Peter Sohn to Direct Incredibles 3

Movies

Brad Bird won’t be directing the third film in the Incredibles franchise. According to an exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter, he and Pixar CCO Pete Docter have chosen Pixar veteran Peter Sohn to helm Incredibles 3, seemingly because Bird is directing Ray Gunn, a passion project of his, at Skydance Animation. Bird is writing the screenplay for Incredibles 3 and will co-produce it with Dana Murray (Soul). Sohn worked with Bird on the first two Incredibles films, as well as Ratatouille and Bird’s directorial debut, The Iron Giant. Sohn went on to direct The Good Dinosaur (2015) and Elemental (2023) at Pixar. This is the first major Incredibles 3 news since the film was announced at last year’s D23 expo.

I have been actively dreading this film since before it was even announced. Initially, I thought the Incredibles series could go on forever because of the potential of the world in it and the ideas presented. However, Incredibles 2 killed any interest I had in more Incredibles media, and I think a lot of people feel the same way. But changing directors makes me even less interested in this movie. I’m sure I’ll watch it because I love The Incredibles, and my morbid curiosity usually gets the best of me. I have no problem with Peter Sohn, who has worked at Pixar forever. I don’t particularly like The Good Dinosaur or Elemental, but it’s not like that means I’ll never like anything he makes. I like him as an artist, and he animated Helen and Bob’s kiss during the climax of the first movie. But I honestly don’t think anyone besides Brad Bird should direct the Incredibles movies, not that it did the second one much good.

I think I can imagine reasons why Brad Bird wouldn’t want to direct Incredibles 3, though. He was late-middle-aged when the first film came out, and he may just be tired of working on the Incredibles series. He has other projects in development, like Ray Gunn, and I don’t think there are many people out there who want to do the same thing over and over again. Also, while he hasn’t publicly said anything to this effect, I think Disney meddled with Incredibles 2 a lot. It’s much dumber and more childish than the first one, and it’s well known that a year was taken from the movie’s production so that Toy Story 4 could be in production longer. Again, it’s not like that mattered; Toy Story 4 sucks and shouldn’t exist. It’s very early to say, but I expect to feel that way about Incredibles 3, too. That’s not because of Peter Sohn; I very rarely have faith in movies anymore, especially sequels and, most especially, sequels to Disney properties.

Moreover, I don’t really know where they can take another Incredibles movie, mostly because the second one was an inferior retread of the first. I wouldn’t mind seeing some actual progression, something Incredibles 2 sorely lacked. One of my big questions is, who would be the lead? Mr. Incredible got a movie, and then Elastigirl headlined Incredibles 2, even though it was still essentially Bob’s movie as he was the one who had an arc. I selfishly wouldn’t mind seeing the family get a pet if they insist on doing this. I don’t want Incredibles 3 to be about the kids or a side character, which is one of my myriad fears about it.

But what do you think? Are you excited for Incredibles 3, and do you think Peter Sohn is a good choice to direct it? Let us know in the comments!

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