Disney has unveiled a slate of exciting new movies and television series, including the much-anticipated “Moana 2,” during a thrilling showcase that featured sneak peeks, live performances, and surprise appearances by stars such as Dwayne Johnson, Zoe Saldaña, and Jude Law.
The D23 convention audience gave a rousing welcome to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who emphasized the company’s commitment to entertainment in challenging times. “The world needs to be entertained, perhaps now more than ever, and we take that responsibility seriously,” Iger stated as he introduced new projects from iconic franchises like “Avatar,” “Toy Story,” and “The Incredibles.”
In one of the evening’s highlights, “Moana” stars Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson surprised the crowd with a dynamic performance of a song from the upcoming sequel, featuring drummers and dancers in vibrant costumes reminiscent of the original film. Johnson, who reprises his role as Maui, expressed his personal connection to the project, sharing that his young daughters, who were present in the audience, are also fans of the franchise. “Moana 2” is slated for release on November 27, and Disney has already released its first full-length trailer online, revealing new characters, including Moana’s little sister, and familiar faces like Pua the pig and the Kakamora pirates.
Johnson also teased another upcoming project, a “Monster Jam” live-action movie, although no updates were provided on the live-action “Moana” adaptation currently in development.
Further adding to the excitement, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni presented a teaser for “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” a Star Wars film set for release in May 2026. Despite only recently starting production, the brief clip captivated the audience with hints of a new adventure for the beloved characters.
Jude Law took the stage to discuss “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” which will debut on Disney+ on December 3. Law shared his childhood love for the “Star Wars” saga before revealing exclusive footage from the upcoming series, described as a coming-of-age story.
Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter announced the development of “Incredibles 3” and confirmed Andrew Stanton’s return to direct “Toy Story 5.” Stanton hinted that the new “Toy Story” will explore the tension between traditional toys and modern technology, a timely theme in today’s gadget-driven world. The movie is expected to hit theaters in the summer of 2026.
Jennifer Lee, head of Walt Disney Animation Studios, gave a sneak peek at “Frozen III,” sharing concept art that depicted Anna, Elsa, and Olaf on a journey toward an unknown, possibly dangerous, new destination. Fans can expect the film in 2027.
James Cameron, alongside actors Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington, revealed details about “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the third installment in the “Avatar” series. Though early in production, the team shared concept art that hinted at exciting new elements of Pandora. Cameron, who will be honored as a “Disney Legend” at the D23 closing ceremony, promised that the new film would surprise and delight fans.
Disney also treated attendees to a first look at “Zootopia 2,” scheduled for a November 2025 release. Actress Ginnifer Goodwin announced that Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan would join the cast as a new character, a snake.
Following a successful run of announcements at Comic-Con, Marvel President Kevin Feige continued the momentum by sharing updates on several upcoming projects. Ryan Reynolds, via video message, expressed gratitude for the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” while Ryan Coogler shared a first look at the series “Ironheart,” featuring characters introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Feige also teased the highly anticipated “Fantastic Four” film, introducing the cast, which includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. He emphasized the retro 1960s aesthetic of the film before showing a brief pre-production clip.
The music will play a pivotal role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” with new original songs composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the mastermind behind hits from “Hamilton” and “Moana.” Miranda joined director Jenkins on stage to introduce a clip featuring the song “I Always Wanted a Brother,” which explores the early relationship between Mufasa and Scar.
Stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot previewed their roles in the live-action “Snow White” film, scheduled for March 2025, with new songs by “La La Land” composers Benji Pasek and Justin Paul.
Disney also revealed that Nine Inch Nails would compose the soundtrack for “Tron: Ares.”
Kathryn Hahn delivered a live performance of a new song from the upcoming Marvel series “Agatha All Along,” praising songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez for their work on this and previous Disney hits like “Frozen” and “Coco.”
Finally, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan introduced “Freakier Friday,” the official sequel to their 2003 hit “Freaky Friday,” sharing first-look images and reflecting on the timelessness of their original collaboration.
Pixar announced its new film “Hoppers,” featuring Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm, alongside exclusive looks at “Elio,” a film that will include Zoe Saldaña as a lead character. Pixar also revealed plans for two new series on Disney+, marking a first for the studio. “Dream Productions,” set between the events of “Inside Out” and its sequel, and “Win or Lose,” Pixar’s first long-form series, will debut on Disney+ in 2025.
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