D23 will once again celebrate and honor all things Disney this August, including projects the major studio currently has in development. First held in 2009, The Ultimate Disney Fan Event features a variety of exciting activities for attendees, including a Disney Legends awards ceremony, a fan art contest, pop-up shops selling exclusive merchandise, and previews of upcoming Disney Parks attractions.
In addition to these experiences, D23 has consistently presented an entertainment showcase where actors, directors, producers and studio executives preview never-before-seen footage from upcoming Disney films and series. Typically lasting over two hours, these exhibitions unfold in a large convention hall as celebrity guests take to the stage to say a few words about their upcoming project before presenting an exclusive trailer, scene or concept art.
The most recent D23 event was held in 2024 and offered the world exclusive first look at Mandalorian and Grogu in the form of a trailer showcasing everyone’s favorite father and son duo on the big screen.
At the previous D23, in 2022, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige outlined the Multiverse Saga and brought the cast of upcoming projects to discuss and present footage from the upcoming MCU slate, including Daredevil: Born Again and Secret invasion.
In 2019, Ewan McGregor brought fans in the D23 hall to their feet when he was welcomed on stage by Kathleen Kennedy and revealed that he would be returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a then-upcoming Disney+ series.
Needless to say, Disney often saves massive announcements and never-before-seen footage for D23. As Disney prepares for its next D23 on 14-16 August, fans may be just weeks away from getting an early glimpse of what’s expected Star Wars and Marvel projects.
Ryan Gosling and Star Wars: Starfighter can fly into D23
Since Shawn Levy’s Star Wars the film was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan last year, Starfighter has wrapped production and is deep in post-production ahead of its May 2027 release.
Without others Star Wars films currently in production, and given the mixed reception to Mandalorian and GroguLucasfilm and Disney may be eager to show what Levy has in store for a galaxy far, far away. The Deadpool and Wolverine the director has assembled an all-star cast for his film, which includes Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and newcomer Flynn Gray.
While it’s not a guarantee, it’s a possibility that a teaser or even a full trailer for Star Wars: Starfighter will be presented to the D23 audience. Such a move by Disney would be consistent with how they roll out new trailers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Mandalorian and Grogu at previous D23 exhibitions.
Vision will be looking to preview what his Disney+ series entails
The latest talk about Marvel Studios has been circulating Avengers: Doomsday – and understandably so, as the Russo Brothers’ return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most anticipated films of the year. But Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are far from the only live-action Marvel projects debuting in the near future.
Before Avengers: Doomsday coming to cinemas in December, VisionQuest premieres October 14 on Disney+. The series from creator Terry Matalas will conclude an unofficial trilogy of Marvel shows that began with WandaVision and continued with Agatha all the time.
One from the south VisionQuest was shown during Disney’s May 2025 upfront presentation, before more footage was presented at the 2025 New York Comic Con and this year’s upfront presentation. With the release date for the eight-episode series looming, it seems likely that Feige could return to D23 to showcase the first full-fledged trailer for VisionQuest.
Ahsoka and Thrawn’s face-off could come to Anaheim
The next live action Star Wars project on the horizon for Lucasfilm and Disney is another project that could appear at this year’s D23.
It’s been almost three years the first season of Ahsoka debuted, and in the meantime, Dave Filoni has written, directed, and is now editing the new season. Lucasfilm recently announced that the season will premiere in early 2027, which, along with comments from Jon Favreau that he has seen all the episodes, suggests that the company is likely to be able to present a teaser, trailer or even some scenes.
Season 2 concept art was presented at last year’s Star Wars Celebration and previewed an all-out war between the New Republic and Thrawn’s Imperial Remnant. Filoni and star Rosario Dawson have spoken about the action-packed second season, which will also feature a grand stand-off between Grand Admiral Thrawn and Admiral Ackbar.
D23 will take place in Anaheim, California from August 14 to August 16, 2026.
