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Disney has once again turned its biggest fan gathering into one of the most closely watched entertainment events of the weekend.
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is taking place in Anaheim, California, from August 14 through August 16, bringing together announcements from Disney, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm and other parts of the company’s entertainment empire. The 2026 edition has already produced a remarkable number of new projects, casting announcements, trailers and first looks.
Among the biggest stories so far are Marvel’s long-awaited announcement of the new X-Men cast, new details about Frozen 3, footage from Star Wars: Starfighter, and announcements for future Pixar projects including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2.
For Disney fans, the event has effectively provided a roadmap for some of the studio’s biggest releases over the next several years.
Marvel Finally Reveals Its New X-Men
The announcement that immediately captured attention was Marvel Studios’ unveiling of the principal cast for its upcoming X-Men movie.
The film will introduce a new generation of mutants to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost.
But one of the most unexpected casting announcements involved Adam Driver, who has been chosen to play the villain Mister Sinister.
The announcement is particularly significant because Marvel has spent years gradually bringing the X-Men mythology into the MCU. The franchise has remained one of the most recognizable properties associated with Marvel, but fans have been waiting for the mutants to receive a full introduction under Marvel Studios.
Now, that moment appears to be approaching.
The movie is being directed by Jake Schreier, with a screenplay from Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo, and is currently scheduled for theatrical release on May 5, 2028.
A Completely New Generation of Mutants
The new casting also represents a major transition for the franchise.
Previous X-Men movies featured stars including Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen and James Marsden. The new film is instead introducing younger performers to many of the franchise’s most recognizable roles.
That gives Marvel an opportunity to establish a fresh version of the X-Men while still benefiting from the enormous popularity of the characters.
Sadie Sink’s casting as Jean Grey has attracted particular attention, while Adam Driver’s role as Mister Sinister gives the film a major star in an important villainous position.
The announcement also raises questions about how these characters will connect with the wider MCU and with mutant characters already appearing in Marvel’s recent projects.
Frozen 3 Gives Fans a First Look at the Next Chapter
Marvel was not the only Disney brand making headlines at D23.
Disney also presented new material from Frozen 3, giving fans a glimpse at what is coming next for Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf.
The third movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 24, 2027. According to reports from the D23 presentation, Anna and Kristoff are preparing for their wedding, while Elsa becomes involved in a mysterious new adventure.
The story will also introduce a new threatening character, suggesting that the next installment could take the Frozen franchise in a darker and more mysterious direction.
Returning stars Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad were part of the presentation, helping to bring the characters back to life for the D23 audience.
The presentation also featured new music from the movie, giving fans an early taste of the next stage of the franchise.
Elsa’s Next Adventure
One of the biggest questions surrounding Frozen 3 has been how Disney could expand the story after the events of the first two films.
The new material suggests that Elsa’s journey is far from finished.
While Anna’s wedding provides an important personal storyline, Elsa appears to be heading toward another mystery. Reports from the presentation describe a magical butterfly guiding Elsa toward a new and potentially dangerous encounter.
That combination of celebration and mystery could give Frozen 3 two different storylines: Anna moving forward with her personal life while Elsa continues exploring the magical world beyond Arendelle.
Star Wars: Starfighter Brings Ryan Gosling Into the Galaxy
Star Wars also had a major presence at the event.
Disney presented footage from Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming movie starring Ryan Gosling.
The project is set in the Star Wars universe and is scheduled for 2027, making it one of the franchise’s major upcoming theatrical releases.
Gosling’s involvement has already generated considerable interest because of his status as one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars.
The project gives Star Wars an opportunity to explore another story outside the familiar Skywalker-centered narrative while introducing audiences to new characters.
For Disney, the film is also an important part of its strategy for keeping Star Wars active on the big screen while expanding its television and streaming projects.
Pixar Announces Incredibles 3
Pixar fans also received major news at D23.
Incredibles 3 is officially on the way, with the movie planned for summer 2028.
The third installment will continue the story of the Parr family, but reports indicate that the new film will place particular emphasis on the superhero children.
That could give the franchise a new direction.
The original The Incredibles was released in 2004, while Incredibles 2 arrived in 2018. With the third movie now in development, Pixar is once again returning to one of its most recognizable superhero families.
The announcement also demonstrates how strongly Disney continues to rely on established franchises while simultaneously developing new original projects.
Coco 2 Is Coming
Another major Pixar surprise was Coco 2.
The sequel is currently planned for November 2029, bringing audiences back to the colorful world introduced in the original 2017 movie.
The story is expected to follow a teenage Miguel, with the character facing a new conflict involving the legacy of Ernesto de la Cruz.
The original Coco became one of Pixar’s most beloved films, combining music, family and the Mexican traditions surrounding Día de los Muertos.
Returning to that world more than a decade after the original film gives Pixar an opportunity to introduce the characters to a new generation while continuing Miguel’s story.
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