Last Thursday was Disney's Investor Day, and all the Disney officials held a livestream announcing plans for the next three-ish years. We got a ton of new Disney+ originals announcements, some movie releases, and a boatload of spin-off TV shows. It was mainly focused on Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. I'm going to cover everything that was announced in three parts. This is the Disney and Pixar part.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon was the next Disney film that was set to have a theatrical release. The film was originally planned to be released on March 12, 2021. It was pushed up a week to March 5. The movie will be released in theaters and on Disney+ for a premium access fee of $30, which we saw happen with Disney's live-action remake of Mulan. The film follows a young girl named Raya trying to track down the last dragon in the world to help stop these mythical monsters called the Druun. The cast includes Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. The link to the trailer is on the picture.
Baymax!
Disney announced the return of the big, lovable robot from Big Hero 6 in a TV series in 2022. Baymax will return as a hospitable robot zipping from place to place and helping people out. Fun fact: Baymax! is the first ever animated series produced by Walt Disney Studios. The cast of the show has not been announced and neither has a solidified release date. It is a sequel to Big Hero 6.
Zootopia+
Zootopia+ is a spin-off sequel TV series that succeeds the immensely successful 2016 film, Zootopia. Zootopia+ is an anthology series that will explore different stories every week with different characters and different twists. No cast members have been confirmed. The show will hit Disney+ sometime in 2022.
Tiana
Tiana is going to be a long-awaited sequel TV show to Disney's 2009 hit, The Princess and the Frog. There isn't a ton of information on the series. People are speculating that the film will explore Tiana's life from where the film left off, with her living in new royalty status and opening up her own restaurant. No cast members have been confirmed. The series will premiere on Disney+ in 2022.
Moana
Confusingly titled the same as the 2016 film, Moana is the last of the sequel shows. It is a comedy musical series that will take off where the movie left off, likely having the titular Moana going on more adventures in the ocean with her demigod friend, Maui. Once again, the series doesn't have any confirmed cast and will land on Disney+ in 2023.
Iwájú
A new science fiction animated series from a team up between Disney and a Pan-African animation company called Kugali, Iwájú takes place in a Wakandan-like city. Disney only released a couple of pictures and the information that I just presented, so we don't know much else about the series. It will hit Disney+ in 2022.
Encanto
In fall of 2021, Disney will release Encanto, a movie about a Colombian family that lives in a magical place. Not much story info has been released, but it will be directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, with music written by Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda. No cast has been confirmed.
Pixar Popcorn
Disney announced that they will release a new collection of mini-shorts in January. These are bite-sized stories that will star some of Pixar's icons, such as Woody, Mike Wazowski, Dory, and more. There has not been any more information on these shorts, but they will be on Disney+ sometime in January 2021.
Dug Days
The first of three new series' from Pixar, Dug Days is a spin-off of the Academy Award winning 2009 film, Up. This show will star the hilarious and lovable talking golden retriever, Dug. The description of the show says that Dug will discover the dangers of the suburbs, like puppies, fireworks, and SQUIRRELS! Dug Days will hit Disney+ in fall 2021.
Untitled Cars Series
Thankfully Pixar has decided to stop releasing these in theaters. Pixar's Cars will be a continuation of the Cars franchise on the small screen. This will follow Lightning McQueen and Mater on a road trip across the country. Neither Owen Wilson nor Larry the Cable Guy have been confirmed for this show. It will hit theaters in fall 2022.
Win or Lose
Lastly, Pixar will show us a middle school softball team on their way to the championship. Each episode will be from the different perspective of a different person. It will hit Disney+ in 2023, with no confirmed cast members.
Luca
Already announced but just an update, Pixar's Luca will be the next film from Pixar after Soul hits Disney+ on Christmas. Luca is about the relationship between a young boy named Luca and his best friend Alberto during one very memorable summer. Luca has not been confirmed to be hitting Disney+, instead having a fully theatrical release in June 2021.
Turning Red
Disney announced Turning Red, a film about Mei: an awkward teenager that turns into a big, red panda when she gets too excited. Turning Red is the third of four non-released but announced Pixar movies. Directed by the Academy Award winning director of Pixar's short, Bao, Turning Red will release on March 11, 2022 in theaters.
Lightyear
Yes, read it again. Pixar (and me) saved the best for last. Skyrocketing into theaters on June 17, 2022, we get an origin story for the O.G. Buzz Lightyear. And even more exciting than that; the Space Ranger will be voiced by none other than Chris Evans. Yeah, frickin' Captain America.
Conclusion
Disney and Pixar have a bunch of exciting new projects slated for the next three years. I think that the one that I am easily most excited for is Lightyear, but some of these other TV shows and movies sound cool. I do wish we got more updates on these casts, but they still sound fun. There is some bonus information that I posted below. Check out Part 2 (Marvel) when you can!
Live Action Adaptations and Casts
Disenchanted: Sequel to the 2007 film, Enchanted. Starring Amy Adams as Giselle. Streaming exclusively on Disney+. Release date unconfirmed.
Peter Pan and Wendy: Live action adaptation of 1953's Peter Pan going straight to Disney+. Starring Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell and Jude Law as Captain Hook. No release date yet.
Sister Act 3: Third installment of the Sister Act series, also premiering on Disney+. Starring Whoopi Goldberg. Produced by Tyler Perry. No release date confirmed.
Pinocchio: Live action remake of the 1940 classic, Pinocchio. Starring Tom Hanks as Gepetto and directed by Robert Zemeckis. Straight to Disney+, but no release date yet.
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers: Live action/animated original film, starring John Mulaney as Chip and Andy Samberg as Dale. Straight to Disney+ without release date yet.
The Little Mermaid: The previously confirmed live action retelling of 1989's classic, the cast of The Little Mermaid has been confirmed.
Halle Bailey as Ariel
David Diggs as Sebastian
Javier Bardem as King Triton
Jacob Tremblay as Flounder
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric
Awkwafina as Scuttle
Music from the original as well as new music from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Rob Marshall. No release date has been confirmed.
Lion King Prequel: The 2019 remake of The Lion King was very successful at the box office. Barry Jenkins, director of the Best Picture-winning film, Moonlight will direct. Music from Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, and Nicholas Britell.
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