Disney Goes All In at CinemaCon: Marvel Chaos, Pixar on Childhood, and Star Wars Returns to the Big Screen

Walt Disney Studios arrived at CinemaCon with a presentation that felt less like a traditional studio showcase and more like a declaration of intent. Across Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Disney Animation, and Searchlight Pictures, the message was clear: Disney is leaning hard into theatrical spectacle while also pushing its legacy franchises into uncomfortable, modern territory.

At the center of the presentation was a reaffirmation of confidence in its biggest upcoming tentpole. Disney confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday remains firmly set for December 18, signaling no hesitation around what is shaping up to be one of its most ambitious crossover events yet. The trailer footage shown to attendees underscored that scale. Thor and Captain America reunite in a moment charged with nostalgia and tension, but it is Doctor Doom who dominates the energy of every scene he enters.

In one standout sequence, Thor attempts to strike Doom with Stormbreaker only for Doom to stop it effortlessly with his fingers, a visual that immediately repositions Doom as an overwhelming, near-mythic threat. The footage also teases multiverse instability, including Mystique transforming into Yelena, while Steve Rogers ultimately calling Mjolnir to his hand suggests a return to mythic identity for legacy heroes. There’s also a sequence of Shang-Chi and Gambit fighting in the trailer.

If Marvel is going bigger, Star Wars is going cinematic in a different way.

Attendees were shown 17 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu, set for release in theaters and IMAX on May 22. The decision to bring the series to the big screen signals a strategic shift for Lucasfilm, positioning Din Djarin and Grogu’s story as a true theatrical event rather than streaming-first storytelling. While details remain closely guarded, the footage reportedly emphasized scale and spectacle, leaning into the idea that Star Wars still belongs in theaters when handled with intention.

Pixar, meanwhile, is taking a surprisingly contemporary turn in Toy Story 5. Early story details reveal Bonnie now grappling with something far more grounded and modern than previous entries; she becomes addicted to doomscrolling apps on her LilyPad device. It is a sharp pivot that reframes the franchise’s longstanding themes of childhood innocence versus technological distraction for a new digital era. The Toy Story universe has always evolved alongside real-world childhood, and this iteration appears poised to confront the attention economy head-on.

Disney also used the stage to deepen its emotional and personal investment in its upcoming live-action slate. Dwayne Johnson introduced a photo of his grandfather, who passed when Johnson was a child, revealing how that loss helped shape his connection to Maui. That personal context framed a sneak peek at the live-action Moana, including a glimpse of the reimagined “You’re Welcome” sequence, suggesting the film will rework familiar musical moments rather than simply replicate them.

On the original film front, Searchlight Pictures delivered The Dog Stars featuring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, and Josh Brolin in a post-apocalyptic story centered on a mysterious radio signal, blending survival storytelling with existential mystery. Whalefall pushed into high-concept survival horror with Austin Abrams playing a diver swallowed by a whale, while Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh, leaned into dark comedy with a CIA mission unraveling on Easter Island.

Disney Animation also quietly revealed its next original feature, Hexed, complete with a new logo and voice casting from Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones. The film follows a teenager and her Type A mother who discover that what they perceive as “weirdness” is actually latent magic, transporting them into a world where magic is fully unleashed. With a November 25 release date, Hexed continues Disney’s push toward original fantasy storytelling rooted in identity and generational tension.

On stage today at CinemaCon, The Walt Disney Studios announced the launch of Infinity Vision, a new certification for premium large format (PLF) theaters. Done in collaboration with global theatrical exhibition partners, Infinity Vision will signify to audiences which auditoriums offer the biggest, brightest and most immersive cinematic experiences.

Infinity Vision sets a new benchmark for theatrical presentation, certifying auditoriums that meet rigorous technical standards, including a focus on:

• The largest screens for maximum scale 
• Laser projection for superior brightness and clarity 
• Premium audio formats for fully immersive sound

Taken together, Disney’s CinemaCon presentation reflected a studio trying to balance legacy with reinvention. Fans are especially hyped for Avengers: Doomsday, and now all eyes are on the exclusive footage CinemaCon attendees were lucky enough to see. If history is any indication, the first trailer will likely debut around San Diego Comic-Con.

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