Jameela Jamil Says ‘Elio’ Is a Reminder Young People Are “Capable of Great Things” While “the World is a Dumpster Fire”

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Pixar’s film titled “Elio” was premiered in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and the team behind it took the ongoing city happenings into consideration as they prepared for the event. This space-themed story follows a young boy with a passion for the cosmos, who gets whisked away for an out-of-this-world journey.

As a passionate admirer, I’m thrilled to highlight that the main character, Elio, marks a historic milestone as Pixar’s inaugural Mexican-Dominican lead character. This announcement couldn’t be more timely, with Los Angeles serving as a focal point for immigration protests and the Latino community facing intense scrutiny from ICE raids.

Madeline Sharafian, one of the directors of the movie alongside Domee Shi, shared with The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet, “I believe many people worldwide might find themselves in Elio’s initial perspective at the start of the film, where he views Earth with a rather gloomy outlook. As he embarks on his space journey and befriends extraterrestrials, Elio starts to see Earth differently, becoming more hopeful by the end. If we can infuse a hint of that optimism into our audience, I think it would be invaluable, especially during these times.

Jameela Jamil, one of the cast members, shared that the upcoming project serves as a beacon of hope, given the current state of chaos in the world. She emphasized the need for young people to remember their potential, as they are often manipulated into feeling powerless by politicians, media, and social media. However, it’s important to recognize that true power lies with the people, and recent events demonstrate this clearly. People are standing up for themselves, and this film encourages young individuals not to wait for fame or recognition but to seize control of their lives and make a difference.

The actress and activist emphasized how eerily relevant the movie is, given its release during these troubled times – it seems crucial, and I believe it’s essential for kids to maintain hope and remember their untapped potential. We should focus less on self-absorption and individualism, and more on fostering community. This message resonates in our current situation as well as in the film.

Yonas Kibreab lends his voice to the character Elio, while Zoe Saldaña voices his aunt. The remaining roles are filled by Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Dylan Gilmer, Jake Getman, Naomi Watanabe, Brendan Hunt, Anissa Borrego, and Shelby Young.

Or simply:

Yonas Kibreab is the voice of Elio, with Zoe Saldaña as his aunt’s voice. The rest of the cast includes Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Dylan Gilmer, Jake Getman, Naomi Watanabe, Brendan Hunt, Anissa Borrego, and Shelby Young.

Saldaña further discussed the movie’s underlying theme, stating that key lessons for children are: “It’s alright to experience pain and it’s okay to seek help; being vulnerable demonstrates immense strength. For adults, not always understanding a child is acceptable, all you need to do is love them. Children understand themselves, our role is simply to love them unconditionally as they develop their own thoughts and paths.

Elio hits theaters June 20.

Anaja Smith contributed to this report.

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2025-06-12 01:54