Every Disney and Pixar D23 panel announcement (D23 recap)

The first day of D23 2022 kicked off in style with a day full of amazing panels celebrating Disney and its amazing brands. Of course, the highlight of Day 1 comes in the form of the event’s first Studio Showcase of the 3-day weekend with the Disney and Pixar D23 panel.

Taking place on the Hall D23 stage, Disney Studios rolls out the blue carpet for fans with a panel that is designed to showcase the upcoming projects from the likes of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Studios.

Pulling back the curtain, parties from the three studios will take to the stage to unveil a look at what’s coming up in theaters and on Disney+ in a 2-hour panel that is sure to bring with it a lot of exciting news.

D23 Live Blog: Disney and Pixar D23 live updates

Across the Disney and Pixar D23 panel, Disney brass will be showcasing some of the many projects in development from the brand’s biggest studios.

While no programming slate was provided ahead of the event, the panel is expected to bring with it first looks at projects in the form of new images and teasers, hint at what’s to come with some possible release dates and bring about some exciting news about what’s on the horizon for the brands.

As the 2-hour panel unfolds, we’ll be sharing D23 live updates from the Disney and Pixar panel so be sure to check back and refresh this page for the latest updates as the panel unfolds from 3:30 – 5:30 pm PT / 6:30 – 8:30 pm ET!

Update: The Disney and Pixar panel has now come to a close. 

Hocus Pocus D23 trailer

Kicking off the action at the Disney and Pixar D23 panel were our favorite group of witches, the Sanderson Sisters! In celebration of this fall’s most-anticipated new movie, Disney used its D23 panel to debut a brand new trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 which offers up a new look at the film and the returns of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy.

You can check out the new trailer below:

https://twitter.com/DisneyStudios/status/1568371790128517122

The Disenchanted cast D23 appearance

After promoting the upcoming Hocus Pocus sequel, Disney shifted its attention to another sequel years in the making with some help from the Disenchanted cast. 15 years after the release of Enchanted in 2007, the original cast return for a new adventure where they’ll encounter some familiar and new faces along the way.

In taking to the stage, the cast made quite the splash while also using their appearance to tease what their characters have been up to since the first film.

Disenchanted trailer released at D23

After an appearance from the cast on the Hall D23 Stage, Disney Studios debuted the first official trailer for Disenchanted which offers up our first look at the return of Amy Adams as Giselle alongside the film’s new and returning cast. You can watch the official Disenchanted trailer below:

Jude Law teases Captain Hook’s role in Peter Pan and Wendy

Promoting Disney’s upcoming live-action film Peter Pan and Wendy, Captain Hook actor Jude Law gushed about the chance to dive into the backstory of such a rich and layered character in a way unlike we’ve seen before. In fact, per Law, it seems we might finally get to see a different dynamic between Hook and Peter Pan including a potential friendship

“We got to mine the backstory a little more. You understand a little more about their past, a past where they were possibly once friends. There’s still a great rivalry and a great physical rivalry, the fighting and the familiarity of the fighting and this sort of gamesmanship is very present,” Law previewed. “For me, playing the good guy, it was particularly nice to finally layer in that understanding of who and why Captain Hook is so iconic.”

Peter Pan and Wendy poster debuts at D23

During the Disney and Pixar panel at D23, Disney debuted the first official poster for the new live-action film Peter Pan and Wendy, arriving in 2023 on Disney+. The stunning new poster prominently features the iconic Jolly Roger and our first look at the film’s characters.

Jamie Lee Curtis makes a special appearance at D23

No D23 panel is ever complete without some surprise appearances and Disney pulled out the stops throughout the panel with surprise guests which included Jamie Lee Curtis who dropped by during the Haunted Mansion segment to tease her role as Madam Leota.

During the panel, it was also revealed that  Winona Ryder, Dan Levy and Hasan Minaj had joined the stacked cast which includes Curtis, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Jared Leto, Tiffany Haddish and Danny DeVito.

The Lion King sequel release date and title

Fans hoping the sequel to 2019’s The Lion King would follow the storyline from the animated sequel The Lion King 2 might be disappointed to know Barry Jenkins’ follow-up project will instead tell the story of Mufasa. Titled, Mufasa: The Lion King, the new film will be told in two timelines as Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen return as Timon and Pumbaa to tell the story of Mufasa to a new lion cub as audiences watch his rise to royalty.

While an exact release date has not yet been set for Mufasa: The Lion King, Disney has confirmed that the film will hit theaters in 2024.

Snow White to feature new music and a modern spin on Disney classic

Joining an ever-growing list of live-action remakes of classic Disney animated films is Snow White, which opens in theaters in 2024. Starring Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler, the forthcoming adaptation was described by Zegler as a modern-age spin on the classic which will focus on Snow White coming to terms with herself and finding her agency.

Without giving away too much, Zegler also revealed that the film will feature new music in addition to some of the original’s iconic tracks.

Will The Litte Mermaid live-action movie have new songs?

When audiences head under the sea in Disney’s upcoming The Little Mermaid live-action film starring Halle Bailey will feature covers of iconic films from the animated classic including “Part of Your World” as well as four brand new songs from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The Little Mermaid trailer (2022)

In the first official trailer for Disney’s The Little Mermaid — coming May 26, 2023 — Disney gives a stunning first look at Halle Bailey as Ariel complete with the character’s signature red locks. The new trailer, which you can watch below, also provides audiences with their first look at Bailey tackling one of the film’s most iconic songs.

Pixar’s Elemental voice cast and poster

Kicking off the Pixar portion of the Disney and Pixar panel was the new original film Elemental, arriving in theaters on June 16, 2023. In addition to providing a new look at the film’s total title characters Ember and Wade, Pixar confirmed the characters will be voiced by Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, respectively. You can check out the first look at the characters as well as the newly released poster the film below:

https://twitter.com/Pixar/status/1568387640206172161

What is Win or Lose on Disney+ about?

Coming in 2023, Win or Lose is a new original Disney+ series from Pixar starring Will Forte. Pixar’s first full-length animated series will tell the story of a softball team over the course of the same week, but with each episode telling the story from the perspective of a different member of the team through unique animation styles.

https://twitter.com/Pixar/status/1568391606654627840

What is ELIO from Pixar about?

Coming in Spring 2024, ELIO promises to show a side of outer space like no one has ever seen before. The film centers around Elio, an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t fit in, who makes first contact, is beamed up to a space city and becomes the unlikely ambassador from Earth. The new film from Pixar stars America Ferrera as Olga Solis and Yonas Kibreab as Elio, was directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.

Inside Out 2 confirmed by Amy Poehler

After years of speculation, star Amy Poehler confirmed that Inside Out 2 is officially happening during the Disney and Pixar D23 panel. The new film, releasing in Summer 2024, will take place when Riley is a teenager and will feature the return of familiar emotions as well as the introduction of new yet-to-be-confirmed emotions.

How many episodes is the Zootopia Disney+ series?

As confirmed by Disney and Pixar during the studios’ D23 panel, the upcoming Zootopia animated series will consist of six episodes. Each new episode will tell an original story about unique characters within the Zootopia universe. The new original series will arrive on Disney+ on Nov. 9, 2022.

Iwájú first look

As the attention shifted to Disney+ animated originals, Disney and Pixar provided our first look at the new Original Disney+ series Iwájú. In the new series arriving in 2023, viewers will be transported into a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria in a series described as a “love letter to Lagos and Nigeria,” which follows a futuristic coming-of-age story about best friends Tola and Kole.

Jake Gyllenhaal shares excitement about new Disney role

As the cast of Strange World took to the stage at D23, Jake Gyllenhaal couldn’t contain his excitement at making his D23 debut appearance to promote what will be his first role in a Disney animated film.

“Being here is so cool to be here with all of you and to share this trailer for the first time,” Gyllenhaal told the crowd in attendance. “I’ve always wanted to be in a Disney animated movie so it’s kind of a dream come true to play Searcher Clade.”

What is Disney’s Wish about?

As the Disney and Pixar D23 panel began coming to a close, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced a new movie titled Wish. In the new film arriving in November 2023, audiences will be transported to the Kingdom of Wishes where they’ll meet 17-year-old Asha who wishes to the stars for guidance.

The new film, which has been confirmed to be a musical will feature music from Julia Michaels and promises to “take Easter eggs to a new level.” It was also confirmed the cast will be led by Ariana DeBose in the role of Asha.