Top 10 Anticipated Disney Releases of 2024

Because nothing screams Disney like the Chestburster! In all seriousness, Disney was bound to take a crack at the “Alien” franchise after bringing 20th Century Studios into the fold. While it may seem like an odd fit for the brand, Disney distributed the best “Predator” movie since 1987 with “Prey.” “Romulus” could also inject a fresh perspective into the “Alien” series, especially with Fede Álvarez of “Don’t Breathe” and 2013’s “Evil Dead” directing. The film takes place between the 1979 classic and “Aliens,” although the story is more standalone. That seems like a good call since some of the more recent “Alien” movies have gotten bogged down by confusing lore. Given the franchise’s reputation for badass heroines, we fully expect Cailee Spaeny to deliver.

The finale of “Hawkeye” had us all asking the same question: did Maya Lopez kill Wilson Fisk? Well, he just arrived in the MCU and plays a major role in “Echo”... so no, but Lopez did leave him with a nifty eyepatch! This miniseries will not only delve deeper into Lopez’s history with Kingpin, but also her bottled-up trauma and Native American heritage. Where most Disney+ MCU shows have been on the lighthearted side, “Echo” seems closer to the gritty Netflix dramas that started with “Daredevil.” Charlie Cox is also slated to appear as Matt Murdock, which should serve as an entry point for “Daredevil: Born Again.” Above all else, though, we’re looking forward to seeing Alaqua Cox take center stage following her hard-hitting debut.

“The Planet of the Apes” reboot series has done the unthinkable: living up to the original 1968 classic while getting better with each passing entry. “War for the Planet of the Apes” might’ve been a solid place to go out on top, but there’s always room left to evolve. In addition to being Disney’s foray into the franchise, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” will shift the focus away from Andy Serkis’ Caesar. Set eons after Caesar led the apes to prosperity, the story follows Owen Teague as Noa, a chimp attempting to find common ground with a woman named Mae, played by Freya Allan. With apes being the new dominant species and humans treated like feral animals, there’s a fascinating dynamic to explore.

Since wrapping up its initial run in 2015, Phineas and Ferb have popped up in “Milo Murphy’s Law” and the movie “Candace Against the Universe.” Just when you thought summer was officially over, Disney ordered two more seasons consisting of 40 episodes overall. Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh are both returning along with most of the original staff. While Povenmire promises that the revival will essentially be “the same show as before,” there is one major difference. Where the first four seasons took place over one summer, Season 5 is jumping ahead to the following summer. The timeshift should bring a new ingredient to the formula while remaining faithful to the show we know and love. Baby, we’re back!

We’re a few years away from another movie, but “Star Wars” fans won’t be lacking in content. Ubisoft is taking an open-world approach to a galaxy far, far away in “Star Wars Outlaws.” On the streaming side, “Andor” is returning for its second and final season while “The Acolyte” takes place a long time ago. We’re taking a century before “Phantom Menace.” “Skeleton Crew” has us the most excited thanks in part to the involvement of Jon Watts, who helmed the MCU “Spider-Man” trilogy. Reteaming with Christopher Ford, Watts directs a cast including Jude Law as a Force user. However, the story will mostly focus on four kids, giving the project an Amblin vibe ala “Goonies.” Speaking of childhood staples, look out for Jaleel White!

Years after litterally stealing the show on “WandaVision,” we still have “Agatha All Along” stuck in our heads. Kathryn Hahn returns in this miniseries as Agatha Harkness, who has escaped captivity, but is left depowered. On a quest to jumpstart her magic, Agatha conjures a coven of familiar names, including Aubrey Plaza and Patti LuPone. While the supporting cast may help flesh out Agatha as a more sympathetic character, we could see this show going two ways. Either Agatha will be redeemed like Loki or she’ll find that wickedness is simply in her nature. Considering what she did to Sparky, we’re not sure Agatha will ever be a good witch, but whichever path she goes down, it’s sure to be spellbinding.

Marvel has assembled an impressive animation slate for 2024. The “Zombies” episode of “What If...?” will be expanded upon in a spinoff while Spider-Man’s freshman year is explored in a show separate from MCU continuity. “X-Men ‘97” is the series that we’ve waited the longest for. How long? Well, it’s kind of in the title. Set in the same universe as the game-changing Fox Kids series, “X-Men ‘97” picks up where its predecessor left off with much of the original voice cast returning. The original series notably ended with an ailing Charles Xavier departing from Earth, leaving the X-Men on an uncertain but optimistic note. The revival sees Wolverine and Storm attempt to keep the team going, but something sinister inevitably stands in their way.

Although the X-Men have made a few sporadic MCU appearances since the Fox deal went through, “Deadpool 3” is Disney’s first true crack at the franchise. It’s also poised to be the MCU’s first R-rated feature because a PG-13 Deadpool just isn’t gonna cut it. Ryan Reynolds returns as the Merc with a Mouth, and he isn’t alone. Wade Wilson will fulfill his lifelong dream of fighting alongside Wolverine, played by the one and only Hugh Jackman in yellow spandex to boot. While Jackman has said that he’s done playing Wolverine before, “Deadpool 3” will most likely be his last last stand. As such, the film should serve as a bridge between universes with some old favorites returning while establishing the next generation of mutants.

Retiring “Song of the South” to the briar patch, Disney gave Splash Mountain a sendoff in 2023. While Splash Mountain still exists in Tokyo’s Critter Country, Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom will be giving the log flume ride a “Princess and the Frog” makeover. Taking place a year after the 2009 film, the ride’s narrative sees Tiana go down the bayou as she seeks out a rare ingredient for a Carnival celebration. Although the story is different, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure follows a similar trajectory as Splash Mountain, building to a steep drop. In this case, the drop comes courtesy of a salt dome. With a TV series also in the works, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of Tiana.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Mufasa: The Lion King” (2024)
Barry Jenkins Is Our King

“Moana” (2024)
How Far Will This TV Series Go?

“The Disney Afternoon: The Making of a Television Renaissance” (2024)
Our Coffee Table Deserves a Book Like This

Disney Treasure Cruise
With a Water Coaster & Rotational Dining, This Ship is the Loot of a Thousand Worlds

Fantasy Springs
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Pixar is stepping up to the plate with their first original long-form animated show, a sports comedy entitled “Win or Lose.” On the big screen, the studio will be revisiting one of their most beloved properties. The puberty button teased at the end of “Inside Out” had to be pressed eventually. “Inside Out 2” introduces Riley to a few new emotions, including Maya Hawke as Anxiety. While Pixar’s sequels have been hit-and-miss, “Inside Out 2” seems more in line with “Toy Story 2” than “Cars 2.” Just as we watched Andy grow up, Riley may go through a similar journey. The difference is that you can leave childhood toys behind. Emotions are forever, which should make for a compelling second chapter in this coming-of-age tale.

What’s your favorite anticipated Disney release for 2024? Let us know in the comments!