Pixar's Inside Out 2 Gets A Teaser Trailer

Pixar could do with a hit. Elemental ended up taking a none-too-shabby $154.4 million in the US and Canada after a historically bad opening weekend. But it feels like it's been a while since they've had an unqualified success. The next film we were scheduled to see from them is the original Elio, but that has been pushed back more than a year to June 2025. Instead, the next Pixar film is one that might seem like more of a sure thing: Inside Out 2.

The sequel to Pete Docter's 2015 film will catch us up with Riley in her teenage years, where she has to deal with new emotions like Anxiety. Existing emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have to learn to cope with the challenges of adolescence,

The first teaser trailer has arrived. At first, it flashes back to the core memories from Riley's childhood- ie it recaps the first film. We then catch up to modern day, where Riley has just turned 13. Inside her head meanwhile, a mysterious construction crew has shown up to prepare headquarters for the arrival of new emotions.

Inside Out 2 is directed by Kelsey Mann and written by Meg LeFauve. Mark Nielsen is the producer. Amy Poehler returns as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness and Lewis Black as Anger. Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader will not be returning as Disgust and Fear respectively. Taking over from them will be Liza Lapira and Tony Hale. Maya Hawke will voice Anxiety. 

Mann says that the arrival of Anxiety is about to shake things up.“Anxiety,. might be new to the crew, but she’s not really the type to take a back seat,” she says. "That makes a lot of sense if you think about it in terms of what goes on inside all our minds.”

Inside Out is considered one of Pixar's best, and a bit of an emotional masterpiece. So the idea of a sequel might be approached by some with trepidation and others with excitement. Certainly, it feels like there's more mileage in the concept- particularly in the idea of exploring those tricky teen years. And with original screenwriter LeFauve returning, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Inside Out 2 is released June 14, 2023.