We’re on the ground in Anaheim for Disney’s massive fan convention D23, a weekend of devoted nostalgia worship and a testing ground for enthusiasm on upcoming projects from all arms of the Mouse machine. Tonight is the much-anticipated opening showcase of the con with heads of Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Disney Animation, and Studios taking the stage at the Honda Center to reveal a bit of what’s to come to thousands of fans. Expect trailers, exclusive footage, casting news, and maybe announcements for Frozen 5, 6, 7, and 8. We’re joking about that last part … for now.
Elsa was in a pink gown that audibly stunned the crowd. Anna was in a wedding dress asking who is crashing the wedding. And the Northern Lights guided Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf to a devious ice diva — wait, is this going to be gay? Menzel they couldn’t say who that is … yet.
It’s a disco-inspired tune with backup divas.
But the sound cut out while they were playing a mysterious song and the crowd went “ooooh,” so they’re redoing the dramatic opening.
And Jodi Foster is playing Queen of the Witches in Hexed. I’m seated.
He’s playing a feline called Beef Roger …
Trying to keep an open heart for them, but a clay ball named Mooshy? Sure.
And finally reveal Gosling’s character, Kade Auberon. He’s from “the wrong side of the galaxy whose fate is intertwined with the greatest starfighter ever built,” Gosling says before showing him in action in the film’s first teaser. He has a hot-looking henley shirt from space and a skull-and-bones jacket — because who is Gosling without his emotional support jacket?
It premieres January 20.
In theaters May 5, 2028. The cast:
• Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops
• Christopher Abbott as Professor X
• Inde Navarrette as Rogue
• Adam Driver as Nathaniel Grey/Mr. Sinister
• Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
• Maya Boyd as Storm
After Ryan Reynolds showed up to Comic-Con as Deadpool asking if he could join the cast as well. So, like, they’re in it?
In Elizabeth Olsen’s place is Paul Bettany and James Spader, Vision and Ultron, respectively, to talk VisionQuest. (Because why watch the Scarlet Witch when you can watch two men playing robots talk about humanity?) The pair debuted a trailer for the series, which is out October 14.
He’s onstage to promote his most “personal project,” which is coming to Disney+ as a three-part miniseries next February. “We used hand-drawn 2D animation,” Favreau says. A glimpse of the live-action/animated hybrid series shows tiny animated Oswald scurrying around Walt’s office on the Disney Burbank lot.
Bring back Mother Gothel.
Kathyrn Hahn looks so mother as Mother Gothel — wait maybe I’m shaking.
We’re getting a performance. This is not Hugh Jackman but he’s really trying for those low notes.
This franchise will last longer than the actual Ice Age at this point.
Twenty years? This franchise is still going?!
And the crowd still goes wild even though Kevin Jonas is wearing a sweater vest. I suppose they’re going crazy for Camp Rock 3, not the outfits.
The Mulan voice actress joins the upcoming season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians as Hero along with Andra Day as Athena.
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino arrive in character to announce Romy and Michele 2.
It has a gorgeous watercolor animation style, it’s Italian, and Mark Ruffalo plays a grumpy black cat. Incredible stuff.
It’s “basically a movie about hungry ghosts,” the young protagonist, Kyle, explained in footage that played to the room. He’s spooked by ghost picking up a bowl of hot ramen in front of him.
Probably some of the loudest cheers of the night. Also, there’s a Kingdom Hearts: The Series coming to Disney+.
You have three years to prepare yourself: Coco 2 is out in 2029.
“It’s the kids’ turn” to lead a film, says the Pixar head. “They’re trying to prove themselves.”
Dana Walden previews a rough sequence of the movie, shown exclusively to the audience, where Homer will phyically fight literally anyone in Springfield for a foul ball.
She says they’re working hard on Princess Diaries 3.
The former Parks guy seemed to have the massive audience of Disney fans wrapped around his finger — the crowd lets out a real big “awww” when the main screen fills with selfies of him with Parks fans.
And a reggaeton version of “For the First Time in Forever”? It also looks like the dancers are wearing a version of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour “Midnights” bodysuit, so the synergy is immediately slapping us in the face.
Seated in the Honda Center, I’m bracing for a slew of updates from Disney as they prepare to have their studio heads parade out a number of celebrities. I’m sure Robert Downey Jr. is in the building ready to wax poetic about his new Marvel role as Victor Von Doom, but most people are buzzing in anticipation of hearing any X-Men news. There’s also wondering if Lucasfilm will give us a look at their upcoming Star Wars flick Starfighter. Ryan Gosling was just at Comic-Con for Marvel; will he come to Anaheim for Star Wars? I wrote about all the questions we had for D23 earlier in the week. We’ll see how accurate my musings were, and I’ll keep you updated on tonight’s more exciting announcements here.
