Star Wars: Disney removes new instalment of iconic film franchise from 2026 schedule, replaced by Ice Age 6

A new Star Wars movie scheduled for release in late 2026 has been removed from Disney’s line-up for that year.

The studio had been due to release another film from the sci-fi franchise, for which details hadn’t been disclosed, on December 18, 2026, but it has now been taken off the schedule and instead, the recently announced Ice Age 6 will be taking its place, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.

Disney revealed at its recent biennial fan event D23 in Brazil that the follow-up to 2016’s Ice Age: Collision Course had gone into production, with Ray Romano, Queen Latifah and John Leguizamo all reprising their voice roles.

A video clip showed Romano shivering in a blanket as he said: “Ray Romano here with some big news! Wow, it’s cold in here. Did the AC break or something?”

Latifah was then seen calling her co-star and she said: “Hey Ray, ready to give the big announcement? I see you got my gift. I thought it would be fun.”

As she said it, snow began to fall on the sound stage and Ray then declared: “Ice Age 6 is coming to theatres.”

Leguizamo closed out the video saying: “The Herd is back, baby! I gotta call everybody I know.”

The film will mark the first theatrical title for the series since Disney’s purchase of 21st Century Fox in 2019.

Meanwhile, plans are still in place to release Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu - a spinoff from the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian - on 22 May 2026, while director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is working on another film in the franchise focused on Daisy Ridley’s character Rey Skywalker.

And on November 7, the studio announced Simon Kinberg had been brought in to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy, which will be produced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter the films will involve new characters and not be a continuation of the main nine-movie series.