Pixar

Pixar original "Elio" drops trailer promising intergalactic thrill ride

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 1:32 PM ET

"Inside Out 2" was a massive success for Pixar in 2024, but that was, of course, a sequel. Once upon a time, Pixar was not relying upon sequels for box office success. The last time a Pixar original was a commercial hit was "Coco" in 2017. "Soul" and "Turning Red" were both fairly well received, but didn't get full theatrical releases, while "Onward" and "Elemental," were both misfires.

Pixar is trying again with an original story with the 2025 release of "Elio." The first proper trailer for that movie has now been released.

"Elio" is clearly an aesthetically-ambitious sci-fi adventure. The titular character is a preteen boy who ends up an ambassador for Earth in some sort of intergalactic United Nations. That's all well and good, but the track record for Pixar has been diminishing, and the simple fact of "Elio" being a Pixar movie is not seemingly a selling point any longer.

Furthermore, "Elio" has had a tumultuous ride. The original director Adrian Molina left the project, to be replaced by the duo of Domee Shi (of "Turning Red") and Madeline Sharafian. Additionally, the film was originally scheduled to be released March 1, 2024, but it was then pushed to June 13, 2025. Then, it was delayed yet another week to avoid competing against the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon."

Well, if you're ducking the competition, it probably doesn't speak well to your confidence in your project. If "Elio" can't hit those "Coco" levels of success, that doesn't bode well for Pixar originals. On an unrelated note, "Toy Story 5" and "Incredibles 3" are in the works.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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