D23 2026: Lights! Camera! Sequels!

Day one of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event culminated with a bang as 17,000 Disney fans filled the Honda Center in Anaheim for the star-studded Disney Entertainment Showcase, featuring big announcements from Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm… and if you’re a fan of sequels, today is your lucky day!

And in case you were wondering how many familiar stories Disney is revisiting, this article is brought to you by the number 3.

But first… Walt may have said it all started with a mouse, but it really all started with a rabbit, so we will too. 

Oswald

The sentimental favorite on the list is Oswald, a three-part series, which will premiere February 17, 2027 on Disney+.

Filmed on location in Walt’s office on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank as well as across Disneyland park, Oswald tells the story of Walt Disney’s first animal character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

But, director Jon Favreau noted, the adorable rabbit is not a CGI character. He was animated by hand in 2-D by Disney’s talented team of animation artists, many of whom hadn’t had the opportunity to work in 2-D for some time.
We spotted Jon Favreau and his crew several times around the park when they were filming last summer. 

Three-Peat

Three must be Disney’s lucky number because we’ve got five threequels to share.

Frozen 3 (November 24, 2027)

It should be no surprise to anyone that Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell), Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), Kristoff (voiced by Jonathan Groff), and Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad)—all Disney Legends, by the way—are back for more snowy adventures in Arendelle.

This time, love is also in the air, as Anna and Kristoff have finally tied the knot and Olaf finally finds the ever-elusive Samantha. Josh even thrilled the crowd with a performance of Olaf’s serenade to his longtime love.

The sisters are both sporting new looks for Frozen 3, which were on display at the Walt Disney Studios pavilion on the D23 show floor in the Anaheim Convention Center.
And Anna’s pockets were the talk of the event!

Zootopia 3

Also in the not-at-all-surprising category is that Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde will be back for another case, along with Gary the snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan) in Zootopia 3.

To share the news, Disney Animation chief Jared Bush revealed the headline that appeared at the end of Zootopia 2.

Incredibles 3 (June 16, 2028)

And the incredible family of supers is also back, this time with a storyline focusing on the super Parr kids, Dash, Violet, and of course, baby Jack Jack.

But it’s not only animated movies that are tripling down.

Princess Diaries 3

2026 Disney Legend Anne Hathaway kicked off the show, and after encouraging the crowd to tell her to “Shut Up!” (IYKYK), announced that Mia’s story will continue in Princess Diaries 3.

Vision Quest (October 14, 2026)

Not to be upstaged by a princess, Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, announced Vision Quest, the third and final installment in the trilogy of Marvel original series that began with WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along.

As Vision’s story comes to a close, the android tries to figure out who he is by communicating with AI personas that are embedded in his programming. Paul Bettany is reprising his role as Vision for the series.

Camp Rock 3 (August 13, 2026)

Over on Disney+, Camp Rock 3 introduces a whole new cast of campers who are vying to go on tour with the fictional band played by real-life music superstars the Jonas Brothers.

Two-By-Two

But let’s not forget about the not-so-terrible twos.

The Simpsons Movie 2 (September 3, 2027)

Following the massive success of their 2007 movie, America’s favorite yellow family is finally heading back to movie theaters with The Simpsons Movie 2.

Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden shared a sneak peek of a very rough segment from the movie in which Homer tries to catch a baseball… and in true Homer style, nothing is as simple as it should be.

In semi-related news, during a panel on Friday afternoon, The Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman doubled down on his prediction that the Treehouse of Horror could be coming to Halloween Horror Nights in some capacity as early as next year.

Coco 2 (November 2029)

The living and undead characters from Coco will be back for Coco 2, but this time, a teenaged Miguel must travel to the Land of the Dead to embark on a quest alongside the villainous Ernesto de la Cruz (once again voiced by Benjamin Bratt).

Lilo & Stitch 2 (Summer 2028)

Live-action Lilo is also getting a sequel as Angel joins the ohana in Lilo & Stitch 2.

Romy and Michele 2

And hang on to your Post-its, because Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are returning to the big screen after 30 years.

First-Timer

While not an entirely new movie, Kathryn Hahn stopped by to talk about the live-action Tangled remake, which is currently being filmed on location in Spain.

Hahn stars as Mother Gothel alongside Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Teagan Croft as Rapunzel.

The Champions of Sequels

Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios are the undefeated champions of sequels, with new films that continue the stories from the Marvel, Star Wars, and Ice Age franchises.

Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027)

It’s almost unbelievable that former Mickey Mouse Club cast member and box office darling Ryan Gosling hasn’t been in a Star Wars movie, but the time has come. 

X-Men (May 5, 2028)

Now that the X-Men franchise has been incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the new blockbuster features an A-list cast including Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and just announced at D23, Adam Driver as arch-villain Nathaniel Essex/Mr. Sinister.

Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)

But the mother of all sequels is Avengers: Doomsday, which will bring together a cavalcade of superstar superheroes.

Even Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) was trying to get in on that action, on behalf of himself and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool).

Ice Age: Boiling Point (February 5, 2027)

The first Ice Age movie debuted in 2002 and, over the last 24 years, has spawned an impressive collection of sequels, short films, and animated series.

The latest movie, Ice Age: Boiling Point, takes the herd on an adventure of dinosaur-sized proportions. Returning voice cast includes Ray Romano as Manny, Denis Leary as Diego, Queen Latifah as Ellie, and John Leguizamo as Sid.

What’s New?

But don’t worry, Disney does have some new stories to tell.

The Bluey Movie (August 6, 2027)

The first feature-length animated film featuring the characters from the hit preschool series Bluey features the beloved Heeler sisters, Bluey and Bingo, along with their dad, Bandit, and mum, Chilli.

Hexed (November 25, 2026)

The new animated movie centers on a teen witch named Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) who is transported to a witchy place called Hexed.

There she encounters a three-eyed cat named Beef Roger Crumbchuck (voiced by Walton Goggins) and a less-than-welcoming witch named Queen Celeste (voiced by Oscar winner—and original Freaky Friday star—Jodie Foster).

Clay (November 22, 2028)

Following the Disney tradition of the mentor/mentee relationship, Clay tells the story of Flip (voiced by Kieran Culkin), who is assigned to mentor a literal ball of clay named Mushi.

Gatto (March 5, 2027)

The newest Pixar movie follows Nero (voiced by Mark Ruffalo), a resourceful black cat who lives in Venice, Italy (and takes full advantage of the superstitions surrounding his kind).

One of his questionable life choices is his association with a feline mob boss named Rocco (voiced by Laurence Fishburne).

Ghost Market (March 10, 2028)

Pixar’s first spooky story tells the tale of a social-media-savvy teen named Kyle who, in search of a snack while on vacation in Hawaii, happens upon the haunted Ono Market.

Let’s Hear From You!

Which of these upcoming movies are you looking forward to seeing? Do you love sequels (or threequels) or do you wish Disney would come up with even more new stories? Let us know in the comments below!