For many years, Andrew Cripps gained recognition at CinemaCon for appearing at Warner Bros.’ presentations dressed in various outfits. This year, however, he made his entrance in an entirely different capacity: as the newly appointed chief of theatrical distribution for Disney.
Cripps assumed the role from Tony Chambers, who currently holds the title of Disney’s president for EMEA. This transition occurred during a period when Disney's strong performance in 2024 shifted into 2025 with challenges; “Captain America: Brave New World” struggled merely to cover costs, whereas “Snow White,” one of the remakes, becameDisney’s most significant failure in this category.
Luckily for the studio, the remainder of this year’s lineup appears far more promising. Cripps pointed out that upcoming releases will follow an extended theatrical run similar to Disney’s strategy over the last couple of years. This move was made quietly; Disney began implementing a 100-day exclusive theater period beginning with “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Notably, they did not advertise the simultaneous availability on Disney+ before the movie became available via streaming.
"I've been sitting where you are for many years, marveling at the extensive range of Disney’s projects, and it's truly an honor to be standing here today to share with you what we have planned for your cinemas in the months to come," he stated.
The modifications were not confined to Cripps alone. Previously, Disney opted out of having cast and filmmaker appearances at CinemaCon, unlike other studios which participated fully. Instead, they chose to show extensive previews without anyone present. This year, however, they reverted to the conventional approach by hosting in-person presentations featuring various film casts.
The show opened with a sneak peek of "Lilo & Stitch," with Lilo, played by the six-year-old Maia Kealoha, trying and failing to get the CGI Stitch to put down a soda gun.
Kevin Feige made a unusual appearance by sending a video message to CinemaCon participants instead of showing up personally, since he was working on the London set for "Avengers: Doomsday." In his pre-recorded address, he unveiled an initial glimpse of Julia Garner portraying the Silver Surfer in " Fantastic Four: First Steps." Additionally, the actors from " Thunderbolts" attended the event physically to showcase one of their movie’s action sequences.
A particularly fascinating element of the showcase was 20th Century Studios, currently led by David Greenbaum. Alongside series such as "Predator: Badlands," this studio is also responsible for mainstream biopics including "Deliver Me From Nowhere," where Jeremy Allen White portrays Bruce Springsteen. This venture into more adult-oriented content mirrors what Disney used to distribute through divisions like Touchstone Pictures.
At CinemaCon, viewers were among the first to see what Greenbaum has been working on with "Ella McCay," a comedy-drama featuring Emma Mackey as an ambitious lawmaker who unexpectedly becomes the governor of Rhode Island after the incumbent steps down. At just 34 years old, she now faces the challenge of juggling her demanding role with her own familial issues. This movie is presently being filmed, directed by James L. Brooks, who also attended the event to accept an accolade from Cinema United.
However, following brief glimpses at Pixar’s “Elio” and Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2,’ the program concluded with the premiere of a teaser for what could potentially become this year’s top-grossing feature, titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” This project signifies an important juncture in director James Cameron’s ambitious series spanning five installments set on Pandora. The clip introduces us to a rebellious group known as the Ash People—a faction of Na’vi who have distanced themselves from Eywa’s influence.
Although Disney might be facing challenges with some of their recently released films, both "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Snow White" remain at the top as the highest-earning movies this year. With the remainder of its lineup set for release, it’s anticipated that Disney will secure the title of the leading box office studio in Hollywood for the ninth time within the last decade.
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