One of the stars from Hoppers has just shared his concept for a sequel to the beloved Pixar film. Released in theaters this March, Hoppers represented a significant achievement for Pixar, being their 30th feature film. Although original narratives from Pixar have struggled to perform well in recent years, Hoppers defied expectations, raking in $372 million at the Box Office and receiving highly favorable reviews from critics.
Following that achievement, conversations have shifted to whether Pixar will approve a sequel, similar to what it has done for many of it’s other movies. In a recent media interview regarding the home release of Hoppers, cast member Bobby Moynihan, who lends his voice to the character King George, revealed that he already has a concept in mind.
Although he is uncertain about the quality of his story pitch, the former SNL star feels that a sequel to Hoppers should take a different approach than the original film.
In simpler terms, while Hoppers depicts college student Mabel transferring her consciousness into a robotic beaver, Hoppers 2 ought to feature George ‘jumping into a human body, as Mabel is competing for the mayoral position against Mayor Jerry, and he will serve as her campaign manager,’ Moynihan elaborated.
If that concept fails, Moynihan suggests creating a Disney+ series titled Pond Rules, or perhaps a project reminiscent of Fast & Furious, where the characters acquire themed beaver cars and race into outer space. Curda further elaborated, proposing that a sequel could take the form of a gritty crime procedural.
According to Bobby Moynihan, “I just thought of this in the past 10 minutes, and I’m uncertain if it’s a solid idea or not, but I believe it’s the reverse. Mabel needs to jump into a human body, or George must take on a human form, as Mabel is competing for mayor against Mayor Jerry, and he will serve as her campaign manager. I’m not sure if this will be successful, but it’s either that or I continue to repeat Pond Rules, just like a Disney+ series. Alternatively, we could go all in on a Fast & Furious theme. Imagine each character with their own themed beaver cars racing off into space. These are all concepts, and that’s the truth.”
Director Daniel Chong, who was part of the senior creative team for Pixar’s Turning Red, Lightyear, Elemental, Inside Out 2, Elio, and Toy Story 5, expressed a keen interest in reuniting for a sequel to Hoppers. Nonetheless, he recognized that Pixar will only approve a film if there is a compelling story to share.
“We’ll just see how it goes. If something rises to the top, it would be a privilege to explore that world again,” he stated.
According to Daniel Chong, “Absolutely. There’s a strong demand for a sequel. I just returned from vacation this week, and as I get back to work, I sense there’s optimism about the possibility of creating one. However, at Pixar, we prioritize story above all else, so we won’t proceed without a solid narrative. We’ll just have to wait and see how things develop. If a compelling idea emerges, it would be a privilege to revisit that universe.”
Pixar is well-known for producing sequels to it’s successful films. The Toy Story and Cars franchises have expanded into television series and numerous sequels, with the latest release being the fifth installment of Toy Story.
Monsters, Inc. has been expanded with a prequel and a television series. Although Up has not had a sequel, it has inspired several short films and a TV show. Inside Out ultimately received a sequel along with a TV series, just like Finding Nemo, which was followed by Finding Dory.
Additionally, an upcoming short film will see Ellen DeGeneres return to her beloved role as the regal blue tang fish, much to the delight of fans. When discussing upcoming projects, it’s exciting to note that Pixar is developing a third installment of The Incredibles, set to hit theaters in 2028, along with a sequel to Coco, which currently lacks a release date.
Pixar usually refrains from producing a sequel right after the initial film’s debut. As noted by Chong and Grindle, the studio’s executives prioritize quality over quantity, meaning that a possible Hoppers 2 may take several years to come to fruition.
While we wait for that hypothetical to turn into reality, Pixar enthusiasts can enjoy Hoppers from the comfort of their own homes, as the movie is now available on digital platforms and streaming on Disney+.