‘Monsters, Inc.’ Series To Debut On Disney+ Featuring Original Voice Cast
Ahead of this week’s investor presentation where Disney is expected to reveal further details about its streaming service Disney+, the company teased new details about the Monsters, Inc. animated series that will be exclusive to the platform.
The show, titled Monsters at Work is scheduled for release in 2020 and will bring back John Goodman and Billy Crystal in the roles of Sulley and Mike Wazowski respectively. Other members of the original cast confirmed to return for this spinoff are Jennifer Tilly (Celia), Bob Peterson (Roze, the twin sister of the original film’s Roz), and John Ratzenberger (Yeti). Ratzenberger will also voice a new character called Bernard.
The story will take place six months after the ending of the original movie. Monsters at Work will see employees at the power plant not scaring children, but rather harvesting their laughter as the energy that fuels the city of Monstropolis.
However, Mike and Sulley are not the protagonists this time around. The series will instead follow Tylor Tuskmon (voiced by Superstore’s Ben Feldman), who is an enthusiastic mechanic working as part of the facilities team, and whose biggest dream is to work alongside Mike and Sulley on the laugh floor.
Monsters at Work will also introduce other new characters. Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) will voice Val Little, Tylor’s closest friend; Henry Winkler (Barry) will play Fritz, the boss; Lucas Neff (Raising Hope) is Duncan, a plumber with ulterior motives; Alanna Ubach (Coco) will voice Cutter, an officious rule follower; Stephen Stanton (Star Wars Resistance) voices Smitty and Needleman, the plant’s incompetent custodial duo; and Aisha Tyler (Archer) plays Tylor’s mom, Millie Tuskmon.
Disney Television Animation is producing the series, which is being developed and executive produced by Disney vet Bobs Gannaway (director of Planes: Fire & Rescue and executive producer of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey Mouse Works), with Ferrell Barron producing. Kat Good and Rob Gibbs will direct. Notably, Gibbs worked in the animation and story department on both the original Monsters, Inc and its sequel, Monsters University, and co-wrote the Oscar-nominated short Mike’s New Car.
Disney+ is expected to launch before the end of 2019. The company’s CEO Bob Iger has previously stated the service will include the studio’s entire motion picture library in addition to new original content, like Monsters at Work.