Newsies (released as The News Boys in the United Kingdom) is a 1992 American musical comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Kenny Ortega in his film directing debut. It is loosely based on the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899 and was released on April 10, 1992. This is actually Disney's first fully live-action musical, as previous musicals with live-action (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Pete's Dragon) had animated segments.