The biennial D23 expo has become Disney’s main stage for calendar reveals, first-look footage, and star appearances spanning its film and television slate. This year’s presentation leaned heavily on legacy franchises, with two of the loudest moments centering on properties separated by more than two decades of Disney history.
The New Simpsons Movie Lands a Date
Footage shown at D23 depicts Homer Simpson — voiced once again by Dan Castellaneta — chasing a ball at a baseball game. The gag escalates quickly, with the chase spiraling out of control and producing what Disney described as seriously destructive, and funny, results.
Pinning a firm Sept. 3, 2027 release gives the studio a clear runway to market the film and signals Disney’s confidence that The Simpsons can carry a theatrical tentpole nearly 20 years after 2007’s The Simpsons Movie grossed over $527 million worldwide. The early fall slot also positions it away from summer blockbuster congestion while still capturing family audiences.
Princess Diaries 3 Still Finding Its Footing
Unlike the Simpsons announcement, Princess Diaries 3 arrived at D23 without a first look or a release date. Hathaway, who returns as Genovia’s Queen Mia Thermopolis, appeared in person to reassure fans that the project remains active.
“Being part of the Disney family also means being part of a legacy studio that deeply values the family audience it makes content for,” Hathaway told the crowd. “It’s why we are working so hard to get The Princess Diaries 3 right. Thanks for your patience.”
The remarks stop short of confirming a production start, and the absence of footage suggests the script or creative package is still in flux. Complicating matters, Julie Andrews — who played Mia’s grandmother, Queen Clarice Renaldi, in the 2001 original and its 2004 sequel — confirmed this week that she will not return for the third installment.
Legacy Bets and Audience Expectations
The contrast between the two announcements underscores a broader Disney strategy at D23 2026: trade on recognizable IP, but manage expectations when the creative process is unfinished. The Simpsons film comes with a date, a star, and a tone already locked. Princess Diaries 3 comes with a star, a promise, and little else.
For Disney, the risk in delaying Princess Diaries 3 is audience fatigue. The sequel has been rumored and restarted multiple times since The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Each public update without a release window raises the bar for what fans will accept as a finished product.
What Happens Next
Watch for Disney to attach a teaser or full trailer to a 2026 holiday release ahead of The New Simpsons Movie’s 2027 bow, and expect Princess Diaries 3 to surface again at a future D23 or a Disney earnings call with either a director announcement or a production start date. If neither arrives within the next year, the project’s momentum — and Hathaway’s goodwill with fans — will face a harder test.
— Lucas Berg, entertainment desk, AXO News