Disney movie news: Patty Jenkins to direct new 'Star Wars;' Chris Evans voices Pixar Buzz Lightyear movie

Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the production company behind 2017’s “Wonder Woman.” It was released by Warner Bros.

"Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins is heading to a galaxy far, far, away directing "Rogue Squadron," a new "Star Wars" movie.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy made the announcement that Jenkins would be the first woman to direct a "Star Wars" film at The Walt Disney Company’s Investor Day 2020 Thursday.

Few details for the new film were made available beyond the release date, Christmas 2023. But Jenkins, the daughter of an Air Force pilot, vowed to make the "greatest fighter pilot movie of all time" in a clip shared on Twitter where she was seen boarding an X-wing fighter.

"The legend of 'Rogue Squadron' " has been "long beloved by 'Star Wars' fans," Kennedy said in the presentation. The storied rebel alliance group of X-wing fighters were formed by Luke Skywalker in the saga. Kennedy promised to move the franchise to "a future era of the galaxy."

Disney revealed during the investor presentation it will launch 10 "Star Wars" series on Disney+, as well as 10 Marvel series on the streaming service.

Chris Evans heads to Pixar's 'Lightyear'

In Pixar news, Pete Docter, chief creative officer, announced "Lightyear," the "definitive origin story" for the beloved "Toy Story" character Buzz Lightyear (to date voiced by Tim Allen).

Docter vowed the film would be "an action film" unlike anything done by Pixar studios in the past, promising "a new twist to an iconic character."

The new Buzz Lightyear will be voiced by Captain America, Chris Evans. The film will come to theaters summer 2022. Evans was far from the bombastic Lightyear on Twitter reacting to the news

"I don't even have the words," Evans wrote.

Tom Hanks is heading to 'Pinocchio'

In other film news, Disney confirmed reports that Tom Hanks will star as wood carver Geppetto in a live-action remake of "Pinocchio" for streaming service Disney+.

The project will reunite director Robert Zemeckis and longtime collaborator Hanks. The two have previously worked together on 1994’s "Forrest Gump," 2000’s "Cast Away" and 2004’s "The Polar Express."

Sean Bailey, president of film production for Disney, said the film will incorporate "state of the art CGI."

Bailey announced that "Peter Pan & Wendy" will also fly to Disney+ with Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell and Jude Law as Captain Hook.

More: Disney+: Streaming service will load up on new Marvel, 'Star Wars' and Pixar series

'Raya' will hit Disney+ and theaters at the same time

Disney Animation Studios announced it will release "Raya and the Last Dragon" on Disney+ – with a premier access charge of $30 – the same day it arrives in theaters in March.

The move follows Warner Bros. studios' Dec. 3 announcement that its entire slate of 2021 movies would stream on HBO Max simultaneous to the theatrical release. On Thursday, there was significant attention on Walt Disney Studios to see how the film giant would handle a possible shift of theatrical releases to Disney+.

Disney released "Mulan" on Disney+ with a premier access fee in September after the action film's theatrical release was delayed repeatedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But "Raya" was the main, existing film to make the move to Disney+ at Thursday's investors meeting. The animated film features Kelly Marie Tran as the voice of Raya and Awkwafina as a dragon Sisu.

Disney had already placed Pixar’s "Soul," on Disney+ (with no further charge) for a Dec. 25 streaming release - removing the theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite rumors that Marvel's "Black Widow" would be headed to Disney+ next year, Marvel president Kevin Feige confirmed that Scarlett Johansson's long-delayed Avengers prequel would be released in theaters on May 7, 2021.

The streaming service will still see a boon of new films. Disney CEO Bob Chapek said during the investors meeting that, of 100 movie titles planned, 80% are going straight to Disney+ or Hulu. But "for us it's about balance," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patty Jenkins: First woman to direct 'Star Wars' with 'Rogue Squadron'