CONFIRMED: Pixar Revives Major Franchise With Unexpected Star Return
Pixar is heading back to a familiar franchise.
The studio’s release strategy has shifted in recent years, with established titles playing a larger role across both theatrical and streaming. Original films are still part of the mix, but they no longer carry the same weight on their own.
That change has become more visible across recent releases. Inside Out 2 (2024) delivered a major commercial win, taking home $1.699 billion at the box office and reinforcing the appeal of returning to known characters as audience habits continue to evolve.
Other franchises remain central to that approach. Toy Story 5 (2026) arrives this summer, extending one of Pixar’s most reliable box office draws and underscoring the studio’s ongoing reliance on legacy titles.
Newer originals, including Hoppers (2026), continue to appear, but Pixar’s release slate continues to balance these creative gambles with safe, reliable projects.
Pixar Adds Another Underwater Project
A new entry fitting that bill is now in development.
According to Deadline, Pixar is developing a short film set within the world of Finding Nemo (2003), though details remain tightly under wraps.
Ellen DeGeneres will return to voice Dory, the forgetful blue tang fish who became one of Pixar’s most recognizable characters. The still-untitled short is in early production, with plot details and additional creative attachments yet to be announced.
Release plans have also not been confirmed. With development only just beginning, it remains unclear whether the short will debut theatrically, on streaming, or as part of a broader Pixar rollout.
The casting is notable given DeGeneres’ recent absence from the industry. Following her 2024 Netflix special, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, she indicated she was stepping away from entertainment and later relocated to the British countryside with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
Her return follows several years of controversy surrounding The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2020, former employees accused the production of fostering a toxic workplace environment, including allegations of bullying and misconduct by senior staff.
Those claims led to internal investigations and a public apology from DeGeneres. The show concluded in 2022 after nearly two decades on air.
Why Finding Nemo Still Holds Value
Revisiting Finding Nemo reflects the franchise’s continued relevance more than two decades after its debut.
Released in 2003, the film became a defining success for Pixar, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and establishing a global audience that has remained engaged across generations.
Dory quickly became one of the film’s most recognizable characters. Her popularity led to the divisive release of Finding Dory in 2016, which expanded the story world and focused on her backstory.
That sequel also performed strongly at the box office, reinforcing the franchise’s long-term value.
The Finding Nemo universe has continued to grow off-screen. Disney has expanded the property across its parks, including attractions such as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
A highlight is Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which retells the story of Finding Nemo with the use of puppets.
These experiences, alongside merchandise and live entertainment, have kept the franchise visible even without a recent theatrical release.
Are you excited for a new Finding Nemo project?
