Tuesday 18 March 2014

Breaking: Pixar Announce The Incredibles 2! And Cars 3...


You've been asking for it since 2004; every time somebody makes an "unmade sequels that need to happen" list, it's there; and now, it's actually bloody happening: Pixar have officially announced that they're making The Incredibles 2! Also on the way - although far less surprising and largely less welcome - is a third Cars film. And no, it's not April 1st.

The sequels were announced by The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger during a shareholders conference call. Little details were provided, but the Internet's excited all the same.

The announcement of a sequel to The Incredibles, just 8 months shy of it turning 10, comes the day after Pixar announced that they will be re-releasing it (and Ratatouille) in 3D. Hopefully this doesn't, however, mean that we can expect a Rata2ille...

Brad Bird at the premiere of The Incredibles almost 10 years ago.

Brad Bird, a director with a golden reputation in Hollywood, who directed the original film, Ratatouille, The Iron Giant and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, will return to write the screenplay for the sequel (via Variety). No word though on whether or not he'll direct the film; Pixar have said before that they would only do a sequel if Bird wanted to, but with him currently directing live-action sci-fi pic Tomorrowland (due May 2015) for Disney, it's possible that directing duties may have to fall to another.

Cars 3 has been strongly suspected since Michael Wallis (the voice of Sheriff) let the cat out of the bag back in October. Given that his words proved right about the existence of the film, we can assume that what he said about its contents is valid too; "we're coming back to the road [with Cars 3]," he said, which would strongly suggest there's no more spy stuff in the vehicular threequel. Expect more in common with the first film than the second.

A still from the new Cars short film, The Radiator Springs 500 1/2.

The announcement of a third Cars film closely follows the announcement of a new series of short films (called Tales From Radiator Springs) set in the world, which will reunite much of the original cast (including Owen Wilson). Both those and this new film would seem to be refocusing back onto Lightning McQueen, after Cars 2 and the Cars Toons short films put a bit too much attention onto Mater.

While I can't say I'm overly excited for Cars 3 (nor really upset, just indifferent), I know that there are millions of kids who disagree with me. Undoubtedly the monetary gain is a big factor in the sequel's existence (while neither Cars nor Cars 2 were massive grossers for Pixar at the box-office, the franchise has made billions in ancillary merchandise - including toys, a dedicated theme park, spin-off movies, short films and more), but if that's the price we have to pay for an Incredibles sequel, so be it.


This is in fitting with Pixar president Ed Catmull's statement that Pixar would release a sequel - roughly - "every other year." Before the "Pixar only make sequels now!" horde gets up in arms, remember that a significant portion of the studio's upcoming slate are original films; their next two films are Pete Docter's Inside Out (due 19th June, 2015) and the currently-directorless The Good Dinosaur (25th November, 2015), with Finding Nemo sequel Finding Dory (which voice actor Willem Defoe assures is "even better than the first") coming on 17th June, 2016. Then we have Lee Unkrich's Day of the Dead film (currently dateless), and three unclaimed release dates (two in 2017, one in 2018); presumably The Incredibles 2 and Cars 3 will fill some of those spots.

But, seriously, The Incredibles 2... Now, that is totally wicked.


Thoughts? Excited about The Incredibles 2? Of course you are. But will you see Cars 3?

10 comments:

  1. Cartoon Watcher18 March 2014 at 21:30

    Can't they just make something new.....gawd!

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  2. Considering how much I love the Incredibles I am a bit hesitant about junping fully in board. If Brad Bird was announced as director I would upgrade myself to excited so hopefully that happens.

    Cars 3 was always going to happen and I would love it if it blew the other two movies out of the water. So fingers crossed on that.

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  3. Munir Abedrabbo19 March 2014 at 01:49

    Brad Bird is working on the story so chances are he's directing it as well.

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  4. True but what about 1906. I'm sure if that got the green light he'd choose that over Incredibles 2. I'm hoping he does both as Bird is definitely one of my top favourite filmmakers.

    Guess I'll he following his twitter account more closely from now on haha I'm really excited about this.

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  5. Kotomi Ichinose19 March 2014 at 03:47

    I'm indifferent on Cars 3, but a sequel to the Incredibles? Heck yes. I loved the original Incredibles and I have high hopes for a second. If I recall correctly, Bird said he wanted to wait until he had a really great idea for a sequel before he created one. And since it appears that he is back to help with the second movie, I think it's safe to say that this is not going to be a dime-a-dozen mediocre sequel, but a new and exciting adventure with the Parrs worthy of the silver screen.

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  6. As Munir said, Brad is apparently very involved in the film. So even if he's not directing (which he may well not be, he's a busy dude), then whoever is directing is still likely to have a lot of input from him!

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  7. Like Inside Out or The Good Dinosaur, you mean? Or that Day of the Dead film Lee Unkrich is directing? Or the original films that Teddy Newton and Mark Andrews are both working on?
    Pixar have a lot of original films coming, they just - understandably - haven't gathered quite as much attention as sequels to some of the studio's most popular films have yet! :)

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  8. I think that would happen too and Pixar has a good track record with sequels being helmed by other directors. I'm just such a huge Brad Bird fan that I want him to direct any movie possible. I'm sure we'll hear more once post-production is wrapped on Tomorrowland.

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  9. Well now that's fair enough! More Brad Bird films is what the world needs.

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  10. Cartoon Watcher5 April 2014 at 01:18

    Fair enough! ;-)
    I'm not opposed to sequels really...I just love when Pixar introduces something new to the world its usually pretty amazing!

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