Pixar is expanding several of its most popular franchises, with a new Monsters, Inc. film now in development and release windows set for new installments of The Incredibles and Coco, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal.
The planned Monsters, Inc. project would serve as the franchise’s third film. Details about the story, cast, and creative team have not yet been revealed. The film would mark the first theatrical return to the series since the 2013 prequel Monsters University was released. The original Monsters, Inc. was released in 2001, and the franchise later expanded beyond film in 2021 with the Disney+ animated series Monsters at Work.
News of a third film comes at an opportune time for Walt Disney World, as a Monsters, Inc.–themed land is currently in development at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because the most recent theatrical installment in the franchise was released more than a decade ago, a new film could help renew interest in the characters and world of Monstropolis, making the upcoming land more relevant.
WSJ also revealed release windows for two other highly anticipated productions. Incredibles 3 is targeting a 2028 release, while Coco 2 is expected to arrive in theaters in 2029.
The Incredibles franchise has been a major success for Pixar. The first film premiered in 2004, while Incredibles 2 arrived in 2018 and became one of the studio’s highest-grossing movies.
Meanwhile, the Coco sequel will follow the 2017 original, which told the story of Miguel, a young aspiring musician who journeys to the Land of the Dead to uncover his family’s history. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning more than $800 million worldwide and winning two Academy Awards.
Alongside the upcoming franchise releases, WSJ reported that Pixar is developing two previously unannounced original films. One of the projects, Ono Ghost Market, was originally developed as a streaming series before being reworked into a theatrical feature. The film is inspired by Asian myths about supernatural marketplaces where the living and dead interact.
The second project will be a musical directed by filmmaker Domee Shi, who previously directed Pixar’s Turning Red and later stepped in as co-director on Elio.
