‘Zootopia 3’ Officially In The Works, Plus ‘Frozen 3’, ‘Hexed’, ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’, And More Disney Updates

By
Travis Hopson
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“The world of Zootopia is about to go to the birds,” Disney Animation teased the latest additions to come when Zootopia 3 arrives in theaters. That’s right, at D23 it was announced that a sequel to last year’s $1.8B hit Zootopia 2 was in the works. Ginnifer Goodwin, Ke Huy Quan, and  Disney Animation chief Jared Bush were on hand for the announcement.

No release date was confirmed, nor did we learn anything on the creative front, although it’s likely that Bush will be heavily involved as he was with the first two movies. Zootopia 2 introduced snakes into the fold, after they were missing from the first movie. Now, we’re finally getting feathered friends, in case you hadn’t noticed birds have been absent, too.

If I learned anything while attending the last movie’s world premiere, fans are serious about their WildeHoops romantic fantasies. Expect the bunny and fox’s relationship to get addressed in a major way.

The other huge news to drop at D23 was more information on Frozen 3, which hits theaters on November 24th 2027. From the Disney presentation, we know that Anna and Kristoff will finally get married, and there’s a new villain stirring up trouble with ice powers that rival Elsa’s. Perhaps part of the same family tree? Also, there’s a new romantic interest, Samantha, and a new song for Olaf, performed by Josh Gad.

Disney’s original animated feature Hexed got a major update from star Hailee Steinfeld.  Steinfeld voices Billie, a teenage who learns that all of the strangeness in her life is magical in nature. Rashida Jones voices her mother, Alice, with Walton Goggins as Beef Roger Crummchuk, Billie’s green, three-eyed feline protector. And the legendary Jodie Foster will voice the villain, Queen Celeste, making her Disney animation debut. The film opens November 25th, directed by Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand.

A few more things worth noting but aren’t exactly high on my radar. Disney revealed a new animated film, Clay, featuring Oscar winner Kieran Culkin as Flip, the world’s worst mentor, tasked with aiding a newly formed ball of clay through a magical forest. The film is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn, known for Raya and the Last Dragon. It’s expected to open in November 2028.

Disney set its live-action Tangled for March 31st 2028. Kathryn Hahn was on hand to put her version of Mother Gothel on display. Directed by Michael Gracey, the film stars Teagan Croft as Rapunzel with Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider.

A May 28th 2028 release date was set for Lilo & Stitch 2, the sequel to Disney’s live-action smash which earned over $1B last year. Chris Sanders, the long-running voice of Stitch, is taking over as director.

Jon Favreau is doing something interesting with Oswald, a 3-part Disney+ miniseries based around Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Who is that? It’s the character Walt Disney created before Mickey Mouse. The show will be a mix of live-action and animation, arriving in February 2027.

Also, there will be a new Simpsons movie, literally titled The New Simpsons Movie, arriving in September 2027. Ice Age: Boiling Point, the first theatrical film in the smash animated franchise in over a decade, will arrive on February 5th 2027.

And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Kingdom Hearts fans are eatin’ good right now! Not only is Kingdom Hearts IV finally on the horizon for 2027 (featuring Disney’s Coco!), but Disney just announced an original anime series coming to Disney Channel and Disney+

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