During the 2022 D23 Expo, Pixar Animation Studios announced two Pixar films Elio and Inside Out 2. The former was supposed to be released on March 1st, 2024, and was supposed to directed by Adrian Molina, the same one behind Pixar's fellow film Coco. It was also supposed to co-star America Ferrera as Olga Solis.
However, according to Pixar CEO Pete Docter, the film's delay was due in part to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike as well as the change in leadership on this film and other projects at Pixar. As a result, it became very different than the 2023 teaser trailer.
Plot[]
Similar to the final version, only with a few differences.
Why This Version Was Cancelled[]
- The unsatisfactory test screening resulted in Molina to retool the film since summer 2023 before leaving in favor of working for Coco 2.
- America Ferrera left the project due to scheduling conflics.
- Elio and Olga Solis were re-written as nephew and aunt respectively as Madeline Sharafian thought that the relationship between a mom and a son "was a bit too much".
Results[]
- Inside Out 2 was the only Pixar film released in 2024.
- Elio was then directed by the aforementioned Sharafian and Domee Shi and was finally released on June 20, 2025. Despite received positive reviews from critics, it bombed at the box-office, grossing $154 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $150 million.
- Olga Solis is now re-written as an aunt and Zoë Saldaña replaces America Ferrera as the voice of the character.
- Although Molina left the project, lead directors Sharafian and Shi took over the directing chairs, he still retains director credit alongside the latter two.
Trivia[]
- Despite being scrapped, the 2023 teaser trailer is still active.
- It was also originally produced in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, as evidenced by the teaser trailer, but was then produced in a 2.39:1 during post-production.