After the phenomenal success of Inside Out 2, fans of the film are curious about the possibility of Inside Out 3. The animated franchise began in 2015, personifying the emotions of a young girl named Riley.
The story is told through the perspective of emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, as Riley deals with the problems of her everyday life. Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
So far, Disney and Pixar have not officially announced Inside Out 3. Considering the franchise's popularity and its box office numbers, the possibility does not seem to be a far-fetched thought.
Is there going to be an Inside Out 3?
Though Inside Out 3 hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, there is a high probability of Riley’s story being continued. The major stakeholders of the franchise, from actors to Pixar executives, have expressed their interest in making a third film.
Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter, who directed the first Inside Out, revealed in an interview that the team is already thinking about plot ideas for the third installment. The filmmaker added that they have created a vast world in the form of Riley’s mind, of which only a small portion has been explored in the first two films.
Docter told Fandango:
“So, there’s a lot to explore, a lot of things that we played with in the first movie or the second movie that didn’t work for story reasons — [they] didn’t fit thematically — so we have a lot to play with.”
Amy Poehler, who voiced Joy in the first two installments, is also keen on a third outing. Shortly after Inside Out 2 was released in June 2024, the actress expressed her wish to reprise her role in another installment, and even pitched ideas for the story, stating that it could revolve around Riley’s graduation or romantic interest.
Additionally, Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an interview that he ‘would love’ to see a third film getting made. As the core team is onboard, it might only be a matter of time before Disney and Pixar confirm the development of Inside Out 3.
When could Inside Out 3 release?
As the work on the film hasn’t begun yet, its release date can not be confirmed. The first film came out on June 19, 2015, while the second installment arrived in cinemas nine years later on June 14, 2024.
The reason behind the long gap was that Pixar changed its production strategy around 2019 and decided to focus on more original content rather than sequels. However, with the advent of the pandemic and the uncertainty around the box office, the studio once again shifted focus to franchises for sure-shot success.
Inside Out 2 became the first sequel to be released by Pixar after 2019 and earned over $1.6 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film ever. Looking at the box office numbers and Pixar’s renewed interest in sequels, Inside Out 3 will likely not take as much time to be made as its predecessor.
What might Inside Out 3 be about?
The first film focussed on 11-year-old Riley with core emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The second film introduced complex emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, as Riley entered her teenage years.
The next film is expected to continue the journey of Riley as she feels some new emotions. We have already seen a glimpse of Nostalgia in the previous film, while Jealousy, Guilt, and Shame were omitted from the story to keep the narrative light. Riley may encounter these feelings as she becomes a young adult, which could be the central theme of the third installment.