Pixar has built a legacy of groundbreaking animated films, but the studio has had a rocky few years with delays, box office challenges, and shifting release strategies. While Inside Out 2 (2024) recently reminded audiences why they fell in love with Pixar in the first place, the company seems to be taking a more cautious approach with upcoming projects—particularly its next original film, Elio.
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Another Setback for Pixar’s Next Original Movie
Elio tells the story of a young boy who is mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the universe and transported to an alien world. Originally slated for a March 1, 2024 release, the film was first pushed to June 13, 2025. Now, Disney has delayed Elio once again, moving its theatrical debut to June 20, 2025.
So why the sudden shift? It appears that Disney and Pixar want to avoid a box office clash with DreamWorks Animation’s highly anticipated How to Train Your Dragon 2. Given the massive success of the Dragon franchise, it makes sense that Pixar would prefer to give Elio a bit more breathing room.
While a one-week delay may not seem like much, even a small shift in release strategy can have a big impact on ticket sales.
Pixar’s Recent Box Office Struggles
It’s no secret that Pixar has faced challenges in recent years. Films like Soul (2020), Luca (2021), and Turning Red (2022) bypassed traditional theatrical releases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, premiering directly on Disney+.
While these films were critically acclaimed, their streaming debuts may have contributed to shifting audience expectations about whether Pixar movies are worth seeing in theaters.
Then came Lightyear (2023), which, despite high expectations, failed to perform at the box office, leading to a reported loss of tens of millions of dollars. The pressure was on for Pixar to regain its footing, and Inside Out 2 did exactly that, grossing nearly $1.7 billion worldwide and proving that audiences are still eager for animated theatrical experiences.
However, Disney and Pixar seem to be proceeding carefully with Elio, ensuring that it has the best possible chance for success.
Behind-the-Scenes Changes at Pixar
This isn’t the first roadblock for Elio. In August 2024, it was revealed that both director Adrian Molina and star America Ferrera had left the project.
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While Domee Shi (Turning Red) has stepped in to direct, major personnel changes this late in production could indicate creative challenges behind the scenes.
In addition to Elio’s delay, Disney also quietly removed two untitled projects from its upcoming release slate—one scheduled for September 12, 2025, and another for January 16, 2026. The company has not yet provided details on these films or why they were pulled.
Who’s in the Elio Cast?
Despite its setbacks, Elio still has an impressive cast lined up. Yonas Kibreab stars as Elio Solis, alongside Zoe Saldaña as Aunt Olga, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, and Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa.
While audiences will have to wait a little longer to see Elio in action, Pixar fans are hopeful that this original sci-fi adventure will be worth the wait.
The repeated delays raise questions about Disney’s confidence in Elio. Is the move simply a strategic decision to avoid competition, or does Pixar still have work to do behind the scenes?
With an original premise and a talented creative team, Elio has the potential to be another Pixar hit—but only time will tell if it can capture the magic that audiences expect. For now, fans will have to wait until summer 2025 to see if this intergalactic adventure soars or stumbles.
Are you excited for Disney and Pixar’s Elio? Do you think the delay will help or hurt the film? Let us know in the comments!
