Coco (2017). Photo:
PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS/WALT DISNEY PICTURES/Alamy
Disney and Pixar fans are in for more Rivera family adventures!
More than seven years after Coco tugged at heartstrings around the world, from its messages about the importance of family to the notes and lyrics of “Remember Me,” a sequel is forthcoming.
Both companies announced the news of the follow-up to their 2017 animated hit in a joint Instagram post on Thursday, March 20, alongside the first movie’s colorful logo — with a “2” added.
“Disney and Pixar’s Coco 2 is officially in the works!” read the caption.
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger also made the announcement at the company’s annual shareholders meeting, saying, “While the film is just in the initial stages, we know it will be full of humor, heart and adventure. And we can’t wait to share more soon.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Set in Mexico, the original Coco introduced audiences to Miguel Rivera (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), a 12-year-old aspiring musician who learns the truth about his rock-star idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) while trying to bring the spirit of music back to his family, who banned it long ago.
On the way, Miguel journeys to the Land of the Dead, where he meets ancestors including his great-great-grandmother Imelda (Alanna Ubach) and great-great-grandfather Héctor (Gael García Bernal), who teach Miguel more about his family tree than he ever dreamed possible.
Coco won various accolades, including both Academy Awards it was nominated for: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, for “Remember Me.”
Much of the team from the first movie — including director Lee Unkrich, co-director Adrian Molina and producer Mark Nielsen — will return for the new installment, per an official release.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Coco (2017). PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS/WALT DISNEY PICTURES/Alamy
Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE in December 2024 during a preview of the new Plaza de Coco restaurant aboard Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Treasure, Unkrich teased of a potential sequel, “It’s a huge honor knowing that so many of our fans want” it.
“I’ve been hearing that a lot,” continued the Toy Story 3 filmmaker, 57. “I can say that, like with all our films, if the right story comes along, we will completely be all over it and explore it.”
Asked by PEOPLE what he’d like to see out of a second Coco movie, Unkrich said, “I think the best sequels are sequels where, when it comes out, it feels like a natural extension of the first film and not just an add-on — like, one big story.”
“Even though right now people might look at Coco and be like, ‘Oh, it doesn’t need a sequel, it’s a complete story’ — which is what it is — ideally, if there was a sequel, it would feel like, ‘Oh, oh my God, we never knew that we needed this other part of the story,” he added.
