Pixar’s $1.3 Billion Franchise Is Back: Disney Developing Third Movie
Monstropolis is roaring back as Disney and Pixar develop Monsters Inc. 3, reigniting the $1.3B franchise and sending fans into a frenzy.
Pixar is cracking open the closet door again. A third trip to Monstropolis is in development, which should perk up anyone who remembers the original movie melting the box office and their heart at the same time.
Back to Monstropolis (again)
Disney and Pixar are developing a new Monsters Inc. movie. The project surfaced via a recent deep-dive on the studio as it geared up to release its latest film, Hoppers. That means this is real movement, not just bar-stool chatter, though the studio still has to do the whole title-card-and-release-date thing.
The money monster
This franchise has always been a cash machine. The 2001 original, directed by current Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter, hauled in $528.7 million worldwide. The 2013 prequel, Monsters University, directed by Dan Scanlon, outpaced it with $743.5 million. Add it up and you are north of $1.3 billion before you even get to streaming spinoffs.
Speaking of which, the Disney+ series Monsters at Work ran for two seasons and pushed the story past the old scare-floor days. Remember, screams-for-power was the big idea in the first movie, and that system changed by the end. Where the new film lands on that timeline is one of many open questions.
What we know (and what we don’t)
Director: not announced. Story: locked down. Sequel or another prequel: also TBD. The big swing factor is the cast. John Goodman (Sulley) and Billy Crystal (Mike) are basically inseparable from these roles, but there is no official word yet on their return. Their chemistry powered both films and the series, so expect Disney to want them back.
Pixar’s sequel storm is brewing
- Toy Story 5 is slated for June, with a hook that reportedly pits Buzz and a balding Woody against smart tablets. Sure.
- The Incredibles 3 is dated for 2028, with Elemental director Peter Sohn steering.
- A second Coco is expected in 2029.
So when do we see it?
Pixar is juggling a pile of legacy sequels while still taking some big swings on original stories in between. Translation: Monsters Inc. 3 is moving, but we are still waiting on the studio’s formal rollout and the who/what/when details. For now, consider the door cracked open and the light on.