This year’s D23 Expo is in full swing, featuring updates and sneak peeks from the many worlds of Disney. During Friday’s presentation Studio Showcase Day 1: Celebrate the Magic of Disney and Pixar, the studios shared a glimpse of what’s coming soon to the big screen, and your home screen via Disney+. 

Let’s start with Pixar‘s news…

Pixar’s Elemental 

Coming June 2023! Elemental is set in a big city and follows Ember, a girl made of fire, and Wade, a chill boy made of water, as they discover their similarities despite their literal elemental differences. During Friday’s showcase, we got a look at the first trailer for the movie, along with a clip of Ember and Wade getting to know each other around the element city. Elemental is directed by Pete Sohn (The Good Dinosaur); Leah Lewis will play Ember, with Mamoudou Athie playing Wade. 

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!

Pixar’s Inside Out 2 

Love it or hate it, Pixar’s Inside Out is getting a sequel. Amy Poehler surprised everyone on stage to help announce part 2, alongside Pete Docter. Inside Out 2 will once again take place inside Riley’s head… only this time she’s a teenager. All of the emotions from the original are set to return, in addition to some new teenage emotions. While they are in the very early stages of production, Inside Out is set for a summer 2024 release. 

Pixar’s Elio 

Elio is a new sci-fi movie about an 11-year old boy who becomes Earth’s ambassador after he’s beamed up from earth to the communiverse, a place filled with alien architecture and creatures of all shapes and sizes. Elio then has to prove that the best part about being human is being yourself. Elio debuts in spring 2024, starring America Ferrera as Olga Solis and Yonas Kibreab as Elio.

Pixar’s Win Or Lose

Coming to Disney+, Win Or Lose is Pixar’s first original series. The animated drama/comedy show follows a co-ed middle school softball team, the Pickles, leading up to a championship game. Each episode will take place during the same timeframe, alternating each of the characters’ stories and points of view. Will Forte will be voicing Coach Dan in the series. 

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!


And this is sure to be controversial, but Disney is going all-in on their live-action remakes, and we were shown some new footage during the studio presentation. 

The Little Mermaid Live-Action Remake

The first public teaser for The Little Mermaid live-action remake shows glimpses of Ariel, fish, seaturtles, and ocean waves. Beyond that, the in-person audience was shown the full sequence for the iconic song Part of Your World (which took three days of filming alone!). The Little Mermaid will premiere May 2023; starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and more.

 

Mufasa: The Lion King 

Director Barry Jenkins helms Mufasa: The Lion King, which acts as a prequel to the beloved animated film The Lion King. This will be the origin story for Mufasa, one of the greatest kings of the Pridelands, and how he rose to royalty from being an orphaned cub. The story will be recounted by Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa, which will offer some comedic relief. The first footage shown of the movie showed Pride Rock paired with recognizable music from the original. Followed by seeing a baby Mufasa being washed away in a flood. Mufasa will use the same animation style from the 2019’s Lion King live-action remake, and is set to release in 2024.

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!

Live-Action Snow White

Marc Webb is directing the upcoming live-action Snow White movie, debuting in 2024. This one is said to be an important project, as they are bringing Disney’s first fully-animated feature to life, as well as their first princess. Rachel Zegler, who is playing Snow White, and Gal Godot, who is playing the Evil Queen, both appeared at the D23 showcase, and a brief teaser was shown. 

Peter Pan & Wendy

We got our first look at Disney’s live-action adaptaion of the classic J.M. Barrie novel, and Alexander Molony (Peter), Ever Anderson (Wendy), and Jude Law (Hook) also appeared on stage to talk about the film. Peter and Wendy are treated as equals in the film, as we’ll see more of Wendy and her story; as well as peering into Hook and Pan’s past, when they may have even once been friends. A brief first look gave us a glimpse of Neverland and London. Peter Pan & Wendy is coming to Disney+ in 2023.

The Haunted Mansion 

Justin Simien’s The Haunted Mansion is based off the iconic theme park ride, and we watched a new clip for the movie during the showcase. Simien said it wouldn’t be a ghost story without some scares along the way, and this one looks like it will deliver the creeps and shrieks we’ve always wanted from a Haunted Mansion movie! The first footage shown largely focused on the mansion itself, with shots of the building (based on Disneyland’s architecture), maps of the house with the discovery of a secret passageway. The trailer  showed glimpses of Danny DeVito and Owen Wilson, as well as some brief shots of Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and others. We even saw a very quick cut of Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost. The biggest surprise was Jamie Lee Curtis rolled out in a Doombuggy (she will be playing Madame Leota!). 

Disenchanted

Disenchanted is the long-awaited sequel to 2007’s Enchanted, and the entire original cast appeared on stage to talk about the upcoming movie. Amy Adams, Maya Rudolph, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, James Marsden, and more appeared to reveal the first trailer – as everyone has reprised their roles.

The first look at the movie shows Giselle and Robert moving into a castle-like fixer-upper outside of the city. Unhappy with how things are going, Giselle wishes for a fairytale life… which goes terribly wrong.

 

Hocus Pocus 2 

Finally, Hocus Pocus 2 is coming to Disney+ on September 30, and we watched a new trailer ahead of its release. The new trailer shows the original Sanderson Sisters returning, including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy – they are once again brewing up trouble when three young women accidentally bring them back. The footage shows an evil magic book opening to bring the witches back after they were banished 370 years earlier. We couldn’t be more excited about this one, what about you?!

 


As the Walt Disney Animation Studios are celebrating 100 years in 2023, they had some big news to celebrate this massive milestone in storytelling. 

Iwájú

Iwaju is a new animated limited series set in a futuristic Nigeria, and it marks the first collaboration with an outside studio in 100 years. Disney teamed up with Pan-African entertainment company Kugali Media to tell the story of Iwájú. The project is described as a love letter to Nigeria, showing why Lago is one of the most unique cities on the planet. The story follows a wealthy heiress and a poor boy, and is set to arrive in 2023 on Disney+.

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!

Wish

To close the presentation, Disney announced Wish: a new, original film coming in 2023. Directed by Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn, and starring Arianna DeBose as Asha, Wish will celebrate a century of Disney storytelling with original characters and songs inspired by Disney’s legacy. The story takes place in the Kingdom of Wishes, a fairytale kingdom that existed long before any other Disney world, and explores how the wishing star came to be. The art style will blend watercolor with CGI animation. It was said Wish will take the term “Easter eggs” to a whole new level!


What do you think of the movie [and series!] news? Which one are you most looking forward to?

Don’t Miss The Rest of the News From the D23 Expo!

For ALL of our D23 Expo coverage, click the image below. We are updating non-stop, all day, every day of the expo!!!

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!
for ALL the D23 Expo news and photos!!!

And come see MiceChat at the EXPO! We are giving away some incredible prizes including a 2-Night stay at the HoJo House of the Future Suite and 2 x Two-Day parkhopper tickets to Disneyland, as well as dozens of other incredible prizes from local theme parks, hotels, and restaurants!

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!

Our booth will also host animatronics master Garner Holt, movie critic extraordinaire Leonard Maltin, and David Koenig, the author of “Mouse Tales.”

 

And last but not least, we’ll reveal some exciting news about the next Gumball Rally (here’s all the fun from 2022’s Rally), and there’s a special opportunity for teams who  stop by during the expo!


Discount Disney Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!

, D23 Expo: What’s Next? Disney and Pixar Movie News!
MiceChat brings you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).

Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm:

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Chloé Ferreira
Chloé loves ‘90s EPCOT, roller coasters, kitschy dark rides, a good background area music loop, Hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.