The 2019 D23 Expo from Disney just took place and there was a lot to take in. Here are some of the announcements that the world is most excited about.
The D23 Expo is The Walt Disney Company’s largest fan event, similar to the likes of Comic-Con, it’s a three day convention celebrating and showcasing everything to do with Disney.
That however encompasses a whole lot. We got Marvel reveals, Pixar, Disney, Lucasfilm, and basically enough entertainment to last you the next few years.
Here’s a look at some of the most exciting reveals:
Marvel
She-Hulk
Following the jaw-droppingly impressive line up of reveals for the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the San Diego Comic-Con recently, it was a nice surprise to be hit with yet more Marvel goodness. Three new series have been announced for Disney’s eponymous streaming service coming in the winter this year.
She-Hulk will follow the story of Bruce Banner’s cousin named Jennifer Walters.
Walters takes in some of Banner’s hulk-ified cells from a botched blood transfusion.
Ms. Marvel
Not to be confused with Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel will be another TV show set within the MCU. Ms. Marvel follows the story of a Muslim-American teenager from Jersey City. Ms. Marvel, known as Kamala Khan is the first Muslim character to have had her own Marvel comic and now TV show. Set as a counter-part to Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel has abilities such as shapeshifting.
Moon Knight
Moon Knight follows a U.S. Marine, Marc Spector who is granted superpowers from the Egyptian god Khonshu.
Knonshu is the god of the moon and grants the Moon Knight super strength, endurance and reflexes depending on the phases of the moon.
According to Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President:
“The opportunities that Disney+ is bringing to the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe] to grow and to evolve and to expand are tremendous,” Feige said. Stay tuned for more details about Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk.
Black Panther II
It’s finally happening, well, on May 6, 2022 that is. The anticipated sequel to one of Marvel’s best-performing films is back. Black Panter II will have the same director, Ryan Coogler, though plot and character details are kept hush hush right now.
You can read the announcement on The Eternals cast here.
Lucasfilm (Star Wars)
Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker
Check out the new poster for Star Wars: #TheRiseOfSkywalker that debuted at #D23Expo. See the film in theaters December 20. pic.twitter.com/FUSZaGQZE6
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 24, 2019
The ninth iteration (yes, ninth) of Star Wars had more details dropped at the D23 Expo too. Fans were graced with a new poster of the December release film, along with some more teaser footage. The poster shows Rey and Kylo Ren facing off with light sabers with what seems to be Emperor Palpatine in the background.
The footage, which has not been released to the wider public at the time of writing, showed Rey wearing a black hood and wielding a double-bladed light saber just like Darth Maul once did.
The film is set to drop on December 20.
The Mandalorian
The first ever Star Wars live-action TV show is coming to our screens thanks to Disney. A Disney+ exclusive and thus another reason to buy a subscription to the service. The show is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order.
It follows a lone gunfighter acting outside the stipulations of the New Republic, getting involved in adventures in the furtherest corners of the galaxy.
It launches at the same time as Disney+, November 12.
Pixar
Forky Asks a Question
Described as a collection of Pixar shorts, Forky Asks a Question follows Forky from Toy Story 4 and his contemplation of life.
“Forky asks important questions about how the world works, such as: What is love? What is time? And of course, the deepest question of all, What is cheese?”
Pixar’s shorts have long since been a defining characteristic of the picture house, creating short standalone films before the premiere of larger feature films. Forky’s shorts will debut at the same time as Disney+.
Soul
Just Announced: @iamjamiefoxx and Tina Fey will lead the cast of #PixarSoul, coming to theaters June 19, 2020. Here’s a first look at their characters, Joe Gardner and 22, and a new piece of concept art. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/Ls8JDvOsCe
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) August 24, 2019
Though Soul was public knowledge before D23, we now have information regarding the cast. Soul is a jazz-focused animation that asks philosophical questions about what makes up our souls.
Daveed Diggs, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey lead as voice actors, with music from Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
The film will follow a middle school band teacher and jazz buff as he explores the “cosmic realms” of the afterlife and speak with other souls on life’s most important questions. The film is slated for June 19 2020.
Walt Disney
Jungle Cruise
In Jungle Cruise, @TheRock and Emily Blunt pair up for a buddy comedy of fun. And The Rock just rode into the auditorium on a jungle cruise boat called La Quila “Sometimes you need me to save the day!”#D23Expo pic.twitter.com/6yWXT6V1M5
— cait petrakovitz D23 (@misscp) August 24, 2019
We’re always excited with ‘ANYTHING’ featuring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Disney showed off one of its upcoming films Jungle Cruise which will star The Rock and Emily Blunt.
The film is described as a buddy comedy, with The Rock playing a boat skipper named Frank. Frank takes Blunt’s character named Lily and her brother on a mission to find a tree that has magical healing powers.
The film will have the duo fight wild animals, German expediton crew and “supernatural elements”. No release date has been given at the time of writing.
National Geographic
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
The World According to Jeff Goldblum is exactly as it sounds, the world through the infamous actor’s eyes. Standing as a passion project of his, it follows a wide array of topics, from sneakers, to ice-cream, to travel, to tattoos, even sometimes song and dance.
Goldblum said he “followed his own natural curosity” for the show, making it one of the most personal travel programmes in the media.
The show will drop the same time as Disney+, November 12.
