The Best Of D23 Expo 2022: Percy Jackson, Descendants 4, The Little Mermaid, and More!
Villain kids, wishing stars, and live-action princesses galore — Disney pulled out all the stops with their D23 Expo with exclusive sneak peeks, trailers, and announcements. Here’s a collection of the movies and TV shows we can’t wait to watch over on Pop Culture Planet:
Descendants 4: The Pocketwatch
Descendants 4 has been confirmed at the D23 Expo. China Anne McClain will be returning to reprise her role as Ursula’s daughter Uma. Dara Reneé of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series fame will join the cast as Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, while Kylie Cantrall of Gabby Duran and the Unsittables plays Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella, in an Alice in Wonderland inspired story.
Disenchanted
D23 Expo attendees were among the first to see the trailer for the Enchanted sequel Disenchanted. Set 15 years after Enchanted, Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) are in search of a happily ever after for their family. Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays round out the cast. The film will also feature new music from the legendary Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Disenchanted hits Disney+ on November 24.
Elemental
Pixar announced the new film Elemental led by Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie. Set in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, we follow Ember, a tough and fiery woman, and Wade, a go-with-the-flow guy, who fall for each other. Director Peter Sohn shared the personal inspiration behind the film — a story of immigrants pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together. Elemental will be released on June 16, 2023.
Elio
Adrian Molina directs the new original feature film Elio about an 11-year old dreamer, artist, and avid INdoorsman who finds it hard to fit in. Everything changes as his mom Olga, who runs a top-secret military project, works to decode a strange signal from outer space. Elio ends up being the one who makes contact and gets beamed into space, mistaken for an intergalactic Ambassador for Earth. Yonas Kibreab voices Elio, while America Ferrera lends her voice to Olga. Elio will be released in the Spring of 2024.
Haunted Mansion
We’re getting a brand new Haunted Mansion movie in 2023 inspired by the classic Disney theme park attraction. This new story will follow a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. Scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis has already been announced as Madame Leota in the film.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Buckle up, Wildcats! Season 4 is about to be a wild ride as the East High students put on a stage production of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. At the same time, they find out the cast of the original High School Musical films will be filming High School Musical 4: The Reunion at their school — and they get to be extras! Could this be why Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron had been seen posting photos in front of East High recently? Crossing my fingers all the original cast returns for this!
Hocus Pocus 2
Fans got a wicked new trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 that even gives us a look at teenage Sanderson Sisters from 1652. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as the iconic trio, while Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham play three high school students who must stop the before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve. Hocus Pocus 2 debuts exclusively on Disney+ on September 30.
Inside Out 2
It’s official, Inside Out is getting a sequel! Amy Poehler will return to voice Joy, while we follow an all-new adventure inside the head of a now-teenage Riley, who may or may not be feeling all kinds of new Emotions. The film is slated for release in Summer of 2024.
Mufasa: The Lion King
We all know Simba’s story, but what about the origins of his father Mufasa? A new prequel to The Lion King titled Mufasa: The Lion King will arrive in 2024 from director Barry Jenkins. The story will be told in flashbacks by Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa as we learn how Mufasa went from a young long cub to one of the greatest kings go the Pride Lands.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Time to rejoice, demigods! We finally have our first look at the much anticipated Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Peter Pan & Wendy
Peter Pan & Wendy sheds new light on the iconic characters, focusing on Wendy’s journey and revealing more of the history behind Peter Pan’s rivalry with Captain Hook. The cast consists of Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Alyssa Wapanâtahk as Tiger Lily, and Jude Law as Captain Hook. The live-action reimagining of the 1953 animated classic begins streaming on Disney+ in 2023.
Prom Pact
Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Milo Manheim star in Prom Pact, set during the height and emotion of prom season. While others are focus on prom, Mandy (Lee) has her eye set on Harvard. But when she’s put on the waitlist, she will do anything to get accepted, even tutor a popular jock who’s father is a powerful senator and Harvard alumni. But once Mandy becomes his tutor, she realizes there’s more to him… and more to life than Harvard.
Snow White
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot star in the new live-action reimagining of Snow White as the title role and Snow White’s Stepmother, The Queen, respectively. Directed by Marc Webb, the film will feature new songs from Tony, Grammy, and Oscar-winning songwriting duo Pasek and Paul.
Strange World
Strange World is a new feature film that follows an incredible family who must get past their differences to save a strange world full of danger and surprises. Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Lucy Liu, and Gabrielle Union round out the cast. The film opens in theaters November 23, 2022.
The Little Mermaid
We’ve got our first look at Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid at the D23 Expo and fans can’t get enough. Her vocals soar in the short snippet, promising a show-stopping soundtrack. There will even be four new songs penned by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The Santa Clauses
Is it time for Santa to retire? We find out when Tim Allen returns to the iconic role of Scott Calvin — plus Bernard is back!!! The Santa Clauses debuts on Disney+ with TWO episodes on November 16.
Wish
Have you ever wondered how the wishing star that so many characters wish upon came to be? That’s the inspiration for the new animated musical Wish. The story introduces us to 17-year-old Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, who makes an impassioned plea to the stars that sets her on a journey to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Alan Tudyk also joins the film as a goat named Valentino. Singer-songwriter Julia Michaels is writing all of the songs for Wish, set to release Fall 2023.
What are you most excited for? Catch reviews and more, here.
