Disney’s D23 Expo is back in Anaheim from August 14 to 16, and Marvel fans are in for a big weekend. The convention brings together Disney’s biggest studios under one roof, with Marvel Studios ready to share updates on their upcoming projects.
The main event happens on Friday, August 14, during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center from 7 PM to 9 PM. This two-hour presentation will feature announcements from Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige won’t have a full hour like he did at San Diego Comic-Con, but fans can still expect exciting news.
The Showcase will not be livestreamed, similar to the Comic-Con panel. Any footage shown at D23 will likely stay exclusive to the event. However, major announcements like casting updates will reach online audiences quickly.
New Avengers: Doomsday Footage Coming
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026. Tickets went on sale today, making D23 the perfect moment for Marvel to show new footage.
The first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday came out in early July after debuting at CinemaCon in April. It gathered over 503 million views in under 24 hours, coming close to Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s record.
The San Diego Comic-Con trailer from July 25 never made it online. Reports suggest that footage showed Doctor Doom in a throne room, a key confrontation between Reed Richards and Doom, Doom swatting away Stormbreaker, and a fleet of Sentinels.
Rumors point to a second trailer arriving at D23. Scooper Daniel Richtman says we will see a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer along with the first teaser for VisionQuest and a first look at Star Wars: Starfighter. Another scooper, MyTimeToShineHello, also suggests new Doomsday footage could drop on Friday.
Marvel has not officially confirmed these plans, so fans should treat them as rumors.
X-Men Reboot Cast Reveal Expected
The X-Men reboot cast reveal is perhaps the most exciting possibility for D23 2026. Marvel fans expected to see the new mutants at San Diego Comic-Con, but no X-Men showed up. This makes D23 the likely place for the big announcement.
Several actors have been linked to the X-Men reboot through trade reports:
- Sadie Sink as Jean Grey – Her character already appeared in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, making this the most confirmed casting
- Kit Connor (Heartstopper) as Scott Summers/Cyclops – The Hollywood Reporter broke this news in early August
- Samara Weaving as Emma Frost – Deadline and Variety both reported this in July
- Christopher Abbott as Professor X – Reports on August 14 suggest he has been cast, with an official announcement expected at D23
Abbott would be the second-youngest actor to play Professor X after James McAvoy. He previously played The Foreigner in 2024’s Kraven the Hunter.
Other names tied to the project include Cailee Spaeny as Rogue and Charles Melton as Beast, though these remain unconfirmed.
Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts, is directing the X-Men reboot. Lee Sung Jin (Beef) and Joanna Calo (The Bear) are writing the script. Sadie Sink recently said cameras have not started rolling yet. The reboot is expected to begin filming next year.
The original X-Men cast from the early 2000s will first return in Avengers: Doomsday. The reboot is not expected before Avengers: Secret Wars in late 2027.
Other Marvel Projects at D23 2026
D23 will likely feature updates on several other Marvel projects:
VisionQuest – This WandaVision spin-off with Paul Bettany returns as Vision. It debuts on Disney+ on October 14, 2026. James Spader returns as Ultron and Faran Tahir as Raza. D23 could show exclusive reveals and special looks for the series.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 – Fans expect updates on this series.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 – Another project Marvel might discuss.
X-Men ’97 Seasons 3 and 4 – The animated series continues in development.
Werewolf by Night 2 – Michael Giacchino revealed this project remains in development.
Related:
Marvel’s X-Men Strategy Takes Shape
Marvel Studios has been quiet about the X-Men reboot on the record. Most casting news comes from trade reporting or scooper accounts. Sadie Sink is the firmest confirmation because her Jean Grey already appeared on screen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Marvel has historically dropped its biggest ensemble announcements outside fan events. The Avengers: Doomsday lineup arrived in 2025 through a livestream of empty director’s chairs.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day introduced Sink’s Jean Grey alongside Tramell Tillman as X-Men villain William Metzger. The film explored a mutation inhibitor built by Spider-Man, setting up future mutant storylines. Kevin Feige has confirmed that mutants will drive the MCU’s next phase.
The X-Men reboot marks the first X-Men movie since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. The new cast will bring young mutants into the MCU.
The D23 schedule includes an unassigned slot on Sunday afternoon, but the main news window remains Friday’s Entertainment Showcase. Disney has not officially confirmed a cast reveal, so fans should manage expectations.
Also Read: Jared Leto in ‘Tron: Ares’ with Music by Nine Inch Nails as Revealed at D23 Expo 2024
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