🐠 Finding Nemo 3 Set for 2026: Pixar Returns to the Ocean for a New Generation
By: Animation News Daily
Published: June 13, 2025
In a wave of nostalgic excitement, Pixar Animation Studios has officially confirmed development of Finding Nemo 3, the third installment in one of its most beloved animated franchises. Slated for a summer 2026 release, the film promises to take audiences back to the vibrant, emotional, and whimsical world beneath the waves — but this time, the ocean is changing.
🌊 A Legacy Revisited
It’s been over two decades since the 2003 classic Finding Nemo captured hearts with the story of a timid clownfish father braving the ocean to find his lost son. The film became an instant cultural touchstone, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and grossing nearly $1 billion worldwide. In 2016, Finding Dory brought the fan-favorite blue tang into the spotlight, diving into themes of memory, identity, and family.
Now, nearly ten years later, Pixar is ready to continue the legacy — and evolve it for a new generation of viewers.
🐟 What We Know So Far
While Pixar remains tight-lipped about key plot details, industry insiders and early concept leaks have revealed some intriguing possibilities. Finding Nemo 3 is expected to follow an older Nemo, now a teenager, as he ventures beyond the reef to explore distant parts of the ocean — and perhaps even above the surface.
Described as an “intergenerational coming-of-age journey,” the story will reportedly explore themes of independence, ecological responsibility, and legacy, as Nemo seeks his place in a world that is rapidly changing due to environmental threats and shifting marine life dynamics.
👪 Returning Characters and New Additions
Confirmed and rumored returning cast members include:
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Albert Brooks as Marlin, now more relaxed yet protective as his son begins to outgrow the nest (or the anemone).
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Ellen DeGeneres is reportedly reprising her iconic role as Dory, once again serving as a loyal friend and comic relief.
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Hayden Byerly or a similarly aged voice actor may voice Teen Nemo, bringing a new perspective to the curious clownfish.
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Ed O’Neill may return as Hank, the grumpy but lovable septopus from Finding Dory.
New characters said to be in development include:
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A young dolphin named “Echo,” who introduces Nemo to a new marine culture and teaches him sonar navigation.
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A giant squid who lives in a sunken battleship — a misunderstood creature with wisdom and regrets.
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A group of reef scientists (played by human characters) involved in ocean conservation, marking the franchise’s first real human-animal dialogue through technology.
🎨 Animation & Environmental Themes
Pixar’s animation has come a long way since 2003, and Finding Nemo 3 will showcase the most advanced water simulations and character rendering yet. Early test footage hints at bioluminescent environments, rising sea temperatures, and expansive coral ecosystems. The film will likely highlight climate change, pollution, and ocean restoration, but in a gentle, Pixar-style narrative that remains child-friendly while encouraging awareness.
Pixar’s creative team has reportedly consulted with marine biologists and environmental NGOs to shape the story’s direction. “We want to entertain and inspire,” says a Pixar insider. “But we also want to tell the truth — about what’s happening to our oceans, and what today’s kids can do.”
🎬 Directed by a Pixar Veteran
While Andrew Stanton, the director of the original films, is confirmed to be involved as executive producer, Finding Nemo 3 will be directed by Kelsey Mann (Inside Out 2), making this the first in the trilogy led by a new director. Mann has promised a “fresh emotional current” to the storytelling, while respecting the core themes that made the original films timeless.
📆 Release Date and Fan Expectations
Disney has blocked off June 19, 2026, for an untitled Pixar feature — widely believed to be Finding Nemo 3. Marketing is expected to begin by late 2025, with teaser trailers possibly arriving as early as November.
Fans around the world are already buzzing with excitement. On social media, hashtags like #Nemo3, #JustKeepSwimming, and #PixarReturns are trending, as audiences prepare to once again plunge into the colorful, emotional world of life under the sea.
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