Ellen DeGeneres returns to Hollywood as Dory in new Pixar short film

Ellen DeGeneres returns as Dory in new Pixar short, marking a Hollywood comeback after talk show controversy

Ellen DeGeneres is set to return to Hollywood with a new voice role, reprising her character Dory in an upcoming Pixar short film, according to Deadline.

The project marks her most notable industry comeback since the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022.

According to the report, the untitled short is currently in early development at Pixar and will revisit the popular Finding Nemo universe. DeGeneres originally voiced Dory in both Finding Nemo and its sequel Finding Dory, with the latter becoming a major global box office success.

Her return follows a period of reduced public appearances after allegations regarding a toxic workplace culture led to the conclusion of her long-running talk show. DeGeneres later addressed the controversy in her 2024 Netflix stand-up special, signalling a gradual re-entry into entertainment.

While specific plot details for the Pixar short remain under wraps, the project is expected to centre once again on Dory, one of the franchise’s most recognisable and commercially successful characters. Additional casting announcements have not yet been confirmed.

Industry observers view the role as a significant step in DeGeneres’ professional comeback, particularly within the animation space where her performance as Dory has remained widely praised. The Finding Nemo franchise continues to be one of Pixar’s most successful properties, both critically and commercially.

A release date for the short film has yet to be announced, but the project is already generating attention as a notable moment in DeGeneres’ return to Hollywood.