Steve Martin celebrates 80th birthday on Disneyland set amid Oswald the Lucky Rabbit rumors

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit has suddenly become the center of conversation again, and Steve Martin may just be part of the reason why. The comedy legend turned 80 this week and chose to spend his birthday exactly where his story began - at Disneyland.

But the real buzz and fuzz? Fans believe the project he filmed that day is tied to Jon Favreau's upcoming Disney+ series about Walt Disney's earliest creation, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!

An 80th birthday celebration with a touch of magic and mystery surrounding Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

For Steve Martin, birthdays aren't just about cake and parties. On August 14, he walked back into Disneyland's magic shop, the very spot where he worked as a teenager and filmed a one-day scene.

Speaking at the Television Academy's Televerse festival just two days later, Martin told fans,

"I shot a little one-day scene at Disneyland on my birthday, August 14, two days ago, and it was in the magic shop where I worked when I was 15. I'm standing on the exact same spot that I stood on when I was 15! And I said, 'it's like going to work when you're 15, and then coming home from work and you're 80.''

That moment of full-circle nostalgia has already made the headlines, but the bigger question was what exactly he was filming? Martin gave no direct answer, though whispers point strongly toward Jon Favreau's series on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, which is reportedly being shot inside the park.

With Kathryn Hahn, Amy Sedaris, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Ryder Allen already confirmed as cast members, Martin's presence in the Disney+ show could add a spark to the project. Favreau is serving as writer, director, and executive producer, with Walt Disney Studios backing the show.

The possibility of Martin stepping into a new Disney role with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit just as he celebrates his 80th birthday feels symbolic. His career has often blurred comedy with a sense of childlike wonder, and Oswald - the mischievous, pre-Mickey Mouse character fits right into that universe.

Rumors of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and a fresh new Only Murders in the Building tease

Martin's Disneyland celebration and hints of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit weren't the only highlights of Televerse. He was joined by Martin Short (via video), Selena Gomez, and showrunner John Hoffman for an Only Murders in the Building panel.

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Jon Favreau’s live-action/animated hybrid ‘OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT’ series will reportedly have 3 episodes.​(via @DanielRPK)

While the birthday story got fans buzzing, Hoffman stirred more excitement by teasing what's ahead for Season 5. Hoffman explained;

"We do something new, we pull from the headlines of New York today...That'll be a tease, and you'll have to figure out what that means. But very specifically in ways that are very current right now. And also we go back to the theme that's always started this, the classic-meets-modern and old versus new."

The first trailer has already shown that Charles (Martin), Oliver (Short), and Mabel (Gomez) will find themselves dealing with organized crime in New York, following the shocking death of Arconia doorman Lester. Hoffman hinted;

"This is very much, what is the power game going on in New York that might be reflective of a little bit of what's going on in the country...interesting dynamics about who gets the power and who has the power?...And what does our trio do if they're smack dab in the middle of that?"

So, while Martin might be quietly stepping into the world of Disney with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, he's also gearing up for another wild ride in Hulu's Emmy-nominated mystery-comedy. With Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building returning September 9, fans won't have to wait long.

If the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit rumors prove true, it means Martin has circled back to Disney in a big way, right as he continues to lead one of TV's most beloved comedies. For fans, that's a double gift worth celebrating.

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