CinemaCon: Disney greenlights The Muppets 2, new Pixar film

In the wake of last week’s firing of Disney Studios chairman Rich Ross, evp of theatrical distribution Dave Hollis and production president Sean Bailey took turns to introduce footage from the year’s upcoming slate. Later, Pixar and animation supremo John Lasseter arrived in his customary Hawaiian shirt to talk up the animation roster.

The session began with 3D footage from The Avengers, which opens in 10 territories on Wednesday (25). Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige outlined the release schedule in the years to come, noting that Thor 2 will open on May 15 2013, while Captain America 2 is set for Apr 4, 2014.

Iron Man 3 is set for May 2013 and according to a recorded message from director Shane Black it will be a “technological thriller” and a “crisis movie” against the backdrop of international terrorism.

Bailey, whom many in the industry credit with assembling the upcoming live-action slate, introduced Tim Burton to whet appetites ahead of the Oct 5 release of his stop-motion Frankenweenie. Jennifer Garner turned up to praise family film The Odd Life Of Timothy Green, out on Aug 15.

Jerry Bruckheimer teased audiences with his vision for May 2013 release The Lone Ranger while star Johnny Depp, in his second on-stage appearance following the Warner Bros presentation earlier in the day, remained coy about his interpretation of Tonto. Bailey revealed the studio had just signed Jack White to score the film.

Producer Joe Roth, director Sam Raimi and stars James Franco and Mila Kunis spoke about the March 2013 fantasy release Oz: The Great And Powerful, an origins story inspired by The Wizard Of Oz.

Hollis talked up this year’s two DreamWorks films, Jun 29 release People Like Us, a family drama starring Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks, and Steven Spielberg’s late 2012 release and senior awards contender Lincoln.

Lasseter showed the first 30 minutes of Pixar’s Brave (pictured), the Jun 22 release that takes place in the Scottish Highlands, and said that the studio would re-release Finding Nemo in 3D on Sept 14 and Monsters Inc in 3D on Jan 18, 2013.

The Monsters Inc prequel, Monsters University, will open in summer 2013 and takes place ten years before the events of Monsters Inc. Stars John Goodman and Billy Crystal introduced a clip via video.

The film previously known as Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs will open on May 30 2014 as The Good Dinosaur, while previously announced The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind which Pete Doctor is directing is yet to receive a more succinct title and will open on Jun 19, 2015.

Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich will direct the Mexico-set Dia De Los Muertos.

Lasseter spoke at length about Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Nov 2 release Wreck-It Ralph, starring the voice talent of John C Reilly and Sarah Silverman and set in the world of video game characters.