D23: The Ultimate Fan Event – Disney Entertainment Studio Showcase Predictions!
This August, Disney is returning to Anaheim for its bi-annual D23 event, and this year, the D23 Expo has been rebranded as the D23: Ultimate Fan Event. Every two years, Disney takes to the stage to present and lay out its plans for its studios for the years ahead.
For this year’s D23 event, Disney is moving the major studio showcase from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Honda Center, which means they’ve been able to double the number of people who can see all of its biggest and most popular panels.
On Friday, 9th August 2024, Disney’s studios will be hosting a Showcase Presentation, which is scheduled to run from 7 pm until 9 pm and the official description states:
Enjoy the magic of Disney Entertainment in a star-studded showcase featuring exclusive looks at the movies, series, and stage shows you love, and a glimpse into what you can look forward to. Join some of your favorite stars as they give you a peek behind the curtain at upcoming projects, never-before-seen footage, surprise announcements, and special guests, musical performances, and exclusive new content coming to the big screen, your small screens, and stages worldwide.
There are a few key points I wanted to highlight from this official information, first off, the panel is just two hours long. At the previous D23, Disney held three separate two-hour panels for its movie and TV studios. So instantly, the amount of time dedicated to the studio announcements is only a third of 2022, which will drastically reduce how much can realistically be revealed. This Studio Showcase will also feature many different studios from Disney, such as Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, 20th Century Studios and Disney.
Since the last D23 Expo, we’ve seen a drastic change in leadership and strategy; with the return of Bob Iger as CEO, we’ve seen the amount of Disney+ Originals drastically reduced as the company refocuses on theatrical releases, and thus, it’s only logical that the number of reveals will be fewer than in previous years.
Here are some of my predictions for what might be revealed during the Studio Showcase:
Disney
Zootopia 2
This sequel was one of the first major announcements by Bob Iger when he returned as the CEO, and it’s due to be released in cinemas in November 2025, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a little tease of this film, maybe a hint at what it’ll be about or a casting reveal.
Mufasa: The Lion King
This movie is a prequel to “The Lion” and is released in cinemas during the holidays, so it’s very likely that a new teaser trailer or clip is shown to audiences. 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.
Snow White
Another movie that was delayed from being released in 2024 was “Snow White”, the live-action reimagining of the classic tale, which stars Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as Snow White’s Stepmother, The Queen. So far we’ve only seen a single image released from this movie, so a teaser trailer being released at D23 is probably very likely, though it might only be shown to those in attendance.
Tron: Ares
“TRON: Ares” follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. Filming on this sequel wrapped earlier this year and is coming out in 2025, so D23 would be a great time to give those in attendance a sneak peek at the upcoming film.
Freaky Friday Sequel
A sequel to the beloved 2003 film with a multigenerational twist, the film picks up years after Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.
Filming on this new sequel only began a few weeks ago, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the stars of this film take to the stage to hype up this new project.
Moana 2/Moana
The animated sequel reunites Moana and the demigod Maui three years after the events of the first film for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
With “Moana 2” hitting cinemas at Thanksgiving and with filming due to begin this summer on the live-action remake of the original, I can’t imagine there won’t be a massive “Moana” presence on the stage. I also wouldn’t be surprised if a song from the sequel is debuted for the first time at the event to close or open the presentation.
Star Wars
Skeleton Crew
This new Star Wars series follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.
“Skeleton Crew” is due to arrive on Disney+ later this year, so I’d be surprised if Disney doesn’t release the first teaser trailer for the show during the event to everyone and get fans excited for something new!
Andor – Season 2
Filming has already wrapped on the second season of “Andor”, which is expected to arrive on Disney+ in 2025, and since Disney has already shown some footage at last year’s Star Wars Celebration event, I could easily see those in attendance also getting a sneak peek at this new series.
Pixar
Win Or Lose
This is the first full series from Pixar and 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.
Much like many other titles on this prediction list, initially, this show was going to be released on Disney+ in 2023, so it would make sense that Disney use this event to begin hype for this show, maybe even a surprise release on Disney+ that day!
Elio
Elio is an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials, and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
Originally, “Elio” was going to be released earlier this year, but was delayed to June 2025 and we’ve already seen the teaser trailer for the movie, so I could easily see fans in attendance getting a sneak peek of the new film, maybe even a brand new teaser trailer being released for everyone.
Marvel
Captain America/Thunderbolts
Last weekend, Marvel Studios held a panel in Hall H at the San Diego Comic-Con, where its presentation was scheduled for an hour, though it was slightly longer. During that panel, they highlighted “Captain America: Brave New World”, “Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four”, plus some major reveals for the upcoming “Avengers” movie. It’s very possible that those in attendance could end up seeing the exact same footage shown to SDCC attendees, but with only a two hour presentation, these could be passed over to give more focus on the upcoming Disney+ shows.
Wonder-Man
This project reminds me of the “Werewolf By Night” Special Presentation, as Disney hasn’t officially said anything about this project by a little throwaway line on a recent official Marvel podcast. We’ve got no logo, no description, no cast reveal. This Disney+ series has already wrapped filming, so they could very easily bring the cast out to officially reveal the show and show a teaser to those in attendance. I suspect this will arrive on Disney+ in 2025, maybe 2026.
Ironheart
This Disney+ series was initially announced back at the Investor Day in 2020 and has already wrapped filming. The Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who has created the most advanced suit of armour since Iron Man. This series is due to arrive on Disney+ in 2025, so I could easily see those in attendance getting to see a preview of the series, since they did show some footage at the last D23 event two years ago.
Daredevil: Born Again
This new Disney+ series is a revival of the Netflix series, which will see Charlie Cox return as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio will return as Kingpin. Filming has already wrapped up the first season, and it is currently scheduled to arrive on Disney+ in March 2025. Charlie Cox has already said he will be at D23 to promote the show, so this is probably the safest prediction for the studio presentation.
Nova
Recently, Kevin Feige revealed that this show is in development, but it’s a few years away, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this is officially revealed and we get the “logo” treatment and it’s shown on an updated Marvel timeline, which wasn’t revealed at SDCC.
Agatha All Along
Since this Disney+ show will be the next Marvel Studios project to arrive just weeks after D23, I can’t imagine Marvel isn’t going to use these events to promote its upcoming show, which focuses on Kathryn Hahn’s character, Agatha Harkness, from the acclaimed Marvel Studios’ series “WandaVision,” as she sets off on a dangerous, mysterious adventure filled with trials and tribulations. I could also see the full trailer released over the D23 weekend to build up some excitement for the show.
Vision Quest
Since Marvel didn’t discuss any Disney+ shows at SDCC, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is confirmed to be in development. This series will continue the story of White Vision, after the events of “WandaVision”, which could also tie in with “Agatha All Along” and “Wonder Man”. Marvel is likely going to need one or two major new announcements to get some attention, so this feels like one that’s been floating around the internet for months.
20th Century Studio
Alien: Romulus
This next instalment in the iconic franchise is set before the events of the first film and tells the story of what happens when a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the terrifying life form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station. With this movie coming out just a week after D23, this could be an opportunity to do some last-minute promotion for the film.
Avatar 3
With James Cameron being inducted into Disney Legends on Sunday evening, it means he’ll be in the area, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a few minutes to discuss what “Avatar 3” is going to be about, maybe reveal the name of the film, which is due out in December 2025, and possibly give those in attendance a sneak peek at it, since its still very early in post-production.
Overall: As I mentioned before, this is a two-hour presentation that has to cover all of Disney’s studios; plus, there will also likely be some musical performances in addition to clips, making it a very tight show for reveals. With so many movies and shows that have already been previously announced that are due to be released over the next two years, plus with them drastically reducing the amount of content it is making, I think this lineup is much more likely, but hopefully, they do pull out a few surprises.
What do you think of these predictions? Let me know on social media!
