D23 Expo: We Can’t Wait to Watch These Upcoming Disney and Pixar Movies!
Sep 12, 2022 • Kyzia Maramara
Disney fans quaked in excitement over the weekend as D23 Expo dropped announcements of what we can expect for the next few years. They’ve got sequels on the roster that evoke a ton of nostalgia, new original films in the pipeline, and the first look at a much-anticipated live-action Disney princess movie. Here are the most exciting Disney upcoming movies you need to mark your calendars for.
Hocus Pocus 2 (September 30, 2022)
When kids accidentally lit the Black Flame Candle, it resurrected the Sanderson sisters after nearly three decades and plopped the child-hungry witches into modern-day Salem. Not it’s up to three high school students to stop them from wreaking havoc on the world before All Hallow’s Eve.
Hocus Pocus 2 brings on the nostalgia as the original Sanderson sisters Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker reprise their roles. The movie also stars Sam Richardson, Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, Froy Gutierrez, and Tony Hale.
Disenchanted (November 24, 2022)
Fifteen years after Giselle first charmed our hearts with her innocence and optimistic dreams of a happy ever after (and her catchy songs), she returns to the big screen. Reflecting the years that have passed in our world, Disenchanted starts 15 years into Giselle and Robert’s wedding. The family — including a grown-up Morgan and a new baby — move to suburban Monroeville to search for “a more fairy tale life”. But as Giselle questions her happiness, she turns the lives of those in the real world and in Andalasia upside down.
Disenchanted sees the original cast reprise their roles — Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden.
The Little Mermaid (May 2023)
After years of waiting, Disney finally dropped the trailer for the much-awaited live adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The beloved animated classic film stars Halle Bailey as our red-haired iconic underwater princess. During D23 Expo, Disney shared a sneak peek of the equally iconic song “Part of Your World” as we had our first look at Bailey as Ariel. Needless to say, we can’t wait for May 2023 for this one.
Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
Just revealed at #D23Expo ✨ Check out the new poster for #PeterPanandWendy. Streaming in 2023 only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/sYk42QIfyi
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 9, 2022
Add Peter Pan & Wendy to your list of Disney upcoming movies. This is the live-action reimagining of the 1953 animated classic, diving deeper into Wendy’s story. Peter Pan & Wendy explores J.M. Barrie’s classic tale of a boy who wouldn’t grow up and recruits three young siblings for an adventure to the enchanted Neverland island. It also reveals the history behind Peter Pan’s rivalry with one of Disney’s most memorable villains.
Inside Out 2 (Summer 2024)
Oh JOY! Amy Poehler is back to star in Inside Out 2. Directed by Kelsey Mann, produced by Mark Nielsen, and written by Meg LeFauve, Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 releases Summer 2024. pic.twitter.com/HMHY391vN9
— Pixar (@Pixar) September 10, 2022
Despite making us cry our eyes out when a certain pink creature named Bing Bong disappeared in the Memory Dump, Inside Out is still one of the best Pixar movies. It taught us the importance of embracing every emotion in order to understand ourselves better. And now a second installment is in the works! The sequel will explore “new emotions” inside the head of a now-teenager Riley.
Elemental (June 16, 2023)
🔥and💧come together in this FIRST LOOK at Ember & Wade played by Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, from Disney and Pixar’s Elemental, coming to theaters June 16, 2023! pic.twitter.com/X9lsXU4LcB
— Pixar (@Pixar) September 9, 2022
Elemental is an all-new, original Pixar feature film that follows the lives of Ember and Wade in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. Director Peter Sohn said that Elemental is inspired by the story of immigrants “pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together.”
Leah Lewis (The Half of It) and Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World Domination) lend their voices for Ember and Wade respectively.
Wish (November 2023)
Starring Ariana DeBose as Asha, directed by Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn, produced by Peter Del Vecho & Juan Pablo Reyes, and featuring all-new songs by Julia Michaels, Disney’s Wish releases in November 2023. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/mk6C9KBqFW
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) September 10, 2022
Disney Animation revealed their next original feature film, Wish, which is set to release in Fall 2023. It’s expected to explore the mythical wishing star’s origins. It follows the story of 17-year-old Asha from Rosas, a kingdom of wishes. Wish is an animated musical that will feature a combination of CGI and watercolor animation. Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose brings Asha to life, giving everyone a sneak peek when she performed “More for Us” at the expo, a song written by Julia Michaels for the movie. Here’s to hoping 2023 comes sooner!
Elio (Spring 2024)
You’re invited on Disney and Pixar’s newest adventure… ELIO.
Meet Elio: A boy who finds himself transported across the galaxy & mistaken for the intergalactic Ambassador for our planet Earth.😮 pic.twitter.com/D9yN5MwaqJ— Pixar (@Pixar) September 10, 2022
Another Pixar film is in the works and it’s about an 11-year-old dreamer named Elio. The original feature film follows the introverted, artistic, and creative boy who has a hard time fitting in. He gets caught up in a top-secret military project and gets beamed into space where he’s mistaken for an intergalactic Ambassador for Earth. Now Elio has to step out of his shell. Adrian Molina (Coco) is set to direct the movie while Yonas Kibreab (Obi Wan-Kenobi) will lend his voice to Elio.
Visit the D23 Expo website to learn more about all the movie and TV releases coming our way.
Which of these Disney upcoming movies are you most excited about?
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