From Ryan Gosling in Star Wars to a new X-Men cast, Frozen 3, Incredibles 3 and Robert Downey Jr. back as Doctor Doom, Disney just showed its entire hand.
- Avengers Doomsday releases December 18, 2026 with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
- Frozen 3, Incredibles 3, Coco 2 and Lilo and Stitch 2 are all officially confirmed
- Ryan Gosling stars in Star Wars Starfighter directed by Shawn Levy opening May 2027
- The new X-Men cast includes Kit Connor, Samara Weaving and Christopher Abbott
D23 2026 just happened and the Disney universe will never be quite the same again. The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, held at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center in California from August 14 to 16, delivered one of the most stacked announcement weekends in the company’s recent history. Films, series, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, live action remakes, a brand new X-Men universe and a Frozen 3 finale that brought the Honda Center to its feet. If you are a Disney fan in the UAE and you were not refreshing your feed all weekend, here is every single thing you need to know.
Disney: The Classics Come Back and Then Some
The evening opened with Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro setting the tone before the studio’s biggest announcements landed one after another. Anne Hathaway announced onstage that Princess Diaries 3 is currently underway, confirming the highly anticipated sequel is in active production. Hathaway, who is being honoured as a Disney Legend at this year’s event, also appeared to discuss her connection to the Disney family dating back to the original Princess Diaries.
The live action Tangled was officially confirmed, directed by Michael Gracey of The Greatest Showman, with Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel, Teagan Croft as Rapunzel and Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, currently filming in Spain. Diego Luna joins as a new character named Hawthorne, with Caitríona Balfe as Queen Arianna. Tangled opens in theatres on March 31, 2028.
Lilo and Stitch 2 got its official announcement, with Maia Kealoha returning as Lilo and Angel confirmed as a new character joining Stitch. Directed by Chris Sanders, who created the original, production begins in Hawaii later this year with a theatrical release on May 26, 2028.
The Bluey Movie received its first teaser trailer reveal, confirming the beloved series will make its theatrical debut on August 6, 2027, written and directed by creator Joe Brumm with returning voice talent from the original series.
Jon Favreau introduced Oswald, a new live action animated hybrid series based on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, premiering February 17, 2027 exclusively on Disney Plus. Ice Age: Boiling Point, the long-awaited sixth instalment of the franchise, releases February 5, 2027, introducing Jurassic Scrat alongside the original herd. Romy and Michele 2, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow, heads to Hulu in 2027.
Disney’s Hexed, an original magical coming-of-age story releasing November 25, 2026, added major new cast including Walton Goggins and two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster as Queen Celeste.
Pixar: Everything You Loved Is Coming Back
Pixar had one of its biggest D23 presentations in years. Incredibles 3 is officially confirmed for theatrical release on June 16, 2028, directed by Peter Sohn, with the Parr children taking centre stage in the new film according to Pixar CCO Pete Docter.
Coco 2 will debut exclusively in theatres in November 2029, with Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz and the original directing team of Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina reuniting for the sequel.
Two brand new original films were also announced. Ghost Market, set in a hidden plate lunch shop in Hawaii that serves lost spirits, directed by Trevor Jimenez and Jesse Andrews, comes to theatres in March 2028. And Gatto, an animated adventure set in Venice following a scrappy black cat voiced by Mark Ruffalo who is indebted to a feline mob boss voiced by Laurence Fishburne, arrives March 5, 2027, from the director of Luca.
Zootopia 3 was confirmed to be in early development, with an exclusive sequence screened for the D23 audience. And Clay, a new original Walt Disney Animation Studios film voiced by Kieran Culkin, was announced for a 2028 theatrical release.
Marvel: The Multiverse Just Got a Lot More Crowded
Marvel’s portion of D23 was electric from start to finish. VisionQuest, the Disney Plus series completing the WandaVision trilogy, releases October 14, 2026, with Paul Bettany and James Spader returning alongside a new cast including Ruaridh Mollica as Thomas Shepard.
Then came the moment Marvel fans had been waiting for. Avengers Doomsday releases December 18, 2026, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Victor von Doom, Doctor Doom, alongside Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Channing Tatum and a cast so stacked it requires its own spreadsheet. Tickets are now on sale.
The X-Men reboot received its full cast reveal. Sadie Sink leads as Jean Grey, joined by Kit Connor as Scott Summers, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury. Directed by Jake Schreier, the untitled X-Men film releases May 5, 2028.
Star Wars: Ryan Gosling Enters the Galaxy
Shawn Levy brought Ryan Gosling to the D23 stage for the first reveal of Star Wars: Starfighter, a new theatrical adventure releasing May 28, 2027. Gosling plays a cynical rogue confronted by his mysterious past, with the film also starring Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and Amy Adams. The sizzle reel screened exclusively in the room.
Ahsoka Season 2 received its teaser trailer, premiering January 20, 2027 on Disney Plus, with Rosario Dawson returning alongside Hayden Christensen and a story set after the fall of the Empire.
Disney Television, National Geographic and Stage
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 is coming to Disney Plus on November 20, 2026, covering The Titan’s Curse. A Kingdom Hearts original anime series has been greenlit for Disney Channel and Disney Plus. National Geographic’s Lion, following a real pride over four years, premieres August 19 on National Geographic and August 20 on Disney Plus and Hulu.
The Greatest Showman stage musical will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End in spring 2027, with Oliver Tompsett as P.T. Barnum and Samantha Barks as Charity Barnum leading the West End cast.
The Simpsons Movie 2 received a sneak peek, releasing in theatres September 3, 2027. And Frozen 3, directed by Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy, closes out the entire D23 weekend on the most emotional note possible. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel performed new songs from the film live, Josh Gad sang a new love song for Olaf’s first crush, and new animation teased a villainess whose powers rival Elsa’s. Frozen 3 opens in theatres November 24, 2027.
Disney just showed its hand. Every single card is a face card!
