D23 is currently happening right now in Anaheim on August 14-16. Friday’s massive showcase saw a range of special looks and trailers for upcoming movies, shows, and video games from a range of different franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and more.
Marvel Studios
The major point of the night was the reveal of the X-Men cast. The movie officially arrives May 5, 2028, and is directed by Jake Schreier. The confirmed cast is:
- Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
- Kit Connor as Scott Summers / Cyclops
- Christopher Abbot as Charles Xavier / Professor X
- Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
- Inde Navarrette as Rogue
- Maya Bond as Storm
- Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury / Mr. Sinister
The cast took to the stage to attend the presentation; however, Adam Driver recorded his announcement and even jokingly revealed that he was playing Magneto before confirming it was Mr. Sinister. Kevin Feige confirms more casting announcements are coming for the X-Men film.
Next up was Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel dropped a special look at the upcoming blockbuster movie and released a brand new poster for the movie. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, and Hayley Atwell appeared on stage together with Kevin Feige.
Disney’s official synopsis says heroes from three distinct universes are placed on a collision course against an existential threat. The massive cast consists of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Mabel Cadena and Tenoch Huerta MejÃa.
Hugh Jackman appeared on a video call with Ryan Reynolds, telling him what to say off-screen; the duo was asking Kevin Feige if he needed any help with “rounding out the cast” in the Doomsday movie. The movie is set to release on December 18, 2026.
Next up was the Marvel Television series “VisionQuest”. The first official trailer and poster were revealed ahead of its October 14, 2026 release date. Paul Bettany returns as Vision while James Spader returns as Ultron.
The story has Vision hiding after escaping those attempting to weaponise him. He communicates with AI personalities within his programming, including J.A.R.V.I.S., F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., and Ultron. Then a bounty forces Vision on the run alongside Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may essentially be his reincarnated son.
Disney is explicitly positioning VisionQuest as the conclusion to the trilogy that began with WandaVision and then followed up with Agatha All Along.
Finally, Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Wolverine was up next. Being officially one month out from the release of the video game, a brand-new trailer debuted for the game.
Disney confirmed the new trailer during the Entertainment Showcase. With the game one month from release, we are officially in the final marketing stretch for the game.
Star Wars
First up was the long-awaited trailer for the second season of Ahsoka. The panel showcased a new trailer, a poster, and a release date for the season. Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, and Eman Esfandi appeared on stage alongside Dave Filoni.
The teaser shows Anakin Skywalker training a young Ahsoka and communicating with adult Ahsoka. The trailer showcased that Thrawn is rallying the Imperial remnants, Ezra has reunited with Hera, Ezra is fighting for the New Republic, Sabine remains Ahsoka’s Jedi apprentice, Hera, Zeb, Ezra, and Chopper are dealing with Thrawn’s forces, and the Mortis Gods appear to be important to this season’s story.
The big question for the trailer was whether Ahsoka considers herself a Jedi. The series premieres January 20, 2027.
Star Wars: Starfighter was up next with Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy appearing on stage. Ryan’s character is called Kade Auberon, who is described as a cynical rogue from the wrong side of the galaxy whose destiny becomes connected to the fastest starfighter ever built.
The story takes place during a period of Star Wars history we haven’t previously explored. The cast includes Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.
A first-look teaser/sizzle reel was shown exclusively to the D23 audience. The release date is May 28, 2027.
Disney
A sequel to the live-action Lilo & Stitch is officially moving forward. Angel will be joining Stitch; production begins later this year in Hawaii. Chris Sanders, who co-created and directed the original animated movie and who voices Stitch, is directing.
The release date is May 16, 2028.
There was an update on the live-action Tangled. The confirmed cast includes Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Mile Manheim as Flynn Rider, Kathryn Han as Mother Gothel, Caitriona Balfe as Queen Arianna, Elliot Cowan as King Frederic, Diego Luna as Hawthorne (a new character), and Patrick and Hugo McPherson as the Stabbington Twins.
Filming is currently underway in Spain with a release date of March 31, 2028.
Jon Favreau is making an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series. The series is a live-action/animation hybrid. An earthquake releases Oswald, who has essentially been hidden away since the 1920s. A schoolboy and his friends then help the cartoon rabbit adjust to the modern world.
Set for release on Disney+ on February 17, 2027.
The first teaser trailer for The Bluey Movie was released along with a poster. The movie takes place over one eventful day when a major surprise changes things for Bluey and her family. Joe Brumm writes and directs. Chilli and Bandit’s voice actors, Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack, return. The release date is August 6, 2027.
Ice Age: Boiling Point is up next. Footage was shown to the audience; apparently, Scrat and Baby Scrat have an enormous prehistoric relative. The film sends Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Buck, and the Scrats into the Lost World for a dinosaur-and-lava adventure. The release date is February 5, 2027.
Disney also showed a sneak peek of the upcoming new Simpsons movie. The movie is called “The New Simpsons Movie”.
Disney showed new footage from its animated fantasy Hexed. The voice cast includes Hailee Steinfeld as Billie Doe, Walton Goggins as Beef Roger Crummchuck, and Jodie Foster as Queen Celeste. The movie is centered around a world of witches. The release date is November 25, 2026.
Another new Disney animated film was shown: Clay. Kieran Culkin stars, with concept art introducing characters Clay and Mooshy. The release date is November 2028.
Zootopia 3 is officially happening. It’s currently in early development at Walt Disney Animation Studios. A special sequence was created and shown exclusively to the D23 audience. No release date at the moment.
Frozen 3 appeared at D23 when Disney gave the biggest reveal yet. A new animation was shown featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven. The big story tease is a new female villain whose powers rival Elsa’s. Other reports from the footage indicate a royal wedding is involved. The release date is November 24, 2027.
Pixar
The Incredibles 3 is moving forward. A first look was shown to the audience. Peter Sohn directs, with Brad Bird and Dana Murray producing. The release date for this is set for June 16, 2028.
Coco 2 had some new concept art showing Miguel as a teenager. Ernesto de la Cruz is coming back. Benjamin Bratt appeared onstage to confirm his return. Something involving Ernesto causes Miguel to undertake another life-changing journey into the Land of the Dead. Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina return. The release date is November 2029.
Pixar announced a completely new original movie. Ghost Market. It’s set around Ono Market, a small plate-lunch shop hidden on O’ahu’s North Shore that serves spirits trapped between life and death. No living person has ever entered until a fast-talking kid called Kyle accidentally discovers it. Directed by Trevor Jimenez and Jesse Andrews. The release date for this is March 2028.
Pixar showed another exclusive look at Gatto. Mark Ruffalo voices Nero, a black car living in Venice who becomes indebted to a feline mob boss, Rocco, voiced by Laurence Fishburne. Directed by Luca director Enrico Casarosa. The release date is March 5, 2027.
Kingdom Hearts IV is up next with a massive gaming reveal. Kingdom Hearts IV is targeting a late 2027 release, with Disney/Pixar’s “Coco” as a playable world. New details were shown alongside Coco 2, with Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz.
Kingdom Hearts anime is also happening, as Disney dropped another surprise. Kingdom Hearts is getting an original anime series. It’s being developed for Disney+ and Disney Channel with Square Enix and Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura involved. Crucially, it’s not simply adapting one of the games. It will tell a new story, expanding the existing Kingdom Hearts universe with no release date.
Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow appeared to announce/showcase the sequel to Romy & Michelle. Alan Cumming, Camryn Manheim, Keegan-Michael Key, Rob Huebel, Breckin Meyer, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Janeane Garofalo also star in the project. It arrives on Hulu in 2027.
