USA TODAY International Edition
Jack-Jack’s ‘Incredibles’ runway splash
Deleted scene shows Edna in her element
This fall, the hottest fashion event in town is the one where Jack-Jack Parr glitter-bombs Edna Mode’s glitzy runway show. It’s a fashion-must, since the scene was cut from “Incredibles 2” before the Pixar hit wowed in theaters in June. But it can be seen now exclusively at usatoday.com, in conjunction with the home release of “Incredibles 2” (arrives next Tuesday on digital HD platforms, Nov. 6 on DVD/Blu-ray). Not only does the deleted scene depict the legendary Edna, famed for her superhero costume creations, overseeing the unveiling of her fashion line (no capes, naturally), it also features beloved baby Jack-Jack crashing the gala proceedings, wowed by a glittery supermodel on the catwalk. “I wanted to show Edna in her fashion world. This is how she pays the bills,” says writer/director Brad Bird, who brought Edna to life, first voicing her in 2004’s “Incredibles.” “Superheroes are illegal; Edna doesn’t get to design for them much. She doesn’t love fashion work the way she loves superhero stuff. But she likes it and she’s very good at it.” The scene features Bob Parr (aka Mr. Incredible, voiced by Craig T. Nelson) at his wit’s end caring for Jack-Jack, while Helen Parr (Mrs. Incredible, voiced by Holly Hunter) is out fighting superheroes. Bob breaks into the fashion show to seek help from Edna, who is unruffled as she makes last-second decisions before the show starts. Parr explains that Jack-Jack is displaying uncontrollable superpowers. The baby proves it by slipping away and bolting for the runway to get at all the glitter. Even with the ensuing destruction, Edna’s show gets a standing ovation (and Glitter Baby is very in demand). After storyboarding and voicing the scene, Bird felt it wasn’t coming together the way he had hoped. “We didn’t hit it. But it’s entertaining,” he says, noting that Pixar shaved a year off the schedule of the much-anticipated movie to bring it out in June. Decisions had to be made speedily. “We had to bail pretty quickly, chuck it and tell the story we’re going to tell.” Instead, Bird used a scene in which Parr approaches Edna at home for suggestions on how to manage a superbaby. “She’s initially reticent, but then she becomes Jack-Jack’s most fervent supporter. That was a much a better thing to do with those characters,” Bird says. In the final film, “Auntie Edna” appears the next morning with a completely under-control superhero baby Jack-Jack. Edna and Jack-Jack’s evening together, which isn’t seen in “Incredibles 2,” is shown in an upcoming short film that also is part of the home release. “Edna’s got a very steep learning curve with Jack-Jack. She doesn’t know the extent of his powers, but she doesn’t really need to,” says Bird. “Edna’s about as cool a customer as you can get for dealing with a baby with superpowers.” Edna is so cool that she’s one of the most popular “Incredibles” characters, beloved for her unflagging competence. “She has zero doubts about herself. And it’s the kind of confidence everyone wishes they had. For me, Edna is me at my most confident,” Bird says. “I’m only like that in moments.”