The journey of Elio, Pixar’s latest venture, has proven to be anything but smooth. Despite a commendable A CinemaScore and an 83% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has stumbled at the box office. After its second weekend, it has managed to gross merely $42 million domestically and $72 million worldwide, significantly trailing its hefty $150 million production budget.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the issues may trace back several years. Initially directed by Adrian Molina, co-director of the beloved Coco, a test screening in Arizona in early 2023 indicated trouble ahead. Although audiences enjoyed the film, no one indicated they would pay to see it, prompting concerns that substantial changes were necessary.
One of the most debated changes was the portrayal of Elio himself. Originally presented as a “Queer-coded” character, aspects were altered to make him appear more “masculine.” A former Pixar artist noted, “Suddenly, you remove this big, key piece, which is all about identity, and Elio just becomes about totally nothing. The Elio that is in theaters right now is far worse than Adrian’s best version of the original.”
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These Changes Led To A Loss Of Talent
As the production unfolded, Madeline Sharafian, known for directing the short Burrow, was brought on as a co-director. However, Molina’s dissatisfaction with the changes prompted his departure from the project. Domee Shi, director of Turning Red, stepped in alongside Sharafian. These shifts also resulted in notable cast departures.
America Ferrera was initially set to voice Olga, Elio’s mother, but she exited the project, reportedly upset over the diminishing Latinx representation in leadership. She was succeeded by Zoe Saldaña, who now voices Olga as Elio’s aunt. The artist’s commentary suggests that many changes stemmed from Pixar’s internal pressures rather than directives from Disney, describing it as “obeying-in-advance behavior.” Concerns about future narratives have even led to caution against depicting sensitive subjects like divorce.
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The Changes May Not Have Affected Elio’s Box Office
Though the behind-the-scenes turmoil is intriguing, it’s difficult to ascertain their real impact on Elio‘s overall quality. Audiences have largely reacted positively, suggesting that the behind-the-scenes drama didn’t overshadow the film’s strengths. The box office figures likely wouldn’t have altered if Molina’s original vision had been preserved. For one, Disney’s marketing campaign for Elio was less vigorous than for previous films.
Moreover, many families have grown accustomed to waiting for Disney releases to drop on streaming platforms. As a result, potential viewers may have seen the trailer and opted to save their ticket dollars for a Disney+ viewing. This trend presents significant challenges not just for Disney, but the entire film industry. While it’s fascinating to imagine Elio as originally conceived, it seems that the film’s fate would remain largely unchanged even without the meddlesome studio interference.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter