There are several new Disney films in the pipeline for 2024 and beyond.
The entertainment giant struggled in 2023, with several Disney titles deemed box-office flops. It also experienced declining linear TV viewership and an uneven transition into a streaming future.
In November, Disney announced it would be slashing costs. In an earnings call, CEO Bob Iger said the company would cut an $2 billion in expenses in the new fiscal year. In January, a representative for Pixar, which Disney owns, confirmed to Newsweek that the animation studio is undergoing layoffs in 2024.
However, the studio has the opportunity to turn things around, thanks to its variety of exciting upcoming releases. Here's a breakdown of numerous upcoming Disney movies (Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars movies not included)
Newsweek emailed a representative for Disney for comment on Thursday.
'Inside Out 2'
Release date: June 14, 2024
Inside Out was a huge hit for the entertainment giant and Inside Out 2 is bringing back the first installment's beloved characters. During the film, the bulk of the action takes place in Riley's head. There, a team of anthropomorphic emotions—Joy, Anger, Disgust, Fear, Sadness—sift through a memory-storage apparatus and fight to stabilize Riley's mental state. In the sequel, Riley is grappling with adolescence, with the characters in her head having to adjust to a new group of emotions that move in.
Amy Poehler will return as Joy, Phyllis Smith is back as Sadness and Lewis Black will once again voice Anger. However, Mindy Kaling won't return as Disgust and neither will Bill Hader as Fear. In their place are Liza Lapira and Tony Hale.
Maya Hawke will be joining the cast as the new emotion Anxiety, Ayo Edibiri as the newcomer Envy, Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment, and Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui.
'Moana 2'
Release date: November 27, 2024
Disney shocked the internet when it announced a sequel to its animated blockbuster Moana. In February, Iger explained that the studio plans to release Moana 2 in theaters on November 27. He revealed this surprising news during an interview with CNBC that was held just before the studio released its Q1 earnings.
The original movie, released in 2016, is set in Polynesia and follows the titular teenage heroine as she embarks on a journey across the ocean with the demigod Maui to try to save her people. A short teaser for the second film revealed that it will see a return to the island of Motunui. Auli'i Cravalho will return as the voice of Moana and Dwayne Johnson will again lend his voice to Maui.
Moana 2 was originally developed as a TV series for Disney+, but Iger explained that Disney had decided to turn it into a feature film because he was impressed with the footage.
'Mufasa: The Lion King'
Release date: December 20, 2024
Barry Jenkins, the director behind Moonlight, will be directing the film, a prequel to The Lion King from 2019, a photorealistic animated remake of Walt Disney Pictures' traditionally animated 1994 movie, according to Screen Rant.
Mufasa: The Lion King will tell the story of how Simba's father Mufasa went from an orphan to the King of the Pride Lands. Mufasa is to be voiced by Aaron Pierre and Scar/Taka by Kelvin Harrison Jr. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will return as the beloved Timone and Pumbaa and John Kani will be back to voice Rafiki. Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams and Nicholas Britell will be responsible for the soundtrack.
'Snow White' Live-Action Remake
Release date: March 21, 2025
West Side Story's Rachel Zegler is to star in the live-action remake of the 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which is due for release next year. Zegler was cast as the titular character back in June 2021. Gal Gadot has been cast as the Evil Queen. Barbie's Greta Gerwig reportedly co-penned the script.
'Elio'
Release date: June 13, 2025
Pixar's Elio follows the titular character, a kid with a vivid imagination, as he finds himself beamed into space, where he builds friendships with aliens and cosmic beings. the story follows Elio's journey of self-discovery as he is mistakenly labeled as Earth's ambassador.
Elio is to be voiced by Yonas Kibreab, and America Ferrera will voice his mother, Olga. Adrian Molina, who previously collaborated with Pixar on Coco and The Good Dinosaur, is the director.
'Zootopia 2'
Release date: November 26, 2025
Iger announced Zootopia 2 was in development in February 2024 alongside Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5.
The first film, which came out in 2016, introduced audiences to a city populated by anthropomorphic animals. The "animated buddy cop action comedy film" had Ginnifer Goodwin voicing Judy Hopps, a rookie officer in the Zootopia Police Department, who enlists the help of cynical con artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to uncover a conspiracy.
Information about Zootopia 2 is scarce. Jared Bush has returned as director and writer, and Josie Trinidad joined as co-director, according to Screen Rant. Goodwin and Bateman will also be returning, per IMDb.
'Tron: Ares'
Release date: December 19, 2025
Jared Leto has been cast as the titular character Ares, a computer AI program in human form, in this new installment of the Tron film franchise.
Leto will star in the film alongside co-stars Cameron Monaghan, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson and Greta Lee.
This will be the third installment in the movie franchise, which started back in 1982.
'Toy Story 5'
Release date: June 19, 2026
While not much is known about the next installment of the Toy Story movie franchise, it is known that Tim Allen will be back to voice Buzz.
"See ya soon Woody, you are a sad strange little man and you have my pity. And off we go to a number 5! To infinity and beyond!" he said, sharing the news on X, formerly Twitter.
Tom Hanks will also reprise the role of Woody, with the movie set to be released in the summer of 2026.
'Moana' Live-Action Remake
Release date: July 10, 2026
The live-action remake of Moana was announced in April 2023. Dwayne Johnson is set to produce the movie, via Seven Bucks Productions while he also reprises his role as the exiled demigod named Maui. While Auli'i Cravalho voiced the titular character in the animated version, she won't play the heroine in the live-action remake. She will instead serve as executive producer, according to CinemaBlend.
The plot will follow the one from the 2016 film, which sees a young girl chosen to reunite an ancient relic with the Polynesian goddess Te Fiti to help save the ocean and her island of Motunui.
'Frozen 3'
Release date: 2026
While we don't know a lot about what the plot of Frozen 3 entails, we do know that Josh Gad will return as Olaf.
The songwriters of Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Robert Lopez, are also set to return and compose new songs for the film.
'Bambi' Live-Action Remake
Release date: Date TBD
A live-action remake of Bambi is in development, with producers planning to use photorealistic CGI. While no one has been cast to voice the titular deer or his friends, it is believed that it will be different from the 1942 original in the hopes it will engage modern audiences.
'Hercules' Live-Action Remake
Release date: Date TBD
There is also little known about the live-action remake of this 1997 classic. It is to be directed by Guy Ritchie, according to IGN, making it his second Disney live-action remake after Aladdin. At the time of writing, there is no news on the cast.
'Lilo & Stitch,' live-action remake
Release date: Date TBD
A live-action remake of 2002's Lilo & Stitch will eventually hit our screens. Like the original, the new movie will tell the story of a young girl named Lilo living in Hawaii. Lilo, being raised by her 18-year-old sister, eventually develops a connection with a dog named Stitch. However, it turns out he is actually an alien who is engineered to be a force of destruction.
Lilo will be played Maia Kealoha, her sister Nani will be portrayed by Sydney Agudong and Kaipo Dudoit has been cast as David, Nani's love interest. Zach Galifianakis is to portray Jumba, Billy Magnussen will play Pleakley, and Chris Sanders, who co-wrote the original, will return as Stitch.
'The Aristocats' Live-Action Remake
Release date: Date TBD
The Aristocats is another Disney classic getting the live-action treatment. The film will be directed by Questlove, the longtime drummer of The Roots, according to Screen Rant.
Uncommon Knowledge
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