"Finding Nemo" sequel "Finding Dory" coming in fall 2015
Pixar is finally taking us back to the sea.
Disney announced on Tuesday that its follow-up to 2003's Oscar-winning splash hit "Finding Nemo" will be titled "Finding Dory," and will focus on the loveable, little blue tang fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. The movie, which will be directed by original "Nemo" co-director Andrew Stanton, will hit theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.
"I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time," DeGeneres said in a release. "I'm not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating "Toy Story 16." But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It's got a lot of heart, it's really funny, and the best part is -- it's got a lot more Dory."
"Finding Dory" will apparently take place about a year after the events of "Nemo." Characters including Marlin, Nemo and the "Tank Gang" will all be back, though Pixar didn't specify whether actors including Albert Brooks and Willem Dafoe will return to voice them.
They did, however, say that the story will be partially set along the California coastline, and will feature several new characters -- "including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory's life."
"Finding Nemo" reportedly earned $380,843,261 at the domestic box office and an additional $540,900,000 at the international box office, for a total worldwide gross of $921,743,261. That's pretty impressive for a movie about some little fishes that had a production budget of $94 million. It also won the 2003 Academy Award for best animated feature.
The film is the latest in Pixar's plethora of sequels, including three "Toy Story" films and two "Cars" installments, and a prequel to "Monsters Inc.," titled "Monsters University," to be released this summer.
That's all dandy, but DeGeneres may have raised a good point -- a little more Dory, a lot sooner, would have likely gone over just swimmingly with "Nemo" fans.
Tell us: Are you excited for "Finding Dory"? Are you glad that Ellen DeGeneres will have an even bigger role?