Disney Unveils New Marvel and Star Wars Footage, Highlights Blockbuster Slate at CinemaCon

The Walt Disney Company offered theater owners an in-depth look at its upcoming film lineup during a major presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday. High-profile footage from several highly anticipated projects—including new Marvel and Star Wars films—was shown ahead of their release dates.

Attendees were treated to scenes from “Avengers: Doomsday,” which marks the return of Chris Evans as Captain America and features Robert Downey Jr. portraying Doctor Doom, the central antagonist. Downey Jr. made a surprise appearance to introduce the trailer, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced that “Avengers: Endgame” will be re-released in theaters this September as a lead-in to “Doomsday,” which is scheduled for release on December 18, picking up where “Endgame” left off. This new film brings the Avengers and the X-Men together on screen for the first time in Marvel Studios history.

Director Jon Favreau introduced the opening sequence of “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” the first Star Wars feature since 2019, which hits theaters May 22. The footage depicted an action scene with the Mandalorian and Grogu fighting ex-warlords on a snowy cliff, including a battle with apparent AT-AT walkers. The story finds Din Djarin taking on a new mission that puts him back in contact with Jabba the Hutt’s heir, Rotta, played by Jeremy Allen White. Favreau emphasized his hope that the film’s excitement would resonate with a new generation of fans, noting that over 49 minutes were filmed for large-format screens.

Additionally, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen previewed “Toy Story 5,” their first joint appearance at CinemaCon, and Dwayne Johnson took the stage to promote the live-action adaptation of “Moana,” where he reprises his role as Maui, drawing inspiration for the character from his own family heritage. Catherine Laga’aia, playing the new Moana, also joined Johnson to share her excitement about the film.

Disney's past and forthcoming releases continue to be major drivers at the box office, accounting for more than a quarter of domestic ticket sales last year and producing global hits such as “Lilo & Stitch,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The presentation also noted that this summer’s movie season will open with “The Devil Wears Prada 2” from 20th Century Studios, not a Marvel title.

While celebrating its impact on the exhibition industry, The Walt Disney Company is simultaneously managing internal challenges, including new mass layoffs announced earlier this week affecting around 1,000 employees, with staff cuts impacting both its movie studio and marketing departments. Despite ongoing difficulties across the movie industry, Disney’s presence at CinemaCon offered optimism to theater owners awaiting a rebound in box office performance.

As of this week, upcoming Disney releases remain on track, but the company continues to navigate industry shifts and workforce reductions.