After “Zootopia 2” became another monster hit for Disney Animation, a third trip to the mammal metropolis felt inevitable. Now, it’s official. During Friday night’s D23 Entertainment Showcase, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced “Zootopia 3,” with the studio teasing that the next installment will finally bring birds into the franchise.
“The world of Zootopia is about to go to the birds,” Disney Animation teased, referring to the next species set to join the franchise as it announced that the third film is officially in the works. Ginnifer Goodwin, Ke Huy Quan, and Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush were onstage for the reveal. No release date or director was announced.
That was merely one piece of a hefty Disney showcase that also delivered new details on “Frozen 3,” “Hexed,” the live-action “Tangled,” “The Bluey Movie,” “Lilo & Stitch 2,” and Jon Favreau’s unusual Oswald the Lucky Rabbit project, “Oswald.”
Perhaps the biggest Disney Animation reveal outside of “Zootopia 3” was a first look at “Frozen 3.” The footage confirmed that Anna and Kristoff are finally getting married, but happily ever after apparently won’t arrive without complications thanks to a mysterious new villainess whose ice powers appear capable of rivaling Elsa’s own. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel also performed a new version of “Frozen Heart” onstage, while Josh Gad debuted a new Olaf song, “Ooooh, Samantha,” tied to the snowman’s first crush. Directed by Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy, “Frozen 3” opens November 24, 2027.
Disney Animation also unveiled considerably more of its original feature “Hexed,” including several major additions to the voice cast. Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie, a teenager who discovers that the strangeness she has never quite understood about herself is actually magic, while Rashida Jones plays her mother, Alice. Walton Goggins voices Billie’s unusual feline protector, Beef Roger Crummchuk, a green, three-eyed magical cat, while Jodie Foster makes her Disney Animation debut as the villainous Queen Celeste. Directed by Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand, “Hexed” opens November 25, 2026.
Disney Animation also announced the original feature “Clay,” currently a working title, from Fawn Veerasunthorn (“Wish,” “Raya and the Last Dragon”). Kieran Culkin voices Flip, a rebellious misfit described as the world’s worst mentor, who is selected to guide a newly formed young ball of clay named Mushy through a magical forest. Peter Del Vecho produces the film, which Disney previewed with early concept art and is targeting for November 2028.
Meanwhile, Disney’s live-action remake machine rolls onward. The studio set “Tangled” for March 31, 2028, and brought Kathryn Hahn onstage to introduce her take on Mother Gothel. Teagan Croft stars as Rapunzel opposite Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, with “The Greatest Showman” filmmaker Michael Gracey directing. Footage from the production, currently shooting in Spain, showed off its castles, churches, and Mediterranean locations.
Another major animated property is getting a considerably different big-screen treatment. D23 attendees got the first teaser and poster for “The Bluey Movie,” which takes Bluey and the Heeler family from the familiar 2D look of the enormously popular television series into CG animation. Produced by Ludo Studio and BBC Studios, the film hits theaters August 6, 2027.
Disney also put a date on “Lilo & Stitch 2,” the follow-up to its blockbuster 2025 live-action remake. The sequel arrives May 28, 2028, and a newly revealed image confirmed the live-action debut of Angel, aka Experiment 624, the pink alien who became Stitch’s love interest throughout the franchise after first appearing in “Lilo & Stitch: The Series.”
One of the evening’s more intriguing announcements belonged to Jon Favreau, who is digging much deeper into Disney history for “Oswald.” Centered on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit—the character Walt Disney created before Mickey Mouse—the three-part Disney+ miniseries will mix live-action environments with hand-drawn animation. Favreau said the production filmed at historically significant Disney locations, including the company’s old Hyperion offices and Walt Disney’s preserved office in Burbank. “Oswald” debuts on Disney+ in February 2027.
Lastly, Disney also touched on a few other major animated properties: “Ice Age: Boiling Point” brings Manny, Sid, Diego, Scrat, and the gang back to theaters on February 5, 2027; a new “Kingdom Hearts” anime series is in the works for Disney Channel and Disney+; and “The Simpsons” will return to the big screen with a new movie in 2027, 20 years after the original theatrical film.
Between “Zootopia 3,” another “Frozen,” Angel joining “Lilo & Stitch,” and a live-action “Tangled,” Disney clearly isn’t easing off its biggest brands anytime soon. But “Hexed” and the hand-drawn/live-action experiment of “Oswald” at least give the upcoming slate a few projects that aren’t simply straightforward franchise extensions.
