Jared Bush, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, has suggested that a Kingdom Hearts feature film is not outside the realm of possibility. His comments come in the wake of significant reveals for the franchise, including new footage for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts IV and the announcement of a Kingdom Hearts animated series for Disney+.
During a discussion with IGN's Jeffrey Vega, Bush addressed the potential for a Kingdom Hearts movie. While offering a reserved response, he stated, "I’d say, I’m always excited to hear what people are passionate about. And I’d say that we have a very bright future of new projects coming out — different ways of putting material out into the world. So I would just say, nothing is impossible." This open-ended statement has fueled speculation among fans, particularly given the recent positive news surrounding the franchise and Disney's acknowledgement of Kingdom Hearts as a "billion-dollar franchise."
The latest Kingdom Hearts IV gameplay shown at D23 featured Sora returning to battle the Heartless. The footage revealed that the game will include the universe of Disney and Pixar's Coco, with Sora wielding a Keyblade themed after Héctor's guitar and sporting calavera face paint. Combat demonstrated Sora using the Keyblade as a skateboard while pursuing a flying Heartless, tethered by a glowing chain. The game's visuals were highlighted, with the "endless city of the dead" offering impressive environmental depth.
Quadratum, a realistic city inspired by modern-day Tokyo, also featured in the new trailer and was previously seen in a surprise trailer during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct. Other characters glimpsed included Mickey, Goofy, and Hades. A panel at D23, titled ‘DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS at D23,’ is scheduled to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the game's development. The panel will feature participants such as Nana Gadd from Disney & Pixar Games, Tai Yasue from Square Enix, and voice actors Haley Joel Osment (Sora) and David Gallagher (Riku), alongside Renée Johnson, who voices some Disney-specific characters.
Kingdom Hearts IV is anticipated for release in late 2027. This news follows the recent announcement of an upcoming Kingdom Hearts animated series slated for Disney+.