In what can only be called delightful news for fans of animated movies, DreamWorks’ latest sci-fi adventure has officially been greenlit for a sequel. Director Chris Sanders confirmed the exciting news that The Wild Robot is getting another movie at Deadline Contenders, stating “100% yes there are absolutely plans for a second one.” The update comes as a welcome development for the project, which charmed both critics and audiences upon its theatrical release on September 27, and is now heading to VOD on October 18.
“100% yes there are absolutely plans for a second one.”
Inspired by Peter Brown’s award-winning children’s novel of the same name, The Wild Robot tells the story of a robot, ROZZUM, nicknamed “Roz,” as she finds herself shipwrecked on a remote island. She is forced to navigate the new surroundings, adapt to the wilderness, and try to become friends with the island’s natives. Roz also develops a maternal bond with an orphan gosling and names him Brightbill. Praised for its exploration of themes of friendship and survival, The Wild Robot features an incredibly talented voice cast, which includes Lupita Nyong’o as Roz and Kit Connor as Brightbill alongside Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill, Catherine O’Hara, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames.
Long before it was officially confirmed, director Chris Sanders had hinted that Roz’s journey was far from over, and he’d love to stick around to explore more of her perspective with the team he’s built. During a chat with NBC Insider, he was asked about the possibility of returning for a sequel, to which he responded by saying:
“I would very much like to. I think the entire crew really, really involved themselves in this film in a way that I’ve never seen before, myself included. This was a labor of love on the part of everybody at the studio, and yes, I think I’d love to go and stay here for a while.”
The Wild Robot Continues DreamWorks Animation’s Streak Of Box Office Hits
Over the past couple of decades, DreamWorks Animation has built a reputation for itself by drawing inspiration from beloved children’s novels and remodeling them into box office successes. The cutting-edge animation used to bring the vivid worlds to life continues to fascinate fans across the globe. The Wild Robot, for instance, uses a hand-painted aesthetic, which is inspired by both classic Disney movies and the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
Commercially, the studio has spawned highly profitable franchises in the past. Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Croods, which were, in fact, all directed by Chris Sanders, not only garnered significant commercial buzz, with them grossing $273 million, $494 million, and $587 million, respectively, but also made room for a sequel. Sanders did not direct those sequels, but his vision is currently set on making The Wild Robot a continued success.
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Speaking of which, The Wild Robot has followed in the footsteps of its predecessors and is delivering strong box office numbers already. In its opening weekend, the movie recouped half of its production budget, grossing $35 million against $78 million. As of October 11, it has grossed a total of $148.5 million. Even on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is stirring up a storm by generating a Certified Fresh rating of 98% from 178 reviews.
Looking ahead, there are two more books in Robert Brown’s trilogy for Sanders to adapt from. Both The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects could provide ample source material to style the movie into an emotionally satisfying and equally adventurous continuation of Roz’s journey as she evolves and faces new challenges. With Sanders serving as director, the sequel will definitely be just as good.
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
- Release Date
- September 27, 2024
