Pixar is reportedly considering reboots of its early hit movies, “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles.” In an interview with Bloomberg, Pixar President Jim Morris revealed that the studio is exploring the idea of revamping these classics as part of a broader strategy to balance new, original ideas with sequels and spinoffs. Morris explained that this initiative aims to remind audiences of what they once loved about Pixar, while also introducing fresh content.
Morris disclosed plans to release three movies every two years, with every other project being a sequel or spinoff, and the rest being standalone concepts or potential seeds for new franchises. This approach marks a slight increase from Pixar’s previous output of roughly one movie per year.
The report follows significant layoffs at Pixar, which recently cut 14% of its workforce, affecting around 175 employees. Despite this, the studio is refocusing on theatrical releases while also planning some content for Disney+. Notably, “Dream Productions,” a spinoff of “Inside Out” set in the universe of main character Riley’s dreams, is scheduled to air next year.
Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter highlighted “Finding Nemo” (2003) as a particular point of interest. Given that “Finding Nemo” and its sequel “Finding Dory” (2016) grossed $2 billion worldwide, Docter sees ample opportunity to explore new adventures in the ocean’s vast expanse. He humorously noted, “The ocean’s a big place. I think there’s a lot of opportunity there. We’re kind of fishing around — ha-ha.”
The plan to focus on sequels and reboots comes with its risks, especially if upcoming projects like “Inside Out 2” perform poorly. The failure of the “Toy Story” spinoff “Lightyear” is a reminder of these risks. Pixar’s Senior Vice President of Development, Lindsey Collins, shared a candid moment when her son dismissed the idea of another “Incredibles” film as a “money grab.” She acknowledged that sequels are a double-edged sword, with audiences being quick to judge unless the content is genuinely compelling.
