As The Wild Robot approaches release in the UK, writer and director Chris Sanders confirms that a sequel is already in development.
Chris Sanders created the character of blue alien Stitch in 1985 while working at Walt Disney animation, and finally used the character in 2002’s Lilo And Stitch, which he co-wrote and co-directed with Dean Dubois. The duo went on to co-write and co-direct 2010’s How To Train Your Dragon, which led to an extremely successful franchise, though Sanders left after the first one and Dubois wrote and directed alone. The live action adaptation is due to be released in 2025.
After a brief foray into live action himself with 2020’s The Call Of The Wild, Sanders most recent film is The Wild Robot. The synopsis reads as follows:
From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation – Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot. The epic sci-fi adventure story follows the journey of a robot – ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short – that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
Lupita Nyong’o stars as Roz alongside Pedro Pascal as fox Fink; Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy as goose Longneck, Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill and Stephanie Hsu as Vontra, another robot. The voice cast also includes Mark Hamill, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames.
Sanders wrote and directed the film, which has been a huge success so far, grossing over $100 million globally. According to Deadline, a sequel is already in development at Dreamworks. Sanders said, “100% yes there are absolutely plans for a second one”.
The Wild Robot is released in UK cinemas on the 18th October.
Watch the trailer below:
