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.”
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 Jackson appeared bitter in a video).
Chris Evans, Haley Atwell, and Robert Downey Jr. took to the stage to show a special clip showing Downey as Doom, showing the devastation he caused, with Marvel characters new and old, from Fox era to the Disney era, with a clip of Thor as he attacks Doom to no avail as Doom raises in army of iron giants. Along with the tagline “12.18.26 is Doomsday.”
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 lineup includes Kit Connor as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Maya Boyd is 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.
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.
Kevin Feige announced VisionQuest as part of Marvel’s showcase, offering a fresh look at 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.
The Star Wars slate
Incredibles 3 is set for 2028, and Coco 2 in 2029
Incredibles 3 also took the stage, 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.
Disney Theatrical lets its hair down
Katherine 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 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 introduce 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 slate 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.
Updates in progress…
