While Ethan Hunt’s time leading the Mission: Impossible movie series is probably over, I’m never getting over all the behind-the-scenes stories about the franchise. Tom Cruise has a reputation of being fearless in those movies. And Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird just shared one nerve-wracking story about the making of the 2011 fan-favorite.

Brad Bird (who also helmed The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille) had his own panel at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H on Thursday night. During the sprawling conversation about his career that CinemaBlend was in attendance for, here’s what he recalled about making Ghost Protocol with Tom Cruise:

It’s incredibly nail-biting to watch Tom Cruise accomplish the stunts he’s done on the Mission: Impossible movies alone. But I never thought of how that might feel from a director’s point of view. As Bird communicated, being in proximity with Cruise while shooting Ghost Protocol was not for the faint of heart. Here’s what he had to say about filming the famous Burj Khalifa scene:

If you didn’t know already, Ghost Protocol was actually shot on location in the Burj Khalifa, which is the the tallest building in the world. The structure in Dubai stands 2,717 feet tall. In the scene, Ethan Hunt must scale the Burj Khalifa in order to intercept an exchange of nuclear launch codes happening on the 130th floor.

While the production originally was only going to film a few shots there, nearly the whole sequence was shot at the Burj Khalifa. And it was done for IMAX! But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stress test for Brad Bird. As he added:

The next time I’m worn over work, I’m going to think about Brad Bird. At least I’m not responsible for Tom Cruise and his stunt antics – I’m just writing about it! If you’re itching to rewatch Ghost Protocol after this story, it’s streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

And, if you’re curious what Brad Bird is up to, he has a new animated film on the 2026 movie release schedule. It’s called Ray Gunn, and it’s a science-fiction noir movie he’s been wanting to make for 30 years. The new Brad Bird film is coming to Netflix on December 18.

It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a feature film from Brad Bird, the filmmaker well known for flicks like The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. He hasn’t contributed to the cinematic landscape since Incredibles 2 was released in 2018, but that hiatus will soon come to an end. Netflix subscription-holders can look forward to Ray Gunn arriving to the 2026 movies schedule sometime in 2026, and I’m loving the first look and cast announcement for Bird’s new animated movie that just came in.

Hailing from Skydance Animation, Ray Gunn takes place Metropia, described in the official plot synopsis as a “a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939.” Sam Rockwell is voicing Raymond Gunn, a private detective who’s drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Tom Waits has also been cast as an alien named Eyera, and you can see him and Ray below:

Brad Bird described Ray Gunn in this announcement as a “blend of sci-fi and classic detective stories from the ‘40s… it's Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.” He’s been thinking about this movie for “over 30 years,” and now that Ray Gunn is only months away from being released, he’s looking forward to once again showing how “[a]nimation as a medium is too interesting to limit what kind of stories can be told.” Next we have Ray and another man admiring a poster of Venus Nova:

In her own statement, Scarlett Johansson (who previously starred with Sam Rockwell in Iron Man 2 and Jojo Rabbit) described working with Brad Bird on Ray Gunn as a “career milestone” and described the movie as “so uniquely special because it is a total realization of where Brad is currently on his artistic journey.” Finally, we have a gigantic hologram of Venus Nova welcoming people into the cool-looking, retrofuturistic Metropia:

It was revealed last October (via THR) that Sam Rockwell’s Ray Gunn also happens to be the last human detective in this world, so that undoubtedly adds even more pressure to solve the case that he gets wrapped up in. Brad Bird originally intended to make Ray Gunn in the 1990s, but the project was shelved when he signed on to make The Iron Giant following the Time Warner/Turner merger. Pixar mainstay John Ratzenberger who voiced The Underminer and Mustafa, respectively, in The Incredibles and Ratatouille, also shared last September (via Collider) that he’s begun recording dialogue for Ray Gunn.

Again, Ray Gunn doesn’t have a specific release date, but if it’s anything like Brad Bird’s previous movies, film lovers will be in for a treat when it arrives to the Netflix movie and TV schedule. In the meantime, break out your Disney+ subscription if you want to watch Bird’s Pixar movies, and The Iron Giant can currently be streamed for free on YouTube. He’s also writing and executive producing Incredibles 3, which opens on June 16, 2028.

Pixar Animation is always cooking up more thrilling and emotional movies, with Hoppers and Toy Story 5 already set for the 2026 movie release calendar. And looking ahead, the studio has many more to get ready for, including the original Gatto and sequels for Incredibles and Coco. Now, one of the stars of the Incredibles movies has just shared an update about when recording may begin.

At the D23 Expo back in 2024, it was announced that Incredibles 3 would be happening, which has since earned a summer 2028 release date. Sure, that makes it two and a half years from now, but these movies often take about four to six years to complete. Here’s what Holly Hunter, aka Elastigirl, said about what’s going on from her end:

Hunter has been promoting her role in the new Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, where she plays the captain of a starship. During an interview with ScreenRant, she revealed that she’s just two months away from going back to Pixar to reprise the role of Helen Parr/Elastigirl. She also said this:

Brad Bird wrote and directed the previous two Incredibles movies for Pixar, and he has returned to write and executive produce Incredibles 3. However, this time he’ll leave the directing duties to Peter Sohn, who previously helmed The Good Dinosaur and Elemental for Pixar.

Casting hasn’t been talked about much thus far for Incredibles 3, but of course, it wouldn’t be the same without Holly Hunter’s voice, and she’s apparently starting her role in the movie quite soon. We assume Incredibles 3 is already well underway at Pixar, given the studio does a lot of work on the concepts, story and animation prior to bringing in the cast.

Somehow, it’s been over eight years since the release of Incredibles 2, which is considered one of the best Pixar sequels. It saw Hunter’s character take over the role of being the breadwinner (on some secret missions) and her husband Bob/Mr. Incredible became a stay-at-home dad. The movie was a huge hit, grossing over $1.24 billion worldwide, which was the studio’s biggest theatrical release for years until 2024’s Inside Out 2 surpassed its record with over $1.69 billion globally.

Since we currently live in a time where superhero movies are much more the norm in multiplexes than they were in 2004, we’ll be curious how Pixar keeps the concept fresh, and what the latest will be for the Parr family. While we wait, you can see the next Pixar movie, Hoppers, only in theaters on March 6.

Pixar has found itself in a similar situation as many studios, one where original concepts are having difficulty finding success with audiences, while continuing franchises, as exemplified by the massive success of Inside Out 2, are doing well. The obvious thing, at least from a financial standpoint, to do in that case, is to make more sequels. This leads to the question: Will we ever see Ratatouille 2?

The story of a rat that wants to cook is one of the best Pixar movies to date, and that means it’s a film that a lot of fans would love to see a sequel to at some point. While there has never been much indication that a Ratatouille sequel has ever really been considered, the voice of Remy, Patton Oswalt, recently spoke with Collider and revealed what would be necessary for a sequel to happen: a single idea from a single man. Oswalt said…

Brad Bird was the writer and director of two of Pixar’s biggest hits, Ratatouille and The Incredibles. While the latter movie has spawned a larger franchise, with Incredibles 2 coming out in 2018, and Incredibles 3 currently in development, we haven’t seen the other movie get any sort of follow-up.

Bird certainly isn’t against the idea of sequels, which means that he likely has simply never come up with an idea for a second Ratatouille movie. If he came up with a story, it’s a pretty safe bet Pixar would be interested in making it, and clearly, Patton Oswalt would be more than willing to return.

Ratatouille has seen some expansion of the IP that simply isn’t on screen. Ratatouille attractions exist at Epcot and Disneyland Paris. The fact that they do, however, shows that Disney sees Ratatouille as a movie that fans will want to experience in that way. If that’s the case, a sequel would likely be just as warmly received.

Most fans are probably of a similar opinion to Patton Oswalt, that no sequel is preferable to a bad one. The fact that Pixar hasn’t given a green light to a sequel by this point would seem to indicate the studio itself feels the same way.

Following the incredible success of Inside Out 2, and with both Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3 on the way, Pixar certainly isn’t saying no to sequels. It's possible that some work has been done, or is happening right now, to try to put a sequel idea together. If they find the way in, the sequel is quite likely. If not, we'll always have the near-perfect original that you can stream with a Disney+ subscription.

I was in the audience at D23 last summer when Pixar CCO Pete Docter confirmed that Brad Bird was already at work developing Incredibles 3. There was, unsurprisingly, a lot of applause following that announcement. The Incredibles is one of Pixar’s most beloved films. Incredibles 2 was the top-grossing Pixar movie ever made until Inside Out 2 dethroned it last summer.

I like both Incredibles films, but I have to admit I wasn’t overwhelmed with excitement that Incredibles 3 was on the way. There was no reason to believe it wouldn’t be a solid film, but I just found it less interesting than doing something new or even making a sequel to a film that hadn’t already received one. But now I’m a bit more curious about Incredibles 3 because it will be different from the previous films in a big way.

Brad Bird Will Not Direct The Next Incredibles Movie

Today, THR broke the news that while Brad Bird will write and produce Incredibles 3, he will not direct the movie, as he had done with each of the previous Incredibles franchise entries. Instead, directing duties will be handled by Peter Sohn, who most recently directed Pixar’s Elemental.

While it had been widely assumed that Bird would direct the movie, it had never been specifically stated by Pixar. Perhaps that had even been the plan at one point. Bird does have other projects he’s directing, including Ray Gunn for Netflix. It’s possible Bird just didn’t have the time in his schedule. Bird and Docter reportedly jointly selected Sohn as the man who should direct the new film.

Peter Sohn Is The Perfect Choice To Helm Incredibles 3

But now you have my attention. My love for Elemental is well known to frequent CinemaBlend readers. I think it’s the best movie Pixar has made in a long time. Pixar has always been good at turning things without consciousness into living things that we care about and cry over. But in Elemental, we saw those characters fall in love, and the movie let a single relationship carry the weight of the entire story.

If Peter Sohn can do that with fire and water, then I have high hopes that he can do even more with characters that are actually human. It might be just enough of a different vibe to an Incredibles movie that it feels unique and not simply like it’s another of the same movie for the third time.

Fans of Brad Bird need not worry. He’s still writing the film, so one assumes the final script, the plot, the dialogue, etc, will be mostly his work. It will still be Bird’s story, and Sohn has been one of his long-time collaborator. Sohn began his professional career as an animator on The Iron Giant and has contributed to every film Bird has made for Pixar, including both previous Incredibles movies. If there's another person capable of bringing Brad Bird's work to life properly, it's probably Peter Sohn.

The fact that a director has been slotted indicates that Incredibles 3 is probably getting ready to shift into more of a production status, though the movie is probably at least a couple of years away at least. Still, I’m looking forward to when that day comes more now than I was before.

In Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, audiences met the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Reed Richards (John Krasinski), leader of the Fantastic Four… well, a version of the Fantastic Four from a realm known now as Earth-838. And while that version of Mister Fantastic didn’t last very long against Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) – dying in one of the sequel’s most gruesome moments – Marvel clearly has plans for the family of superheroes. There’s a movie coming, despite some bumps on the road to production, and new rumors suggest that Kevin Feige is seeking a big name to helm the feature centered around the Fantastic Four.

This news comes from the Twitter account of Deadline senior film reporter Justin Kroll, who quotes a source saying that Marvel’s list of potential Fantastic Four directors remains long, and that this person would be “shocked” if the replacement for Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts was revealed before Labor Day. And the reason given for this lengthy deliberation is that Marvel President Kevin Feige, thrilled with the collaboration with Raimi, wants another big name in the director’s chair for Fantastic Four. As Kroll notes:

Kevin Feige will always have his input. But given the fact that Marvel Studios is juggling so many projects between planned sequels for Deadpool, the re-introduction of Blade, the multiple Disney+ programs, and whatever the future plan is for mutants, we can understand his unwillingness to commit to a younger filmmaker like Watts or Destin Daniel Cretton, and commit to proven directors such as Chloe Zhao, Raimi, or James Gunn. With that in mind, we’ve selected seven possible directors who’d fit that bill, and also be fantastic choices (pun intended) to lead the MCU’s FF into the future.

John Krasinski

This one’s easy. John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place movies established him as a tentpole director, particularly with the way the second installment raised the stakes and played with more budget. Krasinski just played Reed Richards in the Doctor Strange movie, and he and his wife Emily Blunt have been fan-favorite choices to play Reed and Sue for years. Hand this power couple the keys to the franchise, and let Krasinski make the sci-fi Amblin family picture he’s been chasing.   

Peyton Reed

This would be a fun callback for Marvel historians, as well as a reward to Peyton Reed for a “job well done” on the Ant-Man series. Before he stepped in and replaced Edgar Wright on the first Ant-Man, Reed had a pitch for a Fantastic Four movie that would have been set in the 1960s and blasted past the team’s origin story to begin with them as celebrity superheroes. He has a passion for the material, he’s a proven MCU guy… so is it time for his shot? 

Bryce Dallas Howard

The Jurassic World co-star is hearing her name attached to this franchise in two forms. Some would like her to be in contention for Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, and after her time in the Jurassic franchise concludes, she could transition over. But others (myself included) want to see her direct Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios, especially after the outstanding work she has been delivering in the Star Wars realm. Maybe Star Wars is her passion? But she has proven her talents as a filmmaker, and I’d love to see what she could do with the FF.

Bert & Bertie

This choice flies in the face of the theory that Kevin Feige wants a director with a name, but I so enjoyed the action work that Bert & Bertie did on the Disney+ series Hawkeye that I’d love to see them transition to Marvel features. Watch the Hawkeye episodes “Echoes” and “Ronin” to see what they are capable of, as well as their work on the pirate adventure series Our Flag Means Death. They’d be an exciting hire. 

Edgar Wright

Again, this would be Marvel giving someone a second chance – similar to the way they brought James Gunn back into the fold after hastily firing him from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Edgar Wright developed Ant-Man for Marvel, then left the project over creative differences. He’s only improved as a filmmaker and storyteller, and his most recent Last Night in Soho proves he can do 1960s kitsch if that’s still in the cards for Fantastic Four. Also, we’d probably get Nick Frost as Ben Grimm, and that sounds excellent. 

Justin Lin

Could the Fast & Furious’s loss be Marvel’s gain? Apparently after failing to see eye to eye with Vin Diesel, Justin Lin walked away from Fast X, and should drive right over to Marvel Studios to take on Fantastic Four. Lin delivered some of the best installments of the Fast franchise. He’s a skilled action director who also hit one out of the park when he helmed Star Trek Beyond for Paramount. A franchise filmmaker with loads of experience in action and science-fiction? That sounds exactly what Kevin Feige is looking for, so give Lin a call. 

Brad Bird

Some argue that Brad Bird already made the best Fantastic Four movie, but called it The Incredibles. The powers used by the Parr family in the two Pixar movies absolutely resemble those of the Fantastic Four, especially Elastagirl’s stretching and Violet’s force fields. So, would Bird want to retread old ground and do FF in live action? His filmography suggests a deep interest in sci-fi (Tomorrowland, The Iron Giant) and action (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol). And his announced feature 1906 lingers in development, meaning he might have time to transition to Marvel and give the FF a shot. 

How about you? Who do you want to see bringing Marvel’s first family to the big screen? Contemplate the question, and plan your trip to the theater for the other upcoming Marvel movies, starting with Thor: Love and Thunder in multiplexes on July 8.

For about 25 years, Brad Bird has been behind some of the most beloved animated movies. His first feature, The Iron Giant, left a massive mark on audiences (despite it initially being a commercial flop due to poor marketing) before heading to Pixar to make The Incredibles and Ratatouille, among other hits. After four years away from moviemaking, Bird has gotten another animated movie off the ground, but no bobbing lamps will be involved. 

Yes, Brad Bird, who’s brand has become pretty synonymous with the Disney studio throughout his career, is not working with Pixar for his next project. The filmmaker is developing a movie called Ray Gunn with Skydance Animation instead, per Deadline. 

Bird is directing and producing Ray Gunn from a script he wrote alongside Matthew Robbins, who previously penned Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak and stop-motion Pinocchio film. Also among the producers is former Pixar head John Lasseter, who left the Toy Story studio in 2018 after a number sexual misconduct allegations came out. 

Skydance Animation did not disclose the plot details of Ray Gunn, but it’s said to be an “original story” by Brad Bird. The Ratatouille filmmaker shared he is excited to ”create a one-of-a-kind animated experience” with the movie, which he has been wanting to make “for a long time.” 

The animation studio is a branch of Skydance Media, which was founded back in 2006 and has previously produced Brad Bird’s Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, along with True Grit, Star Trek Into Darkness, the Jack Reacher movies and, more recently, The Tomorrow War. Skydance Animation is a young studio that plans to release its debut feature film, Luck, this summer for those with an AppleTV+ subscription. 

Luck will be directed by Peggy Holmes, who previously helmed Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning and The Pirate Fairy for Disney, among the many other animated films he's worked on. Skydance Animation is working with Apple TV+ on three other films, which are called Spellbound (set for release November 2022), The Fourteenth Goldfish and Pookoo. 

Brad Bird’s last animated film was The Incredibles 2, which became Pixar’s highest grossing film of all time back in 2018. While Bird is a beloved filmmaker, they haven’t all been winners. Among his collection of great films, his only real regarded miss is 2015’s Tomorrowland. Given the filmmaker has a sweet spot for science fiction and Ray Gunn sounds a lot like “ray gun,” I could see the upcoming movie to fit into that genre, but we just don’t have enough details about the project right now. 

In the meantime, Pixar is moving forward with a slew of new directors as of late that have ended up debuting their films solely on Disney+. Pixar’s next release is Turning Red, which will come exclusively to the streaming service on March 11. 

In late January 2011, a 27-year-old Henry Cavill was cast as Clark Kent/Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, with the summer blockbuster finally premiering in 2013. It was the beginning of the DCEU and a new era for Warner Bros’ comic book movies following Christian Bale’s exit from Batman. It’s now been a decade since Cavill’s life-changing casting and he’s not only still our Superman, he's the lead of Netflix’s The Witcher and Enola Holmes’ Sherlock. The actor has accomplished a lot with his Kryptonian fame, except being part of a Man of Steel sequel.

Everything seemed to stall for Henry Cavill’s Superman following the divisive reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Warner Bros has placed its focus away from the Last Son of Krypton in order to bring audiences fresh projects like Birds of Prey and Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman. But, the actor has not shown signs of giving up on the hero, and there’s a huge fan base behind Cavill coming back caped. In the interest of Cavill’s casting anniversary, let’s discuss who should direct Man of Steel 2.

Zack Snyder

To those following the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement, you’re likely aware of some behind-the-scenes friction between Zack Snyder and Warner Bros on the set of Batman v Superman, along with the personal tragedy that caused him to step away from Justice League, leading to the Man of Steel director’s vision for the DCEU being somewhat compromised. This year ,we’ll finally be able to see what the filmmaker had in mind for his third collaboration with Henry Cavill as Superman when Zack Snyder’s Justice League debuts on HBO Max this spring.

Theoretically, there’s no one more qualified to direct the second Man of Steel movie than Zack Snyder. He conceptualized Henry Cavill’s version of the character and he’d done a good amount of planning past Batman v Superman and Justice League. I’m inclined to wait for his cut of the latter before deciding if I’d officially like to place the future of Man of Steel in this director's hands, because let's be honest, there were some issues. Still, Man of Steel continues to be one of the best DCEU films to date, so maybe it's worth bringing Snyder back.

Christopher McQuarrie

Sure, this is an ironic pick, but not one without serious merit, OK? Christopher McQuarrie is the director of the most recent two Mission: Impossible movies, along with the two upcoming films in the franchise. He’s also the gifted screenwriter behind The Usual Suspects and co-writer on Edge of Tomorrow. McQuarrie worked with Henry Cavill for his iconic mustachioed villain role, which in turn created Mustachegate when the actor was brought back on set for Justice League reshoots. Aside from these connections, McQuarrie has been invested in DC before by pitching Superman and Green Lantern movies. Apparently the studio didn’t like his “original” ideas, but I totally do and would love to see him put his mark on the franchise.

Travis Knight

The Superman story is not an easy one to adapt. Clark Kent is the epitome of a “savior” or god-like hero, often with a straight-edged moral compass, and that can alienate an audience if it's not done right. Some fans have criticized our new Superman for being hollowed out after Man of Steel and lacking emotional depth. This is something that Laika’s Travis Knight could perhaps inject into the franchise if he was looked at to direct. One of the best animated “hero’s journey” movies in recent memory is his Kubo and the Two Strings, and the filmmaker also did the near-impossible after a downfall of the Transformers and made the critically well-received Bumblebee. That's a lot going in his favor for a Superman outing.

Mike Flanagan

Here’s a wildcard. Recently, the creator of the Haunting of Hill House and writer/director of horror movies Oculus, Hush and Doctor Sleep said he’s always wanted to make a Superman movie, so naturally I’m on board. Now I would follow Mike Flanagan anywhere following the work he’s brought to horror fans thus far, but it’s actually a great pick. Some of the best superhero movies we’ve seen in the past few years have come from directors who started off in horror beforehand. Think Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn, Shazam’s David F. Sandberg or Spider-Man’s Sam Raimi. Flanagan is building an incredible resume within his own genre, but I’m really curious where he’d take his visions to the DC world with Man of Steel 2.

Brad Bird

Another pick on the side of lightness and more accessibility for the Man of Steel world after years of dark color schemes for the hero is Brad Bird. The director is best known for his work in Pixar projects, such as The Incredibles movies and Ratatouille, along with his early work on The Iron Giant and more recent live-action projects Tomorrowland and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Bird has a diverse background in storytelling and would bring a different approach to the hero that we haven’t seen before. Also, it might allow the filmmaker to opt for more gritty content and explore his range out beyond his Disney-ness.

George Miller

Last, but not least, is the visionary George Miller, who has brought us the Mad Max movies throughout his career, including the critically acclaimed Fury Road and the upcoming Furiosa spinoff with Anya Taylor-Joy, Yahya Abdul Mateen and Chris Hemsworth. The filmmaker is an incredibly detailed talent who would be really thoughtful with his version of Superman. As many of us know, Miller was part of the many lost Superman projects years ago when he was working on Justice League: Mortal. Seeing Miller pivot to Kal-El’s story once again for Cavill’s return would be a dream come true. But alas, these are all just playful suggestions compiled to get us thinking about another Man of Steel movie.

What do you think? Are any of these directors on your list for Man of Steel 2 should it happen? Vote for your favorite in the poll below and stick with us here on CinemaBlend. We’ll be covering the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League in depth, along with what’s coming next in the DCEU.

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Over the course of its nearly 25-year run, the bulk of Pixar Animation Studios beloved and iconic films have been created by a small handful of filmmakers. This dream team of directors including Brad Bird, Lee Unkrich, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and formerly John Lasseter has delivered classics from Toy Story to Wall-E to The Incredibles to Inside Out. Despite this impeccable track record, Pixar President Jim Morris has some blunt thoughts about what the future holds for some of Disney’s most popular directors.

While addressing the future of animation at the Mouse House in the decades to come, Jim Morris teased an impending change of the guard. Talking about the Pixar dream team, Jim Morris said:

Prior to John Lasseter’s exit from Pixar and Disney as a whole following claims of unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace, executives knew that its dream team was getting long in the tooth. According to Jim Morris, Pixar was already anticipating the change that was and is (eventually) inevitable. In his comments to Vulture, he made that clear, noting that the middle-aged men who have shepherded Pixar to this point are not going to be the ones at the wheel a decade from now.

In Jim Morris’ view, animated movies come from younger people, with their fingers on the pulse of storytelling and what’s in the zeitgeist. That is how it worked with filmmakers like Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich and Pete Docter, who is now the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, and that is how it will work for the next generation of Pixar films, which will be directed by the next generation of Pixar filmmakers.

In a way Jim Morris’ blunt thoughts about these popular directors sound pretty harsh, like he’s hitting these successful filmmakers with an ‘OK boomer’ and sending them on their way. But it seems like he is more addressing the natural change that is inevitable and for which Pixar is preparing. It’s not to say these popular directors won’t be allowed to make a Pixar movie in 2029, just that they won’t be the directors at Pixar that are driving the studio forward.

They are getting older and some will have moved on. This natural turnover will result in Pixar making room to bring in newer, younger, diverse voices that can bring the kind of creative energy and originality to their films that the likes of Pete Docter, Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich brought to theirs.

To that end, Pixar, which has been known as a bit of a boys club, has diversified its ranks, bringing in more women to the studio’s creative team, resulting in a different Pixar than it used to be. The same sort of thing is happening at sister studio, Walt Disney Animation Studios, where Frozen II co-director Jennifer Lee has taken over as Chief Creative Officer.

Addressing what Jennifer Lee has brought to the table, Walt Disney Animation Studios president Clark Spencer also said:

Jennifer Lee delivered one of the most successful animated films of all time with Frozen and is poised to do so again with Frozen II. The first Frozen was her directorial debut and Disney reaped the rewards of taking a chance on relatively new talent with a different perspective. Now she is bringing that experience to her new role at the hallowed Walt Disney Animation Studios.

It seems that overall, Disney animation is looking to bring in new people, with different perspectives, to tell new stories. This is true not just true above the line, but with the animators as well. The SparkShorts series on Disney+ gives young animators a chance to break out by making shorts for the platform with limited budgets and time. The goal is to not only discover new talent, but also to also have a deep roster so that when somebody does age out, there will be a variety of new artists with new ideas ready to step up and fill that spot on the roster.

We are seeing some of this push for new things under Disney Animation with both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios moving away from sequels and towards new original films in the coming years.

To see what’s headed to theaters next year from Pixar, Walt Disney Animation and every other studio, check out our 2020 Release Schedule.

In the modern age, we have seen many different forms of clashes between filmmakers and technology - particularly in the realm of presentation. It started, of course, as theaters started using digital projectors instead of actual film, and during the height of the 3D boom there were arguments about brightness. Streaming, of course, has opened up a different can of worms altogether, with the developing arena making moves that occasionally rub the director community the wrong way.

The most recent example of this has been unfolding this week, and it involves a new "player control" with which Netflix is currently experimenting. The tech is simple, giving audiences the option for variable playback speeds - including one-and-a-half times faster than normal.

After being discovered by Android Police, multiple notable members of the movie industry took to social media to express their extreme displeasure at the idea of their works being manipulated in this fashion. With over 3,000 Retweets on Twitter, writer/director/producer Judd Apatow got the most attention with his reaction to the news of the developing Netflix feature, suggesting that he would personally get every filmmaker and get them to stop the concept from being implemented:

Presumably the thinking behind the implementation of this feature on Netflix is that it will allow users to watch more content faster - but that comes at a major sacrifice in regard to filmmaker intent. If a director wanted a scene to play one-and-a-half times faster, then they would have constructed it that way during the editing process. If you're watching something at a higher speed, you're not taking in everything that the content is offering you, and that's just a waste.

Ratatouille and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird also did not mince words in his reaction to the new tech. As part of his criticism, he notes that Netflix is giving a lot of money to filmmakers to produce content right now, and it's a pretty bad thing to stab them in the back by potentially manipulating the presentation in such a way.

Peter Ramsey, co-director of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, replied directly to Judd Apatow's post on Twitter, and made a very good point: if a Netflix member doesn't have time to properly watch something, then they should go do something else and wait until they do have enough time:

And it's not only directors. Aaron Paul, who not only is the lead actor in Netflix's most recent blockbuster hit - El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie - but also a key part the Bojack Horseman voice cast, also expressed a fair amount of vitriol towards the idea of variable playback speeds:

In an official blog post written in response to the criticism, Netflix Vice President Keela Robison explained the streaming service's side of the matter, noting that it's a feature that has been requested by users, and that it's something that home video devices have been able to do since the rise of DVD:

As for creators who don't appreciate their works being manipulated, the Netflix VP says that it is only being looked at for mobile devices, and that there are specific efforts being made in regards to audio clarity:

The statement concludes that there are currently no plans to roll out this feature in a new Netflix app update, and that its existence will depend on the feedback that they receive from their experimentation. It will be interesting to see if that feedback is exclusively from users, or if they are taking external commentary into account as well.

How do you feel about this potential feature from Netflix? Do you think you would use or, or are you as offended as the filmmakers above? Answer our poll below, and hit the comments section with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the matter.

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There's nothing quite like a good fan theory to get you to see a well loved movie in a whole new light. Pixar's films seem to be particularly susceptible to fan theories. People love to read into them a bit deeper and look for hidden meanings and connections. However, not everything means what you think it means.

Pixar's Ratatouille tells the story of a rat named Remy that loves to cook. It's also the story of a young chef named Linquini and a restaurant critic named Anton Ego. One interesting fan theory is that Remy and Anton Ego are connected, and that Remy learned to cook in the same house where Anton grew up. The basis of this theory is that two separate scenes, one showing Remy learning to cook, and another showing Anton Ego remembering his childhood and his mother, appear to take place in the same kitchen.

Unfortunately, Ratatouille director Brad Bird has revealed that the reason for these two kitchens looking the same has a far more mundane origin. It had nothing to do with making a secret connection in the plot, and everything to do with saving time animating.

The idea that Remy and Anton have this connection was posted by a Twitter account trying to show off movie easter eggs, but it turns out this wasn't really an easter egg, just a time saving move. If you've already created the objects needed for a kitchen in your computer animated movie, you can do it all again, or save time and just reuse the objects. Brad Bird apparently decided to go with the latter option. Why reinvent the wheel?

This is actually pretty funny. While this particular fan theory doesn't exactly totally change Ratatouille in any meaningful way, it was a cute way to look at the story. When Anton Ego eats Remy's dish of ratatouille, he is transported back to his childhood and the food his mother made, it wasn't a crazy idea to believe that Remy might have learned to make the dish from Ego's actual mother.

Of course, fan theories are really just for the fans, and the fact that the filmmakers didn't secretly mean for us to make this hidden connection doesn't actually mean we can't still hold on to the fan theory. Most fan theories are built on less evidence than this, and those fans still hold on to them, not because they're real, but simply because they're fun.

Although, some people, like Ratatouille voice actor Patton Oswalt, thinks Brad Bird should have kept his mouth shut and made it look like he was a genius.

Brad Bird may not have intended for fans to draw this particular conclusion, but reusing the assets, he still ultimately makes the conclusion plausible. Whether you choose to believe the theory or not is up to you. That's how fan theories work. Once a piece of art is out in the world, the audience gets to interpret what it means, and no theory is truly wrong.

Released in 1999, The Iron Giant remains one of the most remarkable animated films in recent memory. It marked the directorial debut of Brad Bird, who would, in later years (and listed in no particular order here), script and direct both Incredibles movies and Ratatouille for Pixar, move to live-action with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Tomorrowland, and subsequently become one of the industry's best, most innovative directors. Unfortunately, according to Bird (and box office numbers), The Iron Giant was a commercial dud. And, also according to Bird, he was partially to blame.

Speaking with IndieWire about the 20th anniversary of the film's release, Brad Bird commented on its discouraging box office performance, saying:

Getting a bit more personal and in-depth, Bird continued:

Brad Bird's comments not only explain a rather confounding piece of movie history, but they also reveal a humility in Bird that makes him even more down to earth and likable. He's only in the spotlight when he's got a film to promote, and he doesn't seem to put money above quality storytelling (which is super refreshing). In this instance, his confidence in the story made his better judgments a bit easier to ignore, but we got a great film out of it regardless.

There won't be a sequel to The Iron Giant, but Bird never promised us one to begin with. His reluctance towards sequels is well-known, which is why 2018's The Incredibles 2 even existing is a miracle. It is a solid film, though, which proves that even when pushed to direct something he's not crazy about, Bird can deliver.

The Iron Giant was re-released in a special edition DVD set in 2016, reigniting interest in the film and introducing it to a new generation.

This summer's blockbuster offering from Pixar was Incredibles 2, the long-awaited sequel about a family of supers. Since the film recently became available on Blu-ray and Digital, more families are viewing the summer hit. One fan complained to Incredibles 2 director Brad Bird for the film's inclusion of a few swear words. Bird replied to the Twitter user's comment, starting a wider conversation about medium of animation. Here's what he said:

Twitter is an especially good platform to have debates, and Brad Bird started one regarding how animation is typically seen as exclusively for "kids" films when it's often intended for a broader audience. Since Incredibles 2 is a movie made under Disney's Pixar, many consider it a family-friendly film (and it is); but, as Bird challenges, it's not created only with children in mind.

The movie is an action film that discusses themes of gender roles, consumption of media, and family. It can be universally viewed by all ages, but doesn't need to be particularly sanitized of more mature content just because it's an animated movie.

Another Twitter user more recently shared a picture of the Incredibles 2 classification on the iTunes Store under genre of "Kids & Family." Brad Bird once again responded, explaining how he didn't agree with his film's current genre classification. In his opinion, Incredibles 2 should join films such as Avengers: Infinity War and Solo: A Star Wars Story in the Action & Adventure section. Take a look:

Brad Bird's thread of tweets brings up an interesting conflict many filmmakers of animated films often face. Animation has long been thought of as a medium made for kids, but it's just another way to create and present a story onscreen. The lines are further blurred through the lens of Disney/Pixar, which often markets their movies and characters to a younger audience -- even though much of their content isn't exclusively "for kids."

Take 2015's Inside Out. While the Pixar film can be enjoyed by kids as an imaginative way to learn about the mind and emotions, at its core, it's about the loss of innocence and childhood. That's a theme only adults can identify with, having experienced it themselves.

Director Guillermo Del Toro also chimed in to the Twitter conversation, explaining how animation is a medium, not a genre for only kids and families. It's an interesting debate, especially since studios often classify animated films as for kids when the filmmakers have created it for broader audiences. For a parent caught in between these two parties, it can be understandably confusing to show a movie to your children, thinking it's created just for them, and finding some more mature themes as you watch.

While you mull over these topics, check out this list of other movies that recently became available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital.

There are multiple trends currently running their course in Hollywood, from the horror boom to cinematic universes, but one of the most successful is certainly animated movies being remade in live-action. Disney in particular has had massive success, with features like Cinderella, Jungle Book, and Beauty And The Beast. They are certainly popular, but one person who isn't a huge fan is writer/director Brad Bird, who recently had this to say about the idea of a live-action Incredibles:

Earlier this month I joined a group of journalists flying up to Pixar headquarters in Emeryville, California, and it was during that trip that I had the chance to sit down with Brad Bird and producer John Walker to discuss their work on Incredibles 2. It was at the end of the interview that I asked about the possible future of the franchise, and what the filmmakers thought about a medium change -- and Bird definitely made it sound like he wouldn't be on-board.

Continuing his thoughts on the operation of the box office marketplace in the industry, Brad Bird clarified that he isn't against sequels and franchises -- notably having made both Incredibles 2 and Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol. However, what he says really excites him is when a great filmmaker introduces a wholly original idea to the world, and it's more of that kind of material he wants to see on the big screen:

It's hard to miss Brad Bird's point when you consider that John Krasinski's A Quiet Place is the only non-sequel/non-adaptation in the domestic Top 25 of 2018 right now.

Adding his two cents, John Walker -- who produced both Incredibles movies as well as The Iron Giant -- also agreed that specifically creating a live-action version of Brad Bird's first Pixar film just wouldn't work. Not only does the concept elude his imagination, but he just doesn't feel that the material would have the same effect if it were adapted differently. Said Walker,

As implied by Brad Bird's comments earlier, Incredibles might seem like a natural film to remake in live-action because its human characters, but that would rob it of some of its special-ness. Both it and its sequel have a gorgeous animation style that harkens back to the golden age of comics, and what it renders through its story just wouldn't have the same effect if recreated with actors and CGI.

At the very end, Brad Bird stood behind his message, but also added a caveat. Obviously there are a lot of these live-action versions of animated movies coming together, and a lot of people love them and have different takes on the approach. For him, though, it seemed like his thoughts were rather black and white. Said Bird,

Incredibles 2 is one of four movies to make over a billion dollars at the box office in 2018, having finished its worldwide run during the summer. Those excited to revisit the adventure will have the chance to do so very soon, as it will be available digitally on October 23rd. Those holding out for physical copies will find it on Blu-ray and DVD November 6th.

Some movies, no matter how good or innovative, can fall flat with audiences and set a precedent going forward. That's arguably what happened with Edge of Tomorrow, a fiercely original non-sequel that didn't make an enormous impression at the box office when it debuted back in 2014. In fact, Incredibles II director Brad Bird recently brought up the film's performance and used it as an indicator of why he thinks Hollywood is afraid of original films. Bird wrote:

That title change has become one of the more talked-about elements of Edge of Tomorrow since its debut. The film was initially supposed to be called Live. Die. Repeat., but the title change to Edge of Tomorrow, in Brad Bird's opinion, ultimately contributed to its lackluster performance. Despite being such a solid movie, the man behind one of Pixar's most prominent franchises believes that Edge of Tomorrow not being a hit is an example of a good movie audiences just didn't show up for. That could then further the studio trend of not signing on for more original movies down the line.

There technically is a case to be made that Brad Bird's opinions have merit, as Edge of Tomorrow did have a lot going for it. As a sci-fi movie inspired by a Japanese novel, the film was anchored by two powerhouse leads in the form of Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. However, per Bird's recent tweet, the "bland title" didn't sell audiences on the original concept and the viewers didn't turn out to see it as planned.

Of course, Brad Bird did temper his remarks with the acknowledgment that Edge of Tomorrow was a success in some regards. The director followed up with another tweet saying:

And that sequel will reportedly be called Live Die Repeat and Repeat. Edge of Tomorrow has become something of a cult hit with hard sci-fi fans since its debut, particularly after its home release, and director Doug Liman has spoken out about his desire to do some truly wild stuff with the follow-up. Who knows? If that sequel proves successful (particularly with that interesting title), it remains entirely possible that Brad Bird's opinion on the matter could be proven right. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Make sure to stay tuned for more updates related to all of the biggest and best movies (sequel or otherwise) coming from Hollywood in the coming months. To learn more about some of the most highly-anticipated release dates that are right around the corner, head over to our movie premiere guide to see what else 2018 has in store!

The Incredibles universe has become one of Pixar's most beloved fictional landscapes, but there are still many questions about this superhero realm that fans continue to debate. One such topic of conversation is the question of how the youngest member of the Parr family got his name, as some have assumed that Jack-Jack is a reference to the Kennedy family. Alas, Incredibles 2 director Brad Bird recently took to social media to shoot down that theory, saying:

So it turns out that Jack-Jack is not a reference to John F. Kennedy Jr. In actuality, the name has a far more personal connection for Brad Bird, as it comes from the nickname that he and his wife gave their middle child, who also happens to be named Jack. We're still not sure if the person who originally posed that question was the one who had bet that it was a reference to the late Kennedy, but whoever bet on it being true now owes the winner some money.

With all of that said, it's not entirely surprising to learn that some fans have taken to thinking that Jack-Jack's name is a reference to the son of John F. Kennedy. After all, the two Incredibles movies that have been released thus far DO take place in the 1960s, which means that it's possible that a fictionalized and animated version of JFK existed at some point on that timeline. Nevertheless, as Brad Bird's tweet bluntly laid out for the fans who posed the question to him, it doesn't change the fact that Jack-Jack was named for a reason that was far more personal to Bird's own life.

The increased emphasis on Jack-Jack as a topic of conversation among Incredibles fans makes quite a bit of sense when we consider his expanded role in the new movie. Though the infant was mostly used as a secondary character when he debuted in the first film, he has since gone on to achieve far more prominence as a member of the Parr family. Essentially used as a Swiss Army Knife of superpowers in Incredibles 2, the baby's increased screen time has largely been hailed as a triumph by many of the sequel's fans.

Now we are left to wonder if we will ever get an in-universe explanation for Jack-Jack's name. Incredibles 2 debuted to a massive box office haul and great reviews, so it's not entirely outside the realm of possibility to imagine that a third film could receive an announcement at some point. For now, however, we're left to come up with our own explanations as to why Bob and Helen decided to call their third child Jack-Jack.

Regardless of how Jack-Jack got his name in the Incredibles universe, audiences can check out his multitude of awesome powers in Incredibles 2, which is still in theaters. Beyond that, make sure to keep it here for more information about all of 2018's biggest movie release dates, and check out our comprehensive premiere guide to keep yourself in-the-loop on all of them!

The superhero genre produces movies that come in all shapes and sizes. These films can take on a broad range of ratings from the MPAA, with most of them getting the PG-13 label when they debut in theaters. With that said, Brad Bird's Incredibles 2 is only rated PG, and while the lower rating implies to some that it's tailored to younger audiences, Bird wants all of us to know that it is definitely not a kids movie, and that animated films, in general, are not inherently kids movies. Responding to a fan who complained about the foul language in the film on social media, Bird opened up about this topic and explained:

For some, an animated film with a PG rating inherently implies that it's aimed at kids. However, that's not how Brad Bird feels about the situation. Incredibles 2 features slightly stronger language than one might expect from an animated PG movie, and while that didn't sit well with one specific fan, Bird's tweet emphasizes the fact that Incredibles 2 casts a wide audience net and shouldn't be considered merely a kids movie that only plays to the younger members of the audience. By his own estimation, thinking that a film is a kids movie just because it is animated and PG is a false way to look at the medium.

The swearing is not the only element of Incredibles 2 that pushes the PG label. Unlike many other films produced under the Disney or Pixar banners, the violence is reasonably visceral (at least by PG standards) and doesn't shy away from ideas like death or murder in the way that it treats its story. Moreover, there are sequences in the movie in which characters openly drink alcohol while engaging in conversation with one another, which (at least by this writer's recollection) has seldom happened in previous Pixar movies.

Of course, those of us who are familiar with Brad Bird's work in the animated landscape shouldn't necessarily be surprised by this. Much like Incredibles 2, films like The Incredibles and The Iron Giant similarly dealt in mature themes that appealed to adults and children alike. These movies sometimes get classified in the kids movie category, but to look at them and assume that they're solely for children arguably feels like a miscalculation.

No matter what you think of the foul language used in Incredibles 2, it's hard to argue against the fact that the film has handily gone on to become a box office juggernaut since its debut. If you want more information about it, then check out our full review of the film. Beyond that, make sure to head over to our 2018 movie premiere guide to get more details on all of the films that are going to debut on the big screen this year!

Director Brad Bird has the rarity of never having really directed a bad movie throughout his career. Even his worst movie is still decent and filled with bright spots. After acquiring a dream job at Disney following college, Bird's experience soon turned sour as he experienced a Disney in decline. Bird was eventually fired but the studio, but that was arguably his true launch pad to become the master storyteller he is today. From there, Bird served as a TV animator in the 90s on everything from King of the Hill to Rugrats to The Simpsons before he would finally get his chance at his own feature film.

With his latest film, Incredibles 2, now out in theaters, there's no better time than to take a look at Brad Bird's filmography to find the cream of the crop. However, when your resume is full of winners, that's a really hard thing to do and the majority Bird's films are only a hair's width apart from each other in terms of quality. When you sit down for a Brad Bird joint, you can rest assured knowing that you're in for something good. With that in mind, here are all six of Brad Bird's films, ranked from least to best.

6. Tomorrowland

The only Brad Bird film to really land with a thud. Tomorrowland has all the pieces of a typical Bird movie (throwback feels, clever action, spectacle, powerful message, Disney) but none of it really ever comes together the way it should. Co-written with Damon Lindelof, the movie follows a teenage science whiz (Britt Robertson) as she teams up with a grumpy inventor (George Clooney) to reach a futuristic city meant to be an incubator of scientific ambition and discovery. The movie has several great ideas with lots of imagination and cool action. Part of the problem, however, may be that the movie is a weird seesaw of pessimism and idealism. On one hand, Tomorrowland is the warning of giving into fear, violent media, and abandoning the need for true scientific discovery. Not a bad message at all, but the movie lays it on really thick and it's exceptionally hard to miss the I've Learned Something Today moral at the heart of the story. Tomorrowland isn't outright bad, but it's the weakest of Bird's body of work.

5. Incredibles 2

After 14 years of keeping fans on the hook, Brad Bird and frequent collaborator Pixar finally made Incredibles 2 a reality. It was definitely worth the wait as the sequel picks up with the Parr family literally right where they left off, swinging back into the family super heroics like no time had passed at all. The movie doesn't even try to address current tropes of the superhero genre and sticks to what it knows best: portraying a realistic family in the most fantastical setting. The sequel opts to split the Parrs up for the majority of the time, with Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) out in the spotlight to give superheroes a good name and Mr. Incredible (Craig Nelson) staying behind to look after kids and relearn math. It's a great setup that has a nice payoff on both ends (Jack-Jack steals the show, obviously), but the sequel's many ideas don't unify satisfyingly the way the original did. Incredibles 2 is trying to say a lot (stand up for who you are, fight for what's right, rely on family, screens are bad), but ultimately it all melts away as the Incredibles save the day once again. The humor, heart, and spectacle are all still there, but one wonders if the movie losing a year of production time affected the fine-tuning.

4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Brad Bird's live-action debut was a tall order, but the filmmaker proved he could handle it just as capable as his animated films. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is a movie that is firing on all cylinders almost right from the start with a stunning escape from a gulag. From there, Bird takes us from one breathless action scene to the next, each one topping itself until we reach the big daddy of the whole movie: Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. From the second Tom Cruise and team arrive on the front steps, this sequence is absolutely thrilling, from Ethan Hunt's death-defying climb up the outside of the tower to an excellent chase sequence through a sandstorm. It's hands-down one of the best action scenes in the history of the franchise and that's saying something considering Brian De Palma, John Woo, and Christopher McQuarrie have all directed entries. The only real downside is that the story is not up to Bird's usual level, but that blame more falls on the franchise itself than him. I can't remember for the life of me what the impossible mission actually is in this movie or why it's important, but ultimately, it's the thrills you're supposed to walk away with and Ghost Protocol has that in spades.

3. The Incredibles

Back before the superhero genre had really exploded in popularity, Pixar released The Incredibles. Written and directed by Brad Bird, the film was a golden age throwback about a world full of superheroes that decides it doesn't want them around anymore. The story follows Mr. Incredible, a once-great superhero who has been unable to get over his glory days, even after settling down and starting a family. When he receives the chance of a lifetime, Mr. Incredible leaps at the opportunity and unknowingly jeopardizes himself and the lives of his family. That's kind of a depressing synopsis, and while the film has some surprisingly dark moments in retrospect, this movie is no Dark Knight. It's full of wonder and humor with a real beating heart at the center of it all. The Parr family are amazingly relatable, with marital disputes, money problems, and everything else a typical family would experience. They also just happen to have superpowers, and Bird puts the human problems right at the forefront. That's not to say that Bird doesn't indulge on the spectacle. His movie is overflowing with the spirit of old-school comics and adventure flicks, and his action sequences are some of the most thrilling and entertaining of the entire superhero genre. Period! The Incredibles is very fitting of its title.

2. Ratatouille

Brad Bird would return to Pixar to helm one of it's most underrated movies: Ratatouille. Bird was not the original director of the movie and was actually brought on to replace Jan Pinkava, but Bird made the project his own. The tale of a French rat (voiced by Patton Oswalt) with a refined palette who dreams of becoming a professional chef is Bird at his most heart-warming. Ratatouille is all heart, but that just makes it a great feel-good movie. Through the lens of cooking in Paris, Ratatouille is really about the importance of creativity and embracing change, whether that means changing your outlook on life or accepting that true talent can come from anywhere. The movie ruins the risk of coming off a little elitist, as it somewhat demands people to get out of the way of those with extraordinary talent, but the silly premise of a rat cooking in a five-star restaurant really helps deflates those particular tires. Mix in a few chase scenes through the streets of Paris, some genuine warmth, and a few cups of goofiness, and you've got a recipe for Pixar's secret gem.

1. The Iron Giant

In 1999, Brad Bird came out swinging with his feature film debut and in the process created his best film. The Iron Giant does not have some of the sharpness that Bird would hone in later films, but everything that makes a Brad Bird movie was born here. Set in Cold War-era, a lonely boy befriends a giant robot from space and government paranoia pursues them at every turn. The Iron Giant is firing on all cylinders on every level. It has a beautiful combination of 2D and computer-generated animation and Bird uses it to his full advantage. If the director disliked his time at Disney because they wouldn't take risks, then it's easy to see what he was talking about. The Iron Giant has a strong anti-gun/violence stance that it expresses through the friendship between a boy and his robot, not to mention it's meditation on the nature of death and nuclear paranoia. The Iron Giant's declaration of "I am not a gun" and his idolization of Superman are especially powerful moments in a film that examines the roles we are born into and our ability to resist them. The movie debuted to excellent reviews, but practically no box office dollars. Nowadays, The Iron Giant has been embraced as a true classic and earned its place in the animation hall of fame.

While most members of the Parr family in The Incredibles have rather basic power sets, baby Jack-Jack is definitely different. Rather than just being super strong, or incredibly fast, the little guy instead has a seemingly endless list of abilities, from teleportation to combustion inducement, to laser eyes. We got a hint of them in the first movie, and see many of them on display in Incredibles 2 -- but it leads to a question: does he really have unlimited gifts? According to writer/director Brad Bird, it seems the answer might be no:

Sitting down with Brad Bird and producer John Walker for an interview earlier this month, I specifically asked about the unlimited potential of Jack-Jack's powers -- and was surprised to hear their answer. It turns out that the baby doesn't have a bottomless well of skills, but instead offers that what we see happen in Incredibles 2 might just be temporary. He may be able to go into monster mode, or turn into rubber, or multiply himself now, but eventually he'll probably start to focus on developing one of those skills, and as a result the rest might just fade away.

By the end of Incredibles 2, Jack-Jack demonstrates nearly 20 different powers, but what's kind of funny is that wasn't really the original goal. During my two-on-one interview with Brad Bird and John Walker, they explained that they had tried to regulate themselves when it came to exploring different kinds of superpowers, attempting to create certain rules, but they just wound up plowing through those limits like a locomotive. Said the filmmakers,

Considering these comments, it does make one think harder about how powers manifest in the world of The Incredibles (sadly I didn't have time for a follow-up question). Is it possible that all super-powered individuals in this universe have multiple abilities at the start, and then wind up settling on one? Incredibles 2 certainly paints Jack-Jack as an anomaly, but perhaps the excitable little kid is just accessing parts of his brain that most children can't. Unfortunately, we'll probably never know all of the answers, because it seems Brad Bird has zero interest in exploring those ideas.

You can watch Brad Bird and John Walker discuss the development of Jack-Jack and his potentially unlimited powers by clicking play on the video below:

Audiences can now see Jack-Jack in all his glory up on the big screen, as Incredibles 2 is now playing everywhere (and just had the biggest opening weekend ever for a Pixar movie). We're going to be talking about this one a lot here on CinemaBlend, so stay tuned for more, and to see what else is heading to theaters in the next few months, be sure to check out our 2018 Movie Release Calendar.

Bob Odenkirk has spent years building up an impressive body of work, but in recent years he's become primarily known for one role: Jimmy McGill a.k.a. Saul Goodman. The actor managed to completely reinvent his career when the character was first introduced on Breaking Bad nine years ago, and that success has continued with his brilliant spin-off series, Better Call Saul. Now the world has completely changed for Odenkirk because of the part, and interestingly it also inspired a key contrasting alteration in the making of Brad Bird's Incredibles 2. Odenkirk recently told me,

Last week, Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener were paired up for interviews during the Los Angeles press day for Incredibles 2, and when I sat down with them my first question was in regard to the collaborative reputation held by Pixar. Knowing the company's history letting different voices be heard in the making of a movie, I asked how the two actors took part in building their roles. In Odenkirk's case, it was really about doing something new and different from the archetype he's become famous for.

In Incredibles 2, Bob Odenkirk voices Winston Deavor, the co-owner of a telecommunications magnate, and the truth is that he is a very different character than Saul Goodman. As fans know, Goodman is a huckster and a con man, willing to lie and cheat to get anything that he wants. Deavor, on the other hand, is what one might call the genuine article. He leads the campaign to try and get the laws against powered vigilantes overturned because he sincerely loves superheroes and everything that they represent. It's absolutely a very different kind of role, but it's great all the same.

You can watch Bob Odenkirk discuss the careful evolution of Winston Deavor in the making of Incredibles 2 by clicking play on the video below!

Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener are two parts of a fantastic ensemble that stars in Incredibles 2, featuring a cast list that includes Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Vowell, Sophia Bush, and even Odenkirk's Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul co-star Jonathan Banks. The movie arrives in theaters on Friday, June 15th, and we'll have plenty more coverage coming your way in the coming days.

Pixar has a special way of making movies. When an idea is initially presented, the animators don't just go straight to work bringing it to life. Instead, there is a key collaborative build-up-then-break-down methodology employed, and it winds up seeing projects shape multiple plots over time. The upcoming Incredibles 2 is no exception, and I recently learned from writer/director Brad Bird that there some very different story ideas explored:

In the Incredibles 2, Helen Parr a.k.a. Elastigirl winds up facing off against a new hypnotic supervillain who goes by the name Screenslaver -- but that wasn't always going to be the case. As I learned from sitting down with Brad Bird and producer John Walker last week during the film's Los Angeles press day, there were a few plots that were presented and then passed over, including one involving the use of artificial intelligence, and another that saw the Parr family bit by the showbiz bug.

On paper those ideas certainly sound super cool, but as Brad Bird pointed out, the problem was a matter of stakes. The consensus was apparently that the protagonists simply weren't being hit hard enough to develop proper drama. In fact, according to John Walker, it was Pixar director Andrew Stanton who wound up being very influential in this regard. Said the filmmaker,

Reflecting on the first Incredibles, it's really an important point to make -- especially given the fact that Brad Bird had the mom-dad role reversal as a part of Incredibles 2 from the beginning. In that first film Helen Parr was adamant about not breaking the law and keeping her supersuit in her closet. To have her be super excited to dive back in action and fight crime would have betrayed her character on a certain level. In response to this, the sequel gives her a real reason to be out there, as a poster figure for the removal of the anti-superhero law, and it's all the better for it.

In the discussion of the subject, Brad Bird also ruminated on a funny connection that exists between The Incredibles and Incredibles 2 (beyond all the obvious ones). Much like how Screenslaver was a late addition to the sequel, the first movie apparently had a totally different antagonist in mind, and it was, again, through the collaboration with Pixar that the film wound up improving. Said Bird,

You can watch Brad Bird and John Walker discuss the alternate Incredibles 2 plots by clicking play on the video below!

Fans will never get to see the versions of Incredibles 2 featuring artificial intelligence and the Parrs going Hollywood -- but the good news is that the end result is still fantastic. Audiences will be able to see it for themselves this weekend, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers!

Incredibles 2 is a film that fans have been begging for ever since the end credits began to roll on the first one -- but the sequel has certainly taken its sweet time getting here. With writer/director Brad Bird moving on to explore other projects, it's been nearly a full decade-and-a-half since we first saw the Parr family up on the big screen. That amount of time naturally led some to lose faith in the idea that the project was happening, and to turns out that Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter can be counted among them -- though the same cannot be said for Samuel L. Jackson. Click play on the video below to hear their thoughts!

Last week I sat down with the cast of Incredibles 2 at the movie's Los Angeles press day, and when speaking to the stars of the original film, my first question out the gate was in regard to their belief whether or not the project would ever actually happen. I asked if there was any point where they didn't think it was going to be made -- and while Samuel L. Jackson apparently always knew it was going to come together, both Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter revealed that they at one point did move on from the idea.

Citing their reasons why, the actors who play Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl said that they just felt the time had passed for Incredibles 2, Craig T. Nelson literally just saying, 'You give up.' For Samuel L. Jackson, though, what helped him believe was simply occasional contact with Brad Bird. The actor would sometimes see the filmmaker and ask for Frozone updates, and walked away from those interactions with confidence. Said Jackson,

So what was it like to get the call from Brad Bird and learn that Incredibles 2 was actually happening? For Samuel L. Jackson, it was essentially an, "About time" response, comedically comparing it to a phone call he may get in the not so distant future:

The best news of all is that the wait for fans is almost at an end. Featuring a supporting cast that includes Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Jonathan Banks, Sophia Bush and more, Incredibles 2 arrives in theaters this Friday, June 15th. Be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend the next few days, as I'll be posting a lot more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers!

Fourteen years is not only a long time to wait to make a sequel, but also a path fraught with landmines. Not only is the ever-growing possibility for disparity from one movie to the other ever increasing, but the extended delay essentially equates to 14 years of growing hype. In short, the audience for Brad Bird's The Incredibles has exponentially grown in the last decade and a half, and at the same time technology has massively evolved, while actors and filmmakers have aged and changed.

Because of all this, it's been hard to get an exact read on Brad Bird's Incredibles 2. Trailers have certainly painted it as a fun time, with almost the entire original cast returning, but simultaneously it's been hard to ignore the looming question regarding whether or not the right time for the project might have passed. Now it can be said that this is not a concern worth having. Rather than being a disappointment, it is instead a shining example of how to do a follow-up properly -- wonderfully advancing the fantastic established characters and world, playing with smart, modern themes, and featuring beautiful, engaging and fascinatingly-consistent animation.

As if to confidently demonstrate that not a beat has been missed, the film picks up right where the first one left off: showcasing the epic showdown between the Parr family -- Bob Parr a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Helen Parr a.k.a. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) -- and the mole-like, drill-riding The Underminer (John Ratzenberger). With the help of Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) they are able to ultimately avoid disaster, but once again superheroes are put in the spotlight for the massive amount of collateral damage their battles cause -- the reason supers were outlawed in the first place.

With the assistance of government agent Rick Dicker (Jonathan Banks), the Parr family prepares to uproot their lives once again, but those plans are deferred with the arrival of brother/sister duo Winston and Evelyn Deavor (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener). They are the founders of a powerful telecommunications company, and they have a mission in mind to get the laws changed, specifically by highlighting the heroics of supers instead of the damage they leave in their wake. Recognizing Mr. Incredibles' unfortunate specialty in the latter category, the decision is made to make Elastigirl the face of the campaign, and she throws herself back into the world of crime-fighting -- quickly discovering a new supervillain who goes by the name Screenslaver.

Because Helen is out of the house, Bob is left with the responsibility of being a single parent -- and it doesn't take long for him to become overwhelmed. He's not only trying to handle Violet's problematic relationship with the boy she likes, and the new mathematical methods being taught to Dash in school, but also the fact that Jack-Jack has powers. And not only does Jack-Jack have powers, but he seems to have basically every power possible, with no physical ability to control any of them.

Incredibles 2 is notably coming out at a very different time in Hollywood than its predecessor, with superhero stories being some of the most prevalent on the big screen, but it does nothing to stop the film from telling a wholly original story that feels just as fresh as the first one. We haven't seen a family of characters like the Parrs in any of the blockbuster Marvel and DC adaptations, and seemingly recognizing that, it perfectly leans into that unique aspect. It's not only about exploring the relatable, real-world rigors of being working and overwhelmed parents, as well as the mentality of angst-y teens, but also just having a story like Jack-Jack's -- which really can't be properly done in a live-action comic book movie. It is successfully done here, though, and there are going to be many out there ready to declare the baby as their new favorite Disney character.

There are certain shortcomings story-wise, specifically in that there is a predictability to elements of the narrative, but the script written by Brad Bird is impressively taut, and exuberantly executed with some eye-opening and thrilling action. The opening battle against The Underminer is one of the best action set pieces we've seen so far this summer, but the movie also delivers in a major way with Elastigirl's heroics. Thanks to the poor Fantastic Four films that we've gotten in the past, we haven't really seen stretch powers used to their full capability on the big screen before, but Elastigirl's moves are clever, creative, and often badass. Only making it better is when she collaborates with heroes with other interesting abilities -- such as the portal-creating hero Voyd (Sophia Bush) -- which winds up making for some amazing thrills (all underlined by a brilliant and vivacious score from Michael Giacchino).

As it comes together, it's a fascinating extension of the original Incredibles -- but looking through that lens reveals another impressive aspect to be found in the general aesthetic. Obviously computer-generated animation has come a very long way in the last 14 years (you can definitely see the original's age now), but Incredibles 2 doesn't stress it. Rather than giving characters the intense texture and detail that can be accomplished with modern technology, there is a fantastic consistency to be found in the hard lines and more pronounced features (such as the lines beneath the eyes of both Bob and Violet). It's certainly more advanced and smooth, but fans will inevitably love watching the two movies back-to-back -- and probably won't even notice that Dash is being played by a new actor.

In retrospect, doubting Incredibles 2 was immensely foolish. Brad Bird is one of the best filmmakers working in the industry today, and prior to this latest effort made what can unequivocally be called two of Pixar's best movies. Now that statement can be updated to say that he's made three of Pixar's best, because it's really that good. We certainly had to wait a crazy long time for its arrival, but patience has proven to be absolutely worth it.

Brad Bird is an acclaimed writer and director, and when you make great movies, people are going to ask for sequels eventually. Bird has held back the wolves for years, but he finally relented on making a sequel to his Pixar classic The Incredibles after he came up with the right story. With that upcoming blockbuster poised to be a huge hit, is Bird open to revisiting any of his other films, like the classic The Iron Giant? As far as Bird is concerned, that story is fully wrapped up and he isn't much interested in making The Iron Giant 2.

The Iron Giant is a 1999 animated movie directed by Brad Bird that follows lonely boy Hogarth, who befriends a giant, amnesiac robot from space, and must protect him from the government G-men who have come to find him. It's an emotional and visually stunning movie that the original fans are nostalgic for, so it's easy to see why a sequel to the movie (which sort of had an open ending) is in demand. However, Bird isn't too interested in revisiting The Iron Giant or any of his older movies.

Brad Bird told io9 that he wouldn't be making a sequel to The Iron Giant. The director isn't too keen on the sequel fever that has obsessed Hollywood for the past few years, and would rather spend his time creating something new than retreading old ground. As far as he is concerned, he told the story he wanted to tell in The Iron Giant, but anyone else who wants to take a crack is welcome to do so.

This no-sequel attitude goes for the rest of his filmography as well. Bird doesn't have any plans to make another Ratatouille or Mission: Impossible, though the fairly standalone nature of the latter franchise would make it relatively simple for Bird.

While Bird's attitude toward making sequels may seem odd considering that Incredibles 2 is just a week away from release, but it's probably a good thing that Bird would rather make something new. While something like Incredibles 2 is nice, that's a world that justifies more movies. Ratatouille and The Iron Giant were standalone and wrapped up their stories satisfyingly. Besides, Bird is too good a talent to box into sequels. Bring on the new stuff, so that we can demand more sequels!

Brad Bird may not be into sequels, so soak in Incredibles 2 while you can. The highly anticipated sequel is set to hit theaters on June 15.

The superhero origin story tends to be a pretty important step on a character's journey. Spider-Man gets bit by a radioactive spider. Daredevil takes a blast of radioactive materials to the face, causing his blindness -- but amplifying his senses. And Bruce Wayne loses his parents, then adopts the symbol of the bats that terrify him. The Incredibles, though, don't have a traditional origin story. When we meet Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and the rest of the Parr family in the 2004 film, they already have their abilities. So when CinemaBlend traveled to Pixar's campus for an exclusive conversation with Incredibles 2 helmer Brad Bird, we asked him how the "Supers" in this franchise get their powers, and he admitted:

The question seemed to catch Brad Bird off guard, as if he hadn't ever contemplated how his incredible characters acquired their incredible powers. In fact, in a different part of our conversation, Bird confirmed that the powers aren't really all that important to him, and that The Incredibles and its pending sequel, Incredibles 2, was always more focused on family than it was on superheroes. The comic-book nature of the Parr clan just gave Bird and his team of genius animators an avenue into exploring the difficulties of a family dynamic, and it doesn't sound like that emphasis is going to change heading into Incredibles 2.

Still, we have reported that there will be more superheroes on display in Incredibles 2 than just the Parr family and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). Our visit to Pixar on behalf of Incredibles 2 unearthed the existence of The Wannabes, super-powered beings who have been in hiding for years because of the government oversight that has made heroes illegal. This is still an issue when Brad Bird's Incredibles 2 opens, but because of the emergence of Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) as a triumphant, heroic figure, these characters leave the shadows and try to re-establish themselves into the world.

But according to Brad Bird, we probably won't learn that much about their origin stories either... though I think, for a few minutes, we had him thinking about it.

Incredibles 2 opens in theaters on June 15. It brings the Parr family back into the spotlight, and introduces a few new antagonists. Have you grabbed your tickets yet?

Way back in 2004, post-X-Men and Spider-Man but pre-MCU and comic book boom, Pixar released The Incredibles. The beloved tale about a super-powered, crime-fighting family still stands as one of the best superhero movies ever made and easily the best Fantastic Four movie that isn't the Fantastic Four. Like many superhero movie sequels, this summer's Incredibles 2 will expand the universe of the first film and part of that means introducing more superheroes. But bringing in these new Supers is more about fleshing out the world than following the Marvel model, as director Brad Bird explained:

Iit sounds like the potentially dozens of new heroes debuting in Incredibles 2 will be primarily used not as characters with backstories and arcs, but more as elements there simply to tell us something about the Parr family and the world they inhabit. As Brad Bird told Fandango, Incredibles 2 is not an MCU team-up movie and it isn't about building up tons of different heroes so that they can all come together. This is a story about the Parr family and their place in a world that is beginning to accept Supers again. The focus will continue to be on the family we fell in love with in the first film and all these new superheroes will be there to advance their story, not distract from it.

While we love seeing team-ups and these massive crossover events in most comic book movies, keeping the focus on the characters from the first film is the right move for Incredibles 2. With a bunch of new superheroes making appearances, it would be difficult and counterproductive for each of them to have sizable roles. Introducing a bunch of characters we've never met and asking for us to care about them in a team-up movie doesn't work. We don't need an Incredi-verse, we just need the Parr family. But part of the story of this film will see Elastigirl being a one-woman crime-fighting public relations machine as Supers attempt to be accepted in public once again. Seeing that happen beyond just the Parrs really helps to establish that this is a fully populated world with other super-powered people in it.

We already know that some of the new superheroes in Incredibles 2 are part of a group of B-Team heroes called The Wannabes. We don't know too much about their role yet, but it sounds like lots of individuals with powers who never became superheroes will be giving it a go now that it is becoming accepted again. Even though some of the new heroes may only show up in a shot, it will be really interesting to see what unique, fun and visually awesome super powers the crew at Pixar equip them with. They'll need all the powers they can get too if they're going to defeat the villainous Screenslaver.

Absence has done nothing to diminish enthusiasm for the Pixar property as Incredibles 2 is expected to deliver a huge box office when it super-speeds its way into theaters on June 15th. For everything hitting theaters this summer and the rest of the year, check out our release schedule.

Sure, Avengers: Infinity War is making a killing at the box office right now, and Deadpool 2 is right around the corner, but there's another superhero movie set to debut later this summer. We're referring to Incredibles 2, and there's a lot of excitement to see what Brad Bird can do with these beloved Pixar characters. Ahead of the film's release, CinemaBlend recently had a chance to chat with Bird about how he came up with the Parr family's powers, and he told us that he landed on their abilities by not overthinking the uniqueness factor. Bird explained:

Ultimately, this seems to explain why the Incredibles have relatively standard powers that feel reminiscent of other beloved superhero teams like the Fantastic Four or the Justice League. Brad Bird bent over backward trying to come up with creative abilities for the Parr family, but once he found himself face-to-face with the sheer saturation of comic books and superpowers in pop culture, he decided to focus less on the powers and more on the family's need to keep the skills secret. However, despite Brad Bird's lack of interest in the complexity of the powers of the Parr family, he made sure to note that each ability would have a thematic relevance to each character. In fact, each member of the Incredibles ensemble has a power that embodies who they are and how they fit into the overarching structure of the family.

The result of this decision is that each character has a power that ties into their respective arcs. Helen's ability to remain flexible quite literally proves to be her biggest strength as a mother and a hero, while Violet's insecurities as a teenage girl translate to defensive powers that protect her family. Now, with Incredibles 2 right around the corner, one of the most interesting elements to watch out for will be how Jack-Jack's skillset evolves as he becomes a more prominent member of the family dynamic.

Incredibles 2 will debut in theaters later this year on June 15. Make sure to watch out for Brad Bird's long-awaited sequel when it finally premieres and check out our guide to all of the most highly-anticipated summer 2018 films to see what else is coming this year!

This story will have mild spoilers for Incredibles 2, so turn back now if you want to enter the sequel knowing next to nothing.

If you paid close attention to the latest poster for Incredibles 2, you might have noticed a few interesting details that will tease happenings in the sequel. We saw the villain for the first time, the goggled menace known as Screenslaver. We caught a glimpse of new heroes The Wannabes. And you might have noticed baby Jack-Jack firing eye-beam lasers at a raccoon. Here, look:

That should be odd, until you learn that there's a fight scene in Brad Bird's upcoming sequel that the Incredibles 2 team seemed very proud and excited about, and it involves Jack-Jack taking on a raccoon. The studio showed off this lengthy scene at D23 recently, though it was in its earliest stages. During a recent trip to Pixar, CinemaBlend was able to see the final cut, and it's hilariously entertaining.

Pixar is doing what it can to keep Jack-Jack's powers under wraps for now, so I can tell you what I saw but I'll dance around some specifics. Basically, the scene proves that Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) doesn't quite understand the full scope of Jack-Jack's abilities. Late one night, with dad asleep on the couch, Jack-Jack spies a raccoon rummaging through the trash. Thinking that the animal looks too much like a criminal on the television set (they sport the same black mask around their eyes), the baby hero investigates, and the brawl begins. It's limited to the backyard, but it's a definite standoff between stubborn personalities, as the raccoon tries to fend off Jack-Jack's attack, only to see that he's horribly outmatched as the toddler's powers reveal themselves. We know from the first movie that Jack-Jack can immerse his body in fire, Human Torch style. The poster proves he has laser beams that can shoot from his eyes. And the raccoon scene shows off a full gamut of the baby's untapped abilities. They are a sight to see!

We can't show you the Jack-Jack versus Raccoon fight yet. What we CAN share is the most recent Incredibles 2 trailer, which dropped last week:

Brad Bird's Incredibles 2 is a sequel 14 years in the making. It catches back up with the Parr family as they are trying to get back into the public spotlight as Supers, but presents all new obstacles for this gifted clan. For more on the movie, hit up our Preview Page. For more on Upcoming Pixar Movies, bookmark our handy guide. And see Incredibles 2 when it opens in theaters near you on June 15.

Yes, it has been 14 years since The Incredibles took to the big screen and showed how a conventional family would juggle superpowers with suburban issues. But the characters haven't aged a day since we last saw them... mainly because director Brad Bird chose to start Incredibles 2 minutes after The Incredibles ended. How did that Pixar adventure end? The family was leaving Dash's track meet, when suddenly, a former nemesis -- The Underminer (John Ratzenberger) -- bursts out of the pavement and declares war. But, in an exclusive interview, Bird told CinemaBlend that this wasn't always his planned ending, and he explained:

That makes sense. The ending that Brad Bird landed on conveyed the truth that The Incredibles were ready to move forward as a crime-fighting family. They all put their masks on. Even the usually hesitant Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) and baby Jack-Jack have masks, ready to leap into battle. And what you will find out in June is that Incredibles 2 shows you EXACTLY what happens next, as the sequel begins basically at this moment, and shows us the Parrs versus The Underminer!

But I like that Brad Bird debated how to end this movie before finally coming up with his conclusion. Because if Pixar had decided to never make an Incredibles sequel, then the ending of the original film truly would have stood on its own. And Bird confirms to us that he did not, in fact, set that ending up to be the starting point for his sequel. He had no interest in exploring The Underminer at the time. Now, however, he views it as the right place to start Incredibles 2.

Relive that original moment in the Incredibles ending, right here:

We don't know how Incredibles 2 will end. We do know how it begins, as we watched 22 minutes of the sequel's opening scenes when we trekked to San Francisco to visit Pixar. For more on the movie, hit up our Preview Page. For more on Upcoming Pixar Movies, bookmark our handy guide. And see Incredibles 2 when it opens in theaters near you on June 15.

Sequels tend to be, in general, bigger than their predecessors. Filmmakers don't want to deliver the same thing that audiences liked the first time around. They want to add more. With this in mind, Brad Bird is making sure that the Parr family isn't the only pack of superheroes in Incredibles 2. In addition to reuniting with Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), the latest Pixar adventure will introduce a team of wannabe heroes nicknamed... well, The Wannabes!

We don't know much about the names and identities of these offbeat individuals. During a recent press day at Pixar on behalf of Incredibles 2, CinemaBlend watched 22 minutes of footage form the sequel and grilled the animators on details. When I asked Brad Bird, in an exclusive 1:1, what he could tell me about the Wannabes, he opened up and said:

Disney and Pixar shared concept art for Incredibles 2 with CinemaBlend, and lo and behold, a group shot of the Wannabes was included. Check them out:

The Wannabes also were included at the bottom of the recent Incredibles 2 poster, so click this is you want to check that out.

From what we learned during the Incredibles 2 press day, The Deavors will be working with Frozone and the Parr family to restore the image of Supers in the public's eyes. There also will be a lurking menace in the form of the Screenslaver, but Brad Bird and his team was mum on the details surrounding him, or his plans.

As for the Wannabes, we will see how much they will be able to contribute to the action when Incredibles 2 opens in theaters on June 15. Maybe, if audiences take to them, this B team of superheroes can graduate to the A team and hold down their own feature? On that note, bookmark our Upcoming Pixar Movies guide to stay up to date on all future Pixar happenings.

After a hell of a long wait, 2018 will finally be the year that director Brad Bird and the folks at Pixar bring us back into the world of The Incredibles. To date, not much has been revealed about the upcoming sequel, titled simply The Incredibles 2, and the known cast has been limited to the titular family (Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible, Holly Hunter as Helen Parr/Elastigirl, Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr, and newcomer Huckleberry "Huck" Milner as Dashiell Parr) and notable supporting players (Samuel J. Jackson as Lucius Best/Frozone and Brad Bird as Edna mode). Now, however, the rest of the major side cast and their characters have been announced, and it's packed with big names like Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Jonathan Banks, Isabella Rossellini, and Sophia Bush.

But it's not just names that Pixar has decided to show us today. The studio has also officially released first-look artwork at each of the new players, and specific details that clue us in on exactly what it is that we can expect from each member of the announced cast. So without delay, let's dive in!

First up we have Holly Hunter's Helen Parr, who we previously learned will be the central protagonist in The Incredibles 2 (similar to how The Incredibles was primarily about her husband). A former superhero herself with the ability to stretch into any form, she will find herself in the spotlight in the sequel as she is asked to lead a very important campaign that will reintroduce superheroes back into society. With the arrival of a new major villain on the scene, however, it also puts a target on her back.

While Helen Parr will be becoming a major player on the world stage, it will be Craig T. Nelson's Bob Parr who is left taking care of things at home. He not only finds himself challenged with the tasks of looking after the household and his children, but finds an extra special surprise taking care of baby Jack-Jack - who he discovers not only has superpowers, but a whole wide variety of different ones.

As mentioned Sarah Vowell will be back as Violet Parr, who has a special ability that matches her shy personality: she has the power to turn invisible and generate protective shields. Unfortunately, the plot details for her character in the official release are pretty slim, mostly highlighting the fact that her meek personality doesn't stop her when it comes time to fight side-by-side with her family against a threatening enemy.

Eleven-year-old Spencer Fox voiced Dashiell "Dash" Parr in the first Incredibles, but the fact that his voice has changed a lot in the last 14 years meant that he couldn't come back to play the part again in The Incredibles 2. Instead, Pixar has cast young newcomer Huckleberry "Huck" Milner as the speedy, enthusiastic young superhero. Like the character's sister, we don't really know a great deal of what he'll be doing in the sequel, but apparently he will still be dealing with some of the key issues he had in the previous story, specifically his desire to show off his powers despite it not being allowed by his parents.

Samuel L. Jackson was playing Lucius Best a.k.a. Frozone four years before his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury, and fourteen years later he will be back playing the role in The Incredibles 2. Lucius is Bob Parr's best friend and former associate from the golden age of superheroes who has the power to turn any water in his environment to ice. We don't know a great deal about his larger part in the plot of the film, but surely he will be very excited by what Helen Parr is doing to try and make being a superhero legal again.

When it comes to making supersuits, nobody in the world of The Incredibles is more skilled than the diminutive, snappy Edna Mode (who will once again be voiced by director Brad Bird). In The Incredibles 2 we probably shouldn't expect her to change her mind regarding capes, but like Lucius Best, she has a lot to gain from superheroes being allowed to do what they do legally once again.

Here we have yet another example of recasting, as some of you may remember Rick Dicker from the first Incredibles, where he was voiced by animator/voice actor Bud Luckey. In The Incredibles 2 he will be brought back to life by Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul star Jonathan Banks. Dicker is a key member of the Super Relocation Program, which is the government's solution to helping superpowered individuals move around the country whenever their special abilities are revealed to the public. He's a good friend of the Parrs, but they are left on their own when Dicker loses his job and his entire department is shut down.

The Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul connection will help us ease into the introduction of our first new character here, who will be voiced by Jonathan Banks' co-star, Bob Odenkirk. In The Incredibles 2 he will be voicing Winston Deavor, who is the co-owner of one of the world's biggest telecommunications companies. He is described as "ultra-wealthy, savvy and suave," but perhaps most important is that he is said to be a big fan of the Supers. He has big plans to change the image of these heroes in the public eye, and presumably Helen Parr will be a significant part of that.

You see above where I identified Winston Deavor as the "co-owner" of one of the world's biggest telecommunications companies? That's because it's a conglomerate that he owns and operates with his sister, Evelyn Deavor (voiced by the fantastic Catherine Keener). While her brother his more of the flashy sales guy, Evelyn is said to be the real brain behind their work, as she is a genius when it comes to technology. She's a problem-solver, and gets the job done via tinkering.

Voyd, who will be voiced by Sophia Bush, is the first new superpowered character that has been announced for The Incredibles 2 - and in a certain light, she kind of mirrors Jason Lee's character from the first movie. Rather than being a huge fan of Mr. Incredible, she is instead totally obsessed with Elastigirl - and while Buddy didn't have any kind of special abilities, Voyd does. As you might have guessed from her name, he has the abilities to generate voids that allow her to cause objects around her to shift in space and disappear/appear.

Lastly we have Isabella Rossellini's character, who is identified solely as the Ambassador. She is described not only as a dignified presence on the global stage, but also a friend of the Supers who wants to see their actions legalized around the globe. If it's not Winston Deavor who The Incredibles 2 sees propping up Helen Parr as the face of good superheroes, it's probably her.

This is by far the most we've learned about The Incredibles 2 to date - but sadly the movie isn't exactly coming out next week. We still have a few months left before the highly-anticipated sequel arrives in theaters, with Disney/Pixar having it set for June 15th. It's one of our most anticipated titles of the year, so we'll be sure to keep you up to date with all of the latest info that is revealed about the animated blockbuster.

Brad Bird ended his 2004 animated family adventure The Incredibles with the perfect set up for a sequel. A new threat in The Underminer (John Ratzenberger) had surfaced, and the Parr family – now embracing their superhero identities – was ready to engage. It’s possible Bird may start with this idea for The Incredibles 2, because the director is starting to reveal how threads from the original movie are definitely influencing his upcoming sequel.

Brad Bird was speaking with ComingSoon at an event to promote the DVD release of Tomorrowland. Naturally, Bird’s upcoming The Incredibles 2 came up, and the director revealed that several ideas he had while working on the original film have helped him shape the overall direction of the sequel. He says:

By time, Bird is referring to the 10+ years he waited to return to the Pixar world of The Incredibles to attempt a sequel. In that time, the animated giants have churned out additional stories in their Toy Story, Monsters and Cars universes. They also have created original masterpieces like this summer’s Inside Out (and noble misses like Brave). But Brad Bird had an explanation as to why he took so long to attempt The Incredibles 2, stating to ComingSoon:

When, though, will we get to see The Incredibles 2? IMDB has it down for November 16, 2016. And even though Brad Bird recently spoke about Pixar moving his The Incredibles 2 ahead of a planned Cars 3 on the studio’s production schedule, that seems like far too small of a window to create an animated feature on the level of Pixar’s best. The studio has Finding Dory down for June 17, 2016, and Toy Story 4 on the schedule for June 16, 2017. Could 2017 be a year where Pixar has three movies? Or is The Incredibles 2 shipping off to 2018? Stay tuned.

It was officially announced last summer that Pixar is developing an Incredibles 2 - but what hasn't been tremendously clear is exactly when we will be seeing the finished product. The Good Dinosaur, Finding Dory, Toy Story 4, and Coco fill the studio's slate through November 2017, and at this point the Incredibles sequel is simply expected at some time after that point. Sadly, after all this time we still don't have any firm details about the movie - but what we do now know is that the project has actually managed to leap-frog ahead of Cars 3.

With Tomorrowland scheduled to be released soon on Blu-ray and DVD, Brad Bird is back doing press rounds, and it was while speaking to Collider that the filmmaker dropped details regarding The Incredibles 2 release date. Asked about when we can expect to see the sequel arrive in theaters, Bird explained,

Given that Cars 3 doesn't yet have a firm release date either, this information only gets us so far. That being said, there's certainly more adult interest in Incredibles 2 than Cars 3, so there are many fans (including myself) who are probably celebrating this update. Right now, Pixar has a claim for the weekend of June 15, 2018, so one must wonder if this means that date will eventually belong to the studio's superhero-filled sequel.

In terms of developing how Incredibles 2 will operate, Brad Bird has revealed that he is about three-quarters of the way through the development of the script. Like the first Incredibles, he is also directing the film - and it will be his first animated feature since 2007's Ratatouille (having spent the last eight years working on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and the aforementioned Tomorrowland).

When I had the opportunity to interview Brad Bird earlier this year, he told me that fans shouldn't really expect Incredibles 2 to comment much on the booming current state of comic book movies - but we should definitely expect it to keep playing up the aspect that makes it special within the genre: the element of family. As of now, any and all specific plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, though we can probably expect them to start leaking out slowly in the coming weeks, months and years (we've got our fingers firmly crossed for more of Samuel L. Jackson's Frozone). Hopefully it won't be too long before Pixar commits to a date, as we can all then officially start our countdown clocks.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation has already imposed itself on a summer blockbuster season that was flourishing nicely. While Rogue Nation is being touted as one of the best action films of the year, it’s influences are much more widespread than that. In fact, Tom Cruise has revealed that the silent comedy genre was a huge inspiration during the conception of Rogue Nation’s most exhilarating scenes.

Tom Cruise made this admission during his riveting, almost two hour long discussion on The Q&A With Jeff Goldsmith. After being asked how he had the gall and cojones to actually shoot the blockbuster’s opening gambit, which involves Cruise hanging on for dear life as a huge plane speeds down the runway at 500mph and then sets off into the sky, Cruise proclaimed that he was inspired by the extreme and unsafe lengths that the greats of the silent comedy genre went to just to entertain their audiences. Cruise explained:

And it’s safe to say that audiences are ecstatic Tom Cruise went infinitely above and beyond the usual acting limit, and that’s exactly what makes Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation so tense, compelling and entertaining.

Because, not only did Cruise hang onto a plane that then flew into the air, but he also held his breath for around six minutes (allegedly) for an underwater scene. All of which proves that, in my opinion, Tom Cruise is still the biggest and most ground-breaking action actor in the world. Which isn’t bad for a man who just turned 53 and has been peppering cinemas with his work in the genre for around 30 years.

This isn’t the first time that the silent comedies influenced the Mission: Impossible franchise, and Cruise in particular. Earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival, Brad Bird spoke to Janeane Garofalo about his work on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and after showing the scene where Simon Pegg’s Benji and Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt break into the Kremlin, Bird spoke glowingly about Cruise’s comedic sensibilities. Can’t remember that scene? Then watch it again below

Bird then revealed that when he first met the actor, Cruise’s immense knowledge of silent comedy, especially Harold Lloyd’s films, immediately came to the fore:

All of which proves that on top of being the biggest actor in the world, dashingly handsome, and impossibly nice, Tom Cruise also knows more about films than most us, too. Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation is now in cinemas everywhere. And it’s pretty damn good.

While Tomorrowland took a tepid photo finish victory during the Memorial Day weekend with $40.7 million over Pitch Perfect 2, the film, itself, was an immense awe-inspiring injection of optimism. However, one intended key piece of exposition in an animated sequence from Pixar was actually cut from the film. Now, that scene jumps from the cutting room floor to see the light of day online. Check it out in all its humanitarian glory!

Director Brad Bird would call attention to the posting of this nixed scene. Bird, who made his name with animated epics like The Iron Giant and The Incredibles before moving to the live-action blockbuster arena, initially sought to integrate this Pixar-procured piece into Tomorrowland. However, if you’ve already seen the film, then, for the most part, it’s not telling you anything you don’t already know. That’s because Bird ultimately decided to explore this angle with a bit more brevity. As production designer, Scott Chambliss tells The New York Times on Bird’s decision to cut the sequence:

In lieu of the animated detour, Bird would instead opt to have George Clooney’s Frank Walker directly explain the story of Tomorrowland’s conception to Britt Robertson’s Casey Newton amongst mannequins of its visionary Plus Ultra founders, Gustave Eiffel, Jules Verne, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. From the aspect of expediting the flow of a film, the move makes sense. Yet, one might compare the animated explanation to the successfully-utilized "Dino DNA" film that was shown to the test patrons in Jurassic Park. However, that sequence managed to work because it never withdrew the audience from the characters as we were able to gauge their reaction to the exposition.

Amongst the film’s aesthetically-inclined array of futuristic tropes like jetpacks, robots, time-jumping and interdimensional travel, the encompassing theme points to the preservation of optimism and the rejection of a fatalism fixated on a self-fulfilling bleak future. The malleability of fate, which it claims to be shaped by child-like imagination becomes a central concept. The animated short, by virtue of its energy and immediacy, effectively emphasizes this point. Thus, while it's understandable from a practical standpoint why it was cut, it could be argued that the concept feels more powerful and poignant in the animation than it does being conveyed in some simple dialogue.

Regardless, Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland, while dividing audiences, does manage to showcase its premise and visuals as a spectacularly stunning tribute to the human spirit and its perpetually unrealized potential to achieve some type of Utopian existence. You may find yourself wanting some French toast to dip in to the sweet sap that it’s exuding, but it makes for an acceptable family-friendly outing.

With Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof both serving as the masterminds behind Tomorrowland, it was inevitable that the final cut of the film would wind up being jam packed with Easter Eggs. After all, both of the filmmaker’s resumes are filled with titles that feature tiny little references to either their own past or things that they are fans of. With the film hitting theaters this weekend, I can now tell you that the movie does indeed have a number of fun little goodies specially planted for eagle eyed fans.

Collecting both my own observations, as well as fantastic details revealed to me in one-on-one interviews I did with both Bird and Lindlof, below you’ll find a list of five Easter Eggs to be on to be on the look-out for in Tomorrowland. And be sure to hit the last page as well to learn about the Easter Eggs you definitely won’t find in the film.

The Iron Giant Display

Before breaking out in the feature world, Brad Bird was best known for his work on the small screen – working on shows like The Simpsons and The Critic , but it was The Iron Giant that wound up changing everything. The beautiful and emotional animated film proved that Bird had what it takes to be a big name in movies, and in the years since he has lived up to that promise. Because of this, it’s only appropriate that Tomorrowland make reference to it. When Casey (Britt Robertson) arrives at the Blast From The Past toy shop in the first half of the film, check out the display shelf on the left side of the wall opposite the door. It’s a full shelf of Iron Giant memorabilia!

Michael Giacchino Cameo

While you may not recognize Michael Giacchino’s face, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ve heard his music. In the last few years he has proven himself to be one of the most talented composers working in Hollywood today, and has provided absolutely fantastic scores for films like Up, 2009’s Star Trek, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. He also provides the sweeping themes of Tomorrowland - his fourth movie with director Brad Bird – bit that’s not the extent of his contribution. In one of the earliest scenes, you can also spot Giacchino as an operator of the Small World ride during the 1964 World’s Fair.

Mr. Incredible Action Figure

The Iron Giant wound up launching Brad Bird’s career as a director, but it’s not the only movie he’s made that gets a tiny little nod in Tomorrowland. There is also a very quick Easter Egg relating to his critically-acclaimed superhero epic The Incredibles. While it’s a bit hard to talk about without spoilers, let’s just say that the subject is a Mr. Incredible action figure, it’s also featured in the scene at the Blast From The Past toy store, and it appears at the edge of what I’ll just call a bubble. Note that the action figure isn’t wearing the red costume that most associate with Mr. Incredible, but instead the blue get-up from when he was younger.

Emperor Zurg From Toy Story 2

Unlike Iron Giant and The Incredibles, Brad Bird didn’t actually direct Toy Story 2, but the filmmaker did put a reference to the movie into Tomorrowland as a shout out to the folks at Pixar who really helped him blossom into the blockbuster director that he is today. This little Easter Egg is also located in the Blast From The Past toy shop, but if you’ll blink you’ll miss him. When I interviewed Bird about the film recently, he gave me the heads up about the reference, explaining, "I put a Zurg right in front of the television, from Toy Story 2, a little nod to my Pixar friends."

A113

At the California Institute of the Arts, Classroom A113 is the studio for first year graphic design students, and as a tribute, many filmmaker alumni stick the room number in a variety of projects. Brad Bird is one of these filmmakers (he even has A113 in his Twitter handle), and has promised that the letter and three numbers are featured in Tomorrowland. While I personally didn’t spot it during my screening of the film, but during my interview with the filmmaker he told me, "There is an A113. I won’t say where it is, but it is in the movie." So keep an eye out, folks!

But Don’t Bother Looking For Anything From Lost

With Damon Lindelof co-writing the script of Tomorrowland with Brad Bird, you probably predicted that the movie would feature at least one reference to the television show Lost, didn’t you? Well, you don’t have to bother looking now, because I can guarantee that there isn’t one in there. During an interview with Lindelof, I asked him about Easter Eggs in the movie, and he explained, "I went out of my way to not do any Lost references in Tomorrowland, because I thought it would be distracting. There are lots of numbers as it is!" So don’t waste time looking for the Dharma Initiative symbol – it’s definitely not in there.

A film about visionaries from all corners of our world meeting to create a brand new one filled with the advances of the future, Tomorrowland isn't too shy to name drop a lot of historical figures. Figures such as Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and, of course, Walt Disney himself are all mentioned at one point. As if that wasn't a prestigious enough grouping of minds, Brad Bird suggests that another historical heavyweight would have appeared: legendary film director, and avid futurist, Stanley Kubrick.

Disney Insider spoke with Bird about his most recent film, as well as a bunch of other projects he's been linked or committed to with the studio in recent times. When the conversation turned to Tomorrowland's various easter eggs for properties such as The Iron Giant and The Simpsons, the question was asked whether there were any concepts that Brad Bird had wanted to include in the film but didn't. It was then revealed that he dropped some knowledge on one of the best cameos that never was. He set the scene where Frank (George Clooney) watches the 70mm presentation of To The Moon And Beyond at the 1964 World's Fair. Bird then went on to describe the scene that could have been, as:

That sort of sly reference to historical detail is the sort of thing that filmmakers like Brad Bird excel at, and with Tomorrowland already sporting a who's who of thinkers that were lightyears beyond, surely one more couldn't have hurt? After all, Kubrick is the same man that not only employed artists that nailed the construction of a bomber plane's cockpit by using only publicly released photos in Time Magazine, he also planned one of his own films as a starring vehicle for a robot actor. You see, back when he was still developing A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, word has it that one of Kubrick's big hang ups about making the film was that he wanted to make the film with a real robotic actor. If that's not the type of person that Plus Ultra, the folks behind the Tomorrowland project, would recruit into their fold, then we can't imagine who else would fit the bill.

Of course, the deletion of Kubrick's cameo makes complete and total sense when taking into account the other concepts that were deleted from the film. With Judy Greer's supporting role in the film already trimmed to a bare minimum, and a clever Samuel L. Jackson post credits stinger abandoned as quickly as it had been thought of, Brad Bird and company knew what to trim and what to keep in order to make Tomorrowland a streamlined beauty of a film. Not to mention the fact that while Stanley Kubrick would have been undoubtedly considered for Plus Ultra membership, he probably wouldn't have made the cut. This is, after all, the man who would go on to make The Shining, and that just doesn't jive with Plus Ultra's mandate.

Whether you were looking forward to that cameo or not, you can catch Tomorrowland in conventional and IMAX theaters as early as tomorrow night. Trust us, it's worth the ticket price.

During the scramble to find a director to helm Star Wars: The Force Awakens, one name seemed to be as popular with the public at large as it was with studio executives. Brad Bird was that name, as his marquee appeal and mastery of storytelling landed him a plum spot on the short list of directors being offered the chance to resurrect the saga told in a galaxy far away. Yet despite the wishes of fans and Disney personnel, Bird had to turn the job down due to his commitment to Tomorrowland, which as it turns out was more serious than we thought at that point.

Yahoo recently sat down with Bird to discuss Tomorrowland, the project he developed instead of jumping on board with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Naturally, that choice came back to revisit him in the form of this interview, and his reasoning behind passing up an obviously choice gig was clearer than he's ever lead on. Hhe stated:

Clearly, Disney wanted Brad Bird to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only was he a natural pick for the film's directorial short list, but they even offered to push back the film's overall schedule, just so he could step in and do his magic. Previously, Bird did mention that he thought he could do Tomorrowland and Star Wars: The Force Awakens one right after the other, but alas this was not the case. Bird was faced with a choice not only for himself, but also for Star Wars fans.

However, Bird is as much of a fan as the rest of the Star Wars ranks, and to push back the long-awaited return of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia would have been too much of a hardship, even for him. Not to mention, he single-handedly signed George Clooney on to a Disney film that probably would never have gotten made without either of them. Tomorrowland would have died on the vine had Brad Bird abandoned it, and even he knew that. Star Wars: The Force Awakens, on the other hand, would have undoubtedly happened no matter what. So for the sake of their relationship, and on behalf of the scores of Star Wars fans waiting patiently, Brad Bird abdicated the geek throne to J.J. Abrams, and the rest was history.

Tomorrowland opens its doors to the public on May 22nd, while Star Wars: The Force Awakens makes itself known on December 18th.

Creative, intelligent and inspiring, Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland is unlike anything that’s playing in theaters at the moment, or anything we’ve seen in quite some time.

We’ve barely made it one month into the Summer Movie Season, and the multiplexes are crowded with sequels. Familiarity breeds receipts, so if you scan the box office charts, you’ll see three sequels in the top three slots -- Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2 and The Avengers: Age of Ultron. These blockbusters were preceded by Furious 7 and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 -- meaning that half of the films in the current weekend Top 10 are extensions of stories we’ve already consumed.

Sequels aren’t evil, though. Most of the films mentioned above prove that it’s possible to advance a formula while entertaining an eager fan base. But sequels can be easy. Movies like Tomorrowland are hard. They require thought. Planning. Risk. They don’t have a pre-established source, or a powerful brand on which to lean. A movie like Tomorrowland asks you to gamble your time and money on an unfamiliar journey. In this instance, though, the risk comes with serious reward.

Perhaps its because we have been gorging on a steady diet of THE familiar that Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland strummed the chords of my imagination with its whimsical science-fiction tale. The film’s nostalgia for a knowledgeable era, and its noble messages of hope, inspired me to think bigger as I exited the theater. Hopefully the same sense of inquisitiveness and mystery will prompt you to explore Bird’s wondrous adventure. To help coax you along, I came up with three reasons why Tomorrowland sold me on its look-to-the-skies sense of astonishment.

Needless to say, this piece will dig into a few mild Tomorrowland spoilers, but nothing that will ruin the movie for you.

It Celebrates Scholars, Artists And Dreamers

Tomorrowland, the fictional location in Brad Bird’s movie, is an alternate land existing in a separate dimension that was created so that the world’s best and brightest thinkers would have a place to experiment free from the imposing wills of politicians and bureaucrats. If geniuses like Thomas Edison, Jules Verne or Nikola Tesla could imagine it, they could work together to build it in Tomorrowland. The bulk of the movie follows young Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) on her quest to find a "gate" into Tomorrowland from our world – a mission that pairs her with both an aging and bitter inventor (George Clooney) and a pint-sized robot (Raffey Cassidy).

But it’s the reason Casey is "chosen" for this adventure that helps Tomorrowland stand out. She’s an intelligent optimist with a rebellious streak, a big-picture thinker who’d rather analyze the world’s problems than use them as an excuse for her own failures. And when it’s time to reestablish Tomorrowland as a thriving hub for creative thought, Casey is the driving force to recruit new artists, inventors, teachers, learners, activists, entrepreneurs… problem solvers. Tomorrowland recognizes our current culture born of a fascination with Armageddon, a post-apocalyptic, pop-culture landscape littered with the Mad Max’s, Walking Dead’s and Last Man On Earth’s of the world. That content had its time. Tomorrowland asks why we can’t think positively every once in a while, starting now.

It Is Infused, On Every Level, With Movie Magic

There’s a visual gag in Tomorrowland that’s so adorably creative, it became the centerpiece of the film’s marketing campaign. Athena, the robot recruiter, lures thinkers and dreamers to Tomorrowland by passing them the pin seen in the pic above. By infusing the pin with one’s DNA, she’s able to turn the trinket into a conduit that shows them Tomorrowland – even though their physical form remains on Earth. This is one of the many imaginative flourishes that, in Brad Bird’s hands, become unforgettable tricks of filmmaking wizardry that will keep you giggling through Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland continues an ongoing "How did they do that?" conversation that many of us started during Mad Max. But the wonder and mystery of Tomorrowland isn’t limited to the pin. During a slam-bang shootout in a Houston comic-book shop, Bird relies on every single prop from our collective, pop-culture memories – from a frozen-in-carbonite Han Solo to, of course, The Incredibles action figures – to keep Casey out of danger. When Casey finally finds Frank (George Clooney), the two rely on impossibly creative gadgets in a sci-fi funhouse to ward off robot attackers. At one point in the film, during a scene hinted at in the trailers, the Eiffel Tower converts into a rocket ship capable of shifting between dimensions. And the realm of Tomorrowland, itself, is a magical environment inspired by theme park attractions found on Disney playgrounds in both Orlando and Anaheim. It’s enthralling, seeing these imaginative set pieces come to life on screen, and Tomorrowland shows how Bird continues to grow and mature as a live-action filmmaker after conquering animation in gems like The Iron Giant, Ratatouille and The Incredibles.

Its Originality Is Refreshing, And Breathtaking

You might have reached this conclusion already, reading about rocket ships hidden in the Eiffel Tower or smiling robots invading George Clooney’s fortress of solitude (which he and Britt Robertson escape via a catapulted bathtub). But it’s worth repeating that Tomorrowland is simply the most original, inventive and unpredictable movie in theaters at the moment, and curious audience members who enjoy mystery and intrigue should celebrate it. With all due respect to the fourth Mad Max or the tenth Marvel movie, we kind of know what we are getting in to when we pony up the dough for those stories. Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof hatched Tomorrowland from seed, and while it isn’t without fault, it meanders and expands in ways you couldn’t possibly predict. The visuals are stunning (IMAX is a necessity for this feature), the acting’s top notch, and the movie will challenge you on multiple levels – whether you agree with its concepts or not.

During a time when movie studios frequently hope ticket buyers turn their brains off to enjoy superficial thrills, Tomorrowland soars by engaging our imaginations, our spirits and our souls. It’s a rich and rewarding movie-going experience, and one I can’t wait to embark on again, soon.

Actress Judy Greer - known for her parts in shows like Archer and Arrested Development, as well as movies like The Descendants and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - has a role in Tomorrowland… but if you blink you’ll miss her. In the movie, she plays the mother of Britt Robertson’s character, Casey Newton, but only briefly appears on screen in a home movie that’s played early in the film. It might strike some as odd that a known actress would have such a small part – but as it turns out she originally had a more significant role that ultimately had to be axed because of first act pacing issues.

While recently sitting down to talk with Tomorrowland director Brad Bird, I took the opportunity to ask about Judy Greer’s tiny role, and he confirmed that her role in the movie was larger during the production process. In fact, she was actually one of a number of family members who wound up being cut out of the film completely. As Bird explained,

In the final cut of the film, Casey’s only family members are her father, played by Tim McGraw, and her younger brother, played by Pierce Gagnon. Judy Greer is credited in the movie as simply "Mom," and the IMDb page for the movie reveals that actor Lochlyn Munro has an uncredited part as "Uncle Anthony" in the movie – which we can presume is the relative to whom Brad Bird was referencing.

The filmmaker explained that the scenes will be included on Tomorrowland’s Blu-ray release, but noted that the moments were a problem because they "tended to divert energy away from where [they] needed it to go." That being said, Bird regrets that Judy Greer isn’t in the movie. He said,

While it may sound like Tomorrowland was forced to cut out a significant portion of Casey’s home life, the cuts actually aren’t actually noticeable in the final film, and you simply get that she is being raised by a single father (it’s possible if not very likely that this was partially fixed through reshoots). The only reason it might bug you is if you recognize Judy Greer’s presence and wonder why she doesn’t have a bigger role, but that’s exactly why I asked Brad Bird about it!

Tomorrowland, which still does feature the likes of George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Kathryn Hahn and Keegan-Michael Key in significant roles, arrives in theaters this Friday.

Some of you may have already known this, but there is one particular element of The Incredibles that actually separates it from every other movie that Pixar has produced: it's the only one without a visible Pizza Planet truck. The food delivery vehicle first introduced in 1995's Toy Story has been an Easter Egg in every single movie the animation house has ever made in some form, but fans have spent years searching and failing to find one in Brad Bird's superhero flick. But is it actually in the film? It turns out that even the director doesn't actually know.

The Huffington Post caught up with Brad Bird recently, as the filmmaker is currently doing the press rounds promoting his new film Tomorrowland, and the site took the opportunity to ask him about the missing Pizza Planet truck in The Incredibles. Unfortunately, the filmmaker wasn't too much help in the matter, at first responding to the trivia with an "Oh really?" - but he had a pretty valid excuse for forgetting about the Easter Egg. He explained,

That may seem like a firm confirmation that the Pizza Planet truck didn't make its way into the movie, but the Ratatouille director's subsequent comment made the area just a touch more grey once again:

It should be noted that while no Pizza Planet truck is clearly visible in The Incredibles, there are some who think that think the folks at Pixar did sneak one of the yellow pickups into the film. Specifically, it's theorized by some that it can be seen while Frozone and Dash are teaming up in the final battle: (click on the image to see a bigger version)

So this Pixar mystery lives on, and probably will until someone can find the specific animators that worked on this particular shot in The Incredibles and get them to confirm or deny. In the meantime, head over to Page Two to watch a fun video cataloging every Easter Egg in the animation studio's awesome history.

The landscape of superhero movies has changed quite a bit since Brad Bird’s The Incredibles hit theaters in 2004. That period of 11 years saw the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the entirety of Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy, six of the eight X-Men movies, and the end of two Spider-Man series. That in mind, you might think that plans for The Incredibles 2 would reflect the new climate, but that’s actually not really the case. Instead, Bird has his eyes looking at the bigger picture.

I had the chance to sit down with Brad Bird at a press day for his upcoming film Tomorrowland this past weekend, and it was at the end of our discussion that he discussed his plans for The Incredibles 2 and why it won’t reflect the current state of the superhero genre. Stressing the importance of making a feature that has more of a timeless feel, he explained,

This may seem like an impossible task, given that The Incredibles 2 will surely be compared to the other superhero stories being told on the big screen when its released, but Brad Bird noted that he does have an ace up his sleeve when it comes to being something different. He told me,

Sadly, Bird wouldn’t go into detail about exactly what those ideas were, though I did try to eek something out of him. Referencing the mole-like villain who appeared in the final scene of the first Incredibles, I asked the filmmaker if there was a chance that the sequel would include payoff for The Underminer. Unfortunately, the Ratatouille director shut me down, laughing and saying,

At this time, The Incredibles 2 is currently in development at Pixar, though Disney has not yet announced an official release date for the project. Hopefully this news will break soon – possibly during Disney’s D23 Expo this August. Stay tuned for more updates about the project, and more from my interview with Brad Bird!

It was in March of last year that Pixar finally announced that they were developing The Incredibles 2 as one of their upcoming projects - but what was left unclear was exactly when we can expect the sequel to be released. Well, if new comments from Incredibles director Brad Bird are any indication, it might be coming very soon. This is because he has confirmed that Incredibles 2 is the next film he will be focusing on.

It was during a recent interview with Collider that the Ratatouille filmmaker revealed his commitment towards his own superhero sequel. It had previously been confirmed that Brad Bird was developing the script for Incredibles 2, but when asked if it would be his next film, the director said,

The vagueness of this quote is definitely vexing. Is this a confirmation that Brad Bird will be making Incredibles 2 his main filmmaking focus now that he's completed Tomorrowland, or does it take things a step further and mean that he will be directing the film? I certainly want to hope that it's the latter, as it's only fitting that the man who created the super family be the one to take the helm of the next chapter.

Discussing his approach to the film, Bird also added that some of his ideas coming into the sequel actually originate as material he thought of while making The Incredibles, but simply couldn't make fit into the script. Bird explained,

At this point, nothing has been confirmed story-wise for The Incredibles 2, though Samuel L. Jackson has claimed that he will be back in the mix as the superhero Frozone. It will be interesting to see how the project will develop, it having been a decade since the first movie. Will the film pick up just shortly after the events of the original, featuring the likes of Dash, Violent and Jack-Jack still as kids, or will they have grown up a bit by the time the sequel's story starts?

While nothing is certain at this point, there's a good chance that we'll get an answer to all of our big Incredibles 2 questions later this summer. This is because Disney is set to host their semi-annual convention known as the D23 Expo in August, and it's during this event that they often make big announcements and reveals regarding upcoming projects. A big panel regarding all of the animated films coming from The Walt Disney Company has already been announced, so we'll just have to wait until August to see what they tell us about the movie.

One of the highlights of this year's Tribeca Film Festival ended up being Brad Bird’s conversation with host Janeane Garofalo. While other participants in panels and talks struggled to either open up, be engaging or speak clearly, Garofalo and Bird’s camaraderie was obvious from the get go, which was probably down to the fact that Bird had directed her in Ratatouille. And while Bird spoke eloquently about his past and future works as a director, there was one revelatory slice of cinema history that he uttered which really stole the show -- and it involves both pee and the Disney animated classic, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

During the Q-and-A session that followed the foray into his work, Brad Bird was asked about his thoughts on the fact that Walt Disney wasn’t afraid to scare children, and how that has influenced his own career. And while answering the query, Bird told a fascinating story that showcased just how scary audiences found Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs back in 1937:

Unfortunately Bird didn’t provide the exact name and location of the cinema in question, so if you have lived or visited a cinema in the five boroughs at any point over the last 78 years, there is an outside chance that you sat in traces of kid urine.

Surely all of these children should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for their public peeing performances. I mean the Evil Queen from Disney’s Snow White, who also deserves recognition for arguably being the worst stepmother ever to appear on the big screen, wasn’t that scary ... was she?

OK, I totally get why all those kids instantly emptied their bladders upon seeing the nefarious monarch. Especially when this is coupled with the fact that most of the infants in attendance had probably never stepped foot into a cinema or been privy to something so frightening before.

Brad Bird also took this moment to reveal that his favorite Disney film of all time is Pinocchio, and that he still finds the 1940 fantasy scary to this day. Especially the scene where Lampwick is turned into a donkey by Coachman. And as you’ll see below, no matter what your age, it’s still horrifying now, even though the scene is 75 years old.

Brad Bird failed to reveal if he peed his pants when he originally saw the above scene from Pinocchio for the first time. But I think his silence speaks volumes (Cinema Blend’s lawyers would like to insist that there is no evidence that Brad Bird actually urinated in his pants after seeing Pinocchio for the first time). Brad Bird latest effort, Tomorrowland, hits screens on May 22.

Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland remains a mystery. That’s by design. Even though the sci-fi summer adventure has shared a teaser, a Super Bowl spot, and a full trailer, there isn’t a lot we can tell you about the plot beyond the surface details. So when I sat down across from Bird’s young co-star, Britt Robertson, on behalf of the Nicholas Sparks weeper The Longest Ride, I had to sneak in a Tomorrowland query.

Because we don’t really know where Tomorrowland might head, I wanted to know what Britt Robertson’s future in the movie might be. Unlike, say, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a Divergent gig that’s destined to have more chapters, Tomorrowland is based on an original concept that may or may not spawn sequels. I decided to ask Robertson if they could tell more stories in this particular universe, if the movie sets the stage for additional adventures. She told me:

This much is true. While Brad Bird recently hit it out of the park by helming a sequel in the Mission: Impossible series (the incredible Ghost Protocol), he has refrained from further exploring the adventures of his characters in either The Iron Giant or Ratatouille. He is doing an Incredibles sequel, however, so there’s a chance that, if Tomorrowland connects with a massive audience, Bird and screenwriter Damon Lindelof could head back to the world they’ve created and explore more avenues.

So far, we know that Britt Robertson plays Casey, a disillusioned teenager who discovers a mysterious pin that transports her back and forth between our world and the magical realm of the title. Desperate for answers, Casey seeks out Frank (George Clooney), a former boy genius who knows about the pin and the land… but who has troubles of his own.

Watch Britt Robertson’s answer for yourself, if you want to hear her explanation in context.

Tomorrowland opens in theaters on May 22. Are you intrigued?

The latest teaser for Tomorrowland has just dropped and let's just say that it's taking the "minimalist" approach. Clocking in at only 10 seconds, you may find yourself thinking, "What could they possibly say in that short of time?" The answer is, "Enough to intrigue." Watch the trailer teaser for the film below and witness yourself being hooked in a mere 10 seconds.

In the very brief clip by Disney, we see the shot of the mysterious T-branded button like object. "What if there was a place where nothing was impossible?" Those are the words of George Clooney (who plays Frank Walker in the film), heard as we see a young girl Casey Newton (played by Britt Robertson) as she touches the Tomorrowland emblem, briefly opening a portal seemingly into another dimension. She pulls her finger off and it appears not even a moment has passed in her present world. The young girl flips the switch again when out in an open field and reopens the portal, revealing a futuristic skyline as two Rocketeer-like individuals go whizzing by her head at high speeds. Now, just try and tell me you're not hooked!

The promo may be short but it promises many things in its hasty teaser. First of all we see amazing visual effects. The transitions between worlds look nothing short of stunning and the transported world of Tomorrowland looks very stylized and exciting. Second, the teaser intrigues. Giving just enough information for us to understand the concept but not giving us too much, so as to spoil the plot, it leaves us right where we want to be, intrigued. Third, it promises endless thrills, surprises and possibilities... and, oh yeah, I almost forgot George Clooney. What else could we ask for? For those not convinced, check out the full trailer below.

Tomorrowland follows an eager science-loving teen named Casey Newton (Robertson), who teams up with former boy-genius inventor Frank Walker (Clooney) to unearth the secrets of a mysterious land existing in space and time somewhere in their collective memory. The Disney film co-stars Kathryn Hahn, Hugh Laurie, Tim McGraw, Keegan-Michael Key and Judy Greer, and was scripted by Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Lost, World War Z) and Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), the latter who also helmed the film.

Tomorrowland, a title it was unable to keep in some countries around the world, is set to air a promo clip during the Super Bowl on Feb. 1. The epic sci-fi film hits theaters on May 22.

Tomorrowland is considered to be one of the most anticipated films coming out in 2015 - what with being the latest movie from director Brad Bird and starring the likes of George Clooney and Hugh Laurie - but the film isn't actually going to be going worldwide with that title. It turns out that the Disney movie is going to have to change its name when it arrives in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium, as the name "Tomorrowland" has already been taken in those countries.

This news comes to us from the Belfast Telegraph, which says that the conflict Tomorrowland is facing is due to a musical festival that already has that name trademarked. Described as a "Belgian electronic dance event," the musical gatherings have been going on since 2005, which explains how they got a jump on nabbing the name. It has not yet been announced what the film will actually be called in the aforementioned three countries.

Weirdly, this action almost comes as retribution for past events. Thanks to the futuristic theme land that is a part of amusements parks around the world, Disney has owned the trademark to the name "Tomorrowland" in the United States going back to 1970 - and this fact prevented the European Tomorrowland music festival from using that title when it came over to the states.

Having had the chance to interview a trademark attorney, the newspaper adds that it still may be possible for Tomorrowland to keep its name in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium - but it would require an agreement between both sides to "co-exist." This isn't entirely out of the question given that re-branding can be a very costly action and Disney may want to try and avoid it, but Disney also may want to start work-shopping new titles that can be used to sell the adventure movie.

Weirdly enough, the Belfast Telegraph also notes that Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium aren't really the only countries where the name of the Disney film is getting a little tweaked: it's happening in the U.K. as well. While we here in America will be getting the film with the cut-and-dry name Tomorrowland, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland it will be called Tomorrowland: A World Beyond. I'm not entirely sure exactly what that subtitle adds to the name, but it's there.

Only the second live-action film from director Brad Bird (after Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) and based on a script co-written by Bird and Damon Lindelof (Prometheus), Tomorrowland follows a young girl named Casey (Britt Robertson) as she teams up with a grizzled inventor named Frank (George Clooney) to travel to a land described as a place where nothing is impossible. Hugh Laurie, Kathryn Hahn, Tim McGraw, Keegan-Michael Key and Judy Greer co-star in the film, and given that it is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 22nd, hopefully we will be getting a new trailer soon that will hopefully give us a better understanding of exactly what the movie is about. For now, you can head over to Page Two to watch the trailer that was released this past fall.

In the run up to the beginning of production on Star Wars: Episode VII, there were a lot of names thrown about for the prime spot in the director's chair. Among the shortlist of favorites, though, was frequent Pixar collaborator and uber geek at heart Brad Bird, but alas that was not to be, as Bird had passed up the opportunity to restart the engines and head on out to that famous galaxy far, far away. Only today, however, do we now know what was so important that the director of The Incredibles turned down the opportunity to play with lightsabers, and it all comes down to one thing: Tomorrowland.

MTV had an opportunity to talk with Bird at New York Comic Con this past weekend, and the discussion of why he had passed up the golden opportunity to direct Star Wars: Episode VII came up, as you would expect it to in a conversation with anyone who actually said no to what was assuredly a geek's absolute dream. As Brad Bird confirmed below, there was almost a time that he would have had his cake and eaten it too.

Of course, as it does with most flights of fancy, reality then came knocking, as Bird admitted that ultimately "there was no way to make that schedule and give [Tomorrowland] the attention that it deserved." The original release dates of the two films were so close together that Bird would definitely not have been able to stick the landing, so in respect to both projects he picked the one closer to his heart and let the other go on to just as capable hands. Or, as Brad Bird put it in his own words, "It's rare to do a film of size that's original, so those opportunities can't be missed either."

While some might say Brad Bird was a fool to pass up on Star Wars: Episode VII, it's extremely respectable that he could turn his back on a project so monumental to create his own, more personal project.. Tomorrowland looks like it will be a project that will be widely talked about, if not simply because it's story and universe are even more unknown to us than the next chapter in the story of Luke Skywalker. However the key thing to realize is that we now have two exciting projects from two of the most in demand filmmakers of our time, and both are coming our way in 2015. What's more exciting than that?

Tomorrowland arrives in theaters on May 22, 2015; while Star Wars: Episode VII does its magic on December 18, 2015.

How is it possible for a movie like Tomorrowland to maintain its shroud of mystery? In today’s day and age, when Internet sleuths pick apart every aspect of each potential blockbuster, we still know relatively little about Disney’s live-action sci-fi adventure… even though it opens in theaters in a few months!

With the teaser trailer landing online, and a New York Comic-Con panel pulling back the Tomorrowland curtain ever so slightly, we figured now was as good a time as any to start unpacking the Mystery Box that holds all of this film’s juicy secrets. We combed through the CinemaBlend archives and have constructed a sturdy What We Know So Far guide for Tomorrowland, starting off with the plot of the movie – a hint of what’s to come.

The Story

Back when it was first announced, Tomorrowland was known as 1952, a clue that interested parties once thought hinted at several possible plotlines for the film. The term "Tomorrowland" references a section of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks, and early rumors tied Tomorrowland to the history of Walt Disney, the construction of the parks, or something deeper than that. All of this is still possible, but the studio at least unveiled an official plot synopsis for Tomorrowland, revealing that it would be about a "former boy-genius [and] a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity [who] embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as ‘Tomorrowland.’" OK, sold. We’re in. What else have you got?

Brad Bird

Tomorrowland will be directed by Brad Bird, helming his first picture since Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (which successfully reinvented the Mission franchise for Tom Cruise). Don’t mistake Bird for an action gun-for-hire, however. His earliest pictures were animated… and brilliant. The world learned about Bird through the touching and heartfelt sci-fi/family adventure The Iron Giant. He then transitioned to Pixar for The Incredibles and Ratatouille -- where he proceeded to collect two Oscar statue. Bird’s not the kind of storyteller who can be pigeonholed, though, and Tomorrowland looks like it will be as imaginative, inspirational, challenging and wondrous as all of the films on the director’s resume. The question is whether Tomorrowland will be closer in tone to what Bird does – or to what his screenwriter does.

Damon Lindelof

Tomorrowland marks a mysterious collaboration between Brad Bird and screenwriter Damon Lindelof, and… hey, wait! Where are you going?! Don’t run away. Yes, I know that Lindelof has an uneven track record with genre geeks, and that the amazing work he has done on television programs like Lost and the current The Leftovers is overshadowed by rewrite work he did on films like Prometheus, Star Trek Into Darkness and Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens. But Lindelof’s the key to Tomorrowland. As the story goes, the screenwriter got the idea for the movie when he was handed a box on the Disney lot containing a bevy of intriguing clues, which he built into the mythology of this new film. Brad Bird Tweeted a photo of the box’s contents with the sentence, "The Box… opened." And the two picked through the clues during an on-stage presentation at Disney’s D23. They even released an app to help you figure out the clues. Too much "Mystery Box" nonsense? Maybe, but those who are still craving more will devour what Tomorrowland has to offer.

In an interview with Collider, Lindelof recently revealed that Tomorrowland is a mysterious place that is accessible to limited people during limited amounts of time. He explained that the movie will be about finding that land. But it also will be about answering questions about WHY we can only access it at given moments. (Sounds very Lost-y, right?) And he admitted that there are multiple villains trying to prevent our heroes from getting to Tomorrowland, but more on these characters in a moment.

George Clooney

If movie stars still sell tickets, then Tomorrowland should fill a few theater seats by having George Clooney on the marquee. Clooney plays Frank, the jaded inventor who – as a child – had access to Tomorrowland and now regrets that this wondrous land is being kept from him. At least, that’s what we believe motivates Clooney’s character to help juvenile delinquent Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) on her quest to get to Tomorrowland for herself. We also know that Thomas Robinson has been cast as Young Frank Walker. So, time travel? Or flashbacks? Could that be young Frank using the jet pack in the end of the teaser trailer?

During a recent appearance at the NY Comic-Con in support of Tomorrowland, Clooney told crowds that this film was "larger than most things I’ve been around," adding that "the beautiful thing about it is that Brad has a real vision of the film he wants to make and it was fun to play in this giant toybox with him." He also brought a longer scene that takes place after this spectacular trailer, which shows Robertson’s character trying to break into Clooney’s home, only to have the duo evading intruders before escaping in a bathtub rocket. Hopefully that footage ends up online soon!

Britt Robertson

George Clooney might be the biggest name on the Tomorrowland poster (which looks like this, by the way), but the teaser trailer for Brad Bird’s latest put all of its attention on young Britt Robertson and her impressionable character, Casey Newton. The actress is best known for her TV work on Under the Dome, Swingtown and Life Unexpected, though she turned heads when she won the role of Casey opposite Clooney. The teaser suggests that she has gotten herself into some trouble, retrieving her possessions from what looks like a holding cell. When she picks up a mysterious pin that has been included with her goods, she’s magically transported to Tomorrowland. But how can she get back?

Hugh Laurie

Laurie’s role in Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland is one that’s being swallowed up in the secrecy of the project. The House star wasn’t present in any of the footage shown online or at New York Comic-Con, and so all we can go on is that fact that we know he has been cast as David Nix, the villain of the piece, and the chief antagonist to George Clooney’s long-time inventor. This interview with Laurie from NY Comic-Con reveals a few more details about the part… but it’s clear that Bird wants to keep this sinister character close to his vest. Check out the rest of the Tomorrowland Comic-Con panel here.

The Supporting Cast

Seeing as how the mystery surrounding Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland is largely intact, we’re surprised at the sheer amount of information we have been able to pull from the movie as we tracked its progress through production. Casting choices have opened up several interesting doors. For instance, we know that Judy Greer has reunited with her Descendents co-star, George Clooney, for a supporting part in Tomorrowland. We reported earlier this year that Kathryn Hahn accepted the role of Ursula in the movie. It is being described as a small yet significant role, and has the potential to be a scene-stealing part. We also know that Bird cast a young Raffey Cassidy as Athena, a robot who reportedly assists George Clooney’s inventor character.

Outside of Brad Bird’s cast, we reported earlier that Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino will pen the music for Tomorrowland -- as if you needed any more reasons to grab a ticket for opening day. Giacchino, of course, has been a long-time collaborator with Bird, having composed the musical scores for Ghost Protocol, Ratatouille and The Incredibles. We will be able to hear their latest magical collaboration when Tomorrowland opens in theaters on May 22, 2015.

Thanks to his important role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L. Jackson has spent plenty of time hanging around superheroes in the last few years - but what we've been really waiting for is the return of his own great superhero character. Back in 2004, Jackson lent his recognizable voice to Lucius Best a.k.a. Frozone in Pixar's The Incredibles, and while he was only used in a small supporting role, he still provided some of the movie's best moments. So when the Incredibles sequel was announced earlier this month we all hoped that it would mean the return of the ice-blasting costumed hero, and now Jackson has confirmed that our wishes will come true.

Jackson is currently making the global press rounds promoting Captain America: The Winter Soldier - in which he is playing S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury for the fourth time - and while speaking with Digital Spy he revealed that director Brad Bird has a promised place for him in The Incredibles 2. "Every time I run into Brad he always tells me Frozone is part of what's going on, so I have to believe that," he said. "I guess they could be the Incredibles without Frozone, but I think Frozone would be a wonderful, wonderful addition to what's already there." He added, ""I'm just looking forward to seeing what Jack-Jack turned into."

For those that don't remember, Frozone was the best friend of Bob Parr (a.k.a. Mr. Incredible). They were both forced to give up their vigilante activities when lawsuits and damages got in the way, but they still teamed up to stop crimes in secret. Lucius put his supersuit back on to fight Syndrome (Jason Lee) and his evil robots in the last film, though we don't know if the laws about superheroes have been changed. Frozone has many terrific lines and scenes, but there is one in particular that sticks out as most memorable:

We know that The Incredibles 2 is happening, but any real details beyond that are kind of a mystery. Pixar has Finding Dory, their Finding Nemo sequel, set up for 2016, so perhaps the next Incredibles adventure could be 2017? We can only hope...