Top 10 Most Exciting Disney Investor Day Announcements
#10: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” (2021-) Sizzle Reel
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When “The Clone Wars” ended prematurely in 2014, fans around the world were left wanting more. Fortunately, our prayers were answered in 2020 when Disney brought us a seventh season. Well, it doesn’t end there! The “Clone Wars’” Bad Batch are getting their own spin-off series, to premiere on Disney+ in 2021. The Investor Day sizzle reel suggests the series will be an action-packed ride about the misfit clones’ adventures during the rise of the Galactic Empire. Watch closely and you’ll catch Fennec Shand, from “The Mandalorian”. Needless to say, we can’t wait. It isn’t the only animated “Star Wars” series that Disney announced either; fans can also look forward to the anime-inspired “Star Wars: Visions”.
#9: Fantastic Four Film Confirmed
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The Fantastic Four hold a special place in Marvel’s history. They were the company’s first superhero team, as well as the first characters created together by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They’re also famous … for being the subject of awful, awful live-action adaptations. There’s the unreleased 1994 film, that debacle from 2005, and - God help us - Josh Trank’s trainwreck in 2015. The good news? Marvel Studios got the film rights back when Disney bought 20th Century Fox. On Investor Day, Disney confirmed that a new movie was in the works, to be directed by Jon Watts, whose credits include “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and its sequel. This could be the best chance the heroes have ever had to star in a decent movie!
#8: “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron” (2023)
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For everyone who’s ever dreamt of jumping into an X-Wing, this one is for you! Over the years, Star Wars dogfights have taken centre stage in a number of video games - from 1993’s “X-Wing”, to 1998’s “Rogue Squadron”, and 2020’s “Squadrons”. Well, in 2023, we’ll be getting a movie that’s also titled “Rogue Squadron”, directed by none other than “Wonder Woman’s” Patty Jenkins. In the teaser released on Investor Day, Jenkins talks about being inspired by her father, who was a fighter pilot. She clearly has high hopes and ambitions for the film, and it seems like it couldn’t be in more capable hands!
#7: “Andor” (2022-) Sizzle Reel
While we already knew this spin-off show was in the works, the sizzle reel that Disney released really upped our excitement. Set five years before “Rogue One”, the spy thriller series will follow Diego Luna’s character Cassian Andor. Alan Tudyk will be back as the sarcastic security droid K-2SO, and “Rogue One” writer Tony Gilroy will serve as showrunner. The sizzle reel gave us even more reason for confidence, showing the ambitious scope of production and the dedication of cast and crew. The concept art also got our attention, promising a return to the grittier, darker tone of “Rogue One”.
#6: “WandaVision” (2021-) Official Trailer 2
Yes, we know, we already got a look at this series with the first trailer. But the second trailer really built up the intrigue. Set after the events of “Avengers: Endgame”, “WandaVision” sees The Scarlet Witch and Vision living together in a world modelled after classic sitcoms. Naturally, this “reality” is not what it seems. The second trailer showcased more of the sitcom elements, but also how this artificial world begins to fall apart. We also got to see more of Teyonah Parris’s character Monica Rambeau, who we last saw as a child in “Captain Marvel”. Plus there was a quick shot of Kat Dennings reprising her “Thor” role as Darcy Lewis.
#5: “What If …?” (2021-) First Look
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It’s a big multiverse! With so many story arcs, timelines, and universes, Marvel’s comics are an inexhaustible mine for new tales. Inspired by the long-running comic series of the same name, “What If” promises to explore these possibilities in novel ways, imagining what would have happened had the plot beats in the MCU happened differently. This was already an fascinating premise, and our first look at the series on December 10th confirmed that it’s going to be must-watch for Marvel fans. The cel-shaded animation looks fantastic, and many of the original MCU actors will be voicing their characters. What if T’Challa had become Starlord? What if Peggy Carter, not Steve Rogers, got the Super Soldier Serum? We’re keen to find out!
#4: “Ahsoka” (TBA)
If anyone deserves their own Star Wars spin-off, it’s Ahsoka! The fan-favorite character was one of the highlights of “The Clone Wars”, and we were delighted when her story continued in “Rebels”. Then came her live-action debut in “The Mandalorian”, portrayed by Rosario Dawson, which hinted at a larger storyline tied to the “Rebels” finale. Sure enough, on Disney’s Investor Day, the company revealed that Ahsoka was getting her very own series. It’s not the only “Mandalorian” spin-off, as Disney also announced another series, “Rangers of the New Republic”. All three will apparently culminate in an epic crossover!
#3: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021-) First Look
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There was a tear in many an eye when Steve Rogers passed on his iconic shield to Sam Wilson in “Endgame”. The scene also left us with a number of questions: Could the Falcon fill Rogers’ shoes? What was next for Rogers’ comrade-in-arms Bucky Barnes? These will be answered in the MCU’s Phase Four series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” On Investor Day we finally got to see the duo in action! The series will also see the returns of Helmut Zemo and Sharon Carter, and introduce new villains. Of course, if you’re more an “Iron Man” than “Cap” type of person, you can also look forward to “Armor Wars”, starring Don Cheadle, and “Ironheart” starring Dominique Thorne.
#2: Hayden Christensen Will Return as Darth Vader in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (TBA)
There’s a two decade gap between Anakin’s fall to the Dark Side and Luke’s destruction of the first Death Star. Even with series like “Rebels”, there’s still a lot we don’t know about this period in galactic history. Set ten years after “Revenge of the Sith”, “Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi” will help fill in these gaps. We’ve been excited to see Ewan McGregor reprise his role from the Prequels ever since the series was confirmed back in 2019; but Investor Day brought the news that Hayden Christensen will also return, as Darth Vader! We can’t wait to see master and apprentice share the screen again, further bridging the Prequels and Original Trilogy. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Ms. Marvel” (2021-) Sizzle Kamala Khan Is Getting Her Own Live-Action TV Series An “Alien” Series Fargo’s “Noah Hawley” Is Helming a Series Set on Earth Pixar's Toy Story Prequel “Lightyear” (2022) Chris Evans Will Play the Human Who Inspired the Toy Christian Bale Is Joining the MCU He’ll Play Gorr the God Butcher in “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022) So Many Disney Animated Spin-Offs “Zootopia”, “Moana”, “Tiana” & “Big Hero 6” Are All Getting Spin-Offs
#1: “Loki” (2021-) Official Trailer
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When this mischievous Asgaardian prince came to an abrupt, if heroic end, in “Avengers: Infinity War”, it came as a huge blow for Tom Hiddleston-obsessed fans. Thank goodness, then, for time travel. In “Avengers: Endgame”, the Loki from 2012 used the Space Stone to whisk himself away. But as they say: out of the frying pan into the fire. Disney revealed the first trailer for their new series “Loki” on Investor Day, and in Loki’s words it looks truly [broll: “glorious!”]. As a prisoner of the Time Variance Authority, or TVA, Loki is introduced to a whole new world of trouble by none other than Owen Wilson, as Mobius M. Mobius. From the trailer, the series looks set to feature characters both familiar and new, and give us new perspectives on the Marvel universe.
