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Pixar Confronts Staff Outcry Over ‘Elio’ Cuts and Record-Low Opening

Staff say cuts to queer and Latinx storylines gutted the film’s heart, prompting leadership to reconsider how to launch original titles.

Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, in a scene from “Elio.”
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Overview

  • Pixar employees have voiced deep sadness and anger over the removal of LGBTQ and Latinx content, arguing the excisions stripped key identity scenes from Elio’s final cut.
  • Original director Adrian Molina left the project after studio leaders ordered the removal of queer-coded elements, and co-directors Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian oversaw the revised version.
  • Actor America Ferrera departed the film in protest after Latinx representation in the leadership team was eliminated during the retooling process.
  • Elio opened to $20.8 million domestically on June 20–22, the weakest debut in Pixar’s history against a production budget of over $200 million.
  • In light of the internal backlash and financial underperformance, Pixar is reviewing its approach to releasing original stories under Disney’s guidance.