Russell's appearance is apparently based off that of Peter Sohn's when he was young. Russell's parents are separated (as stated in the Russell: Wilderness Explorer documentary on the Up Blu-ray release). Russell is revealed to have a talent for making campfires on his badge but he doesn't know how to put up a tent.
Ed Asner as Carl Fredricksen, an elderly widower and retired balloon salesman. Docter and Rivera noted Asner's television alter ego, Lou Grant, had been helpful in writing for Carl because it guided them in balancing likable and unlikable aspects of the curmudgeonly character.
Carl Fredricksen is the protagonist of Disney•Pixar's 2009 animated feature film, Up. He is an old and cranky retired helium balloon salesman, and the widower of Ellie Fredricksen. He is voiced by the late Edward Asner. Edward Asner also reprised the role in Dug Days and Carl's Date.
Their marriage is a happy and loving one, and they looked forward to starting a family together. Unfortunately, Ellie suffers a miscarriage and learns that she is now infertile.
The real Up house, which is believed to be the inspiration behind the Pixar movie belonged to Edith Macefield and was called Whitewood Cottage. Macefield bought Whitewood Cottage for her mother in 1952 and lived with her there.
Director Pete Docter himself confirmed that Muntz is 23 years old at the start of the film while Carl is 9. In the present day, Muntz is therefore 92 years old while Carl is 78; an age gap of 14 years.
The replica Up house is located in Abiquiu, New Mexico and it actually has 8,000 balloons and also floats in the air '50 feet above the ground'. Although, not quite relying on balloon power, but from a crane, sorry to spoil the magic slightly.
Up plot summary from IMDB: By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years younger, inadvertently becomes a stowaway.
She only appears at the end of the film during the Wilderness Explorer ceremony with Dug, celebrating on Russell getting his "Assisting the Elderly" Wilderness merit badge. She had a husband, but they were divorced.
Trivia. Even though Kevin's a female, her appearance is based on the male Himalayan Monal pheasant. Many sources, including Peter Docter's study guide to Up and even the movie, say that Kevin's species is the mythical "Snipe", a fictional bird created to send foolish people on wild goose chases.
During one cloud-watching session, Carl points out a cloud that looks like a baby. Inspired, they decide to conceive a child and prepare a nursery, but as the music slows, the two learn at the doctor's office that Ellie suffered a miscarriage and they are unable to have children, leaving them devastated.
Paradise Falls is a location in the 2009 Disney/Pixar animated feature film, Up. Paradise Falls is based on the real-life Angel Falls, located in Venezuela, South America (where it's also known as Salto Ángel in Spanish).
The 2009 Pixar movie famously opens with an emotional sequence of events, as Carl Fredricksen's life with his soulmate Ellie is documented. However, heartbreak hits them, as first Ellie is declared infertile, and increasing needs mean that they have to spend their savings for their dream trip to Paradise Falls.
This is because audiences are welcomed to experience this loving and treasured relationship from start to finish, seeing all the highs and lows, only to join Carl in his heartbreak and grief. Director Pete Docter shared that exposition in this opening was essential and valued by the writers and animators.
Carl and Ellie wanted to have kids but couldn't, which was a big emotional hit for Ellie, but they eventually moved on. Sadly, as Carl got tickets for them to travel to Paradise Falls, Ellie fell sick and passed away, leaving Carl heartbroken and alone.
Carl is the second oldest main character of a Pixar film, the oldest being WALL•E, as he has been "alive" for more than 700 years (the movie WALL•E takes place in 2805, and Up takes place in 2009 the year it was released).
Something we never learn about 8-year-old Russell is where his dad is—we're told that he has a girlfriend named Phyllis, and it is strongly implied that there's been a divorce or separation, and Russell sees far less of his father than he'd like to.
Russell's parents are divorced (as stated in the Russell: Wilderness Explorer documentary on the Up Blu-ray release) and his father has a new girlfriend named Phyllis whom Russell doesn't like. Russell is revealed to have a talent for making campfires on his badge, but he doesn't know how to put up a tent.
In early 2018 Peele announced his intention to retire from acting, stating in an interview with CBS "Acting is just nowhere near as fun for me as directing". In 2018, Peele co-created the TBS comedy series The Last O.G., starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish.
