Yes, it’s happening: Coco 2 is official, and Pixar set a date

Pixar have been sat on a treasure trove of films that fans have been itching for sequels to — you only have to look at how often names like Ratatouille or Up get thrown about online. Well, at this year’s D23 Expo, Disney finally took the lid off one of the big ones: Coco 2 is not only in the works, we’ve got a first proper look at it. After years of watching Pixar focus on follow-ups (or doing nothing at all — sorry, A Bug's Life truthers), Coco is finally back in the spotlight.

Coco 2 is heading to cinemas in November 2029.

The Return of Ernesto

It’s now official that Benjamin Bratt (lately of Andor fame) is back as Ernesto de la Cruz, and not in a half-hearted cameo either. The studio wheeled out some footage and concept art, showing a now-teenage Miguel with his scruffy dog Dante, but it was really Bratt’s reveal on stage that confirmed what sort of sequel we’re getting. Here’s how Bratt put it in the teaser event:

Ernesto de la Cruz is back for revenge, sending Miguel on an adventure back to the land of the dead. Proving fate has a sense of humor, Miguel must team up with a handsome superstar: me.

So, yes — Coco 2 isn’t shying away from its villain. The disgraced Ernesto is out for payback, dragging Miguel into a new afterlife escapade. Disney haven’t caved and said who’s taking over as the voice of Miguel just yet; personally, I’d be shocked if Anthony Gonzales doesn’t return, but the studio’s lips are sealed for now. That November 2029 date is now officially on the calendar, too — and in case you’re keeping score, The Incredibles 3 is set for 2028, so Pixar’s going right back into sequel mode.

Behind the Scenes

It’s also confirmed that Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina will direct. If you’re not familiar with how the original Coco got made, it’s a textbook case of Pixar’s R&D-overload approach: Unkrich pitched the idea just after Toy Story 3’s mammoth run, basing it on an American kid learning about his Mexican roots when his mum dies. Obviously, that version missed the mark — it took a few passes (and several proper research trips into Mexico) before Unkrich and his team shifted the story to focus squarely on Mexican culture and ended up setting it on Día de los Muertos.

For those who need reminding, the first Coco film dropped in 2017 with 12-year-old Miguel breaking his family’s generations-long music ban and winding up in the Land of the Dead. Cue a whirlwind adventure, a hunt for his great-great-grandad, plenty of Hector’s antics, and a quick lesson in why you don't idolise famous dead musicians without checking their history first.

• The original Coco raked in $814.6 million off a $225 million budget and bagged Pixar another Oscar — specifically Best Animated Feature at the 2018 Academy Awards.

It was the film that rescued Pixar’s reputation after a run of so-so sequels and reminded everyone that the studio could actually tell a story. And now, finally, Coco 2 is set to pick up that thread.