adult take on The Twilight Zone. 

It boasts a fantastic pedigree of actors well versed in the horror-fantasy genre too, including McKenna Grace (Annabelle Comes Home), Gabriel Bateman (Child’s Play), and Henry Thomas (The Haunting of Hill House). Expect a gleefully weird show packed full of quick wit, suspense, and supernatural beings that lurk “just beyond the world you know”.

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Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

(Image credit: Disney)

In development hell since the 1990s, three decades later and the Muppets finally have a hallowed Halloween special. Based on Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion, it follows Gonzo the Great and Pepé the King Prawn as they blow off Kermit’s Halloween party to spend 24-hours at the titular mansion, so Gonzo can prove his daredevil reputation is still intact. If they survive the night, they are free to leave. If not, they’ll be trapped there forever!

Of course, Muppets Haunted Mansion has some brilliant celebrity cameos. Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) appears as a limo driver whose passengers never book a return trip, Danny Trejo cameos as a graveyard spectre alongside caretaker Darren Criss, and Taraji P. Henson plays a murderous widower looking for her next husband/hatchet job. It’s entertainingly spooky, with some spirited (!) songs featuring your favorite felt friends, including Miss Piggy as Madame Pigota and Fozzy Bear – the latter booed off stage for cheesy jokes like, “What happens if you don’t pay your exorcism bill? You get re-possessed!” Waka waka!

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

(Image credit: Disney)

Produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas is an animated stop-motion classic. One-part pitch black fantasy and one-part candy-colored stocking stuffer, it’s guaranteed enduring appeal by ingeniously blending together our two favorite holidays, with a soundtrack full of memorable songs like ‘This is Halloween’ and the rapturous ‘What’s This?’.

Disney initially distanced themselves from the film, distributing it through subsidiary company Touchstone Pictures instead. They felt the story of a melancholy “Pumpkin King” stumbling upon Christmastown, kidnapping Santa and commandeering the beloved holiday with the help of Sally the Rag Doll (Catherine O’Hara), mad scientist Dr Finkelstein, and the bug-filled Oogie Boogie (Ken Page), might alienate their core audience.

But the answer to the opening lyric, “Boys and girls of every age, don’t you want to see something strange?”, proved to be a resounding YES, because the movie became a sleeper hit and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects – a first for an animated film.

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What If…Zombies? (2021)

(Image credit: Marvel)

Even MCU fans get a Halloween-themed monster mash-up. The animated anthology series What If…? explores what would happen if major events in the MCU movies occurred differently. And for episode 5, that involves Hank Pym entering the Quantum Realm and coming back with something worse than a cold.

Yes, inspired by the Marvel Zombies comic series, we get to see Iron Man, Captain America and more as shambling, ravenous brain-munchers, while the remaining Avengers attempt to quell a zombie apocalypse. Luckily, Peter Parker is available with a tongue-in-cheek video tutorial on how to survive (tip 1: wear long sleeves).

Featuring the vocal talent of Mark Ruffalo, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany and Evangeline Lilly, anything goes in this animated, alternative dimension. Which makes for a fun, fast-paced and gory addition to the MCU, with an increased quota of carnage rarely allowed in a live-action entry.

You can now watch all episodes of the regular series now!

Hocus Pocus (1993)

(Image credit: Buena Vista Pictures / Disney)

“Three ancient hags versus the 20th century.” That’s a pretty neat summation of this supernatural comedy from Kenny Ortega, which opens in 1693 as a trio of witches are executed for draining the life from Salem’s children.

300 years later and they’re resurrected by cynical teen Max Dennison after he tries to impress a girl on Halloween. This gives Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy respectively) 24 hours to enchant a child and regain their vitality. But first they have to contend with a bewildering modern world and deceptively dressed trick or treaters.

It’s a brisk, entertaining blend of hocus pocus and OTT, colorful characters, including Winnie’s zombie ex-lover Billy Butcherson (played by Hellboy’s Doug Jones). Midler’s rendition of “I Put A Spell On You” is a movie highlight, while the sight of an airborne Kathy Najimy straddling a vacuum cleaner never fails to raise a smile. There’s a Disney-produced sequel in the works too, so prepare to be bewitched again next Fall.

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The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes (1990 - present)

(Image credit: Fox)

Since 1990 the Halloween-themed episodes of The Simpsons have been giving us an extra dose of gore with our guffaws, and Disney Plus has all 31 specials ready to stream. They’re often the highlight of each season, in which Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa appear in three or more tales of sublimely stupid terror.

They lampoon everything from slasher flicks, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Psycho, literary classics like Harry Potter and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, to science fiction series such as The Twilight Zone. And, proving that nothing’s off limits in a Treehouse of Horror episode, they recently delivered a demented take on Toy Story (dubbed “Toy Gory”).

Yet probably everyone’s favorite is the first segment of Treehouse of Horror V (“The Shinning”) in which Groundskeeper Willie tries to save The Simpsons from their father’s homicidal rage after they’re stranded together in a haunted hotel. “No TV and no beer make Homer go crazy!” Either way, they’re all brilliant, binge-worthy, and guaranteed to break your funny bone.

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Trick or Treat (1952)

(Image credit: Disney)

This charming 9-minute short from Walt Disney Productions is full of macabre whimsy and has a moral all children can agree on when it comes to trick or treating: “better not be stingy or your nightmares will come true!”

Taking place on Halloween night, Huey, Dewey, and Louie knock at their uncle's house dressed in ghoulish disguises and anticipating sweet treats. Instead, Donald Duck gleefully places firecrackers in their bags and douses them with water before retreating in quacking hysterics. All the while, an actual witch named Hazel has observed these events, and decides to intervene on behalf of Donald's dejected nephews. Thus ensues an battle of wills between the two, with the powerful Hazel hounding the belligerent duck with an enchanted fantasia of household items.

Directed by animation legend Jack Hannah, who’s been credited with developing the character of Donald Duck, this is a good-natured hoot for all ages, featuring an excellent score and exuberant animation.

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The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)

(Image credit: Disney)

Bringing Irving Washington’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to life is this animated double-feature. However, you’ll want to fast-forward to around the 36-minute mark if you plan on skipping the Wind in the Willows segment that opens the film.

Ichabod’s story is both jaunty and suspenseful. The lanky oddball arrives in a small village outside of Tarrytown to take up the position of schoolmaster, and quickly falls for the charms of Katrina Van Tassel. His luck in love, however, is resented by the bullish Brom Bones, and not long after the town’s big Halloween celebration, Ichabod finds himself pursued by the headless horseman, “looking for a top to chop”.

Disney’s eleventh animation, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad is artfully executed and boasts toe-tapping songs, with bouncy lyrics like “ghosts are bad but the one that’s cursed, the Headless Horseman, he’s the worst.” Plus, it’s narrated by Bing Crosby! But when Ichabod travels through the murky glen in the dead of night, thinking every hooting owl is an apparition? That’s genuinely nerve-wracking.

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Frankenweenie (2012)

(Image credit: Code List)

Tim Burton brought the majority of his Corpse Bride (2015) animators and crew on to produce this feature-length stop-motion remake of his 1984 live-action short. That film – also called Frankenweenie (and also on Disney Plus) – actually got Burton fired from Disney for “wasting company resources,” at a time before he was a household name.

Shot in striking black and white, Frankenweenie is a love-letter to the sci-fi genre, specifically the Universal Pictures classic Frankenstein. In the movie, Victor is an avid science enthusiast whose closest companion is his bull terrier Sparky. So, when Sparky is hit by a car, his grief leads him to reanimate the family dog in his makeshift laboratory. And it works! But once his fellow pupils get word, they’re clamouring for Victor to bring their pets back from the dead too.

Frankenweenie is a dream for Burton fans: dark, idiosyncratic, and populated by bizarre characters. Plus, it reunited him with regular collaborators like Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands), Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood).

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Growing Fangs (2021)

(Image credit: Disney)

Episode three of the Disney anthology Launchpad Presents is a fantastical tale about Mexican American teen Val Garcia, who's got a secret she’s been hiding from her friend Jimmy. She’s a vampire! And she’s half-human too. But she’s struggling to reconcile these distinct identities.

That means being able to go out in the day, but having to wear factor 10,000 sunblock, and having to hide evidence of her human nature while among the werewolves and wizards at Monster School. Because, popular opinion dictates – and its shared by her schoolgirl crush Elsie Fang – that mortals are violent, stupid and unpredictable.

Written and directed by Ann Marie Pace and starring Keyla Monterroso as Val, it’s an imaginative and warm-hearted short about diversity and the complexities of identity. Comforting Val when a test reveals her dual human/vampire nature, the school nurse affirms: “I’m a witch. I’m tall. I’m Muslim. And I am fabulous.” Here here!

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All the Halloween movies and TV shows on Disney Plus available to stream

While we've picked out the most notable Halloween movies and TV shows on Disney Plus, there's plenty more readily available to stream. Whether you're after something seriously spooky, or a creepy tail to suit the little ones, here's a full list of everything you can watch on Disney Plus this Halloween.

Movies and Series:

• Bride of Boogedy
• Can of Worms
• Don’t Look Under the Bed
• Edward Scissorhands
• Frankenweenie (2012)
• Gargoyles
• Girl vs. Monster
• Gravity Falls
• Halloweentown
• Halloweentown High
• Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
• Hocus Pocus
• Invisible Sister
• James and the Giant Peach
• Maleficent
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
• Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
• Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire
• Mr. Boogedy
• Phantom of the Megaplex
• Return to Halloweentown
• So Weird
• Spooky Buddies
• The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
• The Ghosts of Buxley Hall
• The Haunted Mansion
• The Scream Team
• Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Twitches
• Twitches Too
• Vampirina
• Wizards of Waverly Place
• Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
• ZOMBIES
• ZOMBIES 2

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror (I - XXX) and The Simpsons Horror Collection

Shorts and Specials:

• Captain Sparky Vs. The Flying Saucers
• Frankenweenie (1984)
• Lonesome Ghosts
• Mater and the Ghostlight
• The Legend of Mor'du
• Toy Story of Terror!
• Trick or Treat
• Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock!

Haunting Episodes:

• WandaVision - “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”
• What If...? - “What If...Zombies?!”
• The Muppet Show - “Vincent Price”
• Behind The Attraction - “The Haunted Mansion”
• The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse - “Houseghosts”
• The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse - “Once Upon An Apple”
• Prop Culture - “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
• Earth To Ned - “Night of the Living Ned”
• The Incredible Dr. Pol - “Pol-Tergeist”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Scared Silly, Trick or Treat, and a Home Wrecking Rodent”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Tricks & Treats, Costume Party and Baby Monsters”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Halloween Classics, Magic Mishaps, and Spiders”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Halloweenies and Creepy Crawlies”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Halloween, Instant Karma, and Scared Stupid”
• America’s Funniest Home Videos - “Halloweenies 2012 and Second Guy Bites It”

Disney Channel Halloween Episodes:

• A.N.T Farm - “Mutant Farm”
• Big City Greens - “Blood Moon Part 1 / Blood Moon Part 2”
• Bunk'd - “Camp Kiki-slasher”
• DuckTales (2017) - “Terror of the Terra-firmians!”
• Even Stevens - “A Very Scary Story”
• Girl Meets World - “Girl Meets World of Terror”
• Good Luck Charlie - “Scary Had a Little Lamb”
• Goof Troop - “Hallow-Weenies”
• Gravity Falls - “Summerween”
• Hannah Montana - “Torn Between Two Hannahs”
• Jessie - “The Whining”
• K.C. Undercover - “All Howls Eve”
• Kim Possible - “October 31st”
• Lab Rats - “Night of The Living Virus”
• Liv and Maddie - “Haunt-A-Rooney”
• Lizzie McGuire - “Night of the Day of the Dead”
• Mickey Mouse (Shorts) - “Ghoul Friend”
• Phil of the Future - “Halloween”
• Phineas and Ferb - “Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror” (Part 1 and 2)
• Raven's Home - “Switch-Or-Treat”
• Recess - “Terrifying Tales of Recess”
• Shake It Up - “Haunt It Up”
• Sonny With A Chance - “A So Random Halloween Special”
• Star vs. The Forces of Evil - “Hungry Larry/Spider with a Top Hat”
• Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure - “The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth”
• That's So Raven - “Don't Have a Cow”
• The Proud Family - “A Hero For Halloween”
• The Suite Life of Zack & Cody - “Ghost of 613”
• The Suite Life On Deck - “Sea Monster Mash”
• Wizards of Waverly Place - “Halloween”

Disney Junior Halloween Episodes:

• Doc McStuffins - “Boo-Hoo to You! / It's Glow Time”
• Doc McStuffins - “Hallie Halloween / Don't Fence Me In”
• Doc McStuffins “Mirror, Mirror On My Penguin / Hide and Eek!”
• Fancy Nancy - “Nancy's Costume Clash / Nancy's Ghostly Halloween”
• Goldie & Bear - “Witch Cat is Which? / Trick or Treat Trouble”
• Handy Manny - “Halloween / Squeeze's Magic Show”
• Henry Hugglemonster - “Halloween Scramble / Scouts Night Out”
• Henry Hugglemonster - “Huggleween Moon”
• Imagination Movers - “A Monster Problem”
• Imagination Movers - “Haunted Halloween”
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates - “Escape from Ghost Island / The Island of Doctor Undergear”
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates - “Night of the Golden Pumpkin / Trick or Treasure!”
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates - “Phantoms of Never-Nether Land / Magical Mayhem”
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates - “Pirate Ghost Story / Queen Izzybella”
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates - “Tricks, Treats and Treasure! / Season of the Sea Witch”
• Little Einsteins - “A Little Einsteins Halloween”
• Mickey and the Roadster Racers - “Goof Mansion / A Doozy Night of Mystery”
• Mickey and the Roadster Racers - “The Haunted Hot Rod / Pete's Ghostly Gala”
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - “Mickey's Monster Musical” (Part 1 and 2)
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - “Mickey's Treat”
• Miles from Tomorrowland - “Ghost Moon / Stormy Night in a Dark Nebula”
• Muppet Babies - “Happy Hallowocka!/The Teeth-Chattering Tale of the Haunted Pancakes”
• Out of the Box - “Trick or Treat”
• Puppy Dog Pals - “Return to the Pumpkin Patch / Haunted Howl-oween”
• Sheriff Callie's Wild West - “The Great Hallow”
• Sofia the First - “Cauldronation Day”
• Sofia the First - “Ghostly Gala”
• Sofia the First - “Princess Butterfly”
• The Lion Guard - “Beware the Zimwi”
• Vampirina - “Hauntleyween / Frankenflower”

Discover more:

• The best Disney Plus movies: from Marvel to Star Wars
• The best Disney Plus shows: from WandaVision to Monsters at Work
• Is the streaming service for you? Read our Disney Plus review

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