Pixar has delivered a major shakeup toIncredibles 3with an announcement that Brad Bird is not directing the third film. The longtime veteran of Pixar made a splash withThe Incrediblesin 2004 and returned to direct the sequel in 2018, leading to the confirmation that he was developing a third entry to close out the trilogy. Disney and PixarannouncedIncredibles 3at D23in 2024. This announcement included acknowledging Bird’s involvement, which was not specifically detailed, but led to the belief that he would be back to direct the Parr family.
Now, it has been revealed that Brad Bird is not directingIncredibles 3, with Pixar tappingElemental’s Peter Sohn to direct the third installment, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.Bird will remain involved in the new movie, as he’s currently writing the screenplay and will produce the feature. While no official reason was given for the director switch,THRnotes that Bird is in pre-production on a new animated film,Ray Gunn, which may have caused a schedule conflict. Sohn, meanwhile, is no stranger to theIncrediblesfranchise, serving as an animator on the previous two films.
The Movie Is Moving Ahead
Announcing a director switch forIncredibles 3is a notable sign of where Pixar is in the development process of the film. The report notes thatBird is still in the process of writing the script, so there is not a finished screenplay at this point. But, there is still a strong enough vision for the film to bring Sohn aboard and ensure that development continues on, even if Bird needs to start turning his attention elsewhere. Sohn’s selection indicates the director switch was likely an amicable decision between Pixar and Bird, not one solely made on the studio’s behalf.
This is still a notable development for what it means forIncredibles 3’s timetable. Pixar could have elected to wait for Bird if he felt strongly about directing the threequel. Instead, it appears this decision has been made to keep the movie moving forward.Incredibles 3does not have an official release dateset as of this writing. Sohn replacing Bird could be an indication that Disney wants the movie to come out sooner than later, such as in 2027 or 2028.
Our Take On Incredibles 3’s New Director
The news that Brad Bird is not directingIncredibles 3is something I never really expected to happen.Pixar waited 14 years for him to make a sequel originallybecause keeping him involved was so important. While he’s still writing and producing the threequel, not having him direct the film is still a surprise. His ability to combine the heart and action of the franchise is key to its success. However, that doesn’t mean the movie is in bad hands now.
Sohn has worked on all of Bird’s previous animated movies
It’s reassuring thatIncredibles 3is in good hands even without Bird’s direction. Peter Sohn’s previous Pixar movies,The Good DinosaurandElemental, might not be as iconic asIncredibles, but they are very strong outings and show why he’s a good choice to take over this franchise. Knowing that Sohn has worked on all of Bird’s previous animated movies shows that Pixar has picked someone who even Bird himself trusts a lot to carry the franchise forward.
