With the movie already off to a modest start at the box office, Lupita Nyong’o and Chris Sanders are weighing in on the chances ofThe Wild Robot 2. Based on Peter Brown’s book series of the same name, the movie follows Roz, a shipwrecked robot who must find a way to live on a remote island, and begins to form unexpected bonds along the way with the animal life living there. Directed byHow to Train Your Dragon’s Chris Sanders and starring Nyong’o as Roz,The Wild Robothas already becomeone of the most acclaimed movies of the year.
During a recent interview withNBC Insiderto celebrate the movie’s release, Sanders was asked about the possibility ofThe Wild Robot 2happening.The writer/director was very keen on the prospect of making a sequel, explaining that the creative team put an exceptional amount of effort into the project, making it one of the most personal films of his career:
I would very much like to. I think the entire crew really, really involved themselves in this film in a way that I’ve never seen before, myself included. This was a labor of love on the part of everybody at the studio, and yes, I think I’d love to go and stay here for a while.
Nyong’o also shared her excitement about the possibility of being part of the next installment,pointing out that the source book series is comprised of three novels, and saying she would “revisit her in a heartbeat”:
Oh, my goodness, yes. I mean, I love Roz. I love this project. It’s a good thing Peter Brown wrote three books! I would revisit her in a heartbeat.
What Nyong’o’s & Sanders' Comments Mean For The Wild Robot 2
The Movie Is Already Surpassing Studio Expectations
With the movie having only just hit theaters, chances are thataWild Robotsequellikely won’t be confirmed any time soon by DreamWorks. The movie is certainly off to a strong start both with critics and audiences alike, netting a rare 98% “Certified Fresh” approval rating from the former on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% “Verified Hot” from the latter on the review aggregate. This score has officially established a new record for DreamWorks with audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassingAbominable’s 95%.
Why The Wild Robot’s Reviews Are So Positive: 98% Rotten Tomatoes Score Explained
The Wild Robot is currently sitting at an impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. What’s earned the upcoming animated movie such immense praise?
Even still, financial returns are the true deciding factor of whether a sequel to a movie gets made, andThe Wild Robotdoes have a ways to go to becoming a bona fide hit. The film opened to a stronger-than-expected start, grossing over $11 million on its opening day and is on track to close its opening weekend with $35 million, above its original $24-30 million projections. Considering it was made on a $78 million budget, the bar to become profitable is certainly lower than some movies, butThe Wild Robotdoesn’t have a clear path to victory, either.
Even with its early success, the movie is only eyeing the No. 2 spot at the box office behindTim Burton’sBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, which has been dominating the box office for four weeks straight. Looking to the near future,The Wild Robotdoes have another major form of competition in the form ofJoker: Folie à Deux, which may bring with it a different demographic, but combined withpotential word of mouth forTransformers One, the DreamWorks movie will have to fight to maintain its Top 5 spot.
Our Take On The Chances Of A Sequel
The Wild Robot Is On The Right Path For Another Installment
The Wild Robothas captured both the public and critics alike, making its potential sequel one of the most anticipated announcements people are waiting for, and the numbers certainly reflect that feeling. The film has already broken one of Dreamworks' records, becoming the studio’s best audience-reviewed film ever. Given there is very little family-friendly competition in the month of October, it may be able to have enough legs to hit the right finances to get a sequel and adapt Brown’s follow-up novel,The Wild Robot Escapes.
The Wild Robot
Cast
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
