In a new twist, Pixar’s forthcoming movie titled Eilo was initially conceived as a distinctly different film. This transformation has been evident to many viewers upon comparing the latest trailers with the initial teaser. The revised version of the movie revolves around a young character named Elio who is taken by extraterrestrials and given the role as an ambassador for Earth.
In our exclusive interview, we had a chat with the stars and creators of the film Elio, including Yonas Kibreab (Elio), Brad Garrett (Lord Grigon, the antagonist), co-directors Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian, as well as producer Mary Alice Drumm. We discussed how the movie evolved throughout its development process.
One significant alteration suggested by co-director Madeline for the movie was switching to a widescreen aspect ratio, an idea proposed by their cinematographers.
Indeed, there were many significant shifts in the storyline, one notable example being Elio’s change from being against abduction to desiring it. This transformation, as described by producer Mary Alice Drumm, was incredibly invigorating and impactful for the entire film.
Elio hits theaters on June 20.
The Cast and Filmmakers of Elio Detail Big Changes to the Movie Before Release
“It Was a Big Change to Come Late…”
- TopMob: “Going back and re-watching that first teaser, it showcases a very different movie than what the final product ends up being. So, can you guys talk about what some of those big changes were at the end of the day, and then why you chose that this was the direction you needed to shift into for the better, realized story that you brought to the screen?”
Mary Alice Drumm mentioned that Adrian Molina served as the initial director for the movie, and Maddie and I collaborated with him during the production of ‘Coco’. Due to the actors’ strike and other circumstances, the film’s release got postponed. At that stage in development, it appeared as though the storyline was more about a traditional kidnapping, didn’t it? This concept sounded fascinating.
As an enthusiast, I found it intriguing when Maddie and Domee began delving deeper into the concept. It struck me then, “Perhaps he’s harbored a dream of venturing into space all along.” I admire them for this quality because they have a knack for flipping conventions upside down. This thought was so monumental that we paused and thought, “Wow, this could be groundbreaking.
Instead, coming in late was quite a shift, but it turned out to be incredibly invigorating for the entire movie, which in turn significantly influenced many other aspects of the film.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I was thrilled when we decided on a significant visual transformation – switching to widescreen format. This idea was brilliantly suggested by our talented directors of photography, Derek Williams and Jordan Rempel. They foresaw the changes we were planning and thought it was the perfect time to propose this innovative approach. Widescreen, they said, would greatly enhance our production and that’s exactly what happened!
In a nutshell, we aimed to elevate the feeling of this sci-fi film, giving it a classic, grandiose sci-fi vibe. The tests they had conducted were quite compelling, and it was evident that they were fully committed to their project. Making the change was a no-brainer for me as soon as I saw their work, because the enhanced visuals made the whole universe feel more cinematic, and it intensified Elio’s emotional journey within himself.
That was quite thrilling, but I must admit, altering the aspect ratio midway through was, in a way, a tad nerve-wracking.
The entire interview with the filmmakers of Elio can be watched here:
Initially, the trailer gives the impression that Brad Garrett’s character, Lord Grigon, is an immediate ally to Elio and part of the Communiverse (the extraterrestrial society Elio visits). However, this is not the case in the actual film.
Garrett communicated to TopMob that “they genuinely believed Glordon, Grigon’s offspring, made a superior partner for Elio,” and expressed a desire for Grigon to present more of a competition to Elio.
Brad Garrett: They strongly believed that Glordon was a superior ally, who appeared to be Grigon’s son. I also share this viewpoint to some extent. If Grigon had been an ally from the beginning, it significantly alters the tension and excitement of the movie. So, it seems they aimed, in my opinion, for my character to present a greater challenge for Elio and a tougher hurdle for Grigon during his friendship with Glordon. This shift felt more organic and creatively sound.
Our full conversation can be seen below:
Yonas Kibreab, confirmed that at one point, “Elio wasn’t as excited to get abducted aliens:”
Yonas Kibreab: For quite some time, Elio didn’t seem thrilled about the idea of being taken by aliens, but now his enthusiasm is off the charts. To be truthful, it was a while back, so the details aren’t entirely clear to me anymore. However, this film looks absolutely fantastic.
Yonas Kibreab had plenty more to say about Elio, which can be viewed here:
Check out more of TopMob’s interviews here!
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2025-06-09 23:35