We are only about a month removed from the massive events that went down at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, but already the movie industry is preparing for another world-shattering convention. The Walt Disney Company has been hosting the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, biannually for 10 years now, and it is expected that the upcoming show will once again center on films that audiences will be going crazy for in the next few years.
But what is it exactly that movie fans should be excited for from this year’s D23 Expo? Based on experiences from previous years, we’ve broken it all down below.
A Star-Studded Show
Disney regularly gets the biggest talent in Hollywood to be a part of their projects, and part and parcel of that involvement is appearances at the D23 Expo. Every year, Disney has hosted presentations that play out as massive star-studded events. Some of the most talented directors in the world take the stage to talk about the new films they are developing, and A-listers regularly make surprise appearances when announced as part of upcoming features.
New Project Announcements
Disney recently announced a total of 13 release dates between now and 2023 that have been carved out for unspecified projects, and it’s very likely that we will learn a lot about the bulk of them during Saturday’s Walt Disney Studios presentation. It’s been company procedure for the last decade to use the D23 Expo stage to reveal details about various movies that are in active development, and there’s no reason to expect that 2019’s show will be any different.
Early Footage From Upcoming Movies
Because the D23 Expo only happens every two years, there is a bit more freedom for the exhibitors to reveal plans that are in the distant future. That being said, there is more than plenty of attention paid to the projects that are coming sooner rather than later, and in many of those cases we’ll probably be able to see exciting footage. This could mean first and early looks at films like ONWARD (above), FROZEN II, MULAN, JUNGLE CRUISE and possibly even STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.
The Celebration of Disney Legends
While the entire D23 Expo is basically a reflection of the studio's respect for their history, the Disney Legends exhibition is where special recognition is truly given. The award is highly-esteemed, given only to those who have had a significant impact on the direction of the company. This year’s winners include brilliant filmmakers and performers, including Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Bette Midler, Ming-Na Wen, Hans Zimmer, Diane Sawyer, Christina Aguilera and James Earl Jones.
The D23 Expo 2019 takes place August 23–25, so be on the lookout for all of the big news and announcements.
