Two years ago, in light of the D23 Expo 2015, I named six individuals paramount to the success of The Walt Disney Company who should be named Disney Legends, the highest honor that can be bestowed. I think it is inevitable that Joe Rodhe, for instance, renowned Imagineer with those awesome earrings, who I contended should become a Disney Legend, will one day attain that honor. This prompted me to reflect on individuals within The Walt Disney Company, whether they have more recently joined the corporation or have been directly or indirectly part of its framework, who have a high chance of being recognized as Disney Legends at some point.

I had planned on publishing a column about the next set of individuals who would likely be recognized as Disney Legends, but The Walt Disney Company beat me to the punch by recently issuing a press release of its nine forthcoming Disney Legends. You’ll have to take my word that I predicted Stan Lee, Garry Marshall, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill would be named as Disney Legends this year. That said, I am excited to share my thoughts on these four, as well as five others, who will obtain this major honor at the D23 Expo.