Since its launch, Disney+ has become one of the most successful and powerful of the streaming services, with an ever-expanding library of content, both from the studio’s existing catalog and new adventures in its various properties. The recent Disney+ Day revealed that the studio is going to continue its practice of giving fans more of what they want, and there are a number of exciting reveals.
In the months and years ahead, Disney+ will be releasing numerous new series and movies, some of which chart new territory and others of which revisit cherished favorites.
Hocus Pocus 2
There’s no doubt that Hocus Pocus is one of the most popular and beloved Halloween movies of all time. Though it wasn’t a success when it first came out, it has since become a cult favorite. So great is that popularity that a sequel has been produced, and the Disney+ Day revealed some of the first footage from the new movie. Most notably, the movie stars the three highlights from the original, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters, who once more emerge to cause havoc.
Agatha: House of Harkness
WandaVision was a breakout success for the streamer, focusing as it does on Wanda’s efforts to make sense of Vision’s death. However, many fans were drawn to the character of Agatha, who quickly became recognized as one of Kathryn Hahn’s best roles. Even by the end of the series she was still something of an enigma, and the new series will hopefully reveal more about her history, her personality, and her ultimate fate in the broader world of the MCU.
Tiana
The Princess and the Frog was a return to form for Disney, which had largely moved away from 2-D animation in favor of CGI. Even the story in the movie was largely self-contained, the studio has announced that there are more adventures in store for Tiana, who will return in a series named after her and which will follow her life after she becomes a princess.
What’s more, it will be notable for being produced by the studio itself rather than Disney Television Animation (as has been the case with most other television offerings from Disney).
Zootopia+ (short form series)
Zootopia is another of the strong offerings from Disney that emerged during the 2010s, featuring as it did the extraordinary relationship between a fox and a rabbit and a marvelously detailed world of anthropomorphic animals. Given its success, it’s not surprising that the studio will seek to take advantage of that in its newly announced Zootopia+, which will follow several of the secondary characters that were introduced in the original movie. The studio showed some new footage during the Disney+ Day, and it appears that it will capture at least some of the magic that made the original so charming.
Ms. Marvel
The MCU has been making a lot of effort with its recent offerings to embrace diversity, expanding the definition of who is able to become one of its banner superheroes. That promise is very much on offer in the newly released footage for the upcoming, Ms. Marvel, which is another MCU television offering. Most importantly, the trailer demonstrates that the title character will have to contend not only with newly minted superpowers but also the challenges posed by her identity.
Ironheart (Marvel series)
By this point, Iron-Man has become one of the most iconic of the heroes of the MCU, and a key part of that is the design (and immense power) of his suit of armor. Now that he has been consigned to history, having died at the end of Endgame, the stage is set for another armor-wearing superhero to take his place, and it looks as if that is going to be the title character Ironheart. The studio unveiled a new logo for the series, which will focus on the character of Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne).
Disenchanted (Enchanted 2)
Enchanted earned praise for its willingness to poke some fun at the established Disney princess formula, and it features Amy Adams in one of her best and most charming roles. Those who wanted to see more of this fantastic world--with its magical mix of live-action and animation--will surely greet the announcement of Disenchanted, the sequel, with a great deal of glee. It is set to stream exclusively on Disney+ and will feature not only the original cast but also some new faces, including Maya Rudolph.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
This is something of a golden age for revivals of popular television series of past eras, and one of the most endearing of the series that used to appear on the Disney Channel was The Proud Family. Unfortunately, it only lasted two seasons (and a movie), which makes the arrival of this new iteration particularly welcome.
In addition to focusing on a brand-new character, it will also feature a wide number of special guest voices, including Lil Nas X, Chance the Rapper, and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Willow
Some fantasy movies occupy a canonical place in the history of the genre, and Willow is one of those. It has an appeal all its own, and it is very much a creation of the 1980s type of fantasy. The revelation that there will be a sequel television series to appear on Disney+ was one of the most surprising announcements to come out of the day, and it indicates just how popular the movie remains and how successfully Disney can utilize nostalgia for the 1980s.
X-Men ‘97 (series, 2023)
In keeping with the steamer’s commitment to reviving past properties, Disney+ Day also revealed that they would also be reviving the animated series X-Men, to be titled X-Men ‘97. What’s especially notable about this new iteration of the series is that it will not only pick up where the original left off but will also feature many of the original cast in their same roles. Given its influence, particularly over those who later became part of Marvel, it is sure to appeal to several generations of fans.