Attendees of the annual D23, The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (previously known as Fan Expo), got a peek behind the curtain of the latest projects the Walt Disney Company has to offer.
D23 is an annual expo in which Disney highlights its upcoming plans and products. This includes a variety of Disney properties such as theme parks, movies, television shows, merchandise and more. The event features a variety of interactive activities and exhibitions.
The expo takes place over a span of three days. According to the Disney D23 website, the event is a part of the official Disney Fan Club, memberships are available online and necessary to attend certain events.
General membership is free, but Disney offers the Gold Individual membership of $100 or $130 for the Gold Duo plan.
“What makes D23 so unique is that it is something that only Disney can do,” said Michael Vargo, head of D23, on the official Disney website.
Due to the large number of properties owned by Disney, the event covers a wide number of interests. These properties include Disney Princesses, Disney Villains, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar to name a few.
UPCOMING RELEASES
In the film and television area, the company announced some exciting upcoming projects.
“Frozen 3,” the third installment in the hit Disney franchise, is set to release in November 2027. Main cast members set to return include Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Josh Gad as Olaf and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Season 2 received a production teaser trailer. The season will be based on the book “Sea of Monsters,” with the main cast returning and a soft release date of 2025. A replacement for late actor Lance Reddick who played Zeus in Season 1 has not been announced.
Also confirmed is “Andor” Season 2. “Andor” is a prequel series set in the “Star Wars” universe that follows the events leading up to “Rogue One” and the formation of the rebel alliance. Season 2 will come out in 2025, with Diego Luna set to reprise his lead role as Cassian Andor.
“Moana 2” will be coming out on Nov. 27, 2024. The main cast from the first film will be returning as the title character faces new adventures.
Coming in 2025 are live-action remakes of “Snow White” and “Lilo and Stitch.” Also in development are “Toy Story 5” and “Incredibles 3.”
Cast members from a new Marvel series set after the events of “WandaVision,” “Agatha All Along,” also performed a new musical number for the show, set to premiere Sept. 18.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Also mentioned were extensive updates to Disney parks. The most notable upcoming changes to Disney World Orlando are the addition of two “Cars” themed attractions, an “Encanto” themed tropical area and an “Indiana Jones” attraction.
Along with the additions, some attractions will be removed. These include “Rivers of America” and “Tom Sawyer Island.”
Other highlights include a new performance at the Main Street Opera House called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” announced by Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences. This show will feature the first audio-animatronic figure of Disney founder Walt Disney.
At the expo, 14 new Disney Legends were celebrated. These individuals are people who have left a lasting impact on the company. Among the honorees were Angela Bassett, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, Miley Cyrus and Kelly Rippa.
