By Courtney Potter and the D23 Team
The Disney Entertainment Showcase brought the magic and memories to the Honda Center on Friday night of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—as fans were treated to a bona fide spectacle of announcements and exclusive reveals about some of its most beloved brands and franchises!
After the crowd was sufficiently warmed up by an incredible opening number featuring the pros from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, choreographed by Emmy® winner Mandy Moore, our evening’s hosts—Ginnifer Goodwin and Academy Award® winner Ke Huy Quan, the voices behind the beloved Judy Hopps and Gary De’Snake in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2—took the stage. “We are Disney super fans!” the pair exclaimed. “We’ve got a great show for you tonight,” said Quan. “And we can’t wait to share this with you,” added Goodwin.
The pair then welcome Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro—who highlighted the extraordinary relationship that Disney has with fans across generations and around the world. “Right now, nearly half a million people are in our parks and on our cruise ships. Millions more are watching our stories in theaters or at home. Someone right now is seeing The Lion King on Broadway for the very first time,” D’Amaro said. “When you add it all up, Disney has something no other brand on Earth can claim. Not just a customer base, not just an audience, but an actual connection. A connection that reaches every single corner of the globe, spans every age and every background, and becomes part of people’s lives and the memories that they carry with them. A connection with more than four billion fans. That’s half the world’s population who don’t just look to us for entertainment; they look to us for inspiration.”
Following D’Amaro’s greeting was an evening chockablock with surprises and stars... and speaking of which, D’Amaro himself welcomed brand-new Disney Legend Anne Hathaway to speak about what being a member of the Disney family has meant to her, dating back to the film that started it all: The Princess Diaries.
Then, Hathaway welcomed Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, to open the showcase alongside one of the most iconic characters in television history: Bart Simpson! Having played a key role in the success of The Simpsons franchise over the entirety of her career, Walden presented a special sneak peek of the upcoming film, releasing in theaters September 3, 2027.
Goodwin and Huan were back to introduce Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios—who spoke about Pixar Animation Studios and introduced its Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter. Bergman shared how, as a young animator, Docter nearly took a job on The Simpsons instead joining Pixar. “Pete and the team continue to deliver films with tremendous heart and humor,” Bergman said. “And this year they had the fantastic Hoppers as well as Toy Story 5—the biggest film in the franchise that started it all for Pixar.”
Docter was given a rousing welcome as he kicked off the Pixar portion of the showcase, beginning with an exclusive first look at Disney and Pixar’s Incredibles 3, featuring the fan-favorite family of Supers back in action. Incredibles 3 is directed by Peter Sohn (Elemental), produced by Academy Award® winners Dana Murray (Soul) and Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and releases exclusively in theaters June 16, 2028.
Docter then unveiled updates for Disney and Pixar’s Coco 2. New concept art revealed Miguel as a teenager, before Docter was joined onstage by Benjamin Bratt (voice of Ernesto de la Cruz), confirming that the first film’s villain will reemerge in Coco 2, resulting in a life-changing return trip to the Land of the Dead for Miguel. Coco 2 reunites the team behind the original film, including Academy Award-winning director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and co-director Adrian Molina (Coco). Oscar® winner Mark Nielsen (Toy Story 4) produces. Coco 2 will debut exclusively in theaters in November 2029.
Then, Bratt helped Disney & Pixar Games and SQUARE ENIX share new details on KINGDOM HEARTS IV which will feature a world inspired by Coco, and a late 2027 release window... as well as a brand-new Kingdom Hearts (working title) series coming soon to Disney+!
Docter next announced that Pixar is developing a brand-new original film titled Ghost Market. A clip from the film was shown in-room that introduces audiences to ʻOno Market—a little plate lunch shop hidden away in a remote location on Oʻahu’s North Shore that serves lost spirits, stuck between life and death. The living have never set foot in this place... until a fast-talking kid named Kyle blunders in and finds himself on an unexpected supernatural adventure! Ghost Market is directed by Trevor Jimenez (Weekends) and Jesse Andrews (Hoppers); produced by Academy Award winner Becky Neiman-Cobb (Bao); and dated for theatrical release in March 2028.
Docter closed out Pixar’s portion of the program with a D23-exclusive look at Disney and Pixar’s March 5, 2027, theatrical release Gatto. In the upcoming animated adventure, the scrappy black cat Nero (voiced by Mark Ruffalo) begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives after years of maneuvering the canal-ridden, superstitious city of Venice, Italy. Indebted to Rocco (voiced by Laurence Fishburne), the ruthless local feline mob boss, Nero finds himself in a quandary and is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose—unless Venice gets the better of him first. Gatto is directed by Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, the filmmaking team behind Disney and Pixar’s Oscar-nominated feature Luca.
Quan and Goodwin returned to the stage to welcome Maia Kealoha, Lilo from the live-action film Lilo & Stitch—entering while looking for her blue fugitive alien friend, Stitch... who surprised D23 attendees on the big screen with his new pink co-star, Angel! Lilo & Stitch 2, the sequel to the blockbuster film, is scheduled to begin production in Hawaiʻi later this year, under the direction of Chris Sanders—who co-created, co-wrote, and directed the 2002 animated film. Sanders also provided the voice of Stitch in both the animated and live-action films. The producer is Jonathan Eirich, and the executive producers are Ryan Halperin and Tom Peitzman. Lilo & Stitch 2 will open in theaters May 26, 2028.
That iconic duo Romy and Michele—aka Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow—then entered the stage to a shower of yellow Post-it notes to talk about Romy & Michele 2. The sequel to the beloved 1997 film is directed by Tim Federle, the screenwriter of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Also starring Alan Cumming, Camryn Manheim, Keegan-Michael Key, Rob Huebel, Breckin Meyer, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Janeane Garofalo, the film will debut exclusively on Hulu in 2027.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians lit up the Honda Center stage in a moment inspired by the upcoming third season’s “Titan’s Curse”—with an army of Artemis’s hunters who introduced Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson) alongside surprise guests Ming-Na Wen (Hera) and Andra Day (Athena) to debut the official teaser trailer for season three, coming to Disney+ November 20, 2026.
Camp Rock 3 executive producers and stars Joe, Nick, and Kevin Jonas then took to the stage to introduce an incredible musical performance of “One Beat Away” and “We Rock” from next generation stars Liamani Segura, Malachi Barton, Hudson Stone, Lumi Pollack, and Casey Trotter. Camp Rock 3 is now streaming on Disney+.
Audiences were delighted by a brand-new teaser trailer and poster debut for The Bluey Movie, complete with a surprise game of Keepy Uppy for Honda Center fans with giant versions of the iconic red balloons! The teaser trailer offers a first look at the CG-animated film based on the beloved series about Bluey, a lovable, inexhaustible blue heeler dog who lives with her Mum, Dad, and little sister, Bingo. The Bluey Movie takes place on an action-packed day when a big surprise changes everything for Bluey and her family. The film arrives in theaters on August 6, 2027. The Bluey Movie is written and directed by creator Joe Brumm and produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios, with distribution through Walt Disney Studios. The film is produced by Amber Naismith and co-directed by Richard Jeffery. Returning voice talent includes Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack as Mum (Chilli) and Dad (Bandit).
Next... the herd is back! Ice Age: Boiling Point cast members Queen Latifah and Denis Leary took the stage, introducing an exclusive clip in-room for D23 attendees that featured Scrat and Baby Scrat, and which introduced their enormous, prehistoric cousin, Jurassic Scrat. The highly anticipated film is a dinosaur-and-lava-filled madcap adventure that takes Manny (voiced by Ray Romano), Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo), Diego (voiced by Denis Leary), Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah), Buck (voiced by Simon Pegg), the acorn-obsessed trio of Scrat, Baby Scrat, and Jurassic Scrat, and the rest of the herd to visit never-before-seen corners of the treacherous Lost World. The film is directed by John C. Donkin (The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild), produced by Lori Forte (Ice Age, Ice Age: Collision Course) and releases exclusively in theaters February 5, 2027.
Disney Theatrical Group announced that, following its sell-out run at The Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year, their brand-new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman—based on the 2017 smash-hit film, with songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Tim Federle, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw—will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London's West End in spring 2027. The Honda Center crowd was treated to an incredible medley of songs from the show, which was performed by its stars Oliver Tompsett (P.T. Barnum), Samantha Barks (Charity Barnum), and Malinda Parris (Lettie Lutz). They join Ben Joyce (Phillip Carlyle), and Vajèn van den Bosch (Jenny Lind) with further casting for the London production to be announced.
Mother Gothel herself, Kathryn Hahn then arrived to talk about Tangled—a live-action retelling of the 2010 Disney animated film based on the Brothers Grimm Rapunzel fairy tale. The D23 audience was also treated to a taped message from Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim, who are currently filming in Spain. The film is directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) and produced by Kristin Burr (Cruella) for Burr! Productions, with Lucy Kitada (Project Hail Mary) serving as executive producer. The film also stars Diego Luna as a new character, Hawthorne; Caitríona Balfe as Queen Arianna; Elliot Cowan as King Frederic; and Patrick and Hugo McPherson as the Stabbington twins. Tangled will open in theaters March 31, 2028.
The Honda Center crowd then gave a warm welcome to Disney Legend Jon Favreau—the creator, writer, co-director, and executive producer of Oswald, an all-new live-action animated hybrid series based on the classic character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit... and he screened an adorable clip for the room! When an earthquake releases Walt Disney's creation, Oswald, who has been hidden away since the 1920s, a middle school boy and his friends try to help the cartoon rabbit navigate his way through the modern world. The series, which stars Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Ryder Allen, Al Madrigal, with Kathryn Hahn and Albert Brooks, is directed by Jon Favreau, Jude Weng, and Andrew R. Jones, written by Favreau, based on the original Oswald the Lucky Rabbit by Walt Disney, and created by Favreau. The executive producers are Favreau, Andrew R. Jones, Karen Gilchrist, and John Bartnicki. Oswald will premiere February 17, 2027, exclusively on Disney+.
Favreau then brought on Mike Gunton of BBC Studios Natural History Unit to help introduce their series LION, and share the remarkable true story behind it—filmed over four years following a real pride and a single cub, Kio, on his journey to becoming king. LION premieres August 19 on National Geographic and streams August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Goodwin and Quan then return to welcomed Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who brought Vision himself, Paul Bettany, who was joined by Ultron, James Spader, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige as they teased fans with a first look at the trailer and poster for Marvel Television’s VisionQuest, an all-new original series coming exclusively to Disney+ October 14, 2026, which concludes the epic trilogy that began with 2021’s groundbreaking, award-winning WandaVision and 2024’s acclaimed Agatha All Along. Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron. His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron's influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive. VisionQuest stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T’Nia Miller, Lauren Morais, Orla Brady, Diane Morgan, Polly Frame, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, with Emily Hampshire, and James D’Arcy. VisionQuest is created for television by Terry Matalas, based on the Marvel Comics. The executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Mary Livanos, Terry Matalas, Jac Schaeffer, and Christopher J. Byrne, and the producer is Roopesh Parekh.
Insomniac Games, in collaboration with Marvel Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment, unveiled a new trailer from the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine debuted during the showcase. Marvel’s Wolverine is coming to PlayStation 5 on September 15th.
As excitement for Marvel Studios’ December 18, 2026, release Avengers: Doomsday builds, the assembled crowd went wild as Feige was joined onstage by Academy Award winner and Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. (Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) to unveil a special look at the upcoming film, now available to the public. In Avengers: Doomsday, beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered. Avengers: Doomsday is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Jonathan Schwartz. The film stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Mabel Cadena, with Tenoch Huerta Mejia.
But wait, there’s more: Feige continued to thrill the crowd when he was joined onstage by Sadie Sink, who debuted as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and director Jake Schreier, to discuss the all-new X-Men film in development! The trio then welcomed Sink’s new castmates to the stage: Kit Connor as Scott Summers, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, and Maya Boyd as Storm. In a special video recording, Adam Driver announced that he will play Nathaniel Milbury. The untitled X-Men film will be released exclusively in theaters May 5, 2028.
Quan and Goodwin returned to welcome Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni to chat about his series Ahsoka—which returns for a second season early next year. Filoni himself brought out stars Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, and Eman Esfandi and debuted the teaser trailer for Season 2 of the Emmy® Award-winning series, which will premiere January 20, 2027, exclusively on Disney+. The new season, which once again stars Dawson in the titular role, is a story set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, which has Ahsoka confronting what it means to be a Jedi, while the galaxy faces a formidable opponent in Grand Admiral Thrawn. Season 2 continues the story of Ahsoka Tano and her extraordinary journey beyond the known galaxy. As Ahsoka and her Jedi apprentice Sabine Wren travel across a mysterious and perilous world to find their way home, their friends Hera, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper must face the powerful Grand Admiral Thrawn and his sinister allies, who seek to plunge the New Republic into war.
Filoni then introduced director/producer Shawn Levy from Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Starfighter to the stage to talk about the all-new theatrical adventure opening in theaters nationwide May 28, 2027... and he invited Ryan Gosling, the star of the new film, to join him. Gosling entered wearing a retro Mickey Mouse Club leather jacket—following a memorable video of him from his days as a Mouseketeer!—before Levy presented him with a special leather jacket featuring an important symbol from the movie. The duo then screened a sizzle/teaser exclusively for the room. When a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny. The film also stars Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray, and Amy Adams. Star Wars: Starfighter is written by Jonathan Tropper, produced by Shawn Levy and Kathleen Kennedy, with Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen serving as executive producers.
Finally, to wrap up this incredible showcase, Goodwin and Quan introduced Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer and Oscar winner (and their friend) Jared Bush. The trio revealed that Zootopia 3 is officially in early development at the studio—and they screened an exclusive custom sequence for the elated D23 audience! Release timing for Zootopia 3 will be announced at a later date.
Bush next revealed that production is underway on an all-new original feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios called Clay (working title), and that Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin will star in the leading role as the voice of Flip. Bush debuted exclusive concept art for the D23 audience and shared that the original animated adventure is set in a magical forest full of fantastical creatures. When the rebellious misfit Flip is unwillingly chosen during a yearly ritual to mentor a young, impressionable ball of clay named Mushy, the unlikely duo is swept into a chaotic, funny, and ultimately life-changing adventure. Clay is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn (Disney’s Hexed, Lilo & Scratch) and produced by Academy Award® winner Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, Frozen 2). Clay releases exclusively in theaters in 2028.
In a significant casting update for the studio’s November 25, 2026, original magical coming-of-age saga Disney’s Hexed, Bush was joined onstage by Hailee Steinfeld, the previously announced voice of the film’s lead Billie Doe, an impulsive and unconventional teenage girl who discovers secret magical abilities. The two then welcomed Walton Goggins to the stage, as it was revealed he will voice the new character Beef Roger Crummchuk—a reclusive, magical three-eyed cat who forges an uneasy alliance with Billie and her cautious mother Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones) as they embark on a spectacle-filled journey out of suburbia and into a vast magical realm called Hexe. An exclusive piece featuring Beef Roger Crummchuk was shown in-room. Then, two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster took the stage as it was revealed that she will voice Queen Celeste, a sinister figure who will stop at nothing to maintain her power in perpetuity over Hexe! Disney’s Hexed is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn (Wish) and Jason Hand (Moana 2); co-directed by Josie Trinidad (Zootopia+); and produced by Oscar® winners Roy Conli (Big Hero 6) and Yvett Merino (Encanto).
Closing out the Entertainment Showcase with an electrifying grand finale were Frozen 3 cast members Kristen Bell (voice of Anna) and Idina Menzel (voice of Elsa)—who performed a new version of the song “Frozen Heart,” and Josh Gad (voice of Olaf), who performed a new love song for Olaf’s first crush, titled “Ooooh, Samantha.” Both songs are written by Oscar-winning composer duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen, Coco, Frozen 2). In the final surprise of the night, the trio unveiled all-new animation of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven, which hinted at a new villainess whose powers rival those of Elsa’s. In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 3, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf return for their next adventure. Frozen 3 is directed by Academy Award winner Jennifer Lee (Frozen, Frozen 2) and Trent Correy (Once Upon a Studio, Once Upon a Snowman, Zootopia+), produced by Christina Chen (Moana 2, Iwájú), and releases in theaters on November 24, 2027.
