D23 Announcements: News on the future of Marvel and Star Wars

Every two years, Disney fans celebrate their heroes and heroines at what has become the world's largest Disney fan fair - the D23 Expo. It has long been good manners for Disney to use the opportunity to contribute to the general euphoria with new trailers and announcements itself.

Let's take a look at the most important from the "Marvel" and "Star Wars" universes.

Secret Invasion

Marvel finally showed the long-awaited trailer for the series adaptation of "Secret Invasion", one of the best and most popular sagas in the Marvel Comics universe. At the centre: the long-planned invasion of Earth by the Skrulls, alien shape-shifters who have been secretly replacing superheroines and heroes throughout the Marvel universe with impostors from their own ranks for years. In keeping with the motto: "Who can you trust anymore?"

Movie fans have known the Skrulls since "Captain Marvel." Samuel L. Jackson will once again take on the role of probably the best secret agent in the world: Nick Fury. I like the trailer. It looks nice and dark and serious. A welcome change from the massively disappointing kids' stuff Marvel is currently pumping out on Disney+ - especially "She-Hulk".

Start date: 2023.

Werewolf by Night

A trailer I celebrate for its otherness. Visually, "Werewolf by Night" is strongly reminiscent of the good old 1950s black and white horror films from Hammer Film Productions. And although the film appears on Disney+, it comes across as pleasantly creepy and gory. I don't trust Marvel with that much courage these days. But I'm happy to be surprised. Besides, Michael Giacchino is directing, actually a film composer, among others for "Doctor Strange", the "Spider-Man: Homecoming" trilogy and "Thor: Love and Thunder". An interesting choice.

"Werewolf by Night" is based on the Marvel comics of the same name. It centres on Jack Russell, a Romanian descendant of a family once cursed by Count Dracula himself: All family members turn into wild beasts on their eighteenth birthday. Russell does manage to control his bloodthirsty urges - over the years he repeatedly helps other Marvel heroines fight monsters, including Moon Knight - but first and foremost he's still trying to break the family curse so he can finally live a normal life.

Start: 7 October

Loki, Season 2

First moving footage of the second season of "Loki" was unfortunately not shown publicly, but only behind closed doors. Leaks, however, speak of "scary stuff" and of Loki revealing Kang's face behind a wall at TVA, the Time Variance Authority, and showing Mobius. "Terrible, terrible things torn through time" Loki is said to have seen. It was also confirmed by cast and crew on the D23 Expo stage that the second, six-part season will get the multiverse saga rolling
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Start date: mid-2023.

The Thunderbolts

Also, there was no official moving footage of "The Thunderbolts", an upcoming Marvel feature film. But there was an official casting list. That's important. After all, the Thunderbolts are to the Marvel universe what the Suicide Squad is to DC. Namely, the squad that does the dirty jobs that the dazzling heroes can't do. In the comics, they were once formed by Baron Zemo to fight the Avengers. But after the Avengers temporarily disappear from the scene, the Thunderbolts begin to fill the void and actually take a liking to heroics - voilà: the birth of the anti-hero squad.

In Marvel Cinematic.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for now, these are:

• Chief Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
• Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
• Super Soldier John Walker aka U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
• Black Widow Yelena (Florence Pugh)
• Alexei Shostakov aka Red Guardian (David Harbour)
• Antonia Dreykov aka Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko)
• Ava Starr aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)

Cinema release date: 26 July 2024

The Mandalorian, Season 3

Let's get to "Star Wars." After the first mini-teaser a few weeks ago, Lucasfilm is finally coming out with the first, official teaser trailer for the third "The Mandalorian" season. Back with us: Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, Baby Yoda, Carol Weathers as Greef Karga and Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan.

The trailer promises a lot of Star Wars action. But above all, a possible civil war among Mandalorians. After all, Din Djarin won the legendary Darksaber in battle against Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon - and with it the leadership over the Mandalorians. Only Bo-Katan doesn't seem to agree with that: The only way to change that is to defeat Din Djarin, their erstwhile ally, in single combat as well. And as if that weren't enough, Djarin has to return to his home - Mandalore - destroyed by the Empire anyway, in order to purify himself. Because pulling off his helmet and baring his face in front of other living beings is not "the way" of the Mandalorians.

Start date: February 2023.

Andor

A new, final trailer. Because after a long wait, "Andor", the prequel to "Rogue One" and perhaps the most ambitious "Star Wars" series to date, will soon finally be launched. After all, it was only filmed on real sets or directly on location - without the sometimes great, but sometimes constricting volume. Two seasons of twelve episodes of one hour each are planned down to the smallest detail. I have already been allowed to see the first four episodes. I'm not allowed to talk about them yet. Not until 20 September, when my review will be published. I'll only say this much: Stay tuned, it's worth it.

Start: 21 September

Tales of the Jedi

At last we have the first, official trailer for "Tales of the Jedi". The series was written by "Clone Wars" creator Dave Filoni and focuses on two Jedis: Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano. Six episodes it comprises - six short stories, to be precise. I'm excited.

Start: 26 October

Ahsoka

Disappointing: still no trailer for the upcoming "Ahsoka" live-action series. Just a bit of "heat" from creator Dave Filoni, who confirms there will be "incredible lightsaber battles" to watch. Still secret are details about the plot. What is likely, however, is that we will follow Ahsoka, once again played by Rosario Dawson, across the galaxy on her quest to find Grand Admiral Thrawn and Jedi friend Ezra Bridger.

Already confirmed is who will play Ezra: Eman Esfandi, known from "King Richard". Also joining the cast are Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Mandalorian and one-time leader of the Darksaber Sabine Wren.

Start date: 2023.

Skeleton Crew

Last but not least, here's a first official image from "The Skeleton Crew" starring Jude Law. Very much in the style of a 1980s Amblin entertainment film by Steven Spielberg, it centres on a group of 10-year-old kids who get lost on a planet and have to find their way home. Historically, it is set after "Star Wars: Episode VI". It is quite possible that the children will sooner or later run into the Mandalorian or even Ahsoka.

Start: 2023