Hey movie fans get ready to celebrate! Big news just dropped from Disney and Pixar : Coco 2 is officially happening! Yep you heard that right we are heading back to the vibrant and emotional Land of the Dead for another adventure with Miguel and his family. It's been a while since the first movie warmed our hearts but it sounds like Pixar is ready to make us cry happy tears all over again.
Mark Your Calendars (Way Ahead!): Coco 2 Set for 2029 Theatrical Release
Disney CEO Bob Iger himself made the big announcement during the company's annual shareholder meeting. While we are still pretty far out Iger confirmed that Coco 2 is slated for a theatrical release in 2029 . That's a bit of a wait we know but good things come to those who wait right? According to Iger the movie is still in the early stages of development. But he did promise it will be "full of Humor Heart and Adventure." Sounds like classic Pixar goodness.
Unfortunately plot details are still top secret. We don't know exactly what Miguel and his family will be up to this time around but considering how amazing the first movie was we have got high hopes!
Dream Team Returns: Original Coco Director and Co-Director Back for Sequel
Here's some more exciting news for Coco fans: the team behind the original movie is coming back for Coco 2! Lee Unkrich who directed the first film (and also Toy Story 3) is returning to direct the sequel. Adrian Molina who was the co-director on Coco is also back in the co-director's chair. And Oscar-winning producer Mark Nielsen known for Toy Story 4 and Inside Out 2 will be producing. Bringing back this talented crew definitely bodes well for the sequel!
Relive the Magic: A Quick Trip Back to the Original Coco and Why We Love It
In case you need a refresher let's remember what made the first Coco movie so special . Released in 2017 Coco was a massive hit both with critics and at the box office. It even snagged two Oscars including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the unforgettable "Remember Me". The movie made over $800 million worldwide - pretty amazing!
Coco introduced us to Miguel a 12-year-old boy in Mexico who dreams of being a musician. There is just one problem: his family has a generations-old ban on music! On Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead on an incredible journey to uncover his family history and understand why music is forbidden. Along the way he meets his ancestors like his great-great-grandmother Imelda and great-great-grandfather Héctor and learns some amazing family secrets.
Pixar's Sequel Success: Following the Trend of Beloved Follow-Ups
Pixar has been on a bit of a sequel roll lately and with good reason. Think about the massive success of Inside Out 2 in 2024 and Incredibles 2 back in 2018. Incredibles 2 was actually the highest-grossing animated movie ever for a while raking in $1.24 billion until Inside Out 2 came along and topped it with a staggering $1.66 billion last summer! Sequels to beloved Pixar movies are clearly a winning formula. On the other hand original movies like Elemental and spin-offs like Lightyear haven't always performed as well commercially compared to Pixar's past hits. So it makes sense they are revisiting familiar and loved stories like Coco.
What to Expect from Coco 2? "Humor Heart and Adventure" Teased by Disney
While we don't have specific plot details yet Disney's announcement gives us a little hint. They say Coco 2 will be "full of Humor Heart and Adventure". That sounds just like the first movie which balanced funny moments with deeply emotional scenes and a really exciting story. We can probably expect another visually stunning journey into the Land of the Dead maybe with some new characters and musical numbers alongside our favorites from the Rivera family .
Director Lee Unkrich has even teased that if they were to do a sequel it should feel like a "natural extension" of the first film and not just an "add-on". He wants it to be a story that makes us think "Oh oh my God we never knew that we needed this other part of the story". That sounds pretty exciting doesn't it?
Coco 2: Key Things We Know So Far
- Official Confirmation: Disney and Pixar have officially announced Coco 2 is in development.
- Theatrical Release: The movie is planned for release in theaters in 2029.
- Returning Team: Lee Unkrich will direct Adrian Molina will co-direct and Mark Nielsen will produce all from the original Coco.
- "Humor Heart and Adventure": Disney CEO Bob Iger teases the sequel will have these elements similar to the first film.
- Sequel to a Smash Hit: Coco 2 follows the hugely successful and Oscar-winning 2017 film Coco.
- Land of the Dead Return: Expect to journey back to the vibrant and fascinating Land of the Dead.
- Early Development: The movie is still in its initial stages so details are still emerging.
Get Ready to Feel the Feels Again: Coco 2 is on the Horizon!
So there you have it Coco fans! Coco 2 is really happening! It is going to be a bit of a wait until 2029 but it gives us plenty of time to re-watch the original fall in love with Miguel and Héctor all over again and get ready for a brand new adventure in the Land of the Dead. What are you hoping to see in Coco 2? Let us know in the comments below!