The announcement of Pixar’s sequel to Inside Out movie is giving the studio a shot at redemption after Lightyear failed to perform at the box office. Both a critical and commercial success, Inside Out is going to save the studio from its loss.
Inside Out never actually needed a sequel, but after two years of pandemic and the unexpected letdown, the studio had to do something. The sequel will eventually pick up Riley’s story after moving to San Francisco. Like the original film, it will tackle important issues such as mental health.
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Disney Sequels Are The Way To Go
The news was revealed at the D23 panel, along with the upcoming Elemental movie and its first television series, Win or Lose. Disney has a lot of projects lined up for the following years, and the animation studio is exploring more ways to tell stories in the most creative yet groundbreaking way.
Sequels in animated films are always case-to-case basis. One has to establish a strong narrative in order to capture and retain the interest of the audience. Disney rarely does sequels, but the two years of pandemic greatly affected its revenue, and some of its works were released on Disney+. Besides, introducing a new original work usually takes a long time to flourish. Some do not even make it past the first movie.
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Here’s Why Pixar’s Inside Out Needs A Sequel
It is absolutely a necessary and genius plan to produce a sequel for Inside Out. The film, despite being a complete story in itself, has the potential for a continuation. Pixar’s Lightyear was a difficult concept to sell, but Inside Out was straight-up for all audiences. It banks on the emotional side of the story which everybody can relate to regardless of age.
The whole point of Inside Out centers on the universal themes of childhood and the pains of growing up. This is the movie’s strongest point, one that resonates across all types of viewers. When Pixar announced the spinoff Lightyear in 2020, they were only relying on the audience’s affinity with the Toy Story franchise.
Now that the sequel is confirmed, fans will get to witness another heartwarming tale from Riley’s point of view. Apparently, some actors from the 2015 movie are not returning. As per Puck News, Amy Poehler will reprise her role as Joy. Sadly, Bill Harder and Mindy Kaling won’t return as Fear and Disgust due to salary issues. Poehler will get $5 million, while the other two actors declined the offer of $100,000 each.
The film is reportedly in early production with Mark Nielsen as the producer, and Pete Docter, Josh Cooley, and Meg LeFauve will write the script. Inside Out 2 is expected to arrive in the summer of 2024.