Full Breakdown
Ellen DeGeneres to Reprise Dory in Untitled Pixar Short
4/25/2026, 4:43:48 AM
Ellen DeGeneres Returns as Dory in New Pixar Short
Deadline reports that Ellen DeGeneres will again provide the voice of Dory, the blue-tang fish from Pixar’s Finding Nemo universe, in an as-yet-untitled short film. Production has only recently begun, and no plot details, additional creative personnel, or release schedule have been disclosed. The short marks DeGeneres’s first major screen role since her 2024 Netflix stand-up special *For Your Approval*.
Franchise Background and Dory’s Rise
The Finding Nemo franchise began with Andrew Stanton’s 2003 animated feature *Finding Nemo*, following clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks) on a quest to find his son Nemo (Alexander Gould). The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and grossed $941 million worldwide, spawning shorts, cross-platform integrations, and merchandise. Its 2016 sequel, *Finding Dory*, starring DeGeneres as Dory, elevated the character to lead status and grossed over $1 billion. Dory’s popularity also appears in Disney’s Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland.
Primary Participants
- Ellen DeGeneres – returning as Dory’s voice.
- Pixar Animation Studios – producing the short.
- Andrew Stanton – director of *Finding Nemo* and *Finding Dory*; involvement in the short not confirmed.
- Disney – owner of the theme-park attractions featuring Dory; DeGeneres is represented by WME, Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
Financial Impact of the Franchise
- *Finding Nemo* grossed $941 million worldwide and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
- *Finding Dory* grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
- *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* (1994-2022) earned 64 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Official Statements and Responses
No formal announcement from Pixar, Disney, or DeGeneres’s representatives has been released. The untitled short has no disclosed creative staff. Deadline’s exclusive report says production is underway, “plot deals … are under wraps,” and “release plans are also currently to be confirmed.” The report remains the sole source of details, and no further official comment has been given.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Current coverage offers no details on the short’s storyline, director, writer, or animation team. Release timing is unspecified and the title remains unannounced. The lack of direct quotations from involved parties leaves a gap in verifiable statements about creative direction and distribution.
What’s Next
With production in early stages, the short’s timeline will likely be clarified as further information becomes available. Observers can expect updates on creative staffing, plot synopsis, and a release window as the project progresses. Future disclosures may also reveal the distribution channel, though details remain unconfirmed.
