At the Disney fan event D23, several exciting new films were announced, including the title of the third installment of Avatar, an addition to the Star Wars franchise, and a sequel to Freaky Friday.
Filmmaker James Cameron surprised a 12,000-strong audience by revealing that the third Avatar film will be titled Avatar: Fire And Ash, teasing that it will defy expectations while introducing new cultures, creatures, and environments on Pandora.
Although no footage was shown, the audience got a glimpse of concept art featuring characters in fiery skies. This highly anticipated sequel, set for release on December 19, 2025, follows the success of the original 2009 film and its 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way Of Water.
Another major announcement at D23 was the upcoming Freaky Friday sequel, titled Freakier Friday, slated for a 2025 release. Stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, who played a mother and daughter who switch bodies in the 2003 film, took the stage to promote the new project, which they described as both more fun and more emotional than the original.
The pair shared their excitement about returning to their roles and revealed that the sequel will also feature returning cast members Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon.
The audience was treated to images from the new film, including one of Curtis driving Lohan in an open-top car. In this new installment, Lohan’s character, Anna Coleman, now has a daughter of her own, continuing the story of family dynamics and magical mishaps.
The event also featured announcements about other highly anticipated films. A new Star Wars film titled The Mandalorian And Grogu was unveiled, with production having just begun and a release date set for May 2026.
Executive producer Dave Filoni expressed excitement about bringing Star Wars back to the big screen with this new adventure starring Pedro Pascal. Additionally, Pixar’s chief creative officer Pete Docter confirmed that The Incredibles 3 is in development, with Brad Bird returning to direct the beloved super-family’s next adventure.
Jennifer Lee, the director of Frozen, also confirmed that two more films will be added to the Frozen franchise, teasing that the story will continue to unravel the unanswered questions from Frozen 2, with the third installment expected in 2027.The event also highlighted a teaser for a new song in the upcoming Lion King prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who expressed his joy at collaborating with director Barry Jenkins.
Toy Story star Tom Hanks joined a panel celebrating the franchise’s legacy, sharing behind-the-scenes details and reminding fans of the enduring popularity of his character Woody, as anticipation builds for the next Toy Story film due in 2026. The D23 event left fans eagerly anticipating these new films, promising a rich slate of content across various beloved franchises.
