The event organized by Disney for fans offered few surprises in terms of announcements, but reassured about the quality of certain projects.
Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar… It was the exclusive images fair at D23, the big biannual Disney gathering that takes place in Anaheim, California (a stone's throw from Disneyland Park). The Burbank firm unveiled a tactical plan that was not spectacular, refocused on already established franchises, and presented by Hollywood stars (Dwayne Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jeff Bridges, Jude Law, Seth Rogen, Gal Gadot…) who came to put on a show in the huge room of the Honda Center, usually reserved for the local ice hockey team. First was there and takes stock of the seven essential pieces of information to remember from this large panel.
The official title of Avatar 3
” Is this epic or what? » James Cameron had travelled from New Zealand, where he is in post-production, to unveil the official title ofAvatar 3. Avatar: Fire and Ash (fire and ashes) will not be according to him “ what you expect, but what you like “. The few concept arts revealed in passing (Cameron had no moving images already ready) to the 12,000 spectators make the mouth water. Released on December 19, 2025:
Here's your first look at concept art from Avatar 3 – aka Avatar: Fire And Ash – unveiled at #D23Expo by James Cameron. pic.twitter.com/JE8vzb6meB
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 10, 2024
Frozen 3 for 2027
Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee has announced the release of Frozen 3 for 2027 in theaters and mentioned in passing that a fourth part will also see the light of day (the story would take place over two films). A first concept art was unveiled:
First concept art for 'FROZEN 3'
In theaters in 2027. pic.twitter.com/IEfowBH9AO
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 10, 2024
Lee also announced a new Disney Animation original film for 2026, but the project is currently ” still top secret “. Finally, Zootopia 2 was a huge hit with the applause meter with a very funny excerpt where we came across a whiskered seal. Scheduled for November 2025, this sequel will put Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on the tortuous trail of a mysterious reptile that arrives in Zootopia and turns the metropolis of mammals upside down. To solve the case, the two heroes will have to infiltrate new unexpected neighborhoods of the city… Ke Huy Quan joins the voice cast and will voice Gary, a snake who will be the big baddie of the story.
The Incredibles 3 Surprise
In a well-rehearsed little show, Peter Docter, Pixar's creative director, announced a mix of sequels to the San Francisco studio's biggest franchises, but also a completely new film. We learned that Brad Bird is currently working on The Incredibles 3 (not dated yet and apparently not even written yet) and that Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo…) will realize Toy Story 5. Scheduled for June 2026, the feature film will see toys confront the arrival of cell phones and tablets in children's daily lives, which puts their survival at stake. A first concept art gives a good idea of the project:
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024
Furthermore, the very intriguing Hoppers will tell the story of Mabel, a young woman who loves animals and uses new technology to transpose her consciousness into a robotic animal that is larger than life: a beaver. The clip released offered a very cartoonish rendering and Mabel's features seemed largely inspired by Japanese animation. Daniel Chong will be the director and the voice cast will include Jon Hamm as the evil mayor of the city, who wants to set up a real estate project where the beavers live. Released in theaters in 2026:
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024
And then whatElio is still scheduled for June 2025 in theaters (a new trailer was shown), Pixar is tackling series head-on with the already announced Win or Lose (December 6 on Disney+), each episode of which will focus on a different character—the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, and even a lovesick umpire—on the day of a softball game. But the surprise came mostly from Dream Productionsscheduled for 2025 on Disney+, which will take place between the first and second Vice Versa. The angle is very funny since the action will focus entirely on the dream studio inside Riley's mind. Four episodes are planned.
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024
The Mandalorian & Grogu trailer
In poor shape, Lucasfilm did the bare minimum at D23. No announcements around the films Star Wars coming soon, if not a trailer for The Mandalorian & Groguset for a May 2026 theatrical release. Jon Favreau only started filming a few weeks ago, and this trailer assembled for fans will probably never be officially released online. Nothing crazy on the horizon (it all looks furiously like very big-budget TV), except for a few shots of snowtroopers and AT-ATs that were fiercely reminiscent of the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back. Fans were also treated to the rather mouthwatering first images ofAndor season 2 (on Disney+ in 2025) as well as a trailer for Skeleton Crew (December 3 on Disney+), series Star Wars in the style of Amblin, about whom we already spoke highly two years ago:
Tron: Ares Flexes His Muscles
What if Tron landed in the real world? That's more or less the concept of Tron: Aresthe third film in the franchise, this time directed by Norwegian Joachim Rønning. The trailer released at D23 looked great and showed the Ares program (Jared Leto) taking over our reality. Transposed into the city, the Lightcycles chases are a real mess (the trail of light generated by these futuristic motorcycles is capable of cutting a car in two) and the artistic direction is very promising. The cast (Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters and of course Jeff Bridges) was a huge hit on stage. Released in theaters on October 8, 2025. Oh, and one last thing: after Daft Punk for Tron LegacyNine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) will be in charge of the music. Very cool.
You're going to get what you deserve 10.10.25. (via@nineinchnails) pic.twitter.com/5t3OkXxpXb
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024
Daredevil is going to break some faces
We were afraid that the passage of Daredevil under the Marvel Studios banner does not distort the darkness of the series formerly broadcast on Netflix. According to the trailer that we were able to see, this will not be the case: Daredevil: Brave New World, a sort of light reboot but with the same cast (Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Jon Bernthal), showed the blind hero beating up people left and right and verbally confronting Wilson Fisk, who knows his secret identity. Really enticing.
'DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN.' Trailer. #DaredevilBornAgain #D23 #D23Expo better look at the trailer. pic.twitter.com/NarjU4Ez74
— CMac (@TurtleMac24) August 10, 2024
The rest of the Marvel section was less flamboyant (the series Iron Heartwhich is not widely believed in), with the exception of the highly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps (We were able to discover a sort of trailer/screen test that had already been shown at the San Diego Comic-Con). Anthony Mackie was also present to launch an extended version of the trailer for Captain America: Brave New Worldwhich told us that President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) wants to share the discovery of a new metal, adamantium (well, well, the announcement of a film X-Men (doesn't seem very far away) with the rest of the world. A choice that will plunge Sam Wilson into the heart of a conspiracy beyond his control.
The film seems to be playing the role of a 70s political thriller, but it's hard to believe that the obligatory passages (the big fights between superheroes) allow it to achieve its goal. Harrison Ford's transformation into the red Hulk at the very end, even if visually successful, doesn't reassure much on this point.
Lilo & Stitch Live
Disney continues its enterprise of remaking its entire animation catalog in live action, and this time it is the turn of Lilo & Stitch. Good news, it's director Dean Fleischer Camp – the excellent Marcel the shell (with his shoes) – who will be behind the camera. We have seen almost nothing of this film scheduled for summer 2025 in theaters, apart from a brief appearance by the blue alien, rather convincing. Moreover, the latter was shared on social networks if you want to get an idea:
Experiment 626 has entered the cat! The live-action #LiloAndStitch is coming only to theaters in Summer 2025! pic.twitter.com/rtnyX22j4R
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024