Star Wars: Starfighter, Avengers and X-Men Lead Disney’s Biggest Movie Reveals at D23
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
Disney unveiled at D23 a new Star Wars adventure starring Ryan Gosling, while also revealing updates on Lilo & Stitch 2, Tangled, Avengers: Doomsday and a new X-Men film.
By Fábio Borges, in Anaheim, California.
Disney used the opening night of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to unveil a series of major updates for its upcoming live-action theatrical slate, with Star Wars: Starfighter emerging as one of the evening’s biggest attractions.
The announcements were presented Friday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim during the Disney Entertainment Showcase, which brought together Disney filmmakers, actors and executives for first looks at upcoming projects.
Opening the presentation, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro emphasized the company’s relationship with audiences around the world.
“Millions more are watching our stories in theaters or at home,” D’Amaro said. “When you add it all up, Disney has something no other brand on Earth can claim. Not just a customer base, not just an audience, but an actual connection.”
Among the theatrical live-action projects highlighted during the showcase were:
Star Wars: Starfighter
The biggest Star Wars movie announcement of the night came when director and producer Shawn Levy took the stage to introduce Star Wars: Starfighter, a new theatrical adventure set in the Star Wars universe.
Levy was joined by Ryan Gosling, who stars in the film. The actor appeared wearing a retro Mickey Mouse Club leather jacket before Levy presented him with another jacket featuring an important symbol from the upcoming movie.
The presentation included an exclusive sizzle reel and teaser footage for the D23 audience. According to Disney, the story follows a cynical rogue who is confronted by his mysterious past and suddenly thrown into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy, putting him on a collision course with destiny.
Gosling leads a cast that also includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray and Amy Adams.
Star Wars: Starfighter is written by Jonathan Tropper and produced by Shawn Levy and Kathleen Kennedy. Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen and Josh McLaglen serve as executive producers.
The film is scheduled to open exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 28, 2027.
Lilo & Stitch 2
Disney also confirmed that Lilo & Stitch 2, the sequel to the 2025 live-action blockbuster, will begin production in Hawaiʻi later this year.
The announcement came with Maia Kealoha, who played Lilo in the first film, taking the D23 stage. The original Lilo & Stitch became a major theatrical success, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide in 2025, according to Disney.
Chris Sanders, who co-created, co-wrote and directed the original 2002 animated film, will direct the sequel. He also voiced Stitch in both the animated and live-action versions. Jonathan Eirich is producing, while Ryan Halperin and Tom Peitzman are executive producers.
Lilo & Stitch 2 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 26, 2028.
Tangled
Another major reveal came from Disney’s plans for Tangled, a live-action reimagining of the studio’s 2010 animated movie, itself inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Rapunzel.
Kathryn Hahn, who plays Mother Gothel, appeared onstage to discuss the project. The D23 audience was also shown a recorded message from Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim, who play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider and were filming the movie in Spain at the time of the event.
Michael Gracey, director of The Greatest Showman, is directing the film, with Kristin Burr producing for Burr! Productions and Lucy Kitada serving as executive producer.
The cast also includes Diego Luna as a new character named Hawthorne, along with Caitríona Balfe as Queen Arianna, Elliot Cowan as King Frederic, and Patrick and Hugo McPherson as the Stabbington twins.
Tangled will open in theaters on March 31, 2028.
Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel Studios brought some of its biggest stars to the D23 stage for Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release later this year.
Kevin Feige was joined by Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell, who unveiled a special look at the highly anticipated film. Disney also debuted a new poster, while tickets went on sale to the public.
In the film, heroes from three distinct universes are placed on a collision course as they confront an existential threat unlike anything they have previously faced.
Anthony and Joe Russo direct the movie, with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Jonathan Schwartz producing.
The ensemble cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn and Sebastian Stan, among many others.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.
X-Men
Marvel closed its movie presentation with a major casting announcement for its new X-Men film, which is currently in development.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige appeared alongside Sadie Sink and director Jake Schreier. Sink, who is set to play Jean Grey, was joined by several of her new co-stars onstage.
Kit Connor will play Scott Summers, Christopher Abbott will portray Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette will portray Rogue and Maya Boyd will play Storm.
In a separate video message, Adam Driver announced that he will play Nathaniel Milbury.
The untitled X-Men movie is scheduled for an exclusive theatrical release on May 5, 2028.
About the Author
Fábio Borges is an award-winning international journalist and founder of Every Media Productions. Since 1996, he has reported from the Americas, Europe, and Asia, producing more than 4,000 news and entertainment stories throughout his career.
