Is It Pure Coincidence That Lead Stars Of Hit NBC Shows Feature In Inside Out?

The upcoming and already highly acclaimed Disney Pixar film Inside Out boasts a pretty impressive cast and it may be because three of the five main characters who star in the movie come from two different hit NBC TV comedy shows. 

Amy Poehler starred as the lead in the recently wrapped Parks & Recreation as the loveable Leslie Knope, while Mindy Kaling and Phyllis Smith both featured in fellow network program, The Office for eight years - and if you keep your ear out, you'll hear Rashida Jones also pop up in Inside Out, who has appeared on both programs.

That, along with the fact that the creators of The Office were also behind Parks & Rec, makes you wonder if it was an intentional move by Pixar.

Speaking to TheMusic, director Pete Docter admitted that it was very interesting how it all played out, though he maintained it was completely unintentional. 

The Oscar-winning director known for his work on beloved Pixar films Monsters Inc and Up revealed that there was a connection between the cast, but it was all thanks to another Inside Out cast member, Bill Hader, who got the ball rolling some years ago.

"Very early on [he] flew himself to Pixar just because he was a nut for Pixar, that’s how we met him," he explained. 

"And he brought us to SNL (Saturday Night Live) to watch and years later, I realised out of the whole cast, except for Lewis Black, they’re all kind of connected in some way to that spark of SNL."

"Phyllis never worked there but her show was run by Mike Schur who was an SNL alum, so it all kind of ripples out from there, its pretty interesting."

Similarly, Poehler was amused upon the realisation and credited Pixar for the brilliant casting choices.

"Pixar makes such great casting choices and I cant even imagine someone other than Phyllis Smith playing [her character] Sadness, she just brings such deep loving, longing to the character," Poehler said. 

While Smith served as one of the more popular ensemble cast members on The Office, Poehler believes she steals the spotlight in Inside Out. 

"She has a gorgeous voice and her character is like the hero of the film!"

Inside Out is released in Aussie cinemas tomorrow — check out the trailer below and while you're there, check out some of the hilarious moments from the two NBC favourites.