John Lasseter has not directed since Cars 2 in 2011. Netflix has just let his comeback film, Cosmic Motors, go to cinemas

Here we go then: bit of a shuffle behind the scenes for the new animated film from John Lasseter — yes, that John Lasseter, the one who gave us Toy Story, Cars and the rest of those early Pixar hits before, well, things went a bit sideways. Now his latest project Cosmic Motors has been yanked out of Netflix’s hands and is headed for a cinema release with Paramount instead, thanks to a mutual break-up between the two studios.

Netflix and Paramount have mutually agreed to conclude their animated film agreement. Both companies remain fully committed to the successful releases of ‘Ray Gunn’ and the untitled ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ project on Netflix, and additionally will continue their longstanding content licensing relationship.

That’s the official party line from Netflix and Paramount, handed over after Deadline asked what on earth was going on. They were very keen to stress there’s no bad blood, just a change of plans and, apparently, everyone’s still friends. Right.

Lasseter’s Return and the Project

Cosmic Motors is Lasseter’s first shot in the director’s chair since Cars 2 back in 2011 – yes, it’s really been 15 years. Apparently, it leans pretty heavily into that classic Cars vibe, but instead of talking cars on Route 66, you’ve got space vehicles zooming around alien planets. The film is based on Daniel Simon’s 2007 concept art book, which was all about an entirely made-up intergalactic car manufacturer called Galaxion. Don’t expect loads more plot right now though; they’re keeping all the juicy stuff firmly under the bonnet.

Cosmic Motors will now be released in theatres by Paramount Pictures in 2025.

Lasseter, in case you need reminding, was Pixar’s golden boy for years, until he left Disney after those misconduct allegations came out – something Disney tried to handle as quietly as possible at the time. Since 2019, he’s been running the animation division over at Skydance Animation. So, for better or worse, this space-racing flick marks his proper comeback.

Release Details and the Netflix Shuffle

Originally, Cosmic Motors was lined up as a Netflix exclusive, but thanks to this newly dissolved partnership, it’s getting a proper theatrical run via Paramount next year. That means anyone hoping for a couch-bound premiere will be disappointed. Paramount’s not committed to an exact date just yet, only a generic '2025'.

If you’re wondering about the rest of Skydance’s toons at Netflix, those are still going ahead. Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn (the one with Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits) is still steaming towards its December 18, 2025 streaming debut, along with a mysterious Jack and the Beanstalk project further down the line.

• Cosmic Motors - Directed by John Lasseter, out in cinemas via Paramount sometime in 2025
• Ray Gunn - Brad Bird directing, streaming on Netflix from December 18, 2025
• Untitled Jack and the Beanstalk film - Still scheduled for Netflix, date TBA

Lasseter’s resumé is still stacked: Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Cars, Cars 2, and executive producer on a laundry list of Pixar and Disney hits, from Finding Nemo through WALL-E and Ratatouille to The Princess and the Frog. But there’s a reason why Cosmic Motors has controversy sticking to its tyres: Lasseter’s Disney departure wasn’t a simple retirement, but fallout from several allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour. No small caveat, that.

That said, if you’re a fan of sci-fi cars or just curious how Lasseter does space after his long absence, Cosmic Motors might be one to keep somewhere on your radar — assuming Paramount actually nails down a release date before long.

It’s John Lasseter’s first film as director since Cars 2 in 2011 – marking a 15-year gap between projects.