Disney and Pixar have shared the first trailer for Elemental, a visually striking feature that proves opposites attract.
Directed by Peter Sohn, the film centers on an unlikely pair residing in Element City, a colorful metropolis occupied by humanoids that represent earth, air, wind, and fire. The trailer introduces the character of Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis), “a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman,” who attempts to keep to herself while riding public transit. At one point during her travels, Ember bumps into a “go-with-the-flow” man named Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie). The two eventually form a connection, which ultimately challenges Ember’s “beliefs about the world they live in.”
Sohn, who also directed Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur in 2015, said the new story was inspired by his childhood in NYC.
“My parents emigrated from Korea in the early 1970s and built a bustling grocery store in the Bronx,” he said in a statement to Variety. “We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me to Elemental. Our story is based on the classic elements—fire, water, land and air. Some elements mix with each other, and some don’t. What if these elements were alive?”
Denise Ream, who collaborated with Sohn on Dinosaur, will produce the film. As of now, there is no additional casting information.
Elemental is set to hit theaters on June 16, 2023. You can check out the teaser trailer above.