The Story Behind Up

The long flight to the screen for Pixar’s latest...

Pixar’s 10th film was chosen to open the prestigious Cannes film festival today - which evokes the curious image of a bunch of sharp-suited/ballgowned people crowding into a cinema, slipping on 3D glasses and watching a cartoon.

But then, this is Pixar, and Up is much, much more than just another cartoon. Here's how it all happened...

1. Thank Wall-E.

Yes, Pixar’s little robot is actually responsible for both Monsters Inc. and Up. Why? Because co-writer/director Pete Docter actually worked on cracking the script for the film before deciding to leave it in the capable hands of Andrew Stanton. Twice.

For a while way back in 1995, Stanton and Docter worked together on developing Wall-E, then called Trash Planet, and focused on the droid plus the gel-like “aliens” that were originally planned to be the focus of the second act.

But Docter just couldn’t get a handle on what the film should be – leaving first to make Monsters, then revisiting an idea he’d had even before trying to crack Wall-E.

That idea? It was based around a sketch…

Next: It Began With Balloons

Leave a comment

Most Popular

  • News

    1. Reviews

      1. Features

        1. Video

          Close

          Log In to Total Film

          Forgotten your password?

          Close

          Join Total Film

          Registration is quick and easy

          Hint: Star of Fight Club, Se7en, Benjamin Button and Ocean's Eleven

          As you are registering with Total Film, we would like to think that you'd enjoy receiving the following emails. If you'd rather not receive them, please untick the boxes:

          * Mandatory fields