Pixar's highly-imaginative exploration of emotions, Inside Out, earned a sequel in 2024, but will the franchise continue in Inside Out 3? Released in 2015 and directed by Kelsey Mann, Inside Out takes place in the mind of a young girl named Riley who is dealing with a complex emotional shift when her family relocates. Her emotions exist as personified versions of themselves within her mind, and their leader, Joy, is tasked with putting Riley's internal world back in order. With its clever mix of heart and heady exploration of its ideas, Inside Out took the Pixar formula to another level.

After nearly a decade, Inside Out 2 finally arrived in 2024 and introduced an entirely new set of emotions that clash with the likes of Joy, Anger, and Sadness. As Riley grows into a pre-teen, her dominant emotion becomes Anxiety, and the entire emotional gamut must learn to work together to help their young charge become a full-fledged personality. With the film poised to become another Pixar smash, Inside Out 2 has managed to overcome its somewhat tepid reviews compared to the original. The allure of box office success makes the possibility for Inside Out 3 quite high.

Inside Out 3 Latest News

Development On The Sequel Is Seemingly Confirmed

Building on previous comments that hinted at another movie, the latest news suggests that Inside Out 3 is in development. The news was broken by star Paul Walter Ha (who played Embarassment), who let slip in an interview that "I heard we might be doing another one." While Ha couldn't offer many specifics, it's clear that a star from the franchise would have insider knowledge about a sequel if it was in the works. With the franchise's seemingly endless box office potential, it makes sense that the third film would be in discussion.

Read Ha's full comments below:

Crazy, it’s nutty. I heard we might be doing another one. I don’t know when or how or where, but the movie just resonated with people of all ages and it really, I think what’s different about the Inside Out movies from other animated films is it doesn’t really treat children as less intellectual beings. It really tells a funny, brilliant story, and they’ll grow with it as they get older, they’ll get some of the other jokes and it’ll find new resonance. So I just love getting to be a part of these worlds. I mean, you look at Pixar, Cobra Kai, I’m in the new Fantastic Four film. So Marvel and now MLW, it’s like I love ing these families and these sorts of cinematic universes that they are and getting to be some part of it. It’s been such a joy, man.

Inside Out 3 Is Not Confirmed

Pixar Hasn't Announced Any Sequel Plans Yet

While this may be disheartening for fans who want to dive back into the world of Riley's emotions, it is ultimately for the best because it allows the studio to craft the best films possible.

As it stands, Pixar has yet to announce Inside Out 3, but that is far from surprising. Though the studio has made sequels in the past, they are different from their Disney counterparts in that they typically take a long time before crafting a follow-up to their biggest movies. Even Inside Out 2 took nearly 10 years to finally hit theaters, and if Inside Out 3 is green-lit, it will likely be another long wait. There could even be a long wait for the announcement as well, as Inside Out 2 wasn't even revealed until 2022.

Inside Out 2 premiered on June 14, 2024.

While this may be disheartening for fans who want to dive back into the world of Riley's emotions, it is ultimately for the best because it allows the studio to craft the best films possible. With that said, Inside Out is perhaps one of Pixar's most sequel-worthy properties, and the internal world of the mind is a literal spring of endless possibilities when it comes to storytelling. Though Inside Out 3 isn't confirmed yet, there's little doubt that it will be made in the future if the first sequel proves to be as bit a hit as it predecessor.

Inside Out 3 Cast

Which Emotions Will Return?

Because the film isn't confirmed yet, any details about the cast of Inside Out 3 would be pure speculation. However, there are a few safe bets that could return in the threequel, even if the characters come back and the voice actors change. Leading the cast of Inside Out and its sequel, Amy Poehler's Joy is ostensibly the main character of the series, and she is the de facto leader of Riley's emotions. Riley herself went through a voice actor change between the movies, and that could happen again if Inside Out 3 jumps forward to Riley's adulthood or later teen years.

Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Lane have appeared in both films as Riley's mom and dad, respectively, and there's a distinct possibility the two veteran actors could come back for the third. If the threequel continues the trend set by Inside Out 2 and introduces new emotions in the mix, that will necessitate a handful of new cast . However, it's impossible to guess who that might be until the time comes.

The presumptive cast of Inside Out 3 includes:

Inside Out 3 Story Details

Inside Out 2 Left The Door Open For More

Much like its predecessor, the ending of Inside Out 2 both conclusively ended that chapter of the story and left the door open for more in the future. While nothing was explicitly left hanging, it's clear that there will be more challenges for the Emotions as Riley continues to grow up. Inside Out 3 could fast-forward to Riley's older teen years and explore her early romantic life and all the trials and tribulations that come with dating. Or, the movie could jump even further ahead and show Riley in college as she's struggling to adjust to life outside the nest.