Disney Pictures and Pixar have announced that their CG animated “Soul” feature is skipping cinemas and will debt exclusively on Disney+ on Christmas Day.
Unlike “Mulan,” which released on the service for a premium fee, “Soul” will be freely available to subscribers at no extra cost. In international markets where Disney+ isn’t available, “Soul” will be released theatrically on an as yet-to-be determined date.
Pete Docter helms the existential cartoon about a middle-school music teacher (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who dreams of being a jazz performer. But before his big break, he gets in an accident that causes his soul to be separated from his body.
He’s then transported to the ‘You Seminar,’ where he teams up with 22 (voiced by Tina Fey) to return his soul back to his body on Earth before it’s too late.
Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, says in a statement: “We are thrilled to share Pixar’s spectacular and moving ‘Soul’ with audiences direct to Disney+ in December. A new original Pixar film is always a special occasion, and this truly heartwarming and humorous story about human connection and finding one’s place in the world will be a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season.”
Initially slated to release theatrically in June, the film was later postponed to November 20th amid the pandemic. When “The Croods: A New Age” moved up to Thanksgiving, this possibility was always there.
The move leaves only the aforementioned “Croods” sequel and “Wonder Woman 1984” as the sole major studio theatrical releases for the rest of the year.
Source: Disney
