Most fans were expecting several surprises at theD23 Expo’s Worlds, Galaxies, and Universes: Live Action at TheWalt Disney Studiospanel yesterday, and they were not disappointed. When the official schedule was released last month, the studio announced that upcoming movies such asAlice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass,The Jungle Book, Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil WarandStar Wars: The Force Awakenswould be presented, but fans were treated with much more than that. Along with the surprise additions ofThe Finest Hours,Beauty and the Beast,Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talesand Marvel’sDoctor Strange, the studio presentedPete’s Dragonto the D23 crowd, with starBryce Dallas Howardtaking the stage in a Disney t-shirt.
Bryce Dallas Howardjoined President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production PresidentSean Baileyon stage to talk about her starring role inPete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film. The heartwarming adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon,Pete’s Dragonis directed byDavid Lowery, produced byJim Whitaker, and executive-produced by Barrie M. Osborne. The film starsOakes Fegley,Wes Bentley,Karl Urban, Oona Laurence andRobert Redford.
Pete’s Dragonopens in U.S. theaters on August 05, 2025. The Disney family movie goes up against Sony Pictures’animated moviecomedySausage PartyandSpectral, a newaction-thrillerfrom Universal Pictures. The originalPete’s Dragon, which was also a live-action/animated hybrid, hit theaters in November 1977, starring Helen Reddy, Jim Dale,Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters and Sean Marshall.
Pete’s Dragonalso opens one week after Warner Bros.' highly-anticipated superhero movieSuicide Squad. While both movies surely have vastly different audiences,Suicide Squadis expected to perform well, and it could affectPete’s Dragon’s box office performance if the film opens huge. Of course, we have no clue how this box office race will pan out for certain, but it is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
In case you weren’t able to make it to the D23 Expo yesterday, we have a new video featuring highlights from thePete’s Dragonpanel, along with a new interview with starBryce Dallas Howard. Since we still have just under one year until this remake hits theaters, it isn’t immediately clear when fans will get to see the first trailer, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted as soon as the trailer debuts online. Until then, check out the panel highlights andBryce Dallas Howard’s interview below.
