The Walt Disney Studios announced an updated film release schedule following the acquisition of the Fox film studios (see “Disney-Fox Deal Signed”), which includes several adjustments of previously competing films, as well as announcements of several new ones, including three Star Wars films.
Disney stated that the original Skywalker Saga will conclude with December’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and the three untitled Star Wars films will release on the pre-Christmas weekend every other year beginning in 2022.
James Cameron’s long-in-development Avatar sequels were pushed back again, with Avatar 2 moving from December 18, 2020 to December 17, 2021 – when Avatar 3 was previously scheduled. Avatar 3 is now scheduled for December 22, 2023; Avatar 4 on December 19, 2025; and Avatar 5 on December 17, 2027. This way, they are scheduled for holiday weekend releases in years opposite Star Wars films.
Several dates for Marvel Studios features were outlined, but nothing about plots were released. It looks like Dark Phoenix and New Mutants will be the last official X-Men features kept on the schedule.
“We’re excited to put in place a robust and diverse slate that lays the foundation of our long-term strategy, bringing together a breadth of films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox, Fox Searchlight and Blue Sky Studios to create an extraordinary collection of cinematic experiences for audiences around the world,” said Cathleen Taff, president, Theatrical Distribution, Franchise Management, and Business & Audience Insights, The Walt Disney Studios.
The full schedule can be seen below, and ICv2’s Best in Shows Index will be updated soon.
2019 Films
- May 10 – Tolkien (Fox Searchlight)
- May 24 – Aladdin (Disney)
- June 7 – Dark Phoenix (Fox)
- June 21 – Toy Story 4 (Pixar)
- July 12 – Stuber (Fox)
- July 19 – The Lion King (Disney)
- Aug. 9 – The Art of Racing in the Rain (Fox)
- Aug. 23 – Ready or Not (Fox Searchlight)
- Sept. 20 – Ad Astra (Fox)
- Oct. 4 – The Woman in the Window (Fox)
- Oct. 18 – Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Disney)
- Nov. 15 – Ford V. Ferrari (Fox)
- Nov. 22 – Frozen 2 (Disney)
- Dec. 20 – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm)
- Dec. 25 – Spies in Disguise (Fox)
2020 Films
- Jan. 10 – Underwater (Fox)
- Feb. 14 – Untitled Kingsman Movie (Fox)
- Feb. 21 – Call of the Wild (Fox)
- March 6 – Onward (Disney)
- March 27 – Mulan (Disney)
- April 3 – New Mutants (Fox)
- May 1 – Untitled Marvel Film (Disney)
- May 29 – Artemis Fowl (Disney)
- June 19 – Untitled Pixar Animation Film (Disney)
- July 3 – Free Guy (Fox)
- July 17 – Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
- July 24 – Jungle Cruise (Disney)
- Aug. 14 – The One and Only Ivan (Disney)
- Oct. 9 – Death on the Nile (Fox)
- Nov. 6 – Untitled Marvel Film (Marvel)
- Nov. 6 – Ron’s Gone Wrong (Fox)
- Nov. 25 – Untitled Disney Animation (Disney)
- Dec. 18 – West Side Story (Fox)
- Dec. 23 – Cruella (Disney)
2021 Films
- Feb. 12 – Untitled Marvel Film (Disney)
- March 5 – Nimona (Fox)
- March 12 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film (Disney)
- May 7 – Untitled Marvel Film (Marvel)
- May 28 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film (Disney)
- June 18 – Untitled Pixar Animation Film (Disney)
- July 9 – Untitled Indiana Jones Movie (Disney)
- July 30 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film (Disney)
- Oct. 8 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film (Disney)
- Nov. 5 – Untitled Marvel Movie (Marvel)
- Nov. 24 – Untitled Disney Animation Film (Disney)
- Dec. 17 – Avatar 2 (Fox)
2022 Films
- Feb. 18 – Untitled Marvel Film (Marvel)
- March 18 – Untitled Pixar Film
- May 6 – Untitled Marvel Film (Marvel)
- May 27 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film
- June 17 – Untitled Pixar Movie
- July 8 -Untitled Disney Live Action Film
- July 29 – Untitled Marvel Film (Marvel)
- Oct. 7 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film
- Nov. 4 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film
- Nov. 23 – Untitled Disney Animation Film
- Dec. 16 – Untitled Star Wars Movie (Lucasfilm)
2023 Films
- Feb. 17 – Untitled Disney Live Action Film
- Dec. 22 – Avatar 3 (Fox)
2024 Films
- Dec. 20 – Untitled Star Wars Film (Lucasfilm)
2025 Films
- Dec. 19 – Avatar 4 (Fox)
2026 Films
- Dec. 18 – Untitled Star Wars Film (Lucasfilm)
2027 Films
- Dec. 17 – Avatar 5 (Fox)