You’ve seen the red logo. You’ve probably heard the rumors floating around TikTok or X about Jack-Jack becoming a teenager. But let’s get the big question out of the way immediately because waiting is the worst part of being a fan: when is Incredibles 3 coming out? Based on the latest updates from Pixar’s presentation at Destination D23 in late 2025, the official release window for Incredibles 3 is 2028.
Yeah, I know. That feels like a lifetime away. 2028? We’ll probably have flying cars by then (or at least better iPhone batteries). But if you’re a die-hard fan of the Parr family, you know that Pixar doesn't exactly rush these things. Remember the gap between the first movie and the sequel? It was fourteen years. Fourteen. We're practically sprinting this time by comparison.
The Director Shakeup: Why Peter Sohn is Taking the Reins
For a long time, everyone assumed Brad Bird—the genius who gave us the first two films, Ratatouille, and the voice of Edna Mode—would be back in the director's chair. And honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it.
But things changed.
In mid-2025, Pixar confirmed a pretty massive shift. Peter Sohn is officially directing Incredibles 3. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he recently directed Elemental, which had that massive "slow burn" success at the box office. He also did The Good Dinosaur.
👉 See also: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
Now, before you panic—Brad Bird isn’t just walking away. He’s actually writing the script and staying on as an executive producer. The reason he’s not directing? He’s knee-deep in a passion project called Ray Gunn over at Skydance. Basically, he’s still the architect of the story, but Sohn is the guy on the ground making sure the animation looks incredible.
What's the Plot? (And Will There Be a Time Jump?)
Pixar is tighter than a superhero’s spandex when it comes to plot leaks. They haven’t released an official synopsis yet. However, Brad Bird has dropped some breadcrumbs over the last few years that give us a pretty good idea of what’s cooking in the writers' room.
Scrapped Ideas from the Sequel
When Incredibles 2 was being made, the production schedule got moved up by an entire year because Toy Story 4 needed more time. Bird has famously said he had to "kill a city full of darlings" to get the sequel finished on time.
These weren't bad ideas; they just didn't fit into a rushed schedule. There were entire subplots and characters that got storyboarded but never animated. Bird has hinted that these "repurposed" ideas are likely forming the backbone of the third movie.
✨ Don't miss: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
The Teen Jack-Jack Theory
This is the one that gets everyone talking. Will we finally see a time jump?
- Option A: We pick up right where we left off, with the family as "legal" heroes again.
- Option B: We jump forward five or ten years.
Imagine a teenage Dash or a Violet who is actually leading her own team. But the real kicker would be Jack-Jack. He has dozens of powers. If he hits puberty and his emotions go haywire, he basically becomes a walking, talking tactical nuke. That’s a lot of potential for both comedy and some pretty heavy stakes.
Who is Coming Back?
While the official cast list hasn't been posted on a shiny Disney press release, it’s almost a guarantee that the main crew is returning. You can’t have The Incredibles without the original voices.
- Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible)
- Holly Hunter as Helen Parr (Elastigirl)
- Sarah Vowell as Violet
- Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone (He’s gone on record saying he wants a Frozone origin story, so he’s definitely game).
The only question mark is Dash. Huck Milner took over the role in the second movie because the original actor, Spencer Fox, grew up and his voice changed. If there's a time jump, they might cast someone older. If not, they’ll stick with the kid.
🔗 Read more: Chris Robinson and The Bold and the Beautiful: What Really Happened to Jack Hamilton
Where the Franchise Stands in 2026
It’s weird to think that The Incredibles is over 20 years old now. It’s basically vintage. But Pixar is in a "sequel era" right now. After the massive success of Inside Out 2—which recently became the highest-grossing animated movie ever—Disney realized that people really, really want to revisit their favorite characters.
Toy Story 5 is hitting theaters in June 2026. Then we have original projects like Hoppers and Gatto. Incredibles 3 is being positioned as the "grand finale" of this current wave of sequels.
The Timeline for Trailers and Teasers
If the movie is coming out in 2028, don't expect a full trailer anytime soon.
Marketing usually starts about 12 to 18 months before release. We’ll probably get a teaser poster at D23 in 2026 and maybe—just maybe—a 30-second teaser clip by late 2027. Right now, the movie is in the "pre-production and storyboarding" phase. That means they are literally drawing the movie on digital tablets and figuring out if the jokes land.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're vibrating with excitement and can't wait until 2028, here is how you can stay in the loop without falling for "fake news" trailers on YouTube:
- Follow the Official Pixar Socials: This sounds obvious, but Disney usually drops "first look" art on Instagram and X months before a trailer.
- Watch the "Incredibles 2" Deleted Scenes: A lot of the ideas Brad Bird mentioned using for the third film are actually visible in the rough storyboard animatics on the Blu-ray or Disney+ extras. It's the best way to see the "DNA" of the upcoming movie.
- Check Destination D23 Updates: Disney holds these smaller fan events every other year. The next big one in 2026 will likely feature the first piece of concept art showing the characters' new designs (if they have aged up).
- Re-watch "The Iron Giant": If you want to understand the "Brad Bird style" that will still influence the script, his early work is where all the retro-futuristic vibes of The Incredibles started.
Stay patient. 2028 is a long way off, but as Edna Mode would say, "I never look at the past, darling! It distracts from the now." Actually, in this case, the "now" is just a lot of waiting—but it'll be worth it.