Saving the best for last? That is a very debatable phrase but Walt Disney Studios showed off a return to form at this year’s CinemaCon at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. MUSE TV had the privilege to be one of the many outlets and exhibitors from around the world to attend the last presentation of CinemaCon.
Walt Disney Studios’ presentation included highlights from their 2024 theatrical slate that included titles from Disney Live Action, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights!
The first film to be highlighted was the highly anticipated 20th Century Studios’ “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, which is getting ready to hit theaters nationwide on May 10th. The audience was treated to 13 minutes from the film that showcased the ecosystem where the apes live that includes what remains of human cities of the past that have now blended into the environment. The footage also included an introduction to the Ape “humanity” as well as the brutality that leads one young ape to take a journey that could define the future of apes and humans alike.
Following that was Disney’s “Young Woman of the Sea”. This film features the true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English channel. For the role of Ederle, DIsney called upon a familiar face in Daisy Ridley, who is well known from the Star Wars franchise. This film will be available nationwide on May 31st. The brand new trailer which you can see below was introduced via video by legendary producer, Jerry Bruckheimer.
Moving on To Pixar, CinemaCon Vanguard award winner Amy Poehler was in the building to talk about “Inside Out 2”. In the film, Poehler reprises her role as the voice of Joy. The film focuses on Riley’s journey from child to teenager and her transition into puberty. Which means our favorite characters need to make way for new emotions! Including Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, who may be trouble. The crowd at CinemaCon were treated to the first 35 minutes of the film. From what we saw, this film has the same amount of heart as the first movie, now with seemingly bigger stakes as more complex combinations of emotions are taking over. “Inside Out 2” will be released in theaters on June 14.
The CinemaCon audience started buzzing as the Marvel Studios logo filled the screen, and then erupted as Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, hit the stage. First up on the agenda was a couple of brief announcements that included saying that “The Fantastic Four” would begin production soon, shot in IMAX. Another film currently in production is Thunderbolts* and also shooting in IMAX. The asterisk at the end of the title was no mistake, and Feige said that we’ll find out what that’s all about at the end of the movie.
Feige then introduced Captain America himself, Anthony Mackie to talk about the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World which also stars Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Shira Haas, with Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. This is scheduled to be released on Valentine’s Day, 2025. Mackie also introduced a first look at the film which included interactions by Sam Wilson with Harrison Ford’s Thaddius Ross at the White House. By the looks of things, the same mind control that was used on the Winter Soldier was used again to attack a secret meeting. Ross then instructs Wilson to assemble the Avengers. “Captain America: Brave New World” is directed by Julius Onah.
Probably the most anticipated film of CinemaCon was presented next. It was time for “Deadpool & Wolverine”. On hand to talk about the film was director Shawn Levy, who also received the convention’s Director of the Year award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony. The video portion of the presentation started with a clip of Deadpool and Wolverine walking through a tunnel when a cell phone rings and both break the fourth wall in a hilarious manner.
We were then treated to about nine minutes of footage where we find Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson working at a used car lot and not doing very well because… well he is Wade Wilson. He returns to his apartment where he is greeted by his friends from previous films for his birthday. These are all characters we’ve seen in previous Deadpool films including Colossus. At one point, he answers the door only to be taken by the TVA, and meets Mr. Paradox, played by “Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen. He tells Deadpool he feels that Wade is finally ready to become a great Marvel hero. The most anticipated comic book movie of the year will be released in theaters on July 26th.
Things then got dark with an extended look at “Alien: Romulus” from 20th Century Studios, from writer and director Fede Alvarez and producer Ridley Scott. It was a terrifying clip that features facehuggers waking up and then a very slow and horrific birth of an alien that comes bursting out of a victim’s body. The movie will take the franchise back to its roots, with a group of scavengers coming across a derelict space station and find a lot more than they were looking for. Get ready for “Alien: Romulus”, which will be out in theaters on August 16th.
We then acknowledged Searchlight Pictures, which is celebrating 30 years! We quickly went through Yorgos Lanthimos next feature “Kinds of Kindness”, which is getting ready to premiere this summer at the Cannes Film Festival. Lanthimos will again work with Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe in this film after the critical and award success with “Poor Things”.
20th Century Studios then showed off the first footage from “The Amateur”. This is an action, espionage thriller directed by James Hawes. It includes a star-studded cast that includes Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, and more. It is scheduled to be released in theaters on April 11, 2025.
Moving on to more traditional Disney films, it was time for “Mufasa: The Lion King” with director Barry Jenkins taking the stage to talk about how much of a labor of love this film was for him. Jenkins even dropped an “F-Bomb” which seemed to be a common trend through the presentation highlighting “Deadpool & Wolverine”. The film will be told in the form of flashbacks, as familiar characters like Rafiki, Timon, and Pumba share the story of a young Mufasa. This film hits theaters on December 20th.
To wrap up the presentation, Disney Animation showcased “Moana 2”, which is getting ready for its Thanksgiving week premiere on November 27th. As the stage was filled with Polynesian drummers and dancers, Dwayne Johnson hit the stage. He is returning as the voice of Maui in the film. At that time, NATO’s chair Bob Bagby presented Johnson with the “NATO Spirit of the Industry Award” for his dedication and passion to the motion picture theatrical experience.
“Moana 2”, takes place three years after the first film, reuniting Moana and Maui for an all-new voyage. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana will have to travel to the far seas of Oceania into dangerous waters for an adventure unlike anything she has faced before. It will include all-new original songs. The film is directed by Dave Derrick Jr., and co-directed by Jason Hand.
Overall Disney had a solid presentation at CinemaCon as it seems to be releasing a more traditional and balanced slate that will without a doubt be filling theaters everywhere.
