Brad Bird is back. That was the big takeaway from D23 Expo when Pete Docter, the creative chief over at Pixar, finally let the cat out of the bag. People have been waiting for this since 2018. Honestly, probably since 2004 if we’re being real about how long that first gap felt. But if you’re scouring YouTube right now looking for the Incredibles 3 trailer, you’re going to find a lot of "concept" videos and fan-made edits that look surprisingly real thanks to AI, but aren't actually the real deal.
Disney hasn't dropped the footage yet.
The announcement was a logo on a screen and a promise that the Parr family is returning. It was brief. It was electric. It was exactly what a room full of Disney die-hards wanted to hear after years of "will they, won't they" rumors. We know Brad Bird is developing it, which is the only way this movie works, right? He’s the architect. Without his specific mid-century modern aesthetic and sharp family dynamics, it just wouldn't feel like The Incredibles.
Why everyone thinks they saw an Incredibles 3 trailer already
The internet is a weird place. If you search for the Incredibles 3 trailer on social media, you’ll see thumbnails featuring a grown-up Jack-Jack or a retired Bob Parr looking grumpy in a recliner. Most of these come from "pro" fan channels that use Unreal Engine or generative AI to mimic Pixar’s lighting style. They get millions of views. It’s honestly kind of impressive and frustrating at the same time because it muddies the waters for people who just want to know when the movie is actually hitting theaters.
Pixar is notoriously slow. They’re perfectionists. They’ll spend three years just on the physics of Elastigirl’s hair if they have to.
Currently, the film is in "early development." In Pixar-speak, that means they’re still Boarding. They’re figuring out the "why" of the story. Brad Bird has always said he wouldn't do a third one unless he had a story that was better than the first two. That’s a high bar. The first film is basically a perfect deconstruction of the superhero genre before the MCU even existed. The second one focused on Helen and the changing landscape of hero legality. What’s left?
🔗 Read more: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
Maybe it’s time for the kids to take the lead.
The timeline for a real teaser
If we look at Pixar’s historical release windows, we can start to piece together when a real Incredibles 3 trailer might actually show up. Typically, Pixar announces a project, and we don’t see a frame of finished animation for at least 18 to 24 months. If the 2024 announcement was the starting gun for the public, we are likely looking at a 2026 or 2027 release date.
Expect a teaser—maybe just 30 seconds of Jack-Jack doing something chaotic—about a year before the release. If the movie is slated for June 2027, you’ll get your first look in the summer of 2026. It’s a long wait. It’s painful. But Pixar doesn't rush these "tentpole" sequels.
What the story could actually be about
There’s a lot of talk about a time jump. It makes sense, doesn't it? We’ve seen them as a young family. We’ve seen them navigate the immediate aftermath of the ban being lifted. Seeing Dash in college or Violet navigating the workforce while being a "Super" would be a fresh angle.
The most compelling rumors—and again, these are just industry whispers for now—suggest a focus on the "Next Gen" of heroes. But Brad Bird loves the family unit. He’s obsessed with the idea that being a hero is secondary to being a parent or a sibling.
💡 You might also like: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
- Jack-Jack’s powers: He has dozens of them. Controlling that as a teenager? That’s a nightmare and a goldmine for comedy.
- The Underminer: He’s still out there. He’s the running gag that never ends, but maybe he finally gets his due.
- A new villain: Syndrome was personal. Screenslaver was societal. The third villain needs to be something that challenges their internal bond.
The animation tech has jumped lightyears since 2018. Look at Inside Out 2 or Elemental. The textures, the lighting, the way they handle particles—it’s insane. An Incredibles 3 trailer produced with 2026 technology is going to look photorealistic in a way that might actually be jarring compared to the 2004 original.
The Brad Bird factor
Let’s talk about why Bird’s involvement is the only thing that matters. He’s a "Director with a Capital D." He doesn't just make kids' movies; he makes cinema. Think about the kitchen scene in the first movie or the fight on the boat in the second. The choreography is better than most live-action Marvel movies.
He’s been busy with other things, including some live-action projects that didn't quite hit the same heights as his animation work. Coming back to Pixar feels like a homecoming. It feels like he’s ready to reclaim the throne of the "Super" genre.
You have to remember that when the first movie came out, Iron Man wasn't even a thing yet. Now, we have "superhero fatigue." People are tired of the multiverse. They’re tired of the "sky beam" finales. The Incredibles is the antidote to that because it’s a family sitcom that just happens to have capes.
What to do while you wait for the Incredibles 3 trailer
Don't fall for the clickbait. If you see a video that says "OFFICIAL TRAILER" and the thumbnail looks a little too shiny or the voices sound like robots, it’s fake.
📖 Related: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Instead, keep an eye on official Disney channels. The D23 events and the quarterly earnings calls are where the real news breaks. Usually, Disney likes to attach their big trailers to their Thanksgiving or Summer theatrical releases.
- Follow the official Pixar Instagram and X (Twitter) accounts.
- Set a Google Alert for "Brad Bird Pixar interview." He usually lets a few details slip when he's doing press for other things.
- Rewatch the first two. Seriously. There are so many tiny details in the background of the Parr’s home that hint at the larger world of Supers.
The reality is that The Incredibles 3 is happening, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint. We’re in the "quiet period" where the artists are doing the heavy lifting behind closed doors. When that first real Incredibles 3 trailer finally hits, it’ll likely break the internet for real, no AI-generated thumbnails required.
Stay patient. The Parrs are coming back, and if history is any indication, it’s going to be "totally wicked."
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on official production updates rather than social media rumors. Keep a close watch on Pixar's 2026 release schedule, as the first marketing beats typically align with the studio's primary summer theatrical window. If no footage appears by late 2026, the project likely moved to a 2028 release slot.