AceShowbiz - Monsters, Inc. is officially returning with a third installment in development at Pixar, according to The Wall Street Journal. Fans can look forward to more adventures featuring beloved characters Mike and Sully as the studio expands its popular franchise.

Alongside the upcoming Monsters, Inc. 3, Pixar is also working on two original films not previously announced. One is titled Ono Ghost Market, a feature film inspired by Asian folklore surrounding mystical marketplaces. Originally planned as a streaming series, this project has been reimagined as a full-length movie.

The other new venture marks a milestone for the studio: Pixar’s first-ever musical. This musical will be directed by Domee Shi, known for her work on Turning Red and for taking over co-directorial duties on Elio after the original director left the project. This move signals Pixar’s expanding creative horizons beyond their signature animation style.

The Wall Street Journal also revealed the planned release years for two highly anticipated Pixar sequels. Incredibles 3, the next chapter for the superhero family, is slated for a 2028 theatrical debut. Following that, Coco 2, the sequel to the 2017 hit, is expected in 2029.

Monsters, Inc. originally debuted in 2001 and quickly became one of Pixar’s most cherished films. It follows the monster duo James “Sully” Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) as they navigate challenges to return a little girl named “Boo” to the human world. The film earned $579 million globally on a $115 million budget and was nominated for the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Though it lost to Shrek, it won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Randy Newman’s “If I Didn’t Have You” and received nominations for Best Original Score and Best Sound Editing.

Building on that success, the franchise expanded with Monsters University in 2013, a prequel exploring how Mike and Sully first met in college. This film surpassed the original’s box office, grossing $743 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. Despite this, Monsters, Inc. has yet to receive a direct theatrical sequel; Monsters University remains a prequel.

Pixar has continued the story through the TV series Monsters at Work, which premiered its first season on Disney+ in 2021 and aired its second season on Disney Channel in 2024. The series brought back John Goodman and Billy Crystal to their iconic roles while introducing new characters voiced by actors such as Ben Feldman.

The studio has not disclosed where the timeline for Monsters, Inc. 3 will fit within the franchise’s continuity. This leaves fans curious whether it will pick up after the original movie or explore new storylines.

Ten years ago, Monsters, Inc. director Pete Docter, now Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, shared his thoughts with Entertainment Weekly about a possible third film. He expressed an openness to the idea but emphasized the need for a truly compelling story that justifies continuing the saga, especially since the prequel chose to leave the fate of Boo unanswered.

Beyond film and television, Monsters, Inc. remains a significant part of Disney’s theme park experiences. Attractions based on the franchise exist at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Magic Kingdom in Orlando, and Tokyo Disneyland. Recently, Disney announced plans for a dedicated Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which will replace the area around the former Muppet*Vision 3D attraction.

As Pixar moves forward with these ambitious projects, fans can anticipate new stories that expand the worlds of Monsters, Inc., Incredibles, and Coco. With release dates set for 2028 and 2029 for the latter two sequels, and production underway for the third Monsters, Inc. movie, the studio continues to cement its legacy as a leading force in animation and storytelling.