Pixar Exclusive Look: John Lasseter Previews Film Slate For Next Two Years At D23 Expo
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- Category: Behind the Scenes
- Published: Monday, 22 August 2011 22:50
- Written by Lupe Haas
Pixar previewed exclusive footage and works-in-progress for their film slate through 2014 including two newly announced original projects at the D23 Expo with Jon Cryer, Sarah Silverman, and Billy Crystal making personal appearances to promote their Pixar films.
The official Disney Fan Club held their annual convention in Anaheim over the weekend. On Saturday, August 20, Disney chairman Rich Ross introduced John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios who presented die-hard Disney fans Pixar's upcoming films for the next two years and beyond with the help of celebrity appearances, never-before-seen footage and concept art.
CineMovie has a breakdown of the Pixar films featured at the D23 Expo.
Planes - Spring 2013
First Pixar had Cars now they are taking it to the skies with Planes coming Spring 2013. The Clay Holt directed Pixar film stars the voice of Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) voices "Dusty," a crop duster who thinks himself a fighter jet. Jon Lasseter presented a 3-minute clip introducing Dusty as he is jettisoned into the sky off an aircraft carrier. Like Cars, expect high-flying hijinks. Jon Cryer came onto the stage, excited to talk about the film. "I'm so geeked out," said the Two and a Half-Men star. He called the experience of voicing a Pixar voice "awesome" and recommended anyone who gets the chance to do a voice-over character to do it.
Wreck It Ralph - November 2, 2012
Pixar's Wreck It Ralph takes viewers inside an 8-bit videogame with a bad guy as the protagonist. Ralph is tired of destroying things and wishes he could be like Fix It Felix, the hero of the video arcade game. John Lasseter said Wreck It Ralph is the first time any film has ventured "into a video arcade game unlike before."
Lasseter unveiled the first four-and-a-half minutes of the film with unfinished footage and storyboard drawings. Wreck it Ralph goes about his usual business destroying buildings as Fix It Felix comes in to save the day and get showered with admiration and attention. Ralph no longer wants to be the outcast and sets out to do some good in various other games including landing in Sugar Land, but no luck. He then joins a support group of bad guys who share their stories of being misunderstood. You'll recognize some of the video game villains including Pac-Man's archenemy the ghost. The celebrity voices includes John C. Reilly as Wreck it Ralph, Jane Lynch (Glee) as a tough Sargeant, Sarah Silverman, and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) as Felix.
Director Rich Moore introduced two of his Wreck It Ralph stars Sarah Silverman who admitted she's had a love/hate relationship with Disney because "they made her feel" emotion, and 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer.
Old-school gamers will appreciate this romp back in time to root for an arcade bad guy trying to do good. 
Brave - June 2012
John Lasseter was proud to present his next film Brave which features the first ever female lead character in a Pixar film, and their first period piece set in Scotland during the middle ages. Director Mark Andrews and producer Katherine Sarafian promised the film "will have the great Pixar look," and then screened early test footage and concept art of Merida practicing her archery skills on her horse. Scottish actress Kelly McDonald of Boardwalk Empire voices Merida, while her fellow Scots Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter franchise), Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd, and Billy Connelly join the cast of characters. Kelly McDonald and Kevin McKidd joined the director and producer on stage. Kelly said playing Merida was "like being asked to play Woody."
The cast and filmmakers then previewed an entire scene from the movie with an archery scene that showed Merida is no women in waiting as suitors try to win her hand in a competition.
Monsters University - June 2013
John Goodman and Billy Crystal are back as Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc., with a prequel that takes the monsters back to their college days before they were friends in Monsters University. John Lasseter and the team revisited the idea of a sequel ten years after Monsters Inc. only after coming up with a "good story." He said they only do sequels if it can be done right. Concept art of the university was shown by director Dan Scanlon, as well as rendition of a younger Mike and Sully. From the drawings alone, Pixar has gone to great lengths to give the campus of Monsters University the right look and feel.
Billy Crystal graced the stage to a standing ovation. The funnyman promised the prequel will not disappoint. "Trust me. It's hilarious."
Untitled Projects - 2014
John Lasseter took the opportunity to reveal two spanking new projects that didn't even have titles yet. First he brought out director Bob Peterson and producer John Walker to present concept art from an untitled movie about dinosaurs that has never been seen outside of Pixar. The image included a silhouette of a dinosaur against a sunset. The director and producer explained the film will center on what would happen if the dinosaurs survived the ice age. The two joked they were working on a title, but for now it was simply known as "The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs."
The next Pixar project with no name takes you into the mind, hence the working title, "The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind." Director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera didn't reveal much about their new project, but said it will be different than anything you've seen. The film has been slated for summer of 2014.