The D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase in Anaheim on 14 August delivered high‑profile studio news, with Disney confirming that Incredibles 3 will arrive in cinemas in Summer 2028 and that Coco 2 is scheduled for release in November 2029. The presentations also included surprise appearances and creative updates for both projects.
Key announcements at the Honda Center
Presenters Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan introduced Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who addressed the crowd and framed the company’s ambitions for its film and streaming slate. The event featured a mix of first looks, announcements and musical showcases for upcoming theatrical and Disney+ projects.
“I don’t want to do anything else,”
The CEO told the audience of thousands that Disney was actively building the future rather than waiting on it. A surprise appearance by Anne Hathaway followed; she said she is working on Princess Diaries 3 and expressed affection for her fans.
Pixar sequels: what we know
Pixar chief creative voices were on hand to set expectations for two major sequels. Incredibles 3 will continue the Parr family story, with franchise creator Brad Bird confirmed as the writer. According to the presentation, the sequel will not employ a major time jump and will centre on the next chapter of the family’s superhero life.
Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, framed the upcoming instalment by saying, in effect, that the focus shifts to the younger generation while also exploring the complexities of a world where supers are legal but not necessarily admirable.
The studio gave an early target for the film’s release window: Summer 2028. No further casting or plot specifics were disclosed at the showcase.
Coco sequel returns with original antagonist
The showcase also announced Coco 2, set to arrive in November 2029. The sequel will pick up a few years after the original film and, according to material shown at the event, will see Ernesto de la Cruz plotting revenge against the protagonist who altered his afterlife.
Benjamin Bratt, who voiced Ernesto de la Cruz in the 2017 original, is expected to reprise his role as the film’s antagonist.
- Incredibles 3 — Brad Bird writing; release: Summer 2028.
- Coco 2 — Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz; release: November 2029.
- Anne Hathaway confirmed to be working on Princess Diaries 3.
| Title | Confirmed creative | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Incredibles 3 | Brad Bird (writer) | Summer 2028 |
| Coco 2 | Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz | November 2029 |
Organisers also teased other cross‑media projects, including a Kingdom Hearts adaptation for Disney+, but details remain limited and were presented as updates in progress at the showcase.
Implications for audiences and local theatres
For South African moviegoers and exhibitors, the confirmations provide a clear roadmap for major family animation titles arriving in the coming years. The scheduled windows give cinemas and distributors lead time to plan marketing and bookings for what are likely to be high‑profile, wide‑release films.
While the announcements focus on release years rather than exact global release dates, the November timing for Coco 2 suggests a potential awards‑season or holiday positioning, whereas a summer 2028 release for Incredibles 3 aims for peak family attendance.
Further details — including full cast lists, storyline specifics, trailers and South African release dates — were not provided at the showcase and will be released by the studio in due course.
The announcements at D23 offer a glimpse of Disney’s near‑term strategy for theatrical franchises and franchise continuity, with familiar creative voices and returning performers signalling an intent to build on established properties rather than reinventing them wholesale.
