(KTLA) — Disney’s three-day fan festival D23 entertained guests at the Anaheim Convention Center with interactive exhibits and unique activations, but the major announcements regarding the entertainment giant’s future plans took place Friday evening at the nearby Honda Center.
Night one of D23 featured a star-studded, three-hour presentation from Disney Entertainment, with never-before-seen production footage, advanced screenings of Disney trailers and, most exciting for many in attendance, the official reveals of some Disney projects that are in the pipeline.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest announcements Disney Entertainment made Friday night.
New films
The biggest pop of the night came from the Disney Pixar segment of the show with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter announcing that there will be a third installment of the Pixar classic “The Incredibles.” Docter said creator Brad Bird is currently developing the story.
Docter also announced the next original Pixar film that’s in the works and showed a brief sizzle reel to hype up the crowd.
“Hoppers” will premiere in the spring of 2026 and while details were limited, the loose plot involves a girl who body switches with a robot beaver — like “Avatar” if you replaced the Na’vi with… beavers. The film includes voice acting from Piper Curda, Jon Hamm and “Saturday Night Live” alum Bobby Moynihan, and will be directed by “We Bare Bears” creator Daniel Chong.
New series
“Dream Productions,” a new animated series set in the world of Pixar’s “Inside Out” will premiere on Disney+ in 2025. The series follows the production crew responsible for creating Riley’s dreams, styled after a typical daily TV program.
The four-part series is set between the timeline of the first “Inside Out,” and the 2024 follow-up sequel, and features the voice talents of Paula Pell, Richard Ayoade and Maya Rudolph, with appearances from the original cast of Riley’s emotions.
Pixar’s first original series “Win or Lose,” headlined by the voice of Will Forte, will premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 6. The new series will focus on eight different characters, including “the insecure kids and their helicopter parents,” as well as their overwhelmed coach as they prepare for a championship softball game.
National Geographic has partnered with magician and illusionist David Blaine for a new series called “Do Not Attempt,” in which the iconic performer travels the world to meet with like-minded individuals who push their minds and bodies to the limits, to discover how and why they do it. Blaine also mystified the entire crowd at the Honda Center by performing a mind-blowing card trick that left the audience speechless (and confused).
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Alan Bergman announced a new documentary series about the lives of monster truck drivers entitled “Monster Jam,” which Johnson’s production company will produce.
New titles
The newest entry into the Avatar franchise will be called “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Director James Cameron, who made a rare appearance in support of the film, departing from New Zealand mid-production, announced that the third entry into the series will be “not what you’re expecting.”
The long-awaited sequel to “Freaky Friday” starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis will officially be titled “Freakier Friday,” and will continue the story of the film’s two protagonists 20 years after the events of the beloved 2003 film. Actor Chad Michael Murray will return, it was also announced.
The fifth installment of the “Toy Story” franchise will aptly be called “Toy Story 5.” The film will pick up with the old gang of Buzz, Jesse and friends and will feature a tale of “toys vs. tech,” focusing on modern kids and their preference for electronics.
“Frozen” director Jennifer Lee announced that the next chapter of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ production will be a two-parter
First looks
Pixar presented an in-depth look at its upcoming film “Elio,” starring kid actor Yonas Kibreab. Zoe Saldana, who was in attendance in support of the “Avatar” franchise, was also announced as a new member of the voice cast.
“Star Wars” fans were treated to trailers and sizzle reels for several highly anticipated properties, including season two of “Andor,” an extended look at the upcoming “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” and the original Disney+ series “Skeleton Crew,” streaming in December.
Marvel gave the crowd looks at the upcoming Disney+ series “Daredevil: Born Again,” “Agatha All Along,” and Iron Heart,” as well as an extended trailer for the next Captain America installment “Captain America: Brave New World.” The presentation also featured a short message from the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and a brief teaser for the long-awaited film.
Fans of the Disney+ original “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” were given a preview of season two.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho previewed the upcoming animated sequel to “Moana,” while attendees viewed a brief scene from “Zootopia 2,” and learned that Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan has been added to the cast.
A new logo for the live-action “Lilo and Stitch,” was shown and fans in attendance got to see the first look of the beloved Experiment 626 in his new digital animation form.
Disney music
Disney provided new information about a number of planned stage productions, including “Hercules” which will debut at London’s West End in summer 2025.
Following in the footsteps of 2020’s “Hamilton,” a stage production of “Frozen” will premiere as a feature on Disney+ in 2025.
“The Greatest Showman,” which skyrocketed up the music charts during its unexpected smash success in movie theaters is now in development as a stage production.
The cast of “TRON: Ares” shared a brief clip of what to expect when the film premieres in October 2025, including the news that Nine Inch Nails would provide the soundtrack.
To close out the show, it was announced that the aforementioned “Hamilton” scribe Lin Manuel Miranda has penned the music for the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King,” and the writer, rapper, producer himself premiered a first look of a song from the film.
D23 is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from Friday through Sunday.