Will Inside Out 3 happen?

Inside Out 2 has only just landed on Disney+, but Pixar fans are already holding out hope that Inside Out 3 will be announced soon.

The Pixar film, which is set inside the mind of a teenage girl, is available to stream now following a record-breaking run at the box office. It soared past Frozen II to become the highest-grossing animated movie ever, having earned more than $1.6bn worldwide.

The flick also won widespread praise for its handling of mental health issues, racking up a critics' 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The frenzy around the sequel has sparked speculation that a third movie could follow. But what have the cast and crew said about a possible threequel? Here's everything we know about Inside Out 3 so far.

Will Inside Out 3 happen?

It's still too early to know if Inside Out 3 will happen, despite the ending of Inside Out 2 leaving the door open to another instalment. At the moment, we know about two other upcoming sequels on Pixar's slate – Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3 – plus two original films, Elio and Hoppers.

The critical and financial success of Inside Out 2 could lead the studio to announce a third movie, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It's worth bearing in mind that the sequel came out nine years after the original movie, so cinema-goers could face a long wait for another outing.

What has Amy Poehler said about Inside Out 3?

Amy Poehler, who voices Joy, has said she is keen to return for further outings. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo UK, she said it "would be amazing to keep following" Riley and her emotions in Inside Out 3 and beyond.

She said: "Maybe it could be as simple as we meet Riley when she's graduating high school. Or she's having her first experience of romantic love. I mean, anything I can think of Pixar would think of a much better, more creative version."

Meanwhile, she told Empire that Pixar "should make these films like Seven Up, every couple of years in Riley's life", featuring "distinct new emotions that are showing up all the time."

What has Kelsey Mann said about Inside Out 3?

Kelsey Mann, who directed the sequel, has revealed that Pixar bosses "are pretty open" to the prospect of Inside Out 3. "They want to make sure that we do it justice," he told Empire. "But people are excited for seeing Riley's life, her whole life. They want to see Riley grow up".

However, he warned fans that "we haven't had any talks" yet because he "took a break" after the film's release.

In a separate chat with USA Today, the filmmaker said he has "a whole stockpile of ideas" which could be used for Inside Out 3. He said: "They're too good, they're too funny, they're too interesting for them not to be tapped into. So I have no idea where the future will go, [but] it should continue because I think it's something that the audience really wants."

Speaking about how fans have embraced the franchise, he added: "There's something about the Inside Out world where it's met with open arms. Everybody's like, 'What age is she? I can't wait to hear where she is in her life'."

Who could join the cast of Inside Out 3?

Inside Out 2 added a string of new stars to the cast, including Stranger Things' Maya Hawke and The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, as it tackled new emotions such as Anxiety and Envy.

It's unclear which actors would reprise their roles in a third film. However, it's likely that further emotions could be added as Riley enters the next stage of her life. Guilt, Jealousy and Shame were all cut from Inside Out 2, the latter because it would have made the film "too dark".

Will there be an Inside Out TV series?

Yes, Pixar is working on an Inside Out spin-off TV show titled Dream Productions. The studio has billed it as mockumentary set between the events of the first film and Inside Out 2.

The four-episode show, which will arrive on Disney+ on December 11, will dive into Riley's dreams. Pixar boss Pete Docter, who directed the original Inside Out, has called it "unique and bold, unlike anything we've done before", saying it will offer "up a treasure trove of jokes and fun".

Poehler, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith will all reprise their roles as Riley's core emotions – Joy, Disgust, Fear, Anger and Sadness – while Kensington Tallman will be back as Riley. The voice cast will also include Richard Ayoade, Maya Rudolph, Ally Maki and Paula Pell.

The official synopsis reads: "Dream Productions is an all-new series about the studio inside Riley's mind where dreams really do come true – every night, on time and on budget. Riley is growing up and when her memories need some extra processing, Joy and the rest of the Core Emotions send them to Dream Productions."

Why is Pixar making more sequels?

Inside Out 2 is notable for being Pixar's first sequel in five years. After the release of 2019's Toy Story 4, the studio changed its strategy to focus on original films, such as Soul, Luca and Elemental.

But in the wake of the COVID pandemic and falling box-office numbers, the animation giant has returned to money-spinning franchises like Toy Story and The Incredibles.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company is "now swinging back a bit to lean on sequels" because "there's a lot of value" in existing franchises. This could bode well for Inside Out fans who hope to see more of Riley, the protagonist, as she navigates high school and adolescence.

Inside Out 2 is streaming on Disney+ now