Pixar’s next feature, “Elio,” is set to reach U.S. theaters on June 20, marking the studio’s first original release since “Turning Red.” The coming-of-age space tale is now steered by Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian, who took the helm after Adrian Molina shifted to development on “Coco 2” last year.
The story follows 11-year-old Elio Solis, abducted to a sprawling “Communiverse” and mistakenly declared Earth’s ambassador, an arc the filmmakers use to examine childhood isolation and the need for connection. Shi said she “found her way in” once she grasped the boy’s longing to belong, while Sharafian noted that the team consulted psychologists specializing in children’s loneliness to ground the emotions.
Voice talent includes Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil and Shirley Henderson. A new trailer released May 28 blends Pixar spectacle with a playful nod to a viral “gorilla fight” meme and has helped push advance awareness across social platforms. BoxOfficePro’s early tracking projects a $65-$80 million domestic opening, signaling renewed theatrical momentum for Disney’s animation division.
“Elio” endured a schedule shuffle—from March 2024 to June 2025—after 2023’s labor strikes and the director change. Production adopted newly developed rendering tools that allow translucent alien forms and deep-space lighting impossible under Pixar’s previous pipeline.
Reporters shown 25 minutes of footage at the Emeryville campus likened the tone to Amblin adventures and “Galaxy Quest,” praising its mix of cosmic scale and gentle humor. Shi, reflecting on the pandemic era, said audiences “are ready for a story that says you’re not the only one who feels out of place.” Analysts argue that message—paired with Pixar’s family appeal—could help the studio reassert big-screen strength after several streaming-first releases.
