Disney offered fans a tantalizing glimpse into its upcoming movie and television projects during a spectacular showcase at D23 Expo, featuring sneak peeks, live performances, and surprise appearances from stars such as Dwayne Johnson, Zoe Saldaña, and Jude Law.
The event began on a high note as Disney CEO Bob Iger received a standing ovation from the passionate crowd at Disney’s D23 convention. “The world needs to be entertained maybe even more so now than ever before, and we take that responsibility seriously,” Iger remarked, setting the stage for presentations that teased new films from beloved franchises “Avatar,” “Toy Story,” and “Incredibles.”
The evening’s first major surprise came when Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, stars of “Moana,” electrified over 15,000 attendees at the Honda Center with a lively performance featuring drummers and dancers clad in costumes inspired by the animated hit. Both actors are set to reprise their roles in “Moana 2,” slated for a November 27 release. Before unveiling an extended sneak peek of the film, Johnson reflected on the meaningful nature of the project, mentioning that his daughters, ages six and eight, were present in the audience.
Following the announcement, Disney released the first full-length trailer online, introducing new characters, including Moana’s little sister, and familiar faces like her pet pig Pua and the Kakamora, a group of dart-blowing, coconut-clad pirates. Johnson also revealed his involvement in developing a “Monster Jam” live-action movie while confirming that no further updates were available for the live-action “Moana” currently in development.
Additional excitement ensued when filmmakers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni teased “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” a new Star Wars film set for a May 2026 release. The duo shared that production had only recently begun but felt compelled to share a brief clip featuring the titular characters embarking on a new journey.
Jude Law added to the Star Wars frenzy, announcing that “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” would premiere on Disney+ on December 3. Law reminisced about his childhood love for Star Wars before sharing exclusive footage from the coming-of-age series.
Pixar Animation Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter took the stage to announce that “The Incredibles 3” is in the works. Fans of the superfamily can rejoice as updates about the third installment were shared, eliciting enthusiastic reactions from the crowd and social media.
Moreover, Andrew Stanton, who directed the first two “Toy Story” films, confirmed his return to helm “Toy Story 5.” The film, scheduled for a summer 2026 release, will address the modern-day conflict between toys and technology, emphasizing the contemporary challenges classic toys face against the rising dominance of gadgets.
Fans also enjoyed a sneak peek at “Frozen III” with concept art revealed by Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee. The art depicted Anna, Elsa, and Olaf gazing at an ominous creature lurking on the horizon. The highly-anticipated film is set to debut in 2027.
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Another highlight was the reunion of director James Cameron with actors Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington to discuss the third installment of the “Avatar” franchise, titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” While production is still in its early stages, Cameron shared concept art and promised that the film would exceed expectations, hinting at unexpected but highly desirable elements.
“Zootopia 2” also received attention with an exclusive preview promising its release in November 2025. Ginnifer Goodwin, the film’s star, revealed that Ke Huy Quan will join the cast as a snake, adding even more anticipation for the sequel.
Marvel fans were not left out, with Marvel president Kevin Feige joining the event after a welcome video from “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds. Following the record-breaking success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” excitement continued with details about the upcoming series “Ironheart,” introduced by Ryan Coogler, the director of the “Black Panther” movies. Stars Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos provided a first look at the series, which follows Thorne’s character, Riri Williams, first introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Feige also captivated the audience with updates on “Marvel’s first family,” the Fantastic Four. Actors Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach made a virtual appearance, offering greetings from the U.K. set where filming recently began. Embracing a retro 1960s aesthetic, the team shared a short pre-production clip to the delight of Marvel fans.
In other revelations, director Barry Jenkins and musical maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda introduced a new song from “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot shared a sneak peek of the live-action “Snow White,” set for a March 2025 release, which promises new musical compositions by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul.
D23 attendees also learned that “Tron: Ares” will feature a soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails, while Kathryn Hahn teased a new song from her upcoming Marvel series “Agatha All Along,” co-written by the celebrated duo behind “Frozen” and “Coco.”
The event wrapped up with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan announcing “Freakier Friday,” the much-anticipated sequel to “Freaky Friday,” sharing first images from the film. Further news from Pixar included the announcement of the original film “Hoppers” and new series “Dream Productions” and “Win or Lose.”
The D23 Expo undoubtedly left fans buzzing with excitement, eagerly anticipating the future of their favorite Disney franchises and new storytelling adventures awaiting them.
