D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – Disney Entertainment Showcase took over the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Friday, August 14, delivering a packed preview of what’s ahead across Disney’s movie, television, and streaming slate. The evening featured exclusive first looks, major announcements, star-studded appearances, surprise reveals, and special musical performances spotlighting upcoming theatrical releases and Disney+ projects.
Hosted by Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan, the duo introduced Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who talked about his fandom to the thousands in mouse ears and Pooh shirts, telling the crowd of 12,000 that Disney makes “the world is more hopeful, more magical than it ever can be.”
“I don’t want to do anything else,” said D’Amaro. “We are not waiting on the future. We are building it. Right now.”
Before we get started tonight, I just wanted to say thank you,” said D’Amaro.. “Thank you for making Disney an important part of your lives.”
He then welcomed Disney legend Anne Hathaway, who said she was hard at work on Princess Diaries 3, making it perfect for her fans, whom she loves. “I never tire of being told to shut up.”
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Marvel announces its slate
Avengers: Doomsday took the spotlight with a new look at Marvel Studios’ massive upcoming crossover. The presentation offered another tease of the heroes coming together for the next major MCU event, with Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doctor Doom looming over the action.
It includes everyone. Except Wolverine (Hugh Jackman appeared bitter in a video).
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Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and Robert Downey Jr. took to the stage to show a special clip of Downey as Doom with the devastation he caused. Marvel characters, new and old, from the Fox era to the Disney era are all on display, with a clip of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as he attacks Doom to no avail as Doom raises an army of iron giants. The clip ended with the tagline “12.18.26 is Doomsday.”
Set for December 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and brings together heroes from across the MCU, including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men, as they face a multiversal threat led by Doom.
The film is expected to delve deeper into incursions, the catastrophic collisions between different realities that have been building throughout the Multiverse Saga. With multiple worlds on a collision course, heroes from across the multiverse will be forced together as Doomsday sets the stage for the saga’s concluding chapter, Avengers: Secret Wars.
…And then, the X-Men
In addition to Doomsday, the X-Men live-action reboot officially took center stage during the presentation, with Marvel Studios offering the first major details about its plans for the iconic mutant team. The showcase also revealed the film’s new lineup, giving fans their clearest look yet at the X-Men who will lead the team’s next big-screen era in the MCU.
With a release date of May 5, 2028, the cast was brought out, which included Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Christopher Abbot as Professor Charles Xavier, and Adam Driver as Magneto.
Kevin Feige also announced VisionQuest as part of Marvel’s showcase, the Disney+ series centered on Paul Bettany‘s Vision. The presentation revealed more about what awaits the character following the events of WandaVision, as his story continues in the MCU. Joined by Bettany and James Slater, who plays Ultron.
“In the Marvel universe, no one is ever really dead,” said Bettany. “But this Vision is asking a more complicated question. What or who is he…”
VisionQuest is an upcoming eight-episode Marvel Television miniseries set to premiere on Disney+ on October 14, 2026. Starring Bettany as the White Vision, the show follows the synthetic hero’s journey to connect with his restored memories and rediscover his humanity after the events of WandaVision. The trailer teased human versions of both Vision and Ultron in the series as Vision works out his complicated journey and ends the trilogy.
Star Wars brought Ahsoka Season 2 & Starfighter
Ahsoka Season 2 also made an appearance during the showcase, offering a new look at the Disney+ series ahead of its early 2027 return. Rosario Dawson was there to introduce the trailer.
The new season picks up with Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) stranded on the distant planet of Peridea, where mysteries surrounding the ancient Mortis gods remain. Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) are back in the main galaxy, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead returning as Hera Syndulla and Hayden Christensen once again appearing as Anakin Skywalker.
Star Wars: Starfighter also took the stage, offering a new look at the standalone adventure from director Shawn Levy. Former MMC star Ryan Gosling took to the stage to thank Disney for helping launch his career.
Set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, the film explores a previously uncharted era of the galaxy with a new cast of characters. Ryan Gosling stars alongside Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams.
Frozen III promises the “biggest journey yet”
Frozen III also took the stage, offering a new look at Anna and Elsa’s next big-screen adventure. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel held hands and sang for the audience to introduce the third installment. (There was a small technical difficulty, but Bell charmed her way through.)
The third film follows 2019’s Frozen II, which ended with the sisters taking different paths: Anna became Queen of Arendelle, while Elsa remained in the Enchanted Forest. Kristoff also proposed to Anna.
Now Anna is about to get married, and she isn’t the only one finding love. Josh Gad, who plays Olaf, joined the duo on stage, singing a ballad to a mysterious Samantha, a potential new love interest.
Incredibles 3 is set for 2028, and Coco 2 in 2029
Incredibles 3 was another big announcement, offering a first look at the Parr family’s next superhero adventure. The Pixar film is scheduled to hit theaters in Summer 2028.
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“It’s the kids’ turn,” said Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter of Pixar Animation Studios. “And although supers are legal again, it doesn’t mean that all supers are good.”
Also, Coco 2 will return in 2029, and Benjamin Bratt, who played Ernesto de la Cruz, will be back to reprise his role as the dashing villain. The story will pick up a few years after the original film as Ernesto plots his revenge against the boy who destroyed his afterlife. The pic will come out in November 2029.
Furthermore, it was announced that Kingdom Hearts will be adapted as a new game for Disney+
In Spring 2028, Pixar “dives into the supernatural” with Ghost Market, about a teen named Kyle who finds a hidden market that is run by the undead.
The final reveal was the film Gato, about a street-smart black cat. The crowd was shown an extended clip for the upcoming feline-centered film. It will hit theaters in March 2027.
Zootopia will be back
The world of Zootopia goes to the birds as the third film was announced, with the return of the characters Quan and Goodwin, Judy Hopps and Gary. Zootopia 3 is currently in the works, though no date has been announced.
Disney Theatrical lets its hair down
Kathryn Hahn showed a clip of her as Mother Gothel along with a date of release for the upcoming Tangled live-action: March 31, 2028. Stars Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider appeared via video to send their love.
Lilo & Stitch 2 set for 2028 as Disney Studios brings out varied slate
After an impressive light show, it was announced that Lilo & Stitch 2 will be released on May 28, 2028.
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Romy and Michelle reunited on stage, as Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow introduced the sequel in style.
Camp Rock 3 was announced by the Jonas Brothers, who introduced the new campers. “None of this could happen without you guys,” said the trio.
Also announced as part of Disney Studios’ slate: The Bluey Movie, in theaters August 2027; Ice Age: Boiling Point, announced by Queen Latifah and Denis Leary, for February 2027.
Disney’s announcements spanned from stage to 2D screen
The audience was treated to a musical sneak peek of The Greatest Showman: The Musical. It opens in London in Spring 2027 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Jon Favreau announced Oswald, a hand-drawn 2D labor of love that is a credit to Disney history, paying homage to the original Walt Disney character. Taking place on the historic lot, the original Disney character, the rabbit will hit Disney+ in February.
Favreau also announced that his four-part documentary Lion, now with music from Hans Zimmer, will stream on August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.
This story originally appeared on TV Insider
