The Incredibles are back… but only for one more outing: Pixar announce that Toy Story 4 and Incredibles 2 will be the last sequels for some time as they focus on originals
The company behind classics such as Toy Story and Monsters, Inc has decided to shift its focus towards producing original movies
BAD news if you're desperately hoping for that elusive WALL-E sequel, since the boss of Pixar has announced that the animation giant is done making follow-up films for the foreseeable future.
The company behind classics such as Toy Story and Monsters, Inc has decided to shift its focus towards producing original movies, rather than continue the stories of their existing animated icons.
That means that after the current crop of sequels is done, Pixar plans to focus all its energies on creating completely new content, rather than churning out any more sequels.
However, with Finding Dory swimming onto the big screen later this month, and Cars 3, Toy Story 4 and The Incredibles 2 all in the pipeline, there are a few more nostalgia trips left for Pixar fans yet.
But, after The Incredibles 2 comes out in 2019, the firm's CEO explained that all planned projects after that will be original releases - including two untitled movies which are set to hit the big screen in 2020.
This means that the third instalment of the Cars series, which is out next year, and the fourth Toy Story film, which hits the big screen in 2018, are some of the last Pixar sequels we'll be treated to for a long time.
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But Pixar president Jim Morris revealed that there's a good reason behind this change of direction - the firm doesn't want to be churning out sequels to all their hit films just for the sake of it.
He said: "Most studios jump on doing a sequel as soon as they have a successful film.
"But our business model is a filmmaker model, and we don’t make a sequel unless the director of the original film has an idea that they like and are willing to go forward on.
"A sequel in some regards is even harder than the original because you’ve got this defined world which, on the one hand, is a leg up, and on the other hand has expectations that you can’t disappoint on."
However, lovers of existing Pixar franchises shouldn't despair, since the firm may one day return to continue the stories of classic animated heroes.
The animated stars of iconic films such as A Bug's Life, WALL-E, Up and Ratatouile may one day be revisited but, for now, Pixar fans will have to make do with being treated to completely new characters and stories.
Animation guru Jim added: "WALL-E is close to my heart since I produced it.
"It would be good to back and visit that world and let everybody know that the humans actually survived again after getting back to their burnt-out planet.
"But that was really a love story that had its beginning, middle, and end, so we’re not really planning any further stories in those worlds at this point."