The Director of 'Hoppers' Was Sure He’d Have to Cut Its Most Shocking Moment

Pixar’s latest film, Hoppers, is now in theaters, and it’s excellent. Truly. It’s funny, surprising, heartfelt, and everything you’d want in a Pixar movie or any movie for that matter. Nowhere is that better seen than in a specific, semi-spoilery moment early in the film. The moment was so shocking, so out of place, so ballsy, that the film’s director, Daniel Chong, was sure they’d have to cut it. This was a Disney movie, after all. In fact, he even came up with a simpler, less shocking version, fully expecting he’d have to replace it. But that didn’t happen. (Minor spoilers for Hoppers below.) The moment in question, which is also the moment I chose to vaguely reference in my review, is when the Insect Queen, voiced by none other than Meryl Freaking Streep, is flying past our main character, Mabel. Mabel, who is a human in a beaver body, feels the queen fly by her and quickly, instinctively squishes her between her hands. It’s violent, it’s sudden, and it’s hilarious. It’s also a crucial moment in the film because the Queen’s death sets up the role of her son, Titus, voiced by Dave Franco. Speaking to Slashfilm, Chong explained that while he loved the scene, he was ready to let th