From Anaheim to Marina Bay Sands: how D23 is redefining global fandom

Filipina Broadway legend and Disney Legend Lea Salonga—the original singing voice of Fa Mulan in the 1998 animated classic Mulan and Princess Jasmine in the 1992 film Aladdin—brought Filipino pride to the California stage. Wearing an ornate, teal, kimono-style gown, Salonga delivered a powerful live performance of the ballad Reflection with a full orchestral backing. She later reunited with American singer Brandy, who portrayed the titular character in the 1997 television film of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, to perform a live duet of A Whole New World. The landmark concert, celebrating generations of musical magic, was filmed as a television special to stream on Disney+.

The musical celebrations continued at the Anaheim Convention Center with the Disney Rewind Concert, a retrospective showcase highlighting the company’s film, television and animation music from the 1980s and 1990s. The throwback event, designed with nostalgia and retro visual graphics, was hosted by Broadway actress Arielle Jacobs, who previously starred as Jasmine in the Broadway run of Aladdin.

Jacobs shared the stage with a talented line-up of Broadway stars, including Jared Dixon (Simba in The Lion King), Alyssa Fox (Elsa in Frozen), Josh Strickland (the original lead in Tarzan) and Raena White (Sarabi in The Lion King). Together, they performed classic hits alongside appearances by legendary voice actors and Disney Legends, including Jodi Benson (Ariel in The Little Mermaid), Bill Farmer (the voice of Goofy) and Susan Egan (the original Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast). The high-energy performance, complete with rock-concert lighting and archival animation, was broadcast live and remains available to stream on Disney+.

Following these musical preludes, the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, Josh D’Amaro, officially opened the main stage at the Honda Center, addressing a sold-out arena of thousands of international attendees. “When you add it all up, Disney has something no other brand on Earth can claim,” D’Amaro shared. “Not just a customer base, not just an audience, but an actual connection. A connection that reaches every single corner of the globe, spans every age and every background and becomes part of people’s lives and the memories that they carry with them. A connection with more than four billion fans. That’s half the world’s population who don’t just look to us for entertainment; they look to us for inspiration.”

The Disney Entertainment Showcase, hosted by Zootopia 2 stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan, lived up to D’Amaro’s promise, delivering first looks and major updates across the company’s creative divisions. Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden kicked off the announcements by presenting a sneak peek of the upcoming film The Simpsons, which is scheduled to open in theatres on September 3, 2027.

Among the most anticipated announcements from Walt Disney Animation Studios was a grand finale featuring Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad, who performed updated musical numbers written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The presentation culminated in the first footage of Frozen 3, directed by Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy, set to hit theatres on November 24, 2027. In addition, Walton Goggins and Jodie Foster were announced as new voice cast members for the coming-of-age fantasy Disney’s Hexed, opening on November 25, 2026, while Ginnifer Goodwin confirmed that Zootopia 3 has entered early development. The studio also revealed that production is underway on a new original animated feature called Clay (working title) starring Kieran Culkin, directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and scheduled for theatrical release in 2028.

Live-action cinema also held a major presence. Anne Hathaway, who was honoured as a Disney Legend during the weekend, spoke on stage about her relationship with the studio, referencing the career-launching film The Princess Diaries. Attendees were also treated to updates on Lilo & Stitch 2, directed by Chris Sanders, opening on May 26, 2028, and Tangled, a live-action retelling directed by Michael Gracey and starring Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim, scheduled for March 31, 2028. Furthermore, Jon Favreau introduced Oswald, an all-new live-action animated hybrid series based on one of Walt Disney’s earliest illustrations, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, premiering on February 17, 2027, exclusively on Disney+, while the sequel Romy & Michele 2, directed by Tim Federle, was announced to debut on Hulu in 2027.

Pixar Animation Studios’ chief creative officer Pete Docter unveiled several major entries, including Incredibles 3, directed by Peter Sohn. Benjamin Bratt joined Docter on stage to confirm his return as Ernesto de la Cruz in Coco 2, scheduled for November 2029, where the villain will reemerge for a return trip to the Land of the Dead as a teenager. Shortly after, new details were shared about Kingdom Hearts IV, which will feature a world inspired by Coco and a late-2027 release window. The studio also previewed Gatto, an Italian-set adventure directed by Enrico Casarosa and starring Mark Ruffalo, opening on March 5, 2027, and Ghost Market, an original supernatural fantasy directed by Trevor Jimenez and Jesse Andrews, slated for March 2028.

In the Marvel Studios portion, fans were introduced to the cast of the untitled X-Men film in development, which will star Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Scott Summers, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue and Maya Boyd as Storm, with Adam Driver playing Nathaniel Milbury, directed by Jake Schreier and scheduled for May 5, 2028. Additionally, a new trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine debuted, confirming its release on PlayStation 5 on September 15, 2027.

From Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni introduced a new teaser trailer for Season 2 of Ahsoka, starring Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen and Eman Esfandi, premiering on January 20, 2027 exclusively on Disney+, while Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling presented their space adventure, Star Wars: Starfighter, opening on May 28, 2027.

Disney Entertainment Television showcased its upcoming lineup, revealing that Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3, inspired by Rick Riordan’s The Titan’s Curse, will premiere on Disney+ on November 20, 2026, featuring appearances by Walker Scobell, Ming-Na Wen, and Andra Day. Fans also celebrated Chris Carter’s R-rated director’s cut, The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn, premiering on Disney+ on August 14, 2026, alongside the original 2008 film. Furthermore, the teen musical sequel Camp Rock 3, starring the Jonas Brothers, was announced as now streaming on Disney+.

On stage, Disney Theatrical Group announced that a new West End production of The Greatest Showman, based on the 2017 film and featuring Oliver Tompsett, Samantha Barks, and Malinda Parris, will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.

National Geographic also captivated attendees with LION, a four-part natural history series executive produced by Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton. Followed for over four years in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the documentary series, scored by Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music and narrated by OJ Lynch, premiered on National Geographic on August 19 and began streaming on Disney+ on August 20.

The weekend concluded on August 16 with the prestigious Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The event celebrated eleven visionaries who have profoundly shaped the company’s creative identity, each receiving Disney's highest honour. This year’s esteemed class included visionary CEO Bob Iger, who spearheaded years of unprecedented growth; master blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the force behind Pirates of the Caribbean; and veteran Imagineering art director Kim Irvine. They were honoured alongside behind-the-scenes and broadcasting legends like renowned animator Eric Goldberg, famous for bringing the Genie in Aladdin and many other characters to life, and legendary ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman.

The ceremony also highlighted the extraordinary performers and musical talents who have brought Disney's stories to life on screen and stage. Academy Award-winner Anne Hathaway, whose journey began with The Princess Diaries, and global box office superstar Dwayne Johnson were both inducted. Musical and vocal powerhouses were heavily featured, including Broadway actress Susan Egan, award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and the multi-platinum pop-rock trio, the Jonas Brothers. Rounding out the remarkable group was prolific character actor Alan Tudyk, celebrated for his versatile voice work across beloved animated features like Frozen and Zootopia.

In his address to the honourees, D’Amaro noted the importance of acknowledging the minds behind the magic: “For more than a century, Disney stories have endured time because they tap into something timeless. Thanks to the extraordinary talent behind them, they continue to push boundaries of creativity and innovation, open new worlds and show us what’s possible... Their creativity, innovation, excellence and deep commitment to bringing joy to people around the world have made them the stuff of legend, and recognising them alongside the fans who love their work is what makes this event so meaningful.”

Tributes included a surprise performance for Lin-Manuel Miranda by Broadway colleagues, including Auli’i Cravalho, Jordan Fisher, and Wayne Brady, while pop group KAatseye covered I Won’t Say I’m in Love in honour of Susan Egan. Orlando Bloom presented Jerry Bruckheimer with his award, and Emily Blunt introduced Dwayne Johnson. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger was introduced by Josh D’Amaro, with tributes from icons Ellen Pompeo, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. The ceremony concluded with a performance of A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes by Samantha Barks, as the new inductees gathered for a final group photo.

As the global community prepares for the regional expansion in Singapore, this gathering demonstrated how a century-old legacy continues to serve as an active bridge of creative imagination, connecting storytellers and fans across the globe.

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