Why Pixar Cancelled Adventure Movie In Development For Years Detailed In New Report

2 hours ago 5

Joy looking stunned at something off-screen in Inside Out 2

Published Apr 11, 2026, 8:47 AM EDT

Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with.

Pixar is facing some tough questions as reports of a cancelled movie come to light.

Pixar began in 1979 and was the "Graphics Group" within Lucasfilm before it was purchased by Steve Jobs in 1986, and the team pivoted from hardware to animation. They produced the first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story, in 1995 before being acquired by Disney in 2006 for over $7 billion. Since then, Pixar has produced numerous blockbusters, including Inside Out and Finding Nemo, and has won multiple Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.

The Wall Street Journal did a report after Pixar released its latest movie, Hoppers, concerning the future of the company and a cancelled adventure movie that was reportedly in the works for years before being scrapped at the end of 2023. A feature movie titled Be Fri was scrapped, leading to the surprise of Pixar employees, as 50 people were involved in the project that took over three years, which would make it one of the longest developed Pixar movies.

Be Fri came from Kristen Lester, known for the 2019 short Purl, and was inspired by her own real-life experiences involving a friendship that dissolved when she was younger. Be Fri was going to show two teenage girls who were once best friends ending up finding themselves drifting apart. However, after learning that their favorite TV show is real, they must do whatever they can to save humanity.

Writer Blaise Hemingway (known for Clifford the Big Red Dog) was a part of the project, including editor Nicholas C. Smith, who retired shortly after the project was scrapped after 20 years at Pixar. An employee who previously worked at Pixar spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about Be Fri while asking to remain anonymous. According to the former employee, the project went through many notes from higher-ups, and just as animation was ready to begin, Disney pulled the plug:

"There was a meeting that took place after BT3 (Be Fri's Braintrust 3), where Kristen and Blaise made the case to Disney: ‘We know you don’t like where the film is at right now. Give us six weeks, and we’ll redo the entire film.' Kristen, Blaise, Nick, and a couple board artists spent six weeks of night and day, seven days a week, literally reformatting. Preproduction on an animated feature takes a year of storyboarding, so [they had] to compress that into six weeks for a fourth version of the film.

It was on Hoppers’ level. It befuddles me why they passed on it, but with each round of notes, Disney just didn’t feel like little boys could see themselves in the film enough. Basically, Disney reps were like, ‘We can’t have a girl power movie.'"

Pixar · Personality Profile Which Pixar Character Are You? “To infinity… and beyond!”

Ten questions. Three beloved characters. Are you the loyal leader, the free-spirited optimist, or the joyful force of positivity? Answer from the heart — Pixar will sort you out.

PX Pixar Vault Editorial 10 questions · 3 min

🤠 Woody The Loyal Leader

🐠 Dory The Free Spirit

⭐ Joy The Optimist

START THE ADVENTURE →

It’s a free Saturday with no plans. What are you doing?

AOrganizing a group hangout — someone’s gotta make sure everyone has a good time BWandering somewhere new — who knows what I’ll find! CMaking the most of every second — crafts, games, activities, GO!

Your best friend calls you in a panic — they’re lost and don’t know what to do. How do you react?

A“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out! Think positive!” B“Stay put. I’m coming to get you. Nobody gets left behind.” C“Ooh, where are you? That sounds like an adventure!”

On a road trip with friends, what’s your role?

AThe one who missed the exit three times but found an amazing roadside diner BDJ, hype person, and snack distributor — this trip WILL be legendary CThe navigator with the itinerary — I planned rest stops and everything

Two of your friends are fighting. What do you do?

AStep in and mediate — I can’t stand seeing people I care about upset BAccidentally say something so random it defuses the whole situation CTry to cheer everyone up — group hug solves everything, right?

What does your ideal life look like?

AEvery single day filled with fun, laughter, and new experiences BGoing wherever the current takes me — no plans, just vibes CSurrounded by people who count on me — being needed is everything

Be honest — what’s your biggest flaw?

AI get distracted by literally everything — wait, what were we talking about? BI can be a little controlling — I just want things to go right! CI sometimes ignore the hard feelings because I just want everyone happy

Someone you love is feeling down. How do you help?

ARemind them of all the amazing things about their life until they smile BSit with them, listen, and promise I’m not going anywhere CDrag them on a spontaneous adventure to take their mind off things

How do you handle big, unexpected changes in your life?

AChange? What change? Oh look, something shiny! BI find the silver lining immediately — change means new possibilities! CI make a plan and try to keep everyone together through it

What are you most afraid of?

AThat the people I care about might not be happy BBeing replaced or forgotten by the people I love CI honestly can’t remember what I was afraid of…

What would your friends say is the best thing about you?

AI’d do anything for them — loyalty is everything to me BI make life more fun just by showing up CI help them see the bright side, even on their worst days

REVEAL MY CHARACTER →

Profile Complete Your Pixar Alter Ego

🤠

Woody

“You’re my favorite deputy.” You’re the one everyone turns to when things fall apart. Loyal to a fault, you’d cross the ocean — or a busy highway — for the people you love. You take responsibility seriously, sometimes too seriously, and you struggle to let go of control. But when it matters, nobody steps up like you do. You’re the steady hand, the voice of reason, and the friend who never, ever leaves someone behind.

Loyal Protective Dependable Selfless

🐠

Dory

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” You live entirely in the present moment, and honestly? It’s kind of beautiful. You might forget the plan — or that there ever was a plan — but your open heart and fearless curiosity have a way of leading you exactly where you need to be. People underestimate you, but your resilience is unmatched. You find friends in the strangest places, and your optimism is genuinely contagious.

Adventurous Resilient Open-Hearted Spontaneous

⭐

Joy

“Do you ever look at someone and wonder — what is going on inside their head?” You are a radiant force of positivity who makes everyone around you feel like the best version of themselves. You throw yourself into making things wonderful — every moment is a chance for something magical. Your weakness? Sometimes you push so hard for happiness that you forget it’s okay to not be okay. But when you learn to embrace all the feelings, you become truly unstoppable.

Energetic Inspiring Passionate Empathetic

↻ PLAY AGAIN

Pixar · Personality ProfileWhich Pixar Character Are You?“To infinity… and beyond!”

Ten questions. Three beloved characters. Are you the loyal leader, the free-spirited optimist, or the joyful force of positivity? Answer from the heart — Pixar will sort you out.

PXPixar Vault Editorial10 questions · 3 min

🤠WoodyThe Loyal Leader

🐠DoryThe Free Spirit

⭐JoyThe Optimist

START THE ADVENTURE →

It’s a free Saturday with no plans. What are you doing?

AOrganizing a group hangout — someone’s gotta make sure everyone has a good timeBWandering somewhere new — who knows what I’ll find!CMaking the most of every second — crafts, games, activities, GO!

Your best friend calls you in a panic — they’re lost and don’t know what to do. How do you react?

A“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out! Think positive!”B“Stay put. I’m coming to get you. Nobody gets left behind.”C“Ooh, where are you? That sounds like an adventure!”

On a road trip with friends, what’s your role?

AThe one who missed the exit three times but found an amazing roadside dinerBDJ, hype person, and snack distributor — this trip WILL be legendaryCThe navigator with the itinerary — I planned rest stops and everything

Two of your friends are fighting. What do you do?

AStep in and mediate — I can’t stand seeing people I care about upsetBAccidentally say something so random it defuses the whole situationCTry to cheer everyone up — group hug solves everything, right?

What does your ideal life look like?

AEvery single day filled with fun, laughter, and new experiencesBGoing wherever the current takes me — no plans, just vibesCSurrounded by people who count on me — being needed is everything

Be honest — what’s your biggest flaw?

AI get distracted by literally everything — wait, what were we talking about?BI can be a little controlling — I just want things to go right!CI sometimes ignore the hard feelings because I just want everyone happy

Someone you love is feeling down. How do you help?

ARemind them of all the amazing things about their life until they smileBSit with them, listen, and promise I’m not going anywhereCDrag them on a spontaneous adventure to take their mind off things

How do you handle big, unexpected changes in your life?

AChange? What change? Oh look, something shiny!BI find the silver lining immediately — change means new possibilities!CI make a plan and try to keep everyone together through it

What are you most afraid of?

AThat the people I care about might not be happyBBeing replaced or forgotten by the people I loveCI honestly can’t remember what I was afraid of…

What would your friends say is the best thing about you?

AI’d do anything for them — loyalty is everything to meBI make life more fun just by showing upCI help them see the bright side, even on their worst days

REVEAL MY CHARACTER →

Profile CompleteYour Pixar Alter Ego

🤠

Woody

“You’re my favorite deputy.”You’re the one everyone turns to when things fall apart. Loyal to a fault, you’d cross the ocean — or a busy highway — for the people you love. You take responsibility seriously, sometimes too seriously, and you struggle to let go of control. But when it matters, nobody steps up like you do. You’re the steady hand, the voice of reason, and the friend who never, ever leaves someone behind.

LoyalProtectiveDependableSelfless

🐠

Dory

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”You live entirely in the present moment, and honestly? It’s kind of beautiful. You might forget the plan — or that there ever was a plan — but your open heart and fearless curiosity have a way of leading you exactly where you need to be. People underestimate you, but your resilience is unmatched. You find friends in the strangest places, and your optimism is genuinely contagious.

AdventurousResilientOpen-HeartedSpontaneous

⭐

Joy

“Do you ever look at someone and wonder — what is going on inside their head?”You are a radiant force of positivity who makes everyone around you feel like the best version of themselves. You throw yourself into making things wonderful — every moment is a chance for something magical. Your weakness? Sometimes you push so hard for happiness that you forget it’s okay to not be okay. But when you learn to embrace all the feelings, you become truly unstoppable.

EnergeticInspiringPassionateEmpathetic

↻ PLAY AGAIN

Pixar has been known to release female-led movies in the past, including Inside Out and Inside Out 2, which have since become one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time. Turning Red was also a recent addition to the female-led movies, as well as Finding Dory and Brave. Be Fri was cancelled after the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear, which ended up being a complete box office flop and was under fire following queer representation in the movie.

Another former employee at Pixar stated that leadership "has no spine at all," and Pixar has yet to respond to the recent allegations surrounding the female-led movie being scrapped by the studio. With other female-led movies taking center stage, like KPop Demon Hunters, which is a true powerhouse, the former staffer says, "I can imagine that whoever at Disney denied Be Fri to exist looks at KPop and is kicking themselves."

Pixar has yet to comment on the recent news and allegations surrounding Be Fri.

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