Report: ‘Turning Red’ Director Domee Shi Takes Over ‘Elio’ Directing Duties

Last October, Pixar Animation Studios pushed back the release of their newest original animated film Elio was pushed from March 2024 to June 2025 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. There was also rumors regarding behind the scenes drama. Now, a new report has surfaced possibly giving some insight.

While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Pixar CEO Pete Docter hinted the Turning Red director Domee Shi has replaced Alfred Molina as director on Elio.

“I have a great slide of the directors from seven years ago versus the directors now, and it’s a whole wide group of filmmakers. Regardless of diversity, any time someone goes in for the first time, there’s a steep learning curve. Domee Shi, who’s already done Turning Red, is working on Elio, and you can see the experience level. Enrico Casarosa, who did Luca, is doing another one that’s just night and day. “

While Docter doesn’t actually confirm she is the new director, the writing is on the walls. I have said on The DisInsider Show that I heard Elio was pushed back to try and rework the script. I compared the situation to 2016s The Good Dinosaur, where the studio also replaced its director, cast, and retooled the script.

Per Pixar, The film follows an eleven-year-old boy named Elio Solis who accidentally becomes the intergalactic Ambassador of planet Earth after being beamed up to the Communiverse by aliens for making contact. Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms and survive a series of formidable trials.

Yonas Kibreab, America Ferrera, Jameela Jamil, and Brad Garrett are currently attached to the project but it is unknown if any actors will be replaced.