Disney Leans Heavily on Past Franchises at D23 Event
Disney's D23 event showcased the company's future leaning heavily on its past successes. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige introduced the cast of the upcoming X-Men film, which includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier.
The film is expected to hit theaters May 5, 2028. Meanwhile, Marvel's television future remains unclear, with only one new series announcement: VisionQuest, starring Paul Bettany and James Spader, which will premiere October 14.
Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni brought the cast of Ahsoka Season 2 and Star Wars: Starfighter to the stage, along with new footage from both projects. Hayden Christensen returned as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka, and Ryan Gosling discussed his role as Kade Auberon in Star Wars: Starfighter.
Disney is focusing on sequels of past franchises, including Romy and Michele 2, Princess Diaries 3, Camp Rock 3, and Tangled. Pixar and Disney Animation also announced new projects, including Incredibles 3, Coco 2, Zootopia 3, and Frozen III.