BURBANK, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2024) – The world-class storytelling engines of The Walt Disney Company took center stage at the Honda Center during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa®. Surprise celebrity appearances, new film and series titles, and major musical performances enthralled the audience of Disney fans from around the world, demonstrating the unmatched strength of the company’s creative studios, as well as the unique connection that generations of passionate fans of all ages have forged with its stories and characters over the past century.
Walt Disney Company 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.”
Hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, the event featured a number of Disney’s outstanding 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 and beloved titles.
Major Moments & Announcements from Tonight’s Showcase
The Walt Disney Studios had a lot to celebrate—and a lot to look forward to.
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS welcomes back to the big screen fan-favorite characters in a trio of all-new feature films coming to theaters beginning this fall.
Disney Animation’s „MOANA/Vaiana 2” kicked off the showcase with a crowd-pleasing performance by the phenomenal voice of Moana herself, Auli‘i Cravalho, alongside dancers and drummers from Nonosina Polynesia. Fans were among the first ever to hear “We’re Back,” an all-new song written by Grammy®-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear—one of several new songs to be featured in the film that reunites Moana and Maui for an expansive new voyage. Following the performance, Dwayne Johnson, the inimitable 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. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the new film opens only in theaters on Nov. 28, 2024.
Fans went wild for the studio’s highly anticipated follow-up to “Zootopia/Zoomania,” 2016’s Oscar®-winning feature film.
In „Zootopia/Zoomania 2” which hits theaters in November 2025, detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down.
To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before. Ginnifer Goodwin, who returns to voice clever bunny Judy, greeted fans at D23, sharing a special look at the film that features a fugitive snake called Gary. Jason Bateman returns as the voice of wise-cracking fox Nick Wilde, Ke Huy Quan was announced tonight as the voice of Gary, and Fortune Feimster ventures into the world as a beaver named Nibbles. Jared Bush is directing and writing; Yvett Merino produces. The film logo and concept art are now available.
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 continues to enchant and excite global audiences, and franchise creator James Cameron was on site to share details about the next chapter.
The excited crowd offered a warm D23 welcome to Cameron, who will become an official Disney Legend this weekend. Joined by “Avatar” stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, Cameron revealed for the first time the title of the third film in the remarkably successful “Avatar” franchise: “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which takes 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. Directed by Cameron, the new film from 20th Century Studios and Lightstorm Entertainment also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Oona Chaplin, Jack Champion, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss and Bailey Bass.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” opens exclusively in theaters nationwide December 17, 2025.
PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS’ Pete Docter invited fans inside his own mind where his Emotions were both grateful—“Inside Out 2” recently became the number-one animated film of all time—and excited about what’s next from the studio.
Docter revealed the official launch date of Pixar’s first original series “Win or Lose,” which begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ on Dec. 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. Will Forte lends his voice to the coach. Some fans will get to see the first two episodes at D23 Backlot stage tomorrow. A sneak peek and teaser poster are now available.
Coming to Disney+ in 2025 is “Dream Productions,” a just-announced 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. Logo and concept art are now available.
The D23 audience was cosmically chosen to learn more about Pixar’s upcoming feature film “Elio.” 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. “Elio” releases in theaters on June 13, 2025. New concept art is now available.
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. A film logo and concept art are now available.
It’s been almost 30 years since audiences first met Buzz and Woody and what a journey they’ve had! The D23 crowd was elated to hear about Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” 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. Co-directed by McKenna Harris and produced by Jessica Choi, “Toy Story 5” opens only in theaters on June 18, 2026. The film logo and concept art are now available.
Docter had one final announcement before he bid adieu. Fans’ favorite Super-family is heading back to the big screen — “The Incredibles/Die Unglaublichen 3” is officially in the works at Pixar Animation Studios with Oscar®-winning filmmaker Brad Bird currently developing the film. The I3 badge is now available.
DISNEY ON BROADWAY celebrated its 30th anniversary with a thrilling medley of performances and exclusive announcements from its hit stage musicals. Highlights included “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “Hercules,” which will open in London’s West End in summer 2025. The event also featured news about “The Greatest Showman,” currently in development for a stage musical adaptation, and “Frozen,” which was filmed on stage and will premiere on Disney+ in 2025. Samantha Barks, who will star as Elsa, dazzled the audience with a powerful rendition of “Let It Go.”
The stage adaptation of “The Greatest Showman,” featuring the Academy Award®-nominated songs of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, will announce production timetable, creative team and cast at a later date.
LUCASFILM’s upcoming theatrical and streaming titles continue the studio’s penchant for adventure that’s out of this world.
Star Jude Law hit the stage to offer insight on a brand-new Star Wars series launching on Disney+ on Dec. 4, 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. The coming-of-age series also stars Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon and Nick Frost. Episodes of the original live-action series are directed by Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and Lee Isaac Chung. Executive producers are Christopher Ford, Jon Watts, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. The first-ever teaser trailer, shared with fans tonight, is now available.