From our Friends at D23
Mark your calendars, because The Walt Disney Studios is promising a dazzling slate of films in your future! Attendees at the 2024 CinemaCon® convention in Las Vegas last week got special sneak peeks at Disney’s upcoming 2024 films, including exclusive looks at highly anticipated films from some of its famed production studios: Disney Live Action, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.
Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, took to the stage at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace to speak about the power of the theatrical film experience and the upcoming flow of exceptional cinematic events Disney fans can’t wait to see in throughout the year. “The upcoming lineup from our studio is incredibly exciting,” Bergman said. “With a mix of established franchises and fresh stories, there’s something for everyone, and we look forward to serving up a variety of films that deliver a steady flow of exceptional cinematic events to theaters.”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
May 10, 2024
Tony Chambers, executive vice president and head of theatrical distribution, kicked off the studios’ presentation with 13 minutes of thrilling footage from the highly anticipated all-new action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which opens in theaters nationwide on May 10—just around the corner!
Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign in War of the Planet of the Apes (2017). In the new film, apes are the dominant species living harmoniously, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all he has known about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Young Woman and the Sea
May 31, 2024
Next up was Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea, the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel, which comes to theaters nationwide in a special engagement on May 31. Chambers kicked off a taped greeting from legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who then introduced the brand-new trailer. The film stars Daisy Ridley, who trades in the Force for flipping her fins as an accomplished swimmer born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and animosity to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete a staggering achievement—the 21-mile trek from France to England. CinemaCon attendees were the first to see the trailer, which you can watch for yourself above.
Inside Out 2
June 14, 2024
Chambers welcomed Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-award-winning actor Amy Poehler to the stage. Poehler, who returns to cinemas as the voice of Joy in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and who received this year’s CinemaCon Vanguard award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, spoke about the film. As viewers return to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley, the headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale), and Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke) shows up. And she’s not alone: Enter Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). The sequel to the Academy Award®-winning Inside Out (2015), Inside Out 2 is directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.
CinemaCon attendees were then treated to the first 35 minutes of the animated film, which opens in theaters on June 14.
Captain America: Brave New World
February 14, 2025
Of course, we can’t talk upcoming films without checking in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Looking ahead to the MCU’s most anticipated upcoming releases, Chambers brought Kevin Feige, producer and president of Marvel Studios, to the stage. Feige in turn welcomed Cap himself, Anthony Mackie, to talk about Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World. Mackie offered up a little behind-the-scenes insight before introducing a first look at the film, which hits theaters on February 14, 2025. Directed by Julius Onah, produced by Feige and Nate Moore, and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, and Mackie, Captain America: Brave New World also stars Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, and Shira Haas, with Tim Blake Nelson and Harrison Ford.
Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26, 2024
Can’t wait until 2025? Good news—Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth is returning to the big screen this summer to wreak havoc across the Marvel Cinematic Universe… with a friend. Feige introduced Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy, who received CinemaCon’s Director of the Year award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony. Levy thrilled the audience with an exclusive look at the film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. The film is a sequel to the hit films Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018), which first introduced the fourth-wall-breaking fan favorite antihero to the big screen.
Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey, and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy. Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters July 26.
Alien: Romulus
August 16
In space, no one can hear you scream. However, at CinemaCon, the fans’ enthusiasm is loud and clear! Chambers shared a special greeting from Alien: Romulus producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez, who thanked exhibitors for their ongoing partnership and their support of the Alien franchise over the past 45 years and introduced a special look at the upcoming film, a truly terrifying cinematic experience opening in theaters August 16.
Following a 45-year legacy started with Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi classic Alien, 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus takes the phenomenally successful Alien franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Kinds of Kindness
June 21
Up next was Searchlight Pictures, which recently released Poor Things, the winner of four Academy Awards® last month. Searchlight Pictures is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. On June 21, Kinds of Kindness, which will premiere this spring at the Cannes Film Festival before it opens exclusively in theaters. The film reunites Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos with recent Oscar® winner Emma Stone, who is joined by Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer. The film is a triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife, who was missing at sea, has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.
The Amateur
April 11, 2025
The first footage from 20th Century Studios’ The Amateur was then screened exclusively in the room. The film, an action-packed espionage thriller directed by James Hawes and starring Oscar® winner Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, and Laurence Fishburne, opens in theaters nationwide on April 11, 2025.
Mufasa: The Lion King
December 20
Next, Oscar® winner Barry Jenkins took to the stage to take us back to Pride Rock with Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, the follow-up to 2019’s global phenomenon, and showcase the teaser trailer for the film, which opens in theaters on December 20. Told in flashbacks, Mufasa: The Lion King reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands as Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa share the story of Mufasa with a young lion cub. The film is produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.
Moana 2
November 27
If CinemaCon attendees were hoping for a sneak peek at Moana 2, then we say, “You’re welcome!” The studios closed out their presentation with a surprise appearance by Dwayne Johnson, who came to a stage filled with Polynesian drummers and dancers from Tiana Liufau’s Nonasina (choreographer on the Moanafilms). Johnson returns as the voice of Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2, opening in theaters on November 27. Bergman returned to the stage to introduce NATO chair Bob Bagby, who presented Johnson with the NATO Spirit of the Industry Award in recognition of his unparalleled dedication, passion, and commitment to the motion picture theatrical experience.
Moana 2 reunites Moana (voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui three years after the original film for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by Dave Derrick Jr., co-directed by Jason Hand, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the epic animated musical features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.
