Disney/Pixar
Pixar’s latest original, Elio, not only stumbled at the box office, but also set a record for an unfortunate studio. Opening at just USD 20 million in the country, the film marked Pixar’s worst debut to date, and has since risen to around USD 73 million worldwide. However, according to insiders, the actual drama unfolded long before the audience purchased tickets when a creative overhaul was implemented, including the removal of early queer-coded story elements.
The new behind-the-scenes exposure sheds light on the idea that some insiders are troubled and frustrating production journeys. This is characterized by a significant change in the tone and theme of the film. While Elio has generally received positive reviews (currently holding a critical score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes), questions have now been raised about how much their original identity was stripped when the Disney and Pixar upper-ups came to life.
Creative change and quiet exit for supervision
This exposure comes from a reporter in Hollywood. The Hollywood Reporter spoke to several current and former Pixar staff about the film’s transformation. Elio was originally developed by Coco’s co-director, who is openly gay, Adrian Morina, and was initially assumed to be a more bizarre lead character. Among the earlier scenes reportedly deleted were scenes where Elio transformed beach trash, including a pink tank top, into a fashion piece, and Elio hosted a “trash can show.” The hints of that moment remain in the final cut of the film, but the context is gone.
Morina’s version also includes visual clues suggesting same-sex crashes, and it is reported that Elio’s character has become softer and more masculine over time following studio feedback. One of the anonymous former artists said, “It was pretty clear that through the production of the first version of the film, where the studio leader constantly sands these moments in the film, it implied that Elio’s sexuality was odd.”
Sources claim that Molina eventually left the project after a discrepancy over creative direction. Directors Madeline Sharafian and Domaine Sea intervened to complete the film, but several staff members reportedly left production following these changes.
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Internal tension and costly rewrite
The changing vision behind Elio has sparked internal debates about Pixar’s current priorities and approach to comprehensive storytelling. “I was deeply saddened and tormented by the changes that have been made,” said Sarah Ligatich, a former assistant editor who consulted through Pixar’s internal LGBTQ group PixPride. While paying tribute to the new director, she rewrites and states that she “destroyed this beautiful piece.”
Production costs reportedly swelled well beyond the publicly cited US$150 million, with several reports suggesting figures close to $200 million after a nearly complete version of Molina has been remade. With the film being considered a box office misfire, some former staffers have questioned whether the overhaul is worth it.
“I want to ask Pete and other Disney executives if they thought the rewrite was worth it,” the former employee said. “If they had Adrian tell his story, would they have lost so much money?”
Elio is currently marking the lowest box office opening for Pixar’s all-time low, so the eyes are moving to the studio’s next project. The first is the Hoppers, scheduled for March 2026. It reportedly faces its own behind-the-scenes friction. In June 2026, Toy Story 5 arrives and leans on Pixar’s most recognizable and commercially “safe” franchise. As Pixar moves forward, the studio faces the challenge of regaining trust both inside and outside the wall, and now creative choices are being scrutinized more than ever.
Disney Pixar
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