The Walt Disney Company held its entertainment showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event which took place in Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA.
The event consisted of new film and series announcements, surprise celebrity appearances and major musical performances.
Hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, the event featured a number of the company’s senior leaders including Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, Pixar Animation Studios chief creative officer Pete Docter, Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee, and Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige, who introduced the stars and storytellers behind the company’s new and existing titles.
Walt Disney Animation Studios announcements:
Moana 2 (27 November 2024)
The reveal kicked off the showcase with a performance by the voice of Moana, Auli‘i Cravalho, alongside dancers and drummers from Nonosina Polynesia. Fans got to hear We’re Back, a song written by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear—one of several new songs to be featured in the film that reunites Moana and Maui for an expansive new voyage. Actor Dwayne Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, revealed a new trailer and poster for the film. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the new film opens in theatres on 27 November 2024.
Zootopia 2 (November 2025)
Ginnifer Goodwin, who returns to voice clever bunny Judy in the film shared a special look at the film that features a fugitive snake called Gary. Jason Bateman returns as the voice of wise-cracking fox Nick Wild. Ke Huy Quan was announced as the voice of Gary, and Fortune Feimster as a beaver named Nibbles. Jared Bush is directing and writing; Yvett Merino produces.
Frozen 3 (2027)
Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee, who wrote and directed 2013’s Oscar-winning Frozen and its 2019 follow-up, shared a brief tease and concept art for Frozen 3, which comes to theatres in 2027.
Avatar: Fire and Ash title reveal (19 December 2025)
The third instalment of the live-action film Avatar, Avatar: Fire and Ash, takes audiences back to Pandora in a new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and the Sully family. Directed by James Cameron, the new film from 20th Century Studios and Lightstorm Entertainment also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Oona Chaplin, Jack Champion, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss and Bailey Bass. Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in theatres 19 December 2025.
Pixar Animation Studios announcements:
Win or Lose (6 December 2024)
A sneak peek and teaser poster of this new series from Pixar were revealed at D23. Directed, written and executive produced by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, and produced by David Lally, the series reveals what it feels like to be in the shoes of eight different characters—the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire—as they prepare for a championship softball game. Will Forte lends his voice to the coach.
Dream Productions
Dream Productions is a series from the world of Inside Out. The series is about the studio inside Riley’s mind where dreams really do come true thanks to acclaimed dream director Paula Persimmon (voice of Paula Pell). Written and directed by Mike Jones and produced by Jaclyn Simon, the four-episode series features the voices of Richard Ayoade, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Alli Maki, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith.
Elio (13 June 2025)
Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, this new adventure film follows Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, who gets beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organisation that mistakes him for Earth’s leader. Elio releases in theatres on 13 June, 2025.
Hoppers (2026)
This new Pixar film introduces Mabel, an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a life-like robotic animal: an adorable beaver. Directed by Daniel Chong and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, the film features the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm.
Toy Story 5 (19 June 2026)
Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, who’s worked on every Toy Story film and helms the new movie. At D23, he offered a few clues about the new story. This time around, it’s Toy meets Tech when Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs get exponentially harder as they go head to head with this all-new threat to playtime. Co-directed by McKenna Harris and produced by Jessica Choi, Toy Story 5 opens only in theatres on 19 June 2026.
Incredibles 3
Fans’ favourite super-family is heading back to the big screen—Incredibles 3 is officially in the works at Pixar Animation Studios with Oscar-winning filmmaker Brad Bird currently developing the film.
Lucasfilm announcements:
Skeleton Crew (3 December 2024)
Skeleton Crew will be releasing its first two episodes on 3 December 2024. Told through the perspective of four kids, the series follows the kids as they make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy, crossing paths with the likes of Jod Na Nawood, a mysterious character that Law portrays. The coming-of-age series also stars Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon and Nick Frost. Episodes of the original live-action series are directed by Watts, David Lowery, Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and Lee Isaac Chung. Executive producers are Christopher Ford, Jon Watts, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. The first teaser trailer is now available.
Andor (2025)
Season two of Andor is on the horizon and star Diego Luna joined fans at D23 to build excitement for the follow-up to the critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated first season of the Lucasfilm series. Andor Season 2 will continue to follow Cassian Andor over the period of four years as he grows into the rebel hero we see fulfill his destiny in Rogue One. The second season will launch on Disney+ in 2025.
The Mandalorian and Grogu (22 May 2026)
Director Jon Favreau and producer Dave Filoni offered a special sneak peek of Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, the upcoming Star Wars feature film that will open in theatres on 22 May 2026. Starring Pedro Pascal, directed by Favreau and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Favreau, Filoni and Ian Bryce, this new adventure in the Mandalorian and Grogu’s journey is currently in production.
Marvel Studios’ & Marvel Television’ announcements:
Captain America: Brave New World (14 February 2025)
Captain America: Brave New World star Anthony Mackie – who makes his big-screen debut as Cap on 14 February 2025 – talked about the film and shared footage with the D23 audience. Julius Onah directs the feature film in which Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross. The film also stars Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson and Harrison Ford. Feige and Nate Moore produce; Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth executive produce.
Daredevil Born Again (March 2025)
Launching on Disney+ in March 2025, Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again catches up with Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, and his nemesis, Wilson Fisk, who’s pursuing his own political endeavours in New York. The series’ stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Jon Bernthal took to the stage to talk a little about the upcoming show before sharing footage with the attendees. Dario Scardapane is head writer and showrunner; episodes are directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff and David Boyd.
Fantastic Four: First Steps (25 July 2025)
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which just began production in the UK, brings back Marvel’s First Family and the retro-futuristic vibe the new movie is embracing. Starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing, Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer. Directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Feige and featuring music by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, the film hits theatres on 25 July 2025.
Ironheart (2025)
Ryan Coogler and his team at Proximity are producing the series Ironheart with Marvel Television. Actors Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Regan Aliyah and Alden Ehrenreich offered insight and a look at some footage of the new series that launches on the streamer in 2025. Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the series pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos). The series also stars Lyric Ross, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White. Chinaka Hodge is head writer and EP; episodes are directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes.
Marvel Animation projects
Marvel Streaming, Television, and Animation head Brad Winderbaum shared a look at the next two years of Marvel Animation’s series during the Marvel Animation panel, including a look at the final season of What If…?, the second season of X-Men ’97, Eyes of Wakanda, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. He was joined on stage by voice talent including Cal Dodd, who voices Wolverine in X-Men ’97 and Lenore Zann, who voices Rogue in X-Men ’97. Winderbaum was also joined by filmmaker Bryan Andrews, director and EP for What If…? and Marvel Zombies; Todd Harris, director and EP of Eyes of Wakanda; Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther and producer of Eyes of Wakanda; and Jeff Trammell, head writer and EP of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, who announced that Hudson Thames will be playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Colman Domingo will play Norman Osborn in the upcoming series, before both actors joined him on stage. The panel ended with a surprise look at the much-anticipated series Marvel Zombies.
Disney Entertainment Television announcements:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2025)
Disney+ Original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians series co-creator Rick Riordan and actors Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase) and Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood) revealed an exclusive start of production tease from the upcoming second season. From Disney Branded Television and 20th Television, production on the adventure series is currently underway in Vancouver for a 2025 debut on the streaming platform. Season two is based on The Sea of Monsters, the second instalment of Disney Hyperion’s best-selling Percy Jackson book series by acclaimed author Rick Riordan.
Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour
Disney Branded Television, Disney Concerts, Disney Music Group, and AEG jointly announced that the stars of the franchises Descendants and Zombies will be hitting the road together for the “Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour” in summer 2025. Descendants: The Rise of Red star Rita Ora introduced a medley performance of hit songs from the latest film. The arena tour will be an immersive and interactive live concert experience celebrating the music from both franchises and will be held in arenas across the country. Descendants: The Rise of Red stars Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker, Dara Reneé, and Ruby Rose Turner, as well as Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires stars Freya Skye and Malachi Barton are confirmed for the tour, with more to be announced soon. Tickets for the tour will go on sale this November.
Disney live action announcements:
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
A new logo was revealed for the feature Lilo & Stitch. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and produced by Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin, the film is a live-action reimagining of the animated classic. Starring Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere and Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance and Zach Galifianakis, the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family comes to theatres summer 2025.
Tron Ares (10 October 2025)
Tron: Ares stars Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee, Evan Peters and Jared Leto garnered huge applause from the audience—Leto, who portrays Ares, hit the stage in style alongside an iconic Lightcycle. Cast members shared details about their characters as well as an in-room-only early look. After a sonic assault, lasers burned into the screens, which parted to reveal music by Nine Inch Nails. Slated for theatrical release on 10 October 2025, the film follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. Joachim Rønning directs; producers are Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Justin Springer, Leto, Emma Ludbrook and Steven Lisberger.
Freakier Friday (2025)
Freakier Friday, heads to theatres in 2025. Directed by Nisha Ganatra and produced by Kristin Burr, Andrew Gunn and Curtis, the new film picks up years after Curtis and Lohan’s characters, Tess and Anna, first endured an identity crisis: Anna has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate challenges that come when two families merge, they discover that lightning might indeed strike twice. Freakier Friday also stars Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky and Rosalind Chao. Executive producers are Nathan Kelly, Ann Marie Sanderlin and Lohan. The logo for the film is now available.
Dwayne Johnson’s unannounced movie
Dwayne Johnson and Alan Bergman revealed that a new movie is in the works about monster trucks, leaning into the popularity of monster jam truck rallies and celebrating the biggest motorsport event in the world. Johnson will produce via his Seven Bucks Productions.
Disney Experiences announced that Ron Clements’ memoir, Making Disney Magic . . . from a Mermaid to Moana: Tales from a Disney Animation Director will be released in July 2025 from Disney Publishing. With a foreword by his creative partner, co-writer, and co-director John Musker, this illustrated memoir by a 45-year iconic filmmaker reveals his journey to discover his own voice, to hone his strengths, and to become a key storyteller and a pivotal leader at Walt Disney Animation Studios for more than four decades.
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (13 September)
A new trailer was unveiled for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Showrunners, writers, executive producers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit were on hand at the Lucasfilm booth along with executive producer and Lucasfilm senior vice president, franchise content & strategy James Waugh to offer fans more information about the animated special that sees the entire Star Wars Galaxy get completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artefact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.
The voice cast includes Gaten Matarazzo, Tony Revolori, Bobby Moynihan, Marsai Martin, Michael Cusack, Ahmed Best and a special guest appearance by Mark Hamill, who is also a consulting producer. The full cast was announced at the filmmakers’ presentation, including Naomi Ackie, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams, Dee Bradley Baker, TC Carson, Trevor Devall, Jake Green, Jennifer Hale, Phil LaMarr, Ross Marquand, Piotr Michael, Kevin Michael Richardson, Helen Sadler, Matt Sloan, Matthew Wood, Sam Witwer, and Shelby Young. The special is directed by Chris Buckley, and Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, Josh Rimes, Jill Wilfert, Jason Cosler and Keith Malone are the executive producers. Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy debuts with all four “pieces” on 13 September exclusively on Disney+.
Epic Games collaboration
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4 (16 August)
While live streamed in Fortnite, D’Amaro was joined live on stage by creative leads from across The Walt Disney Company — Jennifer Lee from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pete Docter from Pixar Animation Studios, Kevin Feige from Marvel Studios, and Dave Filoni from Lucasfilm — to discuss Disney’s expansive collaboration with Epic Games and how the full power of Disney storytelling will come to this dynamic, new environment. They shared how the world’s most notable characters and stories will converge in one connected universe where fans can watch, play and even create Disney stories. The group also announced new characters and skins coming soon to the game, from Disney Villains to The Incredibles and The Mandalorian, and showed a trailer for the next Marvel season featuring Doctor Doom which debuts on 16 August.
Simpsons Season 35 (2 October)
The Simpsons announced that season 35 of the hit animated series will launch on 2 October on Disney+, with 18 more episodes of fun with the Simpsons family. During the show’s panel at D23, Matt Groening, Matt Selman, Al Jean, Mike Price, Brian Kelley, David Silverman and Nancy Cartwright shared that four never-before-seen episodes of the series will be made available exclusively to Disney+ subscribers, including a special Christmas-themed double episode premiering 17 December. The four exclusive episodes, titled “The Past and the Furious,” “Yellow Planet,” and “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” — a Christmas double-episode — will debut in the months ahead on Disney+. This October, Disney+ will also be home to an exclusive new Halloween-themed short from the show.
