Moments ago, fans attending the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, along with more than 1.3 M concurrent players around the world watching live in Fortnite, were treated to all the latest reveals and first looks at new Disney content coming to Fortnite this year. Disney leaders from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, and Marvel Studios also shared their vision for what’s possible in the future entertainment universe being created by Epic Games in collaboration with Disney.
DISNEY & EPIC GAMES
Imagine a place where all your favorite Disney characters and worlds converge in one connected universe — where you can watch, play, and even create your own adventures. Earlier this year, Disney announced a new collaboration with Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, to build all-new games and entertainment universe.
While this new experience is still a few years away, during the showcase, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro invited four of the world’s best storytellers to join him on stage and share their excitement at bringing their creativity to this new storytelling medium.
Their remarks were live-streamed to Fortnite in an immersive experience created exclusively for the showcase – the Disney Horizons Live from D23 island. Made using Epic’s Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), this interactive social watch party enabled players to engage with the showcase through cheers, mini-games, and spectacular visual effects.
The message for fans and players alike – Disney is all in on this new universe.
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS
First up, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee shared her team’s excitement at the potential for this collaboration, along with a delightfully vile sneak peek for fans of Disney Villains. “We can’t wait to create new ways for the audience to enjoy their favorite Disney characters and worlds,” Jennifer shared. Later this Fall, Maleficent, Cruella de Vil and Captain Hook will become the first Disney Animation characters to join Fortnite.
PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS
Innovation and pushing the limits of creativity and imagination are at the heart of what has made Pixar beloved around the world, and for Pete Docter, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, this new collaboration with Epic will give his team the opportunity to experiment with original ideas in new formats.
“We’ve always looked at technology as a great partner with the storytelling that we’re trying to do,” Pete said. “We’re excited about playing with new original ideas and formats with Epic. So, the possibilities are endless.”
Pete also shared a glimpse at upcoming content launching later this Fall in Fortnite – the first from Pixar – with The Incredibles.
STAR WARS
Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni shared a sneak peek at new Star Wars characters and items coming to Fortnite. “We’re really excited about this collaboration with Epic and what it can mean for our galaxy and our storytelling,” he shared on stage. IG-11, Moff Gideon and all-new Grogu dynamic Back Bling arrive… next week!
MARVEL STUDIOS
From films to gaming, fans of Marvel will recall the very first entertainment gameplay crossover ever in Fortnite – the addition of the Infinity Gauntlet from “Avengers: Infinity War” in 2018.
Today’s crossover event started inside Fortnite with a thrilling in-game conclusion to the current season of Battle Royale, where the power of Pandora’s Box re-emerged as the catalyst for an on-stage world premiere of a new cinematic and gameplay trailer revealing the origins of a new upcoming Marvel-themed season, presented on-stage at D23 by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
Drop in on Friday, Aug. 16, as the story continues in Fortnite Battle Royale’s Chapter 5, Season 4: Absolute Doom, featuring Fantastic Four Super Villain Doctor Doom! “A lot of people learn about our characters for the first time … Thanos, Galactus … through Fortnite,” explained Kevin. “Games have become an extension of our storytelling, and I can’t wait for everybody to see what we have in store in the future with this amazing collaboration.”
The new season will allow players from around the world to continue the Fortnite and Marvel story with new action-packed gameplay and locations to explore.
If you want to relive the experience, or missed it the first time, the Disney Horizons Live from D23 island in Fortnite will be accessible until Aug. 16 using island code 7908-6413-2516, or by finding it in Fortnite’s “Discover” menu.
[Editor’s note – did we forget Fishpool? We can’t forget Fishpool!]
Josh D’Amaro“At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build these stories into real places. And we have Imagineers in place right now all around the world because everything we’re going to share with you is in active development. Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’re going to hear tonight.”
Who knows what our collective imagination will think up next. Follow along every step of the way on the Disney Parks Blog and get a behind-the-scenes peek at what we’re dreaming up by following Imagineering on Instagram.
Want to catch up on everything? Find out what happened during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase now on our D23 Event for 2024 hub.