'Snow White' live action, 'The Incredibles 3,' 'Lilo and Stitch,' and more: The biggest news for Disney projects at D23 Expo
It's time to save up for movie tickets as Disney gave fans a brand-new look at some of its biggest upcoming projects at the D23 Expo 2024, including trailers for the live-action Snow White and Lilo and Stitch films.
This year, the convention took place at the at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, where filmmakers and executives from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and more teased fans with some of the films and television shows they're working on.
Here's a look at some of the most exciting projects Disney dropped during the D23 Expo.
Snow White
Disney finally gave a first look at the live-action adaptation of their very first feature-length film, Snow White, which was released way back in 1937.
The trailer begins with the titular princess discovering the dwarfs' cottage in the middle of the woods before the scene cuts to her singing a merry song while the dwarfs tidy up their home. It also teased the appearance of the Evil Queen as she delivers the iconic line, "Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?"
Premiering in March 2025, the live-action adaptation stars Rachel Zegler as the title character and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
Lilo and Stitch
Everyone's favorite blue alien is finally returning to the big screen, and he's even cuter than ever in Disney's first look at Stitch in live-action format.
The clip shows Stitch bursting through the poster before uttering his famous gibberish alien lines. The film appears to retain his cartoonish appearance while giving him some furry new details to accommodate the realistic adaptation.
Stitch will be brought to life by his original voice actor Chris Sanders. The live-action Lilo and Stitch will arrive in theaters in summer 2025.
Mufasa: The Lion King
In the newest trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, which serves as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 film, fans are treated to epic sights as Rafiki relays the legend of Mufasa and how he became the king of the pride lands.
Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
The film stars the voices of Aaron Pierre as young Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as young Scar, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner as Timon.
Also returning are Donald Glover as Simba and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, with her daughter Blue Ivy Carter playing as Kiara. The film will be released on Dec. 20.
Moana 2
It's time for more aquatic adventures in the newest trailer for Moana 2.
The new clip introduces audiences to Moana's new younger sister Simea, whom she tells her goal of connecting their island to all the people of the entire ocean. However, trouble arises when an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors thrusts her into a journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters.
But she won't be alone as she is joined by a crew of unlikely seafarers and the shapeshifting demigod Maui.
Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson are set to reprise their roles from the original 2016 film. The film has a Nov. 27 release date.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the spin-off and sequel to 2007's Wizards of Waverly Place, has also released a new teaser.
It features behind-the-scenes moments from the show, with David Henrie’s Justin Russo and Selena Gomez’s Alex Russo in the spotlight. The teaser also revealed that David DeLuise’s Jerry Russo will be returning in the continuation.
The story centers on Justin Russo as he left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is set to premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ later this year.
The Incredibles 3
Pixar's superhero family will be saving the day again.
The studio announced that they are now developing the third film in The Incredibles franchise, following the first film in 2004’ and the sequel in 2018. Writer-director Brad Bird will be returning to helm the continuation.
The films center on the Parr family, comprised of Bob who has superhuman strength and endurance, Helen who has elastic powers, Violet who can become invisible and generate force fields, Dash who has superhuman speed, and Jack-Jack who has a wide range of superhuman abilities.
The threequel has yet to have a release date.
Toy Story 5
Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang will all return for the fifth installment of the Toy Story series!
Directed by Andrew Stanton, Toy Story 5 will tell the story of the beloved toy characters facing the challenge of electronic devices, as seen in a concept art teased during the convention.
The film will be coming to theaters in summer 2026
Zootopia 2
Things are about to get wilder in the sequel of Disney's hit 2016 film Zootopia.
Zootopia 2's new concept art shows the return of rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and her fox partner Nick Wilde as well as a few other characters such as Chief Bogo, Benjamin Clawhauser, Judy's parents, Mr. Big, Gazelle, Yax, and Flash.
It also appeared to tease some of the new characters that will star in the sequel, such as a giant blue snake, a bear riding a unicycle while in a ballerina costume, and more.
The film will be coming to theaters in November 2025.
Frozen 3
More adventures are to come for Elsa and Anna as two new sequels of Frozen are in the works.
While plot details for Frozen 3 are yet to be detailed, Disney confirmed that the third story would be told in two parts, with Frozen 4 teased at the event. A new concept art shows Elsa, Anna, and the bubbly snowman Olaf riding on their horses as they're gazing at a kingdom in the sky.
The last film ended with Anna becoming the new queen of Arendelle while Elsa has been residing among the enchanted forest spirits and The Northuldra.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2
Percy Jackson fans, rejoice!
Disney has dropped the first poster for the second season of their Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which is based on the book series of the same name by Rick Riordan.
The poster shows a tattered flag of Camp Half-Blood being washed away by the tide at a beach. The series will begin streaming in 2025.
Freakier Friday
Things are about to get freakier as Disney revealed the official title of the sequel to the 2003 film Freaky Friday at the convention.
Now titled Freakier Friday, the film will see a "more fun" and "more emotional" story between mother-daughter duo Tess and Anna Coleman, according to Lindsay Lohan.
A few behind-the-scenes photos were shown on the massive screen, one of which showed Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis recreating the iconic moment where their characters realize they had swapped bodies.
Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky and Rosalind Chao are all set to return for the sequel, which will be released in 2025.
