Disney's D23 Announces a Roundup of Trailers, First Glimpses, and Major Projects

Disneys D23 Announces a Roundup of Trailers First Glimpses and Major Projects

Nostalgia reigned supreme at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase on Friday, as the crowd eagerly embraced the upcoming slate of film and streaming content previewed by the company.

For those who aren't familiar, D23 is Disney's biennial celebration in Anaheim, California, where fans gather for a mix of cosplay, promotion, and excitement. Over 12,000 attendees filled the arena, soaking in an evening of Disney trailers, teasers, and celebrity appearances—a lively pop culture event brimming with joy.

The showcase featured sneak peeks at anticipated titles like "Moana 2," "Avatar 3," "The Mandalorian & Grogu," "Mufasa: The Lion King," and more. The night was filled with confetti, pyrotechnics, a stunning magic trick by David Blaine, and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Disney seemed to channel Russell Crowe's famous line from "Gladiator," asking, "Are you not entertained?"

It was hard not to be.

Here's a glimpse at some of the new and updated projects coming from Disney's vast array of studios.

Walt Disney Studios and Animation

Dwayne Johnson kicked off the showcase by giving fans a glimpse of the upcoming animated sequel, "Moana 2."

"Maui’s back to singing—this time in keys that don’t even exist," Johnson joked. "And my hair looks amazing in 'Moana 2.' I can't wait for you to see it."

He described the movie as the "perfect escape," set to hit theaters on November 27.

Later, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan took the stage to announce their sequel to the 2003 hit "Freaky Friday," now titled "Freakier Friday." In the original film, they starred as a mother-daughter duo who swap bodies.

"It’s more fun, more emotional, and it's all for you," Lohan told the audience. "Seriously, the only reason we're back is because of your love."

"It feels like we're picking up right where we left off, and that’s really special," Curtis added.

Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins also made an appearance, debuting a scene and a new trailer for the live-action prequel "Mufasa: The Lion King," featuring original music by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is set to be released on December 20.

Director James Cameron took a break from filming "Avatar 3" in New Zealand to share an update on the highly anticipated project.

"I can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on," Cameron said. "The new film has incredibly high emotional stakes. It’s not what you’d expect, but it’s exactly what you want."

"Avatar" stars Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington were also present at D23, revealing the third installment's official title, "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

Other highlights included appearances by Ginnifer Goodwin for "Zootopia 2," Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot for the live-action "Snow White," and Jeff Bridges, Jared Leto, and Greta Lee, who showcased first-look footage of the upcoming "Tron" sequel, titled "Tron Ares."

Pixar

Pete Docter, Pixar's chief creative officer, celebrated the ongoing success of "Inside Out 2," which became the highest-grossing animated film of all time this summer. He also gave a sneak peek at "Dream Productions," an "Inside Out" spinoff series set in Riley's mind during the period between the two films, set to release on Disney+ next year.

Docter went on to reveal details about the plot of the upcoming "Toy Story 5," scheduled to debut in the summer of 2026.

"This time, the toys will face off against what kids are into today: electronics," he teased. "It's toys versus tech."

After previewing Pixar's upcoming original films "Elio," set for release in summer 2025, and "Hoppers," arriving in spring 2026, Docter wrapped up with more exciting news: "Incredibles 3" is officially in development.

Marvel

Marvel president Kevin Feige, humorously dubbed the “Marvel Jesus” by Ryan Reynolds in a video introduction, took the stage to unveil a sequel-packed lineup, starting with "Captain America: Brave New World," the fourth film in the franchise.

Feige was joined by Anthony Mackie, who will officially take on the mantle of Captain America in the upcoming movie. A new preview revealed more of Mackie's interactions with Harrison Ford's Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross—a role previously played by William Hurt—along with a glimpse of the formidable Red Hulk.

Another major highlight from Marvel was the appearance of the cast of "Agatha All Along," led by Kathryn Hahn, who is returning as Agatha Harkness from "WandaVision." Hahn, alongside Aubrey Plaza, Broadway icon Patti LuPone, "Heartstopper" star Joe Locke, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Ali Ahn, performed a haunting song from the series. "Agatha All Along" is set to premiere in October.

Additional Marvel highlights at D23 included a message from the set of "Fantastic Four: First Steps," a look at the "Ironheart" series, and a preview of the rebooted series "Daredevil: Born Again," which will see Charlie Cox joining the Disney universe.

Lucasfilm

The Star Wars franchise also made a strong showing at the expo, with announcements of a new original series, the second season of a fan-favorite show, and a feature-length movie based on a beloved series.

Jude Law introduced "Skeleton Crew," a family-friendly series inspired by the Amblin coming-of-age films from the '80s, set to debut on Disney+ in December.

Diego Luna appeared to discuss the impact of his series "Andor" on his life, sharing more details about the show's second season, which will premiere next year.

Lastly, Star Wars creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni were on hand to discuss "The Mandalorian & Grogu," which will mark the first Star Wars theatrical release in five years. Fans can expect more Baby Yoda in 2026.

Source: CNN Entertainment