← Back to diffwire

Pete Docter Defends Cutting Elio’s Queer Storyline as "Not Therapy"

12 articles | Updated 6d ago | Created Mar 07
Story image

In a new interview published on March 7, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Peter docter explained that the studio removed LGBTQ themes from its upcoming film 'Elio' to avoid forcing parents into unwanted conversations.

  1. 1
    Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter announced in March interviews with major publications (including The Wall Street Journal) that LGBTQ+ plot elements were removed from the upcoming film 'Elio'.
  2. 2
    Dopter explained to reporters and fans via multiple news outlets why these themes, which reflected original director Adrian Molina's experience growing up gay, had been cut.
  3. 3
    The studio stated its reasoning was not a lack of empathy but rather that they are making an animated movie for audiences who do not need therapy sessions.
Mar 09 Multiple Greek, Hungarian, and English-language news outlets reported on Docter's statements regarding the removal of LGBTQ+ themes from 'Elio' in response to a Wall Street Journal interview.
Feb/Mar (Unspecified) 'Elio', originally set for release as part of Pixar's 2025 slate, underwent major creative overhauls following test screenings conducted around late 2023 or early 2024.
[Pre-March] 'Elio' was originally conceived with a storyline reflecting original director Adrian Molina's personal experience growing up gay, though the film has not yet been released to theaters as of March reports.

'We're making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars worth of therapy.'

— Pete Docter (The Wall Street Journal)

Docter stated that Pixar does not want to force parents into conversations they are unwilling or unable to have.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly
Η Pixar «έκοψε» LGBTQ+ στοιχεία από ταινία: «Δεν παρέχουμε ψυχοθεραπεία»
Nem akar meleg karaktereket a Pixar kreatív igazgatója a filmekbe
Pixar chief says LGBTQ+ plot elements cut from Elio as company is ‘not making therapy’
Γιατί η Pixar έκοψε το queer στοιχείο από την ταινία κινουμένων σχεδίων Elio
Pourquoi Pixar a coupé une intrigue LGBTQ+ dans le film d'animation "Elio"