New on Disney+ UK in March 2023: From Empire of Light to The Mandalorian S3

With Baftas done and dusted and the Oscars almost upon us, March sees Sir Sam Mendes’ multiple award nominated love letter to cinema Empire of Light arriving on Disney+ UK.

Also on the original film front, Keira Knightley stars as a news reporter determined to uncover the truth in Boston Strangler, based on the infamous true crime case.

On the TV front, two massively beloved shows return for new series. The Mandalorian S3 is set to bring everybody’s favourite bounty hunter daddy and alien space child duo back to our screens, while a new term is about to begin in the triple Emmy award winning school-based comedy Abbott Elementary, whose second season is finally hitting UK screens.

Read more: Everything new on Prime Video in March

Read more: Everything new on Netflix in March

Read more: Everything new on Paramount+ in March

Read more: Everything new on NOW in March

Elsewhere, a searing Mount Everest documentary, a timey-wimey FX drama, and new Marvel animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur also await.

Here’s everything we know is headed to Disney+ in March…

Movies coming to Disney+ UK in March 2023

Empire of Light | 1 March

1917 director Sam Mendes writes and directs this touching 1980s set drama, centred around an ailing independent cinema in a small coastal town. Olivia Colman stars as Hilary, a cinema manager battling mental health issues who finds an unexpected kindred spirit in the shape of Stephen (Micheal Ward), a new, younger employee facing his own struggles.

A paean to the healing powers of cinema, music, and community spirit, it’s a lavishly shot and beautifully scored love letter to bricks and mortar cinemas with a timely sociopolitical undercurrent.

Finding Michael | 3 March

In 1999, at the age of just 22, Michael Matthews became the youngest Brit to climb Mount Everest. Tragically, Matthews was separated from his group on the descent in an area ominously known as Everest’s ‘Death Zone’. He was declared missing, presumed dead shortly after.

Now, 20 years since his brother’s ill-fated expedition, Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews — alongside mountaineering expert Nims Purja — leads a search party to try and recover Michael Matthews’ body in Finding Michael. It looks to be an emotional watch, so tissues at the ready.

Boston Strangler | 17 March

Writer-director Matt Ruskin’s Boston Strangler tells the remarkable true story of Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), the reporter who — alongside Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) — challenged the sexism rife in early 60s America to connect the murders and break the story of the eponymous killer. A treatise on journalistic integrity and gender politics as much as a straight-laced crime thriller, this one looks like it’s not to be missed.

TV shows coming to Disney+ UK in March 2023

The Mandalorian S3 | Releases weekly from 1 March

Armed with the Darksaber, reunited with Grogu (that’s Baby Yoda to you and I), and headed for his homeworld of Mandalore, The Mandalorian is back.

Read more: The story of The Mandalorian so far

The third season of the wildly popular Star Wars spin-off series is upon us, and this time we can expect to see not only a healthy mix of faces new and familiar to that Galaxy Far, Far Away (Babu Frik! Peli Motto! Greef Karga!), but also some long-awaited answers to some of the Star Wars universe’s most burning questions.

This is the way!

Abbott Elementary S2 | 10 episodes available on 1 March

Following hot on the heels of stars Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams’ recent Golden Globes wins, season two of buzzy workplace comedy Abbott Elementary lands on Disney+ in the UK this month... well, the first 10 episodes do at least (with more coming soon).

The show, which follows a group of educators as they try to navigate the Philadelphia public school system, mercurially blends the mockumentarian sharpness of The Office with the gentle charm and good-naturedness of Ted Lasso, doing something entirely its own in the process.

FX’s Kindred | All episodes available 29 March

Adapted from Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 novel, Kindred follows Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young novelist who finds herself discovering deep-rooted secrets from her family’s past when she inexplicably begins being transported in time between present day America and a 19th century plantation. This one, landing all at once and prime for binge viewing, promises an intriguing combination of mystery, social commentary, and fantasy.

Other movies and TV coming to Disney+ UK in March 2023

1 March

Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur (All Episodes)

Black Narcissus (All Episodes)

10 March

UnPrisoned (All Episodes)

22 March

Arrested Development (S1-3)

24 March

Up Here (Series Premiere)

31 March

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. S2 (All Episodes)

Watch: The Empire of Light cast discuss the future for cinema