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D23 Expo Round-Up: 'Finding Dory' Cast Updates; Story Changes Following 'Blackfish'?

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While the bulk of Pixar’s D23 presentation focused on The Good Dinosaur and Inside Out, the studio also took the chance to reveal a few more bits of information about Finding Dory, coming in late 2015.

Accompanying Albert Brooks as Marlin and Ellen DeGeneres as Dory are Eguene Levy and Diane Keaton as Charlie and Jenny, Dory’s parents. Ty Burrell also joins the cast as a beluga whale named Bailey. Director Andrew Stanton also teased a bit of the plot: Dory’s "homing instinct" sets in, leading her to go on a search for her family while Nemo and Marlin pursue her.

Interestingly, Stanton may also be altering elements of the film following the controversial water park documentary Blackfish. According to The LA Times, the Pixar filmmakers met with Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite after seeing the film to discuss a story element in Finding Dory. Head over to LA Times to see the point in question — but be warned of spoilers.

It’s great to see Pixar being aware and receptive to change, though it’s unclear if any of these adjustments will make it to the final product; after all, Pixar films go through countless changes while in development, and Dory is still over two years away.

Monsters University reminded me that a sequel doesn’t need to be necessary to be good, so I definitely have some newfound confidence in Finding Dory. The movie releases on November 25, 2015.

(Thanks to The Pixar Times and ComingSoon.net for their coverage of the event)

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Last modified: August 9, 2013