D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event showcases new films

Disney fans from all over the world gathered in Anaheim, California for the annual Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event from August 9 to 11, 2024. Fans were thrilled by surprise celebrity appearances, news about new films and series, and musical performances.

One of the new attractions scheduled for Disneyland is a new show is at the Main Street Opera House: Walt Disney – A Magical Life. It will feature for the first time an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney, using an updated technology of the one Walt pioneered 60 years ago with President Abraham Lincoln as the prime feature of the State of Illinois Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair. It's been a favorite of Disney fans since 1955 when it premiered onstage at Disneyland's Opera House. The theatre will transform into Walt’s studio office and will bring together the past, present and future of Disney storytelling. A Magical Life will play in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Disney Animation’s Moana 2 featured a performance of "We’re Back" by Auli'i Cravalho, the voice of Moana, who was joined onstage by dancers and drummers from Nonosina Polynesia. The all-new song is one of several that will be featured in the film. Following the performance, Dwayne Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, hit the stage to greet fans and drum up excitement, revealing a new trailer and poster. Moana 2 opens in theatres on Nov. 27, 2024.

Jude Law appeared onstage to offer insight on a brand-new Star Wars series launching on Disney+ on Dec. 3, 2024. Told through the perspective of four kids, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew follows them as they make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy, crossing paths with the likes of Jod Na Nawood, a mysterious character portrayed by Law.

Kevin Feige discussed next month's launch of the new series Agatha All Along in which the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself out of power after a suspicious goth teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Fans watched a brand-new, dark and mysterious trailer — followed by series stars Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, Patti LuPone, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn and Debra Jo Rupp performing a magical new song -- "The Ballad of the Witches Road" -- which is featured in the Disney+ series that begins streaming Sept. 18, 2024.

Pete Docter revealed the official launch date of Pixar’s first original series Win or Lose, which begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ on Dec. 6, 2024. The show reveals what it feels like to be in the shoes of eight different characters — the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire — as they prepare for a championship softball game.

A live-action reimagining of the classic Snow White stars Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White, and Gal Gadot, who portrays her stepmother, the Evil Queen. They arrived onstage to share a special look at the upcoming film, which whistles into theatres March 21, 2025.

Mufasa: The Lion King closed the showcase, beginning with Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, performing the iconic "Nants’ Ingonyama" alongside a full choir. Director Barry Jenkins welcomed songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda to the stage in his first-ever D23 appearance to offer a special look at a sequence from the film featuring a song he wrote called "I Always Wanted a Brother." The all-new story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka. Fans were among the first to see the new trailer before being treated to a show-stopping finale by Lebo M. and choir, who returned to the stage to perform a new song called "Ngomso." Mufasa: The Lion King opens in theatres Dec. 20, 2024.

Another new film to look forward is Zootopia 2, which hits theatres in November 2025. It follows detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who go undercover on the trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. Toy Story 5 brings back Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang, and is scheduled to open in theatres on June 19, 2026. Incredibles 3 is also in the works at Pixar Animation Studios.

Disney on Broadway offered performances and exclusive announcements from its hit stage musicals. Highlights included The Lion King, Aladdin and Hercules, which will open in London’s West End in summer 2025. There was also news about the hit movie musical The Greatest Showman, which is currently in development for a stage musical adaptation.

To learn more about D23 and/or to find out about becoming a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, click here. ~Alexandra Heilbron