There’s certainly so much to love about Walt Disney Studios, and this year at CinemaCon, they had a lot to say about what they have coming out in the next year. For starters, Disney is going to have a new movie from each of their seven brands, all of which will release at some point in 2023. This includes Pixar, Marvel Studios, 20th Century, Lucas Films, Disney Animation and more.
The Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon 2023 offered attendees first-looks at big movies that are releasing, in addition to celebrating the fact that 2023 marks their 100th anniversary. The Co-Chairman of Disney, Alan Bergam, took the stage at CinemaCon 2023, talking about the future of their company.
“The goal is to tell great stories that connect with people around the world that stand the test of time.”
The showcase kicked off with first looks at many new movies, including one film that’s coming very soon , THE LITTLE MERMAID, which stars Halle Bailey as Ariel. Melissa McCarthy, who is playing Ursula in the upcoming live-action adaptation, came out onto the stage for a brief time to surprise the hyped audience.
McCarthy talked about her upcoming role in THE LITTLE MERMAID, saying that her character is “dishy” and a “conniving broad,” but that was maybe one of the reasons why she likes her so much. This was followed by a clip featuring McCarthy singing the classic song, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” showing the classic Ursula vibe that fans are anticipating. Tickets for THE LITTLE MERMAID are on sale now at AMC Theatres, releasing on Memorial Day weekend.
The actress’ appearance was just one of the many awesome surprises that Walt Disney Studios shared at CinemaCon.
Elements Don’t Mix
Among the films showcased by Disney at CinemaCon 2023 was ELEMENTAL, the upcoming Pixar movie that is coming to theatres on June 16th. Attendees were lucky enough to get the chance to watch twenty minutes of the Pixar film in Dolby 3D, where they were shown a dynamic, vibrant and immersive world for fans to love.
In the twenty minutes that were shown, the titular elements – Fire, Earth, Water and Air – come to life in a beautiful world-building experience. Viewers saw the main characters, Ember and Wade, and the clear differences and challenges that they face considering they are from different elements.
The story will take a look at a cultural divide through elements, as well as family dynamics and finding a place in the world where the character belongs. The movie will premiere at Cannes Film Festival before making its way to AMC Theatres.
ELEMENTAL opens June 16thDisney Is Bringing The Terror
One of the last things any Disney fan might associate with the studio is horror, considering Disney is all about family and stories that all can enjoy. But, with the inclusion of 20th Century under its name now, Disney is starting to bring the terror to the screen with two anticipated scary movies – A HAUNTING IN VENICE, and THE BOOGEYMAN. And it’s not just 20th Century Studios, as Walt Disney Studios has their own spooky movie on the way with HAUNTED MANSION.
First off, HAUNTED MANSION is an upcoming movie that is an adaptation of the beloved Disney Theme Park ride of the same name, which is releasing on July 28th. The trailer that was shown featured a voice-over from Danny DeVito, as well as several sets that seemed to pull directly from the ride and audiences loving the jokes that were implemented into the scares. The cast is star-studded, with actors such as Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish and more.
Next up was A HAUNTING IN VENICE, starring Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, where he explores a new haunting in a ghost story inspired by legendary author, Agatha Christie. The trailer, featuring Michelle Yeoh, starts right from the jump following a murder, and builds suspense that had the audience absolutely on the edge of their seats. The movie releases on September 15h.
Audiences also got a look at the upcoming adaptation of THE BOOGEYMAN, a story from Stephen King – but we’re a little too scared to talk about that just yet. THE BOOGEYMAN arrives in theaters on June 2nd.
A Musical Performance From Wish
WISH is the next big animated feature to come from Disney Animation, and the voice behind the upcoming main character, Asha, is the Academy Award®-winning actress, Ariana DeBose. Known for her role in Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY, DeBose got her start in Broadway and will bring her iconic voice to the next musical.
With songs written by both Alan Menkin and Lin-Manuel Miranda, DeBose gives an incredible musical performance that will capture the heart of both young and old audiences when they go to see WISH in theatres. Tony Chamber, the Senior Vice President of Studio Distribution, was on stage to talk about the movie, and how it’s a celebration of Disney’s legacy and wishes coming true.
Also announced was that Chris Pine would be voicing King Magnifico in the film. Attendees even got to see a song featured in the movie that could be compared to a memorable song like “Go The Distance” from HERCULES, and the musical feature was met with high praise from the audience.
opens November 22nd.To close out the presentation, Disney gave attendees a look at a clip from INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. Harrison Ford made an on-screen appearance to introduce attendees to an extended scene from the upcoming film, releasing on June 30th, 2023. There was car-jumping, guns, and plenty of comedic action that you would expect from the movie that fans were eager to enjoy.
There’s so much happening for Walt Disney Studios in the next year, and CinemaCon 2023 was just the start of fans seeing what is to come. Check back at AMC Scene for updates this week for the latest from CinemaCon and follow AMC on Twitter to get all the latest news on the next big updates for these awesome movies.
