Disney’s D23 Expo wasn’t just about live-action films. The house of the mouse was obviously built on animation, and the studio didn’t forget its roots in tonight’s big promotional event. Beloved animation studio Pixar had a presence at D23 as well, and they delivered several updates on projects new and familiar while also confirming today’s news of an impending sequel to “Inside Out.”
Before that, the next big theatrical release for Pixar is the film “Elemental,” and the studio revealed actors Mamoudou Athie (“Jurassic World Dominion”) and Leah Lewis (“The Half of It”) as the lead voices. Disney will release the animated toon on June 16, 2023, and it looks like the company is going back to theatrical releases despite the disappointment of “Lightyear.” Obviously, “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” were thrown on Disney+ because of the pandemic.
Pixar also provided a synopsis for “Elemental,” directed by Peter Sohn, known for “The Good Dinosaur.”:
“Elemental” journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember (Lewis) and Wade (Athie), in a city where fire, water, land, and air-residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.
Pixar wasn’t all about sequels, though, and unveiled a new film The new original movie “Elio” centers on an alien and will feature “a boy who finds himself transported across the galaxy and mistaken for the intergalactic Ambassador for our planet Earth.” The voice cast features America Ferrera as Olga Solis and Yonas Kibreab as Elio. “Elio” is already scheduled for spring 2024 and will also be directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.
Some adorable early artwork was also revealed, which you can see below, featuring some unique alien critters.
“Inside Out 2” was revealed earlier today, but Pixar confirmed the news and added that it will arrive in the summer of 2024 with Amy Poehler indeed returning. Screenwriter Meg LeFauve returns to write the sequel, and Kelsey Mann (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Monsters At Work”) takes over directing duties from Pete Docter.
On the streaming front, Pixar revealed comedian Will Forte will be voicing Coach Dan in their original long-form series “Win or Lose” on Disney+. The new series is coming in 2023 and “follows a coed middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game.” It’s also written and directed by story artists Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates.
The Disney Animation side of the company also revealed a new image from “Strange World” that releases in theaters on November 23.
Meanwhile, “Hamilton” and “West Side Story” actress Ariana Debose was announced as the lead for the new film “Wish” by the team behind “Frozen.” The film will center on Asha (Debose), “a 17-year-old who sees a darkness in her kingdom that no one else does, so in a moment of desperation, she makes a passionate plea to the stars. The answer to Asha’s wish is an actual star that falls from the sky to help on her journey.” Alan Tudyk (“Rogue One”) will voice a goat named Valentino.
Finally, Disney revealed “Iwájú!” a new original series set in a futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria, that will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2023.
Tomorrow, Disney’s D23 Expo will showcase Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios films, which will surely provide us with a bevy of new announcements.