Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter guided the audience through some of next summer’s release offering some casting announcements, concept imagery, and details. Pixar films has previously posed a bunch of “What if” questions and for this film Docter posed several: “Why am I here, where did I come from, what am I here for?” That is the premise upon which Pixar is diving into this new world.

The film journeys from the streets of New York City to the never-before-seen cosmic realms and “The You Seminar,” a fantastical place where we all discover our unique personalities. It’s the place where we are molded and turned into the unique beings that we are.

Producer Dana Murray, co-director/writer Kemp Powers and writer Mike Jones joined Docter on stage to set up the film and provide a sneak peek. We are introduced to Joe Garder, a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. His mostly mediocre life is punctuated by the fact that he’s a fantastic musician and his one big goal in life is to play at the Half Note. On his journey, he’ll meet 22, a soul-in-training, and accidentally finds his way to the “You Seminar.” Together, the two are going to find a way to get Joe back to Earth, making him think again about what it truly means to have soul.

Cast announcements included Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey as Joe and 22 respectively plus Ahmir Questlove Thompson (as drummer Curly), Phylicia Rashad (Joe’s mother), and Daveed Diggs as additional supporting cast.

Filmmakers also revealed that globally renowned musician Jon Batiste will be writing original jazz music for the film, and Oscar®-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (“The Social Network”), from Nine Inch Nails, will compose an original score that will drift between the real and soul worlds. Now maybe Captain Marvel’s NIN shirt earlier this year isn’t quite so randomly placed, eh?

SOUL bares itself in theaters on June 19, 2020.