Big stars spring surprises at Disney’s ‘Ultimate Fan Event’

August 17, 2024 | 12:00am

ANAHEIM, California — It plays more like an all-star rock concert than a corporate rollout of Disney releases: 12,000 screaming fans packed into the Honda Center, and a stage lit up by smoke effects, lasers, explosions, a cavalcade of big names and stars, Broadway-level productions, plus David Blaine pulling off a stadium-wide card trick at the end.

That was the setting for D23’s Disney Entertainment Showcase this year. While this opening night is always HUGE for D23 — the three-day “Ultimate Fan Event” that blends cosplaying fans, floors of interactive fan sites, behind-the-scenes panels and exclusive merchandise — this one now expands from its home base of the Anaheim Convention Center to the Honda Center, where fans were treated to a roster of big names, big stars, and big upcoming releases: from newly inducted Disney Legend James Cameron to Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige, Jude Law to Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot to Zoe Saldana, Jared Leto to Jeff Bridges, directors Jon Favreau and Diego Luna to Ryan Coogler, Barry Jenkins and Anthony Mackie; to video messages from Deadpool’s Ryan Reynolds, Pedro Pascal and the new Fantastic Four, plus Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan… the list goes on from there.

But for many fans out there and those in media, the whispered wish was this: “I want to see Bob.”

For those following D23, spotting Disney CEO Bob Iger himself has become a bucket-list priority. Like the “Hidden Mickeys” of Disneyland, fans crane their necks when they sense Iger is actually in the park, the way they might’ve when Walt Disney himself used to drive a green jalopy up Main Street, USA back in the day. Maybe it’s because this year’s D23 seems pivotal, as Disney looks again to the future, and huge investments to come. (Disney Experiences plans to plow $60 billion over the next 10 years into global parks, and Disneyland Resort president Kevin Potrock announced an upcoming $1.5 billion expansion of its theme park alone, which is just — phew!)

So seeing Iger take the stage at Honda Center can be compared to watching a smiling, avatar-like Steve Jobs stoking a crowd at a classic Apple rollout — except with multiple “Just one more thing’s” in store.

Some of those surprises: James Cameron announcing the title of his next Avatar installment, titled Fire and Ash; Jon Favreau announcing he’s directing the feature film The Mandalorian and Grogu, and sharing a teaser clip (Grogu!); Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson touting Moana 2’s Nov. 27 release and his upcoming “dream” project, Monster Jam (about monster trucks); Jeff Bridges and Jared Leto blew minds announcing the new Tron: Ares film, with music by NIN; Diego Luna said the new Andor sequel for Disney+ will “bring the story right up to Rogue One” (which sounds like a finale to us); The Fantastic Four cast shared a video from UK, where they’re filming Marvel’s newly acquired franchise; Jude Law spilled he’s in a Goonies-inspired Star Wars series called Skeleton Crew; Lin-Manuel Miranda is contributing new songs to upcoming The Lion King: Mufasa; and newly inducted Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan will co-star in a Freaky Friday sequel titled — wait for it — Freakier Friday.

While Disney focuses on its four “key pillars” — reinvigorating creativity at Disney’s film studios; achieving significant profitability in streaming; positioning ESPN as a preeminent digital sports platform; and turbocharging long-term growth in the company’s Experiences business, including domestic and international Parks and the Disney Cruise Line — there have been massive studio hits this year, with Inside/Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine both crossing the $1 billion-grossing mark, plus a string of megahits like Avatar: The Way of Water, Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Little Mermaid under their belt.

Iger, who stepped down from the top Disney spot only to return as the company’s forward-facing CEO again in 2022, set out how Disney’s successes emanate from Walt’s “flywheel” model of creativity.

“While each of our businesses might seem different from one another, in fact they fuel each other in ways that are just distinctly Disney,” Iger said. “They are bound by a common mission: to tell great stories… and to bring you those stories in the most modern, relevant and compelling ways.”

Iger added that the world needs to be entertained, maybe even more so now than ever. That is both Disney’s mission, and its message.

“We take that responsibility seriously,” he said. “We are grateful for every moment, every memory that we’re fortunate enough to be part of. And we’re grateful to you for caring so much about the things we create and inviting Disney into your lives in such profound ways.”

D23 is something else, for fans and for Iger: “It gives Disney the chance to pull back the curtain” and offer fans “a glimpse of the vast array of creativity, talent, and innovation that powers our wonderful company.”

David Blaine stunned the crowd with a stadium-wide interactive card trick.

For Disney’s ultimate fans, having the CEO himself onstage to pull back the curtain is a wish come true.