Disney Drops Release Dates for ‘Incredibles 3’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch 2.’ Fans Have Thoughts
Disney is doubling down on two of its most beloved franchises — but not everyone is celebrating the news.
The entertainment giant officially announced release dates for both Incredibles 3 and Lilo & Stitch 2, giving audiences concrete dates to circle on their calendars.
Lilo & Stitch 2 will arrive on May 26, 2028, while Incredibles 3 will follow just weeks later on June 16, 2028.
The announcements came from Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro during the company’s March 18 shareholder call, according to Variety.
The dates were subsequently shared on Disney and Pixar’s social media accounts, where they quickly sparked a flood of reactions — not all of them enthusiastic.
‘Incredibles 3’ Carries the Weight of a Billion-Dollar Franchise
Incredibles 3 has some big shoes to fill as the third installment of the superhero-family franchise.
The original film was a significant success, earning $630 million at the worldwide box office, per Variety. But the sequel raised the bar dramatically, becoming a box-office juggernaut with $1.24 billion worldwide.
That kind of performance places enormous expectations on any follow-up, and the threequel arrives with a notable change behind the scenes.
Incredibles 3 will be the first installment in the franchise made without Brad Bird as director. Bird, who directed both the original and the sequel, will remain involved as screenwriter and producer. Taking over the directing chair is Peter Sohn, best known for Partly Cloudy, Elemental and The Good Dinosaur.
The directorial shift, combined with the lengthy wait until 2028, has left some fans expressing frustration and skepticism on social media.
“Honestly, the fact they’re already announcing a 2028 release makes it feel like they care more about hype than actually telling a good story. Five years of marketing before a single frame hits theaters is insane,” one X user said of the two-year wait for Incredibles 3.
“Sigh ill be 24 at a theater full of kids who dont know the lore of the first and second movie,” another X user wrote.
Not all responses were negative, however. Some fans expressed genuine enthusiasm — even if that excitement was tempered by the reality of waiting.
“I’m so excited about this! But why tell us this two years in advance?” someone wrote on Instagram.
“We need to hurry and invent time travel cause I can’t wait!” another Instagram user wrote.
Others questioned whether the sequel was necessary at all, suggesting Disney and Pixar should be pursuing fresh storytelling instead of revisiting established properties.
“To be honest I’d rather see another original idea manifest into a movie for Pixar rather than another incredibles. We all know and love incredibles, but this is like doing a Cars 4,” a third Instagram user commented.
‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ Follows a Record-Breaking — But Divisive — First Film
The announcement of Lilo & Stitch 2 carries its own set of complications. The film is the sequel to the franchise’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, which was released in 2025.
By the numbers, the live-action adaptation was a clear success. It earned $183 million domestically and $341 million worldwide over Memorial Day weekend in 2025 — the biggest Memorial Day weekend debut in history, per Variety.
Those figures made a strong business case for a follow-up.
But the audience response told a more complicated story. Fans had mixed reactions, with some loving the live-action take and others preferring the animated versions of the characters and story.
That division has carried over into reactions to the sequel announcement.
“If this is the sequel to the live action that flopped and no one watched then no wonder bob iger is stepping down lol,” an X user wrote of the live-action sequel.
“Why? The first one wasn’t even good! Disney is definitely out of ideas! This is honestly just sad!” a second X user commented.
On Instagram, fans voiced complaints rooted in specific story decisions from the first live-action film.
“Unless Jumba gets redemption like the original I will skip it. That was a terrible ending,” an Instagram user commented.
And at least one commenter brought a personal memory to the discussion, referencing the animated sequel from years past rather than the live-action franchise.
“Y’all, Lilo & Stitch 2 TRAUMATIZED ME as a child that loved Stitch - viewers beware!!!” another Instagram comment read.
With both films scheduled for release within three weeks of each other in the summer of 2028, Disney is clearly staking out a dominant position in what promises to be a competitive movie season.
For now, Disney has planted its flags. The real test comes when cameras roll and the films finally reach theaters.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
