D23 2019: 'Star Wars,' Disney World and Marvel phase 4 updates to expect
"Star Wars," Marvel, Pixar and Disney World fans: The wait for D23 2019 is just about over.
Major Disney news from across the company's verticals will be announced this week in Anaheim at D23, and fans have high expectations. A full-length trailer for the new "Star Wars" movie is just about guaranteed, but beyond that, Disney's kept its big reveals under wraps. Here's what to anticipate:
New trailer for "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker" and other possible "Star Wars" news
We're ready. We've been ready. The first teaser for "Rise of Skywalker" dropped months ago, and we've heard next to nothing since. Disney and Lucasfilm always keep "Star Wars" secrets closely guarded, but D23 is almost certainly where we'll finally get some long-awaited footage to keep us satiated until December 20.
Because "Rise of Skywalker" will mark the third and final film in this installment of the franchise, fans are certainly hoping for news about plans for the next set of trilogies. "Game of Thrones" showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are working on one of those, and Rian Johnson is working on another. We might get some info about 'em at D23, but don't hold your breath: Disney could easily wait until next year to share, and we wouldn't be surprised if it did.
Plans for Walt Disney World's rumored massive 50th anniversary celebration
A celebration this magical takes years to prepare, and Disney will roll out details of its 50th anniversary plans well ahead of 2021. Rumors are circulating fast, with some insiders claiming that the plan is to unveil fifty unique enhancements and additions across the entirety of the Walt Disney World resort. At least three large-scale ride attractions are expected to be announced, including some sort of indoor Mickey Mouse ride.
"At the Magic Kingdom, nearly every attraction will experience some type of tweak," Orlando Weekly reports.
While it's likely that only select details will be unveiled at D23, it's safe to assume that overall news of the celebration itself will go public. The actual date of the 50th anniversary is October 1, 2021, and fans from around the world will be clamoring to secure their spots inside the action as soon as possible.
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Updates on Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The afterglow of "Avengers: Endgame" is finally wearing off, which means fans are ready to gear up for what's next. Last month during San Diego Comic-Con, Disney released an official timeline of every single Marvel movie and scripted series slated for 2020 and 2021. All of the new series will be housed inside the studio's new Disney+ streaming service. The timeline reveal was a pretty massive announcement, but there's no way that Disney hasn't reserved at least a few key details for its own D23 expo.
Casting and other news about upcoming Disney and Pixar films
We know Halle Bailey has signed on for "The Little Mermaid," but who else will star alongside her in the upcoming live-action film? We've got our fingers crossed for official word on Prince Eric (unfortunately, Harry Styles reportedly declined the role), Ursula (unconfirmed reports say it's Melissa McCarthy) and more beloved characters.
It's also been awhile since we've heard much from Pixar. "Onward," starring Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, is slotted for 2020, but what else is on the horizon? Disney will likely share some new information about "Frozen 2," and there could be more animated news to come.
