Disney Unveils Latest from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm at Star-Studded D23 Panel
The D23 Expo hit a fever pitch as Disney unveiled its latest offerings from Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. With stars like Dwayne Johnson and Lin-Manuel Miranda gracing the stage, the event was a spectacle of Hollywood magic and fan fervor. The excitement was palpable as trailers for upcoming blockbusters like Mufasa: The Lion King, Snow White, and Moana 2 were revealed, leaving the audience buzzing with anticipation.
Disney CEO Bob Iger received a rock star-worthy welcome, with 12,000 enthusiastic fans giving him a standing ovation. “Wow. That was more than a warm welcome,” Iger remarked, adding, “Boy, did I miss you.” It was a triumphant return for Iger, who had missed the last D23 Expo in 2022 due to a brief retirement. This year’s event allowed filmmakers and executives like James Cameron, Kevin Feige, Pete Docter, and Jennifer Lee to announce new projects and tease what’s coming in the next year.
Major Announcements and Star-Studded Reveals
The presentation, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, doubled its usual audience size. Before the panel, a pep squad energized the crowd, handing out light-up bracelets and envelopes with magician David Blaine’s logo and a deck of cards inside—setting the stage for what was to come.
One of the biggest highlights was the trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, introduced by filmmaker Barry Jenkins and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who debuted a new song for the film. The trailer provided a glimpse into the relationship between an orphan named Mufasa and his adopted brother, who would later be known as Scar.
The audience was also treated to a first look at Tron: Ares, featuring cast members Jared Leto, Evan Peters, and Greta Lee. The mind-bending footage was accompanied by the surprise announcement that Nine Inch Nails would compose the score, following in the footsteps of Daft Punk, who scored 2010’s Tron: Legacy.
A Celebration of Disney’s Legacy and Future
Disney continued its tradition of celebrating both its legacy and its future. The first trailer for Snow White was revealed, embracing its musical roots. Meanwhile, Freaky Friday 2 was officially titled, with stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis hyping up the crowd.
Magician David Blaine wowed the audience with a mind-blowing trick as he announced his new show, Do Not Attempt, coming to National Geographic in 2025. The entire crowd, following Blaine’s instructions, ended up holding the same card—the three of hearts—a stunning moment that left the audience in awe.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige also took the stage to reveal that Daredevil: Born Again will debut in March 2025, with season two already in the works. Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Jon Bernthal were among the stars who joined Feige onstage. “It’s a real honor. I couldn’t be up here with better people,” said Bernthal of his return as The Punisher.
Exciting Teasers and New Footage
Fans were treated to footage from Ironheart, a Marvel series centered on Riri Williams, a genius MIT student who builds her own Iron Man-style suit. The cast and crew, including filmmaker Ryan Coogler and stars Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos, shared their excitement about the show, which has been eagerly awaited since its announcement at D23 in 2022.
Marvel wasn’t done yet. Fresh off San Diego Comic-Con, the studio brought out Anthony Mackie to showcase footage from Fantastic Four and Captain America: Brave New World. Though the footage wasn’t new to Comic-Con attendees, Mackie’s story about seeing Harrison Ford as Red Hulk added an extra layer of excitement.
As the Marvel segment wrapped up, Ryan Reynolds appeared via video to thank fans for supporting Deadpool & Wolverine. In true Reynolds fashion, he couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at Marvel. “A very special thank you for letting us make a few teensy jokes at Marvel’s expense. It’s my way of showing love. And of course, saving the studio,” he quipped, before introducing Kevin Feige as “the original Marvel Jesus.”
A Glimpse into the Future of Star Wars and Beyond
The Star Wars universe also made its mark at D23. Director Jon Favreau revealed that filming has begun on the first Star Wars movie since 2019’s Rise of Skywalker, sharing footage that included Snowtroopers and AT-AT Walkers. The Andor panel brought back familiar faces from Rogue One, with new footage revealing the return of Ben Mendelsohn as Krennic and Alan Tudyk as the voice of the droid K-2SO. “The rebellion goes big,” said creator Tony Gilroy in a video message.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, a series centered on young characters lost in a galaxy far, far away, also got a teaser. Jude Law stars in the series, which promises to bring a fresh perspective to the Star Wars saga.
On the animation front, Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee announced that Frozen III will bow in 2027, with a fourth film already in the works. The Frozen franchise has been a massive success for Disney, with the first two films earning billions worldwide.
Pixar’s Peter Docter closed out the animation portion of the presentation with a major tease: “That’s right, we’re making Incredibles 3. Brad Bird is developing it right now.” The Incredibles franchise has long been a fan favorite, and the announcement was met with thunderous applause.
More Surprises and Musical Moments
The panel also revealed that Jon Hamm and Bobby Moynihan will star in Hoppers, a body-swap movie about a beaver and a human who exchange bodies. The premise, while quirky, fits right into Disney’s penchant for heartwarming and humorous stories.
Director Andrew Stanton provided new details about Toy Story 5, revealing that the beloved toys will face off against modern technologies like iPads and iPhones. “It’s toy meets tech,” said Stanton, hinting at the challenges the characters will face.
Pixar’s Inside Out was another big winner at the Expo. Following the success of Inside Out 2, a TV spinoff titled Dream Productions was announced for Disney+, set to premiere next year.
Finally, James Cameron revealed the title of the third Avatar film: Avatar: Fire and Ash. Cameron teased that the new film will explore new cultures, settings, and creatures, and showcase biomes of Pandora never seen before. “The new film is not what you expect, but it’s definitely what you want,” he promised.
The event wrapped up with Dwayne Johnson introducing Monster Jam, a film about monster trucks with an immersive live-action experience. Johnson called it “a live-action experience told from the point of view of these incredible monster trucks and their eccentric owners.”
A Grand Finale and a Private Perspective
To cap off the night, Moana 2 stars Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson took the stage to perform a song from the upcoming sequel. “Maui is singing again. Singing in keys that don’t exist. And my hair looks fantastic in Moana 2,” Johnson joked, adding a personal touch by giving a shoutout to his young daughters in the crowd.
As the excitement of D23 continues to ripple through the fan community, it’s worth noting that Augusttales.com remains a privately owned platform. Free from corporate influences, August Tales Comics delivers unfiltered news and insights directly to fans. Whether you’re looking for the latest on Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars, you can count on August Tales to provide the coverage that matters—without the constraints of larger corporate interests.
Read this article and more at Augusttales.com. Your go-to site for trade paperback exchanges and comic book news! Trade. Read. Repeat.
