Pixar has lifted the curtain on a string of upcoming projects, confirming that Incredibles 3 will centre on the Parr children while the studio also announced release dates and leadership for several other titles during Friday’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Violet and Dash take centre stage
Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, said the third instalment in the superhero family saga will pivot to focus on Violet and Dash, with the story set after the legalisation of supers that followed the events of Incredibles 2. Mr Incredible, Docter suggested, will face questions around his relevance in a world where being a hero is no longer outlawed.
“Even though supers are legal again, doesn't mean all supers are good,”
The remark — delivered at the D23 presentation — signals a tonal shift: while the Parrs remain central, the narrative appears likely to explore the complexities of heroism in a changed legal and cultural landscape.
Directors, dates and a franchise-first focus
Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the two previous Incredibles films, returns to helm Incredibles 3, which has been scheduled for a nationwide release on 18 June 2028. The announcement follows earlier confirmation of the sequel at the 2024 D23 presentation and continues Pixar’s strategy of mining established properties while developing originals.
Docter also confirmed that director partners Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina are back to co-direct Coco 2, now set for release on 21 November 2029. Benjamin Bratt, a cast member from the original Coco, said the sequel will follow Miguel as a teenager and will position him against Ernesto de la Cruz.
New original titles and the Monsters, Inc. sequel
Alongside franchise follow-ups, Pixar unveiled new projects including Ono Ghost Market, slated for cinemas on 10 March 2028, and a working title, Gatto. Docter also reiterated that a third Monsters, Inc. film is in development — offering reassurance to fans — although he did not specify a director.
The announcements underscore Pixar’s dual approach: investing in beloved characters to attract broad audiences while keeping a pipeline of originals to sustain creative variety.
Release schedule at a glance
| Title | Confirmed release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ono Ghost Market | 10 March 2028 | Original film |
| Incredibles 3 | 18 June 2028 | Brad Bird returns as director; Violet and Dash focal |
| Coco 2 | 21 November 2029 | Co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina; follows teenage Miguel |
| Monsters, Inc. 3 | Not yet announced | Confirmed to be in development; director not specified |
- Franchise emphasis: The slate confirms Pixar’s continuing reliance on sequels to anchor its release calendar.
- Creative continuity: Key filmmakers from earlier entries are returning, a signal the studio values established creative teams.
- Originals remain: New titles such as Ono Ghost Market suggest Pixar is balancing brand familiarity with fresh storytelling.
Former Disney chief executive Bob Iger, previously known to have confirmed Coco’s return in 2025, and other company figures have threaded corporate assurance through these creative announcements. For Pixar, the strategy is clear: leverage recognised properties to guarantee box-office reach while introducing new concepts that may become the next generation of tentpole titles.
For audiences, the D23 reveal provides definitive dates to pencil into diaries — and a reminder that the animation studio, now more than a quarter-century into its feature-film run, intends to keep both nostalgia and novelty on the menu.
