By Don Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, and Daniel Broadway
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co., which reclaimed the top spot at the box office this summer with Pixar’s animated “Inside Out 2” and Marvel’s controversial “Deadpool & Wolverine,” opened its D23 fan convention on Friday with a live screening of the highly anticipated animated film “Moana 2.”
Dwayne Johnson, the star of the show who was joined by Auli’i Cravalho and Hawaiian dancers, told the 12,000-person audience that in reprising his role as Maui, he would once again sing “in non-existent tunes.”
The film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 27.
Director James Cameron took the stage, along with “Avatar” stars Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington, to present artwork from the next installment, and announce its title, “Avatar: Fire and Ashes.”
Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter has announced a new series called Inside Out based on the dreams of main character Riley, Dream Productions, which takes place between the first two films and is set to premiere in 2025.
Docter also announced that one of Pixar’s biggest titles, “The Incredibles,” which focuses on an eccentric superhero family, will get a third film directed by Brad Bird.
Disney said a slew of Broadway musicals will be coming to Disney+, including the hit movie “Frozen.” “We are thrilled to announce that the hit musical ‘Frozen,’ which was brought to life on stage, will premiere on Disney+ in 2025,” said Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Disney Animation.
He told me the company is also developing a Broadway musical based on “The Greatest Showman.”
The company boasted about the strength of its films during a call with investors this week, signaling a return to form after losing its spot as Hollywood’s highest-grossing studio in 2023.
“It’s never too late for Hollywood to make a big comeback,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore. “And it’s already here.”
“Inside Out 2” is the highest-grossing animated film in history, with a worldwide gross of $1.6 billion, surpassing the record set by Disney’s “Frozen II.” A month later, “Deadpool & Wolverine” had the best domestic opening for an R-rated film, earning more than $850 million in worldwide ticket sales.
“There is certainly variation in the movie business,” Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Kraft wrote in a note to investors. “But if Disney finds its magic at the box office again, there could be additional growth ahead, with a continued strong theatrical slate.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger has hailed the company’s lineup of films coming to theaters over the next two years, which includes the animated sequel “Moana 2,” a live-action version of Disney’s “Snow White,” a reboot of Marvel’s superhero franchise “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and James Cameron’s third “Avatar” film.
“When you think about not only the box office potential of these, but also their potential to drive global streaming value, there’s reason to be optimistic about where we’re headed,” Iger said on the call with investors.
The company said the release of “Inside Out 2” helped generate more than 100 million views for the original film on Disney+.
Investors and fans are hoping for more details Friday about Marvel Studios’ future plans for its superhero franchise. The company was forced to choose a new villain for future films after actor Jonathan Majors was convicted of assaulting and molesting a former girlfriend. The company also had to postpone some titles due to the Hollywood writers and actors strike last year.
At last month’s Comic-Con, Disney revealed that “Iron Man” actor Robert Downey Jr. will play the villain in “Fantastic Four,” Doctor Doom.