Pixar boss finally explains the controversial decision to cut the queer storyline from Elio - Queerty

"Buoyed by the huge success of movies such as Finding Dory, Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4 in the late 2010s, the WSJ article suggests Docter felt in a position to take some risks. He encouraged directors to make movies that were based on their autobiographical experiences."

"When Lightyear hit theaters in 2022, complete with a same-sex couple of moms, it performed poorly at the box office. And then there was Elio. Original director Adrian Molina based the character on his own childhood experiences. When a test screening drew a lacklustre response, Pixar cut the segments about Elio being different from other boys."

Pixar, owned by Disney, has historically created successful franchises like Toy Story and The Incredibles, but over the past decade has relied more on sequels than original content. The last original film to achieve major box office success was Coco in 2017. Recent original titles including Soul, Lightyear, Elemental, and Turning Red struggled financially. Chief Creative Officer Peter Docter, who has been with Pixar for 36 years, encouraged directors to create autobiographical films. However, when Lightyear featured a same-sex couple and performed poorly, and when Elio's test screening received lukewarm response, Pixar removed scenes suggesting the young protagonist was queer, disappointing LGBTQ+ audiences and some creative staff.

Read at Queerty