Yonas Kibreab stars in Pixar’s ‘Elio’.
Opening in theaters on June 20th is ‘Elio’, which is the new movie from Pixar Animation Studios and was directed by Madeline Sharafian (‘Inside Out 2′), Domee Shi (‘Turning Red’), and Adrian Molina (‘Coco’).
The film features voice work from Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña (‘Emilia Pérez’), Brad Garrett (‘Finding Dory’), Jameela Jamil (‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’), Shirley Henderson (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’), Matthias Schweighöfer (‘Army of the Dead’), Ana de la Reguera (‘The Forever Purge’), and introducing Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solis.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking in-person with Yonas Kibreab about his work on ‘Elio’, his first reaction to the screenplay and the animation, working with Pixar, recording alone and with other actors, his favorite scene, and what he hopes kids take away from watching the movie.
Yonas Kibreab in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?
Yonas Kibreab: Okay, so when I first got the full script, what tied me to this character of Elio was that he can relate to me in a lot of ways. I feel like he’s such a quirky kid. He doesn’t care about what people think, and he’s not afraid to be himself. I think that’s something that I must really channel, just like Elio. He’s taught me to always be myself, the best self I can be. When reading the script, the writers at Pixar did such an amazing job describing everything, although I couldn’t see the animation yet, I could picture everything in my mind. It turned out exactly what I imagined and more.
MF: What was your first reaction to the animation and the way your character would look on screen?
YK: I saw storyboards of it. He didn’t look the same. But he had a little bit longer hair. But other than that, he looked similar. I think when I saw the first animated footage was at D23 in 2023, when they first announced the movie. I think that was the first time I’ve seen him. It’s just so crazy to see somebody who you’re playing, especially in an original Pixar movie because I’ve watched Pixar movies since I was little, and I still do today.
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
MF: What was your experience like working with Pixar?
YK: It was great. When I got to go to the Pixar studio up in Emeryville, California, it was the most magical campus I’ve ever been to. I want to work there, and just being able to be in that same studio where Jamie Foxx and Tom Hanks were recording all these famous Pixar movies, was so surreal to me. Meeting all the very talented artists at Pixar, it was just so great to meet them.
MF: Did you work with any of the other actors, or did you record your dialogue alone?
YK: Yes, usually I am by myself, but I’ve been lucky enough to record with Remy Edgerly who plays Glordon. He’s such an amazing kid and it’s been great because usually, I worked on stuff with adults. Being able to also work on a voiceover animated movie where you don’t record with anybody, but to record for the first time with a kid, is so refreshing. It was so great to work with him and I’ve got to know him off-screen as well. We did press stuff in Disney World, and we got to go on rides together. It’s so cool. I feel like we should always experience that. That’s the one thing I wish I could change about the way movies are recorded, especially animated ones. Because I don’t know how they did it back then, but now, usually you’re recording by yourself, and I feel like it’s so important to play off the people you’re working with.
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
MF: Is there a particular scene in the film that you were excited to see on the big screen for the first time?
YK: Yes. I think I’m going to have to say the scene where Elio and Glordon are crawling in the lava tunnel. Glordon’s like, “Just get in my mouth.” And I’m like, “No, I don’t want to do that. I’m not fireproof.” That’s probably one of my favorite scenes also to record.
MF: Finally, can you talk about the movie’s message and what do you hope young audiences take away from seeing the film?
YK: I hope the first thing that they take away is just how amazing this movie is, but also just how important your friends and your family are. Friendship is very important, just like Elio and Glordon, and your friends are always going to be there for you, including your family members. Also, if you’re feeling alone, if you’re feeling like it’s hard to find friends and you’re going through grief, it’s all going to be okay, and you will find your people. Just stay positive.
Editorial Note: Tessa Smith conducted this interview and contributed to this article.
“They asked for our leader. They got… him.”
Showtimes & Tickets
Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a… Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Elio’?
Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
Who is in the cast of ‘Elio’?
‘Elio’ opens in theaters on June 20th.
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