Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx headlines the A-list voice cast of the new Pixar animated movie, Soul. It's the first Pixar film to feature an African-American protagonist. Foxx spoke candidly about how his soul has been during 2020.
Five Things You Need to Know:
- The film stars the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs, and Angela Bassett. Originally intended to be a theatrical release, it will be digitally released on Disney+ and theatrically in international territories on December 25, 2020. Foxx said, "We’re going through the most challenging time in our life, not just Americans, but humanity and I think this movie needs to come along. It needs to come along to give us a reason to escape, a way to connect without family, it’s been a tough time, but I’m encouraged, I’m encouraged that this movie being the first African American lead, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes."
- The story revolves around a middle school music teacher who longs to play jazz on stage, but lost his passion for music and is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself.
- The filmmakers animated the souls featured in the film in a "vaporous," "ethereal," and "non physical" way, having based their designs on definitions about souls given to them by various religious and cultural representatives.
- Everyone's 2020 has been challenging. Foxx lost his younger sister this year, which has made it personal for him. But he is encouraged, saying "You can’t be a Black man in America and not be optimistic, you got to be. If you want to be successful you got to have optimism. You have to have a couple of things, you have to have clarity, you have to have realism but you have to have that optimism. I’m an optimistic, I am a glass spilling over type of guy."
- In the film, his character is frustrated with his work and how life has dealt him setbacks. When we asked Foxx what other profession would he pick if he didn't become an actor, we were surprised with the choice. "I would have been a social worker, politician, helping, helping my fellow American brothers sisters out," he said.