Writer Rashida Jones – best known as an actor from her work in Parks and Recreation – has stepped down from the project, but denied a report that said it was because Lasseter made an “unwanted advance” against her.
Her writing partner, Will McCormack, has also quit the movie, while Lasseter himself has handed solo directing reigns to Josh Cooley.
Jones and McCormack told the New York Times: “We did not leave Pixar because of unwanted advances. That is untrue. That said, we are happy to see people speaking out about behaviour that made them uncomfortable.
“We parted ways because of creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences.”
They added: “There is so much talent at Pixar, and we remain enormous fans of their films.
“However, it is also a culture where women and people of colour do not have an equal creative voice.
“We encourage Pixar to be leaders in bolstering, hiring and promoting more diverse and female storytellers and leaders. We hope we can encourage all those who have felt like their voices could not be heard in the past to feel empowered.”
Lasseter has acknowledged that “painful” conversations about his conduct have taken place behind the scenes, regarding his so-called “missteps”.
“I have always wanted our animation studios to be places where creators can explore their vision with the support and collaboration of other gifted animators and storytellers,” he said in a memo obtained by the Hollywood Reporter.
“This kind of creative culture takes constant vigilance to maintain. It’s built on trust and respect, and it becomes fragile if any members of the team don’t feel valued.
“As a leader, it’s my responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen; and I now believe I have been falling short in this regard.”
However an employee told the same publication: “To sum this up as unwanted hugs is belittling and demeaning. If it was just unwanted hugs, he wouldn’t be stepping down.”
The news could be a big blow for Disney•Pixar, a studio which has taken great pride in its family-friendly content.
Lasseter has worked on several films that are still in the pipeline: he executive produced Coco, which is enjoying a very successful rollout worldwide, and also The Incredibles 2 – which achieved the most views ever for an animation trailer over the weekend.
He’s also involved in Frozen 2, set for release in 2019, and Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.
He directed Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Cars and Cars 2.
For now, Toy Story 4 remains officially slated for a 2019 release.
Daily Express :: Entertainment Feed
