The Walt Disney Company celebrated “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” Hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, the event featured a number of Disney’s creative leaders, including Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee, and Marvel Studios’ President and producer Kevin Feige were on stage to introduce the stars and storytellers behind new titles.
Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger kicked off the evening to thank fans for their enduring passion, and to highlight what sets Disney apart as a global leader in creative storytelling and innovation. “Our deep bond with fans, forged over a century of storytelling, is stronger today than ever before,” he said, “driven by the unmatched strength of our creative studios, the wide appeal of our brands and franchises, and the innovative ways that we bring our stories to life in our theme parks and experiences.”
Disney Animation’s “Moana 2,” set to open only in theaters on November 27, 2024, kicked off the showcase with a performance by the voice of Moana herself, Auli‘i Cravalho, alongside dancers and drummers from Nonosina Polynesia. Following the performance, Dwayne Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, hit the stage to greet fans and drum up excitement, revealing for the first time a new trailer and poster, which are now available. The film is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino.
Moreover, 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 exclusively to movie theaters in 2027.
“Avatar” franchise creator James Cameron was on site to share details about the next chapter. Joined by “Avatar” stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, Cameron revealed for the first time the title of the third film in the franchise: “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which will open exclusively in theaters in the U.S. on December 19, 2025. The film will take audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Saldaña) and the Sully family.
Pixar Animation Studios’ Pete Docter revealed the official launch date of Pixar’s first original series “Win or Lose,” which begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ on December 6, 2024. Directed, written and executive produced by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, and produced by David Lally, the new 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.
Coming to Disney+ in 2025 is “Dream Productions,” a series from the world of “Inside Out” 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 also features the voices of Richard Ayoade, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Alli Maki, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith.
The studio also announced its upcoming feature film, “Elio,” which will release in theaters on June 13, 2025. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, the new adventure follows Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, who gets beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization that mistakes him for Earth’s leader. Greeting fans were the voice of Elio himself, Yonas Kibreab, and Zoe Saldaña, who lends her voice to Elio’s Aunt Olga. Produced by Mary Alice Drumm, the movie also features the voices of Brad Garrett and Jameela Jamil.
Coming to theaters in 2026 is “Hoppers,” an all-new film from Pixar that 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, “Hoppers” features the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm.
The D23 crowd also heard about Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” which will open only in theaters on June 19, 2026, when Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, who’s worked on every “Toy Story” film and helms the new movie, greeted fans and 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. It is co-directed by McKenna Harris and produced by Jessica Choi.
Docter finally announced “Incredibles 3” is officially in the works at Pixar Animation Studios with Oscar®-winning filmmaker Brad Bird currently developing the film.
As for Lucasfilm, Jude Law hit the stage to offer insight on a brand-new Star Wars series launching on Disney+ on December 3, 2024, with the first two episodes. Told through the perspective of four kids, Lucasfilm’s “Skeleton Crew” follows them 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.
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 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.
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 theaters on May 22, 2026. Starring Pedro Pascal, directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Favreau, Filoni and Ian Bryce, this exciting new adventure in the Mandalorian and Grogu’s journey is currently in production.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige discussed next month’s launch of Marvel Television’s new series “Agatha All Along” in which the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth teen helps break her free from a distorted spell.
Feige welcomed “Captain America: Brave New World” star Anthony Mackie, who makes his big-screen debut as the character on February 14, 2025. Mackie talked about the film and shared footage with the D23 audience.
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 endeavors in New York.
Fans also were able to see more about “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which just began production in the UK, and features Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing. Directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and featuring music by Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hits theaters on July 25, 2025.
Proximity’s Ryan Coogler presented the upcoming Disney+ series “Ironheart” with Marvel Television. Stars 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.
The company also announced the second season of Disney Entertainment Television’s Disney+ Original series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” based on “The Sea of Monsters,” the second installment of Disney Hyperion’s best-selling “Percy Jackson” book series by acclaimed author Rick Riordan.
National Geographic revealed a first look at the upcoming series, “David Blaine: Do Not Attempt,” coming 2025 on National Geographic and Disney+.
Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins and Anika Noni Rose were introduced after Jenkins shared details about the all-new story that introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” opens in theaters December 20, 2024.
“Disney’s Snow White,” a live-action reimagining of the classic tale, whistles into theaters March 21, 2025. Stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who portray Snow White and her stepmother, the Evil Queen, respectively, hit the stage to share a special look at the upcoming film, including a brand-new teaser trailer and poster.
A new logo was revealed for the feature “Lilo & Stitch.” Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and produced by Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin, “Lilo & Stitch” is a live-action reimagining of the animated classic that will come to theaters Summer 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. Slated for theatrical release on October 10, 2025, “TRON: Ares” 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.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, the stars of the upcoming “Freaky Friday” follow-up, revealed to fans for the first time the sequel’s official title, “Freakier Friday,” which heads to theaters 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.
Finally, 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.