Eric Charbonneau/Getty ImagesNearly 5,000 fans rose to their feet when Nicolas Cage, National Treasure star and Disney cash cow, took the stage at the first annual Disney Fan Expo. Cage was promoting his new fantasy-comedy, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, loosely based on the groundbreaking Disney flick, Fantasia.
He told the crowd, "A day like September 11th kind of puts into focus everything that I want to accomplish…I make films for the children. When times get tough it is increasingly important that we put a smile on faces all over world and entertain the entire family and I think that's what the Sorcerer's Apprentice was all about."
Names from the top of the A-list—John Travolta, Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus, Tim Burton—joined Cage to stump for their newest Disney projects. We got sneak peeks of trailers, behind-the-scenes footage and news about movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Prince of Persia.
Here's a rundown (with links) of the juiciest parts of the day:
•Johnny Depp rode in on an elaborate set piece and declared that the 4th Pirates of The Caribbean movie has a name: On Stranger Tides. It will unspool in the summer of 2011.
•Miley Cyrus showed up without her pole. Were fans happy or sad about that? Find out here.
•John Travolta made his first public appearance since the tragic death of his 16-year-old son. The crowd and the Travoltas felt the love. Travolta's newest movie, Old Dogs, bows in November while Wild Hogs 2 is revved up for 2011.
•We saw some footage of Prince of Persia, starring scorching hottie Jake Gyllenhaal and ya know....Not so great. Never judge a movie by it's trailer and all, but Jake seemed kinda silly all beefed up and talking in a kooky English accent. It looked like the Mummy 2, but with more abs and stubble.
•One of Hollywood's steamiest couple came to the event today: Kermit and Miss Piggy! The inter-species couple (when will Kermit finally propose to Pigsies?!) announced the name of their newest project: The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made, to be penned by the loveable goofball Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall).
•The Beatles' classic lo-fi animation flick, Yellow Submarine will be adapted and remade by Robert Zemeckis into a 3D/IMAX movie with a remastered soundtrack.
•Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton will create a feature-length version of his short film about a dead pooch that comes back to life: Frankenweenie (slated for 2011).