Pixar is finally releasing “Finding Dory,” 12 years after its predecessor proved to be a huge catch for the studio.
“This is so exciting, for me … I can’t tell you, oh you do know,” Ellen DeGeneres said, as she revealed that she has been begging for a “Finding Nemo” sequel for years and long complained about it on her talk show.
DeGeneres, who voiced Dory the regal tang in the 2003 original, was joined by fellow voice stars Ed O’Neill, who will play Hank the Octopus, Kaitlin Olson (as a whale shark named Destiny) and Ty Burrell (as a white beluga whale) at the Disney’s D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in California on Friday to share details on the upcoming animated film.
“I wanted to know that if this charming forgetful fish ever got lost again, that she would be okay, that she would find her way home,” director Andrew Stanton said. “And at the end of ‘Finding Nemo,’ I wasn’t confident about that. So that’s when I knew I had another story.”
The filmmakers also presented a new clip from the upcoming film featuring Dory being resuscitated after what appears to be a fainting spell, as her clown fish pal Nemo tells his father that she wants to go home.
In a prior press release from Disney and Pixar, Stanton hinted that Dory’s story would evolve.
“In ‘Finding Dory’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way,” Stanton said.
Also on Friday, Disney revealed that Shakira will join the voice cast of “Zootopia” as pop star Gazelle. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson later made a surprise appearance to speak about his upcoming film “Moana,” in which he will play legendary demi-god Maui.
“Finding Dory” is set for release on June 17, 2016.