A recent profile piece on Pixar and their box office struggles in recent years notably included mention that a third Monsters, Inc. film is in development.

Monsters, Inc. Threequel in the Works

In a recent report from The Wall Street Journal profiling Pixar’s company culture and box office performance, we got a brief mention of a third “Monsters, Inc” film in development. The project is officially unannounced as of writing, making this the first mention of work underway on a “Monsters, Inc” threequel, if accurate.

As part of the broader report on the company, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter said the studio is rethinking its approach after years of struggling to launch new hit franchises.

Pixar once produced a long run of successes from 1995 through 2019—including films that spawned lucrative brands for The Walt Disney Company—but the studio has not delivered a major original theatrical hit since “Coco” in 2017. Following several underperforming projects, including the box-office flop of Elio, Pixar is shifting back toward broadly appealing concepts similar to the studio’s earlier successes.

This revised approach seemingly entails adding more sequels to series that have already proven their success. “Toy Story 5” is the next continuation of this shift, and we already know work is underway on “Incredibles 3”.

Now, “according to people familiar with the matter”, a third “Monsters, Inc.” film will continue this trend toward sequels of Pixar’s earlier, more appealing properties.

The Monsters, Inc. franchise from Pixar Animation Studios began with the 2001 film “Monsters, Inc.”, which introduced audiences to the city of Monstropolis, where monsters generate energy by scaring children.

The story centers on best friends James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, employees at the energy company Monsters, Inc., whose world is disrupted when a human child named Boo accidentally enters the monster world.

The film was both a critical and commercial success, praised for its humor and emotional storytelling, ultimately helping to cement Pixar’s early reputation during its original run of hits–a reputation the studio hopes to recapture in its new focus on sequel installments.

The franchise previously expanded with the 2013 prequel “Monsters University”, which explores how Mike and Sulley first met while studying scare techniques in college. Pixar also extended the world through the Disney+ animated series “Monsters at Work”, which follows the company’s transition from harvesting screams to collecting laughter for power.

Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios

Disney is also in the process of reimagining Muppets Courtyard into Monstropolis. Keep up to date with the project by following our latest construction updates.

If the report is accurate, do you have high hopes for the “Monsters, Inc.” threequel? Share your thoughts or plot ideas with us on social media.

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