Looks like Andrew Stanton will be staying away from live action for a bit longer. The JOHN CARTER director was just officially announced to be directing FINDING NEMO 2 for Disney Pixar. Deadline reports that directing the animated sequel to Pixar’s second highest grossing film (after TOY STORY 3) is part of a deal that will allow him to direct another live action film next.
Disney and Pixar have made no comment on FINDING NEMO 2 but it would likely not be hitting theaters any time soon. Pixar’s release slate is pretty full as it is. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY comes out in 2013, followed by THE GOOD DINOSAUR, the untitled movie about the brain from Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich’s Dia de los Muertos movie as well as FINDING NEMO 3D coming out this September.
Stanton has won 2 Oscars for his animated films WALL-E and FINDING NEMO. His work with Pixar has been outstanding, so it is understandable that DIsney wants to make sure that JOHN CARTER was a fluke and will not follow him to whichever film he makes next.
I still love FINDING NEMO and hope this ends up being TOY STORY 2 quality and not CARS 2.