Up First Image
Disney/Pixar Movie Directed by Pete Docter, Written by Bob Peterson
Here's what may be the first image from Disney/Pixar's 2009 film, Up, due June 12, 2009. Pete Docter (Monsters Inc.) directs with co-director/writer Bob Peterson.
Upcoming Pixar has scored what may be the first image from Pete Docter and Bob Peterson's next film, the wilderness comedy Up.
Pete Docter (Monsters Inc.) will be directing the flick, with directorial assistance from Bob Peterson (Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo). Peterson is also writing the script.
The concept image shows an old man, standing at the front door of his cabin, with his back to the viewer. At least three biplanes are buzzing the house, with a zeppelin in the background. You can check out the image in its full glory by clicking here.
According to Upcoming Pixar, this concept art is "on display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando Florida."
What Is Up About?
At this stage in the game, there's not a lot of concrete information about Up. According to an interview Docter did with Time magazine, the flick is a "'coming-of-old-age story' about a seventy-something guy who lives in a house that 'looks like your grandparents' house smelled.' The old man befriends a clueless young Wilderness Ranger and gets into lots of altercations."
According to Pixar, "Our hero travels the globe, fights beasts and villains and eats dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon."
Based on this information, several websites claimed the flick was going to be an adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel Don Quixote. To lend credence to the story, many sites claimed that Walt Disney himself tried to make a version of the classic tale, but it never got off the ground.
"Disney has tried forever to make an animated movie based on Don Quixote," claimed an alleged Mouse House insider, known only as 'Joe,' to Upcoming Pixar. "Maybe this is John Lasseter’s way of realizing one of Walt’s unfulfilled dream projects?"
As there is no definite corroboration from either Docter, Peterson or Pixar creative head John Lasseter, most of this can be safely placed under the "rumour and wild speculation" category.
John Ratzenberger in Up? Most Likely
However, do count on John Ratzenberger (AKA Pixar's lucky rabbit's foot) to voice a role in the flick. This one's a no-brainer considering he's appeared in every Pixar film since 1995's Toy Story.
Perhaps this will be when Ratzenberger finally gets a title role? Considering Pixar tends to cast their voices on a bizarre basis known as "talent," as opposed to the standard "star power" rating (which everyone knows is a tried-and-true method making sure a movie is a hit*), it's entirely possible.
Up comes to theatres on June 12, 2009.
Fun Fact - The trading card for John Ratzenberger's Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back character, called Bren Derlin, says that "At the Mos Eisley Cantina, everybody knows his name." This is a riff on Ratzenberger's 11-year stint (1982 - 1993) as mailman Cliff Clavin on the NBC sitcom Cheers.
(*Yes, boys and girls, this is sarcasm)
