D23 Stars On Their Favorite Disney Characters. Plus: Disney’s Biggest Project Announcements
By The DivaGals | August 31, 2026 | Celebrity & Culture
Disney fans, assemble! D23 proved once again that nobody brings the magic quite like the House of Mouse. The ultimate fan convention delivered an avalanche of high-wattage announcements, blockbuster reveals, and instant fan-favorite moments that had the crowd at the Honda Center buzzing from start to finish.
We got the scoop on all the new shows, and we spoke with several Disney stars about their favorite characters (beyond their own). Ke Huy Quan found pure optimism in Mickey Mouse, praising the classic icon for inspiring everyone to dream big. Little Maia Kealoha was utterly starstruck, sharing her sweet wave with Olaf while fangirling over Elsa and Anna. For Eman Esfandi, seeing Aladdin in theme parks hits home, representing the pivotal childhood moment he finally saw himself on screen. Meanwhile, the Camp Rock 3 cast channeled their inner fan-kids, admiring the dedication of costume performers while hilariously bonding over Elsa’s signature hair. Disney magic clearly runs deep!
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After the carpet, Marvel Studios officially set the internet on fire by unveiling the long-awaited cast for its upcoming X-Men reboot. Maya Boyd is stepping into the legendary boots of Storm, joined by Kit Connor as Cyclops, Sadie Sink reprising Jean Grey, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, and Adam Driver as the villainous Nathaniel Milbury (Mister Sinister). As if mutant fever wasn’t enough, Marvel also teased heart-pounding footage from Avengers: Doomsday and offered a sneaky first look at the Disney+ series VisionQuest.
Pixar brought equal amounts of tears and cheers to the stage. The animation powerhouse officially announced Coco 2, complete with concept art showing a teenage Miguel heading back to the Land of the Dead, where Benjamin Bratt‘s Ernesto de la Cruz plots his revenge. Pixar also gave fans a spooky first look at its original animated feature Ghost Market, alongside updates for The Incredibles 3 and the Italian-set fable Gatto.
The massive lineup of upcoming titles didn’t stop there. Disney unleashed news for a star-studded slate of sequels and fresh projects with animated hits: Frozen 3, Zootopia 3, The Bluey Movie, and Ice Age: Boiling Point. We got the first look at the live-action Tangled adaptation, a surprise Romy & Michele 2 reunion on stage with Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3. And from a Galaxy Far, Far Away, there was a peek at Star Wars: Ahsoka Season 2 and the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter.
Between the starry surprises and the lineup of upcoming releases, Disney made one thing clear: our movie theater calendars are officially packed for years to come!
photo credit: Disney
