Boo! Pixar is currently developing the third movie in the popular “Monsters, Inc.” series. franchise.
The project was revealed in a lengthy Wall Street Journal profile looking inside Pixar as the animation studio premiered its latest film, “Hoppers.”
The first film in the series, 2001’s Monsters, Inc., is based on the premise that monsters need to scare children in order to power a city. The film, directed by Pete Docter, now Pixar’s chief creative officer, and featuring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal, was a huge hit, grossing $528.7 million worldwide. The 2013 prequel Monsters University, directed by Dan Scanlon, grossed $743.5 million worldwide, surpassing the original. This success led to the sequel series Monsters at Work, which ran for two seasons.
It wasn’t immediately clear who would direct the next big screen production, and plot details are being kept secret, including where in the story’s timeline the action will take place.
In addition to the Monsters series, Pixar has several more major sequels in the works, including June’s Toy Story 5, which pits Buzz Lightyear and (now bald!) Woody against a smart tablet. “Incredibles 3” will be produced in 2028 and directed by “Elemental” director Peter Thorne. And the second movie “Coco” is scheduled to be released in 2029.
But the studio is also making a big push into original stories, including next year’s “Gut,” about a Venetian cat burglar. Pixar has reportedly pivoted Ono Ghost Market, a project inspired by “Asian mythology about supernatural bazaars where the living and the dead interact,” from a streaming series to a movie. The studio is also developing its first musical, directed by Turning Red director Domie Cee.
As for “Hoppers,” the animal-centered adventure grossed $3.2 million in previews and is expected to gross $35 million to $40 million in 4,000 theaters this weekend.
