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Disney’s D23 Expo highlights a lineup of major franchises, with “X-Men,” “Tangled” and “Incredibles 3” among items teased for 2028
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Aug 15, 9:28 PM EDT

Disney’s D23 Expo highlights a lineup of major franchises, with “X-Men,” “Tangled” and “Incredibles 3” among items teased for 2028

In the wake of a high-energy D23 Friday night event, Deadline reported Disney is stacking multiple tentpoles aimed at the 2028 moviegoing calendar, as surprise appearances and franchise spotlights drew attention from the industry and fans.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Disney’s D23 Expo continued to set the tone for its next slate after a standout Friday-night program that drew attention for both star power and franchise announcements, according to Deadline’s coverage published on Aug. 15, 2026. The outlet described the event as a “poetic” stretch of performances and onstage surprises, including a “dancing spirit squad,” as well as guest appearances tied to Disney’s superhero and animation brands.

Among the Friday-night moments Deadline highlighted were an “X-Men” segment featuring a surprise appearance by Adam Driver and Inde Navarrette, and a separate music-forward turn from Josh Gad. Deadline also described the presentation as confetti-heavy, framing the night as a high-volume, multi-property push rather than a single-title update.

Deadline’s roundup of the event tied the franchise showcases to Disney’s broader planning for 2028, pointing to a slate that includes “X-Men” content alongside animation projects such as “Tangled” and “Incredibles 3.” The outlet also referenced “Ghost Rider” as part of the set of properties it said Disney could be leaning on during the 2028 movie window.

The coverage placed several live-show elements at the center of the audience experience, including Deadline’s characterization of the event’s entertainment pacing and its star-studded atmosphere. It also cited additional performers and high-profile names associated with the presentation, including Ryan Gosling and Anne Hathaway, without specifying additional release details in the text available for this report.

While D23 is known for previews and announcements that can be refined later, Deadline’s report emphasized what the Friday program indicated about studio priorities, specifically the company’s intent to keep multiple major franchises in play around 2028 rather than concentrating marketing on a single corner of its catalog.

For industry watchers and film-goers alike, the practical implication of a multi-franchise push is the way it can affect downstream planning, from theater scheduling and promotional calendars to distribution strategy. With several widely recognized brands positioned in the same broader timeframe, exhibitors and partners would be looking for follow-on confirmation as Disney finalizes release dates and marketing commitments.

As Disney continues through the remainder of D23, further onstage updates would be expected to clarify what the studio is formally greenlighting for 2028 and how individual projects will be timed. For now, the Friday-night program as described by Deadline provides an early, visible snapshot of which properties are being prioritized for the next major moviegoing stretch.

Why It Matters

  • A D23 multi-franchise push can shape how theater operators and media partners plan promotions and audience expectations around a future release window.
  • The visible emphasis on several major brands in the same general timeframe suggests Disney intends to keep multiple audience pipelines active rather than relying on a single title to carry demand.
  • High-profile surprise appearances and star involvement, as described by Deadline, highlight how Disney is using marquee talent to drive attention for forthcoming projects.
  • More details typically follow after D23, making the expo an early checkpoint for what properties are likely to move forward for 2028.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Deadline reported on Aug. 15, 2026, about Disney’s D23 Friday-night program and what it indicated for Disney’s movie slate.
  • Deadline described a dancing “spirit squad” and confetti as part of the Friday night event atmosphere.
  • Deadline said Adam Driver and Inde Navarrette made surprise appearances connected to an “X-Men” segment.
  • Deadline reported Josh Gad performed during the program and also cited Ryan Gosling and Anne Hathaway among the featured names.
  • Deadline’s coverage tied the event to multiple franchise focuses aimed at 2028, including “X-Men,” “Tangled,” and “Incredibles 3,” and it also referenced “Ghost Rider.”