Hoppers Filmmaker Says Dave Franco’s Casting Was a “No Brainer” (And He’s Absolutely Right) [Exclusive]

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Pixar’s upcoming film, Hoppers, is a funny adventure about a girl named Mabel who unexpectedly finds herself inside the mind of a robot animal. This discovery opens up a hidden world right around us. Dave Franco will voice Titus, the spoiled son of the Insect Queen. Director Daniel Chong recently told ComicBook that casting Franco in the role was an easy decision.

Casting Dave Franco was a pretty easy decision. We always audition top actors, and then we have our team, including Pete, listen to clips of their previous work to see if their voice fits the character. Dave Franco immediately stood out as the right choice. We were confident he’d be great, so we offered him the role, and he absolutely nailed it.

We needed a really energetic performance from him, and he was working incredibly hard – sweating a lot between shots because the role required a lot of yelling and emotional intensity. I felt terrible afterwards and apologized profusely for pushing him so hard. It was really demanding, but he was thrilled to do it and gave a very generous performance. He was definitely eager to come back and do it again.

Hoppers Is Already Earning Rave Reviews, And Could Be Pixar’s Next Original Hit

Pixar recently achieved major success with Inside Out 2, and Toy Story 5 is slated for 2026, promising another big hit. While Pixar’s original movies haven’t performed quite as well lately, it’s not because of a drop in quality. Films like Elemental ultimately did well in theaters despite a slow beginning, and it was a great movie overall. Turning Red has gained a dedicated fanbase, and Soul is considered by many to be one of Pixar’s finest. However, none of these original films reached the same blockbuster status that audiences have come to expect from the studio.

Recent Pixar films like Lightyear and Elio haven’t performed as well as expected in theaters. However, Hoppers could turn things around. Since its announcement, there’s been a growing excitement suggesting fans are eager to see Pixar embrace a lighthearted and unusual story – and Hoppers definitely fits that description.

Early reviews praise the film’s humor and overall entertainment, especially highlighting the voice acting and quirky characters. One reviewer called it one of Pixar’s best films that isn’t a sequel, and many agree it’s among Pixar’s funniest movies ever. If Hoppers can build on this positive buzz and attract viewers, it could help restore Pixar’s reputation for original storytelling and lead to more creative and unique films from the studio.

Hoppers releases in theaters on March 6, 2026.

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2026-01-30 19:10