THE APEX TIMES
Disney’s D23 showcase spotlights a wave of 2026-2029 releases across film, streaming, gaming and live action
At the Anaheim and Los Angeles-area fan event, CEO Josh D’Amaro framed Disney’s audience reach as a global fandom and producers unveiled first looks and dates for major upcoming projects spanning Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.
Disney used D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to map out what it calls its next wave of entertainment, staging a sold-out day of “first looks,” teasers and announcements across its studios, streaming services and franchises. The company’s Disney Entertainment Showcase opened at the Honda Center in Anaheim, with CEO Josh D’Amaro welcoming fans and setting a theme of brand connection that he described as reaching billions of people worldwide.
In remarks opening the event, D’Amaro pointed to Disney’s multi-platform footprint, saying nearly half a million people are in Disney parks and on Disney cruise ships, and millions more are watching its stories in theaters or at home. He added that Disney’s relationship with fans goes beyond an audience, describing an “actual connection” that he said reaches every corner of the globe, spanning ages and backgrounds and becoming part of people’s lives and memories.
The showcase itself, staged for thousands of attendees in Anaheim, mixed celebrity appearances with footage, musical performances and project reveals. D23 is presented by Visa and, according to Disney, draws fans for experiences that include an expanded show floor of immersive offerings and exclusive shopping during the daytime event, followed by a nighttime showcase at the Honda Center.
Disney’s creative leadership and high-profile performers helped introduce upcoming titles. Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer, opened the evening alongside Bart Simpson and presented a sneak peek of an upcoming film releasing in theaters September 3, 2027. The company also had Oscar winner Anne Hathaway appear, and the event included appearances from Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan, stars associated with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2, which the company said is record-breaking.
Among Disney Animation announcements, the company said Frozen 3 will arrive in theaters November 24, 2027. The showcase included performances tied to the franchise, including new versions of Frozen songs, and Disney revealed new animation featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven, previewing what it described as a new villainess whose powers rival Elsa’s.
Sequels and adaptations were prominent. Disney said Lilo & Stitch 2 is scheduled to begin production in Hawaiʻi later this year under director Chris Sanders, with a theatrical release set for May 26, 2028. Disney also said Tangled will open in theaters March 31, 2028, described as a live-action retelling of the 2010 animated film, and the company featured taped messages from cast members who are currently filming in Spain. In parallel, Disney previewed Romy & Michele 2 as a sequel that will debut exclusively on Hulu in 2027.
Across Pixar and Disney Animation, Disney and Pixar Games and SQUARE ENIX also addressed the company’s broader entertainment ecosystem. Disney said it shared new details on KINGDOM HEARTS IV, including a late-2027 release window and a world inspired by Coco, and Pixar presented Incredibles 3, releasing exclusively in theaters June 16, 2028. The company added that updates for Coco 2 included concept art of Miguel as a teenager and confirmed the return of the first film’s villain, with a theatrical debut set for November 2029. Pixar also previewed a new original film titled Ghost Market, with a theatrical release date in March 2028.
Marvel and Star Wars were also built into the program. Disney said Marvel Television’s VisionQuest is an all-new original series coming exclusively to Disney+ on October 14, 2026, and the showcase included a trailer and poster debut. For Marvel Studios, Disney announced Avengers: Doomsday for a December 18, 2026 release, highlighting a cast assembled for a first look with Kevin Feige and high-profile stars including Robert Downey Jr. Disney further said an untitled X-Men film is in development and will be released exclusively in theaters May 5, 2028, while Insomniac Games previewed Marvel’s Wolverine for PlayStation 5 on September 15.
Beyond marquee franchises, the showcase leaned into children’s entertainment, sports and nonfiction storytelling. Disney said The Bluey Movie, based on the animated series about a blue heeler dog family, will release in theaters August 6, 2027. For National Geographic, Disney previewed LION, a series built around a real pride and a cub named Kio, stating it premieres August 19 on National Geographic and streams August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu. The program also included updates around Camp Rock 3, which it said is now streaming on Disney+.
Still, the event did not disclose some of the details investors typically look for at studio showcases. While Disney provided release dates, first looks and credit lineups for many projects, it did not break out expected financial impact, marketing spend, or how each title is projected to perform across its theatrical, streaming and international businesses. It also did not offer specific guidance on production budgets or schedules beyond the items named on stage, leaving open how quickly projects will move from announcements to production outcomes and final delivery.
Why It Matters
- Disney is using D23 to coordinate messaging across theaters, streaming, parks and gaming, reinforcing that its franchises are built to travel across platforms.
- The release-date calendar disclosed at the event highlights a pipeline spanning 2026 through 2029, offering a structured timeline for audiences and partners.
- By foregrounding streaming originals alongside theatrical tentpoles, Disney is indicating that it intends to balance near-term Disney+ content with longer theatrical cycles.
- The event also underscores Disney’s strategy of leveraging well-known talent and existing IP to reduce audience uncertainty around new projects and sequels.
Sources
Key Facts
- Disney staged D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with a Disney Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, featuring sold-out audience programming and major first looks.
- CEO Josh D’Amaro said Disney’s parks and cruise ships hold nearly half a million guests, while “millions more” watch Disney stories in theaters or at home, and he described Disney’s fan connection as reaching “more than four billion fans.”
- The company previewed multiple franchise releases, including Frozen 3 in theaters November 24, 2027, Incredibles 3 in theaters June 16, 2028, and Avengers: Doomsday in theaters December 18, 2026.
- Disney+ releases and streaming tie-ins included VisionQuest launching October 14, 2026, and Oswald premiering February 17, 2027 exclusively on Disney+.
- Disney said Lilo & Stitch 2 is set for a May 26, 2028 theatrical release, and Tangled is set for March 31, 2028.
- The showcase included National Geographic’s LION, premiering August 19 on National Geographic and streaming August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.
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