Pixar is reportedly developing a Cars spin-off called Planes for the direct-to-video market. With Cars 2 set to arrive next summer, it makes sense that the studio would try to build on that momentum by releasing a spin-off project around the same time. Of course, when you consider that Toy Story 2 and 3 were both originally considered as straight-to-DVD project, it’s possible that Pixar may eventually want to release Planes will into theaters. But as Movieline points out, Cars wasn’t a huge smash not at the box office, but with its merchandising. Keeping that in mind, it doesn’t make much sense to send the spinoff into theaters when the goal is to push more toys, bedsheets, etc. I’m going to assume that the success of Cars 2 at the box office will also factor into Planes‘ future.
While the past several years had Pixar releasing its most challenging and original movies with Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up, the studio is currently moving towards established properties. In addition to this year’s Toy Story 3 and Cars 2 for summer 2011, the studio is also working on Monsters, Inc. 2 for 2012. But just because Pixar is trying to expand its coffers, doesn’t mean that any of these projects, including Planes, is going to be a slapshod production that’s unworthy of the Pixar name.
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Sounds like Pixar Canada has their first feature project.
um i think disney is the one who is pushing pixar to do sequels….its all about the money!
Direct-to-video spinoff? Pixar I really, really hope you know what you’re doing…
Direct-to-video spinoff? Pixar I really, really hope you know what you’re doing…
Give Pixar some credit. Toy Story 3 was awesome, and whether you agree or not it's a reasonable position to take that each sequel was better than the previous movie. Track record with sequels: Stellar.
So, why suggest that any one of these movies would be a slapshod production? Baiting, I guess.
Pixar is probably capable of making a mediocre movie, but going the sequel direction is more of a safe thing than a mediocre thing. These movies won't be released unless they have been tweaked through the Pixar story machine for almost guaranteed satisfaction.
Also, the toys don't sell themselves. It's a love of the Cars movie that moves the merchandise. The problem with Cars, in my estimation, is that the concept is not an easy one to swallow. None of the previews gave me the slightest desire to see that movie and I've been a huge Pixar fan since Luxor Jr. Once I sat in the theater and watched it I loved it. I'd wager that's why it took a hit at the box office, but it gained acceptance on DVD. It's one of the better Pixar movies in my estimation.
It's too bad the original movie Pixar had planned, Newt, was scrapped, because it would be nice to break up all the sequels with something fresh.
@Henrypliego5 As far as disney pushing for sequels I don't see how that could happen. John Lasseter is the head of Disney Feature Animation calling the shots.
pixar got disneyed.