The Next Wave of Disney & Pixar Movies
Toy Story 5 is nearly here, this time exploring toys versus technology. In this story, Bonnie receives a tablet called Lilypad, and the device turns playtime upside down. These changes prompt Woody to reunite with his old friends after his departure at the end of Toy Story 4. The plot is expected to touch on the challenges of managing screentime for kids, which should resonate with many families.
The film will bring new toy characters to life, including Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants, Craig Robinson as Atlas the GPS hippo, Shelby Rabara as Snappy the camera toy, Scarlett Spears as the shy 8-year-old Bonnie, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Blaze, and Matty Matheson as the tech-fearing Dr. Nutcase. Keanu Reeves returns as Duke Caboom, the Canadian daredevil toy.
The Moana live-action remake will revisit the story from the 2016 animated hit. Moana, chosen by the ocean, sets out to restore a relic to the goddess Te Fiti with help from Maui, embarking on a mission to save both the sea and her island from blight caused by the volcanic demon Te Kā. Announced in April 2023, Dwayne Johnson produces and reprises his role as Maui, inspired by his grandfather, Peter Maivia. Catherine Laga'aia now stars as Moana. Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original, is serving as an executive producer.
At Destination D23 2025, Disney teased a fantasy feature about Billie, who discovers her quirks are actually magical powers. She finds a secret magical world called Hex after befriending a talking book and magical pen and ink. CinemaCon 2026 offered fans an early look at Billie's adventures in this enchanting universe.
Sequels, Remakes, and All the Nostalgia
Set in Venice, Italy, Nero follows a black cat indebted to a feline mob boss and known for hating water—a difficult quirk in a city of canals. The film was announced at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2025. Bluey creator Joe Brum will write and direct a feature film based on the beloved series, working with producer Amber Naismith and co-director Richard Jeffrey. Voice talent from the series returns, including Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack, with music by Joff Bush.
“I really enjoyed the experience of working with a longer format on ‘The Sign’ in Series 3, so going even further with a feature film feels like a natural extension of that. I’ve always thought ‘Bluey’ deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together. I’m excited to continue to partner with Cecilia Persson, Tom Fussell and the team at BBC Studios, and Dana Walden, Alan Bergman and Disney to bring this new ‘Bluey’ story to the big screen.”
After the success of the Frozen franchise, Frozen 3 is set to arrive November 24, 2027. The story is expected to continue where Frozen 2 left off, following Anna as the new queen of Arendelle, with Elsa safeguarding the Enchanted Forest as the fifth spirit. Series creator Jennifer Lee confirmed a fourth film is planned, explaining:
“Coming out of Frozen 2, we still have some questions. A lot of questions actually. Now, you see why we need two films to tell this story.”
Lilo & Stitch 2 was announced in June 2025 after the live-action remake grossed over $1.03 billion at the global box office. Details about the sequel are still under wraps, but Disney is moving forward with the franchise.
Incredibles 3, announced at D23 2024, may see Peter Sohn (director of Elemental) at the helm instead of Brad Bird. Specific plot information remains unavailable, but the tentative release date is June 16, 2028.
The Coco universe continues to expand, with a sequel in the early stages and a dedicated Coco attraction planned for Disney California Adventure. The new ride will draw inspiration from the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
A live-action Tangled is on the slate, starring Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider, and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. Although the project was slowed by the reception to the live-action Snow White, Tangled now appears to be moving forward.
Details about the live-action Hercules remake, announced in June 2022, have been sparse since the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Guy Ritchie is confirmed as director, and Joe and Anthony Russo’s studio will produce. Danny DeVito might return as Phil, but no casting has been finalized.
Joe Russo told Variety, “Audiences today have been trained by TikTok, right? What is their expectation of what that musical looks like and feels like? That can be a lot of fun and help us push the boundaries a little bit on how you execute a modern musical.”
Disney is also working on a new film set in the world of Beauty and the Beast, reportedly focusing on the villain Gaston.
The Bambi live-action remake has been in development since January 2020. The film plans to use photorealistic CGI for animal characters, similar to The Lion King. Former writer Lindsey Anderson Beer revealed that Bambi’s mother’s death will be addressed in a less traumatic way to reflect modern parental concerns. Sarah Polley, who won an Oscar for Women Talking, is reportedly set to direct. Casting details remain unknown.
“Not to spoil the plot, but there’s a treatment of the mom dying that I think some kids, some parents these days are more sensitive about than they were in the past. And I think that’s one of the reasons that they haven’t shown it to their children.” – Lindsey Anderson Beer, speaking to Collider
Inspired by Theme Parks and More
Disney plans a film drawing on the tone of Clue and Night at the Museum, featuring a young detective named Kim who visits Club 33—a fictional gathering place for historical and famous figures. The film starts with a murder mystery as Kim arrives at this unique club.
Projects inspired by Disney Parks attractions are in development, including a Space Mountain movie, last reported to have Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop showrunners Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec as writers. A Big Thunder Mountain movie is also reported, with directing duo Bert & Bertie attached; though Disney has developed ideas around this property since at least 2012, updates remain scarce.
The Disney Cinematic Universe Grows
Beyond Disney and Pixar originals, fans can expect a packed slate from Disney-owned studios through 2026 and beyond. Star Wars will return with The Mandalorian and Grogu—the first major film release since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Other Star Wars projects in development include Starfighter, Dave Filoni’s New Republic movie, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s “Rey” feature, Simon Kinberg’s trilogy, and more. Marvel fans are gearing up for Avengers: Doomsday (set for December 18) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July.
20th Century Studios, also owned by Disney, is preparing sequels and original films for 2026, including The Devil Wears Prada 2, Super Troopers 3, The Dog Stars, Whalefall, and Wild Horses Nine.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN and has contributed to outlets like Digital Trends, TheGamer, Twinfinite, Mega Visions, and The Escapist. According to her bio, she’s proud of her Sonic the Hedgehog fandom. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @SonicPrincess15.
