Disney made it crystal clear at its 2025 Upfront: the Mouse House still runs the show. The spectacle opened with Super Bowl champions Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley bringing the energy to introduce CEO Bob Iger, setting the tone for an unforgettable morning.
From that moment on, Disney flexed its dominance across sports, streaming, storytelling, and innovation, backed by more than 100 stars from across its galaxy of brands. With its unmatched reach and content slate, Disney underscored a powerful message to advertisers: we’re not just part of the culture — we’re creating it.
America’s favorite chefs, Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, from FX’s critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning hit series The Bear revealed the anticipated fourth season will debut June 25 on Hulu, with all 10 episodes available beginning at 8pm ET, and on Disney+ internationally.
The Magic Numbers
Rita Ferro, Disney’s President of Global Advertising, reminded the crowd why Disney remains an advertising juggernaut, touting 164 million global ad-supported monthly users and more than 200,000 hours of premium content. With game-changing tools like Disney Compass and the Experience Composer now in play, Disney is making it easier — and smarter — to connect brands to audiences through innovation and storytelling.
From Red Carpets to Red Zones
Here are just a few of the showstopping moments from Disney’s 2025 Upfront:
- Looney gridiron greatness: The Manning brothers pitched themselves in a musical number with stars from Abbott Elementary, Paradise, Get Up, and High Potential. Because of course they did.
- A Star Wars stage invasion: Andor’s Diego Luna and Ahsoka’s Hayden Christensen appeared alongside Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and Stormtroopers for a surprise takeover of the room.
- FX’s eerie elegance: Evan Peters, Jeremy Pope, and Ashton Kutcher teased The Beauty. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian introduced her powerhouse cast for Hulu’s All’s Fair — including Glenn Close, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson, and Teyana Taylor.
- Alien attack?! Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant previewed FX’s Alien: Earth, which invaded the stage — literally — and premieres August 12 with a two-episode drop.
- Superpowered returns: Krysten Ritter officially returns as Jessica Jones in Daredevil: Born Again, joining Charlie Cox for season two.
- A Chiefs dynasty gets documented: Mahomes returned to debut the trailer for The Kingdom, ESPN’s upcoming docuseries about the rise of the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Hoops heaven: Knicks legends Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and John Starks joined ESPN’s Monica McNutt to talk up Disney’s exclusive home court advantage for the NBA Finals and Christmas Day matchups.
- A college football comedy blitz: Glen Powell announced Chad Powers, the Hulu comedy (inspired by Eli Manning’s viral disguise bit), launches September 30.
- Vibe Check incoming: ESPN unveiled its first all-female-led sports talk show featuring Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter — highlighting women’s sports in a big way.
A Show Only Disney Could Deliver
With surprise appearances, massive announcements, and big swings across every genre and platform, Disney didn’t just present its lineup — it owned the room. And when Jimmy Kimmel closed the show with a classic roast, one thing was clear: Disney is more than a media company. It’s an ecosystem of storytelling, talent, and technology that’s shaping what’s next.
As Ferro put it, “We’re not just the best place to be in advertising. We’re the best place to be in entertainment.”
REELated:
Taylor Sheridan and Luke Grimes saddle up for CBS in Y: Marshals
