Inside Out 2 co-writer David Holstein has teased how far Riley’s story could go, and hints at further installments. The smash-hit sequel to the hugely successful 2015 coming-of-age Pixar animation, Inside Out, was released in June 2024 in the United States and follows Riley Anderson’s emotions as she enters high school at the age of 13. Inside Out 2 grossed over $1.69 billion against a production budget of $200 million, becoming a box-office sensation, and led even Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger to claim that he’d love to see a third installment.
In an interview with Screen Rant at the Saturn Awards, Holstein spoke about the potential future direction the franchise could take, and that Riley’s story has so much more to tell. He talked about his hopes for the direction future movies could take, and even suggested a new movie could be made every couple of years, before revealing that he hoped the franchise would follow Riley through motherhood. Check out his comments below:
ScreenRant: A billion dollars later, are you working on Inside Out 3? Where can you take Riley next?
Dave Holstein: 1.7 billion! That’s a great question. I mean, Riley’s only 13 going on 14. There’s a lot of life left to explore. I really hope that this franchise follows her through motherhood.
I really hope that there’s a big story every couple of years that we can tell. There are certainly plenty of good [emotions] I’m sure you can think of, and plenty of the ones that we haven’t thought of yet. Whatever it is we go, it’s going to be great.
There Are A Wealth Of Great Ideas To Choose From
Holstein’s comments suggest that the likelihood of Inside Out 3 coming soon is pretty much a guarantee. The success of the second film, coupled with the established universe, and the broad range of emotions that could be explored means that this is likely to be a franchise that will continue to prove a success. There are bound to be some cool and inventive ideas that the writers have not yet thought up that could enhance and advance Riley’s story.
Things like the first day of work, college, the death of a loved one, falling in love, heartbreak, parenthood, and more are all experiences that could provide ideas and storylines for Riley’s journey…
The first two movies follow her as a young girl and then entering her teenage years, but there are plenty of other emotionally heavy points Inside Out 3 could explore that occur throughout life that could be explored. Things like the first day of work, college, the death of a loved one, falling in love, heartbreak, parenthood, and more are all experiences that could provide ideas and storylines for Riley’s journey, and it will be interesting to see what the franchise produces for the next installment.
Our Verdict On Whether Inside Out 3 Will Happen
It Seems A Question Of When Not If
There was a nine-year gap between Inside Out and Inside Out 2, but there is unlikely to be a similar gap between Inside Out 2 and 3. The success of Inside Out 2 is sure to lead to the development of a third movie at some point soon, and the high school experience is defining enough for a teenager that I wouldn’t be surprised if a third film has Riley in her senior year, trying to decide what to do with her life. One thing is sure, Inside Out looks set to be one of Disney’s most successful long-term franchises.
Inside Out
The Inside Out franchise explores the inner workings of a young girl named Riley Anderson, focusing on her five primary emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—that personify her thoughts and actions. Created by Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen, the franchise is praised for its innovative portrayal of emotions and mental processes. It began with the 2015 film Inside Out, which became a critical and commercial success, leading to sequels, a short film, video games, and theme park attractions.
- Cast
-
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Liza Lapira, Kaitlyn Dias, Richard Kind, Maya Hawke, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Ayo Edebiri
- Character(s)
-
Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment, Envy, Riley Anderson, Bing Bong
Summary
The Inside Out franchise explores the inner workings of a young girl named Riley Anderson, focusing on her five primary emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—that personify her thoughts and actions. Created by Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen, the franchise is praised for its innovative portrayal of emotions and mental processes. It began with the 2015 film Inside Out, which became a critical and commercial success, leading to sequels, a short film, video games, and theme park attractions.