Disney kicked off D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with a packed Disney Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, delivering a night of first looks, casting reveals, surprise cameos and release date announcements spanning its film, television, streaming, gaming and stage divisions. CEO Josh D’Amaro opened the show, which was hosted by Zootopia 2 stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan and kicked off with a dance number choreographed by Mandy Moore featuring the Dancing with the Stars pros.
Live-action slate adds ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ and ‘Tangled’ casting updates
Anne Hathaway, who will be named a Disney Legend this weekend, reflected on her history with the studio dating back to The Princess Diaries. Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo in the live-action Lilo & Stitch, introduced Stitch and his new pink co-star Angel on the big screen, ahead of news that Lilo & Stitch 2 begins production in Hawaiʻi later this year under returning director Chris Sanders. The sequel opens May 26, 2028.
Kathryn Hahn introduced updates on the live-action Tangled, including a taped message from stars Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim, who are currently filming in Spain. Director Michael Gracey’s cast additions include Diego Luna as a new character named Hawthorne, Caitríona Balfe as Queen Arianna and Elliot Cowan as King Frederic. Tangled opens March 31, 2028.
Elsewhere, The Bluey Movie got its first teaser trailer and poster, complete with a live game of Keepy Uppy for the crowd, and arrives Aug. 6, 2027. Ice Age: Boiling Point, introduced by Queen Latifah and Denis Leary, debuted a clip featuring new character Jurassic Scrat ahead of its Feb. 5, 2027 release. Jon Favreau also previewed Oswald, a live-action animated hybrid series reviving Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, premiering Feb. 17, 2027, on Disney+.
Pixar reveals ‘Coco 2’ details and two new original films
Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter led an extensive slate reveal, opening with first-look footage of Incredibles 3, directed by Peter Sohn and due June 16, 2028.
Docter then confirmed Coco 2 will bring back Benjamin Bratt as villain Ernesto de la Cruz, who reemerges in a story that sends a teenage Miguel back to the Land of the Dead. The sequel reunites original director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina and opens in November 2029.
Two new original films rounded out Pixar’s presentation: Ghost Market, centered on a plate lunch shop on Oʻahu’s North Shore that serves spirits caught between life and death, directed by Trevor Jimenez and Jesse Andrews and set for March 2028; and Gatto, from Luca director Enrico Casarosa, following a cat named Nero voiced by Mark Ruffalo who gets tangled up with a feline mob boss voiced by Laurence Fishburne. Gatto opens March 5, 2027.
Marvel debuts ‘VisionQuest’ trailer and confirms X-Men casting
Paul Bettany and James Spader joined Kevin Feige to debut the trailer for VisionQuest, the Disney+ series concluding the trilogy that began with WandaVision and Agatha All Along. It premieres Oct. 14.
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell then joined Feige to unveil new footage from Avengers: Doomsday, confirming the film’s ensemble cast and opening tickets for its Dec. 18 release.
Feige closed out Marvel’s segment with a major casting reveal for Marvel’s untitled X-Men film, confirming Kit Connor, Christopher Abbott, Samara Weaving, Inde Navarrette and Maya Boyd will join previously announced star Sadie Sink, with Adam Driver appearing via video to confirm his role. The film opens May 5, 2028. A new trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine also debuted, ahead of the game’s Sept. 15 launch on PlayStation 5.
Lucasfilm previews ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2 and ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’
Dave Filoni debuted the Season 2 teaser for Ahsoka, with Rosario Dawson returning in the lead role for a story pitting her against Grand Admiral Thrawn. The season premieres Jan. 20, 2027, on Disney+.
Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling took the stage to preview Star Wars: Starfighter, which also stars Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and Amy Adams. Gosling’s entrance nodded to his own Mouseketeer past, appearing in a retro Mickey Mouse Club jacket. The film opens in theaters May 28, 2027.
Walt Disney Animation Studios confirms ‘Zootopia 3,’ unveils two new titles
Zootopia 3 is officially in development, with Jared Bush, Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan revealing exclusive footage, though a release date has not been set.
The studio also unveiled Clay (working title), a new original film starring Kieran Culkin as the voice of lead character Flip, set in a magical forest and releasing in 2028. Disney’s Hexed added Walton Goggins and Jodie Foster to its cast, joining previously announced stars Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones, ahead of its Nov. 25 release.
The night closed with a Frozen 3 performance from Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad, capped by new footage teasing a villain whose powers rival Elsa’s. Frozen 3 opens Nov. 24, 2027.
Disney’s TV, National Geographic and stage divisions round out the night
Percy Jackson and the Olympians revealed its Season 3 teaser inspired by “The Titan’s Curse,” premiering Nov. 20 on Disney+. An anime series based on Kingdom Hearts was also greenlit for Disney Channel and Disney+, developed with series creator Tetsuya Nomura.
National Geographic debuted the trailer for Lion, a four-years-in-the-making documentary following a lion pride and cub named Kio. It premieres Aug. 19 on the network and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Camp Rock 3, exec produced by the Jonas Brothers, is now streaming on Disney+.
Disney Theatrical Group announced a stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End in spring 2027, starring Oliver Tompsett, Samantha Barks and Malinda Parris.
Watch the trailers from the announcements below:
Featured image photo credit: Courtesy Photos Provided; Photo: The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA
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