Instead of directing Pixar’s The Incredibles 3, Brad Bird, who led the previous two films, has handed over the reins. Peter Sohn, known for his work on The Good Dinosaur and Elemental, has been tapped to direct this upcoming sequel by Pixar. The news outlet The Hollywood Reporter states that Sohn was personally selected by Bird and Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, for the role, due to his long-standing collaboration with Bird. Despite not being the director, Bird will continue to contribute to The Incredibles 3, as he is currently focused on the script.
It’s not clear why Bird isn’t directing Incredibles 3, but The Hollywood Reporter mentions that he’s quite busy right now. He currently has two projects underway: Ray Gunn, an animated sci-fi film for Skydance which is reportedly in pre-production, and Disney’s 1906.
Disney officially announced the upcoming movie, “Incredibles 3,” during D23 last summer. At that time, it was mentioned that Bird was working on the film, but his specific role in the project wasn’t clarified. As of now, no release date for “Incredibles 3” has been set. The first two movies in the series, “The Incredibles” and “Incredibles 2,” are among Pixar’s biggest hits; “The Incredibles” made $631.6 million globally, while “Incredibles 2” brought in an impressive $1.2 billion.
Following the announcement of Incredibles 3, Doctor gave an insight into what it’s like collaborating with Bird once more. He refrained from revealing specific plot points, but hinted that the movie might blend high-speed genre action with a thorough examination of “social issues”, much like Bird’s past projects. As per Docter, Pixar’s sole condition for approving sequels is ensuring they contribute significantly to the storyline.
Enthusiasts of Pixar may experience a mix of emotions about this news. Brad Bird, who was instrumental in creating the first two Incredibles movies, won’t be back as director for the third film. His animated films have consistently delivered a satisfying combination of humor and emotion, making his absence on Incredibles 3 regrettable. Moreover, Kelsey Mann, who is taking over, has had some challenges in the past as a director. The Good Dinosaur is more remembered for being Pixar’s first financial flop than anything else, and the upcoming 2023 film Elemental didn’t receive overwhelmingly positive reviews. While critics generally praised Elemental for its technical aspects, some felt that the story was too simple and lacked the depth compared to Pixar’s past masterpieces. Given that The Incredibles is one of Pixar’s flagship franchises, it would be unfortunate if the eagerly awaited third installment fell short in terms of narrative excellence.
It’s clear that Brad Bird and Lee Unkrich (two of the leading filmmakers at Pixar during its peak in the 2000s) understand the significance of creating Incredibles 3 to match the success of its prequels. Selecting a new director was not a decision they made lightly, so viewers can trust their choice. Given that Bird has collaborated extensively with Sohn on various projects, it’s unlikely he would have chosen Sohn as his replacement for the Incredibles series unless he believed Sohn was prepared for the role. Furthermore, Bird is still writing the script, ensuring his unique storytelling style will be present in Incredibles 3. If Bird lays a strong foundation with an engaging plot and Sohn delivers exceptional animation, Incredibles 3 is likely to be another triumph for Pixar.
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2025-06-10 21:44