Pixar gave audiences their first look at Luca, a summer movie about the celebration of friendship, set to hit theaters in June 2021. The movie is directed by Enrico Casarosa, who produced the Oscar-nominated short film La Luna for Pixar in 2011. The Italian director is perfect for Luca, as it takes place in his native Italy. The film was first announced back in July this year, with a plot that follows the titular lead's adventures with his new best friend, Alberto, during an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera.
The catch? Alberto is a sea monster from another world below the surface of the water. Luca will be Pixar's first feature after Soul, pulled from its theatrical release due to the coronavirus pandemic. The movie, featuring the voice talents of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, will instead skip theaters and debut on Disney+ on December 25, Christmas Day, marking the second major movie Disney has released on the platform in 2020. The news was met with surprise and made many wonder if future Pixar films would suffer the same fate.
During Thursday's Disney Investor Day, audiences got their first look at footage from Luca, revealing the movie will feature Pixar's classic animation style amid the beautiful setting of the Italian Riviera. Disney did not release the footage after the live stream, making it unavailable online. Still, there are screenshots available showing off Luca, Alberto, and the animation's general style. The announcement also confirmed the movie is scheduled to be released in theaters in June, sticking to its original release plan on the assumption the pandemic will be mostly over then. You can see Disney's confirmation below, as well as screenshots from the footage captured by The Playlist:
This first look makes it clear Pixar is sticking to its tried and tested formula with Luca, combining a heartfelt and intimate story of friendship with fantastic elements that are sure to appeal to both children and adults. The setting of the Italian Riviera is also set to be a star, as it's been rendered with gorgeous animation. And with the release date just over six months away, expect a trailer and more information from the much-anticipated movie to be released soon.
The confirmation of the theatrical release should also assure fans who might have been worried Disney would start dumping all of its Pixar movies on Disney+, taking a cue from Warner Bros. unprecedented decision last week. That doesn't seem to be the case here, though, of course, that may change if the pandemic is still somehow affecting the movie business by mid-2021. For now, it's business as usual for Luca and Pixar.
Source: Disney/The Playlist