Inside Out 2 Director On Pixar’s Sequels And Originals: ‘We’re Always Trying To Find A Balance’

It’s fair to say that Inside Out 2 was a colossal hit. Arriving when Pixar arguably needed a big commercial smash, it didn’t just bring in a studio-best box office number – it became the biggest animated film of all time, earning a cool $1.69 billion in cinemas. How that level of success impacts the studio going forward remains to be seen – fans are always cautious that Pixar’s ratio of sequels doesn’t outweigh the original projects with which the studio made its name.

The announcement of Incredibles 3 at D23 – along with updates on Toy Story 5 – might have Pixar fans wary of what comes next. But there are plenty of original works, too, in the upcoming Elio, Hoppers, and serialised streaming show Win Or Lose. “We’re always trying to find a balance,” Inside Out 2 director Kelsey Mann tells Empire in a major new interview – noting that several projects currently underway at Pixar aren’t yet public knowledge. “I have to think about what you know about... Your number of originals and sequels is different than the number in my head! Because I know everything that we’re doing,” he teases. “But we’re always trying to find the right balance.”

Mann notes, too, that both sequels and non-sequels are subject to the same high internal standards that Pixar holds for itself. “With everything — sequel or not — it’s all about making a great movie,” he says. Whether that means an Inside Out 3 will be on the cards remains to be seen – but given the reception to the second film, there’s certainly an appetite. “People are pretty open. They’re open to doing another film,” Mann says. “They want to make sure that we do it justice. But people are excited for seeing Riley’s life — her whole life. They want to see Riley grow up.” As of yet, though, “we haven’t had any talks. Mainly because the movie came out, and I took a break,” Mann laughs. “But there are so many great ideas that we weren’t able to get into this film, or the original. I really hope those ideas have a home one day.” Stay tuned for any future core memories.

Read Empire’s full Kelsey Mann interview – reflecting on the success of Inside Out 2, the film’s most impactful moments, and what comes next – in the Mickey 17 issue, on sale Thursday 24 October. Order a copy online here. Inside Out 2 is streaming now on Disney+.