MUFASA: THE LION KING Gets FIRST Official Trailer at D23

Having been officially announced back at Disney's D23 expo in 2022, The Lion King prequel has become a curious entry on the cinematic calendar, with the Mufasa centred backstory being full of potential. This year's expo would see further light shed on the upcoming film, with the studio releasing its first official trailer at the event.

The trailer focuses on the rise of Mufasa from an orphan, being taken in by the family of the young lion prince, Taka (who later becomes known as Scar). Told as a story to Kiara, the granddaughter of Mufasa, by the mandrill Rafiki, the film will focus on the bonding friendship of the two lions, with the threat of the formidable white lion, Kiros, looking pivotal to their future.

On the whole the trailer proves a little conflicting, as despite giving an intriguing sight into Mufasa and Scar's backstory, the younger voice cast takes away from the imposing presence both characters had in the original film. Nonetheless there is plenty to entice, with the trailer highlighting some ironic aspects of the two lions past, having the potential to paint a different picture of both.

Mufasa: The Lion King is set to arrive in cinemas December 20th.

FIRST LOOK at ZOOTOPIA 2 & FROZEN III at D23

Disney's D23 expo has come and went, with entertainment giants having given us plenty of updates and announcements to excite us. Amongst these was a look at various upcoming animated projects, with Pixar giving us our first look at Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3. This wasn't all, however, as we were also provided with updates on the studios upcoming entries in their Frozen and Zootopia franchises.

❄️Is there a chill in the air...?❄️
Jennifer Lee announces at #D23 that #Frozen3 will be coming to theaters in 2027! pic.twitter.com/cky5Y5JUko

— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024

Having both been announced back in February of last year, Frozen III and Zootopia 2 are two projects that are sure to draw attention to the studio. Despite not giving us much to go off of with the former, the studio has announced that Frozen III will make its way to cinemas in 2027. This wasn't quite all, however, with Elsa, Anna and Olaf's tale being too big for just the one further sequel, as the studio would also announce plans for Frozen IV.

Given how popular the franchise has been over the last decade, it comes as little surprise that the studio will continue to invest in it. Having already generated over $2.7 billion collectively at the box-office, not to mention the vast amount of income that comes from toys and other merchandise, the franchise is easily one of the studios’ most profitable products. 

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— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024

We'd get a little more from the studio regarding Zootopia 2, including a new poster for the film which features Judy and Nick being chased by various members of the Zootopian society, in what appears to be their Zootenial celebrations. Additionally the poster also highlights new animals making their way to the franchise, with both reptiles and marine mammals being present in the aforementioned chase. Further light was shone on one particular reptilian character, Gary, with the snake set to be the villain of the upcoming flick, being voiced by Ke Huy Quan. 

Zootopia 2 is currently set for a November, 2025 release.

D23 Gives FIRST LOOK at LILO & STITCH Live-Action

Disney has had a busy weekend, with their D23 expo giving us a plethora of announcements and updates. Among these was an update on the highly anticipated Lilo & Stitch live-action remakes, with the studio giving us our first look at the upcoming film. 

Experiment 626 has entered the chat! The live-action #LiloAndStitch is coming only to theaters in Summer 2025! pic.twitter.com/82KFLEFL5E

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) August 10, 2024

Having first been announced way back in 2018, the project has seen several delays, with the covid-19 pandemic and the latest writers and actors’ strike bringing a fault to production. There would be further delays due to casting hurdles, with various controversial choices leading to re-casting of certain characters. The film is finally on the horizon, with Experiment 626 set to return to cinemas next year.

The clip shared on Walt Disney Studios’ official X account doesn't give anything of significance away, rather showcasing the beloved Stitch bursting through an advertisement banner. Having a familiar, yet CGI rendered look, the beloved character looks almost identical to his animated counterpart. Something that should appeal to fans of the original. As for the human cast members, we'll have to wait to see what they look like, but in the meantime things look very promising. 

Lilo & Stitch is set to burst into cinemas Summer 2025.

DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE Gets a Teaser Trailer at D23

Disney continues to be invested in their live-action remakes, with the upcoming Snow White adaptation following in the footsteps of Cinderella, The Lion King and The Jungle Book just to name a few. Having faced its share of delays and controversial backlash, it has been a long wait to get a proper look at the film, with Disney finally dropping their first teaser trailer at this year's D23 expo. 

Set to the classic “Whistle While You Work” tune, the trailer recreates the classic montage from the original animated classic, with Snow White (Rachel Zegler) and the Seven Dwarves working alongside various woodland creatures whilst singing. The short clip also gives us our first look at the maniacal Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) as she looks into her magic mirror and creates the poisoned apple.

On the whole things look promising for the upcoming remake, with the joyful trailer being full of the original's charm. The teaser also does a brilliant job of injecting some apprehension, with Gal Gadot looking as if she'll steal the show as the sinister Evil Queen. The dwarves also retain their goofy charm, and though the choice to go the CGI route is a bit questionable, hopefully it will work in the long run.

Snow White is set to make its magical premiere in cinemas March 21st 2025.

PIXAR Gives FIRST LOOK at TOY STORY 5 & INCREDIBLES 3 at D23

It's been a busy weekend for Disney, with the D23 expo delivering plenty of announcements for their various brands. One of their many subsidiaries to feature at the event was Pixar, with the animation studio showcasing several projects including the recently released Inside Out 2 and upcoming flick Eilo. Another two franchises under their umbrella to feature at the event were Toy Story and Incredibles. 

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— Pixar (@Pixar) August 10, 2024

Having already been announced as in development back in 2023, Toy Story 5 is a film that fans will be eager to see, set to arrive in cinemas Summer 2026. Despite not giving us any footage from the upcoming project, Pixar did give us a small teaser featuring Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie. They would also share a still from the upcoming film, showing our beloved toys at the end of a child's bed, as they stay glued to a tablet.

Given the way Toy Story 4 ended, it will be interesting to see how this narrative comes together, with our toys having become separated. It is, however, interesting to see that the film might touch on the influence of technology on children, with Woody, Buzz and company possibly becoming obsolete. 

Just announced at #D23: #Incredibles3 is officially in the works at Pixar! pic.twitter.com/IZCEBFJwXs

— Pixar (@Pixar) August 10, 2024

Pixar's Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, would also announce that Incredibles 3 is officially in development, with writer and director Brad Bird set to continue with the franchise. Though no more details were given about the film, it is exciting to see that a third is in the works, with the first two having been very enjoyable. 

AVATAR 3 Gets its Title at D23

Disney's D23 expo has been in full effect this weekend, giving us plenty of announcements to get excited about their upcoming products. One franchise to be featured at the event was Avatar, with the James Cameron series unveiling the title of its third instalment. Going with the subtitle Fire and Ash, the upcoming film looks to continue with the elemental theme, mirroring the franchise's second instalment, The Way of Water. Other than the title and a new logo, there wasn't much revealed about the film, which is currently scheduled for a December 19th, 2025 release.

Revolutionising the film industry with its inception in 2009, Avatar became a box-office smash, being historically the #1 grossing movie at the time. It's use of advanced special effects and 3D cinematography made it an instant sensation, with the world of Pandora being both majestic and barbaric. It would take thirteen years for the franchise to produce its second instalment, with 2022's The Way of Water continuing Jake Sully's (Sam Worthington) journey into the Na'vi culture, facing a familiar threat. Thankfully we don't have as long a wait between instalments this time around, with a fourth and fifth instalment also in development. 

FIRST Official Trailer for AGATHA ALL ALONG at D23

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on a somewhat rocky path following Avengers: Endgame, with the studio delivering a mixed bag of content over the last few years. Hype surrounding the universe has once again peaked, with the release of Deadpool and Wolverine getting fans excited for the franchise's future. Having a huge presence at Disney's D23 expo, Marvel Studios would showcase various upcoming projects, including the new Captain America film, Fantastic Four: First Steps and the long awaited Daredevil: Reborn tv series. Another television series to feature was Agatha All Along, with the expo giving us our first official look at the upcoming show.

Having become the main antagonist in WandaVision, Agatha Harkness finds herself trapped in Westview, New Jersey, stripped of all her powers. This first trailer for Agatha All Along shows the maniacal witch embark on a journey to regain her powers, having been aided in escaping the small town and faced with travelling down the Witches’ Road.

Having a musical vibe to it, the trailer does a good job setting the premise of this upcoming spin-off, with Agatha's journey looking perilous to say the least. The introduction of a coven of witches to the universe also proves enticing, with the mysterious teen that helps her escape sure to be a character worth following. Whether this will amount to a successful product is yet to be seen, but it definitely seems like a show worth looking out for this Halloween season. 

Agatha All Along is set to premiere on Disney+ September 18th.

STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW Gets FIRST Trailer at D23

Disney's D23 expo is here, with the entertainment giants dropping a ton of content in our laps. Covering Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm and their classic animation films, the expo is all about sharing news and releasing teaser trailers. One product on display from their Star Wars universe is Skeleton Crew, with the TV series created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford getting its first official trailer.

Having a Goonies-esque feel to it, this clip showcases a coming of age tale, following four children as they get lost in the universe after making a huge discovery on their home planet. Starring Jude Law and taking place after the events of Return of the Jedi, the show looks to give us a good balance of action and humour, with it appearing that there will be perilous moments in store for our young cast. 

Now let's be honest, Disney have well and truly oversaturated the franchise at this point, seeming to find any excuse to bring out a new show. Now for some that may be exactly what they want, but for others it just dilutes the product. This coming of age tale on the other hand looks just the kind of show the studio needs to bring new fans in, having potential to appeal to both a younger and older audience. We'll have to wait till later on in the year to find out if it will be a hit or not, with the show coming to Disney+ in time for the festive season.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is set to premiere on Disney+ December 3rd.