The gravitational pull created by The Walt Disney Company gets stronger and stronger with each passing year. Disney used to be only a movie studio known for its hand-drawn animated films and eerie theme parks, but it has slowly evolved into a media behemoth that has sucked up rival companies like Fox like they were mere roadblocks on the way to conquest. Disney now owns so many other assets that it’s actually challenging to keep track of all the movies they’ll be releasing in 2023. To start, you need to be aware of all the subsidiary companies Disney owns and the various platforms they use to release movies, such as the Disney+ streaming service and Hulu.
Fortunately, we have compiled the astonishing total in one location. The films that Disney and its divisions have planned for 2023 are listed below. They will be released in a number of ways, some in theatres and some through streaming services, and they cover a wide range of diverse types and genres. They all have one thing in common—they are all currently expected to be launched before 2023 comes to an end.
Table Of Content
- 1 Aladdin: Live From the West End
- 2 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
- 3 Chang Can Dunk
- 4 Crater
- 5 Elemental
- 6 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- 7 Haunted Mansion
- 8 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- 9 Next Goal Wins
- 10 Peter Pan & Wendy
- 11 The Little Mermaid
- 12 The Marvels
- 13 Three Men and a Baby
- 14 True Love
- 15 Wish
Aladdin: Live From the West End
Release date: TBD
Nobody should be surprised that Disney wants to get more high-budget Broadway spectacle on its service since the cinematic version of Hamilton was a huge smash and major seller when it first released. And what could be more advantageous for the business than a project that already utilises Disney IP? When Disney decides to release the Aladdin musical, it will undoubtedly receive a significant push for families. The musical was shot in the U.K. Unfortunately, the exact date is still unknown; outlets have been speculating since 2020 that this musical would premiere on Disney+, but there has never been a firm release date.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release date: Feb. 17, 2023
Kang the Conqueror appears to be a major player here, making a comeback following his introduction in Loki’s first season, and his appearances leading up to the Avengers: Infinity War will likely be crucial. The first MCU feature film of 2023 is bringing us back down to the teenyverse that is the Quantum Realm, while also having significant implications for the next era of Avengers films. Along with all of the Ant-Man regulars—Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, etc.—Jonathan Majors reprises his role as the enduring Kang. One change: Kathryn Newton from Freaky now plays Cassie, Scott’s daughter, making her the third different actress to play the role in this series.
In contrast, the story of Quantumania appears to revolve around the years that Janet van Dyne spent lost in the Quantum Realm and a fact about it that she never shared with Hank Pym and company, such as the existence of its own civilization. The Quantum Realm will undoubtedly be constructed here, though how it will interact with the larger MCU is still unknown. According to the official synopsis:
A new journey testing their limits and pitting them against Kang the Conqueror is undertaken by Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, and Cassie, Lang’s daughter.
On February 17, 2023, Quantumania plans to launch Phase 5 with a boom.
Chang Can Dunk
Release date: TBD
Chang Can Dunk sounds exactly like stereotypical Disney Channel fare, something one might watch as part of a marathon with all of the Air Bud sequels. It is a paint-by-numbers family sports movie with only the Asian-American protagonist making it stand out in any genuine manner. The movie, written and directed by Chinese-American Jingyi Shao, was shot in the fall of 2021 with an expected mid-2023 release date in mind. The synopsis is as follows, although it is likely that you will recognise it immediately.
Chang, an Asian-American teenager in high school, is an unpopular player who enjoys basketball but is sometimes underrated. He develops an obsession with learning how to slam dunk hoops with the ball despite the fact that his peers treat him like he is unimportant. Chang is focused on defeating Matt, the high school all-star, while also trying to win Kristy’s approval, who is romantically interested in him.
Crater
Release date: TBD
Crater is a Disney+ exclusive sci-fi family adventure movie that is directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and written by John Griffin. In the movie, Isaiah Russell-Bailey plays a young man who was raised in a mining colony on Earth’s moon. He and his pals embark on a voyage of self-discovery that may have something to do with his father’s passing. Or, to use the official summary, “A child reared in a lunar mining colony goes on a voyage exploring a mystery crater with his four best friends before he is permanently relocated to another planet after the death of his father.”
Mckenna Grace from Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce, and Kid Cudi are among the co-stars in Russell-film. Bailey’s This seems like another heartwarming adventure in the spirit of The Goonies or E.T. from Amblin.
Elemental
Release date: June 16, 2023
The Pixar animators are back in action with Elemental, a cute little metaphor movie that is set in a city where everyone is made from of the four classical elements: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. In the narrative, a fire elemental named Ember (Leah Lewis) befriends Wade, a water elemental, in an unexpected way (Mamoudou Athie). Are they destined to be pals or lovers? Although the materials we’ve seen thus far, like the teaser below, don’t really explain it, the movie looks sweet and interesting enough, even with a visual aesthetic that feels particularly influenced by Inside Out.
The Good Dinosaur’s Peter Sohn, who previously provided the voice of Emile in Ratatouille, is directing Elemental from a scenario by Brenda Hsueh. The movie, according to reports, was inspired by Sohn’s own childhood, which he spent in the 1970s in New York City as the kid of immigrants. In a city where people from the elements of fire, water, land, and air coexist, a feisty young woman and a laid-back guy are about to learn something fundamental: how much they actually have in common.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release date: May 5, 2023
Following the protracted drama surrounding his Twitter spat, firing and subsequent rehiring before he was hired as an architect of the competing DCEU, it seems safe to assume that director James Gunn will be prepared to go out in style for what is presumably his final film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Peter learns that Mantis is his half-sister in the recently released Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney+, and we get a glimpse of how the Guardians have been transforming Knowhere into a sort of celestial alien commune. According to the official synopsis:
The Guardians of the Galaxy want to turn Knowhere into a shelter for exiled aliens after buying it from the Collector. However, following a vicious attack, Peter Quill is forced to take the Guardians on a perilous mission to save one of their number, which may result in the team’s dissolution.
While the recently released first trailer looks to promise that we’ll finally be getting more of a definite narrative and plot built around everyone’s favourite gun-obsessed, genetically enhanced racoon, it makes it seem like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is really Rocket’s movie. You should probably be prepared for some emotional farewells this time around because many of these characters may not return before others become more prominent in Phase 5. Additionally, another fantastic music.
Haunted Mansion
Release date: Aug. 11, 2023
You’ve got to hand it to Disney; occasionally, they adapt one of their theme park attractions into a film, and then, a few decades later, they just decide to produce the same film again. In this instance, the 2003 movie The Haunted Mansion starring Eddie Murphy was another film adaptation of Disneyland’s iconic Haunted Mansion ride. Oh, and in 2021, there was also the Muppets Haunted Mansion.
However, according to the official synopsis, Rosario Dawson and her 9-year-old son will be the ones to be frightened this time:
In search of a fresh start, a single mother named Gabbie and her 9-year-old son settle into a surprisingly priced home in New Orleans, only to find that it is much more than they anticipated. They desperately seek assistance and turn to a priest, who in turn recruits three further people to help exorcise the mansion: a crotchety historian, a widowed scientist turned unsuccessful paranormal expert, and a French Quarter psychic.
Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jared Leto, Jamie Lee Curtis, Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, Hasan Minhaj, and even Danny DeVito are all comedic powerhouses on this crew, which is a plus. Let’s hope they are effectively utilised!
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release date: June 30, 2023
At this time, what can be said about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? We all believed Jones had passed his prime when he appeared in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was, oddly enough, almost 15 years ago. It goes without saying that Harrison Ford will likely struggle to finish this one, so one can only hope that the fifth entry in the Indiana Jones series manages to play to the actor’s skills rather than simply CGIing him into progressively ridiculous situations. Given his handling of thematically similar material in Logan, James Mangold’s presence is comforting, but it will be odd to witness an Indiana Jones movie without Steven Spielberg physically directing it; Lucas and Spielberg are present as executive producers instead.
The official summary for the plot, which revolves on the U.S./Soviet space race and takes place toward the end of the 1960s, is as follows:
American explorer and archaeologist Indiana Jones lives in 1969 against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones finds it troubling that the United States government has enlisted former Nazis to assist outpace the Soviet Union in the race to space. He is travelling with Helena, his goddaughter. In the meantime, Jürgen Voller, an ex-Nazi who works for NASA on the moon landing programme, wants to change the world as he sees appropriate.
Ford at least has a lively supporting cast this time around with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s goddaughter Helena and John Rys-Davies playing Sallah for the first time since Last Crusade. Along with Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, and Toby Jones as adversaries, other notable performers include Mads Mikkelsen and Boyd Holbrook. Below is the first significant trailer for the movie.
Next Goal Wins
Release date: Sept. 22, 2023
With Next Goal Wins, Taika Waititi shifts from a humorously charged Marvel Cinematic Universe spectacle to a heartwarming sports dramedy, continuing his successful directorial run within the Disney corporation. The film tells the true story of Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen as he works to transform the American Samoa national football team—regarded as the weakest football team in the world—into an effective team that can qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison. An obvious comparison would be something like Cool Runnings, and we would anticipate the same kind of entertainment-driven revisionism of history.
Along with actors Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, Rhys Darby, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss, Michael Fassbender makes a welcome comeback to major roles as coach Rogen. In theatres in the fall of 2023 will be the movie Next Goal Wins, which was filmed in Hawaii.
Peter Pan & Wendy
Release date: Spring 2023
A rather straightforward adaptation of Peter Pan, even though it was helmed by an unusual source in the form of Green Knight director David Lowery, appears to be another entry in Disney’s mission to recreate every one of their famous animated films as a live-action one. However, Lowery also helmed Pete’s Dragon in 2016, and it’s safe to say that this is the tone he’ll likely be reproducing here. So don’t anticipate this version to be swirling in portents of doom.
Alexander Molony plays Peter Pan and Ever Anderson plays Wendy Darling in the movie, which has a title that obviously wants to draw attention to both of its main protagonists. They are joined by Jim Gaffigan as Mr. Smee and Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell. Jude Law plays Captain Hook, which should be entertaining.
The Little Mermaid
Release date: May 26, 2023
The Little Mermaid, which stars a rising Halle Bailey in the famous role of Ariel, is the most recent animated Disney classic to receive the high-budget live action adaptation. This new adaptation of The Little Mermaid, which is being directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by David Magee and Jane Goldman, also features Lin-Manuel Miranda as a producer and songwriter, with new songs added to the guaranteed rehashes of all the classics. Composer Alan Menken is back.
The voice cast is a veritable who’s who, with several choices that truly stand out—Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Javier Bardem as King Triton appear particularly entertaining. As Ursula, Melissa McCarthy plays the villain in the movie, which also stars Jonah Hauer-King, Art Malik, Noma Dumezweni, Jacob Tremblay, and others. This one’s marketing campaign should start to pick up steam very soon.
The Marvels
Release date: July 28, 2023
Although there won’t be a new Avengers film in 2023, The Marvels is a new kind of superhero team-up. In essence, what we have here is a collection of heroes—Captain Marvel played by Brie Larson, Monica Rambeau by Teyonah Parris, and recently introduced Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel by Iman Vellani—who are all connected in some unknowable way by their “cosmic” talents. As the official summary would undoubtedly suggest, there is clearly some force connecting these three together:
After the events of Ms. Marvel 2022, Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau start to switch places whenever they use their powers. They must work together to determine why.
The definition of “swapping places” is not totally clear. Teleportation? Changing bodies, like in Freaky Friday? In any case, Candyman’s Nia DaCosta makes her highly anticipated MCU debut as the film’s director, working from a Megan McDonnell screenplay. Given that the Skrulls made their debut in Captain Marvel and that Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, also makes an appearance in The Marvels, one can anticipate some ties to Secret Wars. The majority of Monica Rambeau’s screen time was in the first season of WandaVision, so this will be the first time we get to spend a lot of time with her in a full picture.
Three Men and a Baby
Release date: TBD
Three Men and a Baby is a prime illustration of the sporadic, nostalgic reboots that Disney+ will soon be infested with. The misogynistic stereotype that males are incapable of caring for an infant was the basis for most of the humour in the original 1987 movie, which featured Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, and Steve Guttenberg. The remainder of the “guys” are yet unknown, but the new version is helmed by Mo Marable and supposedly stars Zac Efron. One wonders if the idea of men raising children is actually still seen as a source of much comedy, or if the fundamental idea will soon undergo a more dramatic change. We can only hope that at least one member of the cast will be able to develop a Selleckian moustache. Since the beginning of 2022, there hasn’t been much information on this project, so we don’t know what it’s doing now.
True Love
Release date: Oct. 6, 202
It’s very weird that we have a release date for the movie but absolutely no additional information about it so far. True Love is without a doubt one of the most enigmatic projects on the larger Disney (through 20th Century Studios) agenda for 2023. Why then are people excited? This, then, is the fourth film that Gareth Edwards has directed, following 2010’s Monsters, 2014’s Godzilla, and 2016’s Rogue One. That will be the prospective director’s fourth film, and we have to assume it will be a sizable and notable one.
With that stated, other from some casting details, not a whole lot is known about True Love besides the fact that it’s allegedly a “near future sci-fi film.” According to reports, Gemma Chan is a star, as well as Allison Janney, Ken Watanabe, Ralph Ineson, John David Washington, and Sturgill Simpson. Given that Watanabe made a memorable appearance in Godzilla, that would be a reunion for Edwards and Watanabe. We are eager to find out more about this and discover more about what Gareth Edwards has in store for us.
Wish
Release date: Nov. 22, 2023
Wish certainly appears to have you covered if you were hoping for a wholly traditional, old-school sort of Disney animated picture in 2023. The story of a teenage girl who makes a wish on a star and then has that star transform into an anthropomorphized character that aids her in saving her village makes this feel very much like a movie that could have been released in the 1980s or 1990s. Or, to use the official synopsis:
Asha, a 17-year-old with a keen wit and an unwavering commitment to her community, is the protagonist of Wish. Asha desperately cries out to the stars, and a cosmic force—a tiny ball of limitless energy known as Star—responds to her cry. Together, they take on the most fearsome of adversaries in an effort to save her town and demonstrate the miraculous things that may occur when the courage of one brave person joins forces with the enchantment of the stars.
Ariana DeBose, a West Side Story Oscar winner and veteran of Hamilton, voices Asha alongside goat sidekick Valentino. … Alan Tudyk, carrying on the long-running Disney joke in which Tudyk voices lovable, incomprehensible animals in almost every film. Screenplay by Tim Federle and Jennifer Lee, directed by Karen Disher, Steve Martino, and Carlos López Estrada. Although there isn’t any actual film of this one yet, it is simple to picture how it will appear.
Being a binge-watcher himself, finding Content to write about comes naturally to Divesh. From Anime to Trending Netflix Series and Celebrity News, he covers every detail and always find the right sources for his research.
