Entertainment
Disney D23 Expo 2026: New X-Men, Star Wars, Frozen and more revealed
At this year’s Disney D23 fan event in Anaheim, California, the entertainment giant pulled back the curtain on a huge collection of upcoming films and streaming projects, giving fans fresh looks at everything from the next Avengers and X-Men movies to Frozen 3, Coco 2 and The Incredibles 3.
For Disney fans, the message was hard to miss; some of the company’s biggest franchises are about to get another chapter. With a mix of sequels, reboots, and original content, here are some of the biggest reveals coming to the big and small screen in the next few years.
The Incredibles kids finally step into the spotlight
One of Pixar’s biggest announcements reportedly centred on The Incredibles 3, which is scheduled to arrive in June 2028. This time, Violet and Dash are no longer simply the superhero children watching their parents save the day. The siblings are determined to prove that they are ready to become fully fledged Supers themselves.
That ambition gets them into trouble when they secretly head out at night to protect the city. Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter revealed that Jack-Jack’s unpredictable powers will also remain a major headache for the family, while Bob Parr faces a more personal struggle as he questions his place in a changing superhero world.
‘With Incredibles 3, it’s the kids’ turn to take the stage,’ Docter said. The story will also introduce a new supervillain, suggesting that the Parr family will once again have more than family arguments to worry about.
‘INCREDIBLES 3’ will follow the children in a quest to prove they can be real superheroes.
The villain will focus on the idea of how not all superheroes are good. pic.twitter.com/cWRadPPBdL
DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 15, 2026
Coco 2 will take Miguel back to the land of the dead
Another long-awaited Pixar sequel is finally taking shape. Coco 2 is reportedly set for November 2029, with Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz.
The biggest change is Miguel himself. The young boy audiences met in the original film has grown into a teenager, and his next adventure will once again connect the world of the living with the land of the dead. Bratt teased a darker turn for Ernesto, who returns seeking revenge against Miguel. ‘We are returning to the land of the dead in 2029,’ Docter said.
The original film’s creative team is also returning, while characters from Coco are expected to appear in Kingdom Hearts IV, due in late 2027.
We are officially returning to the Land of the Dead in 2029 with Coco 2! Check out Miguel in the new concept art revealed at #D23. pic.twitter.com/cgN2zsRSdn
Pixar (@Pixar) August 15, 2026
Frozen 3 brings a wedding – and a mystery
Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel gave fans a preview of Frozen 3, due in late 2027, with Anna preparing to marry her ‘mountain man’ Kristoff. Footage shown at D23 featured mysterious butterflies, the Northern Lights and an unfamiliar woman who appears to have ice-related powers similar to Elsa’s.
The combination of a royal wedding and a new supernatural mystery suggests that Arendelle is heading into a very different kind of adventure.
New concept art for Frozen 3 has been unveiled at #D23! Arriving in theaters Fall 2027! ❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/r1ni7SMfV1
Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) August 15, 2026
Percy Jackson Season 3 gets darker
Fans got a first look at Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 at D23, with Walker Scobell teasing a much darker chapter for the Disney+ series.
Scobell, who plays Percy, described the new season as ‘a lot darker than any season we’ve had before’. The upcoming episodes will introduce new characters, including Athena, Hera and the Hunters of Artemis, while a long-awaited Titan prepares to make his move.
Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to premiere on Disney+ on November 20.
Star Wars heads into unfamiliar territory
Star Wars also had plenty to show at D23, with Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy offering new details about Star Wars: Starfighter, which is scheduled for May 2027. Gosling plays Cade Oberon, a pilot whose fate becomes connected to what is described as the fastest starfighter ever built.
Levy also revealed that the story takes place during a period of the Star Wars timeline that has not previously been explored on screen. That could give the franchise a chance to step away from some of its familiar eras and introduce audiences to a completely new chapter.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka Season 2 is also on the way, with Rosario Dawson returning as Ahsoka Tano. Hayden Christensen is back as Anakin Skywalker, while Eman Esfandi returns as Ezra Bridger.
X-Men reboot gets its full mutant line-up
Marvel also delivered one of the night’s biggest reveals by confirming the major cast for its new X-Men film, including:
- Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
- Kit Connor as Cyclops
- Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier
- Maya Boyd as Storm
- Inde Navarrette as Rogue
- Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
- Adam Driver as Mister Sinister
The new X-Men movie is scheduled for release on May 5, 2028. For Marvel followers, the announcement adds another major piece to a rapidly expanding superhero slate, with the franchise moving towards a new generation of mutants.
The cast of “X-Men” pose together at #D23.
Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
Kit Connor as Cyclops
Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
Inde Navarrette as Rogue
Maya Boyd as Storm
Christopher Abbott as Prof. X
Adam Driver as Mr. SinisterVariety (@Variety) August 15, 2026
Avengers: Doomsday raises the stakes
If the X-Men announcement was big, Avengers: Doomsday provided another major fan moment. The latest footage offered glimpses of several characters, including Doctor Doom, Magneto, Gambit, Thor, Shuri, Shang-Chi and Cyclops.
The footage also showed a devastated city and an army of Sentinels, while Doctor Doom appears to be at the centre of a conflict involving several corners of the Marvel Universe. The upcoming film is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year, bringing together different generations and corners of the Marvel Universe.
More Disney favourites are returning
The D23 announcements stretched well beyond Marvel and Pixar. The live-action Tangled has been given a March 31, 2028 release date, with Kathryn Hahn playing Mother Gothel and Tegan Croft as Rapunzel.
Lilo & Stitch 2 is also scheduled for May 2028 and will introduce Angel, also known as Experiment 624.
Disney+ viewers can expect VisionQuest from October 14, with Paul Bettany returning as Vision and James Spader reprising Ultron. The series will explore Vision’s identity and his attempt to understand what makes someone human – while bringing him back into the orbit of Ultron.
Disney also proved it knows exactly how much its older audience loves a throwback. Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino confirmed that filming on Romy and Michele 2 has wrapped, bringing their iconic characters back for another adventure. The sequel will see Romy and Michele running a boutique in Beverly Hills while contemplating whether it is time to find love.
Have a Romy & Michele #D23! 🛍️
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Korvino tease the upcoming sequel. pic.twitter.com/QGuat3ZKnA
20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) August 15, 2026
as for new content, Disney revealed several original titles set to release in the next few years, including:
- Ghost Market (2028)
- Gatto (2027)
- Hexed
For Disney, that mixture of established favourites and new stories is becoming increasingly important. D23 was less about unveiling one single blockbuster and more about showing fans that there is something coming for almost every generation.
From children discovering Frozen and Lilo & Stitch to adults who grew up with The Incredibles, Coco, Romy and Michele and Star Wars, Disney’s upcoming slate is built heavily around familiar names, but with new characters, new conflicts and, in several cases, much older versions of beloved heroes.
The result is a packed few years ahead for Disney audiences, with 2027 and 2028 already shaping up to be particularly big for the big and small screen.
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Featured Image: @PopBase / X
