Pixar movie ‘Soul’ skips theaters for Disney Plus
The closure of many theaters worldwide has prompted Pixar to scrap the planned release of the movie Soul in the box office. Instead, the animated feature will be streamed exclusively on Disney Plus by Christmas, according to reports from entertainment website Variety.
In the last few months, Disney has been exploring other ways to bring its movies to audiences in the absence of traditional theatrical releases. Disney plus has become a vital distribution method for the entertainment giant at a time when most cinemas remain closed and viewers are wary of public spaces.
Soul is the latest film to skip its theatrical slate and head straight to Disney Plus, following the digital release model of fantasy/adventure film Artemis Fowl and multi-million live-action blockbuster Mulan, which debuted as a Premier Access title for an extra $30 (P1,449). Soul wouldn’t be a Premier Access title, so all of Disney Plus’ 60.5 million subscribers can enjoy the film at no extra cost. Basic subscription to the streaming service costs $6.99 (P337) per month.
“We are thrilled to share Pixar’s spectacular and moving ‘Soul’ with audiences direct to Disney+ in December. A new original Pixar film is always a special occasion, and this truly heartwarming and humorous story about human connection and finding one’s place in the world will be a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season,” says The Walt Disney Company chief executive officer Bob Chapek.
Soul is a cartoon about a middle-school music teacher (Jamie Foxx) who dreams of being a jazz performer. But before his big break, he gets in an accident that causes his soul to be separated from his body. He’s then transported to the “You Seminar,” where he teams up with 22 (Tina Fey) to return his soul back to his body on Earth before it’s too late.
It is co-directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers, and stars Foxx, Fey, Quest Love (Curley), Daveed Diggs (Paul), Phylicia Rashad (Libba), Angela Bassett (Dorothea) and Richard Ayoade (Soul Sorter).
The family-friendly film will be available on the streaming service in time for Christmas. In international markets where Disney Plus isn’t available yet, Disney/Pixar intends to release
Soul theatrically on a yet-to-be determined date.
Check out the trailer below:
(Image from IMDB)