Pixar's latest sci-fi comedy, Hoppers, has been wowing audiences since its March premiere, but the version that hit theaters almost began on a very different note. Now, with the home release on the horizon, Disney has shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a deleted cold open that would have kicked off the bonkers adventure with a robot beaver trying to pass as the real deal.
Directed by We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong, Hoppers follows Mabel (Piper Curda), a compassionate college student who gets her consciousness transferred into a robotic beaver as part of the "Hoppers" program. The film has become one of Pixar's highest-rated recent outings, praised for its wild humor and heartfelt environmental message. But as Chong reveals in a new sneak peek, the original opening was a riotous scene that leaned heavily into nature documentary parody.
A Cold Open That Almost Was
In the deleted cold open, viewers would have seen a robot beaver attempting to blend in with a group of real beavers working on a dam. The scene, presented in rough animatic form, shows the mechanical mammal struggling to mimic natural beaver behavior, leading to a series of hilarious mishaps. Chong and editor Axel Geddes explain in the exclusive footage that the idea was to evoke the feel of nature documentaries that use animatronic creatures to observe wildlife up close. However, the team ultimately decided to cut it in favor of getting to Mabel's story and her love for animals right away.
"We wanted to build that emotional connection with Mabel from the start," Chong says in the behind-the-scenes clip. "The cold open was funny, but it didn't serve the character journey we needed." The deleted scene is just one of many extras packed into the home release, which includes five other cut scenes introduced by Chong and Geddes, a making-of documentary, a breakdown of King George's Superlodge, a blooper reel, and an exploration of Beaverton filled with Easter eggs and behind-the-scenes facts.
Home Release Details
Hoppers will hop onto digital platforms on April 28, followed by a physical release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and a limited-edition steelbook on June 2. Fans can also look forward to "The Critter Diaries," a featurette following Chong and the Pixar team on a research trip to Yellowstone National Park, which inspired the film's colorful animal characters.
The film's voice cast is stacked with talent, including Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan as King George, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sam Richardson, Dave Franco, Demetri Martin, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Najimy. The story, penned by Chong and Jesse Andrews, follows Mabel as she uses the Hoppers program to communicate with animals and rally them to save their glade from being paved over for a freeway. What starts as a mission to befriend beavers and bears soon snowballs into a full-blown rebellion.
For fans of Pixar's adventurous side, this release is a must-have. If you're craving more animated thrills, check out our ranking of the Toy Story saga to see where Hoppers might fit among the studio's classics. And for those who love behind-the-scenes content, the Hoppers home release delivers plenty of insights into the creative process.
Don't miss your chance to see what could have been — and to enjoy the final cut that made it to screens. Hoppers arrives on digital April 28 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD June 2.
