Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan appeared at the Disney Entertainment Showcase during the D23 fan event in Anaheim, California, on August 9.
The crowd at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase clearly enjoyed seeing familiar favorites. The event, held on Friday in Anaheim, California, gave fans a look at Disney’s upcoming movies and streaming content.
D23 is a big event for Disney fans, combining cosplay, promotions, and fun. Around 12,000 people packed the arena for an evening filled with Disney trailers, previews, and appearances by stars.
The showcase featured sneak peeks at “Moana 2,” “Avatar 3,” “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” “Mufasa: The Lion King,” and more. The event included confetti, fireworks, a magic trick by David Blaine, and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It was clear Disney wanted to make sure everyone was entertained.
Here are some of the new and updated titles coming from Disney’s studios.
Walt Disney Studios and Animation
Dwayne Johnson started the showcase by previewing the animated sequel “Moana 2.” He joked about Maui’s singing and said his hair looks great in the movie. Johnson said the film, coming out on November 27, is a “perfect escape.”
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan later revealed their new sequel to “Freaky Friday,” now called “Freakier Friday.” They said it’s more fun and emotional, and Lohan thanked the fans for their support. Curtis mentioned it feels like picking up where they left off.
Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins showed a new scene and trailer for the live-action prequel “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which will be in theaters on December 20. The film features original music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Director James Cameron shared updates on “Avatar 3” and mentioned the film has high emotional stakes and will be different from what people expect. The third film in the “Avatar” series is officially titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
Other highlights included Ginnifer Goodwin talking about “Zootopia 2,” Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot previewing the live-action “Snow White,” and Jeff Bridges, Jared Leto, and Greta Lee showing the first footage of “Tron Ares,” the third film in the “Tron” series.
Pixar
Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, highlighted the success of “Inside Out 2,” which became the top animated film of all time this summer. He announced a new “Inside Out” spinoff series called “Dream Productions,” which will be set in Riley’s mind between the events of the two films and will be released on Disney+ next year.
Docter also shared details about “Toy Story 5,” which is set to come out in summer 2026. He hinted that the new film will feature a conflict between toys and modern electronics, saying it will be “toys versus tech.”
In addition to these updates, Docter previewed two new Pixar original films. “Elio” will be released in summer 2025, and “Hoppers” will hit theaters in spring 2026. He concluded with exciting news that “Incredibles 3” is currently in development.
Marvel
Marvel president Kevin Feige, humorously called the “Marvel Jesus” by Ryan Reynolds in a video, took the stage to reveal Marvel’s upcoming projects. The biggest highlight was the new movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” the fourth film in the Captain America series.
Anthony Mackie, who will officially become the new Captain America in this film, joined Feige to discuss the movie. A new preview showed more about Mackie’s interactions with Harrison Ford’s character, Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. This role was previously played by William Hurt, and the preview also hinted at the menacing Red Hulk.
Another major highlight was the presentation of “Agatha All Along,” a new series featuring Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness. Hahn, who first played Agatha in “WandaVision,” was joined by other cast members including Aubrey Plaza, Broadway star Patti LuPone, Joe Locke from “Heartstopper,” Okwui Okpokwasili, and Ali Ahn. The group performed a dark and spooky song from the series. “Agatha All Along” is set to premiere in October.
Marvel also shared updates on several other projects. There was a special message from the set of “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” giving fans a glimpse of what to expect. They also previewed the new “Ironheart” series, which will focus on the character Riri Williams, and the reboot of “Daredevil” titled “Daredevil: Born Again.” This reboot will see Charlie Cox return to his role as Daredevil, now as part of Disney’s lineup.
Overall, Marvel’s showcase at D23 was packed with exciting news about sequels, new series, and fresh takes on beloved characters.
Lucasfilm
The world of Star Wars is also continuing to grow, as seen at the expo, with a new original series, the second season of an acclaimed show, and a feature-length movie based on a beloved series all making impressive showings.
Jude Law came out to present “Skeleton Crew,” a family-friendly new show that he said was inspired by “the Amblin coming-of-age films from the ’80s.” The show premieres on Disney+ in December.
Diego Luna also made an appearance, telling the audience that his beloved series “Andor” changed his life. He shared more details on the second season of that show, set to premiere next year.
Lastly, Star Wars wunderkinds Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni were at D23 to talk about “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” which will be the first theatrical Star Wars movie in five years. Get ready for more Baby Yoda in 2026.
FAQs :
What is D23?
D23 is a Disney fan event held every two years in Anaheim, California. It includes cosplay, promotional activities, and previews of upcoming Disney content.
What did Dwayne Johnson reveal at the event?
Dwayne Johnson introduced the upcoming animated sequel “Moana 2,” set to be released on November 27. He joked about his character Maui’s singing and his own appearance in the film.
What is “Freakier Friday”?
“Freakier Friday” is the sequel to the 2003 movie “Freaky Friday,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. They revealed the new film, which will continue the story of a mother and daughter who switch bodies.
When will “Freakier Friday” be released?
The release date for “Freakier Friday” has not been announced yet.
What did Barry Jenkins present?
Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins showcased a new scene and trailer for the live-action prequel “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which will be released in theaters on December 20.
What’s new with “Avatar 3”?
James Cameron shared an update on “Avatar 3,” revealing that the film, titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” will feature high emotional stakes and will not be what audiences expect.
Who are the stars of “Avatar: Fire and Ash”?
Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington, stars of the previous “Avatar” films, appeared to reveal the title and discuss the third installment.
What did Pete Docter announce about Pixar films?
Pete Docter celebrated the success of “Inside Out 2” and previewed a new spinoff series called “Dream Productions,” set in Riley’s mind between the two films. He also announced “Toy Story 5” and mentioned that “Incredibles 3” is in development.
When will “Toy Story 5” be released?
“Toy Story 5” is scheduled to debut in summer 2026.
What is the plot of “Toy Story 5”?
What is the plot of “Toy Story 5”?
What new Pixar films were previewed?
Pixar previewed “Elio,” releasing in summer 2025, and “Hoppers,” arriving in theaters in spring 2026.
What did Marvel’s Kevin Feige present?
Kevin Feige introduced several Marvel projects, including “Captain America: Brave New World,” with Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America.
What is “Agatha All Along”?
“Agatha All Along” is a new Marvel series starring Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness. It will premiere in October and features a dark and eerie song performed by Hahn and other cast members.
What updates were given about “Fantastic Four”?
There was a special message from the set of “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” though specific details about the film were not revealed.
What is the “Ironheart” series about?
The “Ironheart” series will focus on Riri Williams, a young inventor who creates a suit similar to Iron Man’s.
What is “Daredevil: Born Again”?
“Daredevil: Born Again” is a reboot series featuring Charlie Cox as Daredevil, returning to the Marvel Universe under Disney.
What did Star Wars present at the showcase?
Star Wars highlighted several projects, including the new series “Skeleton Crew,” the second season of “Andor,” and a feature-length film based on “The Mandalorian.”
What is “Skeleton Crew”?
“Skeleton Crew” is a family-friendly Star Wars show inspired by 1980s coming-of-age films, premiering on Disney+ in December.
What’s new with “Andor”?
Diego Luna shared details about the second season of “Andor,” which will premiere next year
When will the new Star Wars movie be released?
The new Star Wars movie, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” is set to be the first theatrical Star Wars film in five years and is scheduled for release in 2026.
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