Disney’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event kicked off its massive weekend slate on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Hosted by Zootopia 2 stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan as reported by Screen Rant, the Disney Entertainment Showcase delivered franchise updates, including reveals for Frozen 3, Incredibles 3, and a look at The New Simpsons Movie ahead of its 2027 theatrical window.
Disney used its fan expo to anchor theatrical roadmaps. Rather than relying on standard investor calls, the studio treated the Anaheim convention floor as an arena to shore up consumer confidence and drive social media engagement across Lucasfilm, Pixar, Marvel, and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
The Bottom Line
- Theatrical and Streaming Convergence: High-profile projects like The New Simpsons Movie and new animated concepts like Hexed and Clay underscore Disney’s continued reliance on theatrical windows.
Animated Heavyweights: Frozen 3 and Pixar’s Big Sequels
Anna, Elsa, and Olaf are officially returning to the big screen. During Friday night’s showcase, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel electrified the Honda Center crowd by performing live musical numbers, including a rendition of “Frozen Heart” and a track titled “Samantha” performed by Gad. According to the live presentations in Anaheim, Frozen 3 is slated for theaters in Fall 2027 and will introduce a new antagonist outfitted in a cape made of sharp ice shards alongside a prominent royal wedding plotline.
Pixar also used the D23 stage to lean into intellectual property. Pete Docter kicked off the studio’s presentation by detailing Incredibles 3, noting that the narrative shifts focus to the children—Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack—as they sneak out to fight crime while managing Jack-Jack’s volatile powers. The family will face a new adversary possessing more combined power than the entire Parr family. Meanwhile, Benjamin Bratt appeared live to confirm his return as Ernesto de la Cruz in Coco 2, which arrives in 2029 and follows a teenage Miguel returning to the land of the dead.
Theatrical Surprises and Cinematic Expansion
Beyond its core sequels, Disney previewed several original and legacy cinematic projects. Dana Walden, Disney’s President and Chief Creative Officer, delivered an exclusive, rough-cut sneak peek of The New Simpsons Movie ahead of its September 3, 2027 release date. The footage follows Homer chasing a baseball through a stadium, a bowling alley, an operating room, and eventually into a factory tank.
On the live-action and original animation fronts, Anne Hathaway took the stage to update fans on Princess Diaries 3, confirming that the team is hard at work on the sequel. Disney also showcased footage for the upcoming animated witch-themed film Hexed—starring Hailee Steinfeld as Billie Doe, Walton Goggins as Beef Roger Crummchuck, and Jodie Foster as Queen Celeste—which hits theaters on November 25. Rounding out the animation announcements, Kieran Culkin was revealed as the star of a new Disney film titled Clay, scheduled for a November 2028 theatrical release.
Studio Slate Overview
| Film Title | Key Talent / Characters | Projected Release |
|---|---|---|
| The New Simpsons Movie | Homer, Bart (Dana Walden presentation) | September 3, 2027 |
| Frozen 3 | Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel | Fall 2027 |
| Hexed | Hailee Steinfeld, Walton Goggins, Jodie Foster | November 25 |
| Clay | Kieran Culkin | November 2028 |
| Incredibles 3 | Violet, Dash, Jack-Jack (Pete Docter) | TBA |
| Coco 2 | Benjamin Bratt (Ernesto de la Cruz) | 2029 |
Looking Ahead at D23’s Weekend Agenda
As the Anaheim convention continues through Sunday, the scope of Disney’s fan expo expands beyond film trailers into parks and corporate legacy. Following Friday’s entertainment showcase at the Honda Center, Saturday night shifts focus to the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” to detail upcoming theme park expansions and attractions worldwide. The weekend will ultimately close out on Sunday afternoon with the Disney Legends Award Ceremony.
With theatrical bets locked in for the next several years, Disney is banking on generational fandom to sustain its box office momentum. Which of these upcoming announcements has you most eager to head back to the theater? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
