Pixar’s ‘Soul’ Headed To Disney Plus On Christmas Day

Soul
The Coronavirus has forced Hollywood to adapt, and now Disney and Pixar are moving Soul, which was intended to release in theaters, to Disney+. Unlike their previous theatrical-to-digital experiment MulanSoul will be free of charge to subscribers rather than a premium purchase.

 

From the sound of things, the $30 paywall for Mulan didn’t quite move Disney+ subscriptions and revenue quite in the way that Disney wanted them to, so they’ll be taking a similar approach to Onward by offering the new movie on streaming for free as long as you’re subscribed. However, like Mulan, the movie is expected to play internationally in regions where Disney+ is not yet available. The film was originally intended to release globally in late November, so it remains to be seen how the movie will roll out. The film seems to have been released this year and through Disney+ in order to ensure that it may qualify for film-related award ceremonies.

 

We meet band teacher and jazz musician Joe Gardner, right after he lands his big jazz break – and right before he falls into an open manhole. Gardner soon finds himself on a mysterious journey towards a bright light… Or rather, his soul finds itself on a magical mystery tour of the great beyond. Joe’s soul is then transported to the “You Seminar”, where he assists soon-to-be-born souls come to formation before they move into newborn infants. One of these souls, named 22, has a dim outlook on life, and she and Gardner have to work together in order to accomplish their goals; Gardner, to get back to his own body before it’s too late, and 22, to finally get into a body of her own after years of searching.

 

In addition to featuring a rather heavy plot for a children’s movie, Soul is notable for being Pixar’s first movie with an African-American lead. Jamie Foxx (Ray) heads up a voice cast that includes Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock), Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Questlove (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping), Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), and Phylicia Rashad (Creed).

 

 

Soul is directed by Pete Docter, who also directed Academy Award-nominee Monsters, Inc. and Academy Award-winning hits WALL-EUp, and Inside Out.

 

Soul will arrive on Disney+ on December 25, 2020.