Here’s a vote of confidence in Pixar’s next film: it’s not only going to be entering the festival circuit, but it’s been picked for the prestigious honour of closing out Cannes. The legendary animation studio is gearing up to release Elemental, another creative outpouring from the minds behind some of the greatest movies of the last few decades – this time presenting a city of weather-people, and the growing relationship between hot-headed Ember and wavey dude Wade.
The film, from director Peter Sohn – making his feature debut – will be hitting UK cinemas from 7 July (a date that’s shifted back just a smidge), while those lucky enough to attend Cannes will get to see it on 27 May. It’s the fourth Pixar film to be selected for Cannes, following Pete Docter’s Up, Inside Out, and Soul. “As we all emerge from our pandemic cocoons and come together in story rooms, animation dailies and impromptu brainstorming sessions, it’s a joy and honor to have Pixar back on La Croisette,” Docter, head of Pixar, said in a statement. “Directed by the extraordinary storyteller Peter Sohn, Elemental is so funny, full of heart and, frankly, stunning to see. It was created for audiences to experience on the big screen and I love that it’ll make its world premiere at Cannes.”
To mark the Cannes premiere, a new bit of art – drawn by Sohn – has been released, depicting Wade and Ember chilling on the croisette. “After years of crafting this story, creating and realising characters made of fire and water — effects in and of themselves — and building a brilliant world that is so much a part of all of us, it’s an honor to share these characters and this film in its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival,” says the director. We’ll find out in just over a month’s time if Elemental proves another, ahem, high-water mark for Pixar.