The Japan Times - 'Avatar' and 'Star Wars' films revealed at Disney event

"Avatar" director James Cameron took the stage at the company's biennial D23 fan gathering to announce the name of the latest installment of his sci-fi franchise, due out December 2025.

"The new film is not what you expect. But it's definitely what you want," teased Cameron of his third visit to Pandora.

The previous two "Avatar" films are the highest and third-highest grossing movies of all time, earning $5.2 billion combined.

Images from the new movie, currently in production in New Zealand, showed its blue Na'vi characters dancing around a campfire, as well as images of giant floating ships and flying beasts.

The director promised higher emotional stakes, and "new cultures and settings and creatures and new biomes."

"You'll see a lot more Pandora, the planet, that you never saw before," he said.

The fourth and fifth "Avatar" films are scheduled for 2029 and 2031.

Also in Friday's presentation, Disney fans saw a first glimpse of "The Mandalorian and Grogu."

Out in May 2026, it will be the first "Star Wars" film since 2019's divisive "The Rise of Skywalker."

Disney, which had been churning out a new "Star Wars" film every year to that point, dramatically slammed the brakes in the face of diminishing box office returns.

"We're putting 'Star Wars' back on the big screen,'" said Dave Filoni, producer of the new movie -- which is spun off from streaming series "The Mandalorian," and will feature its beloved Baby Yoda.

Footage showed the cutesy creature and his mercenary friend speeding around a snowy planet.

On the television side, Jude Law plays a Jedi in "Skeleton Crew," streaming in December.

The kid-centric show is "in the spirit of... coming-of-age films of the '80s like 'The Goonies' and 'E.T.,'" promised Law.

- 'Who else?' -

The giant D23 fan gathering caters to and showcases the obsessive loyalty of Disney's most die-hard devotees.

Every two years, thousands flock to a California convention center, dressed as their favorite princesses and heroes.

Tickets -- ranging from $80 to an eye-watering $2,600 VIP pass -- allow attendees to spend yet more money on rare merchandise, and watch starry presentations unveiling new films, shows and theme park rides.

"Who else but Disney could pull off a weekend like D23, right?" CEO Bob Iger asked the packed crowd at Anaheim's NHL professional ice hockey arena, to cheers.

Seconds later, the suited executive was replaced on stage by a troupe of hula-ing Polynesian dancers and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, promoting "Moana 2."

But beneath the euphoria, Friday night's presentation of new movies and TV shows comes at a key time for Disney.

The company's Pixar and Marvel franchises have suffered uncharacteristically poor runs in recent years, with high-profile flops like "Lightyear" and "The Marvels."

Disney's stock price remains well below half its 2021 peak. Rounds of cost-cutting have seen thousands of jobs cut since last year, mirroring trends across Hollywood.

This summer has brought welcome relief, with monster hits "Deadpool & Wolverine," and "Inside Out 2" -- already the biggest animated film of all time.

- 'Toy meets tech' -

Pixar on Friday announced "Hoppers," a new animated movie about a young girl who can "hop" her brain into a robotic beaver.

Out in spring 2026, it will follow her undercover adventures into the animal world, where she befriends a "regal beaver" called King George, and helps battle an evil mayor voiced by Jon Hamm.

And Pixar's "Toy Story 5," out a few months later, will see the beloved toys vie with electronic devices like phones and tablets for children's attention.

"This time around, it's toy meets tech," said director Andrew Stanton.

S.Ogawa--JT