Just a week ago, Walt Disney Studios unveiled new projects, dropped cast reveals, and revealed exclusive new content at their D23 Expo. Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation; the studio flexed with all their biggest I.P. Well, one week later, and Disney is revealing release dates for much of this content.
In some cases, the dates were already planted in a TBD fashion; in other cases, some films are receiving release dates for the first time, and finally, some dates are just shifting slightly.
READ MORE: ‘Lion King’ Prequel Title Unveiled, ‘Haunted Mansion’ Adds New Cast & More [D23 Expo]
The biggest news of them all? Well, that depends on your perspective. Some will point to the fact that Lucasfilm’s “Rogue Squadron” and its release date have been entirely dropped from the schedule. But if you’ve paid attention to the details, “Rogue Squadron,” which was supposed to be directed by Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”), was essentially shelved a long time ago. You’ll recall Puck News said Lucasfilm didn’t love the script, the project was shelved, and Jenkins moved on to “Wonder Woman 3.” That doesn’t mean she won’t circle back to it but given “Wonder Woman 3” hasn’t even started shooting, isn’t written, and isn’t dated, the earliest we’re going to see it likely is 2025. You do the math on films of this scope that generally take two years to make (at least), and tell me when you’ll be excited to see “Rogue Squadron” near the end of the decade if anyone is still interested by then.
The next big eye-opener is Marvel. Their untitled mystery February 2024 film has now been shifted to September 2024. Many have speculated that the date was being saved for “Deadpool 3.” But wouldn’t a September date be more fitting for a “Shang Chi 2” sequel, given the original “Shang Chi: The Legend Of The Ten Rings” came out in the same untested-but-victorious frame of the same month? That’s my guess.
Other highlights include dates for all the Pixar films teased at D23, “Elio” (March 2024) and “Inside Out 2” (summer 2024), and the dates for the Walt Disney Studios Animation and live-action movies like “Snow White” with Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot that’s now been officially dated for March 22, 2024. While Disney did reveal that “Mufasa: The Lion King” prequel from director Barry Jenkins was coming in 2024, now we know it’s arriving July 5, 2024.
Lastly, we now know the date for the long-awaited Taika Waititi soccer comedy, “Next Goal Wins,” starring Michael Fassbender as the coach of a perennially-losing soccer team and co-starring Elisabeth Moss, Kaimana, Beulah Koale, Rachel House, Uli Latukefu, Rhys Darby, and Will Arnett, the film has now been dated for an April 21, 2023 date via Fox Searchlight.
Check out Disney’s new changes and reveals for 2023 and 2024.
HAUNTED MANSION (Disney), previously dated on 3/10/23, moves to 8/11/23
UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION (Disney), previously dated on 8/11/23, is removed from the schedule
NEXT GOAL WINS (Searchlight) is now dated on 4/21/23
WISH (Disney) is the updated title of previous UNTITLED DISNEY ANIMATION dated on 11/22/23
ROGUE SQUADRON (Disney), previously dated on 12/22/23, is removed from the schedule
UNTITLED MARVEL (Disney), previously dated on 2/16/24, moves to 9/6/24
ELIO (Disney) is the updated title of previous UNTITLED PIXAR dated on 3/1/24
DISNEY’S SNOW WHITE (Disney) is the updated title of previous UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION dated on 3/22/24
INSIDE OUT 2 (Disney) is the updated title of previous UNTITLED PIXAR dated on 6/14/24
MUFASA: THE LION KING (Disney) is the updated title of previous UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION dated on 7/5/24