Inside Out 2 is reportedly in the works at Disney, with the official announcement expected to come sometime during the D23 Expo this weekend. The original Inside Out was well-received in 2015, grossing over $800 million and earning widespread critical acclaim. A Pixar favorite for some, Inside Out follows five anthropomorphic emotions guiding a young girl named Riley, as she moves to a new city. Her emotions go on the journey inside her head to help her deal with the move and growing up.
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Shortly after Inside Out's theatrical release, director Pete Docter stated he had no plans for a sequel, instead opting to work on another original concept (which would turn out to be 2020's Soul). Following the premiere of 2019's Toy Story 4, Pixar as a whole has largely stayed away from franchise fare, with this summer's Lightyear being the studio's lone non-original work during that time. However, it would appear Pixar is gearing up for another sequel, albeit without some key cast members.
As discussed by Puck, Inside Out 2 will reportedly be announced at the D23 Expo but will not have Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader return to their roles as Disgust and Fear, respectively. The two apparently will not be returning due to soured negotiations as Amy Poehler is making $5 million for the movie, but the rest of the cast was only offered $100,000. Disney increased the offer to no avail, appearing to stick to the trend of cheaper voice acting that has appeared recently.
Actors are rightfully wary of underpaid films as Disney’s recent Emmy winner Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers had low payouts for its talent, with some actors only participating in the movie as a favor to director Akiva Schaffer. Disney will likely have to replace Kaling and Hader with other strong voice actors to support Poehler, but it will be hard to do with such a small main cast almost cut in half by Kaling and Hader leaving. It will also be interesting to see if Disney incorporates the voice changes of Disgust and Fear into Riley’s story or play it off as if nothing changed.
With Inside Out releasing in 2015, a sequel has been on the minds of fans for some time already. Despite Pixar focusing on original films, it will be refreshing to get a sequel to one of the newer Pixar movies still fresh in the audience's minds. Although there is uncertainty with Kaling and Hader not returning, the sequel could lend itself to introducing new emotions to bolster Poehler's, and the star-studded cast and strong team at Pixar will likely still make a successful Inside Out 2.