D23 App Leaks Kingdom Hearts 4 Panel's Star Guests

Someone at Disney forgot to flip a switch. The official D23 app briefly listed profiles for three major Kingdom Hearts figures ahead of the event's dedicated panel next week, and fans grabbed screenshots before the listings were pulled. As reported by Kingdom Hearts Insider, the three guests are co-director Tai Yasue, Sora voice actor Haley Joel Osment, and Riku voice actor David Gallagher.

Yasue has co-directed the franchise alongside series creator Tetsuya Nomura since Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories on PlayStation 2, so his presence at a panel like this signals something more substantial than a retrospective. Gallagher's listing also effectively confirms that Riku will return in Kingdom Hearts 4, a detail that hadn't been officially nailed down given how few returning characters Square Enix has announced. With Sora and Riku both accounted for, Kairi is the only member of the original trio still unconfirmed.

The panel itself, titled "DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS," is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 at 4:30pm PT. Its official description frames it as a 25th anniversary celebration: "Join us for a journey through light and darkness as we commemorate 25 years of KINGDOM HEARTS. Discover how this saga united Disney, Pixar, and Square Enix, with insights from the creative minds, character voices, and more behind the magic." No streaming plans have been announced, meaning anyone not physically at D23 may be relying on secondhand footage.

Kingdom Hearts 4 was first announced in April 2022 and received a re-reveal during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, but still has no release window. No Disney worlds have been confirmed either, though one trailer appeared to show Endor from Star Wars, and the game has been heavily rumoured to feature the franchise. Bringing a co-director and both lead voice actors to a single panel feels like more than a birthday toast. I'd be surprised if we don't walk away from August 15 with a trailer, a release window, or both.