On March 12, 2020, Walt Disney Studios Park announced that all live shows were suspended and temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak on France. However, following Disneyland Paris' reopening, Walt Disney Studios Park announced that an updated version of the show would return on April 23, 2022, as part of Disneyland Paris' 30th anniversary celebration.
To illustrate this return to where the magic all began, the creators draw inspiration from the great illusionist Georges Méliès and the famous magician Robert-Houdin. This is not a traditional magic show. The illusions will form the basis of this brand new story. Disneyland Paris has called on the acclaimed magician Paul Kieve to create these illusions. Paul Kieve said that it’s hard to think of the word ‘Disney’ without also thinking of the word ‘Magic’. He became fascinated with magic when he was 10 years old and was always inventing ideas in his head. One of the great things about working on ‘Mickey and the Magician' is that I can bring some of these ideas into reality![3]
This 28-minute musical show is set in a great Magician’s atelier in 19th century of Paris, where the assistant is no other than a certain Mickey (with an articulated head) is given the task of cleaning up the room at night, Tinker Bell has spread a little stardust. When he is given the task of cleaning up the atelier before sunrise, the young apprentice gets distracted! Nothing turns out as expected.
Finally, Mickey becomes the hero in this incredible show where illusion is key and the audience find themselves plunged into a world of magic and delight.
One of the main characters of the show, the magician, directly inspired Ace Cooper, the character of the French animated TV series The Magician, and his face is similar to that of the Marvel Comics superhero Dr. Stephen Strange.[4]
Mickey's updated look (first seen at Shanghai Disneyland) especially with the articulated head and Genie's stage show design (similar to the one at Hong Kong Disneyland and the Disney's Believe cruise show) make their European debuts in this show.
Cinderella seems to be based on her live-action incarnation as Ella.
The Lion King segment of the show has a reference to the opening scene of its Broadway adaptation.
