The Walt Disney Company's D23 Entertainment Showcase, held on August 30, 2026, proved once again to be the ultimate fan event for all things Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. While the sprawling presentation contained something for everyone—from new X-Men casting to a Coco sequel—it was the galaxy far, far away that captured the lion's share of attention. Lucasfilm used the Anaheim stage to unveil the first trailer for Ahsoka Season 2, confirm a release date, and tease Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter with an exclusive first look.

Ahsoka Season 2: A Darker Chapter Begins January 20

The most significant Star Wars news came with the debut of the Ahsoka Season 2 trailer. The clip, which immediately generated buzz across social media, presents a considerably darker and more mystically inclined chapter in the story. Set after the fall of the Empire, the series follows Ahsoka Tano as she faces the looming threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn, portrayed with unnerving calm by Lars Mikkelsen. The trailer explicitly paints Thrawn as a strategist poised to plunge the galaxy into a large-scale war, with witchcraft imagery suggesting the return of the Nightsisters and other Force-wielding factions.

Perhaps the biggest thrill for longtime fans is the return of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), glimpsed in Clone Wars-era flashbacks. Costumes and concept art displayed at D23 reinforced this connection, showing Ahsoka in gear reminiscent of her The Clone Wars animated days. As Bespin Bulletin notes, the teaser highlights "Anakin Returns As Thrawn Declares War," which neatly summarizes the dual narrative thrust of the season.

Lucasfilm also confirmed that Ahsoka Season 2 will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on January 20, 2027. The announcement was accompanied by a striking new poster and concept art, which Cosmic Book News reported on in detail.

“Ahsoka is dealing with a 'higher level' of Star Wars compared to the 'ground-level experience' of The Mandalorian and Grogu,” showrunner Jon Favreau told the crowd, setting expectations for a more mythic and Force-heavy saga.

Ryan Gosling Takes Flight in Star Wars: Starfighter

The D23 hall was also treated to the first footage from Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming film starring Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon. While the footage was exclusive to attendees and not released online, reactions from those in the room were overwhelmingly positive. The film is described as a fast-paced, rogue-like adventure centered on a mysterious mission that, according to the official synopsis, could "reshape the Force itself."

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond was particularly enthusiastic, calling the film “a throwback to the Harrison Ford kind of Star Wars.” That quote, captured by Cosmic Book News, suggests a return to the swashbuckling, grounded energy of the original trilogy, as opposed to the more mystical tone of Ahsoka. During the presentation, it was also confirmed that Starfighter would be released in IMAX, alongside Avengers: Secret Wars.

Gosling himself took the stage to introduce the footage, and while the full trailer has yet to surface publicly, GeekTyrant’s editor described it as "awesome." Speculation is already swirling—prompted by a leaked description and a tease from Mynock Manor—that the film might also hint at the return of Ben Solo, though Lucasfilm has neither confirmed nor denied such rumors.

Marvel, Pixar, and More: The Rest of D23

But Star Wars wasn't the only franchise making noise. Marvel Studios used the showcase to drop a special look at Avengers: Doomsday, which featured the return of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom and the first glimpse of the new X-Men cast. The audience also saw James Spader back as a humanoid Ultron in VisionQuest, a project that teases the original Human Torch. In a surprising comedic video, Hugh Jackman begged for a role in Doomsday while being heckled by Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), drawing huge laughs.

On the animation side, Disney announced Coco 2, a live-action Tangled, and Incredibles 3, while the gaming world got a new Kingdom Hearts reveal. The sheer volume of announcements led to many outlets—including IGN, Deadline, and The Verge—publishing comprehensive roundups. As is typical for D23, the event served as a strategic forecast for Disney’s streaming and theatrical slate through 2028.

Framing the Story: What the Coverage Tells Us

The varied coverage from across the media landscape reveals how different outlets prioritized the news. The Verge, for instance, led with Ahsoka and Starfighter, emphasizing their cultural weight. Cosmic Book News concentrated on niche details like IMAX confirmations and costume reveals, catering to hardcore fans. Meanwhile, broad entertainment outlets like Deadline and MSN offered exhaustive lists of every announcement, acknowledging that D23 is as much about the entire Disney ecosystem as any single franchise.

What unites the coverage is a sense that Star Wars is entering a bifurcated era. On one hand, Ahsoka Season 2 is doubling down on the mystical, interconnected lore established in The Clone Wars and Rebels. On the other, Starfighter appears to be a more visceral, character-driven space opera. It's a deliberate strategy by Lucasfilm to appeal to both hardcore continuity fans and general audiences.

With Ahsoka arriving in January and Starfighter on the horizon, 2027 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Star Wars. If the D23 teasers are any indication, the Force will be with both the small and big screens.