Will Inside Out 3 happen?

Pixar's Inside Out 2 is available to watch at home now after a record-breaking run at the box office. But will it be followed by Inside Out 3?

The film, which is set inside the mind of a teenage girl, soared past Frozen II to become the highest-grossing animated movie ever. It won widespread praise for its handling of mental health issues, racking up a critics' 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The frenzy around the sequel has sparked speculation that a third movie could follow. Here's everything we know so far.

Will Inside Out 3 happen?

It's still too early to know if Inside Out 3 will happen. At the moment, we know about two other upcoming sequels on the studio's slate – Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3 – plus two original films, Elio and Hoppers.

The critical and financial success of Inside Out 2 could lead the studio to announce a third movie, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Why is Pixar making more sequels?

Inside Out 2 is notable for being Pixar's first sequel in five years.

After the release of 2019's Toy Story 4, the studio changed its strategy to focus on original films, such as Soul, Luca and Elemental. But in the wake of the COVID pandemic and falling box-office numbers, the animation giant has returned to money-spinning franchises like Toy Story.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company is "now swinging back a bit to lean on sequels" because "there's a lot of value" in existing franchises.

This could bode well for Inside Out fans who hope to see more of Riley, the protagonist, as she navigates high school and adolescence. What's more, the ending of the latest film left the door open to another instalment.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that Inside Out 2 came out nine years after the original movie, so cinema-goers could face a long wait for another outing.

What has Amy Poehler said about Inside Out 3?

Amy Poehler, who voices Joy, has said she is keen to return for further outings.

In an exclusive interview with Yahoo UK, she said it "would be amazing to keep following" Riley and her emotions in Inside Out 3 and beyond.

She said: "Maybe it could be as simple as we meet Riley when she's graduating high school. Or she's having her first experience of romantic love. I mean, anything I can think of Pixar would think of a much better, more creative version."

Meanwhile, she told Empire that Pixar "should make these films like Seven Up, every couple of years in Riley's life", featuring "distinct new emotions that are showing up all the time."

What has Kelsey Mann said about Inside Out 3?

Kelsey Mann, who directed the sequel, already has "a whole stockpile of ideas" which could be used for Inside Out 3.

He told USA Today: "They're too good, they're too funny, they're too interesting for them not to be tapped into. So I have no idea where the future will go, [but] it should continue because I think it's something that the audience really wants."

Speaking about how fans have embraced the franchise, he added: "There's something about the Inside Out world where it's met with open arms. Everybody's like, 'What age is she? I can't wait to hear where she is in her life'."

One idea that could be explored is Procrastination Land, a gag that was meant to feature in Inside Out 2 but ended up on the cutting room floor.

He told ComicBook: "It was a land which had a big sign that said 'Procrastination Land' and then it said 'Coming Soon.' And Anger was like, 'When are they gonna start building that place? It just keeps sitting there! They haven't made any movement on it'.

"We had trouble figuring out why in this particular story, but it's such a funny idea... I'm like, 'This has to be used somehow in the future'."

Who could join the cast of Inside Out 3?

Inside Out 2 added a string of new stars to the cast, including Stranger Things' Maya Hawke and The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, as it tackled new emotions such as Anxiety and Envy.

It's unclear which actors would reprise their roles in a third film. However, it's likely that further emotions could be added as Riley enters the next stage of her life. Guilt, Jealousy and Shame were all cut from Inside Out 2, the latter because it would have made the film "too dark".

Will there be an Inside Out TV series?

Yes, Pixar has confirmed that an Inside Out spin-off TV series is coming soon. The show, titled Dream Productions, will arrive on streaming service Disney+ in spring 2025.

Pixar boss Pete Docter, who directed the original Inside Out, has called it "unique and bold, unlike anything we’ve done before".

He told Entertainment Weekly: "In the first film, remember we go to Dream Production to see how Riley's dreams are made? It semi-explains why they're so weird.

"We've continued the exploration of the power of dreams and how they affect us in our waking life, as well. So it's pretty cool."

The only other Pixar films to have spawned spin-off shows are Toy Story and 2001's Monsters, Inc.

Inside Out 2 is available to buy or rent on digital download.