Closing out CinemaCon, the 100-year-old Walt Disney Studios put on a presentation spotlighting highly anticipated titles from its animation and film brands. Anchoring the event was the debut of the first 35 minutes of Inside Out 2, which opens in theaters June 14.
Voice star Amy Poehler, who returns as Joy for the sequel, described the upcoming film as “a new story that captures the beauty and hilarity of the emotions we experience on a daily basis.
The footage shows newly minted teen Riley, happily looking forward to hockey camp. The emotions we met in the first Oscar-winning Inside Out (2015) are re-introduced: Joy, Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale, replacing Bill Hader) and Disgust (Liza Lapira, replacing Mindy Kaling). But that night, a blaring puberty alarm goes off, a construction crew sets up a new emotions console and Riley will have to find her footing again as a new troop of personified feelings — Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) and Nostalgia (June Squibb) — battle for control of her brain, trapping the original five in a jar of suppressed emotions (including a 2D-animated Denial).
Kelsey Mann (story supervisor, Onward, The Good Dinosaur) makes his feature directorial debut with Inside Out 2, which is penned by Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve, who co-wrote the first movie with director Pete Docter.
Watch the previously released trailer here.
The showcase also reaffirmed reported sequels across animation and live-action brands, including Toy Story, Frozen, 20th Century’s Avatar, Marvel’s Avengers and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars. Attendees also got to peek at Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Deadpool and Wolverine, Alien: Romulus and The Lion King follow up, Mufasa, intro’d by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk).
And closing out the presentation, another highly anticipated sequel was celebrated: Moana 2. A troop of Polynesian dancers and drummers from the Tiana Liufau’s Nonsasina (Liufau is the choreographer for the Moana films) took the stage, accompanied by Dwayne Johnson (voice of Maui). In a touching surprise, the pro-wrestler turned actor and producer was presented on stage with NATO’s Spirit of the Industry Award.
Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by Dave Derrick Jr., co-directed by Jason Hand and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the sequel features music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.
Upcoming Disney & Pixar Animated Features:
- Inside Out 2 — June 14, 2024 (Pixar)
- Moana 2 — November 27, 2024 (Disney)
- Elio — June 13, 2025 (Pixar)
- Zootopia 2 — November 26, 2025 (Disney)
- Toy Story 5 — June 19, 2026 (Pixar)
- Frozen 3 — in development (Disney)
[Sources: Variety, Cinemablend]
