More than two decades after audiences first stepped into a city powered by children’s screams, the “Monsters, Inc.” universe could soon return to theaters. A new report suggests that a third film in the series is currently in development, hinting that Pixar is preparing to revisit one of its most recognizable animated properties. According to Variety, citing details from a recent Wall Street Journal profile examining the studio’s internal creative operations, the project is quietly moving forward behind the scenes.
Another Chapter in the ‘Monsters, Inc.’ Story Is Taking Shape
The franchise began with the 2001 hit “Monsters, Inc.,” directed by Pete Docter, which imagined a colorful metropolis where monsters generate energy by scaring human children. The story centered on the unlikely partnership between star scarer Sulley and his wisecracking best friend Mike Wazowski, voiced by John Goodman and Billy Crystal, whose routine is upended when a human toddler named Boo accidentally enters their world. The film became one of the studio’s early modern classics and helped cement Pixar’s reputation for combining inventive world building with emotional storytelling.
A decade later, the studio expanded the universe with the 2013 prequel “Monsters University,” which explored how Mike and Sulley first crossed paths during their college years. Rather than continuing the original storyline, the picture offered a coming of age comedy about ambition, rivalry, and friendship, further deepening the mythology of Monstropolis.
The monster powered world has also remained alive on television through “Monsters at Work,” an animated Disney+ series that takes place after the events of the first film. The show follows a new group of employees adjusting to a major change in the company’s energy strategy after laughter replaces screams as the city’s primary power source.
For now, the next big screen chapter remains largely under wraps. No director has been announced, and plot details have not been revealed, including where the story might fall within the established timeline. Still, the mere prospect of another visit to Monstropolis suggests the door to Pixar’s monster world is far from closed.