Pixar is heading deep into the glade for its next original adventure, and Hoppers sounds like a whole new kind of wild. During a recent Pixar presentation attended by Collider’s Michael Zimmerman, Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter unveiled major plot details about the film, which is set to hit theaters in March 2026, having only been announced last August. Directed by We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong and produced by Pixar vet Nicole Grindle, Hoppers is already deep in production — and if Docter’s tease is anything to go by, it’s going to be one of Pixar’s most delightfully offbeat projects in years.
“We’re in the last months of finishing the movie,” Docter shared. “It’s looking great.” At the heart of Hoppers is Mabel, a nature-loving college student voiced by Disney Channel star Piper Curda. According to Docter, “She grew up in this small town in the upper northwest by a nearby glade, which was a sanctuary to hundreds of animals.” It was a haven she shared with her mother and grandmother — a place of peace, stillness, and wonder.
What Is ‘Hoppers’ About?
Years later, that glade is under threat from a new construction project: a massive highway spearheaded by the cartoonishly named Mayor Jerry German Generosity, voiced by none other than Jon Hamm. “Mabel’s arch nemesis is moving fast,” said Docter. “But as you can imagine, there’s no way she’s going to let anything happen to her beloved glade.”
Unfortunately, no one else seems willing to help — so Mabel has to get creative. Really creative. Enter the titular Hoppers — a group of eccentric animal scientists who’ve developed a way to hop their minds into robot animal bodies. Their invention is intended strictly for research, but Mabel has a different plan: use the Hopper tech to become a beaver and reintroduce animals into the glade. “And then the mayor will have to cancel his highway plan,” Docter explained.
Before the scientists can stop her, Mabel hops into an adorable animatronic beaver body and sets off into the wilderness. At first, it’s a dream come true — but animal society turns out to be more complicated than she thought.
“So what happens next is a little like Avatar meets Mission: Impossible meets Planet Earth. t’s an action-adventure comedy spy thriller where the humor, the heart, and the adventure leap from the screen in surprising ways.”
While trying to rally the animals, Mabel meets King George — an “occasionally clueless” beaver monarch voiced by the always-delightful Bobby Moynihan. “He’s a simple, happy-go-lucky guy,” said Docter. “He’s conflict-averse, and the two establish a hilarious and unlikely friendship.”
But Mabel soon learns that even as a robotic animal, saving the glade isn’t going to be easy. From animal politics to unexpected betrayals and bizarre forest customs, she’s about to discover that going wild comes with consequences.
Hoppers is due to open in theaters in March 2026.
via Collider