‘Finding Nemo’ sequel ‘Finding Dory,’ voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, to be released in 2015, Disney-Pixar says

A sequel to hit film "Finding Nemo" — "Finding Dory," with voiceovers by Ellen DeGeneres, — will be released in 2015, Disney-Pixar has announced.

According to the Associated Press, DeGeneres, who has just returned to the US from a trip to Australia with wife Portia DeRossi, said:

"I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time. I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating Toy Story 16. But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny and the best part is — it’s got a lot more Dory."

"Finding Nemo" was released in 2003 and took in $921 million worldwide. 

It was the first Pixar production to win the Academy Award for best animated feature after the category was introduced in 2001.

DeGeneres voices the forgetful Blue Tang fish from the original film.

Andrew Stanton — who co-directed 2003's "Finding Nemo" with Lee Unkrich, and also directed Wall-E — will direct the sequel, Reuters reported.

He said the film would center on Dory reuniting with her "loved ones," much like the family-focused plot of "Nemo," and added:

"There is no Dory without Ellen. She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world – not to mention our team here at Pixar."

"Finding Dory" is set to hit theaters Nov. 25.