Disney CEO Bob Iger received an electrifying welcome at D23, with about 12,000 enthusiastic fans giving him a standing ovation as he opened a major panel on Friday night. “Wow. That was more than a warm welcome,” Iger remarked to the audience, expressing his excitement after missing the last D23 event in 2022 due to a temporary retirement.
This year’s convention allowed filmmakers and executives, including James Cameron, Kevin Feige, Pete Docter, and Jennifer Lee, to announce new projects and share upcoming highlights. The event, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, hosted approximately double the attendees compared to previous years. A pep squad energized the crowd, and attendees received light-up bracelets along with envelopes featuring magician David Blaine’s logo and a deck of cards.
The panel featured several major announcements and trailers:
Mufasa: The Lion King: Barry Jenkins welcomed Lin-Manuel Miranda, who premiered a new song from the upcoming film before presenting the trailer, which explored the bond between Mufasa and his adopted brother, later known as Scar.
Tron: Ares: Cast members Jared Leto, Evan Peters, and Greta Lee introduced stunning footage from the third installment, followed by the revelation that Nine Inch Nails will compose the score, continuing the legacy from 2010’s Tron: Legacy.
Snow White: The first trailer for Snow White showcased its musical elements, a departure from some recent adaptations.
Freaky Friday: The sequel to the beloved comedy received an official title, with stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis celebrating with the crowd.
David Blaine’s Do Not Attempt: The magician previewed a new National Geographic show set to air in 2025 and performed a stunning card trick that unified the audience under one card—the three of hearts.
Agatha All Along: Kathryn Hahn led a musical number before unveiling a new trailer for the Marvel Studios series, premiering in September.
Daredevil: Born Again: Marvel’s Kevin Feige announced that the show’s first season will debut in March 2025, with season two already set to begin filming.
Ironheart: Ryan Coogler discussed the upcoming Marvel show featuring Riri Williams, highlighting the character’s intelligence and creativity as she builds an Iron Man-style suit.
Fantastic Four and Captain America: Brave New World: Anthony Mackie presented footage from both films, sharing anecdotes about filming alongside Harrison Ford.
Ryan Reynolds: In a pre-recorded message, the Deadpool star expressed gratitude to fans and poked fun at Marvel before introducing Kevin Feige.
The Mandalorian & Grogu: Director Jon Favreau shared that filming for the next Star Wars film has recently commenced, displaying thrilling footage.
Andor: New footage for season two was showcased, confirming the return of familiar faces from Rogue One.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew: Fans got a glimpse at this new series focused on young characters lost in the Star Wars galaxy.
Frozen III: Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee announced that the sequel is set for release in 2027, along with confirmation of a fourth film.
Zootopia 2: Ke Huy Quan will join the sequel as a new character named Gary, described as a venomous viper.
The Incredibles 3: The crowd learned that Brad Bird is currently developing a third installment in the beloved superhero franchise.
Hoppers: Jon Hamm and Bobby Moynihan will star in a body-swap comedy centered on a beaver and a human.
Toy Story 5: Director Andrew Stanton discussed the film’s theme of toys interacting with modern technology, including malfunctioning Buzz Lightyear figures.
Inside Out TV Spinoff: Following the success of Inside Out 2, a new Disney+ series titled Dream Productions will premiere next year.
Avatar: Fire and Ash: James Cameron officially announced the third Avatar movie, emphasizing new cultures and environments on Pandora.
Monster Jam: Dwayne Johnson introduced a new project about monster trucks, promising a unique live-action experience.
Moana 2: Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho performed a song from the upcoming sequel, which started as a planned Disney+ series but has now been developed into a theatrical release.