Incoming Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro appeared confident when speaking to shareholders Wednesday for the first time since being anointed Bob Iger’s successor. It helped he came with a bit of exclusive news to upbeat news to deliver: release dates for the next installment in the live-action Lilo & Stitch sequel and Incredibles 3.
Lilo & Stitch 2 will open in cinemas May 26, 2028, the beginning of the long Memorial Day weekend. It is following the same exact release pattern plan that Lilo did in 2025 on its way to becoming a surprise hit that grossed north of $1.33 billion at the global box office, thanks to families and avid Gen Zer moviegoers who grew up on the 2002 animated film.
D’Armo also addressed the delicate balance between original storytelling and franchises, or making live-action adaptations of animated films that Millennials and Gen Zers grew up watching. He also pointed to highlights of this year’s slate; The Devil Wears Prada sequel, a new Ice Age movie and Avengers: Endgame.
His mantra: “Storytelling is at the heart of all we do.” D’Aarmo comes from the Disney Parks side of the aisle. Movie leader and Disney Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman dominated the box office last year, commanding as almost as much as 30 percent of the market place, and were the only Hollywood studio to see three of its film cross the $1 billion mark globally after the Chinese box office (at least to degree). Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia’s current global total is $1.866 billion, the top-grossing animated film of all time, the ninth-biggest among any movie and the top-grossing movie of all time in China.
Iger’s successor aslo said original stories are immeasurable in terms of their value across all divisions of the comany.
The nostalgia factor is cross-generational when it comes to Toy Story. The threequel opens in theaters June 14. The mid-summer date has always been considered lucky charm by Pixar.
“Toy Story 5 is part of an incredible theatrical slate of films that includes the just-released original animated film Hoppers,” which is critically acclaimed and off to a terrific start, as well as The Devil Wears Prada sequel alongside the live-action Moana this summer, and Avengers: Doomsday in December. He also referenced new Star Wars, Ice Age and Frozen movies in 2027.
Dean Fleischer Camp directed last summer’s Lilo, a remake of the 2002 movie. Chris Sanders, who co-created, co-wrote and co-directed the original animated movie and voices Stitch, will write the sequel.
Incredibles 3 has Elemental director Peter Sohn taking over the reigns from Brad Bird, who directed the first two installments of the animated superhero franchise.