Walt Disney Animation Studios is going back to the world of video games in 2018. It took to Facebook Live this morning to announce that an internet-centric sequel to Wreck-It Ralph is in production and will be released in the US on 9 March 2018.
An early glimpse of the untitled sequel to Wreck-It Ralph. It will feature Ralph breaking the internet. Image: Disney
It’s being co-directed by Rich Moore, who co-directed the original, and Phil Johnston, who helped Moore with writing on both Wreck-It Ralph and Zootopia.
Actor John C. Reilly, who voices Ralph, made the announcement, but also joked about the fact he’s mentioned the project numerous times in the press over the last few years. You can watch the Facebook Live feed right here.
When it aired live, there was a glitch just as Reilly was about to talk about the plot. Which wasn’t supposed to happen but actually ended up being perfect. That’s the point of the movie.
According to Moore, “This time, Ralph’s wrecking wreaks havoc on the Web — as only he can do. Characters we loved in the first film are back and we are ecstatic to be working with them — and the actors who voice them — once again.”
Reilly and Sarah Silverman are the only two actors officially announced.
“The world of the internet is the perfect place to send Ralph and Vanellope,” added Johnston. “The scope and scale are so vast and the possibilities for comedy are endless.”
With the characters moving to the internet, many may wonder how the world of classic video games will play into the film. Well, speaking to Collider, Moore said that “We’re really trying to find that balance of how can we have those great kind of references to retro arcade culture but also have it feel that this is also a contemporary world with newer games, [and] everything you can find on the internet.”
As a result of this news, the Jack and the Beanstalk film Gigantic has been moved to 21 November 2018.