Why Up fans are heated over new Pixar short 'Carl’s Date'

More than a decade after Up's opening scene left fans teary-eyed with the love story of Carl Fredricksen and his late wife Ellie, Pixar Animation Studios is now giving the widower a second chance at love in upcoming short film, Carl's Date.

The short film finds Carl, voiced once more by the late Ed Asner, "reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend—but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days," the press release notes. Luckily for Carl, his "helpful" furry friend Dug, voiced by Up co-director Bob Peterson, will step in to "calm Carl's pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends—if you're a dog."

The announcement and poster reveal—which sees Carl carrying a bouquet of purple flowers—sparked buzz on the internet, particularly among those who rejected the idea of Carl moving on from Ellie.

"He doesn't need to go on a date. Better just be friends. He would never do Ellie like that," one user wrote, while another added, "Noo no. I won't tolerate this. Ellis was the love of his life."

However, some fans sparked theories that perhaps "Carl's Date" could have an unexpected twist.

"What if the entire short is the build-up to the date," one person suggested, "and it winds up he's just sitting across from a picture of Ellie or something."