After all the Disney+ excitement from yesterday’s D23 panel, it’s hard to fathom what ELSE we’ll be learning today during the Disney Studios presentation. This will include “Star Wars,” Marvel Studios, Pixar, possibly the Fox properties, and more.


There was no update on the “Avatar” franchise, as per Alan Horn.

Kathleen Kennedy and JJ Abrams have taken the stage. Kennedy said: “We’re gonna spend a little bit of time with you talking about the end of the saga in a very exciting way.”

There won’t be a new trailer, but the audience is being treated to new SOMETHING.

Keri Russell says her character is “shady,” a criminal, AND an old friend of Poe Dameron’s.

We have it on good authority that a new BTS reel will be released on Monday.

And now right into Marvel Studios updates…..

Kevin Feige says “We need to give you some news….”

And “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler takes the stage.

“Black Panther II” (not the final title) will be out May 6, 2022.

Eternals” is about “a group of immortals created by Disney Legend Jack Kirby. Pulled back the cosmic curtain on the MCU in ways you can’t imagine.”

Richard Madden, Lauren Ridloff, Kumail Nanjiani, Bryan Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee, Angelina Jolie all come out on stage.

THIS will be the project that Kit Harington is joining as Dane Whitman (non Eternal) aka Black Knight, reuniting with his “Game of Thrones” co-star Richard Madden.

Gemma Chan is playing “Eternals” Sersi.

There is a video from the cast of “Black Widow,” as the cast is still currently filming and can’t be at D23.

Some footage was shown, Red Guardian and Taskmaster bits that weren’t in the Hall H SDCC footage. There is a logo treatment, as well as a funny bit with Yelena and Natasha at the end, talking about fighting poses.

Also, Nat in THE ALL WHITE OUTFIT.

That’s it for Marvel Studios, now onto Disney Studios releases, like “The Jungle Cruise!”

There was a trailer and footage shown for “Jungle Cruise,” waiting to see if it gets publicly released….eh, not looking like it. Maybe Monday. It’ll hit theaters July 2020.



Next up is “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” Angelina Jolie comes back out on stage, “I missed her and I loved playing her.”

There was a new clip shown, Maleficent flies to see Aurora. Maleficent doesn’t want to meet Aurora’s fiance’s parents- Michelle Pfeiffer as the Queen, Robert Lindsay as the King. There was a new poster released, too.

Director Niki Carro is on stage now to discuss the live-action “Mulan.”

“Her journey represents all of us. The story’s as relevant today as it was 1500 years ago. It’s still the timeless story we love, but in live action it’s *real*,” Carro said.

New footage shown, including The Matchmaker sequence, Mulan’s father being recruited, and battle training.

Next, onto “Cruella.” Set in ’70s, Emma Stone plays a young Cruella. Craig Gillespie is directing, and Emma Thompson co-stars with Paul Walter Hauser, and Joel Fry. It’ll hit theaters on May 28th, 2021.

First look at Stone as young Cruella-

On to PIXAR.

“Hey, D23 Expo, I’m Pete,” new Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, Pete Docter said.

Pixar has two original films coming out in 2020. “Soul,” about Joe Gardner, played by Jamie Foxx, a middle school band teacher, but his true passion emerges when he gets to play jazz at home. He gets his big break to play at NYC’s The Half Note club, Joe’s mother is played by Phylicia Rashad, and Daveed Diggs plays Joe’s nemesis. Soul 22 is played by Tina Fey.

It *almost* seems like Joe dies and then the movie’s about his little cartoon-looking soul….which is highly appropriate with Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, along with Jon Batiste doing the music.

Jamie’s character Joe, and his “soul” version
Tina Fey as Soul 22.

There is also “Onward,” due out March 8th 2020, starring Tom Holland and Chris Pratt (both of whom showed up on stage). “Onward” tells the story of Ian and Barley Lightfoot, two brothers who go on a quest to discover who their father was, who passed away before Ian was born. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Laurel, Ian and Barley’s mother. The audience is treated to 8 minutes of footage.

Tom Holland took a minute to address the crowd- “Listen, I know it’s been a crazy week, but I want to say I love you from the bottom of my heart. I love you 3000.”

You can watch the trailer for “Onward” here:

To close out the panel, Disney Animation Studios COO Jennifer Lee takes the stage.

Coming out thanksgiving 2020- “Raya And The Last Dragon.” It’s inspired by and apparently takes place in Southeast Asia, in an ancient fictional civilization of Kumadra. Raya is determined to find the last dragon. Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians“) is writing, with Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins directing.

Raya will be played by Cassie Steele, and Awkwafina will be playing the Dragon, Sisu.

It’s time for “Frozen II” time, and the presentation CONFIRMS that Evan Rachel Wood will be voicing Anna and Elsa’s mother in the animated sequel. Sterling K Brown will be voicing character Lieutenant Mattias.

There was a clip shown, which featured some of Wood’s singing. (She’s amazing, just in case you’ve forgotten how good “Across the Universe” was, or her own touring show, Evan & Zane).

A new song sequence from the film was shown, called “Into the Unknown” (an Elsa song, performed by Indina Menzel). Kristen Bell, Menzel, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff all came on stage to perform as well, a tune called “Some Things Never Change.”

Fake leaves fall, and the end of Disney Studios Day at D23 is over.

Thanks for following along, check back for additional updates and break-out stories from yesterday’s and today’s announcements.

ABOUT >> Mary Anne Butler
  • ACCOUNT NAME >> Mab
  • BIO >> Mary Anne Butler (Mab) is a reporter and photographer from San Francisco California. She is a lifelong geek, huge music nerd, occasionally cosplays at conventions, does Renaissance Faires, and in general lives the life of a True Believer. She may be short, but she makes up for it with a loud voice.
  • CONTACT >>

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One thought on “Disney Studios Panel is Happening at D23 RIGHT NOW