Pixar Animation Studios is reportedly exploring several major projects as it celebrates the strong opening of its latest original film ‘Hoppers’, which is expected to earn around $40 million in the US and Canada this weekend. The debut marks the studio’s best opening for an original animation title since ‘Coco’.
According to reports emerging from the studio’s headquarters in Emeryville, California, an early development phase has begun for ‘Monsters Inc. 3’. At the same time, filmmaker Domee Shi, known for directing ‘Turning Red’, is said to be working on Pixar’s first musical feature.
Another project originally planned as a streaming series, titled ‘Ono Ghost Market’, is also reportedly being adapted into a feature-length film. Inspired by Asian folklore, the story centres on supernatural marketplaces connected to myth and legend.
Further sequels are also being discussed. ‘The Incredibles 3’ is expected to arrive in 2028, while ‘Coco 2’ could follow in 2029. Although official release dates have not been confirmed, The Walt Disney Company has reserved March 10 and June 16, 2028 for upcoming Pixar releases.
The details emerged from a profile of Pixar’s chief creative officer Pete Docter. In the interview, Docter acknowledged that the studio has faced creative challenges in recent years, particularly following the departure of former Pixar chief John Lasseter. He admitted that some decisions in encouraging directors to pursue highly personal storytelling may not always have connected with wider audiences.
“I probably overemphasised the idea of ‘do whatever you want’,” Docter said, reflecting on the studio’s development process.
Disney has not officially confirmed the projects or their proposed timelines. However, it is common for Pixar to explore multiple ideas simultaneously during early development. The studio’s Emeryville campus often houses separate teams working on different films at various stages of production.
The Incredibles and its upcoming third instalment were first announced during the D23 Expo in August 2024. The new film will feature a screenplay written by Brad Bird, who will also produce the project, while Peter Sohn, director of ‘Elemental’, is set to direct.
The original Coco earned more than $823 million worldwide at the box office. Meanwhile, Monsters Inc. and its 2013 prequel Monsters University have collectively generated around $1.3 billion globally.
According to current and former Pixar employees quoted in the report, the studio’s creative approach in recent years has sometimes leaned heavily towards personal, autobiographical stories, which some viewers found less relatable.
