This weekend, thousands of people are in California for the D23 Expo- and even more of us are online awaiting the news from all the announcements!
So what is D23 Expo? It’s part Disney fan convention and part giant preview- so many things from all the different branches of Disney will be announced this weekend! Whether you’re super into the Disney theme parks, Disney movies, Disney TV shows or all of the above, this is when you’ll learn about all kinds of fun things coming up.
Today the Walt Disney Studios- Disney Live Action, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Animation Studios event was held and we got SO many announcements about some great upcoming movies! Read on to see it all!
Hocus Pocus 2
The next Disney movie hitting screens is Hocus Pocus 2, which comes to Disney+ later this month! A new trailer for the movie dropped at D23 Expo and then went live online- you can watch it right here:
About the Movie:
It’s been 29 years since the 17th-century sisters have been resurrected and they are looking for revenge. It’s up to three high-school students (Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham) to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.
Hocus Pocus 2 comes to Disney+ on September 30th!
Disenchanted
The very long awaited sequel to Enchanted is finally almost here! We got our first teaser trailer and poster for Disenchanted- check the trailer out below:
About the movie:
It has been 15 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
Disenchanted will be streaming on Disney+ on Thanksgiving 2022 {November 24, 2022}! #Disenchanted
Peter Pan & Wendy
The first footage of Peter Pan & Wendy was revealed to audiences at D23 Expo, but currently remains an exclusive view for attendees. Keep watching here as I’ll update if they release anything publicly!
About the Movie:
The new film dives deeper into Wendy’s story as she joins the boy who refuses to grow up on a magical journey to Neverland and reveals the history behind Peter Pan’s rivalry with one of Disney’s most memorable villains.
Peter Pan & Wendy will stream on Disney+ in 2023! Keep an eye out here for more information as we get closer to the release date!
Mufasa: The Lion King
Just announced at D23 Expo- Mufasa: The Lion King! This movie is a prequel to “The Lion King” and tells us more about Simba’s father, Mufasa.
About the movie:
Told in flashbacks—Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa tell the story of Mufasa to a young lion cub—“Mufasa” reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands.
Mufasa: The Lion King will hit theaters sometime in 2024.
Snow White
Another live action remake on the upcoming slate is Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as her Stepmother, The Queen. Not much information was shared but they did announce that the film features new songs by Tony®-, Grammy®- and Oscar®-winning songwriters Pasek and Paul.
Snow White will be released in theaters sometime in 2024.
The Little Mermaid
Attendees at D23 Expo were able to see the entire “Part of Your World” sequence from the live-action The Little Mermaid film and early reviews are VERY positive!
It was also announced that Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda have collaborated on four new songs for the film! A teaser trailer finally dropped as well- check it out below!
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is swimming into theaters on May 26, 2023!
Haunted Mansion
There’s a Haunted Mansion movie currently underway, and Jamie Lee Curtis rode in on a Doom Buggy {the ride vehicles} to announce that she’s playing Madame Leota!
We don’t have a trailer yet, but this will be a fun one for anyone who is a fan of the ride at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. If it’s even half as good as the Jungle Cruise movie ended up being, I’m in!
About the movie:
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
Haunted Mansion will come to theaters in 2023!
Elemental
The previously announced Pixar movie Elemental was discussed at D23 Expo, where they revealed the voice actors for the two main characters. Leah Lewis will voice Ember and Mamoudou Athie will voice Wade, with more characters to be announced at a later date.
About the Movie:
“Elemental” is an original film inspired by Sohn’s childhood in New York. “My parents emigrated from Korea in the early 1970s and built a bustling grocery store in the Bronx,” said the director. “We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me to ‘Elemental.’
“Our story is based on the classic elements—fire, water, land and air,” Sohn continued. “Some elements mix with each other, and some don’t. What if these elements were alive?”
Elemental releases on June 16, 2023!
Elio
A new upcoming Pixar movie was announced at D23 Expo- Elio!
About the Movie:
In the story, 11-year-old dreamer Elio is artistic, creative and an avid INdoorsman who finds it hard to fit in. Meanwhile Mom Olga, who runs a top-secret military project, is working to decode a strange signal from outer space. But it’s Elio who makes contact, gets beamed into space and is subsequently mistaken for an intergalactic Ambassador for Earth.
Elio releases in Spring 2024!
Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2 was officially announced at D23 Expo! Amy Poehler, the voice of Joy, was on hand to make the announcement about the movie and shared that she’ll be reprising her role. No word yet on if any of the other emotions from the original will be joining her, and the summary doesn’t make that clear either so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
About the Movie:
{Inside Out 2 is an} all-new adventure inside the head of now-teenager Riley—who may or may not be feeling all kinds of new Emotions.
Inside Out 2 releases in Summer 2024!
Strange World
The next animated movie to be released in theaters is Strange World, coming this Thanksgiving! Attendees got to see a new trailer for the movie which is yet to be released, and got a sneak peek at a scene from the film, too!
Keep an eye out here for when the trailer drops!
About the Movie:
{Strange World is} about an incredible family who must get past their differences to save a strange world full of danger and surprises.
Strange World hits theaters on November 23, 2022!
Wish
The perfectly timed movie Wish was announced at D23 Expo- the movie sounds like a love letter to Disney Animations Studios and is coming out during it’s 100th anniversary year!
About the Movie:
A film that could only come from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the epic animated musical is inspired by the legacy of films from the studio and asks the question: “How did the wishing star, upon which so many characters wished, come to be?” The story is set in Rosas, the kingdom of wishes where wishes can literally come true. Asha is an optimist with a sharp wit who cares endlessly about her community. In a moment of desperation, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the stars, which is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Wish will be released in Fall 2023!
Other Projects Coming Soon From These Studios
While these studios used to just make movies, Disney+ has changed all that! Here’s a look at the shows and shorts coming up soon from these studios:
Zootopia+ comes to Disney+ on November 9th. The new short-form series heads back to the fast-paced mammal metropolis, diving deeper into the lives of some of the Oscar®-winning feature film’s most intriguing residents.
IWÁJÚ comes to Disney+ in 2023 and is an all-new original show created in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali. The series takes place in a futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria, inspired by the spirit of Lagos, which is physically divided into an island and a mainland separated by both water and socio-economic status. The coming-of-age story introduces Tola, a young heiress from the wealthy island, and her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert and loving son from the mainland.
Win or Lose is coming to Disney+ in Fall 2023 and is the first long-form series from Pixar. “Win or Lose” follows the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, in the week leading up to their championship game. Each episode takes place that same week, highlighting the perspective of a different main character—players, their parents, the umpire—each reflected in a unique visual style. During D23, it was revealed that Will Forte will voice Coach Dan.
This year’s event is already underway- and has been sold out for months- but if you’re thinking about going in the future, check out why you should go to D23 Expo {and find out what I saw when I went in 2017!}
Which movie are you the most excited for?
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