Move over, San Diego Comic-Con – there’s another huge, news-breaking, trailer-revealing, internet-breaking convention in town. This past weekend saw thousands descend on Anaheim, Los Angeles in/with regard to’concerning’regarding D23 Expo, the annual gathering of Disney’s enormous’vast’massive’tremendous gest fans in/with regard to’concerning’regarding three days of live events, exhibits, and two extremely exciting panels – one in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Disney’s Live-Action, Animation and Pixar studios, and one in/with regard to’concerning’regarding LucasFilm, Marvel and 20th Century studios. Empire was lucky abundant’ample’plentiful to be in the room where it happened (the room where it happened; that one’s in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you, Hamilton fans), and witnessed a ton of thrilling announcements, including the Thunderbolts line-up, The Mandalorian Season 3 and Secret Invasion trailers, the Mufasa: The Lion King title reveal, confirmation of Inside Out 2 and much, much more. Those stories aside, here are another 16 things that we learned at the D23 Expo 2022:###Few things possess’own’nurse been more delightful in 2022 than the career resurgence of Ke Huy Quan, the iconic kid perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mer from Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom and The Goonies, who made a major comeback in Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullywhere All At Once after decades of being denied substantial roles. Now that he’s going to be in Loki Season 2, he popped up at D23 in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the Marvel panel – and since there was an Indiana Jones reveal too, Harrison Ford was also in the establish ing. The two got toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her backstage in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a heartwarming reunion photo that exploded across the internet. Turns out there was time in/with regard to’concerning’regarding love, after all.###Speaking of eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullybody’s favourite archaeologist, D23 audiences were also treated to a first look at Indiana Jones 5, which was introduced by director James Mangold. The teaser gave grossly little away in terms of plot, despite’in spite of’albeit did give a sense that new character Helena (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) would be pretty central, and was packed full of action and expedition . And, most curiously, we definitely glimpsed some flashback footage in there, featuring a de-aged Harrison Ford. Could Indy 5 be filling in some gaps from the previous films? We’re not sure yet, but one thing we can fairly safely assume is that this is most definitely the last time Ford will don the iconic hat and whip, as he exclaimed “I will not fall down in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you again!” on stage.###While the ‘live-action’ remakes of Disney’s classics possess’own’nurse been… mixed in quality, shall we say, Rob Marshall’s take on The Little Mermaid has several things going in/with regard to’concerning’regarding it. Not merely’barely does it possess’own’nurse new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, teaming up with the legendary Alan Menken, but it has the supremely talented Halle Bailey stepping (or, swimming? Technically both, really) into the role of Ariel. In the room at D23, the full ‘Part Of Your World’ sequence was reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue n – in/with regard to’concerning’regarding now, you’ll all possess’own’nurse to make do with a snippet of the song in the teaser trailer. But what a teaser it is, of Bailey’s vocal prowess (which Chloe x Halle fans will long possess’own’nurse been aware of), her ultra-expressive eyes (a key Ariel trait), and that flowing red hair – early token s suggest she’ll be spectacular. We can’t wait to be part of her world.###Up until this weekend, we had intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully little idea with regards to’concerning’with respect to what Pixar had in store in/with regard to’concerning’regarding us with Elemental, their new high-concept feature film with regards to’concerning’with respect to hot headed gal Ember (she’s on fire – literally) and watery fella Wade. Director Peter Sohn took to the stage at D23, telling the audience with regards to’concerning’with respect to the parallels between Elemental and his own story as part of an immigrant family, and how the film explores what happens when two beings develop a deep connection despite being so different, they can’t even touch. He then reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ed off Ember and Wade’s character detoken , and announced that Leah Lewis and Jurassic World Dominion star Mamoudou Athie would be voicing them.###Ever since Hawkeye gave us a glimpse of what an intentionally-cheesy Marvel musical could resemble , we’ve been secretly hoping in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ‘Rogers: The Musical’ to be properly staged. D23 gave us the closest thing – with Kevin Feige kicking off the Marvel panel by teeing up a live perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mance of theoretical end-of-Act-One banger ‘Save The City’. It was hilarious, it was ridiculous – and it was really, really fun. Seriously, can we acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure the rest of the soundtrack now, please? We possess’own’nurse an army of Hamilton fans and Captain America scholars on the team here who’d be glad to assist…###If you were to ask us which Pixar project we’re most looking in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ward to, you might be thunderstruck’startled’stupefied to hear that our answer could well be Win Or Lose, the studio’s first original series that isn’t based on a movie. But after seeing some utterly delightful new footage of the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue at D23, Win Or Lose just shot up to the top of our animated watchlist. It follows a middle school softball team in the week leading up to an significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative championship game, and focuses on the idea of how the same day, event or interaction can be interpreted in contrasting ways, with each episode telling the story from a different character’s perspective. During the Pixar panel, creators Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue cased a thoroughly charming scene where umpire Frank asks out the barista he has a crush on. Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything worked – from the animation style, to the hilarious dialogue, to the emotional metaphors that Pixar does so well. We reckon we’ll be feeling like winners when the series hits Disney+ in 2023.###Not long now until the much-anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in cinemas – just under two months, in fact – and as of this weekend, we know a little bit more with regards to’concerning’with respect to one of the themes of the film. At D23, the Marvel panel audience was treated to a reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ing of a scene from the comic-reserve sequel, bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e seeing a new trailer. The scene featured Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda in a UN-style international conference, being quizzed with regards to’concerning’with respect to the potential dangers of Wakandan super-metal Vibranium: its versatility, its properties, its indestructibility. Ramonda listens quietly, bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e firing back that the real danger surrounding Vibranium does not come from the individual of Wakanda, but from the rest of the world trying to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure their hands on it. Cue a goosebump-inducing sequence that sees the Dora Milaje – and new addition Michaela Coel – take down some military in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ces attempting to steal it. It looks like the political aftermath of T’Challa revealing the extent of Wakanda’s power and resources at the end of Black Panther is going to be a major theme in Ryan Coogler’s follow-up.###Zootopia – or Zootropolis, as it was renamed to in/with regard to’concerning’regarding its UK release – is one of the highlights of Disney Animation’s recent output. Characters including plucky rabbit cop Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin), sly fraudster fox Nick (Jason Bateman), glacially-moving sloth DMV workers, a singing Shakira and mafia-esque rodents created a richly textured world ripe in/with regard to’concerning’regarding exploring, which Disney will do in new six-part anthology series Zootopia+ (or, here in the UK, Zootropolis+? We’re not sure yet). A tease at D23 revealed the titles of the eps, several of which are some grossly funny takes on staples of popular culture that riff on those that feature in the original movie. There’s ‘So You Think You Can Prance’, which looks to be a talent reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue with Shakira’s Gazelle as judge; ‘The Godfather Of The Bride’, featuring the ironically named Big, an Arctic shrew who eliminate’remove ly takes inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s crime classic; and ‘The Real Rodents Of Rodentia’, aka a version of reality reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue phenomenon Real Housewives. Chef’s kiss.###Marvel’s first enormous’vast’massive’tremendous -screen release of 2023, and of Phase 5, will be Ant Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, currently slated in/with regard to’concerning’regarding 17 February. We know with regards to’concerning’with respect to a few elements of the film – that Jonathan Majors will appear as Kang, that Bill Murray is also part of the cast, that the two titular heroes will once again head to the quantum realm, and that Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) daughter Cassie will now be played by Freaky star Kathryn Newton. From the footage reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue n at D23, it looks like Cassie is going to be pivotal to the film’s plot – not merely’barely did we see her in costume alongside her father, indicating she may be following in his size-shifting footsteps, but she’s actually the reason they end up in the quantum realm in the first place. Whilst Scott was trapped there all that time during the snap, Cassie was reading up on Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) research. Now reunited, she tries to reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue an experiment she’s developed to Scott, Hope (Evangeline Lilly), Hank and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) – but it all goes awry, pulling them back into that crazy, colourful, sub-atomic world. What happens from there? We’ll find out in February.###Iwájú, aka the Yoruba word in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ‘future’, is a new series that sees Walt Disney Animation Studios collaborate with pan-African comic-reserve entertainment firm’enterprise Kugali. Filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku took to the stage at D23 to introduce the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue , describing it as a “love letter” to, and futuristic depiction of, Lagos and Nigeria, and a coming-of-age story. It follows young heiress Tola and her best friend Kole, who end up caught between the worlds of tech and crime in their city, as well as challenged by the divide caused by their differing socio-economic statuses. Bursting with colour – and featuring a robotic pet lizard called Otin – Iwájú will debut on Disney+ in 2023.###Yes, it’s happening – Daredevil is officially part of the MCU, and is acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting his intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully own reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue , Daredevil: Born Again, which debuted some nice new artwork during the D23 panel. That hasn’t started filming yet, so no updates there – but Charlie Cox does appear as the conserve’preserve or of Hell’s Kitchen in Marvel’s currently-streaming series She-Hulk, and we were treated to a clip from the upcoming episode. Many possess’own’nurse apprehensive that joining the MCU will mean Daredevil’s darker, more grown-up edges will be sanded down, and that may well be the case – but we’re delighted to inin/with regard to’concerning’regarding m you that, as it turns out, Matt Murdock can do comedy just fine. In this scene with Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters, the pair debate the difference between henchmen and goons, she’s introduced to his enhanced hearing, and the chemistry sizzles as he picks up on her speeding heartbeat. Yes, ultra-violent, ass-kicking, incessantly-brooding Daredevil is awesome – but it is nice to see him smiling in/with regard to’concerning’regarding once.###We still possess’own’nurse a while to wait until the release of Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, aka their OG princess, with Marc Webb’s new interpretation of the story hitting cinemas in 2023. But, the House of Mouse did reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue a grossly brief first look at the film during their panel on Friday, featuring Rachel Zegler as the titular poisoned apple-eater, and Gal Gadot in a full-on gothic, glamorous acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure -up as the Evil Queen. With Gadot being most well-known in/with regard to’concerning’regarding playing the hero in DC’s Wonder Woman movies, Snow White is a chance in/with regard to’concerning’regarding her to sink her teeth into a villainous role. “Playing the Evil Queen was intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully different to anything I’ve done bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e,” she said on stage at D23, alongside co-star Zegler. “I’m normally on the other end of things. It’s so not me but I enjoyed it so much.”###A enormous’vast’massive’tremendous part of this year’s main Disney panel was a focus on its upcoming 100th anniversary. That’s, confusingly, not the 100th anniversary of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (which is still 15 years away yet), but a century of The Walt Disney Company – and to celebrate that milestone, Walt Disney Animation Studios has a new castle logo, and a special film up its princess-dress sleeves. It’s called Wish, and it’s an animated musical movie with regards to’concerning’with respect to the wishing star that has long made dreams come true in the Disney canon – set in a fantasy kingdom (where else) where wishes become reality. There are plenty of reasons to be looking in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ward to this one: it boasts a distinctive watercolour-inspired visual style, has Ariana DeBose as the voice of central character Asha, and Frozen co-director Chris Buck helming (alongside co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn). Most significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative ly? It has Alan Tudyk voicing a goat sidekick called Valentino. We’ll be wishing in/with regard to’concerning’regarding an adorable plush of him – and like most Disney wishes, that one feels intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully likely to come true.###Our August 2022 issue featured James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way Of Water on the cover – and in revealing the exclusive subscriber cover, we also revealed some surprising details with regards to’concerning’with respect to Sigourney Weaver’s character in the enormous’vast’massive’tremendous blue sequel. Given her original Avatar character Grace died in the first film, it was curious that she was coming back at all – as it turns out, she’s playing a utterly different role, that of Kiri, Jake and Neytiri’s adopted teenage daughter. Confused yet? Us too.###At D23, director Cameron joined the 20th Century Studios panel live from New Zealand, and turned the hall into a 3D cinema, handing out 3D glasses to reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue us some new footage from the film. One clip gives us some clues with regards to’concerning’with respect to how Kiri came to be, and her relationship to Grace. We see Kiri in a lab. She climbs atop a kind of cryo chamber which contains Grace’s preserved Avatar body, and calls her “mother”. Kiri, Spider (a human youngster the Sullys take under their wing, played by Jack Champion) and another Na’vi kid then discuss who could be Kiri’s father, with one of them jokingly suggesting ‘nerdy’ Norm Spellman, Grace’s right hand man from Avatar, as a possibility. Does that mean Grace’s Avatar gave birth to Kiri? Or that Kiri was created from her cells in some way?###Another interesting familial thread hinted at in that clip was Spider’s parentage. As the kids discuss Kiri’s dad, Spider says that sometimes it’s better not knowing who your father is. Given Spider is human, and there was one enormous’vast’massive’tremendous human wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile die from Avatar that we know is returning in/with regard to’concerning’regarding The Way Of Water, could Stephen Lang’s Quaritch be Spider’s dad? If so, how did they end up on separate sides of this story?###With this year’s Toy Story spin-off Lightyear, Pixar headed into the world of aliens, spaceships and the cosmos in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully first time – and we now know the animation studio is going to be blasting off to space again soon with new film Elio, which they announced this weekend at D23. Voiced by Yonas Kibreab, Elio is an 11-year-old boy who is somewhat of an outsider on Earth, but when he finds himself transported across the galaxy, he accidentally becomes the ambassorrowful’distressing’woeful’heartbroken’mirthless’dejected’dismal’lugubrious or in/with regard to’concerning’regarding our planet. Joining Kibreab in the voice cast is Ugly Betty and Superstore star America Ferrera, voicing his mother Olga, and the film will be directed by Coco’s Adrian Molina. Prepare in/with regard to’concerning’regarding lift-off in Spring 2024.###The final few moments of the Ms. Marvel Disney+ series really packed a punch. If you possess’own’nurse n’t seen the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue yet, here’s your spoiler warning! Still here? Good. As well as finding out that Kamala Khan’s (Iman Vellani) powers were caused by, as friend Bruno puts it, a “mutation” in her blood (X-Men in the MCU confirmed?!), the intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully last shot reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue s Kamala being pulled into her closet out of nowhere, bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e reappearing as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson). After seeing a first-look trailer of upcoming film The Marvels at D23, we now know a little more with regards to’concerning’with respect to why that happened. The footage opened with shots of Carol, Kamala, and Monica Rambeau (Teyonnah Paris), who developed powers during WandaVision, all convert’transform ing places with one another, even when they’re on opposite sides of the universe. As Rambeau explains to the Khan family (Yes! The wonderful Muneeba, Yusuf and Aamir are back!), this is because their “light powers are entangled”. Not merely’barely is this an interesting premise in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the movie, and a reason in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the three characters to team up, it sets up some great comedic moments, including Kamala being introduced to Carol’s misleadingly cute cat-a-like Flerken, Goose. Marvel-lous stuff.