22 things we learned at D23 Expo 2019 about Disney’s slate of new movies coming out

A crowd of 7,000 at D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim cheered, gasped and applauded during The Walt Disney Studios announcement of movie news for Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Disney live action, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The announcements were fast and furious. Here is all we learned from the presentation.

LUCASFILM

President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” director/writer/producer J.J. Abrams showcased the riveting conclusion to the Skywalker saga. Kennedy and Abrams revved up the audience, introducing nine stars from the film—many of whom marked this as their first D23 Expo appearance: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran and Billy Dee Williams, plus special appearances from R2-D2, BB-8 and the new droid D-O.

What we learned:

1. A brand new poster was revealed for the movie, that is to come out Dec. 20, 2019.

2. In a sneak peek shown at the preview Rey throws a fully-ignited lightsaber and holds a reticulated red blade.

3. Keri Russell reveals some new details about her character Zorri Bliss. “I can’t wait for you guys to meet Zorri. She’s very cool and a little bit shady.” Zorri has a mysterious criminal past and is also “an old friend of Poe’s,” Russell said.

Marvel Studios

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, kicked off the presentation with “Black Panther” director and co-writer Ryan Coogler.

What we learned

4. The release date for “Black Panther 2” which is the working title only, was announced as May 6, 2022.

5. Three new cast members for the upcoming “The Eternals,” (due out Nov. 6, 2020)  was announced. Gemma Chan, who plays humankind-loving Sersi; Kit Harington, was cast as non-Eternal Dane Whitman, and Barry Keoghan, will portray aloof loner Druig.

6. The other cast members for The Eternals took the stage, including: Richard Madden, who portrays the all-powerful Ikaris; Kumail Nanjiani, who plays cosmic-powered Kingo; Lauren Ridloff, who portrays the super-fast Makkari, the first deaf hero in the MCU; Brian Tyree Henry, who plays the intelligent inventor Phastos; Salma Hayek, who plays the wise and spiritual leader Ajak; Lia McHugh, who portrays the eternally young, old-soul Sprite; Don Lee, who plays the powerful Gilgamesh; and Angelina Jolie, who stars as the fierce warrior Thena.

7. Concept art images for each of “The Eternals” characters were released.

DISNEY LIVE ACTION

Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, took the audience through upcoming releases for the studi including next summer’s “Jungle Cruise,”  inspired by the classic theme-park attraction. He also talked about  “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “Mulan” and “Cruella.”

What we learned:

8. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt have a lot of chemistry in new “The Jungle Cruise” film. Johnson. who plays riverboat captain Frank Wolff, entered Hall D23 aboard an original Jungle Cruise boat, introducing a “trailer” that showed off his character—so much so, that co-star Emily Blunt, who portrays Dr. Lily Houghton, arrived via classic car to share with fans her own “trailer,” offering a different perspectives. The two joked back and forth on the stage.

9. Angelina Jolie presented exclusive footage and details about Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” the follow-up to the hit 2014 film. Maleficent, portrayed by Jolie, and her goddaughter Aurora, played by Elle Fanning, begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies and new dark forces at play. Aurora’s imminent marriage to Prince Phillip is cause for celebration—however, Prince Phillip’s mother, Queen Ingrith, portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, challenges Maleficent’s role as Aurora’s mother figure. The movie is coming out on Oct. 18, 2019.

10. Filmmaker Niki Caro, director of “Mulan,” the upcoming live-action reimagining of the 1998 classic animated film shared several minutes of footage from the epic adventure inspired by one of China’s fiercest warriors. In Disney’s “Mulan,” which opens in U.S. theaters on March 27, 2020, the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders. So, the eldest daughter of an honored but ailing warrior masquerades as a man, transforming into a heroic warrior to ultimately earn her the respect of a grateful nation and a proud father.

11. We got to see what Emma Stone looks like at the young Cruella De Vil in “Cruella,” an all-new feature film starring Stone and Emma Thompson. Stone, sent D23 Expo fans a greeting from the London-based set with help from a spotted, four-legged co-star. Fans also got a glimpse of an image of Stone in full costume with Cruella’s signature black-and-white hair. Director Craig Gillespie, who helmed “I, Tonya” and “The Finest Hours,” brings “Cruella” to the big screen on May 28, 2021, with a fresh, 1970s, punk-rock approach. 

PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS

Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter guided the audience through Pixar’s upcoming film slate of originals.

What we learned:

12. The upcoming movie “Soul” is about. The film journeys from the streets of New York City to the never-before-seen cosmic realms and “The You Seminar,” the fantastical place where we all discover our unique personalities. The movie opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2020.

13. The voice cast for the new movie “Soul” was announced and includes Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs, Tina Fey and Jamie Foxx. Foxx lends his voice to Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. Fey plays 22, a soul-in-training who has an unexpected encounter with Joe when he accidentally finds his way to the “You Seminar.” Together, the two are going to find a way to get Joe back to Earth, making him think again about what it truly means to have soul. 

14. It was revealed globally renowned musician Jon Batiste will be writing original jazz music for the film, and Oscar-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (“The Social Network”), from Nine Inch Nails, will compose an original score that will drift between the real and soul worlds. 

15. It was revealed that Julia Louis-Dreyfus voices the Mom in the new movie “Onward,” which opens in theaters on March 6, 2020.

16. In “Onward,” the two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot,embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left in the world to bring back their father for one day.

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee presented an overview of the studio’s next two features.

What we learned:

17. A new movie “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be released on Nov. 25, 2020. The movie explore themes of community and hope, and is inspired by the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia.

18. The movie is being written by Adele Lim, who wrote the popular “Crazy Rich Asians.” The film which follows Raya, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world.

19. Awkwafina lends her voice to Sisu, the Last Dragon, who was left on Earth in case dark forces return to the world, and Cassie Steele voices the lead character, Raya.

20. “Frozen II,” which is due out in theaters on Nov. 22, 2019, was made to answer a number of questions that was left over from the first movie. Such as, why does Elsa have magic powers and Anna does not? Where were Elsa and Anna’s parents going to when they perished?

21. There is a new song called “Into the Unknown.”

22. Sterling K. Brown, who voices Lieutenant Destin Matthias, and Evan Rachel Wood, who voices Queen Iduna (Anna and Elsa’s mother), are joining the cast. Queen Iduna appears in a flashback scene.