At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, The Walt Disney Studios had quite the showing. The Mouse took the stage to unveil its much-anticipated theatrical film slate for 2024, promising an eclectic mix of established franchises and fresh stories across its blockbuster brands.
Attendees saw a new kingdom. Some new feelings. The return of an Oscar-winning duo. A swearing Super Hero and his clawed companion. Silent screams in space. The return to Motunui. And the origins of a lionized king.
Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman, expressed excitement about the upcoming lineup, highlighting the studio’s commitment to delivering exceptional cinematic experiences to audiences worldwide.
“The upcoming lineup from our studio is incredibly exciting,” Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman, said. “With a mix of established franchises and fresh stories, there’s something for everyone and we look forward to serving up a variety of films that deliver a steady flow of exceptional cinematic events to theaters.”
This year’s slate follows a 2023 that saw Disney bring in nearly $5 billion at the global box office. That includes $1.9 billion domestically across 17 titles. Acclaim also followed financial success last year as Disney led the industry with 20 Oscar® nominations, including five wins.
The 2024 releases include:
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 10)
Directed by Wes Ball, this latest chapter in the Planet of the Apes franchise takes place generations after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes. The film follows a young ape’s perilous journey across a new empire, showcasing groundbreaking storytelling and remarkable motion capture technology.
Inside Out 2 (June 14)
Pixar returns with the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved film “Inside Out,” exploring Riley’s adolescence and the complexities of growing up. The sequel introduces new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, alongside familiar characters like Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler.
Kinds of Kindness (June 21)
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, this triptych fable from Searchlight Pictures reunites the award-winning duo after their collaboration on Poor Things. Stone leads a stellar cast in a captivating tale of kindness and human nature.
Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26)
Ryan Reynolds returns as Deadpool, joined by Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine in this highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe Best Bubs’ crossover. Fandango’s Most Anticipated Summer Movies of 2024 list ranks it at No. 1, following the massive success of the previous Deadpool films.
Alien: Romulus (August 16)
Set to terrify audiences, Alien: Romulus is the latest installment in the iconic Alien series. Directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Cailee Spaeny, the film explores the horrors of space as a crew battles against the galaxy’s most terrifying creature.
REELated:
Moana 2 (November 27): Returning to the high seas of Motunui, Moana 2 reunites audiences with the adventurous Moana and Maui for a new epic journey. Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles in this highly anticipated animated musical sequel.
Mufasa: The Lion King (December 20)
Directed by Barry Jenkins, this origin story delves into the life of Mufasa, one of Disney’s most iconic characters. Continuing the cinematic style of the original and 2019’s The Lion King, the prequel promises to captivate audiences with its blend of live-action filmmaking and photoreal computer-generated imagery.
But 2024 is just the start.
Disney has multiple notable releases in the years to come such as Captain America: Brave New World, The Fantastic Four, Blade, Toy Story 5, Zootopia 2, Tron: Ares, Snow White, The Mandalorian and Grogu, the live-action Moana, Avatar 3, and the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere.
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The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
